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Board grants California Montessori Project (Capital Campus) a seven‑year renewal with operational MOU
Summary
After staff placed CMP in the high‑renewal tier and CMP described outreach and a plan to revise lottery preferences toward neighborhood residency, the board approved a seven‑year charter renewal and directed completion of an operational MOU by March 1, 2026.
District staff said the California Montessori Project (CMP) Capital Campus qualifies for a high‑renewal tier based on state academic indicators and recommended a renewal term of five to seven years. Staff noted CMP’s enrollment demographics skew toward fewer English learners and socioeconomically disadvantaged students and said CMP proposed changing lottery preferences (reducing prior Montessori experience preference and adding a neighborhood residency preference) to broaden access.
Matt Taylor, CMP executive director, and Jenna Westbrook Klein, CMP vice chair, described the program’s Montessori model, inclusion practices and recent state data that placed CMP in the high performing category; they requested a seven‑year renewal to support stability while CMP implements outreach and LCAP revisions to improve demographic balance.
Board members questioned oversight and asked how a longer term would affect year‑to‑year monitoring; staff and CMP said oversight processes and annual reporting would remain unchanged and that the district would continue routine monitoring and LCAP alignment. Trustees expressed support for partnership when charters are meeting performance benchmarks.
Member Benjamin moved to adopt the staff recommendations and approve a seven‑year renewal, and Member Kayatta moved to adopt the operational MOU to be finalized before March 1, 2026. The board approved the seven‑year renewal and the operational MOU by roll call vote.
Why it matters: A seven‑year renewal reduces administrative burden for CMP and provides continuity for families; staff will continue to monitor demographic changes and the effects of revised lottery preferences on student population and equity.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the operational MOU and work with CMP on LCAP format revisions and monitoring of the planned lottery‑preference change.
