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Charter School to be Considered
Vote for approval is on August 8
PYLUSD school board meeting, August 8
1301 E Orangethorpe Ave, Placentia, 6pm
Opinion
The Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) will consider establishing a charter school at their meeting on August 8. The purpose of the hearing is to determine the level of interest by parents, teachers and other employees. In California, the process of establishing a charter school begins with a petition signed by parents and teachers.
Some residents favor charter schools as they loosen the red tape and allow educators to be more innovative. A recent study by Stanford University showed an upward trend in performance of charter schools, with reading and math scores outpacing their peers in traditional public schools.
Greatest Issue- Classroom and Facility Space
The greatest issue to be addressed is classroom and facility space. Since PYLUSD has had a drop in enrollment of 25,741 students in 2017-2018 to 23,138 in 2022-23, space could be available. However, ideally space would be leased for the charter school.
A Prior Request Failed
In April 2023, a request for a charter school was made by Orange County Classical Academy requesting classroom space and facilities. However, it was never presented to the school board because a petition against the school gathered 1100 signatures.
Would Begin in 2024-25
If approved, the transitional kindergarten through 8th grade would be implemented in phases beginning with students through the fifth grade in 2024-25. One grade level would be added each year through 2027-28. In 2024-25 enrollment would be at 340 students and 500 by 2030.
Mission Statement
The mission statement of tuition-free charter schools which provides "unbiased instruction with traditional vales"" is to "inspire and empower the next generation of California's leaders to excel academically, to be proud Americans and Californians and to impact the world with excellence derived from an education like that which produced the inspired servant leaders who founded our great nation." Students are called "scholars".
What is a Charter School?
*Tuition free
*Publicly funded
*Any student can enroll
*Must serve all students including special needs and those learning English
*Students must take state tests including Common Core
*In California, it must be non-religious and non-profit
*Teachers must be certified
*80% of teachers are usually non-union
*Independently operated with its own appointed board of directors
*Overseen by the school district or office of education
*Administration must prepare same reports as in a traditional system
*A charter school must be renewed every few years
Recent Changes Made to PYLUSD Upper Staff
Since the election to the school board of three grass roots candidates in 2022 and 2022, Shawn Youngblood, Leandra Blades and Todd Frazier, several upper level staff changes have been made recently through resignations and upcoming retirement. These changes could bring a new atmosphere to PYLUSD that some feel is long overdue.
Nancy Rikel
Opinion
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In Placentia-Yorba Linda Battle Brews Over Proposed Charter School
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/07/10/in-placentia-yorba-linda-unified-a-battle-brews-over-proposed-charter-school/
What Are Charter Schools?
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/what-are-charter-schools/2018/08
School Board Members
https://www.pylusd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=202692&type=d&pREC_ID=385019
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