Title
Approval of the Proposed Material Revision for the Eight (8) Charter Schools Operated by Aspire Public Schools [PUBLIC HEARING]
Charter Schools Division
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Brief Description:
description
(Approval of the Proposed Material Revision for the eight (8) charter schools operated by Aspire Public Schools) Recommends approval of the material revision for the eight (8) Start-Up Independent charter schools currently operated by Aspire Public Schools to come under the governance and operation of Aspire Los Angeles as a charter management organization with an independent Board of Directors beginning July 1, 2027. All eight (8) charter schools are Middle performing charter schools located in Board Districts 5 and 7 and Regions South and East.
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Recommendation
Action Proposed:
Approve the material revision for the eight (8) Start-Up Independent charter schools operated by Aspire Public Schools (“Charter Schools”), to come under the governance and operation of Aspire Los Angeles as a charter management organization with an independent Board of Directors beginning July 1, 2027. Charter Schools are located in Board Districts 5 and 7 and Regions South and East.
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Body
Background:
Aspire Public Schools is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation that operates eight (8) LAUSD-authorized charter schools, with its Board of Directors operating and convening in Northern California. On April 23, 2026, the Aspire Public Schools Board of Directors approved a resolution directing the organization to establish a separate California nonprofit public benefit corporation called Aspire Los Angeles, with a local, independent Board of Directors to govern the Aspire charter schools in the Los Angeles area. The intent of this change is to allow the governing board, of the charter schools in the Los Angeles area, to be more accessible and responsive to the needs of the charter school’s families and stakeholders.
On August 7, 2026, Aspire Public Schools submitted a material revision to bring the LAUSD-authorized Aspire charter schools under the governance and operation of the newly established Aspire Los Angeles governing board. The 90-day statutory timeline for Board action on this material revision runs through November 5, 2026. Pursuant to Education Code section 47605(b), the District and petitioners have mutually agreed to extend the timeline for Board action on this material revision to November 17, 2026.
An initial Public Hearing was held on September 15, 2026.
The District’s Charter Schools Division reviewed the complete material revision application for the eight (8) charter schools listed below.
|
Charter School |
Location Code |
Site Address |
Grade |
Term |
Board District |
LAUSD Region |
2026 Performance Category |
|
Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy |
5194 |
2079 Saturn Ave., Huntington Park 90255 |
6-8 |
2026-2031 |
5 |
East |
Middle Performing |
|
Aspire Firestone Academy |
2161 |
8929 Kauffman Ave., South Gate 90280 |
TK-5 |
2020-2028 |
5 |
East |
Middle Performing |
|
Aspire Gateway Academy Charter |
2162 |
8929 Kauffman Ave., South Gate 90280 |
TK-5 |
2020-2028 |
5 |
East |
Middle Performing |
|
Aspire Inskeep Academy Charter |
2255 |
123 W. 59th St., Los Angeles 90003 |
TK-6 |
2021-2027 |
7 |
South |
Middle Performing |
|
Aspire Juanita Tate Academy Charter |
2254 |
123 W. 59th St., Los Angeles 90003 |
TK-6 |
2021-2027 |
7 |
South |
Middle Performing |
|
Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy |
2266 |
6724 S. Alameda St., Huntington Park 90255 |
TK-5 |
2026-2031 |
5 |
East |
Middle Performing |
|
Aspire Pacific Academy |
7733 |
2565 E. 58th St., Huntington Park 90255 |
6-12 |
2020-2028 |
5 |
East |
Middle Performing |
|
Aspire Titan Academy |
2268 |
6270 S. Alameda St., Huntington Park 90255 |
TK-5 |
2026-2031 |
5 |
East |
Middle Performing |
Academic Performance
The eight (8) Charter Schools are all classified by the state as Middle performing.
Annual Oversight Results
In accordance with Education Code section 47604.32 the District’s Charter Schools Division conducts at least one school site visit each year where the Charter Schools Division evaluates charter school performance in the following four categories: Governance; Student Achievement and Educational Performance; Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations; and Fiscal Operations. Charter schools are rated in each category based on information and evidence gathered at the time of the annual performance-based oversight visit following a four-point rubric: (4) Accomplished, (3) Proficient, (2) Developing, and (1) Unsatisfactory. Please see below for the eight (8) LAUSD authorized Aspire charter schools’ outcomes on their annual oversight evaluation reports for the last two years.
|
1 |
Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
*The rating of “2” in the category of Fiscal Operations for 2024-2025 was primarily due to two (2) material weaknesses identified in Aspire Public Schools’ 2023-2024 independent audit report, both related to internal controls over financial reporting and applicable to Charter Schools because the audit findings were deemed to be systemic and within the control of the Aspire Public Schools organization. Aspire Public Schools’ 2024-2025 independent audit report indicates that corrective actions were implemented, and these two audit findings did not recur. |
|
2 |
Aspire Firestone Academy |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
4 |
3 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
The rating of “2” in Student Achievement for 2025-2026 was due to the average of Dashboard indicator scores. *See the comments provided for Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy above. |
|
3 |
Aspire Gateway Academy Charter |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
*See the comments provided for Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy above. |
|
4 |
Aspire Inskeep Academy Charter |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
The rating of “2” in Student Achievement for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 was due to the averages of Dashboard indicator scores. *See the comments provided for Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy above. |
|
5 |
Aspire Juanita Tate Academy Charter |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
4 |
3 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
*See the comments provided for Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy above. |
|
6 |
Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
The rating of “2” in Student Achievement for 2024-2025 was due to the averages of Dashboard indicator scores. *See the comments provided for Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy above. |
|
7 |
Aspire Pacific Academy |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
The rating of “2” in Student Achievement for 2024-2025 was due to the averages of Dashboard indicator scores. *See the comments provided for Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy above. |
|
8 |
Aspire Titan Academy |
2024-2025 |
2025-2026 |
|
|
Governance |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Student Achievement and Educational Performance |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Fiscal Operations |
2* |
3 |
|
|
*See the comments provided for Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy above. |
Based on a comprehensive review of the material revision application and supporting documentation, including a capacity interview with some members of the Aspire Los Angeles Board of Directors and organizational leadership, and confirmation from Aspire Public Schools that the ending net assets for Charter Schools will be transferred to Aspire Los Angeles, staff has determined that Charter Schools have met the standards and criteria set forth in Education Code section 47605 (see Ed. Code, §47607(b)) and therefore recommends approval of the material revisions for the Charter Schools.
