State board re-examines statewide rights for charters
The State Board of Education will hold a public hearing today to discuss what has become a thorny question: Under what circumstances should a charter school company be allowed to bypass local district control and operate statewide?
The board has granted statewide status to three charter school organizations since 2006: High Tech High, Pacific Technology School and Aspire Public Schools.
The privilege is a boon to charters. It allows the organizations to start schools wherever they see fit in California, without the risk of being rejected by local school authorities. Some charters see state oversight as better for them financially. Aspire, for example, has been able to pass millions in bonds to build their own buildings since acquiring statewide operating status – something that would be nearly impossible to do under the control of a school district.
Under the law, charters can be granted statewide privileges only after proving their services are a "statewide
