ORANGE

Two private companies will offer proposals for charter schools to Orange Unified School District officials tonight. Both American Charter School Inc. and Opportunities for Learning are based in La Canada, and both want to target troubled students who have dropped out or who are in academic trouble.

Both companies are part of a surge of charter school applicants that came with a change in state law in January. Legislators increased the number of charters statewide from 100 to 250 and said that districts may deny petitions based only on educational merits. The district must grant or deny the proposal within 60 days. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at district headquarters, 1401 N. Handy St. Information: (714) 628-4035.