A charter network refers to a group of charter schools operating under shared leadership, mission, and support systems—similar to a Charter Management Organization but the term often encompasses both CMO-managed schools and loosely affiliated schools sharing resources or governance. Charter networks can range from tight networks with centralized control to looser collaboratives sharing best practices and administrative support.

Networks provide benefits that standalone charter schools struggle to achieve: shared curriculum development reducing individual school workload, centralized back-office functions (HR, finance, compliance) generating cost savings, professional development systems supporting teacher growth, data and assessment systems enabling cross-school comparisons, and collective bargaining power for facilities, technology, and supplies.

However, networks also create challenges: tension between network standardization and individual school autonomy, difficulty maintaining consistent quality across sites, risk that problems at one school damage the entire network's reputation, and higher administrative costs as networks grow. Research shows that network schools can achieve stronger results than standalone charters when networks provide genuine support, but weak networks add bureaucracy without value.

For network leaders, student retention challenges multiply across schools. Systematic retention problems indicate network-wide issues—curriculum fit, teacher quality, communication practices—requiring centralized solutions. Conversely, isolated retention challenges at specific schools suggest site-level leadership or culture problems. Network-wide pulse survey systems enable leaders to distinguish school-specific versus systemic retention risks.