BILL NUMBER:  AB 2543
  VETOED	DATE: 09/24/2010




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To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2543 without my signature.
Charter school opponents have proven to be increasingly aggressive in
attempting to provide authorizers with reasons to deny charter
school petitions and renewal requests. Regularly, school districts
hostile to charter schools look for inventive ways to limit
competition from successful charter schools and make specious
findings to deny a renewal request.  Appeals on these actions often
times are appropriately granted.  Placing new authority with
districts to unilaterally accelerate deadlines or deny extensions to
the newly established deadline for review of a renewal petition could
prevent the latest and most relevant student achievement data from
being formally considered in the review of a renewal request.
Orderly processing of petitions to renew charter schools is a
reasonable goal expressed by the author and the sponsor.  Leaving
charter school petitioners at the mercy of an authorizer empowered to
manipulate deadlines and information in the public record, however,
is not the appropriate remedy, particularly if the ultimate result is
to close the school or leverage concessions on the design or
finances of the school going forward.  After careful review, the
measure has not adequately established safeguards to ensure the
latest information available on student achievement is initially
considered and that a truly fair opportunity for due process would
continue for appeals.
For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger