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Agenda Item
N.-2 24-1940 Initial Public Hearing by the Board of Education on Aspire Public Schools - Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy - Petition and Charter (Renewal) - Grades 6-12 - Ju1y 1, 2025 - June 30, 2030, pursuant to Education Code Section 47605.
I have been proudly serving students at LWP since 2014: for 9 years as a teacher, for the past 2 years as an Instructional Coach. LWP's #1 focus is instruction, rooted in our core belief in justice for Black and brown students in Oakland. A quality education is a fundamental human right; this conviction drives my coaching and alongside our Insructional Leadership Team (which meets once every week), I hold myself personally accountable to student learning for our entire student body. My coaching focus started with establishing a strong culture of learning and ensuring that the content taught in each classroom is on grade-level-standards-aligned. Now, our instructional focus is Academic Ownership--putting the cognitive load on students through student-to-student discourse. Every semester I support cross-curricular exhibitions projects aligned to our linked learning Design for Social Change pathway with aligned field trips and industry professionals visiting to give feedback to students.
It is crucial that Lionel Wilson stays open and I am deeply in favor of their charter rental. LWP’s staff is committed to supporting the whole child and offers a multitude of services that serve not only the “whole child” but the whole community as well. Their equity minded approach provides support to students that may otherwise be left behind. LWP is a place where all are welcome and is a beacon within the community. Renewing their charter is the only option!
I stand in support of Lionel Wilson’s charter renewal. The impact that Lionel Wilson staff has had on students and families and vice versa is felt across Aspire schools. They have done tremendous work to create an environment where students feel safe, seen, heard and academically challenged. So much so that the LWP alum return to work there and give back to their community. I support their renewal.
It is crucial for Lionel Wilson to stays open. All the staff and teachers are making positive impacts on our kids life. My daughter, sister and nieces attended Lionel Wilson and thanks to all the support they were given, all of them graduated from universities. My son is attending Lionel Wilson and everyday he’s excited to go to school thanks to all the amazing people who work there and make him feel welcomed, heard and safe. I’m hoping that LWP charter gets renewed because Oakland needs schools like LWP who makes changes in our student’s academics and makes them feel they are in a safe environment.
I am here in support of the renewal of the charter of LWP. LWP is a top performing school, and its dedicated staff supports students thrive. It would be an enormous loss if this school’s charter was not renewed. I urge the board to renew the charter.
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Prep needs to stay open. The dedicated staff and amazing leadership is really making a difference. Students are excited about learning and love going to school. They feel supported, encouraged, safe, respected and loved. And they feel this way because the staff, leaders, families, and community all work together to keep our scholars and all of their needs at the forefront. It has been recognized as being a top performing school and even more important.....so many students are returning to be educators at Aspire. That's powerful and says a lot about how empowered they feel. LWP is making positive changes everyday and not renewing this charter would be absolutely devastating... to so many people. I hope that Oakland will decide to renew this charter, in order to ensure a bright future for our students and their families.
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Prep has amazing leaders and a dedicated staff. They’re making a real difference for students and the community every day. Keeping this charter in place means continuing the great work and support that’s helping students thrive.
Over the past 15 years I have been involved in a large variety of educational settings and as a current member of the Aspire Public Schools community, I have witnessed the tremendous impact LWP has had on their students, families, and community. LWP has been recognized as a Top 100 High School in the State of California, which can definitely be felt if you walk onto their campus. LWP's staff is dedicated to supporting the whole child, offering rigorous academic instruction, alongside social and emotional support and opportunities for growth. I support LWP's vision for their students and the Oakland community and urge the Board to renew their charter.
As a Oakland resident and employee of Aspire Public Schools, which includes LWP Charter School in its network. I am here to express my strong support for the renewal of LWP’s charter. As someone who lives in this community and works closely with schools in our network, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact LWP has on its students and families. The school provides a safe, nurturing environment where children are encouraged to reach their full potential, and its commitment to academic excellence and community engagement is truly commendable. In a community like East Oakland, where quality education can sometimes be hard to find, LWP stands as a beacon of hope. The dedicated educators at LWP go above and beyond to support every child, helping them succeed academically and grow as well-rounded individuals. Renewing LWP’s charter will allow this vital work to continue, providing students and families with the opportunities they deserve. I urge you to support the renewal of LWP’s charter.
