By Miriam Raftery

July 6, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Three nonprofit charter schools operating within the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) have been ordered shut down by a judge, but now a stay issued has been ordered for one year until an appeal can be heard. 

The schools at risk of closure are Diego Valley East charter in El Cajon and San Diego Workforce Innovation High charter schools in Lakeside and Lemon Grove. 

By Ricardo Cano, CALMatters

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.

Photo:  Teachers unions rallied in Sacramento as the Assembly narrowly passed part of a package of charter school reforms. Photo for CALmatters by Ricardo Cano

May 23, 2019 (Sacramento) - Legislation that would give local school districts more control over charter-school authorizations narrowly passed the California State Assembly Wednesday in a dramatic vote that served as an initial litmus test for a package of consequential, union-backed charter regulation bills.

$142.6 million net loss in three Calif. districts, while student needs go unmet

East County News Service

May 9, 2018 (San Diego) -- In a first-of-its-kind analysis, researchers found that public school students are bearing the cost of charter schools’ rapid expansion in San Diego and other school districts throughout the state. 

The analysis, Breaking Point: The Cost of Charter Schools for Public School Districts, conducted by think tank In the Public Interest with Dr. Gordon Lafer, examines the cumulative effect of charter schools on California school districts, which rank 42nd nationwide in per pupil spending. 

East County News Service

April 17, 2017 (Sacramento) -- A California bill aims to crack down on profiteering by private charter schools that have been pocketing public funds while providing a poor quality education to students, Cal Matters reports.

November 1, 2012  --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• The end is near (Turko Files helps bring end to Alpine Blvd. repaving nightmare)
• The Mayoral candidate scorecard, general election edition (Voice of San Diego)
• For Filner, it’s always sunny in San Diego  (Voice of San Diego)
• Filner’s travel becomes campaign issue(UT San Diego)
• The 2012 elections:  vital issues that affect Latinos (San Diego Free Press)
• Supervisors could end $1,000 limit on contributions (KPBS)
• Helix Highlander band takes first place (La Mesa Today)
• Tesla stores challenge auto dealerships (U-T San Diego)
• ACLU sues over photo restrictions at border (Sacramento Bee)
• Spring Valley grocery worker is poster child for New York Times story (La Mesa Patch)
• From Sex Dolls to Staged Garbage: The Election's Worst Campaign Dirt

STATE

• Debunked: 6 lies that Biotech and Big Food are telling voters about Prop 37 (San Diego Free Press)
• CA Charter schools grow to over 1,000 for 2012-13 (U-T San Diego)
• Court says Arizona group must provide information in CA election (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

Flurry of new charter approvals raises questions over state funding priorities in an era of budget shortfalls

East County Magazine Special Report

By Miriam Raftery

 

August 5, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – In the 2009-2010 school year, California approved more than 88 new charter schools at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Recent charters approved include middle schools opening in districts that already have schools with high academic achievements--new charters with oversight provided by a district with middle school test scores that rank in the bottom 10% statewide.

These findings, discovered by East County Magazine, raise serious questions about budget priorities at a time when the state faces a $20 billion deficit.  What are the long-range consequences of approving numerous charters, all entitled to a portion of public education funds?