http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/12/14/20081214edcharters1214.html
Since the first public charter school opened in Arizona in 1995, charters have seen a steady enrollment boom as parents seek alternative choices to the traditional public school district. Today there are 478 public charter schools in the state teaching approximately 93,864 students in grades K-12. Arizona is one of the leaders of the national public charter school movement, said Larry Pieratt, executive director for university public schools at Arizona State University. "Arizona charter schools are coming into its own and have risen to a level where it's an integral part of the system," Pieratt said. Eileen Sigmund, president and CEO of the Arizona Charter Schools Association, said that while the economy is a concern for public charters, like it is for district schools, public charter schools have continued to grow because of stringent laws and oversight.
Source: The Arizona Republic
Date: 12/14/2008
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