Re “From Russia with (a) Love – for Educating the Less Fortunate”
[img]1447|left|Ms. Jacobs with son Kaien, whom she plans to enroll at El Marino Language School||no_popup[/img][Editor’s Note: Says Ms. London Jacobs, co-founder, Innovatory School for Professional Youth: “The public school system basically wo: “The public school system basically worked for me. While I don't remember ever being inspired per se, I graduated high school at the top of my class and earned my BA, MA and credentials in the CSU and U.C. systems. I immediately began teaching in the public schools. After eight years of being stifled in the classroom and experiencing never-ending conflict about pedagogy and curriculum with administrators, I started my own business, a gymnastics/trampoline school for children. Then my own son started kindergarten. It was immediately evident that the traditional school model was not for him. He was textbook ADHD – if I believed in that label. I began to learn about alternative education. My father, Four Arrows, is a well-known indigenous rights activist and educator/ scholar/author. We have worked together over the past ten years researching, writing, and presenting about character education, democratic education and various other alternatives to the norm. I not only am an alternative educator, an outdoor fitness enthusiast, an out-of-the-box force of nature, I am a problem-solver, too. For the second eight years of my professional career, I worked as a teacher and/or administrator in charter schools, private schools, community colleges, state universities, virtual schools, and as a private tutor for high profile families and child actors on set. Two years ago I encountered Big Picture Learning. Combining my desire to provide alternatives for students, my experience as a virtual teacher, my work with child actors, and this project-based school model . . . ISPY, the Innovatory School for Professional Youth, was born. I pulled my son out of middle school and started him learning in the real world. I also enrolled him in college courses where, at age twelve, a sophomore in college, he has taken classes such as geology, film criticism, playwriting, Spanish, environmental studies, and other specific- interest classes he could not have done with any other independent study program.”]
Why should the Culver City Unified School District authorize a charter? What exactly does that mean? What is a charter school anyway?
Charter schools are independent public schools created to allow groups of educators, parents, companies, or others create an alternative type of public school. These tuition-free schools, of which there are about1,000 (6 percent of the state’s students) in California, enjoy more operational freedom and flexibility than a traditional school.
Why were charters created in California?
The Charter Schools Act of 1992 provides opportunities for individuals to establish schools that operate independently from the existing school district structure to, among other things, encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods, and to provide families with choices in the types of educational opportunities available in the public schools (Ed Code 47601).
What is ISPY?
The Innovatory School for Professional Youth (ISPY), a Big Picture Learning 6-12 charter school, is a groundbreaking college preparatory and career training school. At ISPY, we will address the needs of two populations of children who are currently under-served: Child professionals (performers, musicians, athletes) and at-risk students. The commonality between these two groups is that they do not thrive in a traditional school but flourish when given the opportunity to pursue their passions through independent study project-based work in the professional world via internships, mentorships and early college opportunities.
Why does CCUSD need to be involved?
A “charter” document is a contract that establishes a school and details its program. We have asked CCUSD to authorize the charter petition, a five-year contract and provide oversight for funding and legislative compliance. If accepted, ISPY will be accountable to the District to produce excellent academic results.
Who pays for ISPY?
Charters receive state funding the same way a traditional public school does. A school gets several thousand dollars per student per year, based on the child’s average daily attendance. Many charter schools do additional fundraising to support specific programs. In addition to the state implementation grant and per-student funding, we are actively seeking philanthropic donations from individuals and foundations, who see the need for this type of alternative education for some students.
Why would CCUSD not want to grant ISPY’s petition?
While the School District is paid a small percentage of the public funds allotted to the charter school to pay for the oversight of the school, districts often are concerned they will “lose” money if a charter comes into the district. If a current CCUSD student decides to attend ISPY, then CCUSD loses approximately $1,000 (the difference between the cost to educate that student and the state funding dedicated to him). The CCUSD Teachers Union president, David Mielke, raised some additional concerns at the June 10 public hearing. I had a long chat with Mr. Mielke the night before the meeting. It is clear he is as passionate about education as I am; however, I do take issue with his reasons for recommending denial. He said CCUSD will lose money. Yet we have been clear that our target population is not currently attending District schools. He said the District already serves at-risk youth, but not in the way that ISPY will. He said he is leery of virtual schooling . . . we look forward to educating him. He is philosophically opposed to charter schools, I think because he doesn't have the alternative education experience to know that some things can't be done as effectively or efficiently in a traditional school.
How can ISPY benefit CCUSD?
ISPY will bring back to CCUSD a significant number of students: homeschoolers, students currently attending out-of-district virtual programs and dropouts. Additionally, ISPY will create a bridge between the education and business communities. Several of ISPY’s students will be well-known, which can bring positive attention to the District. Because students’ projects will be world-changing, ISPY will help put CCUSD on the map in regard to student activism and real-life learning. Lastly and most importantly, we want to work closely with the District to make aspects of our proven program accessible to the students at the Culver City Middle and High School.
Why Culver City?
Florina Rodov and I decided we wanted our small school (80 students in Year One, just over 300 students after five years) to be in a small city with a small school district. Our implementation meetings all took place in Culver City because we each live adjacent, and we started to get a feel for the town. Also, because of the studio presence and Culver City being the Heart of Screenland, we thought our industry-related school would be a good fit. After spending time getting to know the education and business players (members of the DBA, the Chamber, the City Council), we were confident we had made the right choice.
Why are the founders working so hard to make this happen?
I currently work as a studio teacher (teaching child actors their academics on set). In the past I worked as a virtual teacher, teaching high school math online, and also at a probation school for drug-rehabilitated gang members. When I came across Big Picture Learning, I saw a natural fit here in Los Angeles. There is a high need for an authentic and rigorous independent study learning model for the underserved child professionals, homeschool families, and dropouts. Florina has had great success with these populations as well. We are confident that bringing Big Picture and ISPY to these groups will be transformational.
Will it happen?
I am optimistic that our charter will be accepted because I trust the School Board will follow the law and see that our petition is sound, and that we meet all of the legal requirements. If any issues do need to be addressed, we trust District staff will give us the opportunity to clarify or correct. Additionally, if the Board listens to community members and truly takes the time to learn about our program, they will see that ISPY will serve the city and the District. ISPY will be something they can be proud of. Between now and the July 10 decision hearing, we will continue to make community connections, recruit students, and plan for our first year in operation.
Ms. Jacobs may be contacted at ispycharter@gmail.com
