The Charter School Capital team sends congratulations to Olive Grove Charter School’s expansion in San Luis Obispo, California. Open since the beginning of the 2016/17 school year, this learning center joins Olive Grove’s five other Southern California locations.
Olive Grove Charter Schools have roughly 300 students enrolled including a mixture of home-schooled and independent study students. The mission of Olive Grove Charter School is to plan, monitor, and assist in the education of students K-12 in a home or blended school learning environment enabling them to speak, read, write, use technology, and calculate effectively to become self-motivated, competent, and life-long learners. The Olive Grove Charter Schools will provide students with the necessary resources to achieve success and meet state standards in core academic subjects appropriate to their level. Additionally, students will become career/college ready upon completion of the program. This will be achieved in a collaborative effort with parents as primary deliverers of the educational program, certificated teachers and the community.
Charter School Capital is excited to work with Olive Grove to meet their expansion goals by utilizing our working capital that aids in charter school financing.
“I have been working with Laura Mudge and her team at Olive Grove for almost a year to make this happen,” explained Donna Kopman, Client Relationship Manager at Charter School Capital. “We are so happy to see all their hard work come to fruition and see the positive outcomes from our charter school financing tools.”
You can read more about Olive Grove Charter Schools’ expansion in a recent article from The Tribune and images below of Olive Grove students.
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What’s the latest in digital marketing today for charter schools? How are you using digital marketing to benefit your student engagement and enrollment?
Join us for an informative webinar featuring a high level overview of the digital marketing landscape and what key platforms and programs charter leaders should be paying attention to. We will also talk about what types of programs will help in brand awareness, community engagement and student enrollment.
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The Charter School Capital team congratulates IDEA Public Schools on winning the 2016 Broad Prize. The Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools is awarded to Charter Management Organization (CMOs) honors the public charter management organization that has demonstrated the best academic outcomes in recent years, particularly for low-income students and students of color.
The award is given out annually at the National Charter School Conference. It includes at $250,000 grant for college-readiness programs at schools run by the winning CMO.
IDEA Public Schools was founded in 2000. The brainchild of Teach for America alumni Tom Torkelson and JoAnn Gama, IDEA now serves 300,000 students at 51 schools across Texas.
Serving predominately low-income and Hispanic students, IDEA schools have delivered amazing results year-after-year. US News & World Report routinely ranks the CMO’s schools among the nation’s top 500. In addition, IDEA’s College Prep high schools rank in the top 1% of America’s Most Challenging Schools, according to The Washington Post. IDEA’s 2016 graduating class has an impressive 100% college acceptance rate.
IDEA’s founding and development was recently chronicled by author Richard Whitmire in his book, The Founders. Whitmire’s book documents the rise and best practices of the country’s most successful CMOs.
With Election Day coming up on it’s a good time to take a look at the legislative landscape in California. Every seat in the California Assembly, along with half of the seats in the State Senate, will be on the ballot on November 8th.
Nine members of the State Senate terming out of office. An additional State Senator has declined to run for reelection. In the State Assembly, there are 15 members terming out, with two more members running for the State Senate.
All in all, there will be at least a dozen new members of the legislature in 2017. Currently, the Democrats control the Senate with 26 seats. The Republicans hold 14 seats, one of them vacant. In the Assembly, the Democrats control 52 seats, while Republicans hold 28.
With these totals, the Democrats are currently just one seat away from a supermajority in the Senate, and two away in the Assembly. Supermajorities in both houses would give the Democrats the ability to override vetoes by the Governor. It would also allow them to place ‘revenue’ measures on the ballot for voter approval.
Currently, the Democrats are targeting two Republican seats in the Senate, and eight in the Assembly. And with inter-party races becoming more common in the wake of California’s transition to the ‘top two primary system, several other seats feature Democrat vs. Democrat battles.
Below is a rundown of some of the important races being decided in November. Prominent locales in each district are listed (in parentheses). Incumbents names are in bold. Percentages listed represent each candidate’s vote share during the June primary. [Bracketed percentages] represent the total of the vote that went to other Democratic primary candidates. Termed-out legislators are listed in italics.
