AIMS High Wins Renewal but Must Report Special Education Progress Yearly

Oakland Unified's school board gave AIMS College Prep High School five more years on Oct. 6, 2026. The approval came with a catch: AIMS must return every January to report publicly on its special education and academic improvement plans. The board also renewed Aspire Monarch Academy, heard East Bay Innovation Academy apologize for closing its high school without approval and sent Oakland Military Institute a formal notice to cure.

• AIMS College Prep High renewed 5-0 with annual public reports due by Jan. 31, starting in 2027

• Directors grilled AIMS on late IEPs, a 5.4% disability identification rate and leadership churn

• Aspire Monarch Academy renewed 5-0 through June 30, 2032, after big gains for students with disabilities

• East Bay Innovation Academy apologized for closing its high school before seeking approval and now seeks to serve grades 6-8 only

• Board issues formal notice to cure to Oakland Military Institute, 5-0, over whether it serves all students

AIMS Gets Five Years and a Yearly Report Card

Why it matters: The renewal condition gives the board a recurring public check on a school whose test scores have slipped, whose special education program has compliance problems and whose leadership keeps changing.

The basics: AIMS, which serves grades 9-12, is a "middle-tier" charter. That means it is eligible for a five-year term, with no presumption of approval or denial. An IEP, or individualized education program, is the legally required plan for a student with a disability.

Where things stand: Staff reported that English and math proficiency spiked in 2022-23 and then fell for two straight years. Graduation rates were high and A-G completion was at or near 100%. The school had about 367 students as of August, strong finances and no audit findings.

Staff also raised three red flags. The first was course access. "There are many core subject areas and grades in which there are only honors or AP classes that are offered, which does raise some concerns around access for all students," said Kelly Craig Arnold, Director, OUSD Charter Office. The other two were special education compliance and turnover at the principal, CMO and board levels.

AIMS answered with a new leadership team hired since August. It also offered a voluntary performance improvement plan, or PIP. "We come with a clear view of where we have fallen short, a new team built to close those gaps," said Larisha Huffman, Superintendent, AIMS College Prep High School.

Dacia Malone, Director of Special Education and Student Services, said AIMS accepts a Seneca Family of Services review that found late IEP meetings and missed timelines. She reported that AIMS identifies 5.4% of its students as having disabilities. That compares with 18.7% across OUSD high schools and 13% across AIMS K-12. Malone, who had been on the job less than two weeks, said she plans a centralized tracker and scheduling system.

Under questioning from Board Vice President Valarie Bachelor, AIMS confirmed several points:

• All core subjects are honors or AP, and AP scores are "nowhere near where we want them to be."

• The school's four teaching assistants are funded through LCFF, the state's base school funding formula.

• Two of those assistants hold emergency permits, and none is fully credentialed.

Officials also cited teacher retention of 17% in 2023-24, rising to 63% this year.

The other side: "So you received a 30-day notice about the issues with the special education program, and 3 years have elapsed, but many of the same issues still exist," said Director Rachel Latta. "I think the thing that is a bit worrisome is that AIMS waited until the summer to hire folks, right?" said Director VanCedric Williams. Board President Jennifer Brouhard said "what I saw previously at AIMS was, I'm just going to say, kind of shocking."

Nine public commenters backed renewal, including students, a graduate, a teacher and a parent. "For many families, especially newer immigrant families, that matters as much as all those test scores that you are looking at," said Jones Wu, President, Shong Family Chinese Cultural Center.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Brouhard moved approval for July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2032. The motion requires annual written reports, reviewed by the AIMS governing board, that identify unmet targets and steps to address them. Director Clifford Thompson said he would vote yes and praised the voluntary PIP and A-G rates. During the roll call, Williams said "I'm conflicted" and added that he did not want to "drop" the students in the room. The clerk then declared the motion adopted.

• Vote: For: 5 (Thompson, Latta, Williams, Bachelor, Brouhard). Against: 0. Absent: 2 (Mike Hutchinson, Patrice Berry).

• Families of students with disabilities gain a yearly public scorecard.

• AIMS's new team carries the burden of proof before its next renewal.

