The Debate in Los Angeles Over Charter Schools

LA School Board Vote. The vote that received far more attention, drawing hundreds of protesters and hours of public comment, was more symbol than policy: a resolution calling on the state to enact a moratorium on new charter schools while studying their impact.

The resolution has no legal impact; only the State Legislature has the authority to enact a moratorium or any other strict limits on charter schools. Ever since the deal was announced, charter school supporters have been playing defense, making a huge effort to persuade the school board to defeat the resolution. Such a defeat would have undermined Austin Beutner, the superintendent, who has consistently said he supports charter schools, but was willing to agree to the side deal on charter schools to end the strike.

“I do support strongly school choice for families and recognize charter schools are one of the options for a high-quality education,” Mr. Beutner said before the vote. “There is nothing in this resolution to close any existing charter schools or reduce the many choices available to families.”

As we reported this week, many prominent supporters of charter schools are back on their heels after a string of defeats, both here and in other parts of the country. Charter schools are publicly funded but privately run and generally are not unionized.

For years, the Los Angeles school board has enthusiastically embraced charter schools.

Several members of the current board received millions in donations from charter supporters. And the district has the largest number of students in charter schools in the country.

So what happens next? All eyes and energy will turn to Sacramento. Charter school supporters spent millions backing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s opponent, the former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in the primary. And the California Teachers Association, the statewide union, remains one of the most powerful lobbying forces in the Legislature. So after years of support, school-choice proponents may see yet more defeats in California this year. NY Times. California today