CANEC Launches the Nation's First Charter School Member Accreditation Program; CANEC teams with respected WASC to launch a new accreditation program for California charter schools.

Business Editors/Education Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2002

This fall, the California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC) will become the first recognized charter schools association in the nation to launch an accreditation program designed specifically to measure charter school quality. The program, a partnership between CANEC and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), aims to raise the standards for charter schools operating throughout the state.

The new WASC-CANEC Accreditation Program -- which emphasizes rigorous self-study, self-evaluation, and regular on-site visits by trained external review teams -- will provide school faculty, families, and community leaders with reliable verification of charter school quality. More importantly, the program will encourage improvement in the overall effectiveness of California's charter schools. WASC is one of the six regional organizations charged with accrediting public and private schools, colleges and universities in the United States.

"We believe that the new WASC-CANEC Accreditation Program will give charter schools the guidance and support they need to succeed, while bringing assurance to key stakeholders," said Sue Bragato, Executive Director of CANEC. "By holding charter school operators to the highest levels of performance, this program aims to boost the academic quality and financial stability of charter schools operating in California."

"We are excited to enter into this new partnership with CANEC," said Dr. Donald Haught, Executive Director of WASC. "Our accreditation program is an important step for charter schools as they strive to provide a high-quality, reliable education for the students they serve."

Beginning in October, CANEC will have twelve member schools participating in the accreditation program. By March of next year, the service will be available to any CANEC member school that meets certain pre-determined standards for accreditation. CANEC member schools that do not meet standards for accreditation will be eligible for additional assistance. CANEC accreditation and membership may be revoked if it is determined that the charter school is not meeting the necessary criteria. CANEC's goal is to have all member schools meet these standards.

As of September 2002, a total of 436 public charter schools are operating in California, serving more than 166,000 students, according to the California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC). These figures represent a dramatic increase in charter school activity over last year, when there were 358 California charter schools in operation, with enrollments of roughly 135,000 students.

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.