Petitioners behind a classical charter school appealed to the Orange County Board of Education Jan. 4 after its application to the Capistrano Unified School District failed in November.
California Republic Leadership Academy’s founders told OC Board of Education trustees on Wednesday they were hoping to bring a classical education model to the county.
Such a model—in addition to teaching core subjects—seeks to instill leadership, critical thinking, and good habits in students through classical texts, service-learning projects, and lessons in responsibility, time management, and financial literacy, according to co-founder Gary Davis.
“We want to show our young people they can become leaders by first serving their community,” Davis said.
The school was founded by Davis, vice president of civic and political affairs at the California Charter Schools Association, and Kevin Pratt, an Orange County parent and businessman.
Pratt told the board that after moving from Texas to Orange County several years ago, he failed to find a classical charter school similar to the one his children attended.
Pratt said he partnered with Davis to build a “unique educational program that focuses on servant leadership and entrepreneurialship.”
In the first year the school plans to launch instruction for grades K–5, with 13 hired teachers and a projected enrollment of 374 students, according to the charter’s petition. For the second year, it will launch grades 6–8.
Davis told the OC Education Board at the recent meeting that “about 95 percent” of criticisms in the staff report are “conjecture, opinion, false or not required by law.”
“When it comes down to it, our petition is solid, our academic program is very strong, it’s tested, and our team has the experience to make us proud,” Davis said.
Some trustees expressed support for the charter during the meeting.
Trustee Ken Williams said he disagreed with the Capistrano’s staff report’s assessment of the charter, saying he would fully support the petition.
“This is the type of public school that parents want,” Williams said. “They want to have leadership. They want to get back to the basics and teach our kids critical thinking skills. That’s what this classical education is going to do.”
Trustee Mari Barke echoed Williams, saying “This is the kind of choice Orange County’s looking for.”
Trustee Jorge Valdes commended the petition but said he wanted to wait for the staff report to be published before he gave an indication of his position.
The OC Education Board will publish a staff report in the coming weeks and make a final decision in February.
