Susan Bragato, 47; Founded State Charter School Organization
Susan Bragato, 47, founder and former executive director of the California Network of Education Charters (precursor to the California Charter Schools Assn.), died Wednesday of breast cancer at her home in the Bay Area city of San Carlos.
In 1994, she helped start California’s first public charter school, the San Carlos Charter Learning Center. There are now more than 180,000 California students attending charter schools, which operate independently from a school district and are exempt from many state education regulations in the expectation that they will improve student achievement.
Bragato also helped organize the annual California Charter Schools conferences.
A native of Long Beach, she earned degrees in political science and journalism from Pepperdine University.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
