FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeffrey Baier, Superintendent
Los Altos School District
Phone: (650) 947-1150
Wednesday, September 10, 2019

LASD Asks Santa Clara County Board of Education to Correct
Bullis Charter School’s Discriminatory Enrollment Practices

In reaction to Bullis Charter School’s re-institution of the exclusionary “Los Altos Hills Bullis Purissima attendance area geographic lottery preference,” the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees unanimously voted to send a letter to the Santa Clara County Board of Education and the Superintendent of the County Office of Education to raise serious concerns regarding Bullis Charter School’s (BCS) discriminatory enrollment policies and practices.

Nearly fifteen years ago, the Los Altos School District (LASD) denied BCS’s charter petition over concerns that the charter school’s planned program would create a divide in the community and create a school that did not mirror the district’s demographics and serve all students regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, ELL status or disability.  Over LASD’s objections, the Santa Clara County Board of Education approved the charter and assumed the responsibility to ensure BCS does not implement policies that discriminate against students, or effectuate policies that create a discriminatory disparate impact against vulnerable students.  

Data from the State of California show BCS continues to underserve the diversity of students in the LASD community.  To that end, the LASD Board is sending a letter requesting the SCCBOE and Dr. Dewan take action to ensure equitable access to BCS for all students.  In the letter LASD asked SCCBOE and Dr. Dewan to:

• Reject BCS’s reinstatement of the exclusionary Los Altos Hills geographic preference
• Develop a comprehensive desegregation plan for BCS designed to ensure a population that mirrors the student demographics within the LASD boundaries.
• And, that the desegregation plan include: a transparent lottery conducted by SCCOE staff, priority preference for free and reduced lunch students, ELL, special needs students and other underrepresented students, and restricted growth until such time as the discrimination is corrected.

LASD Board President, Jessica Speiser stated: “As a public school district we are committed to equity in education and are proud that our schools are among the highest performing in the state.  No matter a student’s race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, ELL status or special need, we welcome them with open arms to our schools and ensure each and every student receives an excellent education tailored to their  specific needs.  As such, we expect each public school operating in our district do the same.”   

Furthermore, under California law, access to public education is a fundamental right afforded the highest levels of protection.  The Charter Schools Act declares charter schools to be “part of the Public School System” and places “special emphasis on expanding learning opportunities for pupils who are identified as academically low achieving” and underserved by the existing public school system.  To that end,  charter school laws require charter schools to admit students on an equal opportunity basis, prohibit the charging of tuition, and require the chartering authority to “consider increases in public academic achievement for all groups of pupils served by the charter school as the most important factor in determining whether to grant charter renewal.”   

Speiser noted, “I cannot emphasize this enough: the LASD Board’s desire for the SCCBOE to take action against discriminatory enrollment policies at BCS is separate from our intent and commitment to resolving our longstanding facilities issue with the charter school.  We are dedicated to the Community Engagement Process we have initiated with the public to find a long term solution to house BCS.  Yet, it is our duty as elected officials who serve all residents of this community to ensure that our local public schools provide equal access to every child.”

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