A former president of the University of California system has joined an organization that aims to expand and strengthen charter schools in California.

Richard Atkinson, who helped overhaul entrance requirements to make more students UC-eligible, and whose criticism prompted an overhaul of the SAT college entrance exams during his eight-year tenure as UC president, has joined the California Charter Schools Association board of directors.

Atkinson said he believes charters, publicly funded schools that are freed from most traditional bureaucracy, have proven an effective alternative to traditional public schools and "there is a great opportunity now for a significant expansion of the charter school movement." There are 471 charter schools serving 170,000 California students; the California Charter Schools Association hopes to help open 1,000 more campuses for 500,000 more students over the next decade.

Atkinson's appointment comes on the heels of a report last month by the Legislative Analyst's Office that called for an expansion of agencies that can authorize and oversee charter schools. Currently, only school districts can grant charters; charter advocates have long called for other entities, such as universities and nonprofit agencies, to be granted the power to start charter schools.

Caprice Young, CEO of the Charter Schools Association, said Atkinson's involvement "lends credence to the charter school movement's efforts to ensure that all students are adequately prepared to attend and graduate from college."