In the Los Angeles charter school victory, a judge defeated a tough Los Angeles unification policy that would prevent the Charter (a school chosen by one in five Los Angeles public school students) from using classroom space on nearly 350 campuses.
The policy will take effect when the new school year opens within three weeks, effectively banning charter schools from moving to campus, including those who offer special programs for black students, underperforming “priority” schools and community schools that have packaged services to meet the needs of students in and out of the classroom.
A total of about 346 campuses (about 1,000) will have no restrictions on the charter of private public schools.
The key elements of the highly regarded school district policy that ruled was invalid, which was supported by a board majority, but the charter fought fiercely, and they denied them deprived of the state of space allowed in public school facilities.
California Charter School Assn. “This is a victory for all public school families and a critical affirmation of the rights of students in chartered public schools in Los Angeles,” said Myrna Castrejón, president and CEO.
“We thank the court for recognizing that Lausd’s blatant attempt to exclude charter public school students from communities that learn with traditional district school students, who share a violation of California law,” Castrejón said.
Los Angeles Unified has 235 Charters, more than any other school system in the country.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephen I. LA Unified is still able to limit the location of the charter based on security or capability issues.
“We are very satisfied with most aspects of the court’s ruling,” the statement said. The Charter Association “has seriously misunderstood the smooth language of policy and the rulings of last month. We remain firmly committed to serving the best interests of all students in our school community while continuing to fulfill our legal obligations.”
The district has not yet decided whether to challenge the ruling.
The struggle to go to school has been a long time for decades – there are a series of lawsuits. However, in the 1990s, before the legal challenges, charter schools provided a unified escape valve for overcrowded traditional public schools. But when the Charter exercises the legal right to use these crowded public school campuses, the Charter meets with the United and other political oppositions. The charter is mostly non-union and receives public funds per capita just like traditional California public school students.
Charter growth, housing affordability, lower birth rates and immigration declines have reduced uniform enrollment rates by about 50% from its peak. In theory, classroom space should be suitable for everyone, but competition for a few students is still fierce.
And, supporters of traditional schools say their campuses need more space to operate expanded programs to help students succeed. They say it is unfair to determine what can be handed over to the old formula of the charter and undermine their work, especially the important efforts of Black student achievement programs, prioritizing schools and community schools.
But many charter schools are also state designated community schools, and the Los Angeles Federation has taken no action to protect its special status and mission.
Although enrollment rates for operating schools in the district are also falling faster, the charter is also closed or closed or merged with fewer students.
The ruling reached a particularly challenging period for the Charter and regional operation of campus periods.
The Trump administration (although it is pro-chart) desperately struggled to equation. Los Angeles charter schools and school districts have linked weapons to defend immigrant students and their families. Federal budget cuts are affecting all public schools.
“You’re watching federal funding … it could be disrupted, and that’s affecting some of our most popular kids,” said Amy Held, executive director of Larchmont Charter School. Federal immigration enforcement “affected attendance. It affects graduation rituals. I don’t think it’s healthy for anyone.”
Keith Dell’aquila, vice president of the Charter Association, said in this common crisis. “The area has been a great partner for our schools and our families…whether it helps to share and expand resources, [or] Willing to answer the phone and consult. ”
How to say the law
California law grants charter schools the right to obtain public school facilities that are “equivalent” to other public school students. The law also establishes a process through which charter schools can demand space and pay rent to the district.
Goorvitch concluded in a June 27 ruling. “To the maximum extent, the demands that must be given to charter schools are the same as those that operate schools in the district.”
Charter leaders have been concerned that with so many restrictions, they will be kicked out of the community and forced to run their schools from campuses operated by two or more districts instead of putting their student groups in one place.
Some of these problems were confirmed by a staff analysis of the school zoning.
“This could significantly limit the number of TK-12 school websites that are likely to match to meet the legal obligations of the region,” the analysis said. “There are likely to be more multi-site offers… This could also lead to increased costs associated with renovation work to prepare the site for authorization and to position the charter school in a ‘reasonable effort’ “where you are willing to find” it is more challenging for the region for the region.”
Charter critics oppose legal obligations imposed on public school districts to share campus spaces, which were established by voter-approved Proposition 39. They pointed out that mandatory campus sharing is a somewhat obvious claim to the 39 rule, which is mainly to lower the school building links approved by voter-approved instructors, which is mainly to lower the threshold.
According to Proposition 39, the Charter cannot be banned from campus, nor can it simply leave leftovers in campus space.
The sharing process is cumbersome and must be restarted every year. Over time, most charter schools have made other arrangements. Some have negotiated a multi-year sharing agreement with Los Angeles.
For the 2015-16 academic year, LA Unified received 101 requests. For the upcoming 2025-26 school year, the region received 38 requests, which is a huge drop, but there is still a number representing more than 9,300 students. Six of these charters must operate in more than one regional location.
