The creation of publicly financed but relatively independent public charter schools may be the most vibrant force in American education today. This fastback presents findings of a national study that examined the outcomes of charter schools. Data were collected through site visits to 43 charter schools in 7 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin); case studies conducted at 35 of the charter schools; and 700 interviews with individuals in those schools and communities. Data for 1996-97 show that one-half of charter-school students are members of minority groups. Founders of charter schools encountered several barriers to starting up, including: special-needs students, finance, time for planning, staffing, the unaccustomed features of being public schools, regulatory hurdles, and interest-group opposition. The booklet offers examples of accountability mechanisms in various states and findings of other studies. A dilemma for charter-school administrators is that sometimes a discrepancy exists between curriculum and state evaluation. Policymaking options for failing charter schools are also described. (LMI)