5/24/13 Charter News Round-up
KPCC: Arts in schools: Charters use dance, string instruments to motivate students Sacramento Bee: Gov. Brown's school funding plan runs into lawmakers' concerns KPCC: Which revenue picture will state lawmakers use for public schools? LA Times: California drops a...
5/17/2013 Charter News Round-up
Marysville Appeal Democrat: Walden advocates for charter schools at Capitol EdSource: Lower-income districts would benefit from 55 percent parcel tax threshold, study suggests Sacramento Bee: Dan Walters: Love could kill Jerry Brown's school plan LA Times: Editorial: A return...
California Charters Among America's Best High Schools - Newsweek
Newsweek recognized America's top 2000 high schools. It also identified Transformative Schools and Top 25 in the West.
KIPP Among the Nation's Top Charter School Systems
The Edith and Ely Broad Foundation named the three finalists for the 2013 Broad Prize for Charter Public Schools: **Achievement First**, **KIPP Foundation** and **Uncommon Schools**.
5/10/13 Charter News Round-up
Sacramento Bee: California advocates mark 20 years of charter schools KTXL Fox40: California Charter Schools Seek To Spread Influence EdSource: Many charter schools to begin offering transitional kindergarten in fall 2013 LA Community Organizations: Letter to the Next Mayor...
More than Simply Distinguished Schools, These Charters are "Exemplary"
Four charter schools were recognized as "Exemplary Schools" for "their successful and innovative efforts to promote the arts," according to the California Department of Education (CDE).
An Open Letter to the Next Mayor of Los Angeles
We are pleased that LA's mayoral candidates are having a debate focused on education on May 7th and will listen with interest to what they have to say. We hope LA's next mayor will use the role to push for great public schools.
5/3/13 Charter News Round-Up
KNBC Los Angeles: Granada Hills Charter Wins 3rd Consecutive National Academic Decathlon, El Camino Real Charter places 2nd LA Daily News: CHIME charter wins state special education award EdSource: Washington and Sacramento must end Cold War on education EdSource:...
Charter Schools Make the Mark, Preparing All Students for College
U.S. News released its prestigious ranking of the nation's best high schools. One third of the nation's top 100 schools are charter public schools, including 9 California schools.
It's Not Easy Being Green, yet Two California Charters are Named US Green Ribbon Schools
Redding School of the Arts (Redding, CA) and Journey School (Aliso Viejo, CA), both K-8 charter public schools, were awarded Green Ribbon Awards from the U.S. Department of Education.
Meeting the Challenge: 7 Charters Win State Title I Academic Achievement Award
Seven charter public schools with sustained progress in academic improvement among low-income students were honored with the 2012-13 Academic Achievement Award.
CHIME Institute's Schwarzenegger Community School is recognized with the prestigious GOAL award
The 2013 Grazer Outstanding Achievement in Learning Award goes to CHIME Institute's Schwarzenegger Community School, a K-8 public charter school in Woodland Hills. The prestigious GOAL award focuses on special education, celebrating innovation and "exemplary practices" that serve California youth with disabilities. Presented to just one school each year, 2013 marks the first time the GOAL award was presented to a charter school.
CA Charter Schools Bring Home the Hardware from National Academic Decathlon, Winning 1-2
Granada Hills Charter High School wins consecutive three-peat at the 2013 US Academic Decathlon. El Camino Real Charter High School wins second place.
Thirty-Two Charter Schools Named California Distinguished Schools
Schools earning California Distinguished School recognition are chosen because of their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement. "California charter schools are known for innovative approaches that enable each child to achieve academic success," remarked Jed Wallace, President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Charter Schools Association.
Take Action to Support Federal Funding for Charter Schools
Four public charter school champions in the U.S. House of Representatives are seeking support for an increase in federal funds for the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP).
4/12/13 Charter News Round-Up
Imperial Valley Press: Imagine School charter renewed Cabinet Report: Assembly ed leaders challenge school funding plan EdSource: Apples to apples comparison of Brown's funding formula Los Angeles Times: New science standards call for teaching climate change and more KPCC...
First LAUSD "Parent Trigger" results in unique charter/district K-8 model
On April 11, parents of students at 24th Street Elementary announced that they have overwhelmingly chosen an unprecedented partnership between Crown Preparatory Academy and the Los Angeles Unified School District to operate their school under a unified K-8 model.
Oxford Preparatory Academy's new school petition/appeal are denied
The California Charter Schools Association is deeply disappointed with the actions of both the Carlsbad Unified Board of Education and the County Board of Education regarding the denial of a new petition and appeal of the Oxford Preparatory Academy's (OPA) new charter school.
Granada Hills Charter High School Acquires Additional Campus
Granada Hills Charter High School and Pinecrest Schools in Northeast Los Angeles announced on April 8 that Granada Hills Charter has acquired Pinecrest's Northridge Campus located at 17081 Devonshire Street.
4/5/2013 Charter News Round-Up
SIA Cabinet Report: K-12 online agenda faces legislative scrutiny Marysville Appeal Democrat: YES Charter Academy appeal rebukes findings Marysville Appeal Democrat: Our View: YES appeal should focus on merits Santa Cruz Sentinel-SJMN: Pacific Collegiate charter school could tap district...
Da Vinci Charter Academy - reaching students with special needs through project-based learning
CCSA's special education team has recently had the pleasure of learning about the Da Vinci Charter Academy's program. In the 9th year of operation, the school achieves tremendous success with unique populations through a project-based learning approach to instruction.
3/29/13 Charter News Round-Up
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin: Connect Community Charter-Redwood City's only charter school-to debut in August Marysville Appeal Democrat: YES looks to reverse school board's 'no' Committee on Ed&Workforce: Rep. Miller Receives Hart Vision Award LA School Report: Lawmaker Supports Teacher...
New videos: Teachers Take on Policy
Charter school teachers offer a unique perspective and add an important voice to education policy discussions. But how can they get involved? Find out in these new videos.
3/22/13 Charter News Round-Up
Oakland Tribune: Oakland's Lighthouse named charter school of the year California's Children: Fenton Ave school is a Hart Vision Charter of the year Pacific Palisades Patch: Pali High's Jeanne Saiza Honored as Charter Teacher of the Year Anderson Valley...
Podcast: Politics & Advocacy 101 for Teachers
CCSA hosted a great panel discussion on how teachers can get involved in policy and advocacy at the 20th Annual California Charter Schools Conference in San Diego this March.
Keynote Address: 20 Years of the Charter School Movement
In celebration of the 20th Annual California Charter Schools Conference and Anniversary Celebration, Jed Wallace presented a keynote address to 3,500 conference attendees.
20th Annual California Charter Schools Conference Highlights
The 20th Anniversary California Charters Conference was attended by 3,500 teachers, leaders and parents. Re-live the special moments or discover what you missed: awards, youth performances and presentations by keynote speakers. Please check back as we will be adding video...
3/15/13 Charter News Round-Up
San Diego Union Tribune: Charter Schools Focus of Four-Day Conference San Diego Union Tribune: Have charter schools grown too fast? San Diego Union Tribune: Rhee: Not all charters created equal Education Week: L.A. Chief John Deasy: Depoliticize Education Research...
3/8/13 Charter News Round-Up
New York Times: Inside the World of Charter Schools-Letter from Wallace Los Angeles Times Blog: Teachers union to vote on stand against Deasy policies Palo Alto Online: A champion for charter schools Press Release: Top Urban Public Charter School...
3/1/13 Charter News Round-Up
Review of the week's top charter school stories in California for the week ending February 22.
2/15/13 Charter News Round-Up
Review of the week's top charter school stories in California for the week ending February 15.
Granada Hills High School Releases Videos for School Choice Week
Schools across the country celebrated National School Choice Week in late January. Granada HIlls Charter High School in Los Angeles took advantage of the opportunity by creating three original videos celebrating choice and highlighting their school for prospective students.
Op-ed by Jed Wallace: "Why California must lead the way in closing underperforming charter schools"
Jed Wallace, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) penned an op-ed for Edsource calling for high accountability for charter schools and for the charter community to lead the way.
Facilities Survey's New Deadline is January 31, 2013: Complete It Now with Easy Instructions!
The objective of the Facilities Initiative Survey is to gather concise data about charter school facilities to foster a policy environment that improves support for the diverse facilities needs of charter schools across the state. Read more for easy, detailed instructions and the link to complete the survey.
CCSA joins nationwide call for closure of under-performing charter schools and expansion of high-quality schools
On Nov. 28, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), which represents government and other entities that approve and oversee charter schools, called on charter authorizers to be more proactive in closing failing schools and opening great ones. Jed Wallace, president and CEO of CCSA, joined the president of the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools and leaders of charter school associations in New York and Colorado in supporting NACSA's call to action.
11/14/12 Charter News Round-Up Special: 1,500+ Charter Parents Rally in LA
A special news round-up of coverage on a major parent rally in Los Angeles opposing a resolution to limit parent choices with a voluntary moratorium on any new charter schools
Three CA Charters receive Major Teacher Incentive Fund Grants from the U.S. Department of Education
Three California charter school organizations were recipients of the U.S. Department of Education awards. The winners were selected from a pool of over 120 applications.
10/25/12 Charter News Round-Up Special
Review of coverage on CCSA's New Charter Schools Announcement, which brings the total of charter schools in CA to over 1,000.
New video: What is it like to teach at a charter school?
California's charter schools don't only offer unique options for families, but they also offer a wide range of opportunities and work environments for educators. Hear first-hand from teachers about the differences between working at charter public schools and traditional schools in this short video!
Roseland Charter School Receives $150,000 From AT&T for Destination College Goals
Roseland Charter School receives AT&T grant.
9/21/12 Charter News Round-Up
Charter News Round-Up blog reviews top news stories highlighting California charter schools for the week ending on 9/21/12.
New Education Database Helps You Navigate Education Policy, Funders, Technology and More
The Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) recently launched an innovative education database system, the Education Resource Information Navigator Project (ERIN Project). The web-based system is free and open to the public.
Three Things Every School Can Do to Promote Civic Engagement
As schools, we have an incredible opportunity to engage the community in voting. CCSA has launched a new campaign and toolkit to make it easy!
L.A. Times Editorial: Private School Students Choosing Charters Is Reason To Celebrate
Los Angeles Times Editorial on private school students choosing to attend charters in greater numbers.
8/31/12 Charter News Round-Up
News Round-Up of top news stories featuring California charter schools for the week ending on August 31, 2012.
8/24/12 Charter News Round-Up
Round-up of news stories featuring California charter schools for the week ending on August 24, 2012.
