TIP Academy Palos Verdes

April 14, 2008 

Dear Supporters of TIP Academy PV,

The board of directors of TIP Academy PV has withdrawn the charter petition it previously submitted to the PVPUSD.  We are considering our options, including the possibility of rewriting the charter and resubmitting it at a later time.

One of the major changes in any new charter would be the elimination of any connection to TIP Education, Inc.  For a variety of reasons, the board of TIP Academy PV has determined that TIP Education, Inc. is not the best educational advisor for us to partner with in pursuing the establishment of a public charter school in Palos Verdes.  While the supporters of TIP Academy PV still feel strongly that our children would benefit from methods and curriculum similar to Dr. Sandra Kaplan’s, we feel that a school without a connection to TIP Education will be a much stronger alternative.

As parents, we are searching for an educational method/program to better meet our children’s diverse needs.  Several weeks ago, a PVPUSD school board member asked the question, “Why a charter?” Our focus and concern are and have always been on the methodologies and curricula, not on the delivery vehicle, i.e., charter versus magnet, etc.  We attempted to model our program on a successful school, and it just happened to be a charter.

We have had numerous discussions about the possibility of investigating a dependent charter within PVPUSD, and also about using an approach similar to Cornerstone, focused on the group of children whose needs are not being met – children who learn differently.

The Board of Directors of TIP Academy PV has withdrawn the charter petition in order to remove all sections related to TIP Education, and begin the entire process anew.  We still realize the need to advocate for the kids who learn differently and are not being allowed to reach their full potential.  We know that we can still design and implement something innovative and wonderful here in PV, but the interest and support of the district is necessary for such a program to occur within the PVPUSD, and to date, we have not found district decision makers understanding of or responsive to the needs of kids who learn differently, such as our own children and those of the hundreds of parents who have reached out to the charter initiative over the last three months.

Every child in this district deserves to benefit from a quality public education.  This problem will not go away on its own.  We are committed to positive change. We have renewed hopes that we can work together with the school district to make this happen, and avoid the need for a revised charter petition.  Our children’s education and happiness is of paramount importance to us, and we are committed to whatever process we must follow.

Very Sincerely,

TIP Academy PV

Board of Directors