Report Shows How California Charter Schools Break the Law by Choosing Their Students
Charter schools are established and regulated primarily in state law, and there is wide variation in degree to which state legislatures protected the rights of children and families back in the mid-1990s when this new education sector emerged across the states. California’s legislature seems to have taken more care than some other states to protect the rights of children and families in charter schools, but the ACLU of Southern California and Public Advocates have just published a report that exposes poor implementation of the law. The report puts Californians on notice that selection screens being imposed by charter schools are illegal under California law; some of these practices even violate federal civil rights statutes. The joint report of the Southern California ACLU and Public Advocates, Unequal Access: How Some California Charter Schools Illegally Restrict Enrollment, explains exactly what the law says and tells parents how to go about filing complaints when their rights are violated. The report also challenges charter school authorizers and the California Department of Education to enforce the law.
The report explains: “Charter schools are governed by fewer rules than traditional public schools; they have the flexibility to develop unique learning environments and pursue innovative pedagogical approaches. However, under California law… charter schools still must accept all students who apply if space permits. If the school is at capacity, it must use a random lottery to select students. In California, charter schools may not deny admission to students who have struggled academically in their previous schools or push out students who do not meet certain performance standards. Indeed, charters should embrace those students because they may benefit most from the schools’ innovative educational philosophies.” Merely based on their websites, 253 California Charter schools were identified by the Southern California ACLU and Public Advocates as currently violating California law. Because the authors investigated only violations apparent on charter schools’ websites, the report’s authors declare: “The policies identified in this report are likely only the tip of the iceberg.”
The report describes charter schools whose websites present barriers like completing eighth Report Shows How California Charter Schools Break the Law by Choosing Their Students | janresseger:
