California

School may be on break, but charter school facility work doesn’t take a holiday.

At Education for Change’s Cox Academy, the recent holiday break provided a critical opportunity to keep construction moving—without disrupting students and staff. While work on the overall campus will continue through the completion of the final facility in 2027, these breaks are essential moments that help maintain momentum and keep key milestones on track.

The first facility project, Building D, is scheduled to deliver in time for the Fall 2026 school year, and that milestone would not be possible without the installation of critical infrastructure completed over the holiday break. This behind-the-scenes work lays the groundwork for everything that follows and ensures the campus is ready to support students and educators as planned.

We’re deeply grateful to the teams who showed extraordinary commitment during this period. Many responded through weekends and late nights to keep information and decisions moving, ensuring the project stayed on course and classrooms were ready when teachers returned after the holiday break.

This progress reflects a true team effort, and we’re thankful to everyone who went above and beyond during the holidays, including:

• Swinerton Builders
• Artik Art and Architecture
• Arum Consulting Engineers
• FTF Engineering
• Geo-Engineering Solutions
• Sandis
• Digital Design Construction
• A & B Construction
• OUSD Facilities

Progress like this is what makes it possible to deliver spaces ready to serve students for years to come.

After 15 years of relocating across Alameda County, Yu Ming Charter School is celebrating a significant milestone in our facilities journey this year. We now own two more permanent campuses that will serve our community for generations to come.

Since our founding in 2010 as California’s first dual-immersion Mandarin charter school, finding stable facilities has been our greatest challenge. Even as we earned multiple National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished School honors, ranking in the top 1% of California public schools across student demographics, we have had to move students no fewer than ten times in 15 years. Each relocation disrupted commutes for hundreds of families traveling from 37 cities across four counties.

This year marks the beginning of a more stable chapter. With the purchases of our Adeline campus, a former school site in Oakland, and our Carolyn campus, a former church property, we are finally able to set deeper roots in the communities we serve. While we still need one last permanent site, these campuses mean that our students are no longer in borrowed space and that we can continue planning for the future with more confidence.

We deeply appreciate the ongoing partnership with Blueprint, our non-profit real estate partner, who has stood with us since 2018. Blueprint helped guide negotiations on both property purchases and navigate a complex process we could never have managed alone. They saved us countless hours and allowed us to stay focused on what we do best: serving students well.

The demand for our program has remained high over the years, with approximately 2.5 applicants per kindergarten seat and over 1,000 students enrolled this school year. As students move through grades each year, this added capacity is an investment in our ability to ensure reliable, continuous access to a rich TK-8 Mandarin immersion education for students across Alameda County, including those from historically underserved communities who have often faced barriers to high-quality schooling.

Ultimately, these campuses are a direct continuation of the whole-child, global citizens education we offer to students and families across the county. They strengthen our mission by creating permanent environments where all students can flourish socially, emotionally, and academically. After years of instability, these campuses give us a stronger foundation to focus on what matters most: educating the multilingual global citizens who will build a better tomorrow.

Author’s Note

This blog is written by Emily Wood, COO, Yu Ming Charter School. Emily is a former Head of School and longtime educator, she brings deep experience in school operations, personalized learning, and whole-child education. Emily is passionate about creating stable, student-centered environments where children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Photography by Jerry Yoon Photographers

By Anser Hassan 

BayTech is now on the site of an old theater transformed into a state-of-the-art school.

Principal Gail Puhl Williams says she’s very excited for the new campus.

“It is nice to see the vision become a reality,” she said.

Williams says a shooting in 2022 at their old shared campus had a huge impact on students and staff. They wanted a new space of their own where everyone felt safe.

“It is extremely exciting, this is going to be the first permanent home for Bay Area Technology school,” Blueprint Project Director Mary Grace Houlihan said. “They have been relocated seven times in their 21-year existence.”

BayTech struggled to find a location as a charter school, but ended up at this building, built in the 1920s and once home to the Palace Theater. The gym was built where there used to be a stage. Columns are a holdover from that bygone era, and they even incorporated old fountains and the original ceiling.

They added a third floor to house eight new classrooms, retrofitting the building and reinforcing walls to meet current codes. But the multi-million dollar renovation came with problems and delays.

“When we opened it up, we found out that within the walls, there were big holes cut for film equipment over the years and it compromised the wall to where it was basically swiss cheese,” Houlihan said.

Now the campus is tricked out with the all-new tech, from iPads for students to touch-screen boards.

Quatavion Webb teaches social studies and statistics. He says the new school is nice and he believes it will have a fundamental impact on these students. More than 85% of the students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and 3% are unhoused.

“When you put kids in a space where they feel like they are being prioritized, as far as materials and this space and stuff like that, I do think that they put more effort into it,” Webb said.

Staff says construction finished Thursday, and school starts August 6.

Source: https://abc7news.com/post/baytech-charter-school-oakland-reopens-campus-renovated-old-theater-2022-shooting/17393439/

On March 8, 2025, Golden Charter Academy (GCA) celebrated a significant milestone with the groundbreaking of its new state-of-the-art facility in Fresno, California. Located across from Roeding Park and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, this facility project is set to redefine education in the area.

The new campus is designed to exceed Title 24 standards, emphasizing GCA’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The project includes approximately 27,000 square feet of interior educational space across 22 classrooms, with an additional 13,000 square feet of roof overhang area. Situated on a 2.31-acre site, the school’s new home has been carefully planned and developed to provide students with immersive, hands-on learning experiences, aligning with GCA’s mission to inspire powerful young minds. As an innovative TK-8 Environmental Stewardship Zoo Charter School, GCA will serve 518 students with a hands-on, nature-based curriculum.

