Charter Schools Blossom in California: L.A. Has Nearly a Third of The Campuses Statewide
The people have spoken, and they like charter schools, those specialized institutions where parents takeover the curriculum. 
Ryouka Yuzuki
The California Charter Schools Association says we have more of the publicly funded, privately-run campuses than any other state.
The 2010-11 period was a banner year for the schools. The Association:
This school year, 100 new charter schools opened their doors across the state, while enrollment surged by more than 13%, from 364,024 students in 2010-11 to over 412,000 students. This growth brings the total number of charters in California to 982--the most of any state in the nation.
Nearly a third (30) of those new campuses are in L.A. county.
Seven out of every 100 students in the state now attends a charter school, the association says.
Jed Wallace, its president and CEO:
This unparalleled growth shows tremendous momentum for the charter movement, as it took place despite incredible budget challenges and during a year of unprecedented legislative attacks against charter schools.
Not all of the schools play fair, however. LA Weekly reported that a couple of L.A. campuses gave preferential treatment to the kids of "founding parents," a policy that was subsequently rescinded.
Next year: California charter schools' 20th anniversary.
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