Charter schools - a major component of President Barack Obama's education reform crusade - appear to be thriving in California.
The California Charter Schools Association says that 88 new charter schools opened their doors this year, pushing the total to 809 schools and approximately 341,000 students or about 5 percent of California's public school enrollment.
"California charter schools are experiencing explosive growth, roughly 20 percent growth for two years in a row," said Jed Wallace, president of the California Charter Schools Association. "This consistent growth is phenomenal given this tough economic climate and it speaks to the choices that both parents and teachers are making and their demand for high-quality educational options. The solid growth in charter school enrollment demonstrates that parents - and teachers - realize charters are mainstream options."
School unions, especially the California Teachers Association, have been cool to the charter school movement, but it has champions in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and, most recently, President Obama, who has called on states to reduce barriers to charter school formation.
Los Angeles Unified, the state's largest school district, also has the state's largest number of new charter schools, 19, bringing its total to 163, the largest number of any district in the nation.
There are 10 new charter schools in San Diego County and five each in Fresno and Sonoma counties.
Torey Van Oot and the Bee Capitol Bureau report on the people and politics of California government. Get 
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