Preliminary Meeting Notes for April 7, 2026
Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) preliminary meeting minutes (notes) for April 7, 2026.Advisory Commission on Charter Schools
Preliminary Meeting Notes
An Advisory Body to the California State Board of Education
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, CA 95814
Commissioners
- Helio Brasil
- Andrew Crowe (participated remotely)
- Todd Finnell (absent)
- Erika Jones (absent)
- Derek King
- Ric Reyes1
- Matt Taylor
- Mike Walsh
California State Board of Education Liaisons
- Cynthia Glover Woods (attended remotely)
- Sharon Olken
Principal Staff
- Craig Heimbichner, Education Administrator, California Department of Education (CDE)
- Jonathan Yu, Supervisor I, California Department of Education (CDE)
Swearing-In of New Commissioner
- Mike Walsh
Agenda
Call to Order
Commissioner Walsh called the meeting to order at approximately 9:30 a.m.
Salute to Flag
Welcome and Introductions
Review and Adoption of Previous Meeting Notes/Minutes (Action)
Meeting Notes for February 3, 2026
Action: Commissioner Brasil moved approval of minutes.
Commissioner Taylor seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Commissioners Brasil, Crowe, King, Reyes, and Taylor
No votes: None
Absences: Commissioners Finnell and Jones
Abstentions: Commissioner Walsh
Recusals: None
The motion passed by a vote of five to zero. There was one abstention.
Public Comment
Agenda Items
Item 01
Subject: Consideration of Determination of Funding Requests as Required for Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code Sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, and Associated California Code of Regulations, Title 5.
CDE Recommendation: The CDE proposes to recommend that the SBE approve the determination of funding requests from 45 charter schools at their requested levels of funding and for the time periods as specified in Item 01 Attachment 1: Proposed Recommendations for Nonclassroom-Based Determination of Funding Requests (XLSX).
Action: Commissioner Taylor moved for a recommendation to the SBE of the CDE staff recommendation.
Commissioner Brasil seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Commissioners Brasil, Crowe, King, Reyes, Taylor, and Walsh
No votes: None
Absences: Commissioners Finnell and Jones
Abstentions: None
Recusals: None
The motion passed unanimously.
Item 02
Subject: Consideration of a Determination of Funding Request as Required for Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code Sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, and Associated California Code of Regulations, Title 5.
CDE Recommendation: The CDE proposes to recommend that the SBE approve the determination of funding request from Come Back Butte Charter at 100 percent funding for four years as specified in Item 02 Attachment 1: Proposed Recommendation for a Nonclassroom-Based Determination of Funding Request (XLSX).
Action: Commissioner King moved for a recommendation to the SBE of the CDE staff recommendation.
Commissioner Brasil seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Commissioners Brasil, Crowe, King, Reyes, and Taylor
No votes: None
Absences: Commissioners Finnell and Jones
Abstentions: None
Recusals: Commissioner Walsh
The motion passed unanimously.
Item 03
Subject: Consideration of Determination of Funding Requests with “Reasonable Basis”/Mitigating Circumstances as Required for Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code Sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, and Associated California Code of Regulations, Title 5.
CDE Recommendation: The CDE proposes to recommend that the SBE take the following actions:
- Approve the determination of funding requests for 10 charter schools for 100 percent funding, which is a funding level higher than what they qualify to receive pursuant to regulatory criteria, for two years.
- Approve the determination of funding requests for two charter schools at the funding levels for which they qualify to receive pursuant to regulatory criteria, for two years.
These actions are further detailed in Item 03 Attachment 1: Proposed Recommendations for Nonclassroom-Based Determination of Funding Requests with Mitigating Circumstances (XLSX).
Action: Commissioner King moved for a recommendation to the SBE of the CDE staff recommendation.
Commissioner Brasil seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Commissioners Brasil, Crowe, King, Reyes, Taylor, and Walsh
No votes: None
Absences: Commissioners Finnell and Jones
Abstentions: None
Recusals: None
The motion passed unanimously.
Item 04
Subject: Consideration of Determination of Funding Requests with “Reasonable Basis”/Mitigating Circumstances as Required for Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code Sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, and Associated California Code of Regulations, Title 5.
CDE Recommendation: The CDE proposes to recommend that the SBE approve the determination of funding requests from two charter schools for 100 percent funding, which is a funding level higher than what they qualify to receive pursuant to regulatory criteria, for two years as further detailed in Item 04 Attachment 1: Proposed Recommendations for Nonclassroom-Based Determination of Funding Requests with Mitigating Circumstances (XLSX).
Action: Commissioner King moved for a recommendation to the SBE of the CDE staff recommendation.
Commissioner Brasil seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Commissioners Brasil, Crowe, King, Reyes, and Walsh
No votes: None
Absences: Commissioners Finnell and Jones
Abstentions: None
Recusals: Commissioner Taylor
The motion passed unanimously.
Item 05
Subject: Petition for the Renewal of a Charter School Authorized by the California State Board of Education: Consideration of Vista Springs Charter.
CDE Recommendation: The CDE proposes to recommend that the SBE approve the renewal petition of Vista Springs Charter, with the technical amendment proposed by the CDE, for a term of two years beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2028, and adopt the proposed findings in support of renewal found in Item 05 Attachment 6: Proposed Findings in Support of the Renewal of Vista Springs Charter School (DOCX).
Action: Commissioner King moved for a recommendation to the SBE of the CDE staff recommendation.
Commissioner Taylor seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Commissioners Brasil, Crowe, King, Reyes, Taylor, and Walsh
No votes: None
Absences: Commissioners Finnell and Jones
Abstentions: None
Recusals: None
The motion passed unanimously.
Adjournment of Meeting
Commissioner Walsh adjourned the meeting at approximately 11:05 a.m.
1 Represents the State Superintendent of Public Instruction
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