The mission of each Springs Charter School is to empower students by fostering their innate curiosity, engaging their parents, and promoting optimum learning by collaboratively developing a personalized learning program for each student.
As part of its STEAM education, Springs’ Santa Ana Student Center 5th and 6th grade students learned about the human eye by studying its anatomy and function, reported Principal PriscillaDoorbar. They created their own models of the eye to understand how light is processed, she said, and using hands-on activities and technology, they explored how vision works. The center is currently serving 89 students grades TK-8.
MadiDotter is a Venture Online 3rd grade student who has been involved in gymnastics since age 6. She immediately “fell in love with it,” she said, and “I’ve been walking around my house on my hands ever since.”
GraceMansell is an 8th grade Venture student whose parents have bought a motorhome to take the family to visit national parks across the U.S. Her favorite so far has been a visit to Glacier National Park in Montana. Grace recalled, “It was so beautiful there, with crystal clear lakes, and towering mountains.”
Springs’ Santa Ana Student Center held a Cultural Day, reported Principal Priscilla Moreno-Doorbar, in which students created projects to share their family history. The projects showcased traditions, music and art from various cultures.
Journey Homeschool High School senior AnaisPark is a leader on her CyberPatriot and Mayors Cup Teams, reported ErinRiley, vice principal, and is “setting the stage for an impressive future in computer science, cyber security, or engineering.” Anais is also a varsity athlete in cross country (a team of which she is a co-captain), basketball, and track and field.
MonicaLopez, principal of the Rancho Cucamonga Personalized Learning Center, reported that the school participated in a Family Fun Night at an Ontario Reign hockey game, enjoying “action-packed” hockey and sharing their “school spirit.” The evening began with her students holding the Reign’s flag center ice to kick off the game.
Charter schools are independent public schools with rigorous curriculum programs and unique educational approaches. In exchange for operational freedom and flexibility, charter schools are subject to higher levels of accountability than traditional public schools. Charter schools, which are tuition-free and open to all students, offer quality and choice in the public education system.
The charter establishing each such school is a contract detailing the school’s mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success. In California, charters are granted for five years. At the end of the term, the entity granting the charter may renew the school’s contract. Charter schools are accountable to their authorizer, and to the students and families they serve, to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract.
Like traditional public schools, charters receive state funding based on a formula for each child enrolled in the school. Many charters also do additional fundraising to obtain grants and donations to pay for programs that are not fully funded by state or school district formulas. When lawmakers passed the Charter Schools Act of 1992, California became the second state in the country (after Minnesota) to enact charter school legislation. The intent was to allow groups of educators, community members, parents, or others to create an alternative type of public school.