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Assembly approves bill to tighten oversight of nonclassroom charter schools after extended debate
Summary
The Assembly passed AB 84, a measure by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to strengthen oversight and accountability for nonclassroom-based charter schools. The bill drew hours of debate from members concerned about fraud, rural impacts and unintended harms to students before passing 41-22.
The California State Assembly on May 20 approved AB 84, a bill by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to increase state oversight of nonclassroom-based charter schools, directing more transparency and fiscal controls for operators alleged to have diverted public funds. The measure passed by a vote of 41 in favor and 22 opposed.
Supporters said the bill responds to high-profile cases of alleged fraud in the charter sector and codifies recommendations from state oversight reviews. Muratsuchi, who introduced the bill on the floor, said AB 84 “cracks down on charter schools engaging in fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars” and noted the measure was amended to address concerns raised in committee and on the floor.
Opponents — including Assemblymembers Kevin McCarthy (note: name not in transcript), Assemblymember DeMaio, Assemblymember Patterson and others — said the bill, as written, would hurt students served by nonclassroom programs, especially in rural districts, and would reduce local control. DeMaio described the bill as “an attack on charter schools” and warned it would remove options used by many families. Several members from rural districts, including Assemblymember Hadwick, said the measure could eliminate educational access for students who rely on remote or nonstandard programs when transportation or geography make in-person attendance infeasible.
Muratsuchi and other supporters said they had amended the bill to address major concerns: eliminating proposed cuts to virtual program funding, retaining the existing 1% oversight fee cap, and dropping credentialing requirements that drew opposition. Muratsuchi said the measure was intended to target “bad actors” and to implement recommendations from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), and the state controller’s task force on charter schools.
Several members who voted to advance the bill said they did so with reservations and with commitments from the author to continue negotiations in the Senate. Assemblymember Sharp Collins and others said they supported the motion to allow further work on remaining issues, while promising to withhold support if promised fixes were not made when the bill returns.
The Assembly’s roll call on AB 84 closed with 41 votes in favor and 22 opposed. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The vote came after extended floor debate and dozens of constituent contacts reported by members on both sides of the issue. Members on both sides repeatedly referenced past investigations and prosecutions alleging misuse of state education funds by some charter operators when making their cases.
AB 84's passage represents an Assembly-level effort to create new oversight tools for nonclassroom-based charter schools while trying to keep intact programs that members say serve students with special needs or those in rural areas. The author and several supporters pledged to continue negotiations in the Senate on funding formulas, authorizer capacity, and protections for small and rural districts.