Given the track record, the focus on learning centered upon equity and inclusion, good learning ambience, great opportunity for the young scholars in the region to excel academically and in all round manner, supported by pedagogues from diverse background committed to make a difference, alumni who have been known to excelled upon graduation - given all this, and more - of course, we seek for it to be duly renewed, for the great journey to continue, and for us to be able to make a positive contribution and difference for the community, for the students to thrive, and continue to excel.
ASPIRE Lionel Wilson Prep is one of the “Top 100 High School in the State of California by US News and World Report”. 85% of LWP students live in East Oakland. 23-24 demographics showed 22% are Multi-language learners and 15% are students with disabilities. 25% of those students with disabilities have extensive support needs. CA Dashboard SBAC data, ELPAC data, and iReady data in ELA and Math show that students are making great academic growth. They are in the BLUE on the CA dashboard for English learner progress. LWP is a community school doing the critical work of partnering with families to provide a culturally responsive and transformational educational experience for ALL students.
As a Spanish bilingual teacher ( SpEd & Gen ed), I have dedicated my career to supporting LatinX families and their amazing children. Throughout my 38 years in education, I found ELD classes and curriculum needing improvement. In most cases, ELD was an afterthought. Materials did not engage students, classes often did not use research-based best practices, and results were poor.
Logan Campbell and I have been working hard to design content-based lessons that genuinely engage our learners using the best teaching practices. We are constantly working to improve the outcomes for our 77 English Language Learners. We have also started a Newcomer ELD class serving 15 newcomer students. Our results are very encouraging.
ELPI: 63% grew in 2023, and a whopping 83% grew in 2024
Within that, 100% of ELLs with IEPs grew in 2024.
Last year, 81 ELLs enrolled, and 48 of them reclassified!
8 of 11 newcomers progressed from level 1 to level 2
With your support, we hope to continue this vital work.
I am in favor of Aspire Lionel Wilson Prep's charter renewal. I am a current Aspire employee and have been with the organization in numerous roles at the elementary level going on 13 years. I've watched former students move on to and graduate from LWP. I work closely with some of their staff members to collaborate across school sites. I know they work hard to serve the community and serve the whole child. They provide supports for accessing both academics and social emotional needs. This equity minded approach is what makes them such a valuable asset to their students, families, and community. I support them.
I am in support of renewing Lionel Wilson's Charter. Many of our former students have gone on to attend Lionel Wilson. When they visit and I ask how they feel about school, the responses are positive. The strong relationships teachers at LWP build with students is evident in all of their reviews. They like their teachers, their classes, and their experience. I believe this student experience should be valued in this process.
As an Oakland resident and someone who has directly witnessed the positive impacts of LWP on the community, I am in favor of their charter renewal. The school serves a large population of Multilingual Learners (MLLs), has a phenomenal mental health and special education program, was named one of California's Top 100 High Schools in the past two years, and their student body is directly serving the surrounding community.
As a sixth-year education specialist at Aspire Richmond Cal Prep, I am proud to support the renewal of Lionel Wilson Prep's charter. Over the years, I have witnessed the profound impact of their dedicated staff and innovative programs on student success. Lionel Wilson Prep has consistently demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, personalized learning, and community engagement. Their approach not only fosters a supportive and challenging learning environment but also aligns with the values and goals we strive for at our sister school. Renewing their charter will ensure that more students continue to benefit from their outstanding educational model.
Very much in favor of Aspire Lionel Wilson's charter being renewed. I am a current Aspire employee and worked at LWP for 6 years (2016-2022). That school is doing serious work to reach all students, and is insistent that no one gets left behind. Aspire serves many children who would otherwise be shunted off to highly restrictive environments, and sets up rigorous systems of support for such kids. And LWP is a neighborhood/community school that is highly accountable to its community.
After working in public schools (WCCUSD, SFUSD, and OUSD) for eight years, my experience at Aspire is that they are an organization with the more emphasis on equity and access than any other in which I have worked. Aspire's genuine commitment to true access is what has kept me with the organization for these nine years. I'm proud to be a part of this.
Renewing the charter will allow Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy to continue its vital work in providing a high-quality education and fostering a nurturing environment for all students. I firmly believe that the school's continued operation is crucial for the community.
