system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What are charter schools in America? Do they differ from private schools and public schools? If so, how and why?

I'm confused about a few things. Do charter schools have tuition? So they employ licensed teaches? What are the benefits? Thank you for any information or experiences in advance.
gpt
It can depend from state to state, but they are typically private organizations that provide alternatives to local public schools. In the US you are generally forced to go to the school in the district you live. And many times, especially in urban areas, these schools suck. Charter schools allow some or all of the per pupil tax levy for the public school to go to the charter school who takes on the student. The charter school must still operate under the guidance and regulations of the state.

They are becoming popular because many inner city schools suck and have shitty teachers they can't fire. Parents see the charter school as an upgrade and a way to get their child into an environment that may provide a better education or even just a safer school.

Some people oppose them because they remove power from public school teacher unions or because they often take the better students from public schools making the public school less safe. Even in areas where the charter school must accept students via a  lottery system they still only have a pool of applicants whose parents care enough to apply to get them out of the shitty public schools. Some would prefer more students in unsafe shitty schools and/or less educational choice because their political beliefs tell them to support unions and government sponsored programs.