Expected Outcomes:
Charter Schools are expected to operate their school in a manner consistent with Board action, policies and requirements, local, state, and federal law including ordinances, statutes, and regulations as well as with the terms set forth in Charter Schools’ petition. The measurable pupil outcomes and method by which pupil progress toward outcomes will be measured are set forth in the charter petitions.
Board Options and Consequences:
“Yes” - If the Board adopts the recommendation of approval of the material revisions of the charters, Charter Schools would operate as charter schools under the governance of Aspire Los Angeles beginning July 1, 2027.
“No” - If the Board does not adopt the recommendation of approval of the material revisions of the charters, and instead takes specific action to deny the proposed material revisions of the charters, Charter Schools would continue to operate under the terms of their current charters consistently with the Board’s action and direction.
Policy Implications:
All provisions in the FSDRL shall be consistent with and be governed by all applicable legal and District policy requirements. To the extent any inconsistency may exist between any provision contained in the FSDRL and any applicable legal and District policy requirement, those applicable legal and District policy requirements shall control and the FSDRL shall be updated accordingly.
Budget Impact:
State income and various other income sources to the District are reduced when current District students enroll at a charter school, and comparable or offsetting expenditure reduction may not occur in such cases. Under Education Code section 47604(d), a chartering authority that grants a charter to a charter school to be operated as or by a nonprofit public benefit corporation is not liable for the debts or obligations of the charter school or for claims arising from the performance of acts, errors, or omissions by the charter school, if the chartering authority has complied with all oversight responsibilities required by law, including, but not limited to, those required by Education Code section 47604.32 and Education Code section 47605(m). As the chartering authority, the District will continue to monitor and evaluate the charter school’s fiscal condition and operations, and management of public funds, including review of all legally required fiscal reports, and the annual update of the charter school’s LCAP. (Ed. Code, §§ 47604.32, 47604.33, 47606.5.) Any significant modifications to the charter school’s charter or operations that raise financial implications would require a material revision prior to implementation. Charter schools are expected to secure and maintain all insurance coverage consistent with all applicable legal, District and charter requirements.
Charter Schools have selected to join the LAUSD Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA) Option 3. Charter Schools’ fair share contribution to special education will be 10% of the charter schools’ AB 602 (rate includes Base, Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), and Growth/Decline reduced by the amount withheld for Program Specialist/Regionalized Services) and Federal IDEA revenues. This amount will be paid from Charter Schools’ Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds or other unrestricted revenue sources and will be allocated to support the existing District-wide administration of special education supports and services. The amount withheld by the District from the Program Specialist/Regionalized Services in fiscal year will continue to be withheld and adjusted annually for COLA. An additional 10% of special education revenues will be retained by the District and allocated as directed by the Advisory Board and members of the LAUSD SELPA Option 3, with the leadership of the Director, Charter Operated Programs. These funds will be used to support the personnel for the members of the LAUSD SELPA Option 3; build management and operating procedures to create an infrastructure to support schools in meeting the needs of students with mild to severe disabilities; and, to create and implement new programs that serve students in charter schools. If Charter Schools do not spend their allocation of special education funds during a fiscal year of the charter petition period, the allocation of special education funds to Charter Schools for the next fiscal year will be reduced in an amount equal to the unspent special education funds of the previous fiscal year.
In addition to the payments required under this option, Charter Schools may request specific special education related services from the District through fee-for-service arrangements that will reflect the calculated cost of the requested services and will be contingent on the District’s available resources.
Any change in the Option election that occurs during Charter Schools’ respective charter terms shall be mutually agreed upon and addressed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the charter schools and the District. The new Option election shall be effective on July 1 of the next school year with the corresponding fair share contribution.
Student Impact:
As stated in the LAUSD Policy and Procedures for Charter Schools, “[W]hen the LAUSD Board authorizes and oversees a charter school, it establishes a relationship to advance its vision and mission and to accelerate gains in academic achievement and accountability for all of its students and public schools,” (Policy, p.3). Based on a comprehensive review and assessment of Charter Schools’ request for material revisions of the charters, staff has determined that Charter Schools have met the requirements for approval of the material revisions.
Issues and Analysis:
If all applicable pending issues, including but not limited to special education requirements, special education local planning area (SELPA) requirements, governance, fiscal and facilities matters, are not resolved at the time of the Board meeting, the item may be pulled from the agenda to the extent consistent with the Charter Schools Act and the LAUSD Policy and Procedures for Charter Schools.
Attachments:
Attachment A - Material Revision
Attachment B - Agreement to Waive and Extend Timeline
Budget (if applicable) will be available prior to the board meeting at the following link:
<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ti7y3qKISxIBoTEOB7_0z8u_okQXoD5O?usp=sharing>
Submitted:
10/22/26