California Charter Group Gets Tough on Charters

Association calls for shutting down 10 schools that fall short of its standards

One organization that has taken an unusually public stance in lobbying for the closure of underperforming charters is the California Charter Schools Association , a statewide advocacy group.

The association late last year called for the nonrenewal and closure of 10 charters that did not meet the organization’s standards for academic performance, as measured by growth in student achievement, comparisons with schools serving similar populations, and other factors.

Those standards drew praise from some quarters, including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who said in a statement that charter leaders need to “hold their schools accountable,” and called the association a “true...