There is a great need for improved public education in California, specifically at the middle school level. California students rank 48th in reading proficiency and 45th in math proficiency. Only 68% of California’s students graduate from high school in 4 years. In Los Angeles, just 16% of Latino and African-American students are proficient in English-language Arts, 4% of Latino and African-American students are proficient in Algebra, and only 20% of Latino and African-American graduates are eligible for a California public college (2005 Harvard Civil Rights Project).

What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are independent public schools that are allowed to be more innovative and are held accountable for improved student achievement. Charter schools give teachers the flexibility to innovate and try new ways to improve student achievement. This flexibility gives charter schools the ability to develop successful new models that work.

There are currently over 600 charter public schools in operation in California, serving over 200,000 students. Over three hundred charter schools operate in urban or inner-city areas, serving a higher percentage of low-income students.

Charter schools are an integral part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. There are an estimated 47,000 students attending 128 charter schools in LAUSD. In 2002, to encourage the development and continuation of charter schools, LAUSD adopted what is considered one of the country’s most progressive charter school policies. LAUSD supports charter schools because they provide possible solutions to urban school challenges such as overcrowding, the achievement gap, parental involvement, and teacher quality.

Student Achievement

Recent studies have shown that charter schools are performing as well as, and in many cases better, than the broader public school system. A 2005 student achievement analysis commissioned in October by the Los Angeles Times found that California’s charter schools are outperforming in middle and high schools. EdSource, a respected, non-partisan education research organization, has found that charter schools are more likely to meet their academic achievement goals than non-charters. In June 2007, EdSource reported that California’s Charter middle schools showed higher performance than traditional public middle schools.

To learn more about charter schools, visit any of the following Charter Information Resource Links:

California Department of Education
Los Angeles Unified School District Charter Department
California Charter Schools Association
Charter School Development Center
National Charter School Clearinghouse
Great Schools
Center for Education Reform
National Alliance for Public Schools
US Department of Education, Office of Innovation & Improvement