California Leads Nation in New Charter Schools
California opened the largest number of new charter schools in the nation this year, a charter school organization announced today.
A total of 115 new charter schools opened in September, including five in Sonoma County, bringing the state's total to 912, according to the California Charter Schools Association. Of the new charters, 86 percent were start-ups and 14 percent were converted from traditional public schools.
Charters, which are publicly funded, but privately run schools, have proliferated over the last decade as an alternative to traditional public schools.
"This is an extraordinary time in the history of charter schools in California, as we are seeing unparalleled growth as the result of parents and communities clamoring for more choices," said Jed Wallace, president and chief