20th Anniversary Kick-Off at the San Carlos Charter Learning Center
On Tuesday August 21, 2012, CCSA hosted a news conference at California's longest-running charter. Charter leaders, as well as former and current parents, and some alumni, joined the celebration.
8/10/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of top charter news stories featured in the media for the week ending on August 10, 2012.
LA Charter Educators Come Out in Force for Special Education Summit
Over 300 charter school educators came together for a Special Education Summit hosted by Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) on Aug. 2.
Meet 2012 Education Pioneer Lisbet Ballon
Lisbet Ballon, who is working on a dual degree student in law and education, worked on a project to analyze district facility costs related to Proposition 39.
8/3/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of top news stories on California charter schools featuring in the media for the week ending on August 3, 2012.
Meet our 2012 LEE Fellows: Maleia Mathis
Throughout the summer CCSA had Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellows working on a diverse group of projects. To learn more about the projects and meet the fellows, continue reading!
7/27/12 Charter News Round-Up
Weekly blog reviewing top stories of California's charter schools and issues featured in the media for the week ending on July 27, 2012.
Big Impact, Individual Voices: 5 Ways for Teachers to Get Involved in the World of Education
Are you interested in getting more involved in the world of education policy and reform but not quite sure how to do it? This directory will help you get started. Read on to find out more about the different opportunities that are available for teachers to get their voices out there and make their opinions heard.
"The achievement gap is too big for just one organization to close"
Synergy Academies is dispelling the myth that charters and districts can't co-exist peacefully. Synergy Charter Academy principal, Jennifer Epps shares her perspective on the charter movement, co-location, and the work still to be done in closing the achievement gap.
Teacher Perspective: Harnessing blended learning in the classroom
Charter schools are using innovation to drive instruction all across California. Oakland Unity High School is using blended learning through Khan Academies to allow students to drive their own instruction. Teacher Kallie Berg says this 21st century approach isn't just great for her students - it's great for her.
Can't get enough education news?
Does your morning routine including skimming education headlines of multiple publications, flipping through the latest copy of Education Week, checking your Twitter feed for what's trending and scanning multiple newsletters from different education organizations?
7/20/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of top charter school news headlines in California for the week ending on July 20, 2012.
7/13/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of charter school stories featured in the media for the week ending on July 13, 2012.
Student Spotlight: Robin Matthews, SIATech Inland Empire
Robin Mathews is a great example of the definition of recovery: the regaining of something lost or taken away. She regained her confidence, her inner strength, but most of all her dream.
Environmental Charter High Taps The Nature Conservancy to Bring Students Summer Internships
Eleven students from Environmental Charter High School have earned coveted spots in its Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (LEAF) program.
Teacher Perspective: Raising our standards to meet diverse student needs
Special education advocacy is a priority for CCSA and we strive to raise awareness about special education issues. See how one charter teacher moved special education "out of the bungalows and into the spotlight" at her school.
Student Spotlight: Zaida Mejia, Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School
"Upon receiving my Masters, I want to teach underprivileged children in public schools about the wonders of innovative technology," writes Zaida Mejia. "I have always wanted to give back to my community for the help and support I have received throughout my educational career. "
7/6/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of the week's top charter school stories in California for the week ending 7/6/12.
Port of Los Angeles High School Crafts Schoolwide, Statewide Unity Poem
Port of Los Angeles High School teamed up with California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera on a gigantic communal poem.
CCSA Statement on Monica Garcia's Re-Election as LAUSD Board President
On July 2, the Los Angeles Unified School District's (LAUSD) Board of Education voted to re-elect Mónica García as School Board President for the 2012-13 school year, an unprecedented sixth consecutive term.
6/29/12 Charter News Round-Up
Round-up of the week's top news stories in California featuring charter schools for the week ending on June 29, 2012.
California Supreme Court Sides With Charter School and District in Conversion Dispute
The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Los Angeles Unified School District in a lawsuit brought by the UTLA challenging the District's 2007 approval of Green Dot Public School's Locke High School conversion.
June 2012 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 Fights for Inclusion of Charter Schools in OUSD Facilities Bond Measure Proposal
On Wednesday June 27, the Oakland Unified School Board is set to vote on a plan to include a facilities bond measure on the November ballot. However, 20% of the public school students in Oakland are being left out of the bond.
Da Vinci Schools Awarded Major Innovation Grant
The Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) grant recognizes schools that are pushing the boundaries on real-world and project-based learning.
Charter Renewal Horror Stories
Looking for a scary story to tell around the campfire this summer? Look no further than some of the challenges that charter schools have faced around renewals over the last year. Don't get trapped in an ugly renewal game!
Got a question? Ask the Knowledge Management Team!
"Our job is to provide member schools with rapid, accurate information," explained Alice Miller, director, Knowledge Management. "We provide answers to questions, issues, and concerns spanning a complete range of charter school topics, and offer direct support for highly targeted compliance issues on a consultation basis."
Gompers Preparatory Academy Graduates First Senior Class
Yesterday, the Gompers story came full circle with the graduation of its first senior class. CCSA was there to capture the graduation ceremony, talking to some of the graduating seniors and adults who were instrumental in the Gompers conversion.
6/22/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of stories on California charter schools profiled in the media for the week ending on June 22, 2012.
Keeping Your Special Education Options Open
In addition to allowing your school to explore alternative special education arrangements, submitting a letter of intent to exit your Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) can serve as a valuable bargaining tool with your authorizer.
Act Now to Restore Charter School Categorical Block Grant Growth Funding
A backroom decision by the Legislature to remove charter school categorical block grant growth funding means a cut of approximately $100 per charter school student. Act now to demand the restoration of this funding!
6/15/12 Charter News Round-Up Special: Graduations
Round-up of the top headlines on charter school graduations for 2012.
100% of Grads at Aspire Golden State College Prep Academy Accepted to Four-Year College
This year's Golden State graduates have been accepted to prestigious colleges and universities across the nation, including Howard University, University of California - Santa Cruz and Xavier University of Louisiana.
June 2012 Message to Members from Jed Wallace
A message to members from CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace
Sometimes it Takes Students to Remind Us What We're Fighting For
Some days we can forget why we signed up to advocate for charter public schools. We constantly have to battle those whose only interest is stopping charters from flourishing in California. Or we have to explain for the umpteenth time how our schools are being hurt by funding inequities and delays.
What is an Affiliated Charter School?
There are currently a couple dozen Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools that have petitioned to become "affiliated" charter schools. These petitions were presented to the LAUSD board on May 1, and are expected to be voted on in June.
100% of Grads at Aspire Benjamin Holt College Prep Academy Accepted to Four-Year College for 3rd Consecutive Year
Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy held a commencement ceremony for its 47 graduates on Friday, June 8, all of whom were accepted to four-year colleges or universities.
Green Dot Starts New System to Judge Teachers Based on Student Performance
Students at Animo Pat Brown charter school write about Green Dot's new teacher evaluation system.
Port of Los Angeles High School Receives $20,000 Grant for Special Education
Port of Los Angeles High School (POLAHS) received a $20,000 grant from The Crail Johnson Foundation last month - an award that will directly benefit the nearly 10% of POLAHS' population that is identified as intellectually or developmentally disabled.
6/1/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of top charter school stories across California for the week ending on June 1, 2012.
Journey School's Environmental Education Program Shines
Five school gardens provide a framework for Journey's innovative ecoliteracy program, and dedicated parents and deep community partnerships keep the program strong.
May 2012 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.
5/25/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of top news headlines featuring charter school and education-related stories in the media for the week ending on May 25, 2012.
A Parent's Eye View of State Politics: Charter parent Lanie Holmer testifies before the CA Assembly
Lanie Holmer, a parent at Westlake Charter School in Sacramento, testified before an Assembly committee on behalf of her school and all charter schools. "I had to say something," she says, "I'm the voice for my child and my school and if I don't, only the voices on the other side of the issues would be heard."
Seven Years on the State Board of Education: Yvonne Chan Looks Back
Proposition 39, charter renewal and revocation regulations, the high school exit exam, statewide benefit charters and the state's response to failing districts and schools in the wake of No Child Left Behind - these are just a few of the issues the California State Board of Education (SBE) took on during Dr. Yvonne Chan's seven-year tenure on the board.
CCSA Member Advocacy on State Budget Makes a Difference
With 17 hours before the Assembly subcommittee was set to take action, CCSA issued an urgent Action Alert to our members, and you responded in force. From emailing, calling, and showing up in person, the Assembly subcommittee heard from 13 charter school advocates defending the Governor's proposals. And when the Senate subcommittees met just days later, you responded again, with school leaders coming to testify in Sacramento from as far away as San Diego.
5/18/12 Charter News Round-Up
Top media stories of charter school-related news across California for the week ending on May 18, 2012.
May 2012 Message to Members from Jed Wallace
A message to members from CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace
UCLA Study: Students from Locke Family of High Schools Show Significant Improvement in Achievement, College-Preparedness
New UCLA study finds that "students attending a cluster of Los Angeles schools overseen by the charter operator Green Dot significantly increased their test scores and persistence in school, and took more challenging courses than comparable peers," according to Education Week.
5/11/12 Charter News Round-Up
Round-up of news stories featuring charter schools in California for the week ending on May 11, 2012.
National Charter Schools Week Guest Blog: Gompers Preparatory Academy Will Graduate 100% of Students in its First Senior Class in 2012!
National Charter Schools Week guest blog from Gompers Preparatory Academy, which will be graduating 100% of its senior class in June!
National Charter Schools Week: Guest Blog From Granada Hills Charter High Decathlon Student
Guest blog from Granada Hills Charter High School student on their recent National and State Decathlon Championships. Part of National Charter Schools Week CCSA special content.
National Charter Schools Week Special: Discovery Elementary Charter Student Already A Published Author
Charter school student feature in honor of National Charter Schools Week (May 6-12, 2012).
National Charter Schools Week--Charter Students Show The Spirit of Giving
National Charter Schools Week charter school feature on students at Albert Einstein Academies Elementary School in San Diego, CA.
National Charter Schools Week--School Program Inspires Students and Families
National Charter Schools Week feature on an after-school program for students at America's Finest Charter School in San Diego, CA.
National Charter Schools Week Special: A Conversation With AB 544 Author Ted Lempert
National Charter Schools Week Q & A with former Assemblymember Ted Lempert, author of the charter school expansion bill, AB 544, in California.
National Charter Schools Week: How Charters Are Making A Difference
Message from Jed Wallace, President and CEO, CCSA, on National Charter Schools Week and the impact of charter schools in public education.
National Charter Schools Week: Background On The Charter Movement
Background document on the charter movement in California and across the nation.
