Aspire Works

• Aspire is growing. We’ve opened three new schools this year, expanding our network to a total of 10 schools. When coupled with the growth of our existing school populations, that’s a 43 percent growth in one year. We’ve come a long way since we opened our first school in a converted grocery store in Stockton (University Public School) in the fall of 1999.

• We have expanded regionally. This fall, we opened our first school in Sacramento. The yet-to-be named elementary school is located in the Oak Park neighborhood of the state capitol. Our two other new schools represent expansions in our existing geographic clusters. East Palo Charter School, a formerly independent K-8 charter elementary school founded in 1997, joins our network this year under a management contract with Aspire's Stockton secondary school.

• Our elementary schools continue to make great strides. Monarch Academy, University Charter School and University Public School continue to produce high student achievement. Monarch’s most recent state test scores will most likely put it in the top one percent of growth in the state for the second year. University Charter School’s scores are now the second highest in all of Stanislaus County – second only to a school for gifted students. University Public School produced high student achievement, and over 98 percent of the parents grade the school an A or B.

• The staff, students and community of University Charter School showed tremendous courage and resilience in responding to an arson fire that destroyed part of the school building on June 25. The fire destroyed three classrooms, a new library, an extended day care room and the office, but the school community quickly rallied to provide alternate facilities, and the school reopened in time for the fall semester. The school also received equipment, computer and office supply donations from some major corporations including Gallo Wines and Lawrence Livermore Laboratories. These have allowed us to provide a quality classroom environment as we rebuild.

• In the fiscal year ending June 2003, we raised $4.5 million in philanthropy from 19 foundations and many individual donors, supporting our existing ten schools and the Aspire home office, and our regional expansion. Aspire was also awarded three major multi-year commitments from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ($5.7 million), The Stuart Foundation ($900,000) and The Walton Family Foundation ($350,000 per school), supporting the development of new schools in our existing regions and Los Angeles.

• Aspire’s role at the leading edge of the charter school movement has garnered substantial press attention. We’ve been covered by Newsweek magazine, The Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and Education Week, in addition to many articles in local newspapers and television stations in the communities we serve. In The Washington Times, Thomas Vander Ark, executive director of education for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, described Aspire as a “pocket of excellence” pointing the way forward for education innovation. Aspire was also featured in a variety of education trade publications such as Education Beat and Education Week. Across the board, reporters view Aspire as a “leader, and a model for the future in education.”

• Aspire was awarded $37 million of a total $97 million allocated for charter school construction under Proposition 47, the state measure that enables charter school developers to access state funds directly. The award will enable us to build new schools in Oakland and Stockton.

The years ahead will hold equal promise, challenge and opportunity for the families we serve. The key questions we asked ourselves in 1998 still hold the same affirmative answer. First,” Should all parents have a right to choose their children’s public school?” Second, “Will public school choice lead to increased achievement?” Our resounding “YES” compelled us to found and grow Aspire Public Schools. YOUR FAITH and SUPPORT gave us the opportunity to turn our dream into a reality for 3,000 plus families with many more on our waiting lists.

“I want to be a palentologist….. “a teacher”…. “a firefighter”…. “a mathematician.” These are some of the answers that our seven- year- old students gave when asked, “What do you aspire to be?” But the one I liked the best was a second grader who said, “Dr. Shalvey, I aspire to change the future…and nothing less!” That’s why we recommit to our goals each day, and why we collectively thank and honor your belief in Aspire. Because of you, we remain true to our vision of opening and operating small, high-quality schools that prepare kids for college and life.

With thanks and best wishes,

Don Shalvey
Chief Executive Officer

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