The Need For a Closer Look
The individual students, parents and teachers of the Los Altos School District and Bullis Charter School are to be admired and congratulated. They are collectively working hard and accomplishing a great deal.
The issues we are examining on this web site relate to decisions made by the present and past educational governance bodies serving our community, specifically the senior staff and boards of LASD, BCS and Santa Clara Office of Education (SCCOE).
Access to public education is a key to our democracy, our economy, our culture, and the inspirational dreams of each individual in our country. As senior citizens, we look back, we look around, and we consider the path we are on that will shape the future of our community. Our examination has led us to focus are three “core values”, which seem to be challenged by the current evolution of LASD and BCS. These core values are:
All children matter
Neighborhoods matter
The spirit of the law matters
The articles, letters and fact-based research on this web site are our effort to carefully and thoughtfully express our observations and opinions related to these core values and the unintended consequences of the incremental reinvention of BCS over the last decade.
We hope to inform, not further polarize, the community. We hope each individual member of our three governance bodies will examine their personal core values, gather objective information on our current situation and commit to bold, forward-looking decision-making and cooperative problem solving.
As senior citizens, we supported the Charter School Act when first implemented, supported Charter Schools financially, and mentored Charter students. We believe there are constructive roles for both BCS and LASD to collectively embrace for the benefit of current and future students.
Sam Harding & Steve Brown
HOW DO LASD STUDENT TEST SCORES COMPARE WITH THOSE OF BCS?
There is a perception that Bullis Charter School (BCS) offers an elite academic education not available in LASD schools. However, a closer look at these scores tells another story.
HOW WELL DOES BCS ENROLLMENT REFLECT THE MAKEUP OF THE LASD STUDENT POPULATION?
Our latest review of BCS enrollment versus the total LASD population shows the BCS continues to under-enroll traditionally “academically low achieving” groups of students.
DOES BCS FAIRLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES?
BCS continues to significantly underserve Special Education students in the Los Altos School District, especially those with severe disabilities. This inequality creates a financial disadvantage for LASD students
What We Hope To Achieve
That all children in our community have an opportunity to receive a quality education, regardless of their economic situation, ethnicity, neighborhood, or special needs.
That neighborhood schools be preserved. They are the heart of our community and the foundation of our children’s future.
That our citizens and governing bodies engage in a transparent, truthful and fact-based reevaluation of at the current situation at LASD and BCS Bullis Charter School and its impact on our community, its schools and our children.
That our decisions be based on the rules and spirit of the laws on which California charter schools are permitted.
Our Concerns:
DO THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT POLICIES OF BCS AND LASD FAIRLY ADDRESS THE BALANCE OF OUR DISTRICT’S STUDENT POPULATION?
DOES BULLIS SUFFICIENTLY HELP IN MEETING OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE THE ECONOMICALLY OR OTHERWISE DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY?
IS BULLIS CURRENTLY PROVIDING AN EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WARRANTS ITS EXTENSIVE AND GROWING USE OF PRECIOUS DISTRICT RESOURCES?
IS THERE SUFFICIENT TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS IN THE WAY BULLIS OPERATES AND SPENDS PUBLIC EDUCATION RESOURCES?
VOICES AND OPINIONS
