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SALT LAKE CITY -- A national education group says Utah's laws have greatly improved in regards to charter schools. It comes just as the state gets ready to open several more.
Seven new charter schools will open this fall, seven more in 2010 and maybe seven more in 2011. Kim Frank, director of Policy and Advocacy for the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, says these aren't just any schools.
"I think the State Charter School Board has done a really good job of raising the bar so that they aren't just granting charters, they are granting quality charters," Frank said.
The Washington, D.C.-based Center for Education Reform just ranked Utah fourth in the nation for charter school legislation; up from 28th last year. Frank says it's because of better funding formulas for students, higher standards for charter schools and not strictly capping the number of students who can attend.
"I think the goal of charter schools in Utah is to add to the public school program and to compliment it, not compete with it," Frank said.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
