FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2003

CONTACT: Gary Larson
California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC)
(916) 996-3089

CANEC ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR NEW CHARTER SCHOOL OVERSIGHT REFORM BILL
New Oversight Bill Stands to Bring More Independent, Effective Oversight to California's Charter Schools

Sacramento, CA - The California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC) today announces its support for a new charter school oversight bill that expands the number and types of authorizers of charter schools to include institutions of higher education, mayors of large cities, and even large non-profit organizations. The proposal, Assembly Bill (AB) 1464, by Assembly Member Patricia Bates (Oceanside) and sponsored by CANEC, will represent a dramatic improvement to California's charter school law, since it gives more capable entities the ability to oversee charter schools.

The Bates proposal is good public policy for California since many institutions of higher education (including universities and state colleges), mayors of large cities, and large non-profit organizations have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving public education. Many of these organizations, especially universities and colleges, already have the expertise to oversee charter schools and can place a high priority on their responsibilities as charter school authorizers. In fact, all three types of entities are currently involved, in some manner, in the ongoing operation of California's charter schools.

This charter school reform bill will also solve many of the problems that were reported in the Bureau of State Audits' recent audit of the charter school process: "California's Charter Schools: Oversight at All Levels Could Be Stronger to Ensure Charter Schools' Accountability" (2002). The report concluded: "The chartering entities are not effectively monitoring their charter schools and ensuring that these schools meet the agreed-upon student outcomes listed in their charters."

Experience in other states shows that one important factor in the development of high-quality charter school oversight is the presence of multiple types of charter school sponsoring entities. Since California passed its charter school law in 1992, thirty-eight states have passed charter school laws, most with provisions that allow entities other than school districts to authorize charter schools. The Bates proposal is similar to charter school laws in New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin - states that have thriving charter school movements, but most importantly, states that have not had oversight difficulties as has been the case in California.

Independent chartering agencies in other states have indeed proven their ability to do it better. According to the Center on Reinventing Public Education: "New organizations created to oversee charter schools-special offices in universities, school districts, and state governments-learn their jobs relatively quickly. Conventional school district offices have trouble breaking long-established habits of detailed compliance-oriented oversight. Most of the charter-granting agencies that are both willing to grant charters and use a balanced oversight and accountability approach 'were created specifically for the purpose of chartering schools,'" according to Paul Hill, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and public school accountability expert.

"California's colleges and universities offer a wide range of talent and expertise to provide opportunities for students at all levels. In addition, several mayors of large cities and many non-profits have indicated their desire to have their offices play a more active role in local public education," said Assembly Member Patricia Bates (Oceanside). "This proposal will serve as a welcome solution for creating more educational opportunities for all of California's school children."

AB 1464 will not replace school district oversight, but will rather complement it. It gives school districts the option of continuing to participate in the chartering process.

"We believe that many school districts, including those who provide responsible district oversight, would welcome the opportunity to have a share of their burden shouldered by new chartering entities," said Dr. David Patterson, Interim Executive Director of CANEC. "Many of the entities in Bates' proposal operate in areas where high-performing schools are so desperately needed - in our inner cities. This bill will add significant new and talented resources to California's ongoing effort to bridge the achievement gap and it will insure that all students and their families have access to high-performing schools in their communities."

As of September 2002, a total of 436 public charter schools are operating in California, serving more than 166,000 students, according to CANEC. These figures represent a dramatic increase in charter school activity over last year, when there were 358 California charter schools in operation, with enrollments of roughly 135,000 students.

About CANEC
The California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC) is California's premier charter school networking and service organization and is the public voice of its members for the charter school movement in California. CANEC represents its members through networking, advocacy and public awareness.

###