Charter School Metropolis Now Seeks a Moratorium on Charter Growth

The Los Angeles Board of Education voted 5-1 on Jan. 29 on a resolution to temporarily halt charter school growth after negotiations were reached with the teachers union.

The resolution seeks state approval of a moratorium on charter schools in Los Angeles Unified School District for eight to 10 months to allow for an impact study on the financial effects charter schools have on traditional public schools. In California, only the state can sanction such a request.

Los Angeles is home to 224 independent charter schools, holding more charter schools than anywhere else in the country. These schools are publicly funded, but privately managed.

While county officials will move forward with urging state officials to pass the moratorium, parents whose children are benefiting from charter schools were reportedly left out of the discussion.

The vote for the moratorium followed the ratification of a contract between the board and United Teachers Los Angeles, ending a six-day teachers strike.

The contract includes a 6 percent pay raise for public school teachers, a reduction of class sizes, and more hiring of librarians, nurses, and counselors. The agreement also includes “social unionism” commitments, described as “bargaining for the common good” of the broader community.

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