Nearly nonexistent in California a decade ago, charter schools have become one of the fastest-growing movements in public education in recent years, gaining some influential political supporters.

A state report recently gave charter schools a good grade. California's top leaders - including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - have been vocal in support of the movement, which has grown to nearly 500 schools statewide.

That growth - including some new growing pains - was the topic of conversation at the Sacramento Convention Center, where 1,400 people are attending a three-day charter school conference, which ends today.

Proponents of charter campuses - distinctive community-based alternatives to traditional schools - say with their success has come an ironic issue of late: increased regulation from the state.

"Across the board, within the context of this giant movement, we are supporting individuality," said Caprice Young, chief executive officer of the California Charter Schools Association.

Young said in an interview that her association was created in part because of a backlash over too much regulation. Overall, charter schools are exempt from many state education laws, a strategy which backers have said fosters more innovation.

"What the Legislature is fond of doing is when one charter school catches a cold, they prescribe penicillin to everyone," she said.

Nevertheless, some of the state's top education leaders lauded the charter school movement. Secretary of Education Richard Riordan told hundreds gathered for the conference that charter school operators put children ahead of bureaucrats and politics.

Charter school operators are "people who really, really care," Riordan told a crowd of several hundred convention participants.

The state is in big trouble because jobs are leaving California, Riordan said, blaming the job exodus in part on what he described as anti-business laws and regulations.

But most of all, Riordan said, jobs are going overseas and to other states because California is not training young people to compete.

"Governor Schwarzenegger puts children first," he said. "He believes that every child has a God-given right to a quality education. And, also, he sees charter schools as a major step in that direction."

Riordan said the governor frequently quizzes him on what the education secretary is doing to advance the charter school movement.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell told conference participants Monday that he is "totally committed" to charter schools.

He recently appointed Marta Reyes as director of the California Department of Education's new Charter School Division.

O'Connell told conference participants that he supports charters because they bring innovation, energy, and parent involvement to the public school system.

A little more than a decade ago, O'Connell supported the initial legislation that created the charter school system. He said charters have become "laboratories for learning."

In January, the Legislative Analyst's Office reported that on the whole, charter schools have performed as well as traditional public schools, despite political roadblocks and funding inequities.

The report said that when serving poor students, charter schools often perform better than traditional schools.

The conference is occurring the same week that an important bill will be heard at the Capitol. The state Assembly Education Committee today is scheduled to hear a bill that would allow public colleges and universities to authorize and oversee charter schools.

"We need everyone there," Young, the California Charter Schools Association's CEO, told hundreds gathered at the conference.

Charter school proponents attending the conference said the creation of the charter school association late last year will provide organization for the movement. There are 471 charter schools in California.

Reyes, director of the California Department of Education's Charter School Division, said charters need some oversight.

"Certainly not a lot," she said. "But health and safety, public trust and fiduciary responsibilities need to be clearly delineated."

She said there is red tape to be cut: "The more that we show that charters are accountable, I think the promulgation of red tape and regulations will be reduced."

Charlie Leo, executive director of Natomas Charter School, said when he founded his school 11 years ago, regulations were fewer.

For example, his application to start a charter was only 12 pages long. Today, an application can be more than 100 pages, requiring information on finances, special education plans and instructional plans.

"We are having schools being turned down because the proponents can't answer everything," Leo said.

Still, Leo sees the charter movement heading in the right direction, given the support by the top state leaders and the formation of the charter association.

Further evidence that Leo is feeling good about the charter school movement's future:

"We are attempting to open the doors of a new vocational and technical high school charter this fall in Natomas," he said.