Announcing our 20th Anniversary Conference Registration Special
To help CCSA members celebrate National Charter Schools Week AND to kick-off the 20th Anniversary Celebration culminating with the 20th Annual California Charter Schools Conference in San Diego, CCSA is proud to offer a 20th Anniversary Conference Registration Special of only $300!
5/4/12 Charter News Round-Up
A summary of California charter schools and public education issues featured in the news for the week ending on 5/4/12.
An Unprecedented Partnership to Turn Around a Low-Performing Charter
Corri Ravare, Managing Regional Director, Los Angeles, talks about an unprecedented creative partnership through which a high-performing charter school will turn around a charter that has been struggling.
Member Perspective: Creating a College-going Culture
At Aspire charter schools, students start preparing for college from day one of kindergarten. Dr. Roberta Benjamin shares what it means to live "College for Certain."
April 2012 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.
4/27/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of charter school news in California media for the week ending on April 27, 2012.
Innovative Partnership Provides Mental Health Services to Students
You have a tight budget and kids with a lot of social and emotional needs. So what do you do to make sure students get the support they need?
New Report Shines Light on Conversion Charters
The majority of California's 982 charter schools are independent start-ups. However, among these is a unique group of 139 conversion charters - traditional public schools that converted into charter public schools. Conversion charters represent 16% of California's charter school movement and enroll 25% of all charter school students since they usually have larger student bodies. But what do they look like and how are they doing?
How Charter Schools Have Impacted Our Community
Aspire Public Schools has opened six charter schools in Huntington Park over the past few years with support from the City Council and community leaders who have seen the positive impact of these high-performing public schools in their community. City Planner Albert Fontanez shares his perspective.
Parents, Staff and Students from Woodland Star Charter School Take On Sacramento
When Sheila Reilly, Administrator at Woodland Star Charter School in Sonoma, heard about the governor's budget proposal and the anti-charter legislation in the pipeline at CCSA's Winter Regional Meeting, she knew it was time for action. So she got a bus and brought five teachers, six boardmembers, a handful of parents and the school's entire 8th grade class to participate in various parts of the CCSA Conference and Advocacy Week in Sacramento.
4/20/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of California charter school stories profiled in the media for the week ending on April 20, 2012.
Getting to Know: Elaine Guarnieri-Nunn
We sat down with Elaine Guarnieri-Nunn, Managing Regional Director for the Bay Area Region, to learn about her background, how she will approach her work with members, and her first impressions of CCSA since joining the Association in February.
Member Perspective: How Aspire Firestone Serves Autistic Students
"What's exciting about working in special education at Aspire is that we're able to enact IDEA in the way it was written with the idea of education as a civil right...We were able to be flexible and change our programs based on the needs of the students."
April 2012 Message to Members from Jed Wallace
A message to members from CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace
How Charter Schools and Districts Can Work Together for Kids
One element of the law passed in California in 1992 creating charter schools was the idea that charters would serve as educational laboratories, discovering effective practices that districts could then adopt. Roberta Benjamin, LA Superintendent for Aspire Public Schools, shares her perspective on collaboration.
4/13/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of California charter school-related stories featured in the media for the week ending 4/13/12.
Advice for Educators Who Want to Start Charter Schools
If you could pick just one thing, what advice would you have for someone who is thinking about starting their own school?
CCSA Offers Free Governance Academies for Charter School Board Members
This is the workshop charter school board members DON'T want to miss! Find out everything you need to know to be a responsible steward of your school.
Alliance's Gertz-Ressler HS Honored With National Blue Ribbon Award
Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School, a public charter school in Los Angeles serving a traditionally underserved community of Latino and African-American students, celebrated its recognition this week as a National Blue Ribbon School.
CDE Names California Distinguished Elementary Schools, Including Several Charters
CDE names the California Distinguished Elementary Schools. Several charters made the list.
3/30/12 Charter News Round-Up
Review of the some relevant charter school-related news in California for the week ending 3/30/12.
3/23/12 Charter News Round-Up
Highlight of charter news stories in California for the week ending 3/23/12.
Scenes from Schools: Port of Los Angeles High School
An inside look at the Port of Los Angeles High School's Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science Program.
March 2012 Message to Members from Jed Wallace
A message to members from CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace
Letters to Leaders: One Student's Letter
"You don't know me, but indirectly you have a made a significant difference in my life. I am 13 years old and I attend a charter school in San Diego. The same charter school that I have been at since I was in kindergarten."
From the Front Lines: "Letters to Leaders" Involves Parents, Students, Staff in Grassroots Advocacy
Each year, The Classical Academies' school community participates in the Letters to Leaders Initiative, a campaign to involve students, parents, and team members in an organized and specific plan to address an issue facing charter schools, and to give them outlet to be involved to communicate directly with our state leaders.
3/2/12 Charter News Round-Up Special: CA Charter Schools Conference
Round-up of stories featured this week on the 19th Annual CA Charter Schools Conference, held in Sacramento, CA, February 27-March 1, 2012.
February 2012 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.
Excerpt of Dr. Howard Fuller's Rousing Keynote Address at the 19th Annual Califorina Charter Schools Conference
An excerpt of Dr. Howard Fuller's remarks delivered on February 28, 2012, at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference. The conference's theme was "YOU are the charter school movement."
Student Spotlight: Xiomara Amaya, SIATech Los Angeles
English Language Learners from SIATech at Los Angeles Job Corps Center interviewed each other to discover each other's background differences and find out how life in the U.S. has changed them. This interview shares the story of Xiomara Amaya as written by Atsede Kahsay.
Scenes from Schools: Environmental Charter School High School
"What was the point of trying to get to college," thought Rigo Estrada, "if I could not afford to go to the university I applied to?" How Environmental Charter High School helped him answer that question.
February 2012 Message to Members from Jed Wallace
A message to members from CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace
Charter Teachers Share their Secrets to Success
Join us at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference to hear about the great teaching and learning going on in charter school classrooms throughout California. Our all-new teacher strand includes sessions on curriculum areas, closing the achievement gap, standards alignment, and more.
A Commitment to Serving the Underserved Student
On the afternoon of Tuesday, February 28, programming at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference will include a number of special sessions focused on underserved students.
Join Us for the 2012 Charter School Funding Equity Rally!
On February 29, supporters of the California charter school movement gathered on the steps of the Capitol to demand funding equity. Why? Because charter school students are public school students. They should have access to same levels of funding as any other public school student!
Student Spotlight: Janeth Mendoza, SIATech Los Angeles
English Language Learners from SIATech at Los Angeles Job Corps Center interviewed each other to discover each other's background differences and find out how life in the U.S. has changed them. This interview shares the story of Janeth Mendoza as written by Jose Ortega.
Prop. 39 Cycle Forges Ahead
The Proposition 39 cycle continues to move forward this year, and on February 1, we once again marked the deadline for districts to respond to charter schools that applied for facilities with preliminary offers. Charter schools are required to respond to these preliminary offers by March 1. In the past, many districts have not complied with Prop. 39, and with that in mind, CCSA has been monitoring the process closer than ever.
2/10/12 Charter News Round-Up
Summary of charter news stories for the week ending on February 10, 2012.
Pre-Conference Workshop Helps Schools Access Funds through the Public Charter School Grant Program
The California Charter Schools Association is proud to announce the return of a free one-day pre-conference program, the Public Charter School Grant Program Workshop. This event is full of trainings and resources to help your school access funds through the Public Charter School Grant Program.
From Special Education Instruction and Budgeting to SELPA Status
The special education strand at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference will take on all of the latest issues facing special education leaders. Our sessions take in a wide range of topics from instruction and budgeting to SELPA status.
Curious About Online Learning?
The 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference will feature a full schedule of sessions designed to introduce charter schools to the rapidly growing area of blended and online learning programs.
Facilities Acquisition and Financing Take Center Stage
Identifying and securing adequate facilities for charter students is a challenging task for many of our state's charter schools. Attendees at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference will be able to take advantage of strong facilities-related sessions.
Helping Charters Create Fiscal Stability
Charter schools throughout California continue to struggle with budget and cash flow issues, due to funding inequities between charter schools and traditional public schools. Expert presenters at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference will support you in balancing you budget and helping you to create long-term fiscal stability for your school.
2/3/12 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending for the week ending on February 3, 2012.
Best Practices Summit Brings Together Board Members, Governance Experts
The Board Member Best Practices Summit is a special one-day program for school leaders and governance board members held during the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference.
Conference Strand Helps Schools Work Effectively with Authorizers
Many of our schools are looking for new strategies to work effectively with authorizers, so we have designed a strand focused specifically on Authorizer Relations at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference.
Introducing Advocacy Week at the California Charter Schools Conference
Advocacy Week will be a special event running from the beginning to the end of the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference. During Advocacy Week, you will have multiple opportunities for face-to-face interactions with legislators and policymakers whose decisions impact your students.
Member Perspective: Embracing Excellence
"Our philosophy is simple: we should do more of that works, and less of what doesn't," writes Judy Burton, President and CEO of Alliance for College Ready Public Schools. "We know people need to hear from the parents and students who are benefiting from more choice, better schools, and a wider array of options." That's why she's joining the Schools We Can Believe in Rally on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles.
1/27/12 Charter News Round-Up
Round-up of top charter school stories in California for the week ending on January 27, 2012.
New Videos Dispel Charter Myths
Are charter schools open to all students? Do they serve students with special needs? Get the answers first-hand from charter school leaders with our new series of videos!
Member Perspectives: CA Needs to Fund its Public Schools
"One of the most critical problems facing education right now is that California is simply not funding its public schools equitably," writes Alison Diaz, founder of Environmental Charter High School. That's why she's joining the Schools We Can Believe in Rally on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles.
January 2012 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.
Second Annual Portrait of the Movement Coming in February
As a key element of our efforts to deepen the understanding of the academic performance of all charter public schools in California, our annual report on trends and results, Portrait of the Movement, will again be published in mid-February.
Charter Community Will Show Our Strength in Major Rallies This Spring
A rally in Los Angeles is one of several events being planned across the state this spring to demonstrate that the charter school movement simply will not be held back. In Sacramento, charter supporters will rally on the capitol steps during the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference and Advocacy Week.
Los Angeles Charters to Benefit from DonorsChoose Gift Cards Distributed at Starbucks
Beginning January 23, nearly 200 Los Angeles Starbucks stores will distribute 285,000 $10 DonorsChoose gift cards that parents and community members can use towards projects at the school of their choice. Charter teachers: post your classroom project today to get funded!
