Eastside board hears charter renewal case for Escuela Popular, counsel disputes credential counts

Trustees of the Eastside Union High School District on Feb. 12 heard a formal public‑hearing presentation from Escuela Popular Center for Training and Careers (EPCTC) and reviewed staff background materials as part of the charter renewal process. The petition, received Dec. 17, 2025, requests a five‑year renewal term beginning July 1, 2026.

Escuela Popular executive director Patricia Regarin told the board the school serves primarily adult English learners and has expanded supports — case management, childcare, mental‑health referrals and dual‑enrollment partnerships — that helped drive large gains in short‑term graduation indicators. “From 2022 to 2025, our 1‑year graduation rate increased by more than 35 percentage points,” Regarin said, and she noted the school’s 2025 1‑year graduation rate of about 89.5% for all students. Her presentation also outlined requested material revisions: removal of an 80‑hour community‑service graduation requirement, a reduction in required English credits from 40 to 30 with a matching increase in elective credits, addition of two CTE pathways (Child Development and Education), and an online credit‑recovery platform to support flexible credit attainment.

District staff explained the hearing timeline and legal deadlines under California law; the staff report will be posted at least 15 days before the board’s decision meeting, currently anticipated for March 12 unless the parties agree to an extension. Philip Gideon, coordinator for Charter School Oversight, said staff has identified some deficiencies and has requested additional documentation; the district and charter may agree to a 30‑day extension to allow further review.

Ellen Doty, legal counsel for Escuela Popular, addressed a disputed credentialing tally presented at an earlier board meeting. Doty said the charter provided credential documents and corrected rosters in a November 17 submission and that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) had confirmed emergency 30‑day substitute permits may be used in the contested assignments if the 30‑day limits are observed. “The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has exclusive authority to determine which credentials authorize which teaching assignments,” she said, arguing the district’s earlier presentation mischaracterized the charter’s staffing compliance.

Board members asked detailed questions about cohort calculation methods, how the school counts seniors in a high‑mobility adult population, and the scope of proposed credit changes. Trustees and staff discussed how the proposed English‑credit reduction would interact with UC A–G expectations and California minimum requirements; charter representatives said the revisions align EPCTC with state minimum high‑school graduation requirements while offering greater elective flexibility.

A range of current and former students, staff and community members testified in support of renewal during the public comment period, describing EPCTC’s role as a reengagement pathway and stressing wraparound services that support vulnerable adult learners.

The board did not take final action on the renewal at the Feb. 12 meeting; staff said the renewal petition will return for decision after staff findings are posted and any outstanding documentation is resolved.