Even in Liberal California, School Choice Gets Thumbs Up:
A new poll shows that in one of the most liberal of states–California–charter schools are impressing voters by a wide margin, particularly among Latino parents. The Los Angeles Times reports:
The news of Californians’ favorable view of charter schools comes in what has been a banner year for school choice nationally. Heritage’s Lindsey Burke and Rachel Sheffield write that charter schools–which are publicly funded and free from many of the rules and bureaucracy governing traditional public schools–are growing in popularity. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, during the 2010–2011 school year, there were 5,277 charter schools in operation, representing 5.4 percent of all public schools. And demand for seats in those schools is high, with roughly 65 percent reporting waiting lists (up from 58 percent in 2008).
And there’s more good news. In 2011, twelve states created or expanded school choice options, and the District of Columbia’s Opportunity Scholarship Program was reauthorized. Burke and Sheffield detail the state of school choice in America today:
More though must be done to ensure that every child has access to a safe and effective school. And it’s up to Congress and state and local leaders to take action.
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