Principal Eva Neuer and State Superintendent of
Instruction Jack O'Connell at the California Charter
School Association conference.
César Chávez Charter School's charter is a contract authorized by the Santa Barbara Elementary School District. In October 2004 the charter was renewed for another five years. While the Santa Barbara Elementary District does provide oversight, the school's own Governance Council does the following:

- Oversees the implementation of the charter and approve necessary programmatic revisions
- Evaluates the school’s progress, successes and deficiencies
- Helps select and evaluate teachers and administrators
- Approves expenditures and oversees the fiscal wellbeing of the school
- Interfaces with the Santa Barbara School District and the community at large

The California legislature created the charter school concept as a method to accomplish the following:

~Improve pupil learning

~Increase learning opportunities for all pupils, with special emphasis on expanded learning experiences for pupils who are identified as academically low-achieving.

~Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods.

~Create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at school sites.

~Provide parents and pupils with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system.

~Implement education and curriculum that are effective by taking into account the needs and developmental stages of the children.

~Provide content that is comprehensible by presenting it as an integrated whole that demonstrates the many, complex relationships between different subject matter areas, and makes clear connections to the child’s personal life experience.

1102 E. Yanonali St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Phone: 805-966-7392 Fax: 805-966-7243