A Celebrity Encounter for KIPP LA Prep Musicians
Last month, KIPP LA Prep students were treated to an exciting visit from actor and musician, Jackson Rathbone.
CA Appeals Court Rules Unanimously in favor of Bullis Charter School, Overturns Lower Court on Prop. 39
The California Court of Appeal for the Sixth District yesterday unanimously overturned a lower court's ruling on Proposition 39. The decision clarified the "reasonably equivalent" standards for school districts that are required by law to provide charter schools equal facilities to those of district public schools.
10/28/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 28, 2011.
Scenes from Schools: SIATech Sacramento
"Scenes from Schools" is an occasional piece on the CCSA News Blog that offers a glimpse at the tremendous work taking place on charter school campuses across California. Today's "Scenes" is about SIATech Sacramento's Robotics Team presenting their advanced robots at the California State Fair.
CCSA's "Portrait of the Movement" Report Gets National Recognition
CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace on CCSA's receipt of the Award for Excellence in Advancing Knowledge from the National Association of Charter School Authorizers for the "Portrait of the Movement" report, the cornerstone of CCSA's accountability work.
October 2011 Spotlight on Success
The charter school movement is dependent upon the hard work of visionary founders, leaders, and authorizers, plus dedicated teachers and volunteers and inspired students. The Association is proud to recognize several of them this month.
CCSA Statement on "Portrait of the Movement" Report National Recognition
CCSA's Portrait of the Movement report receives the Award for Excellence in Advancing Knowledge by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). Jed Wallace, president and CEO, CCSA, responds to this recognition.
Two Exciting Court Decisions Support School Districts Partnering with Charters in Reform
Two recent favorable court decisions signal groundbreaking new opportunities for California's charter schools and the school districts that partner with them to enact local reform.
A Ripple into a Wave: Prop. 39 Efforts Benefits Charter Schools and the Movement
Imagine a moment when charter operators will be able to focus purely on their educational vision for teaching their students, rather than spending the time to fight for the structures to teach them in.
CCSA Statement on Media Articles Regarding Charter School Enrollment/Admissions Practices
CCSA statement on recent media articles on enrollment and admissions procedures at some California charter schools.
Charter Compact Approved For Sacramento City Unified
The Sacramento City Unified became the second district in California--and the 12th nationwide--to approve a charter-district Compact agreement, in which school districts and charters work together and collaborate toward one common goal--eliminating their differences to better educate students.
10/21/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 21, 2011.
Student Spotlight: Warren Cornelio, SIATech Long Beach
If you ask Warren Cornelio about his first day of class, he probably will not remember because he was sleeping, not doing work, and he did not listen to directions.
We're Looking for the Next Teacher and Volunteer of the Year
Why not take a moment to recognize those teachers and volunteers that have risen to the top over the past year? Submit your nomination for the Teacher of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Hart Vision Award categories.
Low-Cost Membership Provides More Support to New School Developers
To start a charter school in California, you need a vision, passion, and perseverance. You also need a rock-solid petition, a board of directors, authorizer approval, and a facility. It's not easy to turn the dream of opening a school into reality, especially in these tough economic times, but the growth of new high-quality charter schools is critical for families in communities with few good educational options.
Getting to Know: Ricardo Soto, Senior Vice President, Legal Advocacy, and General Counsel
Ricardo Soto joined the California Charter Schools Association in September as Senior Vice President, Legal Advocacy and General Counsel. We sat down with Ricardo to learn about his background, his thoughts on why charter schools and education reform are important, and his first impressions of CCSA.
Charters Work Together in New, Creative Ways on Special Education
By partnering with other charter schools and highly regarded service providers in a regional special education consortium, charter schools will strengthen their expertise around special education and develop the infrastructure to offer a full range of program options.
LA Weekly Response: Answer is More Great Schools, not More Regulation
LA Weekly recently looked at several charter schools in Los Angeles that are in high-demand. CCSA responds to the piece, which argued for more district regulations.
KIPP Raíces Academy Has a New Home
KIPP Raíces Academy kicked off the 2011-12 school year in its new long-term home in East LA, the Otis Booth Campus. The school celebrated the official grand opening of the Otis Booth Campus last month with key supporters, community partners, and a very talented group of student performers.
10/14/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 14, 2011.
Our Community Charter School and The MSM Technology Group Teach Seventh Graders to Build Computers
Our Community School (OCS), a K-8 charter school in Chatsworth has partnered with a Chatsworth computer manufacture and support company, The MSM Technology Group, to launch an innovative program.
Student Spotlight: Teressa Zayas, SIATech Long Beach
Teressa Zayas entered SIATech High School a few months ago. In those short months, she has shown determination and leadership skills that are above average.
10/7/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 7, 2011.
News Round-Up: Sacramento News Conference on Release of African American Student Performance Report
News Round-Up from Sacramento news conference on CCSA's African American Performance report.
Green Dot: Turning around schools and transforming LAUSD
In 2006, Locke High School was one of the most dangerous schools in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), with a graduation rate of under 25%. Now, thanks to Green Dot Public Schools, it's become a nationally recognized turnaround school, all while serving the same community, spending less money, and maintaining a unionized teaching and classified staff.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson joins CCSA in Sacramento for Release of African American Student Performance Report
CCSA Releases African American Student Performance Report in Sacramento News Conference. Mayor Kevin Johnson, other education leaders, join CCSA at St. HOPE's Public School 7 (PS 7) charter, featured in the report.
African American Students Performing Better, Enrolling At Higher Rates At California Charter Schools
The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), today released the report Chartering and Choice as an Achievement Gap-Closing Reform, providing an analysis of African American academic performance trends in California.
African American Student Performance in Charters Report Press Kit
CCSA has published a research report which details the performance and enrollment trends of African American students in both charter public and traditional public schools.
Celerity Schools: Making a Difference in Los Angeles County
Celerity Educational Group opened their first charter school in the heart of the Crenshaw community in 2005 with a focused commitment to serve LA's most impoverished and underserved students. Their model was simple - expect the best, give the best and accomplish the best. This has proven true.
Aspire Public Schools: Changing the Odds for Low-Income Students
From their first day of kindergarten, all Aspire Public School students know one thing: they are going to college. Aspire's "College for Certain" philosophy is woven into every aspect of students' school day.
CCSA Releases African American Performance and Enrollment Report
One of the pressing education issues of our time is the persistent achievement gap among African American students and their White and Asian peers.
Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC): Preparing Every Student for College
At some middle and high schools, students are "tracked;" some are put in honors, others in basic classes. But not at PUC charter public schools in Los Angeles. At PUC, the staff has the same high expectations for every student and all are prepared to graduate from high school prepared for college success.