I have been proudly serving students at LWP since 2014: for 9 years as a teacher, for the past 2 years as an Instructional Coach. LWP's #1 focus is instruction, rooted in our core belief in justice for Black and brown students in Oakland. A quality education is a fundamental human right; this conviction drives my coaching and alongside our Insructional Leadership Team (which meets once every week), I hold myself personally accountable to student learning for our entire student body. My coaching focus started with establishing a strong culture of learning and ensuring that the content taught in each classroom is on grade-level-standards-aligned. Now, our instructional focus is Academic Ownership--putting the cognitive load on students through student-to-student discourse. Every semester I support cross-curricular exhibitions projects aligned to our linked learning Design for Social Change pathway with aligned field trips and industry professionals visiting to give feedback to students.
LWP is an amazing school and supports all the families there and the community!
It is crucial that Lionel Wilson stays open and I am deeply in favor of their charter rental. LWP’s staff is committed to supporting the whole child and offers a multitude of services that serve not only the “whole child” but the whole community as well. Their equity minded approach provides support to students that may otherwise be left behind. LWP is a place where all are welcome and is a beacon within the community. Renewing their charter is the only option!
I stand in support of Lionel Wilson’s charter renewal. The impact that Lionel Wilson staff has had on students and families and vice versa is felt across Aspire schools. They have done tremendous work to create an environment where students feel safe, seen, heard and academically challenged. So much so that the LWP alum return to work there and give back to their community. I support their renewal.
It is crucial for Lionel Wilson to stays open. All the staff and teachers are making positive impacts on our kids life. My daughter, sister and nieces attended Lionel Wilson and thanks to all the support they were given, all of them graduated from universities. My son is attending Lionel Wilson and everyday he’s excited to go to school thanks to all the amazing people who work there and make him feel welcomed, heard and safe. I’m hoping that LWP charter gets renewed because Oakland needs schools like LWP who makes changes in our student’s academics and makes them feel they are in a safe environment.
I am here in support of the renewal of the charter of LWP. LWP is a top performing school, and its dedicated staff supports students thrive. It would be an enormous loss if this school’s charter was not renewed. I urge the board to renew the charter.
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Prep needs to stay open. The dedicated staff and amazing leadership is really making a difference. Students are excited about learning and love going to school. They feel supported, encouraged, safe, respected and loved. And they feel this way because the staff, leaders, families, and community all work together to keep our scholars and all of their needs at the forefront. It has been recognized as being a top performing school and even more important.....so many students are returning to be educators at Aspire. That's powerful and says a lot about how empowered they feel. LWP is making positive changes everyday and not renewing this charter would be absolutely devastating... to so many people. I hope that Oakland will decide to renew this charter, in order to ensure a bright future for our students and their families.
Aspire Lionel Wilson College Prep has amazing leaders and a dedicated staff. They’re making a real difference for students and the community every day. Keeping this charter in place means continuing the great work and support that’s helping students thrive.
Over the past 15 years I have been involved in a large variety of educational settings and as a current member of the Aspire Public Schools community, I have witnessed the tremendous impact LWP has had on their students, families, and community. LWP has been recognized as a Top 100 High School in the State of California, which can definitely be felt if you walk onto their campus. LWP's staff is dedicated to supporting the whole child, offering rigorous academic instruction, alongside social and emotional support and opportunities for growth. I support LWP's vision for their students and the Oakland community and urge the Board to renew their charter.
As a Oakland resident and employee of Aspire Public Schools, which includes LWP Charter School in its network. I am here to express my strong support for the renewal of LWP’s charter. As someone who lives in this community and works closely with schools in our network, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact LWP has on its students and families. The school provides a safe, nurturing environment where children are encouraged to reach their full potential, and its commitment to academic excellence and community engagement is truly commendable. In a community like East Oakland, where quality education can sometimes be hard to find, LWP stands as a beacon of hope. The dedicated educators at LWP go above and beyond to support every child, helping them succeed academically and grow as well-rounded individuals. Renewing LWP’s charter will allow this vital work to continue, providing students and families with the opportunities they deserve. I urge you to support the renewal of LWP’s charter.
