East Side trustees hear renewal petitions and public support for two KIPP high schools; decision set for Dec. 11

The East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees on Nov. 6 held public hearings on charter renewal petitions for KIPP Navigate College Prep and KIPP San Jose Collegiate, heard school leaders’ presentations about student demographics and academic programs, and received extended public comment in support of both schools. The board did not act; staff said action is anticipated Dec. 11, 2025.

KIPP Navigate College Prep school leader Julia Gonzalez Luna told the board the school serves a largely Latinx student body and prioritizes “rigor plus relationships.” She said KIPP Navigate serves about 310 students in grades 9–12 and is authorized for up to 446, with 79% Latinx, 19% AAPI, 80% socioeconomically disadvantaged, 22% multilingual learners and roughly 20% of students supported by individualized education plans. Gonzalez Luna described a program of pre‑AP and AP courses, quarterly benchmark assessments, restorative practices and the KIPP Forward college and alumni support program. She said KIPP Navigate’s recent measures include growing ELA and math proficiency for Latinx and socioeconomically disadvantaged students and reported a 92% graduation rate and an 80% college‑going rate.

At the KIPP San Jose Collegiate hearing, principal Kim (KIPP San Jose Collegiate) said the school serves roughly 501 students and emphasized multi‑tiered social‑emotional supports, AP‑for‑all coursework, and a KIPP Forward postsecondary advising program that begins in freshman year and continues after graduation. The principal cited a 99.2% graduation rate and a 77.6% college‑going rate for the school’s recent cohorts and described partnerships with community organizations to address family needs and internships.

Public comment at both hearings was extensive and largely supportive. Dozens of students, teachers, parents and alumni described school culture, academic supports, individualized attention for students with IEPs and the ongoing KIPP Forward college counseling and alumni support. Student speakers described the school’s advisory and seminar classes, restorative circle practices and access to AP coursework; parents and alumni offered examples of students who went to four‑year colleges, used KIPP Forward supports for financial aid and internships, or otherwise credited the schools with sustained support through crises and recovery.

District staff framed the hearings under Education Code 47605 and 47607.4, noting the board must hold a public hearing within 60 days of petition submission and either grant or deny renewal within 90 days unless both parties agree to an extension. Staff said the district will post the staff findings report at least 15 days before the decision meeting scheduled for Dec. 11, 2025.

What happened next: The board closed public testimony after the scheduled speakers and moved on to other agenda items. No vote was taken on either charter petition at the Nov. 6 meeting.

Why it matters: Charter renewal decisions affect school authorizing relationships, student enrollment and district oversight. KIPP leaders emphasized high AP participation and postsecondary support (KIPP Forward) as central to their renewal rationale; dozens of community members testified in favor, underscoring local reliance on those programs. The board’s formal decision will be made at a later meeting after staff findings are posted.

Speakers quoted in this article include: Julia Gonzalez Luna, school leader, KIPP Navigate College Prep; Kim (principal), school leader, KIPP San Jose Collegiate; and multiple students, teachers and parents identified in the meeting record.