| Half of state authorized charters failed to meet performance targets |
By Tom Chorneau
Friday, October 25, 2013
Oh Yes, Just as good a neighborhood Public Schools?
Check CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS Web Site for more Details
Of the 23 charter schools operating under an authorization issued by the California State Board of Education, slightly more than half met their 2013 academic growth targets – but 11 scored at or above the state’s performance benchmark of 800 on the Academic Performance Index.
According to a new report from the California Department of Education, two of the state board charters achieved the second highest API within their county –while one, the New West Charter School located in West Los Angeles, attained an API score of 910.
The state board has authority to approve charter applications and act as the oversight agency. The network of state board charters spiked during the term of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as the first years of Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration to more than 30.
Today, the state board is responsible for 19 charters operating at 23 sites statewide. Six of the schools – operated by Aspire Public Schools under a statewide benefit charter approved by the board in 2007 – were reauthorized at the local level following a protracted legal fight with the organization led by California Teachers Association.
Two other charters – Pacific Technology located in the Sacramento area and the Doris Topsy-Elvord Academy, located in Long Beach – lost SBE authorization and closed at the end of the 2012-13 school year after being unable