August is an exciting time for families with back-to-school shopping, figuring out new class schedules, and making plans for the first day of the academic year. Unfortunately, as we look to the upcoming  year, we learn that most parents are also feeling more frustrated, anxious, and disillusioned with our public education system following the pandemic.

Most parents want major changes and more influence in their child’s education in addition to a greater diversity of public school choices, according to a new statewide survey on public education.

As president and CEO of California’s leading charter public school advocacy organization, I’ve heard heart-felt stories from parents who are disillusioned with public education today and are exploring new possibilities.

In Los Angeles, parents are seeking inter-district transfers because they believe the loss in instructional days due to school closures set their kids one to two grades behind in reading and writing.

In San Bernardino, Spanish-speaking families who are suffering from the educational inequities laid bare by the pandemic are newly exploring homeschool programs or nonclassroom-based schools — options traditionally considered by more rural families.

And in Orange County, I’ve answered a myriad of questions from families who are eager for change and turning to charter public schools, resulting in a seven percent increase in charter school enrollment in that region compared to last year, one of the largest increases in California.

What I used to witness as regional pockets of disillusionment is now a statewide norm.

A new poll, commissioned the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) and conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, finds nearly six in ten parents say public education in California needs “major changes” in the wake of the pandemic. Approximately 65% of parents say they have too little influence over California public schools, and 72% of parents say they “should have more public school choices.”

We are observing that parents are more open to charter public schools for their child’s education. Parents support charter public schools by 70% —a 14-point increase over last year. Sixty four percent of parents say they would consider enrolling their children in a charter school, including 76% of Spanish-speaking parents.

This support for charters continues to increase in communities across the state. In Los Angeles County, support for charter public charter schools has increased to 52 percent this year, up eight points from 2020. In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, support for charters has grown to 58%, up nine points from 2020.

The poll indicates parents want to see urgency, personalization, responsiveness, and results which many believe charter public schools delivered even during the darkest days of the pandemic. A 2022 report by Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes reinforces those beliefs, finding charter schools in California moved quickly to online learning and realigned staff roles so that students could continue their education, allowing them to be more prepared heading into the 2020-21 academic year.

Charter public schools were created 30 years ago not to replace traditional public schools, but to innovate and augment our collective work by providing families with additional public school opportunities, adapted to their needs. They are tailored to the varied interests and diverse pedagogies needed to meet a range of student needs as varied as our state, regardless of children’s race, income, or zip code.

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I urge state policymakers, elected officials, and local educational leaders to take note of CCSA’s most recent findings and listen to the parents that are calling for major change, more influence, and more diverse public school choices. Parents want to be valued partners in making education better for kids and are ready to try new ways of supporting their kids.

As leaders, we must ensure that the 5th largest economy in the world supports innovation, demands results, and offers choices that unlock opportunities to succeed in school, career, and life. That won’t happen if our education system doesn’t respond to the challenges presented by the pandemic to rebuild a stronger system where teachers aren’t leaving, students aren’t left behind, parent inclusion is valued and our outcomes are more just and equitable, which our forward thinking state deserves.

Myrna Castrejón is CEO and president of California Charter Schools Association.