Law & Courts

L.A. District, Charter Groups Settle Facilities Lawsuit

By Ann Bradley — February 14, 2008 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The Los Angeles school board approved Tues. Feb. 12 the settlement of a lawsuit over charter school facilities that is expected to smooth the way for the independently run but publicly funded schools to find space in the district.

The proposed settlement would end two lawsuits brought by the California Charter Schools Association and two charter-management organizations operating in the Los Angeles Unified School District. They are Green Dot Public Schools and Partnerships to Uplift Communities.

In their lawsuits, filed last May, the groups argued that charters’ access to facilities in California is granted by Proposition 39, a state ballot measure passed by voters in 2000. The law mandates that districts share public school facilities fairly among all public school students, including those attending charter schools.

See Also

For more stories on this topic see Charters & Choice.

The charter operators said the 708,000-student district had either denied or made unreasonable offers to 57 of the 59 requests for facilities made by charter schools over a two-year period. The proposed settlement, which must be approved by the parents who were parties to the suits and by the boards of the charter organizations involved, says that every charter school that applies to the district for facilities would receive an offer of space at a district site.

Finding adequate space for such schools has been a major issue for charter operators nationwide. (“Help for Charters in Race for Space,” Feb. 13, 2008.)

The proposed agreement in Los Angeles comes at a key time for the district. With some 128 charter schools in operation, it is already home to more charter schools than any other school district in the country.

Last month, the foundation of philanthropist and businessman Eli Broad donated $23.3 million to help three groups—the Knowledge Is Power Program, Aspire Public Schools, and Pacific Charter School Development Inc.—start 17 more charter schools in the district.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Improving Outcomes on State Assessments with Data-Driven Strategies
State testing is around the corner! Join us as we discuss how teachers can use formative data to drive improved outcomes on state assessments.
Content provided by Instructure
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Equity & Diversity Webinar
Classroom Strategies for Building Equity and Student Confidence
Shape equity, confidence, and success for your middle school students. Join the discussion and Q&A for proven strategies.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Disrupting PD Day in Schools with Continuous Professional Learning Experiences
Hear how this NC School District achieved district-wide change by shifting from traditional PD days to year-long professional learning cycles
Content provided by BetterLesson

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Law & Courts After 50 Years, a U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Educational Equity Is Still Debated
In a school finance case from Texas, the justices held that the wealth of districts was not subject to extra constitutional scrutiny.
12 min read
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen at near sunset in Washington, on Oct. 18, 2018.
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen at near sunset in Washington, on Oct. 18, 2018.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo
Law & Courts Florida Law Requiring Gun Buyers to Be 21 Is Upheld
A federal appeals court said the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act is consistent with the Second Amendment.
4 min read
Audriana Lima, 14, a current freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, visits a display of portraits of the 17 students and staff who were killed in a school shooting five years earlier, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Fla. Family members, neighbors, and well-wishers turned out to multiple events Tuesday to honor the lives of those killed on Valentine's Day 2018.
Audriana Lima, 14, a current freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, visits a display of portraits of the 17 students and staff who were killed in a school shooting five years earlier, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Fla.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Law & Courts Opinion A Student Journalist's Plea: Stop Censoring Us (and Our Advisers)
High school newspaper staff deserve the same rights as professionals: to uncover wrongdoings and inform the public.
Serena Liu
4 min read
Image of a speech bubble behind yellow tape, a censorship concept
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock/Getty Images
Law & Courts Oxford Schools and Staff Have Immunity in Shooting Lawsuits, Judge Rules
A judge ruled that staff at Oxford High School cannot be sued for a shooting that killed four students and wounded seven others.
3 min read
A well wisher kneels to pray at a memorial on the sign of Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. A 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at the school, killing several students and wounding multiple other people, including a teacher.
A well wisher kneels to pray at a memorial on the sign of Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich.
Paul Sancya/AP