Charter Schools

1919 E. Pinecrest Dr.

Altadena, CA 91001

(626) 797-1440

Director:  Ian McFeat

 

575 W. Altadena Dr. 

Altadena, CA 91001

(626) 797-1438

Director:  Ian McFeat

 

3544 Canon Ave.

Altadena, CA 91001

(626) 797-7704

Director: Shawn Brown

 

90 N. Daisy Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 564-9890 

Director:  Mikala Rahn

 

119 W. Palm Street 

Altadena, CA 91001

(626) 209-5635

Director: Carlos Garcia Saldaña

 

Charter schools are independent public schools of choice that operate to educate children in grades K-12.  They are founded by an individual or group of educators.  They are operated independent of government agencies - like the local school district.  They are not governed by the local school board of education, but have their own board of directors who are individuals, and community leaders appointed by the charter school. 

 

Founders must obtain a charter, the specific contractual authority to run the charter school.  The charter school must petition the local school board to authorize the charter.   They must be approved to operate their charter by the local school board or another authorizer established under state law. The local school district and county board of education provide oversight responsibility over charter schools and review the progress of charter schools.

 

Though independent, charter schools must ensure accountability to the local school district.  Schools must meet strict academic performance standards and other goals agreed to in the charter, and must successfully manage school finances and operations.  Charter schools are required to participate in the statewide assessment test. The basic concept of charter schools is that they exercise increased autonomy in return for this accountability. 

 

 

State laws and regulations governing charter schools vary widely. NEA's state affiliates have positions on charter schools that are appropriate to the situation in their states. NEA's policy statement sets forth broad parameters, and minimum criteria by which to evaluate state charter laws. For example:

• A charter should be granted only if the proposed school intends to offer an educational experience that is qualitatively different from what is available in traditional public schools. 
• Local school boards should have the authority to grant or deny charter applications; the process should be open to the public, and applicants should have the right to appeal to a state agency decisions to deny or revoke a charter. 
• Charter school funding should not disproportionately divert resources from traditional public schools. 
• Charter schools should be monitored on a continuing basis and should be subject to modification or closure if children or the public interest is at risk. 
• Private schools should not be allowed to convert to public charter schools, and private for-profit entities should not be eligible to receive a charter. 
• Charter schools should be subject to the same public sector labor relations statutes as traditional public schools, and charter school employees should have the same collective bargaining rights as their counterparts in traditional public schools.