Charter schools win court ruling

A Superior Court judge has affirmed the right of high-quality charter schools to open new campuses without first seeking approval from local school districts. The Thursday decision opened the door for charter schools in California districts that have barred them entirely, even though such blanket resistance to charters is illegal.

Although L.A. Unified has more charters than any district in the nation, some nearby district don’t have any.

The suit was brought by the California School Boards Assn. and the California Teachers Assn., among others. They had challenged regulations of the state Board of Education, which voted to make Aspire Public Schools a “statewide benefit charter.” This designation can also be extended to other charter organizations.

The lawsuit contended that the state board’s action infringed on local control, and the right of school districts to govern schools within their jurisdiction.

-- Howard Blume