Thank you to all of the AWESOME OPA supporters who came out for our Next Steps meeting Tuesday night June 23. We have some great things planned. Stay tuned for some committee updates, a new web presence, some Family Fun Nights to stay connected with the OPA community and much more!

HOW CAN I HELP NOW?

• Continue to check this blog and our Facebook Page for updates
• If you participate in public forums (such as the Daily Bulletin blog) keep things positive and collaborative
• If you are unsure about any facts charter schools or the petition process, please ask! We are here to help!
• Please continue to contact your CVUSD Board members and let them why this charter school is important to you.
• Come to OPA meetings, Family Fun Nights, and events to create awareness and build the community--OPA IS coming--we just have the benefit of more time to build the momentum and stronger foundation.
• If you missed the meeting and would like to get involved, please contact OPA through the "Contact Us" button to the right.
  

Next Steps...Meeting Tuesday June 23 6:30 PM

The Founding Group of Oxford Preparatory Academy wishes to thank the public for their overwhelming support, both Thursday night and as we move forward with bring the BEST learning environment in the state to Chino Valley for our kids!

Thursday night, the CVUSD Board denied Oxford Prep's charter petition 3:1 with Trustee James Na showing vision and voice as he stood up to the status quo. While we are disappointed that the other board members and the CVUSD cabinet simply lacked the understanding and knowledge of ed code requirements as related to charter schools, we also understand that Oxford Prep is the first of our kind in the Chino Valley and therefore we have the burden of having an approval process that is unlikely to be put before any other applicant. The county and state have familiarity with charter petitions. They understand the nuances of the contents, what ed code requires, what must be in place prior to enrollment, and what are realistic expectations prior to approval. It is obvious, particularly after Thursday, that the CVUSD board does not have this same level of knowledge (which can be understandable to a point). Mrs. Orozco made it quite clear from her comments that she has not taken the time to read and understand the petition despite our repeated efforts to reach out and spend time to facilitate her understanding. Her comments about the notes she took and the concerns she has make it evident that she has little knowledge of charter applications, ed code requirements, or what an independent charter application must present. It was discouraging to hear Mr. Youngblood exclaim that OPA teachers, who need jobs like anyone else in this economy, were "holding this district hostage" before slapping his microphone away . Oxford Prep's hesitation to agree to the 30 Day extension was based on that timeline exceeding the June 30th Intent to Return Form.

A community meeting will be held next Tuesday June 23 at 6:30 PM at the Premiere Academy/Chino Hills Chinese School at 5847 Pine Avenue Chino Hills to announce our strategy as move toward the next level.

Oxford Preparatory Academy V2.0 will allow for a stronger foundation, a true start up financial grant base, and a much larger community momentum. Keep checking the website and Facebook page as details emerge.

CVUSD Board Meeting Thursday June 18, 7 PM

Tonight is the night!
Come show your support for OPA at the district Board meeting. Wear AQUA! Arrive early. Speakers will be able to address the board for 3 minutes each prior to Board discussion on Oxford Prep. The CVUSD Board will vote on approval or denial of the OPA petition to open our charter school this fall.
Come show your support!

The Board meeting will be held at the CVUSD office at 5130 Riverside Drive in Chino. The agenda may be downloaded from the district website.

Alternative Uses for Closes School Facilities Forum Monday June 15 6 PM - Come Support OPA and speak for a future school site

Monday June 15 at 6 PM at Don Lugo is the CVUSD Community Forum to discuss Alternative Uses for the Closed School Facilities.

The community is invited to share suggestions, concerns or needs for three facilities scheduled to close. OPA supporters are encouraged to speak to suggeste a partnership with OPA & an existing school site. Interested? Email oxfordpreparatoryacademy@gmail.com

Charter school proponents offer information session

Chino Champion Article, Saturday June 13, 2009

An information meeting on the proposed Oxford Preparatory Academy charter school will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday June 14, at the Premiere Academy/Chino Hills Chinese School, 5847, Chino Hills.

Two 30-minute sessions will be presented on the proposed school's program, a parent learning agreement and possible locations for the school. Lead petitioners will answer questions from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

A previous information session was held Tuesday at the same location and attended by approximately 100 people, according to founding charter member Carrie Birchler. She said parents from the Ontario-Montclair School District were among those attending that meeting, as were parents from private schools.

"We got some really positive feedback," Ms. Birchler said.