State Senate Races 2016 – Currently 26 D – 13 R – 1 Vacant
Democrat vs. Democrat Races
3rd Senate District (Davis, Fairfield, Martinez, Napa, Sonoma, Vallejo, Vacaville, Woodland) – Bill Dodd (D) 37.4% vs. Mariko Yamada (D) 29.9%; Wolk
9th Senate District (Albany, Alameda, Berkeley, El Ceritto, Emeryville, Hercules, Oakland, Piedmont, Pinole, Richmond, San Pablo, San Leandro) – Nancy Skinner (D) 47.8% vs. Sandre Swanson (D) 30.5%; Hancock
15th Senate District (Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, San Jose, Saratoga) – Jim Beall (D) 49.4% vs. Nora Campos (D) 26.9%
35th Senate District (Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, South Los Angeles, San Pedro, Torrance) – Steve Bradford (D) 35.6% vs. Warren Furitani (D) 24.4%; Hall
Republican seats targeted by Democrats
21st Senate District (Apple Valley, Hesperia, Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Victorville) – Scott Wilk (R) 46.7% vs. Johnathon Ervin (D) 33.7%; Runner
29th Senate District (Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Chino Hills, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Rowland Heights, Stanton, Walnut, West Corvina, Yorba Linda) – Ling Ling Chang (R) 44% vs. Josh Newman (D) 29.2% [26.8%]; Huff
State Assembly Races 2016 – Currently 52 D – 28 R
Democrat vs. Democrat Races
14th Assembly District (Benicia, Concord Lafayette, Martinez, Pittsburgh, Vallejo, Walnut Creek) – Mae Torlakson (D) 32.3% vs. Tim Grayson (D) 31.6%; Bonilla
27th Assembly District (San Jose) – Madison Nguyen (D) 34.3% vs. Ash Kalra (D) 19.8%; Campos
30th Assembly District (Gilroy, Hollister, Morgan Hills, Salinas, Soledad, Watsonville) – Anna Caballero (D) 46.1% vs. Karina Alejo (D) 26%; Alejo
43rd Assembly District (Burbank, Glendale, La Canada, La Crescenta, Los Angeles) – Laura Friedman (D) 31.9% vs. Ardy Kassakhian (D) 24.3%; Gatto
Republican seats targeted by Democrats
16th Assembly District (Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Walnut Creek) – Catherine Baker (R) 53.2% vs. Cheryl Cook-Kallio (D) 46.8%
35th Assembly District (Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Lompoc, Paso Robles, Santa Maria) – Dawn Ortiz-Legg (D) 45% vs. Jordan Cunningham (R) 37%; Achadjihan
36th Assembly District (California City, Lancaster, Mojave, Palmdale, Santa Clarita) – Tom Lackey (R) 48.2% vs. Steve Fox (D) 29.6%
38th Assembly District (Canyon Country, Castaic, Chatsworth, Northridge, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley) – Christie Smith (D) 44.7% vs. Dante Acosta (R) 36.2%; Wilk
40th Assembly District (Highland, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, San Bernadino) – Abigail Medina (D) 51.5% vs. Marc Steinorth (R) 48.5%
60th Assembly District (Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco, Riverside) – Eric Lander (R) 45.6% vs. Sabrina Cervantes (D) 41.5% [12.9%]
65th Assembly District (Anaheim, Buena Park, Cerritos, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma) – Sharon Quirk-Silva (D) 54.3% vs. Young Kim (R) 45.7%
66th Assembly District (Gardena, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Torrance, West Carson) – Al Muratsuchi (D) 48.7% vs. David Hadley (R) 44.6% [6.7%]
The California State Legislature adjourned on August 31st, giving Governor Jerry Brown until September 30th to sign or veto legislation passed during the 2016 session. Governor Brown waited until September 30th to make his final decision on many of the bills before him, including two bills that would have had serious impacts on California charter schools.
By vetoing these bills, Governor Brown once again demonstrated his support of charter schools, and the unique role they play in the California education system.
AB 709 by Assemblyman Mike Gipson would have applied the Brown Act, Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act, and Government Code 1090 to charter schools.
In an effort to force the Governor to sign this bill, the California Teachers Association launched a website and ran radio ads in support of the bill.
In his veto message, Governor Brown noted that he had vetoes similar legislation in 2014. He also stated that AB 709 went too far in dictating how charter school boards operate.
SB 739 by Senator Fran Pavley would have prohibited school districts with negative certification status from approving an out-of-district charter school petition. In August, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee ordered an audit of three schools and their out-of-district authorizers. Those audits will be complete in early 2017.
In his veto message for SB 739, the Governor stated that California should wait until these audits are completed before determining if action is necessary on this issue.
Once again, the charter school community owes the Governor a huge round of applause!
Two other bills that would have negatively impacted charter schools were defeated in the legislature, and did not reach the Governor’s desk. AB 1084 would have prohibited charter schools from operating as, or be managed by, for-profit entities. SB 322 would have prohibited charter school admissions preferences, and would have applied suspension and expulsion laws to charter schools.
To view the language in any of these bills, or to view the Governor’s veto messages, visit the California State Legislative Information website and search for the bill number.
Facing key challenges in operating your charter school? Want to hear what other charter leaders are doing to aid in their school operations? Join us to discuss growth strategies for charter schools on Tuesday, October 4th at 9:30 a.m. PST/12:30 p.m. EST.
Our session will focus on the three core areas of growth – start-up, expansion and maturity – and what the key challenges and best practices are at each stage of growth. Learn how to work through operational issues, expanding teachers and staff, upgrading programs and technology, facilities options, and funding for charter schools.
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Featured Speakers:
Kendell Walton, Founder & President of Walton Business Management Solutions
Kendell Walton has a decade of experience helping companies with financial management in both the private and non-profit sectors. Kendell became involved in the charter school movement in 2010, and has worked with charter schools across multiple states, providing financial advice, budgeting supervision, and overseeing operational and facilities acquisition efforts.
Stuart Ellis, President & CEO, Charter School Capital
Stuart is the President and CEO of Charter School Capital, the nation’s leading provider of growth capital and facilities financing to charter schools nationwide. The company has provided in excess of $1.2 billion in support of 500+ charter schools educating more than 550,000 students across the country.
