SACRAMENTO — Charter schools would be held to the same standards for public meetings and open records as traditional public schools under a bill sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The bill by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley won final approval in the state Senate Tuesday.
In addition to public records and meetings requirements, the Santa Monica Democrat’s bill subjects charter schools to the same conflict of interest and political practices laws as other publicly funded schools.
Charter schools receive public funding and must follow state laws, but often use alternative approaches to teaching students.
Opponents of the bill argued that many charter schools are successful because they are freed from regulatory burdens that stall traditional schools.
The bill, AB572, passed the Senate on a 21-14 vote.
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