Charter schools are one of the most vibrant sectors of the educational landscape, says Kirst.
Charter schools now enroll 7 percent of the state’s public school students, according to just-released figures.
“Charter schools are able to take on an expanding level of
responsibility for public school education in the state,” said Jed
Wallace, president of the California Charter Schools Association. Some
100 charter schools opened their doors this year, as EdSource reported last week.
The nearly 1,000 charter schools in California now serve 412,000 students, up from 364,000 students last year, according to the association.
The 48,000-student jump in statewide charter enrollment in a single
year is equivalent in size to a large urban school district.
But despite that robust growth charter schools will, for the
indefinite future, likely serve a relatively small proportion of
California’s young. The vast majority of the state’s children—some 93
percent—are still enrolled in regular public schools, underscoring the
need to continue to implement reforms that benefit all students.
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