January 15, 2011

California Parent Empowerment Act, Proposed Text

California’s new parent empowerment law permits parents at failing schools to request significant changes to school operations, including bringing in a charter school operator to run the school. The law went into effect in September 2010; schools that have failed to make “adequate yearly progress” can be forced to make changes requested by 51% of parents at the school. In addition to requesting a charter school takeover, the changes can include closing the school, or replacing the principal, teachers, or other administrative changes. Charter schools taking over a campus at parent request must accept all students at the school.