Forced Parent Work Policies - Public Advocates

Issue: Education
Topic: Charter Schools
Case Date: January 14, 2014

Public Advocates researched 555 charter schools in California and found that almost one-third of them (30%) require parents to do work at the school for a set quota of hours. This practice is illegal under the California constitution and the Education Code. In our report, we expose the extent of the practice and explain why it is illegal. We have sent a demand letter to the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education urging them to take immediate steps to abolish the practice. Below, we provide a list of all the charter schools we found that have such a practice, with a link to their policy documents.

Note: The policy statements discussed in the report were available publicly as of Nov. 20, 2014, when this report was released. Some charter schools may have changed their policies since then and may no longer state that parent work hours are required. We plan to release an update to the report and to this web site in 2015 to reflect those changes.

Read the report Charging for Access: How California Charter Schools Exclude Vulnerable Students by Imposing Illegal Family Work Quotas

Alameda County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Oakland Military Institute	Oakland Unified	30 hrs/yr	Parent Bulletin
Urban Montessori Charter	Alameda COE	10 hrs/yr	Charter petition to OUSD
Yu Ming Charter	Alameda COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 5

Butte County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Blue Oak Charter School	Butte COE	50 hrs/yr	Handbook at 22
Children’s Community Charter School	Paradise Unified	1.5 hrs/week, 1 maintenance day/year, 10 extra hours/yr	Parent Participation Commitment Form
Paradise Charter Middle School	Paradise Unified	12 hrs/semester + 1 maintenance day/year	Student Contract at 10
STREAM Charter School	Oroville City Elementary School District	30 hrs/year	Handbook at 18
Wildflower Open Classroom	Chico Unified	75 hrs/yr	Charter petition to Chico Unified at 34

Contra Costa County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Eagle Peak Montessori	Mt. Diablo Unified	40 hrs/yr	Parent Pledge
Manzanita Charter Middle School	West Contra Costa Unified	96 hrs/yr + mandatory cleanings + meetings	Handbook at 21-22

El Dorado County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
California Montessori Project Shingle Springs Campus	Buckeye Union Elementary School District	40 hrs/yr or 70 hrs/yr if > 1 child	Handbook at 21-22
Camino Science and Natural Resources Charter School	Camino Union Elementary School District	30 hrs/yr	Home/School Learning Compact

Fresno County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Sanger Academy Charter School	Sanger Unified	10 hrs/yr	Handbook at 11

Glenn County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Walden Academy	Glenn COE	40 hrs/yr + 20 hrs/yr per additional student	Volunteer Handbook at 2

Humboldt County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Fuente Nueva Charter	Arcata Elementary School District	4 hrs/mo	Enrollment Handbook at 11
Laurel Tree Charter School	Northern Humboldt Union High School District	20 hrs/yr	“Parent Involvement” Web page
Redwood Coast Montessori	Arcata School District	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 17

Kern County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Abernathy Collegiate Charter School	Tehachapi Unified	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 39

