A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

       FOR RELEASE                               Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico     September 12, 1996                                 (202) 401-1576                                               Program Contact: John Fiegel                                                                (202) 260-2671

California Gets Additional Support for Charter Schools

"As the fastest growing reform movement of the 1990s, charter schools provide one good way for communities to roll up their sleeves and move forward -- with charter in hand -- to transform public schools into hubs of innovation and flexibility with public accountability," Riley said.

"Teachers, parents, communities, and many others are providing good ideas and legwork while taking responsibility for student performance, fiscal soundness and responsiveness to community needs. Publicly chartered schools and public school choice -- centered on raising student achievement -- are bright lights in community efforts to improve teaching and learning."

Charter schools are public schools under contract, or charter, from a public agency to groups of parents, teachers, school administrators or others who want to create more alternatives and choice within the public school system. These are public schools, with no tuition and open to all students, that are designed to be publicly accountable, but also effective, creative, flexible and responsive to students' and parents' needs.

Most charter schools do not limit admissions based on achievement or aptitude. Charter schools may not be religiously affiliated and must abide by civil rights, health and safety laws. The schools also must meet standards set forth in their charters for students and the school as a whole, or they risk losing the charters.

Under the Public Charter Schools Program, proposed by President Clinton in 1993 and passed into law in 1994 as part of the Improving America's Schools Act, states conduct competitions and award sub grants to provide start up funds for new or recently established charter schools. These funds help pay for planning, design and start up costs -- areas often identified as critical for successful charter schools.

Last year California held a competition and 16 applications were recommended for funding under a $727,413 charter schools grant from the U.S. Department of Education. State school officials report that more than a dozen additional awards will be made from applications received during that competition, using the new funding, as well as funds left over from last year. A new competition this year is expected to result in some 20 additional awards.

Examples of charter schools in California include:

• the Accelerated Charter School in South Central, Los Angeles, was created by the school district, county education office, and California State University L.A. The school selects its own staff, manages its own funds, and is directed by community and business leaders, parents and a special council. In one year, math scores have risen more than 40 percent, reading scores are up 20 percent among the high poverty student body, parents volunteer hundreds of hours, and the school maintains a long waiting list for admission.

• the International Studies Academy in San Francisco operates as a magnet school and draws a diverse population of disadvantaged and limited English proficient students. The curriculum focuses on international issues including commerce, trade and tourism, and students may pursue an International Baccalaureate diploma. Governed by a council of students, staff and community members, the school has among its partners the Coalition of Essential Schools and Coopers and Lybrand. School officials report a lower dropout rate and higher daily attendance since becoming a charter school.

Last year's charter school support is helping start up about 200 charter schools in 11 states. In addition, Goals 2000, Title I and other federal funds can be used to support charter schools, and to share lessons learned with other schools. At least three states -- Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota -- use Goals 2000 funds for charter schools.

Riley said that in coming weeks, 10 new and 10 continuation grants totaling nearly $17 million will be awarded to 20 states to support start up and development of hundreds of additional charter schools.

The Clinton Administration requested $40 million for the charter schools program in Fiscal Year 1997, but the U.S. House of Representatives cut that request by more than half, providing just $18 million. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee has recommended $21 million for FY97. Congress has not competed final work on an FY97 budget.

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