At the recommendation of Congress, the U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring a National Study of Charter Schools. This document is summary of the second-year report of this study. The second-year report presents information about charter schools for the 1996-97 school year and is based on a telephone survey designed to collect data from all operational charter schools. The executive summary offers an overview of the report's focus, and it details the growth trends of charter schools. It looks at the states' role in charter schools and discusses key legislative features that dictate the number and types of charter schools that are created within each state. Some characteristics of charter schools are given, such as their size, their nontraditional configurations, and their history. Profiles of students who attend these schools are offered, along with details on how these schools have similar racial/ethnic distribution, how they are similarity to other district schools, and how they serve students of color and low-income students. Some of the reasons why charter schools are started are given, along with some of the factors that attract parents to these schools. The summary closes with a description of some of the challenges facing those who wish to start a charter school. (RJM)