Board holds three charter public hearings: Samueli Academy renewal and two material‑revision requests

The Orange County Board of Education held public hearings on multiple charter petitions and material revisions, hearing presentations from school leaders and testimony from parents, alumni and community members.

Samueli Academy (renewal): Samueli representatives led the renewal presentation and played a video that highlighted student internships, project‑based learning and alumni outcomes. "A 99 percent graduation rate, 92 percent of these kids go to college, 85 percent are persisting through and graduating," said Samueli leadership during the presentation. Parents and alumni — students, caregivers and teachers — spoke in support, citing internship pathways, project‑based learning and dorms for some foster youth. Samueli told trustees that dorm capacity is up to 48 beds and that typically 10 to 14 foster youth live on campus at a given time. The public hearing record will remain open; staff said they will publish recommended findings by Jan. 18 and the board will hold a subsequent public hearing and take action at a February meeting (board action on renewal is scheduled in a later meeting cycle; the transcript indicates an action date in March for final board action depending on the schedule presented).

Innovate/Ednovate OC College Prep (material revision): Katie Hart, chief operating officer for Ednovate, asked the board to authorize geographic expansion to include the cities of Irvine and Orange to increase facility options. Hart described two promising facility strategies: colocation with the Orange County Music & Dance project at Great Park in Irvine (city and OCMD support noted) and potential leased space at Santiago Canyon College in the city of Orange for dual‑enrollment pathways. Parents and community members testified in favor of the expansion and the board asked follow‑up questions about academic support and facility timing.

California Leadership Academy (material revision): Gary Davis, executive director for the California Leadership Academy, proposed adding a flex program with two pathways — a homeschool pathway (weekly credentialed teacher support) and a hybrid pathway (two days on campus, two days at home, plus Friday enrichment). Davis said demand is strong and explained the school’s lottery/selection process and phased growth plan.

Next steps: OCDE staff will publish recommended findings for these items by Jan. 18; the board will conduct subsequent public hearings and is scheduled to take action in February for several petitions (dates and final actions vary by petition and may include March board dates).