A controversial charter school regulation has been moving through the California legislature and was heard yesterday at the Senate Education Committee’s public hearing yesterday. 

The competition charter schools have presented to public schools has long been a source of tension between advocates on either side of the debate.

Under the current system, county and state boards of education can override petitions denied by districts on appeal and school districts cannot deny a charter application on the basis of fiscal impact a new charter would have on the district. 

If passed into law, AB 1505 would grant local districts the sole authority to approve charter school applications in their districts. 

We hear from proponents and opponents of the bill on how the proposed rule would impact California public schools as early as next year. 

Guests:

Louis Freedberg, executive director of EdSource, an Oakland-based nonprofit journalism publication reporting on key education issues in California and the nation

Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), a coauthor of AB 1505 ; state senator representing California’s 9th Senate District, which includes the cities of Alameda, Berkeley, and San Pablo

Myrna Castrejon, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) who continue to oppose AB1505.