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Orange County Board approves Magnolia revision, denies Tustin International charter; Compass hearing continued to June
Summary
At its April 2 meeting the Orange County Board of Education approved a material revision for Magnolia Science Academy Orange County, voted to deny the Tustin International Charter School petition on appeal, and concluded a public hearing on Compass Charter Schools (Santa Ana) with the board scheduling action for its June meeting.
The Orange County Board of Education on April 2 approved a material revision to Magnolia Science Academy Orange County’s charter and denied a petition by Tustin International Charter School to operate after the Tustin Unified School District’s denial. The board also held a hearing on Compass Charter Schools’ Orange County learning center and scheduled decision on that petition for its June meeting.
Magnolia Science Academy Orange County’s request to add a facility within the boundaries of Anaheim Union High School District and Anaheim Elementary School District was presented by Dr. Maria Rauhl and supporters from Magnolia and charter advocates. Magnolia representatives showed the board data and described extracurricular programming; parent speakers highlighted robotics, Girl Scouts and school volunteerism. Dr. Maria Rauhl said the school "hopes that we can continue to grow" in the county. After public comment, the board voted to approve the material revision; the roll call vote recorded Trustees Valdez, Shaw, Williams, Barkey and Sparks voting yes.
The board then considered an appeal by Tustin International Charter School after Tustin Unified denied the petition. OCDE staff recommended approval with conditions, identifying four principal areas of deficiency in the petition: English learner reclassification and supports, special education compliance and capacity, plans for low‑achieving students who do not have IEPs, and lack of full clarity about curriculum and language allocation. Petition representatives, including consultants Dr. Jennifer Ryder Cook and Tabitha (licensed educational psychologist), told the board they would address those items during a planning year and described partnerships and supports they planned to use. Dozens of local parents and community members testified in favor of the proposal, stressing demand for Mandarin immersion and bilingual instruction.
After extended questioning by trustees about leadership, special education capacity, enrollment commitments and facility plans, the board voted to deny the petition on appeal. The roll call on the denial recorded four yes votes and one no (Trustee Barkey voted no), sending the petitioner the usual option to pursue an appeal to the state.
Later in the meeting the board conducted a public hearing on Compass Charter Schools’ Orange County Learning Center (continuing charter petition). Compass representatives said the continuing charter is required by changes in state law that no longer permit charter schools to operate a facility outside their authorizing district without local permission. Compass presented program data, said the learning center has been operating in Santa Ana since 2017 and requested authorization to operate as a standalone county‑authorized charter. Multiple students, parents and staff spoke in support; the board did not take final action and placed the Compass petition on the June 4 public hearing agenda for decision.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve Magnolia Science Academy Orange County material revision — outcome: approved (roll call: Valdez, Shaw, Williams, Barkey, Sparks = yes). - Motion to deny Tustin International Charter School petition on appeal — outcome: denied (roll call: 4 yes, 1 no; Trustee Barkey voted no). - Compass Charter Schools (Orange County Learning Center) — public hearing concluded; decision scheduled for June meeting.
What it means Magnolia’s approved revision lets the charter add the Anaheim facility described in its petition and continue to operate under OCDE authorization. The Tustin International petition was denied after trustees expressed concerns about the petition’s clarity on special education and supports for English learners and low‑achieving students; petitioners were told they could refine materials and consider future resubmission or appeal. The Compass hearing will return to the board in June as the county office prepares the staff report and any conditions for action.
Next steps OCDE staff will finalize the statutory documents that follow each action (approval, denial, conditions as applicable). Petitioners may request further meetings with OCDE staff during the planning or appeal periods. The board’s formal minutes and staff reports will list conditions or findings in full.
