Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Charter Expansion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ocasa seeks countywide charter expansion, adds Capistrano Unified to potential locations
Summary
Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts (Ocasa) presented a material revision and countywide replication plan to add Capistrano Unified as a potential site and documented federal and philanthropic grants for its new Ocasa 3 campus.
The Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts (Ocasa) presented a material revision May 7 asking the Orange County Board of Education to approve its countywide replication plan and add Capistrano Unified School District to the list of areas where a new campus (Ocasa 3) could open.
Kapil Mather, Ocasa founder and executive director, told trustees the organization operates two accredited schools and will open a third campus in the fall (TK–8 initially). He highlighted strong California School Dashboard results for Ocasa, described a personalized learning model that will use assessments and adaptive tools (with possible future use of artificial intelligence to generate leveled readers), and noted outside oversight and annual independent financial audits.
Mather said the material revision also included documentation of a competitive $6,000,000 federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant awarded to Ocasa and a separate $600,000 philanthropic grant from Silicon Schools Fund to support Ocasa 3. He said Ocasa 3 will emphasize small‑group, hands‑on inquiry instruction and personalized learning plans for students.
The board opened a 15‑minute public comment period. Parents, staff and community members spoke in support; several emphasized the school’s personalized approach, student outcomes, and community fit. Trustees asked for additional details during questions: board members requested specific state testing results to compare Ocasa’s CAST/CDE results against statewide averages at the next meeting; the school said it would provide numeric test‑score data the following month. Trustees also asked about planned capacity (school representatives said the new Capistrano location capacity example discussed was 125 students with 50–60 already showing registered interest for the opening year).
The public hearing was closed and the matter was set for the board’s June meeting; Ocasa’s material revision packet and public‑hearing record will be considered as part of the June 4 agenda.
