A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR RELEASE                      Contact: Melinda Kitchell-Malico    September 22, 1995                                 (202) 401-1008

President Clinton, meanwhile, will visit a charter school in San Diego today. At O'Farrell Community School, the president will speak with students, parents and teachers about their successful efforts to transform a traditional public school by obtaining a contract, or charter, that permits more innovation and flexibility.

Converted into a charter school in 1993, O'Farrell Community School divides 1,400 students in grades 6-8 into "schools-within- schools" consisting of about 160 students and six teachers each. Through partnerships with parents, local businesses, universities and social service agencies, the school is able to provide one computer for every five students and effective use of computers and educational technology.

"Charter schools are a powerful tool to provide communities, schools and teachers maximum flexibility to give students more opportunity to reach high standards of achievement and discipline," Riley said. "This administration is helping communities and states move away from a focus on rules to an emphasis on creating safe, orderly schools that are engaging and challenging. Public charter schools are one way to allow local schools, teachers and communities to improve teaching and learning."

Charter schools are public schools under contract, or charter, from a public agency to groups of parents, teachers, school administrators or others who want to create more alternatives and choice within the public school system. These are public schools - with no tuition and open to all students -- that are effective, creative, flexible and responsive to students' and parents' needs.

The grants, under the Public Charter Schools Program, go to state education departments in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Texas and two individual schools in New Mexico.

States will conduct competitions and award sub-grants to provide start-up funds for new or recently established charter schools. These funds will help pay planning, design and start-up costs -- two areas often identified as important to a successful beginning.

Charter schools are publicly financed and, in general, per- pupil allotments are the same as traditional schools. Most charter schools do not limit admissions based on achievement or aptitude. Under the program, they cannot charge tuition, may not be religiously affiliated, and must abide by civil rights, health and safety laws. The schools also must meet standards set forth in their charters for students and the school as a whole, or they risk losing the charters.

States receiving support must have passed legislation that allows public charter schools to bypass virtually all state rules and regulations -- except civil rights, health and safety, and financial audit requirements -- in exchange for a plan designed and executed to realize better results in student learning.