Last updated: 01-08-2008 (Send USCS staff a comment about this page.)

List of Charter Schools
For a list of schools, use the following link(s):
California Department of Education
Charter Schools Development Center

Overview
Year of Law: 1992 (see Legislative Summary) Number of Charter Schools: 618 Number of Enrolled Students: 221177
Details: Charter school students are required to take state assessments, including the upcoming high school exit exam. The charter school is exempt from state and local education rules and regulations, except as specified in the legislation. Web Communities: California Charter Schools Association Discussions: California Discussion Group

Key Contacts

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Eric Premack
Co-Director
Institute for Educational Reform
Cal State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street, Room 327
Sacramento, California 95819
Ph: (916) 278-6069
Fx: (916) 278-4094
CSDC@calstate.edu

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Lance Izumi
Director, CSR
Pacific Research Institute
1414 K Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, California 95814
Ph: (916) 448-1926
Fx: (916) 448-3856
lizumi@pacificresearch.org

Legislative Summary
Law:   California Charter Schools Laws, Regulations, and Policies

Amendment(s):   page, which contains general documentation of the recent legislative changes in California's charter school law, as well as a Charter School News page, which contains updates on CA charter school issues by IER staff.'> Recent amendments to the charter school law, which was put into effect January, 2003, include provisions such as new geographic restrictions for charter schools, new authority for county offices of education, as well as changes to funding and facilities. The CSU Institute for Education Reform has posted a California's Revised Charter School Laws page, which contains general documentation of the recent legislative changes in California's charter school law, as well as a Charter School News page, which contains updates on CA charter school issues by IER staff.

Authorizers:   Local school board or county board of education. The state board of education may approve charter schools operating in multiple sites throughout the state. If all sites are within a given county, the petition for the charter must go to the county board.

Length of charter:   up to 5 years

Caps on number of schools:   250 schools in 1998-99, with 100 additional charters allowed per year.

Funding:   General purpose and categorical funding for charter schools is comparable with other public schools, and charter schools may receive funds directly from the state.