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Reforms
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Charter Schools

Charter schools are tuition-free, tax-funded public schools that have been given more flexibility and autonomy than district-operated schools. In California, most are run by nonprofit boards of directors. As of the fall of 2016, California’s 1,254 charter schools enrolled 602,837 students — for the first time serving 1 in 10 of California’s public school students.
August 20, 2019

Amid tensions statewide, an embattled California charter school's quest ends badly

Promise Academy had a partnership with the Tech Museum; its fight with San Jose Unified mirrors conflicts statewide over charter schools.

John Fensterwald
August 19, 2019

Support grows nationwide for paying teachers more

A poll by the journal Education Next finds most people favor more federal spending on education and free college tuition.

John Fensterwald
August 5, 2019

Donations help teachers’ dreams come true in Oakland, across the country

DonorsChoose.org matches donors, foundations and businesses to teachers throughout the country to provide supplies and other needed resources.

Theresa Harrington
July 25, 2019

Dissent within statewide task force adds tension to California’s charter school debate

There's full agreement on 4 proposals but anger among some task force members over 7 proposals passed by a narrow majority as a package.

John Fensterwald
July 12, 2019

New charter schools to open this fall despite efforts to curb growth

Four charter schools will open after each was initially denied by its local school board, forcing the schools to turn to county boards.

Michael Burke
July 9, 2019

Governor's team jumps into fray over contested charter school bill

Senate hearing indicates that further changes will be needed to reach a deal on a bill charter school leaders fear would cripple growth.

John Fensterwald
July 2, 2019

Charter school movement in a "battle for survival," charter school leader says

National gathering of charter educators and supporters comes at a time of slowing growth and increasing resistance by teachers unions and in state Legislatures.

Louis Freedberg
June 19, 2019

Charter school authorizers come under greater scrutiny in California

Most school districts oversee only a handful of charter schools, and lack the skills or resources to fully oversee them.

Louis Freedberg
June 7, 2019

Gov. Newsom’s task force recommends more discretion to deny charter schools

The group reached a consensus on giving school districts the power to consider the “saturation” by and the academic need for charter schools.

John Fensterwald
June 7, 2019

Charter schools cost East Bay district nearly $1,000 per student, report asserts

Charter school association says report, commissioned by the West Contra Costa Unified School District, is “pure propaganda.”

Theresa Harrington
June 4, 2019

California needs all its K-12 public schools to be strong: traditional and charter

State should preserve appeals process for charter schools, former State Board member says.

Trish Boyd Williams
June 3, 2019

Drive to cap California charter school growth stalls

Sponsoring legislators make their proposals two-year bills after a lack of support.

Louis Freedberg
May 29, 2019

Unchecked, decades-long experiment with charter schools yields unintended consequences

Elected leaders in Sacramento must pass laws to support students by curtailing growth of charter schools, teacher says.

Erika Jones
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
May 15, 2019

‘Inconvenient truths’ missing from Oakland report on charter schools

Charter schools did not cause Oakland’s problems and preventing more students from choosing charter schools will not fix them, researchers say.

Robin Lake and Ashley Jochim