Brief Overview:
     California originally passed its charter school law in 1992 and now has 234 Charter Schools operating in the state. For a complete list of schools, see the California Department of Education's List of Charter Schools. In May 1998, and then again in 1999, California's charter school laws were revised.

                                                                      

Legislative Summary:
     Passed in 1992 and amended in both 1998 and 1999, California's charter school law allows for an unlimited number of charters to be granted by local school districts and county boards, but set a statewide cap of 250 in 1998-99, with 100 additional charters allowed per year. Charter terms are up to 5 years. General purpose and categorical funding for charter schools is comparable with other public schools, and charter schools may receive funds directly from the state. Charter school students are required to take state assessments, including the upcoming high school exit exam. The charter school is exempt from state and local education rules and regulations, except as specified in the legislation. 

     The CSU Institute for Education Reform has posted a California's Revised Charter School Laws page, which contains general documentation of the recent legislative changes in California's charter school law, as well as a Charter School News page, which contains updates on CA charter school issues by IER staff.

   An on-line version of the original California Charter Schools Act of 1992, as well as other California charter school codes, are available from the California Department of Education.