For Immediate Release: May 1, 2000

San Francisco, CA – California’s charter schools satisfy and serve their primary constituents – parents, students, and teachers – by providing a quality education in an inclusive, individual manner, according to Innovations for Excellence in Education: The California Charter School Story by the California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC) and the Pacific Research Institute (PRI).

Innovations for Excellence in Education: The California Charter School Story traces the California charter school story from founding legislation to the growing numbers of schools today.

"May 1^st – 5^th, National Charter School Week, is the perfect time to celebrate California’s 239 charter schools and to highlight the most innovative among them," said Sue Bragato, executive director of CANEC.

The authors profile the six California charter schools that won CANEC’s 1999 Innovations for Excellence in Education Awards. They include:

Natomas Charter School in Sacramento and Charter Community School in Placerville for their abilities to evaluate success and measure the accountability of students, teachers, and staff.

San Carlos Charter Learning Center in San Carlos for its ability to make the most of available time, talent, and fiscal resources.

School of Unlimited Learning in Fresno for its ability to organize and set up the school for success.

Sonoma Charter School in Sonoma for being innovative in a way that brings results to the classroom.

And, Montague Charter School in Pacoima for building bridges within the community.

"These schools have all developed a close connection between mission and everyday work, high expectations of students, parents, and teachers, clear curriculum standards, and methods of individualized student assessment and attention," said Pamela Riley, associate director for coalition relations, for PRI’s Center for School Reform.

"It is clear that California’s charter schools are making a real difference in the lives of children."

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For more information, please contact Laura Dykes by phone at 415/989-0833 x113, by fax at 415/989-2411 or by e-mail at ldykes@pacificresearch.org, or visit either www.pacificresearch.org or www.canec.org.

The Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the principles of individual freedom and personal responsibility. The Institute believes these principles are best encouraged through policies that emphasize a free economy, private initiative, and limited government. By focusing on public policy issues such as health care, welfare, education, and the environment, the Institute strives to foster a better understanding of the principles of a free society among leaders in government, academia, the media, and the business community.