February 2026 ACCS - Item 3 Public Comment 5

• Commenter’s first and last name: Lisa O'Shea, OGCS Learning Center Director
• Organization affiliation Olive Grove Charter School
• General public comment or agenda item number Item #3

Dear Advisory Commission on Charter Schools,

As Director of Olive Grove Charter School in Santa Barbara, I thank you for taking the time to read the comments below from our learning community and to understand the importance of Olive Grove Charter in meeting the needs of families in Santa Barbara who are not able to attend traditional school due to health issues, extracurricular travels, treatment placement, and family obligations. Olive Grove provides a welcoming, accepting, and academically supportive education for our students.

Here are quotes from our school survey of parents/guardians and students;

Students (Returning to Olive Grove)

• “Olive Grove Charter allows me to manage my time easier. I get to decide when I complete assignments and I’m also able to create and manage my own routine for the day.”
• “The staff are also really nice and they make in-person meetings lovely.”
• “Olive Grove is flexible with how I like to learn.”
• “I feel I can acquire a more personal connection with my advisor and teachers as all interactions are one-on-one.”

Parents/Guardians (Returning to Olive Grove)

• “My daughter had been experiencing bullying at her previous school, and it began to take a serious toll on her emotional well-being and my ability to focus at work. We felt constantly on edge. Olive Grove became a space for healing.”
• “We decided to re-enroll because the flexibility of the program works with his learning as well as him establishing strong connections to his classmates and teachers.”
• “The school culture and respect teachers give parents is incomparable.”
• “My son is an 11^th grader at Olive Grove and is absolutely thriving. The flexibility of the program empowers him to develop his independence, excel academically, pursue his sports passion and work at a part time job. The curriculum is engaging and the staff is remarkably dedicated and supportive. Renewing Olive Grove's charter is vitally important for my son and countless other students.”

Students (New to Olive Grove)

• “My Jr High school that I was supposed to go to was very chaotic and I just knew I wasn’t going to feel safe there.”
• “I switched so I could graduate early and have a flexible schedule.”
• “It works really well with our current family situation. I currently spend time between my mother’s and my grandmother’s, as my mom is undergoing cancer treatment.”
• “I am excited that I can develop my own schedule that works best for me as a student, as I work best in the afternoon. I also like how the program feels very personalized to me as I can work at my own pace as some subjects I require more time with.”

Parents/Guardians (New to Olive Grove)

• “My daughter was getting threatened by students at her home school, and we refused to send her back. Olive Grove was recommended by her pediatrician.”
• “When he was in school he was very distracted by peers in his class and had a hard time learning and staying on task. I have had family members attend Olive Grove and heard great things about it so we decided to try it this year. We hope for a great outcome.”
• “We look forward to seeing her independence and her taking ownership of her academic development.”
• “I know this will help her self-esteem as she prepares for adulthood.”

Graduates/Alumni

• “Attending Olive Grove has helped me become more independent and ready for college.”
• “If I hadn’t attended Olive Grove I don’t think I would be as committed as I am now to further my education by going to college.”
• Olive Grove has impacted my personal growth by teaching and assisting me to be more productive and independent.”

Looking forward to seeing you in Sacramento Tuesday, Feb. 3!

With appreciation,

Lisa