SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) applauded the California State Legislature for approving AB 406 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). This landmark, bipartisan legislation will prohibit for-profit corporations from managing and operating charter schools throughout the state.
"Since its inception, California's charter public school movement has been driven by nonprofit organizations - a direction unanimously agreed to by CCSA and our member schools," said Jed Wallace, president and CEO for CCSA. "Virtually all of our schools have always been nonprofit organizations with a miniscule number of exceptions. We have been working with our members for years to ban for-profit charter schools and we are thrilled this day is finally here. Charter schools are public schools created to put the needs of students first. Period."
Charter public schools are an integral part of California's public school system. In fact, 99 percent of charter public schools are run by not-for-profit organizations that are getting great results for kids. AB 406 ensures that the 1 percent of charter public schools that operate for-profit institutions will be shut down.
"California has long embraced a vibrant and thriving charter school sector that's public, free, and open to all. If there was any doubt that the overwhelming majority of charter schools in California are run by nonprofits and play by the rules, let AB 406 settle that question once and for all," said Carlos Marquez, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for CCSA.
The Legislature's passage of AB 406 created a unique coalition rarely seen in education policy where CCSA, representing over 1200 charter public schools in California, and the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), representing thousands of public school teachers, both came together to support this legislation.
A broad alliance across the state also supported AB 406 including the California Teachers Association, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Association of California School Administrators, the California Labor Federation, the California School Boards Association, the California School Employees Association and the California State PTA.
AB 406 will now go to Governor Jerry Brown for final consideration.
Media Contact:
Brittany Parmley
bparmley@ccsa.org
916-221-8588