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California Charter Schools

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MORE THAN
1992

Year charter school law was enacted

MORE THAN
1

Estimated number of charter schools in 2020-2021

MORE THAN
1

Estimated number of charter school students in 2020-2021

Find a California charter school near you.

State Association

California Charter Schools Association

Los Angeles, CA

(213) 492-4300 | Email | Website

 

Charter Schools Development Center

Sacramento, CA

(916) 538-6612 | Email | Website

Most of the nearly 10,600 public schools in California are operated by one of the state’s 977 school districts. Charter schools account for 1,334 of the state’s public schools, which operate with more autonomy than district schools. Charter schools operate under a contract with an authorizer, either the state’s public education authority or a school district. 

Schools chartered by a district have more autonomy than other district schools but are still part of their local district. Currently, any California district can authorize charter schools. All state-chartered schools in California are authorized by the state’s public education authority and serve as their own Local Education Agency (LEA).

*information up to date as of 2022

“The genius of the charter school is to welcome a whole range of possibilities and let the local school decide. Therefore, the more that we devolve authority closer to the classroom, the more real and effective we’ll be and that’s the whole essence of what I see of the charter school movement.”

Charter school founder and former California Governor Jerry Brown

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Memorial Gifts

Contact Celia Hagerman at [email protected] or 202-600-8994.

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Commemorative Gifts

Contact Celia Hagerman at [email protected] or 202-600-8994.

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STAY INFORMED

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Wire Transfers

For questions regarding wire transfers, please email of call Celia Hagerman at [email protected] or 202-600-8994.

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Gifts of Stock

For questions regarding stock, please email of call Celia Hagerman at [email protected] or 202-600-8994.

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Matching Gifts

If you or your spouse work for a company that provides matching gifts, you can make an even bigger impact! To have your gift matched, you must submit your company’s completed matching gift form.

Please send all completed matching gift forms to:

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
800 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006.

If this donation will be potentially matched, please provide the company name.

Advocates Council

Contact Celia Hagerman at [email protected] or 202-600-8994.

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Legacy Society

Contact Celia Hagerman at [email protected] or 202-600-8994 to learn more about the Legacy Society or for any other inquiries regarding planned giving.