Calif. Bill Would Threaten Charter School Creation

Would require consent from unionized teachers and staff

A bill requiring charter school supporters to seek consent from both unionized school employees and teachers before establishing charter schools recently passed the California state Assembly, creating a potential roadblock to future charter school expansion.

Currently, to create a new charter school at least 50 percent of parents expecting to enroll their children in the school or 50 percent of teachers expecting to work at the school must approve the charter petition. To convert an existing public school to a charter school, at least half the teachers working at the school must sign the petition.

Under the new bill, at least 50 percent of teachers and school staff, including custodians and cafeteria workers, will need to support both the conversion of public to charter schools and the establishment of new charter schools in order for either process to occur.