Charter school will benefit many

A article in the Dec. 24 Daily Pilot mentioned the proposed kindergarten through eighth-grade charter school, Orange County Academy, which I strongly support (“Idea would bring charter campus to local district”).

The school had its public hearing and gave a presentation to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board on Dec. 23. It is anticipated that the board will vote on the proposal at its Jan. 24 board meeting. If the proposal is accepted, the founders plan to open the school in the fall of 2006. Charter schools are tuition-free and open to all.

The Orange County Academy will be a charter school for home schooling families. Children will attend classes in school two full days a week and home school the remaining three days. Classes will be taught by credentialed teachers.

This school is unique to other schools serving home schoolers in Orange County. It will be a core-knowledge-based school, offering language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music and Spanish, as well as character education. Various instructional techniques should prove valuable for all types of learners. Hands-on teaching will be balanced with direct instruction and a back-to-the-basics approach inclusive of phonics. Additionally, there will be a focus on classical literature, music and art.

I have nieces and nephews who have received their education through this type of program and through similar types of programs. They have done very well academically, so I can say from personal observation that these types of programs are very productive. Additionally, this type of program allows for more interaction with other children, and it gives families greater scheduling options to arrange other social interaction activities for their children.

Enrollment is expected to be high with a current interest list of more than 180 families. It is patterned after the three-day-two-day structure of the Classical Academy of Escondido, which has a current enrollment of more than 1,200 students, and after the philosophy of the Classical Academy of Colorado Springs, which has a foundation of core knowledge, a focus on the classics, and character education. This school currently has 2,300 students and more than 5,000 on a waiting list, and some of the highest standardized test scores in the state of Colorado.

In my opinion, Orange County Academy will raise the bar for high academic standards within the home schooling community. This optimism is reinforced by the recent California Department of Education grant award to the academy $180,000. Orange County Academy was recently among the top few recipients awarded this competitive grant. This grant is awarded from the department for only high-quality charter schools that exhibit sound educational philosophies, research-based educational practices with a proven record of increased student performance, effective and responsible use of public funds and a strong likelihood for success.

The high academic standards of core knowledge, the solid and accomplished board (inclusive of Jan Luxembourger, a former administrator at Ensign Intermediate School and Wilson Elementary School), and the strong accountability systems proposed by Orange County Academy will very likely create a successful new school. This should not only be quite attractive to many parents of our community but a boost to student achievement as well.

This is the kind of school that we want in our communities to prepare students to be highly skilled, literate adults of strong character who will positively contribute to our society. There is tremendous community support for this, as well as support from numerous political leaders. The school has strong political, bipartisan support from state Sens. Dick Ackerman and Bill Morrow, four Orange County supervisors and Rep. John Campbell.

Currently there are only 12 charter schools in Orange County, compared with 93 in San Diego County and 113 in Los Angeles County. As a strong supporter of charter schools, I encourage additional educational options for our students.

I believe the number of charter schools in Orange County should be expanded, thus providing greater educational choice for our families.

We owe it to the people we represent to make decisions for the good of the students and families we serve, not for monetary concerns or convenience. These are parents who want to be involved in the education and guaranteed success of their children. These are their tax dollars, and we have an obligation to represent their best interests.

I support the establishment of Orange County Academy and urge you to join with me and voice your support to the school board to approve Orange County Academy to offer an additional, high-quality educational option.

* ALLAN MANSOOR is mayor of Costa Mesa.

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