September 10, 2019

California’s charter schools soon to enter an uneasy era

School districts will be able to cite an adverse fiscal impact to deny a charter school application, but not without making a strong case.

John Fensterwald

May 16, 2019

Gov. Newsom proposes tighter rules on charter school enrollment

Critics complain some California charter schools screen out students with disabilities and academically struggling students.

John Fensterwald

February 28, 2019

Disclosure requirements for charter schools await Gov. Newsom's signature

California's open meetings, public records and conflict-of-interest laws will soon apply to charter schools. Newsom called for the legislation.

John Fensterwald

February 28, 2019

Charter schools are not to blame for Oakland Unified's financial woes

Scapegoating charters not the solution to district's labor dispute, author says.

Eric Premack

February 26, 2019

Proposed legislation would substantially curb growth of California charter schools

Legislation by the chair of the Assembly Education Committee would ban appeals, cap charters at the current level and factor in charter schools’ fiscal impact on authorizing districts

John Fensterwald

September 3, 2018

Gov. Brown again to decide whether to ban for-profit charter schools

The California Charter Schools Association says it's in favor of AB 406, but ambiguity of the language, potentially affecting non-profit charter schools' operations, could give the governor pause.

John Fensterwald

October 25, 2017

Leading gubernatorial candidates oppose for-profit charter schools in California

All four leading gubernatorial candidates agree that for-profit charter schools should not be allowed in California.

Louis Freedberg And John Fensterwald

January 31, 2017

Court ruling will hinder some charter schools' right to cross district borders

Independent study charters no longer can run satellite centers for 38,000 students in nearby districts.

John Fensterwald

November 16, 2016

Education leaders contemplate impact of a Trump presidency on California

Forecasters have little to go on since education wasn't a major theme in the presidential campaign.

EdSource staff

November 2, 2015

Brown consistent with legislation he signs and vetoes

Brown guards local control and is wary of more spending and collecting more data.

John Fensterwald

September 29, 2015

California denied renewal of federal funding for charter schools

This will be the first time in 20 years the state won't get startup funds.

John Fensterwald

September 5, 2014

One (maybe final) step closer to new LCAP rules

The staff of the State Board of Education will decide in the next several weeks whether to tinker further with regulations governing the Local Control and Accountability Plans – the accountability and budget plans that school districts completed for the first time in June.

John Fensterwald

July 24, 2013

Charter school leaders generally pleased with Gov. Brown's new funding system

John Fensterwald