CCSA released the following statement in response to the first story of a series in the LA Times.
“The vast majority of our state’s charter schools are doing amazing things for kids. Still, the LA Times highlights critical issues that must be addressed now. That’s why we strongly support strengthening and modernizing the checks and balances process for authorizers – those who oversee charter schools – and the process by which authorizers themselves are held accountable. Ultimately, an entire ecosystem contributes to providing students a great public education, including charter schools, district schools, authorizers, policy makers and elected officials. However, success of a strong public education system is only possible when high academic and operational standards are in place and upheld.
“California’s charter public school sector is a response to families who are desperate for an alternative to schools that left them behind decades ago. But, it is not enough to simply provide something different. That’s why high-quality charter schools are the rule and not the exception - offering all kids an opportunity for a great public education that puts their needs first.”
CCSA is committed to ensuring public school students are getting the best education possible:
- Recently, with support from CCSA, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 126, legislation that ends the debate about whether California’s charter schools follow open meetings, public records, and conflict of interest laws.
- For nearly a decade, the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) has publicly called each year for the non-renewal of chronically underperforming charter public schools.
- In addition to holding schools accountable academically, CCSA also takes a position on specific instances of documented and corroborated practices by charter schools that are unlawful or against standards of practice as part of our Non-Academic Accountability Framework.