The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District has announced that Bernardo Yorba Middle School in Yorba Linda will be converted into a charter school starting with the 2024-25 school year.
The Orange County School of Computer Science, or OCSCS, was unanimously approved by the PYLUSD Board of Education on Dec. 12 to become the first charter school within the district’s boundaries.
Charter schools are publicly funded but independently run schools with specific goals and operating procedures. Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified officials say OCSCS, which will serve grades seven and eight, was created to enhance student learning and achievement, equipping learners with the necessary skills and attributes to become active and competitive leaders.
“The establishment of the OCSCS will be a game changer for public education nationwide, and PYLUSD is at the forefront of this cosmic shift of what and how we teach students,” Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss said in a news release.
The school plans to introduce its own curriculum designed by OCSCS teachers, integrating computer science elements across various subjects. It will also partner with Code to the Future, a computer science educational platform, to provide a comprehensive curriculum, along with training and coaching for teachers.
In addition to core content classes like English and math, students will participate in a school-wide graphic arts elective featuring computer science principles and design thinking. Other electives will include instrumental music, student leadership and Spanish literature for Dual Language Academy students. Flexible time called “targeted engagement cycles” has been built into the school schedule to allow students to explore, design and get additional support.
“Students will be given a computer to use as a part of their schooling but they will not be behind screens the entire day,” the district said. “They will continue to have access to hard copies of texts and engaging, in-person instruction from highly qualified, credentialed district teachers.”
Dr. Beth Fisher is the principal of Bernardo Yorba Middle School Principal and the lead petitioner for OCSCS. Additional information on the school is available at www.pylusd.org/ocscs.