Media Statement

Options for Youth and Opportunities for Learning charter schools released the following statement in response to media inquiries about the state’s audit released today (Aug. 9. 2006) by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. For more information and background materials, please contact Stevan Allen at (916) 448-1336 or stevan@allenstrategic.com

For the past 14 months, Options for Youth (OFY) and Opportunities for Learning (OFL) charter schools have fully cooperated in the state’s audit of their operations – in most cases, providing the same documents and information that the schools have been providing the California Department of Education (CDE) and sponsoring districts on an annual basis for years.

During that time, both schools have continued to focus on their primary mission – meeting the needs of about 25,000 students most at risk of dropping out of school. The schools remain among the most successful in the state in terms of graduating students and combating the student dropout crisis. In doing so, we provide a valuable service to the community by helping keep teenagers off the streets and leading more productive lives.

There are six critical points we would like to make to provide a balanced understanding of our operations and the context for the audit:

• The audit has not been about our academic performance or the value we provide our students, their parents and California taxpayers. Our state test scores, including CAHSEE passage rates, exceed those of similar schools throughout the state. Also, when compared to Supt. O’Connell’s list of model continuation schools, most OFY and OFL schools rank at the top. We are constantly seeking new ways to improve our instruction and administration.

• The $57 million of expenditures questioned by the audit was approved by the CDE and the State Board and was spent on the students and academic programs. The result is that the $57 million received by the charters has been appropriately spent on the children of the State of California.

• OFY and OFL will take all necessary administrative and legal steps to address the allegations made by Jack O’Connell as well as those allegations contained in the audit report.

• Our success is directly linked to a unique management and operational model that gives us the flexibility to meet the non-traditional educational needs of at-risk students.

• We have operated in accordance with charter school law and are extensively regulated and monitored by the State of California.We have participated in the audit willingly and in all reasonable aspects. Supt. O’Connell, the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education have been informed of issues of salary, business structure, administration, funding and other calculations.

• The audit report contains numerous factual inaccuracies. Furthermore, there are erroneous assumptions, improper conclusions and recommendations that are therefore misguided.  We will be implementing appropriate recommendations.

Charter school law was established precisely to encourage new ways to reach students, especially those at risk of dropping out. We have innovated and developed programs that have met this goal, and we appreciate sincere efforts on the part of the state to assist us in fulfilling our mission.

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