Governor Schwarzenegger’s Record On: Charter Schools
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The Governor has been a strong advocate for charter schools in California
Governor Schwarzenegger has:
Applauded The Alameda Superior Court Ruling This Month In Favor Of Charter Schools. “Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released the following statement on the Alameda Superior Court ruling: ‘I’ve always been a strong proponent for charter schools and the kind of parental involvement they encourage, which is why I am pleased that the Alameda Superior Court has ruled strongly in favor of charter schools. This decision will allow for many more charter schools in California, especially for students in high-risk areas of our state that could benefit greatly from access to new avenues of learning.’” (Governor’s Press Office, “Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement On Yesterday’s Alameda Superior Court Ruling,” Press Release, 5/23/08)
Proposed A 2008-09 Budget That Fully Funds The Charter School Facilities Block Grant Program. “The Governor's 2008-09 budget proposal provides…ongoing General Fund increases of $349.1 million for Home-to-School Transportation, $115.5 million for the Deferred Maintenance program, $73 million for the High Priority Schools Grant program and $18 million for the Charter School Facilities Block Grant to fully fund these programs.” (Governor’s Press Office, “Gov. Schwarzenegger Proposes Budget, Declares Fiscal Emergency, Calls Special Session to Immediately Address Current Year Shortfall,” Press Release, 1/10/08)
Signed Legislation In 2007 To Appropriate $18 Million To The Charter School Facility Grant Program. “Today, at KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 20 by Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) which appropriates $18 million in Proposition 98 funding to the Charter School Facility Grant Program…The Charter School Facility Grant Program provides assistance with facilities rent and lease costs for charter schools located in low-income communities. Specifically, this program allows eligible schools to receive $750 per pupil or 75-percent of the charter school’s annual facilities rent and lease costs.” (Governor’s Press Office, “Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Appropriate Funding for California Charter Schools,” Press Release, 9/21/07)
- Also Signed AB 177 And SB 345 To Make Additional Positive Changes To Charter Schools In California. (Governor’s Press Office, “Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Benefit California’s Students and Education System,” Press Release, 10/12/07)
Was Honored With A Charter School Named After Him In Woodland Hills In 2007. “In honor of Governor Schwarzenegger’s commitment to the education of all California children, today the CHIME Charter Elementary School will be renamed in honor of the Governor, to the CHIME Institute’s Arnold Schwarzenegger Elementary School. Located in Woodland Hills, the newly renamed elementary school is part of the CHIME Institute.” (Governor’s Press Office, “Charter School Named after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,” Press Release, 7/30/07)
Signed Legislation To Increase Funding For Low Performing Charter Schools In 2007. “The Quality Education Investment Act provides $2.7 billion over seven years to the selected schools. Schools eligible for the new funding were elementary, secondary and charter schools that ranked in either deciles 1 or 2 as determined by the 2005 Academic Performance Index (API) base. Approximately 488 low-performing schools from throughout California will receive an increase in funding.” (Governor’s Press Office, “California Secretary of Education Dr. David Long Issues Statement Regarding Approval of Schools Selected to Receive Quality Education Investment Act Funds,” Press Release, 5/10/07)
Increased Charter School Block Grants By $33 Million And Provided $9 Million To Help Cover Low Income Charter School Leasing Costs In His 2006-07 Budget. “The Budget provides a $32.9 million increase for the charter school categorical block grant to fully fund the provisions of Chapter 359, Statutes of 2005. Charter schools will also receive $9 million to fund facility leasing costs for schools that serve low‑income student populations.” (California Department of Finance, “2006-07 California State Budget,” State Budget Highlights, 7/06)
Signed Legislation In 2006 To Ensure Charter Schools Have Access To Tax Exempt And Low Cost Facility Financing. “AB 2717 allows the California School Finance Authority to provide tax-exempt, low cost financing to charter schools for use in the construction, repair, or lease of school facilities.” (Governor’s Press Office, “Legislative Update,” Press Release, 9/18/06)
Guaranteed A Record $500 Million For Charter School Facilities With His 2006 Strategic Growth Plan. “Governor Schwarzenegger today celebrated passage of his Strategic Growth Plan, the largest bond investment in the history of California…[This bond] provides $500 million for [charter school] facilities. This is the largest state bond funding for charter school facilities in California history.” (Governor’s Press Office, “Schwarzenegger Celebrates Benefits of Strategic Growth Plan for Schools,” Press Release, 5/5/06)
Signed Legislation To Remove Fiscal Obstacles That School Districts Faced In Approving Charter Schools In 2005. “Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today that he has signed legislation that will boost charter schools, enhance fiscal accountability and transparency, and improve and expand training for education professionals… Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 319 by Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) [which] modifies the allocation of general-purpose funding for charter schools that operate within school districts. The bill removes current fiscal obstacles that unified school districts face in approving charter schools.” (Governor’s Press Office, “Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Improve Education in California and Support Education Professionals,” Press Release, 9/28/05)
Included Almost $30 Million In His 2005-06 Budget To Address Charter School Facility Needs. “The Budget provides a total of $28.5 million for charter school facility needs, of which $9 million is from the Proposition 98 Reversion Account for the Charter Schools Facilities Grant Program to reimburse charter schools for facility costs incurred in the 2004-05 year. A new federal Charter Schools Facilities Incentive Grants program administered by the California School Financing Authority will provide an additional $19.5 million to support both the construction of new facilities and lease payments on existing facilities for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 fiscal years.” (California Department of Finance, “2005-06 California State Budget,” State Budget Highlights, 7/27/05)
Established The “Initiative To Turn Around Failing Schools” In 2005 To Bring More Charter Schools To California. “In addition, Governor Schwarzenegger established his ‘Initiative to Turn Around Failing Schools’ to rebuild the promise of California’s education system. The goal is to help struggling schools get back on their feet and build a solid foundation for student achievement through either turning them into charter schools or assigning School Recovery Teams to manage them.” (Governor’s Press Office, “Governor Schwarzenegger Says Charter Schools are Critical Path to Improving Public Education in California,” Press Release, 4/21/05)
Secured $75 Million In Federal Funds For Charter Schools In 2004. “Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and California Secretary for Education Richard Riordan jointly announced today a $75 million grant for California charter schools…The grant will also provide more money for workshops geared to improve charter school performance, disseminate information about best practices being implemented in successful charter schools and be able to share these model programs with other public schools. During the 2003-04 school year, California had approximately 470 charter schools, serving about 165,000 students.” (Governor’s Press Office, Governor Schwarzenegger Joins U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige to Announce $75 Million in Federal Grants for Charter Schools, Press Release, 6/29/04)
