LEUSD Renews Sycamore Academy's Charter Petition; School Will Expand to K-8

Sycamore Academy of Science and Cultural Arts, a Wildomar-based charter school, recently received the green light to continue educating local students for another five years.

The governing board of the Lake Elsinore Unified School District on Thursday voted 3-1 to renew the school’s charter petition that includes expanding from a K-6 to a K-8.

A public hearing concerning the matter was held at Ortega High School, where more than 200 people donned the school’s colors of green and white and turned out to demonstrate support for the school that holds accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and receives direct funding from the state.

“After a 20-minute presentation, the LEUSD board took action to approve the renewal,” said Barbara Hale, director/principal for Sycamore Academy, in an email to Patch.

The vote was 3-1 in favor of renewal, with Area 2 Trustee Sue Scott dissenting and Area 1 Trustee Stan Crippen absent.

Because charter schools are public and receive per pupil state education funding that would otherwise go to their local school district, they are required to receive approval from their respective districts.

Sycamore Academy’s charter renewal petition was vetted by district administration and legal counsel, according to an online meeting agenda report.

“The District administration has determined that SASCA has increased pupil achievement for all groups of students served at SASCA, has met at least one of the requisite academic performance criteria, and has considered SASCA’s past academics, finances, and operations, as well as its plans for future improvement, in considering its recommendation,” according to the report.

“The District administration has determined that renewal of the SASCA Charter, as revised, is consistent with sound educational practice and recommends that the SASCA Charter be renewed.”

A condition of the renewal—required by law—was that Ronald Reagan Charter School Alliance, the foundation that provides oversight for the Sycamore Academy, update its bylaws concerning its uniform complaint procedure. This includes designating an officer to handle complaints related to special education, discrimination and harassment by Jan. 8, 2014. Copies of the updated procedures must be provided to LEUSD as well as the charter school’s stakeholders.

“SASCA understands that a failure to make the necessary revisions to its Bylaws would bring it out of compliance with the terms of the revised Charter and would constitute a violation of the Charter,” according to the agenda report.

Founded in 2009, Sycamore Academy currently has an enrollment of about 340 at its Wildomar facility at 32326 Clinton Keith Road, Suite 202.

Thrilled by the renewal, Hale told Patch enrollment is projected to increase by about 200 students when seventh and eighth grades are added. The charter school is presently searching for land where a larger building could be constructed to accommodate grades K-8, Hale said.