1992
In June, the California legislature passes a law allowing for creation of charter schools. Local school districts authorize these new schools, which have more flexibility and more accountability. In July of the same year, Dr. Don Shalvey, Superintendent of San Carlos School District, creates the first charter school in the state.
1997
In September, President Bill Clinton spoke at San Carlos Charter Learning Center to announce federal support for charter schools, Shalvey meets Reed Hastings, a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur. They decide better legislation would improve public schools across the state. They form Californians for Public School Excellence, and collect hundreds of signatures for the Charter Schools Initiative.
1998
In May, California legislature passes AB544, which lifts the cap on the number of charter schools in the state. By June, Shalvey & Hastings decide to create an organization to open more charter schools. By September, Shalvey asks Mary Welch and Elise Darwish, two successful principals in San Carlos, to help build the organization (in their spare time). Welch becomes the principal of the first school and Darwish becomes the Chief Academic Officer. By December, the organization is officially incorporated.
1999
Led by then-Superintendent Del Alberti, Lodi Unified School District grants a charter to Aspire in January. The organization secures a facility in North Stockton - a grocery store in a strip mall. The following month, Welch begins recruiting founding families for the new school. By June, Gloria Lee is hired as Chief Operating Officer. By Fall, University Public School opens as Aspire’s first school. Due to high parent demand and an available facility, Aspire also opens University Charter School in Modesto. Both schools are fully enrolled with long wait lists. The following November, NewSchools Venture Fund provides a $500,000 grant to build the organization, the first of several investments made by this early supporter.
2000
In July, the organization is officially named Aspire Public Schools. The following September, Monarch Academy opens in East Oakland, fully enrolled with a long wait list. By October, Aspire is awarded a $3.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to open five new small secondary schools.
2001
In May, Aspire becomes the first not-for-profit in California to issue tax-exempt bonds to finance new school buildings. The following Fall, Aspire opens three schools: River Oaks Charter School in Stockton, Summit Charter Academy in Modesto, and East Palo Alto High School. All schools are fully enrolled with wait lists.
2002
In May, The Broad Foundation commits $4.68 million to help Aspire grow. University Public School is recognized as a "California Distinguished School" in its first year of eligibility. By the following Fall, Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy opens in East Oakland, fully enrolled with a wait list. With it, Aspire opens the first new high school building in Oakland in 40 years.
2003
In September, The Walton Family Foundation expands its support of Aspire with a grant of $1.75 million for five more schools. The following Fall, Aspire opens two more schools: The Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy in Stockton, and Capitol Heights Academy in Sacramento -- both fully enrolled with a wait list. East Palo Alto Charter School also becomes part of Aspire in the Fall. By December, Fast Company Magazine and The Monitor Group honor Aspire’s social innovation and entrepreneurship with their Social Capitalist Award.
2004
In March, Mike Barr is hired as Vice President of Finance, and soon after promoted to CFO. Aspire moves its head-quarters to downtown Oakland. University Charter School is recognized as a California Distinguished School in its first year of eligibility. By July, Linda Frost is hired as Aspire’s first Regional Vice President. The following Fall, Aspire signs an historic agreement with Sequoia Union High School District to build the first new high school facility in East Palo Alto in 20 years. Aspire also opens Millsmont Academy in Oakland, fully enrolled with a wait list. That December, Aspire wins the Social Capitalist Award by Fast Company Magazine and The Monitor Group for the second year in a row. Members of Aspire’s first graduating class receive acceptance letters to 4-year colleges.
2005
With the support of The Broad Foundation and The Stuart Foundation, Aspire expands to the Los Angeles area. In the Fall, Aspire opens Antonio Maria Lugo Academy in Huntington Park, CA. That same year, Aspire opens three other schools—California Preparatory Academy and Berkeley Maynard in Oakland, and Rosa Parks Academy in Stockton.
2006
Aspire continues its growth by adding a second school in Los Angeles named Centennial College Preparatory Academy and expanding the existing school enrollment. In the Bay Area, Aspire opens Phoenix Academy Charter School in East Palo Alto. In the Central Valley, Aspire opens Langston Hughes Academy. Aspire wins the Social Capitalist Award by Fast Company Magazine and The Monitor Group for the third time.
2007
In 2007, Aspire is awarded one of the first state benefit charters by the State Board of Education. By May, Aspire expands its management team to add 3 new members if an effort to build out its regional management structure. Aspire hires Roberta Benjamin to as Regional Vice President-Los Angeles, Alex Hernandez as Regional Vice President-Central Valley region, and Gloria Lee changes roles to become the Regional Vice President-Bay Area. James Willcox is hired to replace Gloria Lee as Chief Operating Officer. By Fall, Aspire opens three new schools: Millsmont Secondary in Oakland, Downtown Stockton Preparatory Academy in Stockton, and new elementary school to be named on Clarendon Avenue in Huntington Park.
2008
Despite opening no new schools in 2008, Aspire grows enrollment by 6% as existing schools add grades and students. Aspire receives funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation to build Godzilla - the first major technology integration project at Aspire. The project seeks to increase student achievement by providing real time, accurate and useful data to Aspire teachers and the Aspire team.
2009
Aspire's founder, Don Shalvey, leaves the organization to join the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. James Willcox takes over as CEO while Don Shalvey becomes the Chairman of Aspire's Board of Directors. Later in 2009, Aspire, in collaboration with 4 other CMOs in Los Angeles, successfully wins a 7 year grant of $60 million through the creation of "The College Ready Promise". The grant will focus on building systems, infrastructure and practices to support the professional development of teachers, improve their practice and effectiveness, and reward them for their work and committment to students. In the fall of 2009, Aspire opens 4 new schools, bringing the Aspire family of schools to 25. Titan Academy and Junior Collegiate Academy open in Los Angeles, Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy opens in Sacramento and ERES Academy opens in Oakland.
2010
Aspire passes the largest private bond issue by a charter school in order to fund the construction and purchase of 9 school campuses across California. Now in its 12th school year, Aspire opens 5 new schools. In Los Angeles, Aspire is one of four charter organizations chose by the district as part of the historic Public School Choice Program. In the Fall, Aspire opens Firestone Academy and Gateway Academy, the first two schools under this program to operate in a newly constructed, district-owned facility. Pacific College Preparatory Academy - Aspire's first secondary school in Los Angeles - also opens this year. In Sacramento, Alexander Twilight Secondary Academy opens: Aspire's first secondary school in the city. In the Central Valley, Downtown Stockton Preparatory Academy opens in Stockton as Aspire's sixth Statewide Benefit Charter School.