Redesigned Regional Meetings Offer Localized Discussion, Networking
Based on feedback from members, the Association's Statewide Advocacy team has redesigned regional meetings to be more interactive, with members serving as active participants from the development of the agenda to the presentation of information. Now more than ever, regional meetings are designed to draw on the collective wisdom of CCSA resources and your charter colleagues in order to address important state and local issues.
January 2012 Message to Members from Jed Wallace
A message to members from CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace
1/13/12 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending January 13, 2012.
Who is the 2012 Charter School Volunteer of the Year?
The Hart Vision Awards recognize individuals and schools that have made significant contributions to the Association's mission to increase student achievement by supporting and expanding California's quality charter public school movement. Are you wondering who will receive the 2012 Hart Vision California Charter School Volunteer of the Year award?
Student Spotlight: Williams Pirir, SIATech Los Angeles
English Language Learners from SIATech at Los Angeles Job Corps Center interviewed each other to discover each other's background differences and find out how life in the U.S. has changed them. This interview shares the story of Williams Pirir, as written by Tibebu Gessesse & "Lois" Yanling Xie.
Member Perspectives: We Must Stand Up For Students Now
Dr. Jacqueline Elliott of PUC Schools shares why she and 2,000 parents, students and teachers from her schools will be participating in the "Schools We Can Believe In" rally on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles.
Student Spotlight: Iris Perez, Oakland Unity High School
Iris Perez, a student at Oakland Unity Charter High School, is a finalist for one of this year's Susan Steelman Bragato Scholarships. Here, Iris writes about how a unique experience relates to the person she is today.
Top 10: Most Popular Videos of 2011
Throughout 2011, CCSA posted more than 40 videos to our YouYube channel, defining the charter school movement, highlighting inspiring figures within it, and allowing students, staff and leaders to explain the tough issues facing California's charter schools. From San Diego to Sacramento, from timelapse to interviews to animated pieces-- CCSA videos run the gamut.
19 CA Teachers, Administrators Win Scholarships to Attend Annual Charter Schools Conference
Nineteen California charter school teachers and administrators from four schools won scholarships to attend the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference being held February 27-March 1 in Sacramento.
December 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.
Student Spotlight: Atsede Kahsay, SIATech Los Angeles
English Language Learners from SIATech at Los Angeles Job Corps Center interviewed each other to discover each other's background differences and find out how life in the U.S. has changed them. This interview shares the story of Atsede Kahsay as written by Xiomara Amaya.
12/16/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending December 16, 2011.
Synergy Academies Welcomes High School Students to the Synergy Family
Synergy Academies welcomed close to 400 students to their brand new high school, Synergy Quantum Academy. Continuing the Synergy tradition of partnering with the Los Angeles Unified School District, Synergy Quantum Academy is co-located with two LAUSD high schools on the Central Region High School #16 campus in South Los Angeles.
Dr. Howard Fuller to Keynote 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference & Advocacy Week
CCSA is excited to announce Dr. Howard Fuller as our keynote speaker for the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference: "YOU are the Charter School Movement."
State Board Of Education Approves Charter-Only SELPA
This November, the State Board of Education (SBE) unanimously approved the Sonoma County Charter Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA), a charter-only SELPA which will help improve special education service delivery to students attending charter schools throughout the state. This new SELPA offers more options to charter schools by giving charters the ability to have autonomy over their special education operations.
Woodland Poly Students Meet Udi Manber, Google's Vice President of Engineering
Offering inspiration that all things are possible to the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at Woodland's first charter high school, Udi Manber described Google's beginning -- starting in a garage in 1998 -- to becoming a $30 billion company, with offices all over the world, and 30,000 employees.
12/9/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending December 9, 2011.
Charters on the Agenda in Oakland Unified
November 21, 2011, was a big day in Oakland for charter schools. The agenda of the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Board of Education's meeting was entirely dedicated to charters: three new and four renewing petitions were up for public hearings.
Service Project Energizes CCSA Staff, Benefits Local Charters
CCSA staff participated in service projects that benefited three Orange County charter schools. We sat down with Fiorella Del Carpio, an Organizer for Parent and Community Engagement with Families That Can , to get her impressions.
Families That Can Community Events Focus on African American Students Report
Families That Can (FTC), the Association's grassroots organizing effort, hosted community events in Oakland and Los Angeles to raise awareness about CCSA's report on African American student performance.
Student Spotlight: Rachel Orona, SIATech Inland Empire
"Before I came to the Inland Empire Job Corps Center my life was just a black hole," writes Rachel Orona. "I was just another poor young Latina girl from a messed up family, with no bright future and going nowhere in life."
12/2/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending November 4, 2011
Magnolia Public Schools' Alumni Come Together at 4th Annual Thanksgiving Event
Magnolia Public Schools celebrated the achievement of its graduates during a special Thanksgiving luncheon on November 26 at its flagship school Magnolia Science Academy 1 in Reseda. About 100 MSA alumni, seniors, teachers and administrators attended the event.
Julian Charter School Robotics Team Wins Innovative Solution Award
The new Julian Charter School robotics team recently received the Innovative Solution Award at a regional First Lego League robotics qualifying tournament in Palm Desert, California.
November 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.
See and Be Seen at the 19th Annual CA Charter Schools Conference
CCSA's Conference Team cordially invites you to increase your business or organization's visibility in the charter community as a sponsors or exhibitor at the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference, which will take place February 27 through March 1, 2012, in Sacramento.
Facilities Finance Spotlight: Ralph Bunche High School and Jefferson Middle School
Thanks to the work of a coalition of hard-working, flexible partners, two Green Dot public charter schools in Los Angeles, Ralph Bunche High School and Jefferson Middle School, now own previously-leased facilities that will serve in excess of 1,000 students.
Charter Parents Get Inspired and Empowered at "Camp Educate"
Earlier this month, parents from across the state gathered in Los Angeles for Camp Educate, a three-day training retreat led by Educate Our State, a parent-lead group which advocates for high-quality public education in California. Several dozen charter parents attended the event.
Charter News Round-Up: New Schools
News Round-Up of CCSA's new schools, enrollment increase announcement in November 2011.
CCSA Responds to USC/LA Times Poll on Charter Schools
We are encouraged to see in a recent poll by USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times that California voters have a favorable opinion of charter schools. However, we were concerned by the misleading way some of the poll questions were phrased.
Accountability Update from Myrna Castrejón, senior vice president, Achievement and Performance Management
Myrna Castrejón is CCSA's senior vice president, Achievement and Performance Management. In this piece, she shares an update on the Association's academic accountability efforts.
11/18/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending November 18, 2011.
Parent Voices Make the Difference on Charter School Facilities
More than 150 charter schools across the state submitted requests for facilities to their districts under Proposition 39 last year and many did so again this year by the Nov. 1 deadline. They won't receive final offers of space until April, but Families That Can has already started working with several schools to harness one of their most powerful resources - their parents.
Central Valley Charters Firing on All Cylinders
In recent years, we have seen an increase in activity in charter schools in the Central Valley, especially schools founded by family farm-based organizations and foundations connected to these organizations. In addition to serving students well, these schools have become actively engaged in the broader movement, to the benefit of charter schools in the Central Valley and beyond.
CCSA Wins Result in More Funds for Charters
CCSA has achieved wins at the legislative level that result in more funds for charters and has been successful in defeating legislation that would cost charters dearly.
CCSA Rejects Critique of Recent Research Report
The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) responds to Arizona State University professor David Dr. Garcia's review for the National Education Policy Center's (NEPC) Think Twice think tank review project of CCSA's report: Chartering and Choice as an Achievement Gap-Closing Reform: The success of California charter schools in promoting African American Achievement.
11/4/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending November 4, 2011.
LA Charter School Leader Named to Forbes' List of "World's 7 Most Powerful Educators"
Ana Ponce, founder of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles and a member of CCSA's board of directors, was one of just seven educators recently featured in Forbes magazine on a list of "Most Powerful Educators."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Forty Zip Codes" by Macy Olivas
Macy Olivas, a graduate of the Preuss School UCSD, writes that access to an effective education at a San Diego-area charter school was her ticket to college.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Charter School Bills
CCSA ramped up our advocacy efforts this year in response to a vast increase in the number of anti-charter school bills introduced in the Legislature. Because of member participation and CCSA's advocacy efforts, no bills are headed to the Governor for his signature or veto that CCSA opposes.
Alliance, KIPP and Rocketship Awarded Major Federal Expansion Grants
The U.S. Department of Education announced this week charter school grants totaling $25 million to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools. Recipients included three charter operators with schools in California.
Gabriella Charter School: Learning Through Dance
Gabriella Charter School offers students, families and the community of Echo Park a rigorous standards-based K-8 academic program with music, visual arts and daily one-hour dance instruction.
Scenes from Schools: Valor Academy
"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" take place across the state, in the form of sleep-away camps organized for students by Valor Academy in Arleta.
Redding School of the Arts Cuts Ribbon on New LEED-Certified Campus
Students from Redding School of the Arts are now housed on a new campus off of Shasta View Drive in Redding that unites children in grades kindergarten through 8th grade who have been taught in two separate locations for years. Strikingly, the campus boasts LEED certification, the US Green Building Council's coveted certification and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
September 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.
9/23/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 16, 2011.
Celerity Opens New School on Shuttered Compton Unified Campus
The new Celerity Sirius charter school located on a closed Compton Unified campus represents an unprecedented collaboration between the charter, the community and local educational agencies.
Proposition 39 at Work in Sacramento City Unified
The Association has been supporting members in Sacramento City Unified School District on facility issues for the past three years, and a lot has changed since 2008.
Talking with the Teacher of the Year: Meredith Dadigan
We recently took advantage of the summer break to squeeze in a few minutes with Meredith Dadigan, the 2011 Hart Vision Teacher of the Year. Dadigan is an elementary school teacher at Aspire Titan Academy in Los Angeles, one of 30 Aspire schools throughout California.
More Charter Projects to be Funded due to Recent State Allocation Board Decisions
Because of intricacies of the charter program, charter schools have historically been disadvantaged in the school construction process. The current State Allocations Board recognized this disadvantage and recently began working to put charters on an equal playing field with the rest of the school facilities projects.
First Person: A Visit to Capitol Collegiate School Visit
Capitol Collegiate is located in a rough area of south Sacramento. Their goal is to deliver a rigorous college preparatory program to inner city students in grades K-8. The school will serve over 500 students when full, with the majority coming from socio-economically disadvantaged households.
9/16/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 16, 2011.
