Labour is contrasting the government's drive for quality teaching with its decision to allow charter schools to hire unregistered teachers.

Details of the way charter school will be run were released on Thursday, showing they will be able to hire registered and unregistered teachers.

That's caused an outcry from teacher unions and Labour leader David Shearer says the government's education policy is "shambolic".

"It's incredible that in May the education minister was proudly outlining plans for investing $60 million in teacher quality and professional development," he said.

"A couple of months later they're happy to stick children in a classroom led by a teacher who isn't even registered."

The government was going to raise $60m for teacher development by increasing class sizes and cutting teacher numbers.

It scrapped the policy because of opposition from parents and is looking for other ways to raise the money.

Mr Shearer says charter schools are the government's "latest bad idea" and pose serious risks.

The schools can be run by community, business or religious organisations.

They will be funded by the state and can set their own hours and terms, and develop their own curriculum.

They are an ACT Party initiative and setting them up is part of its support agreement with the government.

The first two are due to open at the beginning of 2014 and ACT leader John Banks says they will be able to help children who are failing in state schools.