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Center for Advanced Learning presents charter renewal data; board hears funding and capacity questions
Summary
CAL Director Jessica Gallagher reviewed enrollment, student supports and outcomes during a charter renewal hearing; board members asked about funding formulas, coordination with partner high schools, and capacity constraints.
The board opened a public hearing for the Center for Advanced Learning (CAL). Jessica Gallagher, CAL’s director, reviewed the charter’s history (approved in 2001 and opened in 2003), recent enrollment (peaking at about 500 students after COVID), and student demographics: 34% receive language services, 8% receive special education, 5% have 504 plans, and 3% received McKinney-Vento services — about 40% of CAL students have one or more designations.
Gallagher described three continuous improvement goals (high-impact instruction, dual credit, and attendance), reported a 100% graduation rate in 2025 for CAL students across districts and said students earned more than 12,000 college credits from 2021–2025. Board members questioned funding and operations; Gallagher confirmed CAL is funded by state school funding and receives a district pass-through amount (about half of 97% from districts), and said coordination with multiple high schools, transportation and bell schedules are ongoing challenges.
Board members also asked whether CAL is at capacity; Gallagher said the building is designed for 500 students and confirmed they are at capacity. She emphasized recruitment methods (fast track to 10th grade, open houses, community outreach and social media) and the school’s emphasis on student passion and representation in programming. The minutes record this as a hearing only; the board did not vote on the charter renewal at the Dec. 11 meeting.