Los Angeles County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Academia Moderna	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/yr	Handbook at 16-17
Academy of Science and Engineering	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/year or $10/hr	Handbook at 14
Alain Leroy Locke College Prep Academy (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Alliance Cindy & Bill Simon Technology Academy High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Parent/Student/Staff Compact
Alliance College Ready Alice M Baxter	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	“FAQ” Web Page
Alliance College-Ready Academy High School #16	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 32-35
Alliance College-Ready Academy High School #5	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	“FAQ” Web Page
Alliance Collins Family College-Ready High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Parent/Student/Staff Compact
Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 36-40
Alliance Gertz-Ressler	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr; 60 if 2 students; 70 if 3+ students	“Parent Volunteer Information” Web page
Alliance Health Services Academy	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	“Parent Volunteer Requirements” Web page
Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Parent/Student/Staff Compact
Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 40
Alliance Media Arts and Entertainment Design High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 30
Alliance Ouchi-O’Donovan 6-12 Complex	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 31
Alliance Renee & Meyer Luskin College-Ready Academy	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Parent/Student/Staff Compact
Alliance Susan and Eric Smidt Technology High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 44-45
Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 38
Animo Avalon Charter Middle (green dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo College Prep Academy (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle School (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Inglewood Charter High (Green Dot)	Inglewood Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Jackie Robinson Charter High (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Jefferson Charter Middle (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Leadership High	Lennox	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Middle School #2 (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Parent-Student Handbook at 43
Animo Middle School #3 (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Middle School #4 (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Pat Brown	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Ralph Bunche	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo South Los Angeles	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Venice Charter High	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Animo Westside Charter Middle School	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	“Promotion Requirements” Web Page
Aveson Global Leadership Academy	Pasadena Unified	20 hrs/yr	“Volunteer” Web Page
Aveson School of Leaders	Pasadena Unified	20 hrs/yr	“Volunteer” Web Page
ICEF Frederick Douglass Academy	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/ yr	Handbook at 25
ICEF Frederick Douglass Charter Middle	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 28
ICEF Inglewood Charter Middle Academy	Inglewood Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 34
ICEF Lou Dantzler Preparatory Elementary School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 23
ICEF Lou Dantzler Preparatory Middle School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 26
ICEF View Park High	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 34
ICEF View Park Prep Accelerated Charter Middle	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 34-35
ICEF Vista Elementary and Middle Charter Academy	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 28
Ivy Academia	Los Angeles Unified	25 hrs/yr	Handbook at 7
Keck Early Learning Center	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr; 40 if 2 students; 50 if 3+ students	Handbook (the Accelerated Schools) at 37
KIPP LA Prep	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/yr	Commitment to Excellence contract
KIPP Philosophers Academy	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/yr	Commitment to Excellence contract
KIPP Scholar Academy	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/yr or $5 per hour	Commitment to Excellence contract; Parent Bulletin
Life Source Charter School	Lancaster Elementary	10 hrs/yr; or $10 per hour	Interview with parent
Los Angeles Big Picture High School	Los Angeles Unified	140 hrs total	Handbook at 8-9
Los Angeles Leadership Academy (LALA)	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 32-34, 47
Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts	Los Angeles Unified	60 hrs/yr	“Volunteer Opportunities” Web Page
Metro Charter SChool	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/ yr	Handbook at 8
Multicultural Learning Center	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr	Volunteer Commitment Form
New Academy of Science and Art	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/yr	Handbook at 13
New Heights Charter School	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 17
New West Charter	California Department of Education Charter Schools Division	16 hrs/yr	“Get Involved Parent Volunteer Log” Web Page
North Valley Military Academy	Los Angeles Unified	25 hrsyr; 35 if 2+ students; $10/ hr	Newsletter
Oscar de la Hoya Animo Charter High (Green Dot)	Los Angeles Unified	35 hrs/yr	Green Dot Student Policy Manual at 22, 109
Pacoima Charter School	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr	Handbook
Palisades Charter Elementary	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/yr	Parent Volunteer Handbook at 4
Palisades Charter High School	Los Angeles Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 87; “Volunteer Opportunities” Web page
Prepa Tec	Los Angeles Unified	20 hrs/yr	Handbook (Academia Moderna) at 16-17
Rise Kohyang Middle School	Los Angeles Unified	1 event	Handbook at 16
Rowland Heights Charter Academy	Rowland Unified	3 hrs/mo	Parent Newsletter; “Parent Resources” Web page
Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVI)	William S. Hart Union High	80 hrs/yr	Handbook at 12-13
The Accelerated Charter Elementary School	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr; 40 if 2 students; 50 if 3+ students	Handbook (the Accelerated Schools) at 37
The Accelerated School	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr; 40 if 2 students; 50 if 3+ students	Handbook (the Accelerated Schools) at 37
Today’s Fresh Start Charter School	California Department of Education Charter Schools Division	40 hrs/ yr	Handbook at 27
Valley Charter Elementary School	Los Angeles Unified	50 hrs/yr; 75 hrs/yr if > 1 child	Handbook at 10-12
Valley Charter Middle	Los Angeles Unified	50 hrs/yr; 75 hrs/yr if > 1 child	Handbook at 2
Vista Charter Middle	Los Angeles Unified	10 hrs/quarter, 40 hrs/yr	Handbook at 3
Wallis Annenberg High School	Los Angeles Unified	30 hrs/yr; 40 if 2 students; 50 if 3+ students	Handbook at 31-32

