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Charter School Growth Reaches Record Levels in States
posted by: Cindy Omlin | June 13, 2012, 07:42 PM   

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) reports that the new laws include measures to ease or eliminate arbitrary mandated caps on charter schools; create new, independent entities to authorize them; and help charters secure equitable funding or better facilities. While some states are more advanced than others, a whopping 42 states addressed some kind of charter school debate during their legislative session. Additionally, the state of Maine approved a measure in 2011 that allows for creation of charter schools, making it the 41st state to allow charter schools to operate.

According to experts, the legislative traffic is a good sign for the overall health and stability of the charter school movement. States are doing the heavy lifting that that will "significantly move the ball on charters," said Todd Ziebarth, NAPCS vice president for state advocacy and support. The laws are "marrying changes that allow more charters to changes that strengthen accountability."

While impressive, the growth is still being outpaced by need. Based on a national survey of charter schools, NAPCS estimates that there are currently 610,000 students on waiting lists to attend charter schools. That number is up from two years ago when estimates put the figure at 420,000 students. As it stands today, public charter schools serve 2 million students in 5,600 schools nationwide.

For a look at the breakdown of legislation, NAPCS released the following summary:

alliancechart

NAPCS released the legislative figures to coincide with the 2012 National Charter Schools Conference to be held next week in Minnesota, the home of the first charter school. AAE is looking forward to exhibiting at the conference and spreading the word about the pro-charter professional option for association membership.

What do you think about the charter school movement's growth?
Comment below.

Originall posted by Alix at AAE.

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