CCSA Set to Unveil New Proposition 39 Resources
CCSA knows that finding and securing facilities can be challenging work for charter schools. The Association will once again offer a variety of resources for our members, including templates, pro-bono legal reviews for member applications in selected regions, and technical support from CCSA's Help Desk. This year, however, we will also be trying something new.
Charters Taking the Lead on Special Education in Los Angeles Unified
A two-day summit, "Charters Taking the Lead on Special Education: Practical Ideas, Actively Taught," was a demonstration of the great strides made by CCSA and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) members.
Scenes from Schools: SIATech Los Angeles
"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" takes place not on campus, but at the Grammy museum located in Downtown Los Angeles.
Bayshore Preparatory Increases API Score by a Record 65 Points
Bayshore Preparatory Charter School Executive Director Nancy Spencer announced this week that the school has exceeded all expectations and increased its Academic Performance Index (API) score by a record 65 points.
9/9/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 9, 2011.
St. HOPE Public School 7 Continues Outstanding Achievement on the CSTs and maintains API
For the seventh consecutive year PS7 showed gains on the CST, both overall and relative to their peers. PS7 students were the highest performing students in the Sacramento City Unified School District on ten of seventeen CSTs and they were the second, third or fourth highest performing on three additional exams.
Sacramento Charter High School Continues Outstanding CST Achievement
Sacramento Charter High School students again showed strong gains on the CST, both overall and relative to their peers, and continue to prove that when provided a high quality, college-prep education, all students can rise to the challenge and the achievement gap can be closed.
Scenes from Schools: SIATech Inland Empire
"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," was written by Ernie Silva, Director of External Affairs for SIATech.
9/2/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 2, 2011.
Bullis Charter School Ranks as the Top-Performing Public School in Los Altos School District
Bullis Charter School announced that it earned 984 on the 2011 Academic Performance Index (API) growth score, making it the highest-performing public school serving Los Altos School District students.
Public School Choice News Round-Up
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Unified School Board approved changes to the Public School Choice Initiative that could give in-district teams priority in applying for new schools. The charter school community, joined by parents and students from other community organizations, came out in opposition of the proposed
Fenton Avenue Charter School: A Story of Successful Charter Conversion
Fenton Avenue Charter School has plenty to boast about - it is a California Distinguished School, has been visited by dignitaries like former First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton and more students want to go there than for which it has space. That is now, but let's step back to 1993, when the school's staff decided to convert the former Los Angeles Unified School District school into an independent charter school, a tremendously bold step at the time and a key factor of their success.
8/26/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending August 26, 2011.
August 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.
Walton Family Foundation Invests $15 million to Expand Parental Choice in California's Public Charter Schools
On August 23, the Walton Family Foundation announced a three-year, $15 million grant to CCSA to expand parental choice in California's charter public schools, with a specific goal of allowing 100,000 more students to attend quality charter schools over the next three years.
Meet Our 2011 Education Pioneers: Skye Tirsbier
Skye Tirsbier has prepared a comprehensive Charter School Facilities Manual, which empowers charters to navigate the process of finding, securing, and financing a facility that fits their needs.
8/19/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending August 19, 2011.
Meet Our 2011 Education Pioneers: Mary Laihee
Mary Laihee has been working with CCSA's special education team to produce a funding guide for charter school operators and educators on the federal and state resources available for providing quality and compliant services to students with special needs.
Meet Our 2011 Education Pioneers: Megan Kinninger
Megan Kinney has been applying her experience in political research and analyzing political landscapes to map key stakeholders in different communities across California that CCSA can work with on local advocacy efforts.
Student Spotlight: Jasmine Perez, Arroyo Paseo Charter High School
Summer for Jasmine Perez has been anything but quiet. In addition to helping out with her eight-year old brother, she's been planning, and anticipating, the trip of her life. No, it's not to an exotic resort, or a beach, or anywhere warm for that matter. It's to the glaciers in the North Cascades in Washington state.
Getting to Know: Hrag Hamalian, Founder of Valor Academy
Teach for America alumni Hrag Hamalian leads Valor Academy, a charter middle school he founded in the San Fernando Valley to prepare low-income students for college. He recently sat down with CCSA to reflect on the state of public education in Los Angeles, Teach for America, education reform and the charter movement.
8/12/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending August 12, 2011.
New Appointments to the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools
The Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) is an advisory committee established by the State Board of Education (SBE) to advise the SBE on all aspects of the Board's duties under the Charter Schools Act. This July, four new members were appointed to the commission, which assists the SBE in ensuring that charter schools realize higher student achievement through sound educational programs and practices and proper financial management.
8/5/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending August 5, 2011.
19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference Call for Presentations
Answer the call! Submit your proposal for the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference, and take advantage of our "summer special" registration rate, now!
Check Out the New Families That Can video!
Check out our new video on Families That Can, a statewide organization of charter school parents, and find out how to get your voice heard!
Take Advantage of our Summer Special on Conference Registration
CCSA is offering a rock bottom flat rate of just $250 for Association members who register for the 19th Annual California Charter Schools Conference by Friday, September 9, 2011. This rate is $125 less than the Super Early Bird Registration Rate, which is normally the best deal you can receive.
San Diego Parent Summit Engages Families in Improving Public Education
Regional Director Lisa Berlanga participated in a San Diego parent summit on June 25. The summit was an opportunity to hear a panel of educational leaders address the question, "how do we improve public education?"
7/1/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending July 1, 2011.
June 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.
6/24/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending June 24, 2011.
Scenes from Schools: SIATech San Diego
"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 a first-person piece from Adriana Madrigal Meneses, a SIATech San Diego graduate who shares her story of transformation at SIATech.
California Charter Building Fund Spotlight: Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools
With economic turmoil persisting nationwide and statewide, many California charter schools have few options to obtain financing to purchase, construct or renovate facilities. CCSA's California Charter Building Fund (CCBF) has continued to provide reasonably-priced capital for charter schools. Thanks in part to the CCBF, the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools recently secured permanent homes for three of their 16 Los Angeles-based schools.
Dispelling Special Education Myths in the State Capitol
It is often stated that charter public schools do not serve the same population of students with unique learning needs - such as students with disabilities - as their traditional public school counterparts. To dispel this myth, CCSA's Special Education and Government Affairs teams held a special event for policy makers and legislative staffers. The meeting, which took place at the State Capitol, attracted staff from Assembly and Senate education committees, the Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst's Office, the California Department of Education, numerous Legislative offices, and two Congressional offices. The roundtable discussion, which was fueled by questions from the attendees, focused on current successes and challenges of charter schools when it comes to serving students with disabilities.
Getting to Know: Corri Ravare, the new Executive Director of Families That Can
Corri Tate Ravare is the new Executive Director of Families That Can, CCSA's statewide organization of charter school families. Ravare brings a wealth of experience to the job, most recently having served as president of Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Public Schools, a network of 15 high-performing charter schools serving 4,600 students in south Los Angeles. Read the interview with Corri.
6/17/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending June 17, 2011.
Member Perspective: CCSA Advocacy Day
Deirdre Fennessy, head of Golden Oak Montessori School, reflects on her experience on Advocacy Day in this first person piece.
Member Perspective: Starting a Charter School
This September, Jim Kennedy will be heading a new elementary school opening on the eastside of Los Angeles called Extera Public School. This exciting new beginning is also the culmination of two decades of work in education for Kennedy, who had two key pieces of advice for those thinking about starting a charter school.
Special Education Update
Charters interested in exploring LEA status for special education for the 2012-2013 school year, must submit a letter notifying your existing District and SELPA of your intent to exit the SELPA by June 30, 2011. If you are interested in learning more about charter schools and special education, register for "Special Education 101: Understanding your Rights, Responsibilities and Options when Serving Students with Special Needs."
The Trials and Tribulations (and Exhilaration) of Starting a Charter School
This September, Jim Kennedy will be heading a new elementary school opening on the eastside of Los Angeles called Extera Public School. This exciting new beginning is also the culmination of two decades of work in education for Kennedy, who in this piece reflects on the events of the past year since taking the plunge into the charter school landscape.
Update CDE Data by July 15 to Ensure Full Funding in 2011-12
The California Department of Education (CDE) is still accepting updates to schools' socioeconomic data used to make funding determinations for Economic Impact Aid (EIA), Title 1, and other categorical funding programs for the 2010-11 school year. EIA funding can be rectified as far back as 2009-10. One of our members recently updated their socioeconomic data at no charge and received an EIA boost to the tune of nearly $200,000!
What's Happening This Week in Sacramento
An update on what's happening in the state capitol during the week of May 30.
Scenes from Schools: ACEL Fresno Charter High School
"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. In today's "Scenes," we learn about students from Academy for Civic and Entrepreneurial Leadership (ACEL Fresno), who recently met with and testified before state legislators.
5/27/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending May 27, 2011.
What Works: A Charter Teacher Shares Best Practices from Granada Hills
On May 15, a couple dozen charter school teachers from Los Angeles participated in a Teacher Town Hall meeting broadcast live on NBC. The panelists included Meridith Dadigan, CCSA's Charter Teacher of the Year. Janie M. Holm, a teacher at...
5/20/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending May 20, 2011.
What Teachers Should be Talking About
On May 15, a couple dozen charter school teachers from Los Angeles participated in a Teacher Town Hall meeting broadcast live on NBC. The panelists included Meridith Dadigan, CCSA's Charter Teacher of the Year, who teaches at Aspire Titan, as...
5/13/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending May 13, 2011.
CCSA Works with Lending Community to Provide Emergency Loan Program
California's budget problems are creating an unsustainable cash flow situation for public schools, which have been forced to cope with multiple payment deferrals. While districts can reliably access Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) to address most of their cash flow concerns, charter schools have far fewer options. CCSA, together with financial partners Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), Enterprise Community Partners and Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), launched an Emergency Loan Program in response to Spring 2011 state delays. The program provided approximately $2.2 million in loans at a competitive rate.
Families That Can Honors Parents for Their Participation in Public School Choice
On May 2, Families That Can hosted a celebratory luncheon honoring 55 parents who led grassroots organizing around Public School Choice (PSC), the Los Angeles Unified School District's initiative to create excellent new schools and turn around the lowest performing...
Looking For Solutions to Charter Schools Funding Inequity and Access to Financing
In California, there is a persistent and clear pattern of funding inequity for charter schools. It is an issue that has been exacerbated by the tough economic times the state has gone through for the past decade. CCSA continues to work on increasing charter access to working capital options that allow schools to address their financial needs so they can focus on educating students.
