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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.
October 9, 2017

Virtual charter academies in California must refund nearly $2 million to state

State audit shines spotlight on problems at online charter schools

Louis Freedberg
September 17, 2017

Legislation roundup: STEM school, later school start, 'meal shaming,' budget reserves; what passed and what didn't

What also happened to California proposals for charter schools, fiscal transparency, longer teacher probation — and more.

EdSource staff
September 5, 2017

Proposal for state-run STEM school shifts in face of opposition

Latest version would exempt it from most state education laws.

John Fensterwald
August 29, 2017

LA Unified pursuing path from ​conflict to district-charter collaboration in how it shares space

The district is seeking to ease conflicts over a state law that requires it to share available space with charter schools.

George White
August 14, 2017

Updated: Charter schools take a hit in nationwide poll

More people still support charters, but the margin has narrowed in an Education Next survey.

John Fensterwald
August 10, 2017

Inspired by Skid Row, educator opening charter to help LA's homeless children and families

Crete Academy, near South L.A.’s Leimert Park neighborhood, is one of nine new independent charters opening within Los Angeles Unified School District this year, and the only one dedicated to fighting homelessness with an arsenal of social services to help families.

Mikhail Zinshteyn
July 24, 2017

Charter school's demise prompts debate about strengthening oversight

A recent audit found that Tri-Valley Learning Corporation executives had conflicts of interest and commingled funds.

George White
July 20, 2017

Understanding California charter schools: a quick guide

Find out how many charters are in California and in the U.S., what the major fault lines are between charter schools and their opponents, and what some of the functions of charters are that make them distinct from traditional public schools.

Mikhail Zinshteyn
July 20, 2017

Betsy DeVos and teachers' union leader trade barbs

U.S. Education Secretary and American Federation of Teachers President's comments highlight division that exists between some school choice advocates and those who back traditional public schools.

Theresa Harrington
July 7, 2017

LA Unified's new board president calls for help to market district's schools

Rodriguez says Los Angeles should shut down poor-performing charters while successful ones can share their practices with the rest of the district.

Mikhail Zinshteyn
July 2, 2017

Votes coming on teacher tenure, for-profit charters, other key bills

Legislators must decide this month before they take August off.

EdSource staff
June 29, 2017

Trump's proposed cuts to education funding create friction in charter school community

By insisting charter schools are public schools, charter advocates are distancing themselves from Trump's proposed cuts to federal funding for public schools.

Louis Freedberg
June 21, 2017

Reed Hastings backs school board candidates, but opposes elected school boards

The Netflix co-founder who has donated some of the biggest sums to charter school causes in California since 2011 thinks elected school boards are holding back education progress in the United States.

Louis Freedberg and Mikhail Zinshteyn
June 20, 2017

Oakland charters more likely to enroll higher-performing students than district schools

About 30 percent of Oakland students attend charter schools – one of the highest concentrations of charter students in the state.

Mikhail Zinshteyn
June 19, 2017

New LA school board member says his election was not about 'the proliferation of charters'

Nick Melvoin says "victory" for him over the next few years would be "across-the-board improvements in the district," not charter growth.

Louis Freedberg