Resources
-
Law and Policy Overview
Category: Law and Policy
VIEW -
Charter Schools Act of 1992
Category: Law and Policy
This annotated compilation of charter school laws is prepared to assist the reader to quickly identify those laws that will constitute California’s Charter Schools Act and several other frequently cited charter laws, as effective June 2011. The Education Code sections included here constitute the core of California’s charter school laws, but exclude many other laws that may also govern charter schools. Though we have made...
VIEW -
CDE Asserts Narrow Fee Authority for Charter Schools
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 03/28/2013 The California Department of Education (CDE) last week issued guidance on the department’s interpretation of new laws restricting schools’ authority to levy fees from students. The controversial guidance is especially un-helpful with respect to charter schools, asserting that charter schools authority to levy fees is considerably narrower than ... To download this Charter Currents update in PDF format,...
VIEW -
Governor Vetoes Charter Meal Mandate, Signs Fee and Immunization Bills
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 10/01/2012 Governor Brown's office has vetoed AB 1594 (Eng, D—Monterey Park), a bill that would have mandated charter schools to offer free- or reduced-price meals to low-income students. The Governor signed two other measures of strong interest to charter schools, including a measure that will restrict schools’ authority to charge fees and a bill that will make it...
VIEW -
US Department of Education Halts California Charter Grant Funds
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 08/28/2012 US Department of Education (USDOE) staff blocked the latest $28 million installment of California’s federal Charter School Grant Program funding, alleging non-compliance with an obscure provision buried in the annual federal appropriation law. In response, California Department of Education officials are pressing the Legislature and Governor to approve controversial legislation to increase charter renewal requirements. CSDC research...
VIEW -
It's Time to Revise the Employee Handbook
Category: Law and Policy
by Jennifer McQuarrie, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 08/09/2012 Charter schools should review and update their personnel policies, employee handbooks, and employment law posters to conform to recent changes in state and federal employment laws on a broad range of topics. Most charter schools have in place extensive personnel policies, employee handbooks, and mandatory labor law posters that cover a broad range of topics. CSDC recommends...
VIEW -
CCSA Targets Ten "Underperforming" Charter Schools
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 12/16/2011 SACRAMENTO - The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) yesterday called for non-renewal of charters for 10 schools. The recommendations, based on rankings from their Similar Schools Model (SSM) ranking methodology, are the association’s latest in a multi-pronged effort to shutter charter schools that post low standardized testing scores. The Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC) believes that the...
VIEW -
Legislative Update: One Down, Two to Go
Category: Law and Policy
by Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 08/25/2011 SACRAMENTO - The Assembly Appropriations Committee blocked one of the anti-charter renewal bills in its final “suspense file” hearing today while the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the more offensive of the two charter renewal bills. Both committees held their final “suspense file” hearings for the session today. The suspense file is a holding pen for high-cost legislation. Originally intended as...
VIEW -
Anti-Charter Legislation Progresses while Budget Stalemate Continues
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 06/10/2011 SACRAMENTO - CSDC advises charter schools to pick-up the phone and make a few quick phone calls to their legislators to oppose several anti-charter bills that are up for hearing over the next two weeks in the Senate Education Committee. Meanwhile the Legislature deliberated over several budget-related bills this week with little practical progress on key tax...
VIEW -
Charter Slugfest at State Board and Legislature
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 05/12/2011 SACRAMENTO - The State Board of Education this week took a chilling turn into deeper scrutiny of nonclassroom-based charter schools, took aggressive action to protect its authority to grant statewide charters, and nearly rejected 29 charter schools’ local education agency plans. Charter matters consumed a huge chunk of the Board’s meeting this week—a proportion that seems likely...
VIEW -
Key Charter Legislation Update
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 04/29/2011 SACRAMENTO - Legislative committees will hear two particularly offensive anti-charter bills among several next Wednesday. The first, SB 645, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Association and would substantially increase the existing minimum charter renewal thresholds that schools must meet prior to renewal. The second bill AB 1172, sponsored by the California Teachers Association, would eviscerate...
VIEW -
Brown Sweeps State Board
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 01/07/2011 SACRAMENTO - Governor Jerry Brown wasted little time in reconstituting the State Board of Education, appointing seven new members who will constitute a majority on the 11-member board. The shift drops four of five members who are often regarded as "charter-friendly" and adds several members with broad ranging experience and credentials. The shift came just after Senate...
VIEW -
Reading the Charter Tea Leaves in Tuesday’s State and National Election Results
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 11/04/2010 SACRAMENTO - Tuesday’s election results bring mixed and subtly interesting news to the chartered schools sector. Charter schools will likely enjoy even stronger support at the federal level. State and local results are mixed, with many of the key results coming from down-ballot races and other changes that aren’t apparent from the large headlines. Will the Reep Sweep...
VIEW -
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Two Anti-Charter Bills
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center Posted on 09/27/2010 SACRAMENTO - Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed two pieces of anti-charter legislation late last week, penning pointed veto messages on both. The first measure, AB 572 (Brownley, D—Santa Monica) would have imposed on charter schools a laundry list of restrictions that normally govern public and local government agencies, including the Brown Act (open meetings laws), the Public Records Act (laws generally...
VIEW -
Race to the Top Options Improve but Remain Unclear
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center. Originally sent to CSDC members on 12/22/09. An amended version of the California Senate's bill (SBX5 4) to improve California's prospects in the federal "Race to the Top" (RTTT) grant competition deleted one major problematic charter element, but problematic and unclear elements remain in both the legislation and the evolving RTTT grant terms. The revised legislation is said to enjoy...
VIEW -
Race to the Top? Or Grovel for Chump Change?
Category: Law and Policy
by Eric Premack, Charter Schools Development Center. Originally sent to CSDC members on 12/08/09. Two proposed bills and a controversial proposed regulation would heap additional regulatory and renewal barriers on charter schools in an effort to strengthen California's application for federal "Race to the Top" (RTTT) grant funds. CSDC analysis indicates all three could have major negative consequences in exchange for very modest levels of one-time...
VIEW
