Public schools do too, but for public schools it just impacts their funding, whereas charter schools could go out of business. So there's absolutely a concern of teaching to the test in both scenarios, the stakes are just higher for charter schools.

So charter schools need to simultaneously differentiate themselves to attract parents, while also doing as well or better then public schools. Ours:

• teaches Latin - a bit of a gimmick, but my kid loves it
• teaches math a year ahead
• has two full-time teachers in every class - my guess is it's because they don't have the substitute system

It's annoying dropping off and picking up every day, but the teachers seem happy, unlike the local public school that has a ton of turnover.