National Charter Schools Week: California Student Spotlight
To commemorate National Charter Schools Week, the California Charter Schools Association is highlighting success stories in the charter movement. This is a "Spotlight" of an exemplary student in Sacramento Charter High School.
Advocacy Day at the Capitol
Today, during our annual commemoration of National Charter Schools Week, the California Charter Schools Association is also holding our annual Advocacy Day. On Advocacy Day, we invite charter school leaders, teachers and students to the Capitol to talk to their elected representatives, to find out how powerful their voice, and their stories, can be as legislation is being decided.
Getting to Know: Senator Gary K. Hart, Author of the California Charter Schools Act
While serving as state senator, Gary K. Hart sponsored the legislation that established California charter schools. The California Charter Schools Act was one of many education-related bills Hart, who was voted most ethical California legislator by his peers, authored. In honor of National Charter Schools Week, we sat down with Senator Hart to get the story behind the Charter Schools Act, as well as his thoughts on everything from the state of the movement to critical issues facing public education to Waiting for "Superman."
National Charter Schools Week: A Time to Celebrate and a Time to Act
"The state of education in California is something I think about on a daily basis. Not only is it part of my job as president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association, it's also my duty as a parent and school choice advocate," writes CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace.
Presidential Proclamation--National Charter Schools Week
On April 29, 2011, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring National Charter Schools Week 2011.
Granada Hills Charter High School Captures First National Academic Decathlon Title
Granada Hills Charter High School (GHCHS) took first place in the National Academic Decathlon competition in a crowded field that included past national champions J. Frank Dobie High School (Texas) and Waukesha High School (Wisconsin).
4/29/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending April 29, 2011.
April 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.
California Charter School a Finalist in "Race to the Top Commencement Challenge"
High Tech High International is one of the top six finalists in the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge put on by the White House. Teams of students had to submit essays and videos on why their school is exemplary. High Tech High International students worked collaboratively for weeks to produce their video, which we all now have the opportunity to view and rate, with an eye toward having President Obama speak at the school's commencement.
How to Make the Most of National Charter Schools Week
Every year as the first week in May approaches, we encourage charter schools to take advantage of National Charter Schools Week by using it as a spring board for getting the word out about their charter school. We encourage charters to invite legislators, board members, parents and community members to visit their school and see firsthand what charters are about. Last year, Edward B. Cole Academy held its first-annual "C.O.L.E. Day - Celebration of Literacy in Education" to commemorate the week.
4/8/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending April 8, 2011.
Third Round of Public School Choice Kicks Off in LA
The third round of Public School Choice has officially kicked off with potential applicants submitting letters of intent for 39 schools projected to serve over 50,000 students at 17 new campuses and 22 "focus schools," which are under-performing existing schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District's Public School Choice resolution allows non-district school operators - like charter schools, teacher teams, and community groups - the opportunity to apply to run schools.
School Finance Reform: CCSA in Action at the State Capitol
CCSA's Government Affairs team makes public school funding a top priority. Today, Assemblymember Julia Brownley, chair of the Assembly Education Committee, held an informational hearing on developing a new structure for school finance, and CCSA was in attendance on behalf of our members. Our major message at the hearing was that CCSA encourages the Legislature to look to charter schools as laboratories: we can help!
LAUSD Awards Seven Schools to Charters under Public School Choice
About 4,750 students in Los Angeles will be attending high-quality charter schools this fall, thanks to a massive effort from the charter school community and the bold actions of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board to push for reform and put kids first in the second round of Public School Choice.
Sacramento Advocacy Takes Center Stage at this Year's Conference Regional Meetings
CCSA has traditionally featured Regional Meetings, hosted in conjunction with the Annual California Charter Schools conference, but this year's focus was a novel call to action to begin to engage the charter schools community broadly in the essential work of protecting and promoting charter school interests in the state's capital.
Social Media and Online Sessions Bring the Conference to a Computer Near You
Music Watson sat hunched over her laptop in the back corner of a San Diego Convention Center ballroom, typing frantically as a parade of high-powered speakers and charter school luminaries took the stage. Watson's job over the course of three days' worth of keynote speeches and award acceptances was to keep the outside world--the people behind handles and hashtags on Twitter, those checking in via Facebook, and visitors from across the county to CCSA's blog--appraised of the goings on at the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference.
Scenes from Schools: Heritage College-Ready Academy High School
"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. In today's "Scenes," we learn about an innovative partnership to offer Chinese language and culture courses at Heritage College-Ready Academy High School.
Rave Reviews for 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference
Reviews of the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference, held in San Diego March 7-10, 2011, are rolling in.
Scenes from Schools: Locke High School
"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. In today's "Scenes," we learn about the achievements of the Locke High School CyberPatriots.
News Round-Up: Public School Choice 2.0 Final Vote
This week, the LAUSD Board selected several top-performing charter schools to run various campuses identified in the second round of the Public School Choice (PSC) initiative. Late last year, seven charter schools submitted applications to the board for the opportunity...
2011 Winners of the Susan Steelman Bragato Scholarship
The California Charter Schools Association is proud to award $1,500 college scholarships to five deserving charter high school graduates at Association member schools. The scholarship is named for Susan Steelman Bragato, the co-founder of the first charter school in California,...
3/4/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending March 5, 2011.
Sneak Peek at March 10 Conference Activities
The 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference runs March 7-10, 2011. Find out what's on tap for Thursday, March 10.
Sneak Peek at March 9 Conference Activities
The 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference runs March 7-10, 2011. Find out what's on tap for Wednesday, March 9.
Sneak Peek at March 8 Conference Activities
The 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference runs March 7-10, 2011. Find out what's on tap for Tuesday, March 8.
Sneak Peek at March 7 Conference Activities
The 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference runs March 7-10, 2011. Find out what's on tap for Monday, March 7.
The Next Best Thing to Being at the Charter Schools Conference
Even if you're unable to attend the 18th Annual Charter Schools Conference, you can still access some of the amazing speakers, presentations, and resources that will be presented March 7-10, 2011, in San Diego.
Portrait of the Movement News Round-Up
This week, CCSA unveiled the Portrait of the Movement report, which offers an assessment of charter school performance in the state and provides a framework to press for higher accountability for low-performing charters. This is a list of selected media articles that highlight the report.
"A Closer Look At Charter School Academic Performance" by Jed Wallace
This week our first annual Portrait of the Movement report, which details the academic performance of charter schools and provides a framework to press for higher accountability for low-performing charters. The report reveals reasons for great optimism in the areas where charter schools are excelling and for greater resolve in the areas where charter schools need to improve.
Top 10 Things You Need to Know About the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference
The 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference is now just two weeks away! The event will be held March 7-10, 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center. If you have not yet registered for the conference, we hope you will consider doing so today.
February 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 in this month.
Energetic Parent Summit is a Highlight for This Year's Conference
Charter schools have long modeled best practices for engaging parents and harnessing the power of families to create great schools. That powerful parent voice will be out in force at this year's California Charter Schools Conference. The annual event is not only the biggest gathering of the year for charter leaders, teachers and education reformers - it is also home to the charter community's annual Parent Summit, which is completely free for parents to attend.
Getting to Know: Cynthia Bryant, senior vice president, Government Affairs
We sat down with Cynthia Bryant, the Association's new senior vice president, Government Affairs, to learn about her background, her thoughts on why charter schools and education reform are important, and her first impressions of CCSA.
Countywide Benefit Charter Approved in Sacramento will serve the Region's Lowest Performing Students
This was not an ordinary board meeting. A gospel choir greeted members of the public as they pulled into the parking lot of the Sacramento County Office of Education. Supporters were handed t-shirts, buttons, instructions on decorum, and a ticket for a hot dog and water as they lined up to pack the hearing room and two overflow rooms. And after a marathon eight-hour deliberation, at 2:00 in the morning, the Board of Education voted to approve the region's very first countywide benefit charter.
CCSA Performance Institutes Help Schools Build a Culture of Achievement
To equip member schools with resources and foundational knowledge to facilitate teacher effectiveness and student achievement, CCSA is offering a series "Performance Institute" webinars. These webinars are designed to share promising practices in Performance Management and help schools build a culture of achievement.
2/4/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending February 5, 2011.
1/28/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending January 28, 2011.
Charter Employee Services: Providing Additional Security for Your Charter
The California Charter Schools Association is proud to offer Charter Employee Services--a program designed to provide peace of mind that you have protections for your school and your employees in place.
1/21/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending January 21, 2011.
January 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.
Oakland Charter School Collaborative Offers Members a Strong Base of Support
As the charter movement has evolved and matured over the past 19 years, we have learned a thing or two! It is from these lessons that the Oakland Charter School Collaborative emerges.
1/14/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending January 14, 2011.
A "Milagro" in Lincoln Heights: CCSA Gives Books and Gets Back Much More
This holiday season, CCSA's Los Angeles staff held their annual holiday book drive for a local charter school. PUC Milagro is the only elementary school among the Partnerships to Uplift Communities' network of 12 schools, and it has a unique founding story. "Milagro," which means "miracle" in Spanish, has gone on to educate hundreds of neighborhood children with great success--the school has posted an API above 800 for all six years of existence, achieving an average API of 897 last year. These strong results are not by chance. "We wanted to make sure this school was contrary to the normal course of things - which is what a miracle is," said Ref Rodriguez, who cofounded the school.
1/7/11 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending January 7, 2011.
I Used to Think... by Larry Rosenstock
A first-person piece on the future of public education by Larry Rosenstock, a CCSA Board Member who is Chief Executive Officer of High Tech High.
Scenes from Schools: Fenton Avenue Charter School
"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," actually takes place at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, not at a school, but reflects the successes of Fenton Avenue Charter School in Lake View Terrace in the words of school Director David Riddick.
December 2010 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.
Charter Employee Services: Ensuring Competitiveness, Protecting Flexibility
To enable our member charter schools to offer employee benefits packages usually found in the traditional school system, CCSA has developed Charter Employee Services (CES). CES offers comprehensive, charter-specific benefits packages at low, negotiated rates.
12/17/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending December 17, 2010.
Northern California Charter School Board Members Focus on Governance
At the very top of non-profit charter school's governance structure is the governing board - a group of dedicated volunteers that are elected or appointed to keep the school on track. In order to help strengthen charter school governance, charter school board members and directors recently participated in a governance training sponsored by the Association and held at Blue Oak Charter School in Chico, California. In all, more than 40 board members from 7 charter schools attended the four-hour training to learn more about board duties.
