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LAW |
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Year Passed |
1992; last amended in 2007.
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Rank |
3rd strongest of the nation's 40 charter laws. |
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Grade |
A |
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GENERAL DATA |
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• Most charter schools in the nation because of consistent improvements to law
• Successful charters may get direct state approval to replicate
• Highly equitable funding measures |
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MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - YES (2) |
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Approval |
School boards and State Board of Education can authorize charters if applications meet certain criteria. A state charter school application, which operates multiple campuses throughout the state, may be submitted directly to the state board for approval. High Tech High is an example of a state charter school that was given permission to open multiple campuses across California |
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Appeal |
Yes. Applications that are denied by the school board may be appealed to the county board of education or the State Board of Education. Decisions by the state board are subject to judicial review, and the board that ultimately approves the application becomes the school's sponsor. |
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NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED |
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Cap |
100 additional charters allowed per year |
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OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY |
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State |
Yes. Blanket waiver from most state and district regulations. Charters must submit annually a preliminary budget, two interim audits, a final audit, and various other financials. Virtual schools are allowed. Management contracts with ESPs are not restricted. |
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Local |
Yes. Blanket waiver applies to local regulations. Fiscal autonomy is negotiated with the district and specified in the charter. |
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Teacher Freedom |
Yes. Teachers may remain covered by the district bargaining agreement, negotiate as a separate unit with the charter school governing body, or work independently. If a charter school chooses to participate in the state teacher's retirement system, all qualified employees shall be covered. |
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EQUITY |
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Student Funding |
• Charters receive per pupil funding and additional categorical grants and funds from property taxes, state aid and lottery funds.
• Virtual schools receive base funding from a formula, which is less than conventional schools.
• Funds pass through the district
• Average per pupil revenue - $5,075
"If an elementary school petitions either the governing board of the local school district or the State Board of Education to become a charter school, as specified in Section 47621 or 47622, that school shall receive state apportionments equal to the statewide average revenue limit for elementary schools plus funding as specified in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 47612. The superintendent shall annually compute the statewide average amount of general-purpose funding per unit of average daily attendance received by school districts for each of four grade
level ranges. The superintendent shall apportion to each charter school this amount, less local funds allocated to the charter school pursuant to Section 47635. The State Board of Education shall adopt regulations setting forth criteria for the determination of funding for nonclassroom-based instruction." [Cal Ed Code § 47623, 47634.1(c) and 47607(b)] |
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Facilities Funding |
Yes
• Proposition 39 - School districts are required to provide equivalent facilities to charter schools.
• Propositions 1 and 47 - Charters may access facility funding directly from the state or through their school district.
• The Charter School Revolving Loan Fund provides low-interest loans to new charter schools for facilities and other purposes. [Cal Ed Code § 41365] |