The school board is expected to vote on the charter school petition when it meets at 7 p.m. Thursday June 18, at the district office, 5130 Riverside Drive, Chino.

Ms. Birchler said that if the school board denies the charter, the founding charter members will petition the county schools office for the school on June 19.

The proposed kindergarten through eighth grade charter school is designed to prepare students for university level academics, will offer elective-type courses and will be community service-oriented, according to its petitioners.

California charter schools must have credentialed teachers and cannot charge tuition because they receive state and local funding that is based on student enrollment, just as public schools do. The schools are generally exempt from most laws that apply to public schools, so administrators, faculty and parents have considerable freedom in designing their educational programs, according to the Charter Schools Development Center.

ENCORE Parent Information Meeting Sunday June 14 4:00 PM

ENCORE PRESENTATION!!

WE HAD SUCH A FANTASTIC TURN OUT FOR OUR TUESDAY EVENING MEETING--WE ARE HOSTING A SECOND OPPORTUNITY THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON!

Parent Information Meeting on Sunday June 14 at 4 PM
location: 5847 Pine Avenue Chino Hills
(in the Premier Academy/Chino Hills Chinese School building)

Two 30-minute sessions will be presented to answer general questions on:
- OPA's Educational Program
- Parent Learning Agreement
- Possible Locations for the School

Following the Sessions, Lead Petitioners will be available to answer questions

The general information presentations will end at 5 PM.
The Q & A session will run from 5 to 5:30 PM. We hope to see you Sunday June 14 at 4PM.

Approve A Charter- Daily Bulletin Letter to the Editor June 3, 2009

Approve A Charter

Charter schools may be the answer to California's educational woes. In the Chino Valley Unified School District, a group of parents and teachers are going out on a limb to make a necessary change to current educational options for parents and families of the community by starting a charter school. Oxford Preparatory Academy, the name chosen by the founding members of the charter, looks to be a beacon of student success in the Chino Valley.

From their unique collegiate theme, where every classroom is a university, to the belief that all students are gifted, this school has the roots of student success firmly planted and ready to bloom.

As a parent interested in this charter endeavor, I am hopeful that the school board and governing body of CVUSD will cultivate student success by allowing this educational option for families of the community. It is the board's duty to make decisions that are right for children.

That is why the community voted for the board members in the first place. I would hope that is why they chose to represent our community.

This call for change embodies far more than a parent's option for their child's education. It is an opportunity to change the treacherous course CVUSD has been on for the public's observation and scrutiny. There is a saying about a train wreck ... you don't want to look, but it is difficult to pull your eyes away.

All eyes are on you. Make the most of it, accept change, and enable our community to see that CVUSD is truly innovative, willing to permit Oxford Preparatory Academy to serve as an educational "option" to the children of our community.

DENISE HOBBENSIEFKEN
Chino

May 29: Duncan: "Anti-Charter States Will Lose Stimulus Dollars"

Duncan: Anti-Charter States Will Lose Stimulus Dollars
According to the Associated Press, Education Secretary Duncan said yesterday states that do not embrace charter schools will hurt their chances to compete for millions of federal stimulus dollars. Responding to a question about Tennessee, whose Democratic lawmakers have blocked an effort to make more kids eligible to attend charters, Duncan said: "There are a number of states that are leading this effort, and we want to invest a huge amount of money into them, a minimum of $100 million, probably north of that. And the states that don't have the stomach or the political will, unfortunately, they're going to lose out." Tennessee has one of the most restrictive charter school laws in the country, with the number of charters capped at 50, and only failing students or students at failing schools eligible to attend. Gotham Schools reported that last week Duncan told Congress that he will give preference to states without caps on the number of charter schools. This could put the next round of stimulus funding out of reach for New York, which caps charters at 200 schools statewide.

Sources: Associated Press:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iQ72cmvb2846meWCIAJArK1w2HmAD98FJOV00, Gotham Schools, http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/

Why Go Charter?

CHARTER SCHOOLS:

• Provide a more structured learning environment, more student discipline and increase parental involvement.
• Holds students, teachers, and parents accountable for improving student achievement.
• Give schools' leaders more flexibility when managing their school, allowing them to respond to parents and students needs.
• Reward high quality teachers for their excellent services.
• Enable schools to focus their primary mission on improving student achievement.
• Give schools more flexibility and control to design their curriculum.
• Increases parental options for where to send their child to school.

From the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
http://www.publiccharters.org/