CANEC Announces Charter School ``Stand Up Review'' This Thursday; Charter Schools' Statements of Affirmation Will Take Place Around California and at the State Capitol.

News Editors/Education Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2002

The California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC) is calling on all charter schools in California to do a "Stand Up Review" -- a demonstration and assurance by charter schools that they are not only meeting the requirements of law, but that they are also providing their many students with an excellent education. This "Stand Up Review" will take place on Thursday, February 21 around California and at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Charter school principals and directors will be reporting to the legislature, to the media and to the general public the schools that have made these affirmations.

"The vast majority of charter schools throughout California are continuing to provide excellent educational opportunities to thousands of students and their families," stated Joe Lucente, president of CANEC. "In order to reassure the public and policy makers that charter schools are operating in adherence with the law, CANEC is calling upon every charter school in California to publicly re-affirm their commitment to high-quality education and to publicly share this affirmation with their legislators."

The "Stand Up Review" follows CANEC's recent call for reform of public charter school law. CANEC's call for reform includes:

-- An immediate moratorium on new charter schools from operating sites outside
of the county in which they are granted, or an adjacent county for a minimum of
two years.

-- A legal requirement that all public charter schools keep their sponsoring
districts and agencies fully informed of all campus location(s).

-- A directive to the Legislative Analyst's Office to report to the legislature
on the effectiveness of the charter granting process.

-- Allowing a district to charge a higher fee for oversight to a charter school
located 150 or more miles from the district's closest office.

CANEC will have representatives in room 437 at the State Capitol for Thursday media requests with charter school principals and members of the CANEC Board of Advisors.

About Public Charter Schools

Charter schools are independent public schools, designed and operated by educators, parents and community leaders. They are authorized by the local school district that is required to monitor their quality and integrity, but they are allowed to operate free from the traditional bureaucratic and regulatory red tape. This freedom gives charter schools the ability to design and deliver programs tailored to individual student and community needs.

About CANEC

The California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC) is California's premier charter school networking and service organization and is the public voice of its members for the charter school movement in California. CANEC represents its members through networking, advocacy and public awareness.