Marin County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Willow Creek	Sausalito Marin City	50 hrs/yr	‘Parent Volunteer Obligations” Web page

Mariposa County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Sierra Foothill Charter	Mariposa County Unified	2 hrs/mo; $5/hr	Parent Contract and Volunteer Agreement

Mendocino County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Eel River School	Round Valley Unified	2 hrs/wk per student	SARC at 3
Tree of Life Montessori Charter School	Tree of Life School	30 hrs/year	Contract in Enrollment Application; Handbook at 12
Willits Charter	Willits Unified	40 hrs/yr; 60 if 2+ students; $10/hr	Handbook at 5-6
Willits Elementary Charter	Willits Unified	40 hrs/yr; 60 if 2+ students; $10/hr	Charter at 8-9; Handbook at 2

Merced County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Green Valley Charter	Los Banos Unified	5 hrs/mo; 50 hrs/yr	Handbook at 22

Orange County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
El Rancho	Orange Unified	10 hrs/yr; $10/hr	Charter at 20; Instructions for Registration
Journey School	Capistrano Unified	50 hrs/yr	Handbook at 15
Orange County Educational Arts Academy	Santa Ana Unified	3 hrs/quarter	Parent Handbook at 44-45
Santiago Charter Middle School	Orange Unified	12 hrs/yr; $10/hr	“Service Hours Info” Web page

Riverside County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Temecula Valley Charter School	Temecula Valley Unified	12 hrs/mo	Parent Information Guide at 12
San Jacinto Valley Academy	San Jacinto Unified	60 hrs/yr	Family Service Log web page

Sacramento County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Alan Rowe College Prep (Fortune)	Sacramento COE	40 hrs/yr	Handbook (Fortune Schools) at 4; Commitment to Excellence Contract
California Montessori Project – Capitol Campus	Sacramento City Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook (California Montessori Project) at 22
California Montessori Project – Elk Grove Campus	Elk Grove Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook (California Montessori Project) at 22
California Montessori Project – San Juan Campus	San Juan Unified	40 hrs/yr	Handbook (California Montessori Project) at 22
Community Outreach Academy	Sacramento City Unified	12 hrs/year	Newsletter
Creative Connections Arts Academy	Twin Rivers Unified School District	30 hrs/yr; $10/hr	Bylaws at 9-10
Ephraiem Williams College Prep	Sacramento COE	40 hrs/yr	Handbook (Fortune Schools) at 4; Commitment to Excellence Contract
Fortune School	Sacramento COE	40 hrs/yr; $5/hr	Handbook
Golden Valley Charter School of Sacramento	San Juan Unified	4 hrs/mo	Web site, contract
Higher Learning Academy	Twin Rivers Unified School District	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 16, 29; Promotion/Retention Policy at 22
Oak Park Prep	Sacramento City Unified	10 hrs/yr	Handbook at 24
Smythe Academy of Arts and Sciences	Twin Rivers Unified School District	30 hrs/yr	Charter petition at 29
Sol Aureus College Prep	Sacramento City Unified	10 hrs/yr	Handbook at 10
St. HOPE Public School 7	Sacramento City Unified	40 hrs/yr	“Parent Hours Monthly Tally Sheet” Web page
Westside Preparatory Charter	Twin Rivers Unified School District	30 hrs/yr; $10/hr	“Parent/Guardian Involvement” Web page
William Lee College Prep (Fortune)	Sacramento COE	40 hrs/yr	Handbook (Fortune Schools) at 4; Commitment to Excellence Contract

San Bernardino County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Encore High School	Hesperia Unified	8 hrs/sem; $20 in-kind/hr	Parent Volunteer Form
Grove School	Redlands Unified	30 hrs/yr	“The Grove School Forms” Web page
Hardy Brown College Prep	San Bernardino Unified	40 hrs/yr; $5/hr	Charter at 55
Inland Leaders Charter Academy	Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District	20 hrs/yr	First Day Digital Packet at 12
Mountain View Montessori	Victor Elementary	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 4-5
Pathways to College	Hesperia Unified	10 hrs/yr	Enrollment Packet at 2
Public Safety Academy	San Bernardino City Unified	4 hrs/mo	Handbook at 14-15

