Thirty-one new public charter schools are set to open across Michigan this fall after lawmakers removed a cap on public university authorized schools. Ten of these schools will be in the city of Detroit.

Various specialized programs will be offered, including one in a partnership with Detroit Medical Center, an arts academy created by gospel singer Marvin Sapp, an international focus program and a language immersion center.

Public universities will authorize 20 of the 31 schools, while school districts and intermediate school districts will monitor the rest. As 10 schools are shutting down this year, the new number of state charter schools is 276. Around 115,000 students attended public charter schools last year, about 7 percent of the state’s total student enrollment.

Both the school authorizers and school leaders are emphasizing that every public charter school must be of high quality and reach high standards. Richard Lemons, Connecticut’s deputy director for school change, said recently, “It used to be that if someone wanted to open a charter school, they needed to have a cool idea and the money to get it going. Now you need to make sure they have a plan for high-quality leadership, teachers and instructional guidance. If they don’t, then they don’t deserve a charter.”

Click here to learn more about educational choice in Michigan and schools that will be opening.