Charter School Finance Forum Lays the Groundwork for Exploring Funding Solutions
Charter school budget and finance issues continue to be a top priority for CCSA, even during the legislative recess. In an effort to keep these issues front and center, CCSA convened charter school leaders, members of the banking community, representatives from philanthropic foundations, the California School Finance Authority, the California Department of Education and Association staff for a presentation and in-depth conversation about charter school funding equity and access to working capital financing.
Los Angeles School Board and Charter Leaders Commit to Working Together
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education and local charter leaders have signed on to an compact to work together to share best practices and to ensure all students have access to a high-quality public education.
Scenes from Schools: SIATech Los Angeles
"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. In today's "Scenes," we visit SIATech Los Angeles through a piece written by Daniel Butler, an instructor at the school.
12/10/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending December 10, 2010.
12/3/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending December 3, 2010.
L.A. Superior Court Ruling on Prop. 39 Lawsuit in the News
Charter schools in Los Angeles scored a major victory this week as the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) must make Proposition 39 offers to each and every charter school that submits an application to the district for facilities. The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) filed a lawsuit against LAUSD in May 2010 for continued non-compliance with Prop. 39. This victory is a major step forward in charter schools receiving equitable facilities.
Public School Choice 2.0 in the Spotlight
This week, applications for the second round of LAUSD's Public School Choice initiative were due to the district, and seven charter schools applied for a total of seven new schools and one focus school. The California Charter Schools Association organized a news conference on Wednesday to show support for the charter schools, and discuss new efforts in this round, including more direct parent organizing and involvement.
November 2010 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.
Fresno isn't Waiting for "Superman"
In Fresno, the California Charter Schools Association parented with the United Way of Fresno County and the Fresno Unified School District to organize a special screening of Waiting for "Superman."
11/26/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending November 26, 2010.
Association Staff Lend Helping Hands at San Diego Schools
CCSA has staff in the Northeastern California, Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and San Diego regions, which allows the Association to respond to members across the state, but presents some challenges when attempting to facilitate the type of in-person work necessary to advance CCSA's work on behalf of the movement. Our geographically-dispersed staff meet twice a year for all-staff retreats, focusing on strategic planning and action, identifying opportunities for cross-team collaboration, and building a common understanding on important issues facing the movement. In short, the retreats help CCSA identify how to maximize successes, respond to challenges facing charters and to accomplish the Association's strategic goals. This year's fall retreat also helped staff get in touch with the reason we exist--our member schools--in a very personal way.
Member Satisfaction Drives Movement Success
The historic volume of new charter schools in 2010-11 shows the California charter school movement's tireless efforts are paying off in a number of ways. None of this is possible without the pooling of minds and resources, so thank you for your continued membership with CCSA. Your feedback keeps us on pace with school needs, and one way we gather feedback is through an annual satisfaction survey.
We're All in This Together... By Myrna Castrejon
A first-person piece on CCSA's accountability strategy by CCSA's Senior Vice President of Achievement and Performance Management Myrna Castrejon.
11/19/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending November 19, 2010.
Celebrating Teachers with a Special Ticket Offer
The team behind Waiting for "Superman" has announced that theater owners are offering teachers who show their credentials at the box office the chance to buy tickets to the film at a reduced rate.
California Charter Educator Scholarships Now Available
CCSA's Charter Employee Services and the Association of American Educators are proud to announce scholarships specifically designed to meet the needs of California's charter school educators. CES participants are eligible to receive up to $300 to attend the 18th Annual CA Charter Schools Conference at the San Diego Convention Center March 7-10th, 2011--the exclusive charter school professional event of the year. A total of $10,000 in scholarships will be awarded.
11/12/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending November 12, 2010.
Waiting for Superman on Nov. 15 with Director Davis Guggenheim
The charter school community is invited to a screening of the new documentary, *Waiting for "Superman,"* and town hall event this Monday, Nov. 15, at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood.
CCSA to Award Scholarships to High School Graduates of Association Member Schools
The California Charter Schools Association will award five $1,500 scholarships to high school graduates of Association member schools. The scholarships are given in memory of Susan Steelman Bragato, a pioneer in the nation's charter school movement. Applications must be completed by Friday, December 10, 2010.
Record Number of Submissions for Charter Schools Conference
CCSA rebuilds the annual California Charter Schools Conference program each year through a "Call for Presentations" for breakout sessions. This year, we received more than 500 proposals in response to our Call for Presentations, a new record for the conference.
Interested in Starting a Charter School?
Join CCSA for a free four-part online webinar series called "Starting a High-Quality Charter School." The series provides participants with an understanding of the school development process and the building blocks necessary to develop a charter school.
10/29/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 29, 2010.
CDE Public Charter Schools Grant Program Application Webinar
To coincide with the launch of the 2010-2015 PCSGP application, the CED's Charter Schools Division will host an informational webinar at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 4, 2010. This webinar will provide guidance on the 2010-2015 PCSGP grant cycle.
10/22/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 22, 2010.
In Spite of Obstacles, Charter Schools Provide Food Services to Students
The Bureau of State Audits (BSA) released a report this week on child nutrition programs at charter schools, and the level of participation in the federal meal programs, due to a request by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee earlier this year. CCSA is encouraged by the results of the audit, as it shows that most charter schools participate in the federal School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program, despite not being required to do so.
Upcoming Workshops Address Critical Facilities Issues
Identifying and securing adequate facilities for charter students is a challenging task for many of our state's charter schools. CCSA and the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.) are co-sponsoring workshops to assist charter organizations and charter schools in addressing critical facility issues.
In Its 18th Year, Charter Schools Conference Offers Networking, Resources
The first charter school in California opened in 1993. That same year, the pioneers of the California charter school movement held the first California Charter Schools Conference in one small hotel conference room. Today the California Charter Schools Conference is a huge event attended by 2,500 charter leaders, teachers and supporters from throughout the state. In 2011, we will have more than 200 businesses on site as exhibitors. There will be more than 150 breakout sessions covering everything from governance training to online learning. We will also have engrossing sessions about fighting for your school at the local, state and federal level.
Workshops Help with Starting a High-Quality Charter School
October 20 marks the first session in a free four-part online webinar series called "Starting a High-Quality Charter School." The series provides participants with an understanding of the school development process and the building blocks necessary to develop a charter school.
Getting to Know: James Wilcox, CEO of Aspire Public Schools
If you tuned in to Oprah earlier this month, you would have seen Bill Gates talking about the new documentary Waiting For "Superman" and what's wrong in public education. You would also see, in the front row, a group of charter school leaders, including James Willcox, CEO of Aspire Public Schools, whose programs were held up as an example of what a great school can be. We sat down with James to hear about his involvement with the movement, his brush with fame on "Oprah," and his thoughts on "Superman."
Prop. 39 Success Story: Higher Learning Academy
Proposition 39, a law passed by California voters in 2000, grants charter school students equal access to school district facilities, if charters are able to meet certain eligibility requirements. This story celebrates Sacramento's Higher Learning Academy's successful application for Prop. 39 facilities.
10/15/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 15, 2010.
October 2010 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.
Highlights of the 2010-11 State Budget
the Governor has signed the state budget agreement for Fiscal Year 2010-2011. This is the latest that the Legislature has ever approved a spending plan, due annually on July 1, the start of California's fiscal year. If you haven't had time to read the full Budget Brief, here is some information on public charter school-related budget items.
Legislative Session Wrap-Up
The 2010 Legislative session officially ended on August 31, with the Governor having one month after the end of session to sign or veto legislation. Importantly to charter school supporters, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed two pieces of legislation that CCSA opposed, AB 572 and AB 2543. He also signed AB 184, which provides relief for cash-strapped school districts struggling to cope with ongoing budget shortfalls.
October Deferral Exemption Deadline is Friday
As we understand it, the state's current plan is to defer most or all payments of K-12 apportionments in October and to repay them all by November 15, 2010. Applications for exemption from the deferrals are due by statute on October 15, 2010.
10/8/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 8, 2010.
Join the Waiting for "Superman" Virtual Town Hall
You are Invited to a Virtual Town Hall on Public Education in America. Join Arianna Huffington, Joel Klein, Davis Guggenheim, and others in a conversation with online participants across the country as they discuss Waiting for "Superman" and the topic that has America talking. The Town Hall will take place Friday, October 8, at 4:00 p.m. PDT.
Live from New York City... The Movie Review
Cameron Curry is Executive Director of The Classical Academies organization, which is made up of three successful public charter schools in San Diego County. He also serves as the Independent Study Schools Representative on CCSA's. Here, he shares his review of Waiting for "Superman," a documentary that has everyone talking about education reform.
Don't Wait for "Superman"
Waiting for "Superman" is a powerful and courageous film. It shows that great schools come from great teachers. And it exposes the forces that deny children more of both. The California Charter Schools Association is an official partner of the Done Waiting Advocacy Coalition and we want you to support it too.
Answer the Call!
This Friday, October 8, 2010, is the deadline to submit a proposal in response to our Call for Presentations for the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference. Presenting at the conference is a way to share your experience and knowledge with 2,500 attendees from charter schools across California.
10/1/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending October 1, 2010.
In the News
ICEF Public Schools, which operates 15 schools in Los Angeles, was the subject of a Los Angeles Times article regarding a challenging situation the charter management organization has been facing.
9/24/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 24, 2010.
CCSA Partners with San Diego Film Festival on "Superman"
CCSA has partnered with the San Diego Film Festival to offer charter school supporters discounts on the festival's many offerings. The Festival is showing Waiting for "Superman" at 7:30 p.m. on October 1 at the Gaslamp Theatre (701 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101). After the film, Guggenheim will answer questions during a session moderated by Christa Coleman, the school leader from KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy.
As "Superman" Premieres, Summit Petition is Denied
During the same week that Waiting for "Superman" premieres across the nation, a petition by Redwood City's Summit Public Schools to open a new high-quality charter school in San Jose's East Side Union High School District has been denied. Summit Prep is one of the five schools featured in "Superman;* it also was recently ranked by Newsweek magazine as among the top 100 schools in the nation.
California Charter Schools Win Big with Oprah
In a show devoted to the upcoming documentary "Waiting for Superman", Oprah recognized six charter school networks throughout the nation with a $1 million donation from her Angel Foundation. In California, the award will go to Aspire Public Schools, which operates some 30 charter schools in cities like East Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Sacramento. The schools serve more than 10,000 students, a majority of which come from low-income neighborhoods.
New Offerings at Annual Charter Schools Conference
Have you registered your team for the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference? The conference will be held March 7-10, 2011, at the San Diego Convention Center. The theme will be `"The Future of California Public Education." Lock in savings by registering before our Super Early Bird Registration Deadline on Friday, October 22. Everyone who registers by Oct. 22 will be entered to win a free registration/hotel package.
