Charter Schools

An overhead view shows three people standing and talking on a patterned tile floor inside an ornate building. Decorative light fixtures with glowing bulbs hang between wooden railings, casting warm light over the geometric floor tiles as the group gathers near the edge of a balcony.

Politics

What did California lawmakers talk about this year? These 10 bills sparked hours of debate

California lawmakers only spent just a few minutes discussing in public the hundreds of bills they introduce. But these 10 measures had hours of intense debate in 2025.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• December 29, 2025

Students wearing red and beige uniforms sit on the floor of a classroom as they look up at a teacher pointing to a projected lesson on a whiteboard.

Commentary

Charter schools need reform. This proposal could kneecap them

Lawmakers are considering creating an inspector general role just to oversee charter schools. It might slow the charter school movement.

By

Dan Walters

• July 11, 2025

Students, wearing red and light brown uniforms, raise they hand while they sit in front of desks in a classroom.

Commentary

California’s war over charter schools rages on in court

Los Angeles Unified School District wants to "avoid" charter schools taking over several hundred district buildings. A judge may decide if that's legal.

By

Dan Walters

• May 29, 2025

A person wearing a white face mask and with their back facing the camera looks to their right side as they stand in middle of charred remains and burnt building at a school. Two brick walls remain standing nearby.

K-12 Education

A beloved Altadena school, destroyed in the Eaton fire, looks to the future

School officials are scrambling to find an alternate site for its campus while trying to support families, nearly half of whom lost their homes in the fire.

By

Carolyn Jones

• January 27, 2025

A police officer leads a student across a busy street near a school after reports of a shooting.

Capitol

When should police be involved at school? A California bill would let teachers make the call

In the final week of session, legislators are debating whether to give more leeway to public school teachers when to report students to law enforcement. Supporters say disabled and students of color are unfairly disciplined, but opponents say school safety is at risk.

By

Jenna Peterson

• August 26, 2024

Students at a classroom at St. HOPE’s Public School 7 Elementary in Sacramento on May 11, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

California charter school battles intensify as education finances get squeezed

California public school financing has been clobbered in recent years, and intensified a long-running battle over charter schools.

By

Dan Walters

• April 25, 2024

Commentary

Orange County feud shows how school boards became a key front for culture wars

A long-running feud between Orange County's elected schools superintendent and its school board exemplifies how public education has become a major venue for culture war clashes.

By

Dan Walters

• March 5, 2024

Commentary

Parents, not unions, know what’s best for their children

California’s homeschool charter schools put power and control in the hands of parents, so that they decide how best to improve the learning of their kids.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 10, 2021

Commentary

California schools should spend their extra $15 billion on students

The massive influx of one-time federal aid should be used to make up for lost learning time and emotional setbacks students experienced when schools were closed during the pandemic.

By

Guest Commentary

• July 22, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

California’s charter school war flares up again

California's perpetual conflict over charter schools flared up again this year, resulting in a temporary truce.

By

Dan Walters

• June 13, 2021