WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools filed an amicus brief in a case before the California State Supreme Court challenging the Los Angeles Unified School Districts failure to comply with Proposition 39. Voters approved Prop 39 more than a decade ago to ensure public charter schools receive equitable access to public school facilities. On behalf of Los Angeles charter schools, the California Charter Schools Association has sued L.A. Unified for not complying with Prop 39.
With more than 15,000 students in Los Angeles on waiting lists to attend charter schools, it is a shame to see L.A. Unified playing politics with their futures. All these families want is the opportunity to send their child to a high-quality school, said Nina Rees, President and CEO of the National Alliance. We have seen time and again that public charter schools are more effective at educating low-income and high-risk students than traditional public schools. And the disadvantaged children in L.A. waiting to attend good schools deserve better from their school district.
In the brief, the National Alliance describes the consequences of L.A. Unified’s failure to provide the reasonably equivalent facilities required by Prop 39:
Public charter schools across the state still are receiving inadequate Proposition 39 offers. As a result of these sub-par facilities offers, charter school growth is stunted. Simply put, many public charter schools cannot accept more students due to lack of space there is nowhere to put the students who seek to enroll. Districts are withholding available public school facilities in stark violation of California voters clear intent in passing Proposition 39.
Since Prop 39 went into effect, four California State Courts of Appeal have considered similar cases. All four were decided in favor of charter schools and ordered the school districts to comply with Prop 39’s requirements.
Charter schools across the country have proven their effectiveness and California is no exception. According to the California Charter Schools Association, 67 percent of California’s charter schools met student achievement targets on state tests in the 2009-2010 school year, compared to just 57 percent of non-charter schools.
L.A. Unified School District has the largest number of students attending public charter schools in the country, more than 120,000, or 18 percent of the students in the district. Even with that many charter schools in Los Angeles, there are still more than 15,000 children on waiting lists.
While it is encouraging that California voters passed Prop 39 back in 2000, the law is only helpful to students if it is followed. I hope the State Supreme Court will recognize the high stakes in this case and decide in favor of California voters and the students and families eagerly waiting to attend a public charter school, continued Rees.
About the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the public charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector. www.publiccharters.org.
