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The charter school movement is all about offering parents a choice in public education. Now Utah's charter schools have a choice when it comes to membership in an organization.

On Wednesday, former leaders of the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) launched the Utah Charter Network. Both are nonprofits that offer advocacy, training and networking for charter schools.

But Kim Frank, the volunteer staffer at the fledgling network, says it was not created as an alternative to the UAPCS, which represents three-fourths of Utah's 78 charter schools. Charters may want to join both groups, she said.

"This organization is meant to complement the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, not necessarily compete with it," said Frank, who left the UAPCS a month ago after being involved there for nearly eight years in roles ranging from founder to policy director.

Frank's husband, former state Rep. Craig Frank, is on the network's board of directors, along with representatives of charter schools such as John Hancock, Timpanogos Academy, Pinnacle Canyon, Legacy Preparatory and East Hollywood High.

Kim Frank said UAPCS has "mainly focused" on advocacy, including lobbying the Legislature. The charter network, she said, will home in on "quality in the actual schools" by helping charter leaders share their expertise. But the Utah Charter Network also plans to lobby on behalf of charter schools and has posted lawmakers' email addresses on its website.

Chris Bleak, president of UAPCS, worries that having a second statewide charter school group will splinter Utah's movement. The Utah Charter Network appears to be setting itself up as an alternative, he noted, with an email blast sent Wednesday that declares, "Now you have a choice!"

"It's disappointing, and it's harmful to charters in terms of fracturing the movement and not speaking with a unified voice," Bleak said, noting that UAPCS already offers training and networking, including an annual conference this month.

UAPCS charges its member schools annual dues of $6 per student. Utah Charter Network will discuss fees at its first board meeting on Tuesday.

"It's great that now charter schools will actually have a choice between two organizations. I hope they serve different needs," said Marlies Burns, director of charter schools at the State Office of Education. "If they were exactly the same, how disappointing would that be?" —

What's next

P Board meeting • Utah Charter Network's board of directors will hold its first meeting Tuesday, 4 p.m., at John Hancock Charter School, 125 N. 100 East, Pleasant Grove. For more information, go to http://www.utahcharternetwork.com.

Conference • The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools will hold its annual conference June 15-16 at Salt Lake Community College, 9750 S. 300 West, Sandy. For details, visit http://www.utahcharters.org or email Allison Holmes, alliaholmes@gmail.com.