Given the track record, the focus on learning centered upon equity and inclusion, good learning ambience, great opportunity for the young scholars in the region to excel academically and in all round manner, supported by pedagogues from diverse background committed to make a difference, alumni who have been known to excelled upon graduation - given all this, and more - of course, we seek for it to be duly renewed, for the great journey to continue, and for us to be able to make a positive contribution and difference for the community, for the students to thrive, and continue to excel.
ASPIRE Lionel Wilson Prep is one of the “Top 100 High School in the State of California by US News and World Report”. 85% of LWP students live in East Oakland. 23-24 demographics showed 22% are Multi-language learners and 15% are students with disabilities. 25% of those students with disabilities have extensive support needs. CA Dashboard SBAC data, ELPAC data, and iReady data in ELA and Math show that students are making great academic growth. They are in the BLUE on the CA dashboard for English learner progress. LWP is a community school doing the critical work of partnering with families to provide a culturally responsive and transformational educational experience for ALL students.
This is a great school doing wonderful things for the Oakland community. I strongly support its renewal.
As a Spanish bilingual teacher ( SpEd & Gen ed), I have dedicated my career to supporting LatinX families and their amazing children. Throughout my 38 years in education, I found ELD classes and curriculum needing improvement. In most cases, ELD was an afterthought. Materials did not engage students, classes often did not use research-based best practices, and results were poor.
Logan Campbell and I have been working hard to design content-based lessons that genuinely engage our learners using the best teaching practices. We are constantly working to improve the outcomes for our 77 English Language Learners. We have also started a Newcomer ELD class serving 15 newcomer students. Our results are very encouraging.
ELPI: 63% grew in 2023, and a whopping 83% grew in 2024
Within that, 100% of ELLs with IEPs grew in 2024.
Last year, 81 ELLs enrolled, and 48 of them reclassified!
8 of 11 newcomers progressed from level 1 to level 2
With your support, we hope to continue this vital work.
I am in favor of Aspire Lionel Wilson Prep's charter renewal. I am a current Aspire employee and have been with the organization in numerous roles at the elementary level going on 13 years. I've watched former students move on to and graduate from LWP. I work closely with some of their staff members to collaborate across school sites. I know they work hard to serve the community and serve the whole child. They provide supports for accessing both academics and social emotional needs. This equity minded approach is what makes them such a valuable asset to their students, families, and community. I support them.
I am in support of renewing Lionel Wilson's Charter. Many of our former students have gone on to attend Lionel Wilson. When they visit and I ask how they feel about school, the responses are positive. The strong relationships teachers at LWP build with students is evident in all of their reviews. They like their teachers, their classes, and their experience. I believe this student experience should be valued in this process.
As an Oakland resident and someone who has directly witnessed the positive impacts of LWP on the community, I am in favor of their charter renewal. The school serves a large population of Multilingual Learners (MLLs), has a phenomenal mental health and special education program, was named one of California's Top 100 High Schools in the past two years, and their student body is directly serving the surrounding community.
As a sixth-year education specialist at Aspire Richmond Cal Prep, I am proud to support the renewal of Lionel Wilson Prep's charter. Over the years, I have witnessed the profound impact of their dedicated staff and innovative programs on student success. Lionel Wilson Prep has consistently demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, personalized learning, and community engagement. Their approach not only fosters a supportive and challenging learning environment but also aligns with the values and goals we strive for at our sister school. Renewing their charter will ensure that more students continue to benefit from their outstanding educational model.
Very much in favor of Aspire Lionel Wilson's charter being renewed. I am a current Aspire employee and worked at LWP for 6 years (2016-2022). That school is doing serious work to reach all students, and is insistent that no one gets left behind. Aspire serves many children who would otherwise be shunted off to highly restrictive environments, and sets up rigorous systems of support for such kids. And LWP is a neighborhood/community school that is highly accountable to its community.
After working in public schools (WCCUSD, SFUSD, and OUSD) for eight years, my experience at Aspire is that they are an organization with the more emphasis on equity and access than any other in which I have worked. Aspire's genuine commitment to true access is what has kept me with the organization for these nine years. I'm proud to be a part of this.
Renewing the charter will allow Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy to continue its vital work in providing a high-quality education and fostering a nurturing environment for all students. I firmly believe that the school's continued operation is crucial for the community.