San Diego County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School	Chula Vista Elementary	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 20-21
EJE Academy Elementary	Cajon Valley Union	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 13-14
EJE Academy Middle	Cajon Valley Union	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 13-14
Helix Charter School	Grossmont Union High School District	2 times / year	Handbook at 5
Oxford Preparatory Academy	Capistrano Unified	20 hrs/yr	Handbook at 54; Learning Partnership Agreement

San Joaquin County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Acacia Community Charter School	New Jerusalem Elementary	12/trimester	“ACCS FAQ” Web page
Acacia Elementary Charter	New Jerusalem Elementary	12/trimester	“ACCS FAQ” Web page
Acacia Middle Charter	New Jerusalem Elementary	12/trimester	“ACCS FAQ” Web page
Health Careers Academy	Stockton Unified	4 hrs/sem	Enrollment Packet at 7
Joe Serna Jr.	Lodi Unified	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 19
River Islands Technology Academy	Banta Elementary	5 hrs/mo; $25/hr	“Donate/Fundraising” Web Page

San Luis Obispo County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Almond Acres Charter Academy	San Miguel Joint Union	60 hrs/yr; 100 hrs/yr if 2+ students	Handbook at 5
Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter	San Luis Coastal Unified School District	6 hrs/mo	“Get Involved” Web page

San Mateo County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
San Carlos Charter Learning Center	San Carlos School District	80-120 hrs/year; $15/hr	Handbook at 34; Volunteer Guidelines web page
Summit Everest	California Department of Education Charter Schools Division	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 15

Santa Clara County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
ACE Alum Rock MS	Alum Rock Union Elementary	1 hr/mo	Handbook (ACE Charter Schools) at 37
ACE Charter Academy MS	Santa Clara COE	1 hr/mo	Handbook (ACE Charter Schools) at 37
ACE Charter High	East Side Union High School District	1 hr/mo	Handbook (ACE Charter Schools) at 37
ACE Franklin McKinley	Franklin-McKinley Elementary	1 hr/mo	Handbook (ACE Charter Schools) at 37
Discovery Charter School I	Santa Clara COE	2.5 hrs/wk; 4.5 hrs/wk if 2+ students; add’l reqs	Parent Agreement
Discovery Charter School II	Santa Clara COE	2.5 hrs/wk; 4.5 hrs/wk if 2+ students; add’l reqs	Parent Agreement
Rocketship Academy Brilliant Minds	Santa Clara COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
Rocketship Alma Academy	Santa Clara COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
Rocketship Discovery Prep	Santa Clara COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
Rocketship Los Suenos Academy	Santa Clara COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Academy	Santa Clara COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
Rocketship Mosaic Academy	Santa Clara COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
Rocketship Si Se Puede Academy	Santa Clara COE	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
Rocketship Spark Academy	Franklin-McKinley Elementary	30 hrs/yr	Handbook (Rocketship Discovery Prep)
University Preparatory Academy Charter	Santa Clara COE	15 hrs/yr; 30 hrs/yr (high schl)	“Community Service” and PTSO web page
Village School	Campbell Union Elementary School	3 hrs/wk; 3 field trips/yr	“Parent Involvement” Web page

Solano County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Alternative Cooperative Education Charter School	Vacaville Unified	8 hrs/mo	Charter Renewal Petition at 12
Buckingham Charter Magnet High School	Vacaville Unified	10 hrs/yr; $20/hr	FAQS “Parent Service Hours” web page; Charter at 23
Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy	Vacaville Unified	30 hrs/yr	Handbook at 4-5
Mare Island Technology Academyl	Vallejo City Unified	40/hrs first year, declines to 15/hrs for 6th year	Handbook at 16-17; Parent Agreement Form
Vallejo Charter School	Vallejo City Unified	20 hrs/yr	Family Invovlement Plan

Ventura County

Charter School	Authorizer	Number of hours	Source
Bridges Charter School	Ventura COE	4 hrs/wk (Kinder); 2.5 hrs/wk (1-8)	Handbook at 34
Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education	Ventura COE	1 hr/wk	SARC at 2
Ventura Charter School	Ventura School District	4 hrs/wk	Charter at 40; Technology Plan at 3