By Andrew Sheeler and Hannah Wiley | Sacramentio Bee
Charter school advocates packed a Capitol hearing Wednesday to protest a package of bills supported by teachers’ unions that would limit the opening of new charter campuses.
The bills are part of a legislative push to restrict charter schools that has already produced a win. Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that forces charter schools to hold open meetings and adhere to state open records laws.
But a set of three Assembly bills would go further by handing greater control of charter schools to local school districts in the state and by placing a statewide cap on the number of charter schools.
At an Assembly Education Committee hearing, Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell said successful and legally operating charter schools have nothing to fear. His Assembly Bill 1505 would give school districts more power to reject charter school applications.
