Oakland Unified board hears A Method plan to close OCA, expand Downtown Charter Academy

Adrienne Barnes, chief executive officer of A Method Public Schools, told the Oakland Unified School Board on Jan. 26 that the network plans to close Oakland Charter Academy (OCA) and consolidate its middle‑school students into Downtown Charter Academy (DCA), requesting a one‑year enrollment preference and a 95‑seat increase to accommodate the transfer.

Barnes said the change is aimed at addressing declining middle‑school enrollment and creating economies of scale: “We are asking the OUSD board to consider this material revision for DCA, a one‑year enrollment preference for OCA applicants and an enrollment increase of 95 students to accommodate this influx,” she said. She described governance and financial fixes since 2021, citing a 2024‑25 audit with an unmodified opinion and the creation of a new finance team.

The petition includes a request to apply the temporary preference for the 2026–27 school year and to increase DCA’s authorized enrollment to create space for incoming OCA students. Jill Whitfield, principal of Downtown Charter Academy, outlined the school’s instructional model and supports, saying DCA uses data‑driven interventions, MTSS and additional instructional assistants to support students. “We would leverage all of these assets and resources to welcome our OCA families and students and to ensure their ongoing growth and success at DCA,” Whitfield said.

Public commenters representing teachers, parents, students and A Method board members overwhelmingly supported the proposal. Stephanie Gonzales, a sixth‑grade science teacher at DCA, told the board the school’s values and supports were reasons she remained at the school and that they would benefit incoming students. Maya Germaine, an OCA teacher, said a merger would preserve continuity for students who “rely on consistency, relationships, and stability to succeed.”

Board members used the public hearing to press A Method on programmatic and equity details. Director Latta asked for a demographic comparison between OCA and DCA, noting she did not see data for Black students and students with disabilities in the presentation; Whitfield reported DCA’s current Black student share at about 11.9% and said roughly 8% of students have IEPs. Mary Busby, senior director of student services in special education (speaking on district supports), said both sites use an inclusion model and described comparable service levels, including an education specialist and paraprofessional at each site.

Vice President Bachelor pressed the network about counts of unhoused and foster students and whether preferences in the petition would be changed to improve access for those vulnerable groups. Barnes said the petition increases preference for McKinney‑Vento students and committed to provide exact counts after the meeting. On staffing and retention, Barnes said expanded enrollment would create positions at DCA and that the network had placed staff within the AMPS network following previous school closures.

Board members also questioned facility readiness and contingency planning if fewer OCA students enroll than anticipated. Barnes said DCA plans to repurpose unused interior space and expand outdoor areas to accommodate additional students and described a contingency to scale enrollment to actual applications.

The board closed the public hearing on the merger and proceeded to the next agenda item; the transcript does not record a final vote on the A Method petition that evening.

The board may take further action after review of follow‑up information the petitioner promised to provide, including demographic breakdowns, counts of unhoused and foster students and any additional documentation on special‑education staffing.