9/17/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 17, 2010.
Join Us for a Free Prop. 39 Workshop
CCSAs Legal Advocacy Team and the law firm of Middleton, Young & Minney will provide charter schools and charter school developers with an overview of Proposition 39, the law that requires school districts to provide reasonably equivalent facilities to charter schools.
"Back-to-School/New Charter Schools" Media Push
Now that summer has ended, thousands of students are going back to school this year as new charter school students. In order to highlight the growth of charter schools across the state, as well as our members' continued commitment to the movement, the Association's Communications Team embarked on a proactive media outreach effort centered on a "back to school" theme.
Looking for Super Educators
Do you know an incredible teacher or principal who is leading the way in fighting for great schools in Los Angeles? The new documentary, Waiting for "Superman, which hits theaters in L.A. on Sept. 24, is an opportunity to engage the public in education reform. The movie's promotions team has now launched an LA-focused website where they will be profiling local educators. We invite you to pitch someone to be featured or to suggest other content for their site.
WSJ: "Charter Schools Struggle Over Class Room"
When the price tag of Los Angeles Unified School District's RFK Community Schools was revealed this summer, charter schools were more than disappointed. That's because the same district had denied equitable facilities to dozens of charter schools, leaving many to pursue other options, including building or renting their own space. The "most expensive school in U.S. history" is the subject of a Wall Street Journal article that gives the example of Larchmont School, a charter which was forced to spend $174,000 on rent, utilities and maintenance instead of on school supplies or educational programs.
Releasing the Collective Power of the Parent
Twenty years since its inception, the charter school community is beginning to rely on the growing parent constituency to help take control of their students' education in a broader sense, as well. There are approximately 340,000 students in California public charter schools today. That translates to at least half a million charter school parents. CCSA has recently joined forces with Families That Can (FTC) to harness that power, helping parents understand their latent advocacy potential and converting that potential energy into kinetic, sustainable momentum for charter school advocacy goals on behalf of their children.
California Charter Schools to be Featured on Oprah
Aspire Public Schools is a non-profit charter management organization that operates small, high quality public charter schools across California. James Wilcox, Aspire's Chief Executive Officer, will be featured on a special education-related Oprah Winfrey Show airing on Monday, September 20, 2010.
CCSA Prop. 39 Efforts Benefit All California Charter Schools
The principle behind Proposition 39 is one of equity and fairness for all public school students, irrespective of whether they attend public district schools or public charter schools in their communities. Prop. 39 represents the tangible, pragmatic embodiment of that principle in the most publicly visible sign of a successful school - the building. Charter schools across California scrap and scrape for workable facilities solutions each year; that is why the Association has embarked on a multi-year, statewide campaign to seek full implementation of Prop. 39. CCSA advocacy on behalf of schools applying for facilities under Prop. 39 therefore benefits all charter school students in the state.
9/10/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 10, 2010.
September 2010 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.
"Waiting for Superman" Kicks Off a National Conversation
This blog post by CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace about Waiting for "Superman," a new education documentary in theaters this fall, originally appeared on TakePart.com.
Demand your Proposition 39 Facility Now
Application deadlines for Proposition 39 facilities for the 2011-12 school year are right around the corner, so it is critical charter schools begin the process now. In order to assist member schools, CCSA will be providing free workshops and webinars, pro-bono legal reviews for member applications in selected regions, and technical support from CCSA's Help Desk. We will hold a webinar on September 21, as well as in-person workshops on September 23 (Northern California) and September 27 (Southern California).
Wall Street Journal's Look At LAUSD's Most Expensive School
The Robert F. Kennedy Learning Center's excesses illustrate binge-spending on behalf of the district, as well as the district's inequity toward other students, especially those served by charter schools. The Wall Street Journal's editorial on the issue details how charters are more nimble and efficient when it comes to building facilities and serving students, using the Green Dot charter management organization's successes to point out the stark contrasts.
9/3/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending September 3, 2010.
8/27/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending August 27, 2010.
LAUSD Unveils Most Expensive School Ever Built, While Charters' Needs Are Not Met
The most expensive school ever to be built in California and the nation opened its doors in the Los Angeles Unified School District this week, amidst one of the worst budgetary times our state has seen. At the same time it has built what many are calling a "Taj Mahal school," the district has consistently refused to offer charter schools equitable facilities and use of space, despite the fact they are required to do so by law.
8/20/10 Charter News Round-Up
Charter school news for the week ending August 20, 2010.
Public School Choice Charter School Opens In LAUSD
CCSA and Camino Nuevo welcomed students to their first day of school at Jose A. Castellanos, one of the first Public School Choice schools to open its doors. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education President Monica Garcia were on hand to commemorate the occasion. The school's opening--and the entire Public School Choice (PSC) program--is an important step in education reform.
Seeking Funding Equity for Charter Schools at Every Level
As state and federal revenues continue to be in short supply, many localities are seeking to supplement their education funding with local measures. Most prominent among these local measures are local parcel taxes - a local property tax that allocates funds for a specified purpose. A local school district board of education has the authority to place a property tax on the ballot, requesting that local voters agree to levy the additional tax on behalf of local public schools.
Charters Embark on Strategic Planning at Performance Management Institute
More than 20 charter schools recently gathered together at Stanford University to participate in a Performance Management Institute (PMI), receiving valuable coaching around strategic planning. The institute introduced attendees to performance management, a framework for managing the execution of an organization's strategy.
New Special Education Option in Los Angeles County Offers a Model for SELPAs
As a result of collaborative work with the State Board of Education, California Department of Education, Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) and districts, charters continue to see increased options that bring with them increased flexibility in funding, governance structure, management, and availability of high-quality programs in order to successfully serve students with special needs.
Renewals Advocacy Takes Center Stage in Northeastern California
Across the state, CCSA has seen charter schools, even those with strong track records and seemingly good relationships with their authorizers, struggle through renewal. In many cases this struggle is caused by what CCSA has deemed authorizer "over regulation." Long Valley Charter School (LVCS) in Lassen County was poised to be another casualty of a difficult renewal process, until persistence, stakeholder support, and access to CCSA resources saved the day.
Groundbreaking Deal Could Revolutionize Funding for Charters
In a potentially groundbreaking financing deal that closed earlier this month, Birmingham Community Charter High School in Los Angeles received $3 million for working capital through a Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) offering. This was the first-ever RAN financing using a state-intercept mechanism to close in California for charter school working capital, and this structure has the potential to assist more charter schools moving forward.
August 2010 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.
Univision Shines the Spotlight on Charters in L.A.
Univision will feature Caminio Nuevo Charter Academy Principal Ana Ponce, as well as Myrna Castrejón, Senior Vice President with the California Charter Schools Association, discussing the opening of Jose Castellanos, a school opening as part of the Public School Choice education reformation and transformation process in the Los Angeles Unified School District. In addition, charter school growth and the strength of the movement will be discussed.
"Whose Civil Rights" Examines Civil Rights Groups' Challenge to Race to the Top
"Whose Civil Rights" is a reflection on the challenge mounted by a group of civil rights leaders to the Obama administration's Race to the Top program.
"Waiting for Superman" Starts Conversation About Public Education
"Waiting for Superman" offers an exhaustive review of public education, surveying drop out factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems. The film also explores innovative approaches taken by education reformers and charter schools that have refused to leave their students behind.
Calls for Balance and Fairness as SBE Looks to Set Standards for Low-Performing Schools
The State Board of Education will consider new standards for identifying low performing charter schools in September, calling also for more accountability at their time of renewal. CCSA has long supported increased accountability for charters, but is aiming to make the process a balanced one.
Start Planning for the 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference
The 18th Annual California Charter Schools Conference will be held March 7-10, 2011, at the San Diego Convention Center. Our theme for 2011 will be "The Future of California Public Education.''
Teachers question district's abandonment of charter plan
When the San Bernadino City Unified School District decided to abandon a plan to turn six district campuses into charter schools, the San Bernadino Sun editorialized that the district missed a shot at innovation.
Fresno Students "Graduating to New Digs"
This fall, students at Fresno's University High Charter Schools will start the school year in a new, modern building inside the Fresno State campus.
"Educating Maria" highlights charter's work on LA's Skid Row
L.A. Weekly's feature story "Educating Maria" shares the story of how one school's dedicated staff work with families and communities to nurture students' promise.
Changes Coming to Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ramon Cortines has confirmed that he will be stepping down from his position in the spring.
Chico Charter School Gives Students iPads
A charter school in Chico moves into 21st Century classroom teaching, giving students iPads and promoting innovation and technology.
Recent News Stories Outline Issues Facing the Charter School Movement
Three recent articles outline the full spectrum of issues facing the charter school movement in California.
CCSA Staff Share Expertise at the National Charter Schools Conference
More than 4,000 teachers, advocates, policy makers, charter leaders, education reformers and donors gathered at the 10th annual National Charter Schools Conference, held June 28-July 1 in Chicago. Some of the brightest minds in education, philanthropy, business and public policy presented at the conference, including leaders from charter schools across California and CCSA's expert staff.
Promising Developments in Fresno
The Fresno Regional Foundation recently made a $10,000 grant to support the development of a new charter school in that city. This ground-breaking charter development grant is an example of the type of partnerships needed to help shoulder the responsibility...
Partnership with Education Pioneers Seeks to Effect Systemic Change in Urban Education
CCSA is a proud supporter of the Education Pioneers summer fellowship program. Participation as a partner in the Education Pioneers program represents a commitment to developing exceptional talent, to driving change in the urban education reform movement, and to building efficiency across the education sector. This year, CCSA will host four Education Pioneers in the Los Angeles office.
Bill Gates Speaks to Charter Leaders, Highlights Success, Calls for More Accountability
Microsoft founder Bill Gates spoke to charter leaders on the success, innovation, and challenges in charter schools across the nation, including California....
Free Developer Information Sessions
The Association is pleased to offer online Developer Information Sessions on topics ranging from Incorporation to designing a realistic charter school budget. Each session provides expert instruction and a forum for questions and answers....
Charter school graduates head off to college en masse
June is graduation season, a time when students and families celebrate many years of hard work that culminate to the soundtrack of "Pomp and Circumstance." In three Northern California charter schools, the celebrations are that much more exciting because all...
Board Chair Rick Piercy announces Jed Wallace as CEO
A Message to the Membership: Board Chair Rick Piercy announces Jed Wallace as CEO I am thrilled to announce that after an extensive national search, the Association's Board of Directors unanimously selected High Tech High's Chief Operating Officer, Jed Wallace,...
