Public Charter School Startup
Support for opening a tuition-free public school
Wildflower is growing a network of publicly funded Montessori charter schools led by an entrepreneurial team of Montessori-trained educators, administrative partner, and board chair with local expertise.
Interested in a private, tuition-based independent school instead? Explore the independent pathway →
Why Open a Public Charter School?
The case for tuition-free Montessori
Montessori education has historically been accessible mainly to families who can afford private tuition. Wildflower charter schools change that. Because they're publicly funded, they're free: open to every school-aged child, in every income bracket, in the communities where they're located.
For many Wildflower Teacher Leaders, that's not just a funding model. It’s the reason they chose this pathway.
How Does a Wildflower Charter Work?
A Wildflower charter isn't one big school building. At full build-out, a charter could include multiple microschool sites, each with its own address and one to two classrooms, led by its own Teacher Leaders. These micro sites share back-office operations and specialized student supports across the charter.
Two Pathways
There are two ways to open a Wildflower charter school.
Found a New Charter
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Apply with an authorizer to establish a new Wildflower charter
Work with a charter authorizer, the state or district body that approves new charter schools, to establish a new Wildflower charter in your area. It's the more involved path with a longer timeline, but it's how new Wildflower charter communities get started.
Good fit if:
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You have or are building a team with a Teacher Leader, an administrative partner, a board chair / governance lead, and an individual with local charter knowledge
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You're in a state where charter authorization is feasible
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You're prepared for a multi-year process
Join an Existing Charter
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Open a new site under an existing Wildflower charter
Several Wildflower charters operate as clusters of microschool sites, each with its own Teacher Leader and classroom, sharing back-office systems with the broader charter. It's a faster path to opening, with infrastructure already in place.
Good fit if:
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You're Montessori-trained and ready to lead your own classroom
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You want to serve families tuition-free without building full admin infrastructure from scratch
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You're in or willing to relocate to an area with an existing Wildflower charter
The Charter Journey at a Glance
Here's what the path from first conversation to opening day looks like to found a new charter, and the Wildflower support behind each step.
Explore & Confirm Fit
Discovery meetings, pathway exploration, and a mutual fit assessment with Wildflower.
Frequently Asked Charter Questions
What is a charter school?
A charter school is a taxpayer-funded public K-12 district school; when demand exceeds space, a lottery decides enrollment. It gets more flexibility than a typical district school in curriculum, staffing, schedule, and approach—which Wildflower uses for authentic Montessori in a public setting. In exchange, it must meet the terms of its charter agreement and answer to an authorizer that approves, monitors, and renews its charter.
Where does Wildflower have charter schools?
Currently in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Washington, D.C., with new schools authorized in Nevada and Ohio. See the full list of Wildflower charter schools →
Can I start a charter school anywhere?
It depends on the state's charter landscape. States with strong conditions for a new Wildflower charter currently include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and parts of Upstate New York. New charters aren't currently viable in California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, or Washington state. If you're in one of these states, we invite you to explore Wildflower's independent school pathway →
Is PreK free at a Wildflower charter school?
Public per-pupil funding covers school-age seats kindergarten and up, but doesn't always extend down to PreK. PreK seats at Wildflower charter schools are typically supported through private tuition or state subsidies like Universal Pre-K (UPK) or Child Care Assistance Programs (CCAP), which vary by state.
Do I need an administrative partner?
For founding a new charter, yes. The model is designed around Teacher Leaders leading the classroom while an administrative partner handles back-office operations. If you're joining an existing charter site, discuss team structure directly with that charter's leadership.
How long does it take to open a new charter school vs. a new site within an existing charter?
A brand-new charter typically takes 1 to 3 years from initial application to opening day, since it requires full state authorization, timing of which varies by state and authorizer. Opening a new site within an already-authorized charter is faster, since it skips that authorization step and can build on existing governance and entity systems (financial policies, board, nonprofit status). The Wildflower team can help you understand what to expect in your state.
Do I need Montessori training?
Yes. All Wildflower Teacher Leaders are Montessori-trained before joining or starting a school. There are also opportunities for administrative partners who aren't Montessori-trained to work alongside Teacher Leaders. Get Montessori Trained →