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What you will learn:
- Best practices for growth and replication
- Funding options specific to your growth stage
- Lessons learned from charter school leaders
The California legislature ended for the year and California charter school supporters witnessed mixed reports. The legislature sent two anti-charter school bills to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature or veto. They also killed two anti-charter school bills. The Governor will now have until the end of September to sign or veto the measures.
Bills sent to the Governor:
AB 709 by Assemblyman Mike Gipson would impose the Brown Act, Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act, and Government Code 1090 on California charter schools. The bill is sponsored by the California Teacher’s Association and opposed by nearly everyone in the education reform community. It passed the legislature on a party line vote and is on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature or veto. The Governor has vetoed similar legislation several times during the last six years.
SB 739 by Senator Fran Pavley would prohibit a school district in negative certification from authorizing a California charter school outside of its boundaries. This bill is the result of a disagreement over the authorization of charter schools between districts in and near the Santa Clarita Valley. Charter school supporters oppose SB 739 because of its precedent-setting language. Like AB 709, it is on the Governor’s desk. He has vetoed similar legislation in the past.
Bills that died in the legislature:
AB 1084 by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla would have prevented a California charter school from being operated by or as a for-profit corporation. This bill split the charter school community, with many charter school entities joining the California School Employees Association in opposing the bill and the California Charter Schools Association supporting it. The bill’s opponents were able to kill the bill on the Senate floor, arguing that passage could have negative impacts on both students and schools, while pointing to Governor Brown’s veto of a similar bill just last year.
SB 322 by Senator Leno would have imposed suspension and expulsion requirements on charter schools and prevented them from using preferences for enrollment. Facing heavy opposition from charter proponents, the bill died on the Assembly Floor.
To view any of these measures go to www.leginfo.ca.gov and place in the bill number.
Charter schools make up eight of the top 10 high schools in Arizona according to a report recently released by the Arizona Department of Education and College Board, ranked by average SAT scores. Charter schools account for 15 of the top 20 public high schools in Arizona overall.
Recently, the Phoenix Business Journal reported on the rankings which highlighted charter schools in the story.
In total, 21 of the top 50 public high schools by SAT score in Arizona are charter schools. Approximately 30% of Arizona public school students attend charter schools in the state.
For a complete run down of the top 50 public high schools in Arizona by SAT score, visit the Phoenix Business Journal’s slideshow.
About Charter School Capital
Charter School Capital provides working and growth capital and charter school facilities financing nationwide. We have helped 500+ charter school educate 550,000 students across the country putting more than $1 billion to work for charter school education, including charter schools in Arizona. Ask us how we can help your school.
With a week and a half left in the legislative session there are still several bills pending that will negatively impact charter schools. Since this is the second year of a two-year session the bills will be officially dead if they are not moved onto the Governor’s desk by August 31st. Please write or call your legislator and let them know that you oppose these bills. Below are the bills that are still pending.
AB 709 by Assemblyman Mike Gipson is pending in the Assembly awaiting a concurrence vote on the Senate amendments. If it passes it will head to the Governor’s desk for his signature or veto. The measure applies the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act and Government Code 1090 to charter schools.
AB 1084 by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla is pending in the Senate awaiting a vote that would send the measure back to the Assembly for a concurrence vote in Senate amendments before it heads to the Governor’s desk. The measure prohibits charter schools from being operated as or by a for-profit and would not allow a virtual or online charter to purchase any school services or materials from a for-profit entity.
SB 322 by Senator Mark Leno is pending in the Assembly awaiting a vote that would send the measure back to the Senate for a concurrence vote in Assembly amendments before it heads to the Governor’s desk. The measure would apply suspension and expulsions laws similar to school district standards to charter schools. It would also limit preferences charter schools could use for attendance purposes.
SB 739 by Senator Fran Pavley is pending in Assembly awaiting a final vote before it heads to the Governor’s desk. The measure would prohibit a school district that has received a negative certification from authorizing a charter school outside of its district boundaries under any circumstances.
To view any of these measures go to www.leginfo.ca.gov and put in the bill number.
Across the country, today’s charter schools need better access to charter school funding for working capital and facilities financing at all stages of growth. Having reliable sources of charter school funding when needed allows schools to hire teachers, purchase textbooks, upgrade classroom technology, and expand the school’s facilities footprint so charter leaders can focus on what’s most important – educating students.
Working exclusively with charter schools, Charter School Capital understands the daily pressures charter leaders face. Our team works with school leaders to develop the best strategies matched to the school’s unique financial needs. By providing funding for charter schools, we’re empowering you. We give you access to the working capital and facilities financing options you need to stay focused on education, so every student has the opportunity to become someone incredible
Let us help you in planning for your school’s future.
Our team is excited to learn more about your charter school needs. Set up a one-on-one with our client services team to find out how we can help your school. Call 877-272-1001 or email GrowCharters@charterschoolcapital.com.
Want more information on growth capital and facilities financing? We offer information on growth strategies, facilities financing options, student enrollment marketing, and more.