What's next: The first report is due by Jan. 31, 2027. An AIMS board member said she hopes to form a special education subcommittee.

Monarch Renewed After Gains for Students With Disabilities

Why it matters: The renewal keeps an East Oakland TK-5 option, which directors held up as a model for inclusion, open through 2032.

Where things stand: Charter Office Deputy Director Madison Thomas reported that proficiency was flat from 2021-22 through 2023-24 and then rose in 2024-25. Students with disabilities posted the largest gains: 22.2 points in English and 35.4 points in math. Enrollment has held at about 370 for three years. The school has a strong fund balance, and its most recent audit had no findings.

"More than 1 in 5 of our scholars has an IEP," said Heather Hassan, Principal, Aspire Monarch Academy. Jenna Augier, Superintendent of Schools, Aspire Bay Area, said Monarch beat 16 of 20 comparison schools in English, while conceding "progress alone, it's not enough."

About 11 public commenters, all supportive, filled the room. They included alumni turned staff and Spanish-speaking immigrant parents who praised the school's language access and know-your-rights support. "In just 2 months, we have seen more progress than we saw in a year and a half at his previous school," said parent Cindy Cruz of her nonverbal son.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Thompson moved renewal, crediting Monarch for fixing earlier audit findings, and Brouhard seconded. Williams called it "really strong." A colleague said Director Berry was following online, but she was recorded absent. Her questions on student growth and teacher retention were deferred to written follow-up.

• Vote: For: 5 (Latta, Williams, Thompson, Bachelor, Brouhard). Against: 0. Absent: 2 (Hutchinson, Berry).

• Term: July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2032.

EBIA Says 'We Messed Up' on High School Closure

Why it matters: East Bay Innovation Academy has already stopped enrolling high schoolers. The board's eventual decision would formalize the loss of a charter high school option.

Where things stand: EBIA asked for a material revision to serve grades 6-8 only, cutting its target enrollment from 770 to 330. The school cited falling post-pandemic high school enrollment and a doubled incoming sixth-grade class in 2025-26.

"We messed up. We didn't do what we needed to, and we take full responsibility," said Monique Bonilla, Interim Executive Director, East Bay Innovation Academy. She also cited:

• A back-office collaboration with Envision Schools and EdTech

• A student body in which 26% of students have IEPs

• A projected 15.1% growth in ending fund balance as a share of expenses

"The advice from our legal counsel at the time was that that did not require a material revision. That was wrong," said Brett Van Zuiden, Board President, East Bay Innovation Academy. Four speakers supported the change. Some displaced staff were hired at Envision.

What's next: This was an initial hearing only. No board questions were asked and no vote was taken. A decision hearing will follow at a later meeting.

Oakland Military Institute Put on Notice

Why it matters: Under Education Code 47607(e), the notice opens a cure period. If the district's concerns go unresolved, that process can precede revocation.

Where things stand: The board adopted Resolution No. 2627-0017 (Item 26-2188). The resolution directs a notice about the district's concern over whether Oakland Military Institute, College Preparatory Academy serves all students. There was no staff presentation and no board discussion.

The other side: "Under no circumstances does OMI encourage or push students to leave," said Dr. Mary Stresley, Superintendent, Oakland Military Institute, the only public commenter. She said the school was "very surprised" by the notice, which raises concerns about the test scores of students who left. She added that OMI serves students "who come with among the greatest academic deficits in the Bay Area."

• Vote: For: 5 (Williams, Latta, Thompson, Bachelor, Brouhard). Against: 0. Absent: 2 (Hutchinson, Berry).

What's next: Stresley said OMI has begun reviewing its student-exit data and will present a full report to the district.

Minor Items

• The meeting started late in a relocated venue, which Brouhard attributed to staff shortages and technical issues.

• Directors Hutchinson and Berry were recorded absent on all three votes, and student directors were also absent.

Looking Ahead

AIMS's first public progress report is due by Jan. 31, 2027. Two other items will return to the board at a later date: EBIA's 6-8 request goes to a decision hearing, and OMI has promised a report on student exits.