VENTURA : ‘Charter’ School Idea Is Gaining Support

Eager to gain more control over their children’s educations, some Ventura parents are considering taking advantage of a new law empowering them to create taxpayer-financed “charter” schools.

The law that took effect this year enables parents, teachers and others to petition local school boards for a charter to establish a new public school within a district. The school would still be fiscally tied to the district, but would function mostly independent of state and local controls.

The goal of the so-called charter schools, state lawmakers said, is to increase innovation and variety in schools.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Bruce Englar, who has two children at Blanche Reynolds Elementary School in Ventura. “I think a charter school system would benefit us greatly.”

Englar is among a small group of parents who said they are considering circulating a charter school petition if Ventura Unified School District officials decide against expanding an alternative education program at Blanche Reynolds.

“Our first choice would be to work within the district to expand the program we have now,” Englar said. “But failing that, we’re prepared to go outside the system and use the charter school petition.”