Proposed Charter School Focuses on Big Picture

A new charter high school may be coming to Redwood City that is focused on using unorthodox teaching methods to get in touch with students who have struggled in traditional learning environments.

A collection of local education advocates and experts are pushing to bring to the an extension of the Big Picture Learning model, that attempts to blend traditional teaching methods with more diverse techniques.

Big Picture Learning requires students to attend a traditional classroom environment three days of the five day school week, and students participate in an internship of their choice during the other two days.

The intention, according to former Burlingame School Board Member Lisa Rosenthal, is to engage students through real world learning practices that tie together the lessons learned in the classroom to experience in the workplace.

Rosenthal is collaborating with former, longtime Sequoia Union High School District Trustee Sally Stewart, as well as the district's former Superintendent Pat Gemma, and many others, to bring the charter school to the district.

The Big Picture Model is not for everyone, admits Rosenthal. In fact, she said it is best suited for children who struggle or have struggled or become disinterested with the more traditional fashions of learning.

"The notion is to give groups of people the chance to create new models and innovate, and provide education in a different way than a public school might," said Rosenthal

Stewart said the model gives students and their families a greater opportunity to take control of the way the student will learn best.

The group advocating for a local Big Picture Learning model said a proposal to join the high school district as a charter school will likely be submitted next year, said Rosenthal.

The district board of trustees must approve the school in order for it to be able to join the district. Upon approval, any district student interested in joining the charter school may do so.

A charter school is a public school, funded by the county or school district it joins. But though the charter schools are part of a public school district, the teachers and students are often granted more freedom to participate in unorthodox forms of education.

Rosenthal said her group hoping to launch the school in Redwood City, or possibly Menlo Park. She said ideally the campus would be near public transportation outlets, so students could have easy access to travel to their internships.

San Mateo County Superintendent of Education Anne Campbell said she believes the internships are the most important element of the Big Picture Learning model.

"Through internships, the students start to realize the real world application of school topics," said Campbell.

Campbell recently traveled with Rosenthal, Stewart and Sequoia Union High School District Superintendent James Lianides to visit a Big Picture Leaning school in Oakland.

"I came away very impressed because of the real world applications, and the students were very highly engaged in classes because they see a purpose for school," said Campbell.

At the end of every semester, students must give a presentation to their classmates, teacher, parents and representative from their internship detailing how the lessons learned in the classroom tie into success in the workplace.

"The two days of internship a week really seems to energize students in terms of their understanding why what they learn in school is important," said Campbell.

And though there is an emphasis in the Big Picture Learning model on real world experience, the program is designed to send students to college, said Stewart.

The program is designed to meet the academic requirements of the University of California, and 96 percent of the students who participate in the Big Picture Learning schools go on to college, said Stewart.

There are more than 70 Big Picture schools currently in operation across the nation.

Stewart said the school boasts a 94 percent completion rate by students.

"The school helps kids become adults, and the track record is good. I think it's a good model for kids, that will help them succeed in a different fashion from how other schools do," said Stewart.

But there are still roadblocks the school needs to overcome before it is established.

Rosenthal said the school needs to raise at least $100,000 in order to show that it is economically viable, before it starts applying for available grant funding. Parents and students also need to express interest in attending the school, before the group advocating for its inclusion in the school district submits its formal proposal.

Local businesses and companies that may be interested in accepting interns through the school also need to be collected, said Rosenthal.

As well, an administrative staff and teachers that may fit in to the school's alternative model of education must be located and hired.

And ultimately, once the school's charter proposal is submitted, the high school district's board of trustees must approve its addition.

But Campbell said, all things considered, she does not see a hurdle that the school cannot overcome.

"Knowing the individuals that are involved in this, I would expect them to get it up and going," said Campbell. "The commitment is there. They understand schools. And I would expect it to go well."