Yosemite Valley Charter School

Admissions Overview

Our school is a tuition-free public, independent study charter school.
As a public school, we welcome students of all ability levels and demographics.
We are committed to providing students with a quality, personalized, standards-based education to meet their college and career goals.

Learn More About Our School

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More About our Academic Program

A special offering of our school is an individualized education. Personalized goals incorporate the dreams and passions of each student.
Parents/guardians collaborate with the teacher to make high-quality, standards-aligned curriculum choices, forming a plan for daily learning. Parents/guardians guide and assist students in following this plan each school day.
Parents/guardians, students, and teachers utilize educational planning funds based on each student’s individual learning goals.
We offer virtual live instruction and daily engagement opportunities which vary by grade level. We also provide options for online coursework, offline textbook work, and unique hands-on and experiential learning experiences.
Assessments are required because they help guide the educational journey to make students' dreams come true.
Families meet regularly with their teacher to review work completion, progress, and to review assessment results.
Our students follow a path towards their individualized dreams.
Our parents play an integral role in the daily learning process.
Our credentialed teachers provide expertise in curriculum, lesson planning, and analysis of assessments, contributing feedback, support, and encouragement to students and parents alike. Teachers assist in setting goals and schedule regular check-ins about progress.
Our school is a place to learn, grow, and build community and connections outside of a traditional classroom setting.

Admissions Process at a Glance

Step 1:
Apply

Open Enrollment was from March 1st to March 25th, however, we will continue to offer enrollment to qualifying families on the waitlist daily.
Click here for the Open Enrollment Form.
You will receive an automatic confirmation email with a copy of your enrollment form answers. If you cannot find the email in your inbox, please check your spam or junk folders.
If you have any questions or need support, you can reach out to our Enrollment Team at (909) 830-1200 Option 6.

Start Enrollment

Step 2:
Enrollment Offer

If the number of applications we receive during the Open Enrollment Period exceeds the number of spaces available, we will hold a lottery. In-person attendance is not required to participate in the lottery.

If space is available, the Enrollment Team will email you an official enrollment offer. Please look for detailed instructions from your Enrollment Specialist after 8 p.m. on April 4th.
Families will have 3 days to accept or decline the official enrollment offer. The option of placing the application on the waitlist will be available for families who are not ready to move forward at that time. Families who do not respond to the offer will be automatically placed on the waiting list for consideration at a later date.

Step 3:
Registration

A registration schedule will be sent to families upon confirmation.
The Enrollment Team will email you a link to Reg-Online, the online registration portal where families will upload the required enrollment documents and digitally sign the required enrollment forms.
Families will have a 5 day registration period. Incomplete applications will be added to the waitlist for consideration at a later date.
The following documents will be required to complete the enrollment registration.
- Age verification document. This can be a birth certificate, passport, or government issued identification.
- Immunization Record, for record keeping purposes. Vaccinations are NOT a requirement for enrollment in a non-classroom based charter. All students must provide a copy of immunization records or fill out the immunization card as it applies.
- Proof of Residence. This can be a utility service statement, homeowner or renter insurance bill, paystub, or correspondence from a government agency (Examples: CalWORKS, Social Security, and Medi-Cal). Proof of Residence must be dated within 90 days of the submission date.
- Oral Health Assessment for grades TK-1st
- Report of Health Examination or Waiver for grades TK-1st
- Transcript for grades 10th-12th

Student Grade Level Placement Chart

Waitlist

New enrollment applications submitted after 8 p.m. on March 25, 2022 will be placed on the 2022-2023 waitlist.

Enrollment FAQ

When will an teacher contact us?

Your assigned teacher will be off for summer break and will return in August to greet and assist you with ordering needs.

Where can I find information regarding the funding?

Funding amounts can be found here.

Why can’t I enroll my young child/ Do you have a preschool?

Unfortunately, both schools do not currently have a preschool program. The youngest grade level we offer is Transitional Kindergarten. Students must turn 5 by February 2nd of the school year you wish to enroll.

I missed the deadline for open enrollment. Can I still sign up?

Yes! Interested families can submit a waitlist form for their students. Once students who submitted an open enrollment form are offered spots, we will begin to offer waitlisted families spots on a first come, first served basis.

Are vaccinations required?

Being vaccinated or fully vaccinated is not a requirement to enroll into an independent study school. However, because we are a public school, we are still required to collect vaccination records for those who do have a record.

How are teachers assigned? Can we choose our teacher? What if I do not like the teacher I am assigned to?

Teachers are assigned based on the location of the enrolling students. We try to place families with the closest available teacher. Families are free to request a specific teacher as well. Families can also request a teacher with specifications ( bilingual, has worked with students with disabilities, has knowledge of a learning/ teaching style). Although we try our best to accommodate a family’s request, it is not always possible. If you have already been assigned an HST and are not happy with your assignment, you may contact a Regional Coordinator (RC) to request a change.

How does the funding work? What costs are the funds allowed to cover?

The funds families receive are public funds. These funds can be used to cover the costs of curriculum, approved vendor classes and school related items. Technology costs for the student(s) can be covered as well.

Who can I speak to regarding my SPED student/ getting an IEP/ how SPED services are provided?

SPED services are provided virtually. To better understand this delivery of services method, please contact Yolanda Vasquez, our SPED Assistant Director should you have any questions.

Who can I speak to regarding my student’s 504 plan/ how are services provided?

Your assigned teacher will help you with your student's 504 accommodation plan. They will also assist you with establishing a plan if one is needed.

How can I find out what information I am missing on the enrollment application?

The fastest way to find out what information is missing is to go onto the application portal. Our Enrollment Specialists will also be emailing families with a list of missing items. Families may also call the enrollment department to speak with an Enrollment Specialist regarding their application.

I submitted an Open Enrollment form for both Monarch River Academy and for Yosemite Valley Charter School. How do the schools differ? Which school is best?

Both schools are independent study public charter schools. Three main differences are: the counties each school covers, the approved vendors for the schools and the teachers that work for the schools.

Who can I speak to regarding my questions about curriculum?

Your teacher will help you with this. There will be time at the start of school to order a specialized curriculum or you may choose to work with the curriculum our school provides. We also have a lending library where curriculum can be found and you will learn more about this from your teacher.

Can I enroll my student into a higher grade level?

Grade level is determined 2 ways. The state enrollment record is verified and the student enrolled in the next level or we will refer to our Grade Level Placement Chart according to birthdate. We can not advance or retain a student upon enrollment.

Am I able to retain (hold back) my student when enrolling into the school?

Students can only be retained if their prior school has recommended it. If you feel that your student will not be able to handle the upcoming school year, you can always bring up your concerns to your teacher.

Who can we contact regarding new legislation that affects independent study charter schools?

If you have any questions regarding new legislation and how it will affect your student(s), please contact either Dr. Laurie Goodman or Steph Johnson.

Do we need to provide our own laptop/tablet, or will the school provide them?

The school can provide a laptop or tablet device for your student. Orders for technology can be placed once you have access to your EOS (Enrichment Ordering System) account.

Can my student(s) attend this school and another public or private school?

Students are not allowed to be dual enrolled into two schools; whether it is another public school or a private school. High school students, however, may sign up to take classes at their local community college. Families may discuss this path with their teacher or the counselor.

How will my high school student schedule be set up? What support will my student receive in order to pick their classes?

Your teacher will use the Transcript provided during registration to work with you to determine a high school graduation plan for your student.

We currently do not have internet access at home. Can my students still attend?

Yes! Families can be provided with internet access once enrolled. If you are a family with limited internet access, please give us a call so that we may assist you during the enrollment process.