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Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools typically run by nonprofit organizations, and have more flexibility and autonomy than regular public schools. California has over 1,300 charter schools— serving a little more than 1 in 10 of California’s public school students. In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom engineered major reforms of California's 1992 charter school legislation -- at the time the second of its kind in the nation. Those reforms are intended to bring more transparency and oversight of the charter school sector.

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California charter school oversight bill faces challenges, future uncertain

December 12, 2025

The non-passage of a bill means that a moratorium on new nonclassroom-based charter schools will expire on Jan. 1, which could lead to a rise in fraud and financial mismanagement.

Kathryn Baron

Highlands charter leaders make the case for keeping school open

December 4, 2025

The new leaders of Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools are working to rebuild trust after a state audit found former administrators took ineligible state funds, hired uncredentialed teachers and wasted taxpayer money on costly leases and gifts.

Diana Lambert

Twin Rivers Unified board vote puts Highlands Community Charter's future in jeopardy

November 7, 2025

The Twin Rivers Unified school board voted to hold a public hearing on Dec. 2 to decide whether to close Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools, which was found to have misspent $180 million in K-12 funding, eliminated 11th grade to avoid state testing and paid leases on properties not used for instruction.

Diana Lambert

Fresno's Golden Charter Academy blends academics and nature-based learning

October 17, 2025

The school has earned a reputation for empowering students through community-based projects and student-centered approaches.

Lasherica Thornton

Newsom veto stalls California’s push to curb charter school fraud

October 15, 2025

The bipartisan oversight bill was rejected as “too costly” and overlooks some of the recommendations by a task force, leaving reforms on hold until 2026.

Kathryn Baron

These are the education bills Gov. Newsom signed or vetoed

October 13, 2025

California lawmakers passed several education bills in the final days of the legislative session. Most but not all got the governor's signature.

EdSource staff

Commentary

Los Angeles Unified's charter school war harms everyone. It's time to stop

September 29, 2025

Charter school fights in Los Angeles are not really about control of space, but about money. In terms of student outcomes, the deeper concern is the wasted time, energy, resources and dedication that characterize this war.

Jennifer L. Hochschild

Lawmakers pass sweeping charter school anti-fraud bill

September 15, 2025

The reforms in Senate Bill 414 include more stringent auditing requirements for charter schools and a new Office of the Inspector General to investigate allegations of fraud in all public schools. A competing bill, held over to next year, could add more restrictions.

Kathryn Baron

Commentary

Small charter schools need more literacy support

September 14, 2025

California's budget includes $215 million to train and hire literacy coaches, but charter schools need targeted funding and access to effective reading development tools to ensure that all students have the opportunity to achieve literacy.

Maria Aguilera

The California education bills that made it to Newsom's desk, and those that didn't

September 14, 2025

California lawmakers passed several education bills in the final hours of the legislative session, including measures to reduce antisemitism in schools, increase oversight of charter schools and ban ultra-processed foods in school meals.

EdSource staff

Infighting threatens to derail bills to prevent charter school fraud

September 11, 2025

Education labor unions and charter schools each are backing their own measures to impose tighter controls and regulations.

Kathryn Baron

How a charter school serving adults became embroiled in scandal and sparked calls for reform

September 11, 2025

An audit found the charter received millions in funding for which it was not eligible, assigned teachers to classes they were not credentialed to teach, and avoided standardized testing, in addition to spending on items like a trip to Paris and leasing a ballpark.

Zaidee Stavely

Former Sacramento superintendent takes charge at troubled charter school

September 4, 2025

Jonathan Raymond has taken the reins of Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools, which was recently the subject of a critical state audit. He is asking the state to allow the school to continue educating adults who are trying to better themselves and their families.

Diana Lambert

How a Sacramento charter school misused $180 million and became a poster child for reform

September 3, 2025

Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools in Sacramento has been found to have misused $180 million in K-12 funds, hired unqualified teachers, and wasted taxpayer money, leading to increased scrutiny of charter school oversight.

Diana Lambert

Commentary

Don’t dismantle highly effective public charter school programs in the name of accountability

August 20, 2025

CORE Butte is a tuition-free public charter school that provides trauma-informed care and mental health support to its students, but its funding is threatened by Assembly Bill 84, which would devalue its personalized education model and reduce state funding.

Mary Cox
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