California to require more transparency from charter schools

Under legislation pushed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom California's 1,300 charter schools will soon face stricter transparency requirements. State lawmakers sent Newsom the bill on the sixth day of a teachers strike in Oakland, the second major teachers strike for California this year.

California law has until now been unclear on whether charter schools must hold public meetings, respond to public records requests and adopt conflict-of-interest policies. Teachers unions have demanded more transparency and argued charter schools drain money that should go to traditional public schools.

Charter schools groups are split on the measure. The California Charter Schools Association doesn't have a formal position, while the Charter School Development Center said the bill sets onerous restrictions designed to "cripple" the state's charter schools.

Democratic State Sen. Connie Leyva, the bill's author, says it will provide communities and parents "fair and open access to participate in the decisions and collective missions of their charter schools."