Robert Golden, CEO of GCA and former NFL player, expressed his excitement about the project, highlighting its significance for both the academy and the Fresno community. The groundbreaking ceremony was well-attended, marking a monumental day for all involved.

GCA was founded in August 2021 with the goal of breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty and undereducation for students in Fresno County. Currently operating grades TK-6 with 410 students at a temporary leased site, GCA will transition to its new campus upon its expected completion in Summer 2026. The school intends to expand to serve over 500 students in grades TK-8 by 2027. GCA serves a diverse student population, with 95% of students identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged and 61% identifying as African American.

A defining element of GCA’s approach is its unique partnership with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, where students engage in place-based environmental education. The Zoo serves as an extension of the classroom, offering daily access to over 200 different species and exhibits aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Through this partnership, students develop environmental literacy and a deep understanding of global conservation efforts.

Blueprint is working closely with GCA to ensure that their facility needs are met with high-quality, sustainable solutions. Blueprint is proud to serve as both the project manager and a financing partner for this transformative school, working alongside Self-Help Credit Union, ExED, BlueHub Capital and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance. The financing for facility includes $24.5 million in New Markets Tax Credits financing. By leveraging these resources, Blueprint has helped ensure that GCA can develop a top-tier facility while maintaining financial sustainability. This approach allows GCA to invest in educational resources and programming, rather than being burdened by excessive facility costs.

As construction progresses, GCA continues to focus on fostering a culture of excellence and preparing students for a bright future. With Blueprint’s expertise guiding the facility development, this new campus will serve as a transformative space for generations to come.

Photo credit: Golden Charter Academy

Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD) has a proven track record of securing and leveraging state funding to create and improve educational facilities. Proposition 2 was passed by California voters in November 2024.  This half grant, half low interest program has a set aside for up to $600 million in charter school facility funding.  Our experience, particularly with past bond measures like Proposition 51, has positioned us as a leader in navigating the complexities of school facility funding for new construction or renovations. We’re now gearing up for the next opportunity: the Proposition 2 School Facilities Program.

In the past, PCSD spearheaded an unprecedented effort, bringing over $200 million in Proposition 51 funding to Bay Area district sites. These vital resources allowed us to complete nine Proposition 51 projects, working collaboratively with charter schools and their districts to positively impact the educational landscape for thousands of students. Our success wasn’t limited to the Bay Area. In Southern California, we proudly completed seven projects funded by Proposition 51, 1D, 55 or 47, demonstrating our ability to effectively manage and deliver projects across the state.

These past successes have provided us with invaluable experience and insights, preparing us for the current Proposition 2 funding round. We understand the intricacies of the application process, the importance of maximizing priority points, and the critical role of collaboration between schools, districts, and consultants.

With the application window soon opening, PCSD is actively engaging with school leaders as well as district staff and board directors. We’re committed to supporting schools through every step of the process. Our current efforts include:

• Program Education: We’re providing comprehensive information about the Proposition 2 program, ensuring schools understand eligibility requirements, funding opportunities, and the application timeline.
• Priority Point Maximization: Our team is working closely with schools to identify strategies for maximizing their application priority points, increasing their chances of securing funding. We understand the nuances of the scoring criteria and can offer tailored guidance to each applicant.
• Consultant Connections: We’re connecting schools with experienced application consultants who can provide expert assistance in navigating the complex application process. These consultants can help schools develop compelling applications and ensure all necessary documentation is in order.
• Building Plan Acquisition: We’re facilitating the process of gathering necessary building plans from respective districts, a crucial component of the application package. Our established relationships with district personnel streamline this often time-consuming process.

PCSD is dedicated to empowering schools to access the resources they need to create modern, safe, and inspiring learning environments. We believe that every student deserves access to high-quality facilities, and we’re committed to making that vision a reality through the Proposition 2 program. Stay tuned for further updates as we continue our work in supporting California’s schools.

Contact Jennifer Afdahl Rice for more information about this program and how to apply.

PCSD had an exciting opportunity to tour one of our charter school partners in Los Angeles alongside many of our CDFI lending partners. Our itinerary included stops at three campuses of Citizens of the World Los Angeles (CWC LA): CWC West Valley, CWC Mar Vista, and CWC Silver Lake Middle School.

The tour was an immersive experience delving into the heart of the CWC LA model. Each visit provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the educational ecosystem found within these campuses. From state-of-the-art facilities to innovative teaching methodologies, we witnessed firsthand the dedication to excellence that defines the CWC approach.

Our time at each school was enriched by engaging presentations and enlightening conversations with school principals and students alike. We had the privilege of hearing directly from the individuals who shape and benefit from the educational environment fostered by CWC LA.

However, it was the moments spent listening to the students articulate their personal experiences with CWC that truly resonated with us. Their impassioned testimonials painted a vivid picture of the profound impact that CWC has had on their lives. From fostering a sense of belonging to igniting a passion for learning, it was evident that CWC represents far more than just an educational institution—it’s a community where students thrive and dreams take flight.

As advocates for educational equity and opportunity, our partnership with CWC LA reaffirms our commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and empowering students in under-resourced communities. The insights gained from this tour will undoubtedly inform our ongoing efforts to support and uplift the next generation of leaders.

Our tour of CWC LA charter schools was not just a journey through hallways and classrooms; it was a profound exploration of educational excellence and the transformative power of inclusive education. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to CWC LA for opening their doors to us and their lending partners and for the invaluable work they do every day to inspire and empower students. Together, we will continue to strive towards a future where every child has access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.