After gaining control of just a handful of campuses during the inaugural run of Los Angeles Unified's "Public School Choice" plan, charter leaders vow to fare better during the second round of the reform effort.

Approved in the summer of 2009, the plan lets independent charters, nonprofit agencies and community organizations compete against district teacher- and administrator-led groups to run new and underperforming public schools.

Final applications are due Wednesday from those interested in competing for the 13 Los Angeles Unified campuses up for bid.

Charter advocates say they have developed a more cohesive and strategic approach to the contest this time around, which they think will earn them support from parents, community members and school board members.

"The charter community is aligned behind an approach that, unquestionably, is bringing great quality operators (and) terrific applications," said Jed Wallace, president of California Charter Schools Association. (It's an approach) that will engage the community and parents at a whole other level.

"Should the results of this round not be significantly different, then I think it would lead many to question