CA Charter Schools Set Single-Year Record For New School Openings

Los Angeles, GA - California's charter public schools this fall set a record for the number of charter schools opening up in a single school year. This fall, 103 charter schools were considered new charter schools, with 89 charter schools opening their doors for the first time. In addition, 14 new charter schools were considered by the California Department of Education new, since they were ‘re-designations' of previously chartered schools under new state authorizing rules.

The single-year record topped the previous record set in 2005, when 84 new charter schools opened their doors for the first time. As of this fall, there are 686 charter schools operating in the state of California.

Leading the way for opening new charter schools was Los Angeles Unified, which set a single-year national record for a school district with 23 new charter schools opening their doors. Los Angeles Unified leads the nation in the total number of charter schools with 125 in operation. Oakland Unified came in second with six new charter schools opening their doors for the first time, followed by Campbell Union Elementary (Santa Clara County) and the State Board of Education, each with five.

Despite the impressive growth, charter schools can't keep up with high demand throughout the state. A survey conducted this fall by the California Charter Schools Association found that close to two-thirds (65 percent) of all responding charter schools have waiting lists.

"The charter school movement continues to expand because charter schools are delivering results and because parents are demanding them," said Caprice Young, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association. "Despite this impressive growth, many charter schools remain oversubscribed, indicating that families want more of the smaller, safer and more responsive learning environments that charter schools are able to provide."

While growth of new single-site, ‘organic' charter schools remained constant, more than one in three new charter schools (35 percent) were replications of existing, successful models. This trend was greatest in Los Angeles Unified, as close to 75 percent of new charter schools (17 charter schools) were replications (up from 60 percent last year).

Including re-designations, close to one in five new charter schools (18 schools) were opened by the State Board of Education or by County Offices of Education. New state authorizing rules granted the State and County Offices of Education permission to authorize charters on appeal following the passage of Assembly Bill 1994 (2002). This legislation also created a "Statewide Benefit" process for charter organizations with a proven track record. Four new charter school sites were opened this fall as part of networks that have received a "Statewide Benefit" charter. The 14 re-designations were charter schools that were authorized as ‘new' schools locally or through their respective counties or the State Board.

These figures were compiled from current and prior year data from the California Department of Education and through recent charter school surveys conducted by the California Charter Schools Association.

SOURCE: the California Charter Schools Association