Schools

Charter School Under Cheating Probe Aims to Open in Carlsbad

Charter school Oxford Preparatory Academy with campuses in Chino and south Orange County hopes to open a Carlsbad branch in the fall of 2013 and is applying for charter school status in the Carlsbad Unified School District.

Update: The Carlsbad school board unanimously voted to deny the charter petition submitted by Oxford Preparatory Academy at the Dec. 5 meeting.

Last week, parents were sent a letter on Oxford Preparatory Academy letterhead from fundraising parents saying: “In the fall of 2013, it is our goal to open a kindergarten through eighth grade public charter school, Oxford Preparatory Academy Carlsbad.”

But in Orange County, Oxford Prep is under investigation in a cheating scandal connected to staff.

Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

San Juan Capistrano Patch has been covering the story.

Related: Charter School Cheating Probe Sparks Clash with CUSD

Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Oct. 10,  Patch editor Penny Arévalo wrote that OPA’s “effort to investigate allegations that its staff cheated during standardized testing in spring is under fire from the Capistrano Unified School District, which has launched its own probe and questioned the objectivity of the school’s investigation.”

OPA is hosting a parent information meeting in Carlsbad on Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Carlsbad Senior Center for those who want to learn more about the proposed K-8 charter program.

The school aims to serve students from Vista, San Marcos, Oceanside, La Costa, Encinitas and Del Mar “as well as surrounding areas,” the letter to parents said.

In a phone interview, Carlsbad school board President Kelli Moors said Oxford is applying to open in the district and the board will accept the proposal at Wednesday night’s meeting.

According to the school board agenda (attached): “The governing board shall hold a public hearing on the provisions of the Oxford Preparatory Academy charter school petition, at which time the governing board of the school district shall consider the level of support for the petition by teachers employed by the district, other employees of the district, and parents.”

Moors said the board then has 30 days to come up with a response.

OPA parent enthusiasts were being asked to bring interested parents to the 6 p.m. board meeting at the District Office wearing the school’s teal color in support.


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