Finding the right school for your child isn’t a once-a-year decision—it’s an ongoing journey. Even after enrollment deadlines pass, many families continue to reflect on whether their child’s current school is truly the right fit.

For some, the answer is a confident yes, and that stability is something to value. But for others, questions linger. Is your child engaged? Supported? Excited to learn? If not, it may be time to step back and explore what other options exist.

The good news is that families have options within the public education system. Taking the time to learn about those options—including charter public schools—can help ensure your child is in an environment where they can thrive.

Charter schools are public schools. They offer greater flexibility and autonomy than traditional public schools, which allows them to design programs that respond more directly to the needs of their communities.

In Los Angeles County alone, there are nearly 360 charter public schools. Many are deeply rooted in their communities and provide wraparound services that are especially meaningful for immigrant and Latino families.

Yet many parents may incorrectly believe that charter schools charge tuition, or that families must live in a certain neighborhood to enroll. That is not true. Charter public schools are free, public, and open to all.

There is also encouraging news about funding. Under the Governor’s latest budget proposal, state funding per student would increase to a record $20,427 in 2026–27. This investment signals stability and commitment to public education at a time when families have more power than ever to choose the school that best fits their children.

So what should families look for when considering a charter public school?

A strong example is Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in the San Fernando Valley, one of the most storied public charter schools in the nation, having been established just one year after the Charter Schools Act was approved in 1992. Vaughn quickly became a lighthouse for innovative approaches for investing deeply in community and wrap around services, before the concept of community schooling became a trend, and received honors and visits from then First Lady Hillary Clinton. More than three decades later, Vaughn continues its mission to deliver excellence and strong supports for the community.

Vaughn serves primarily Latino families and has become a trusted option because it
offers more than academics. It provides:

• Social-emotional learning
• A positive, inclusive school culture
• Wraparound support for students and families
• Caring, dedicated staff who break down cultural and language barriers
• Career and college pathways
• A strong academic track record
• Deep family and community engagement

For Claudia Madrigal, whose son Daniel is in eighth grade, Vaughn was the right choice because her child is seen as more than a student.

“At Vaughn, my son is not just a student — he is a person,” Madrigal said. “They support him academically, emotionally, and socially. And they also support us as parents. When a school helps the whole family, the child feels stronger and more confident.”

Another parent, Lolita Hernandez, describes a similar feeling of partnership.

“What I love most about Vaughn is that they truly care,” Hernandez said. “They know our children, they listen to us as parents, and they give us tools to grow too. It feels like a partnership, not just a school.”

That culture is intentional. Griselda Ortiz, Vaughn’s Director of Community Schools, explains it clearly: “If we want our students to be successful, we must support the whole child—and that means supporting the family.”

At Vaughn, students have access to counselors, social workers, and safe spaces to talk about what they are experiencing. Ortiz emphasizes that children are shaped by everything around them: family stress, finances, trauma, and social pressures.

“If we don’t address the social and emotional side,” she said, “academics become much harder to reach.”

Vaughn also operates a Community and Family Center that offers GED and ESL classes, wellness and mental health workshops, citizenship guidance, and practical support shaped by what parents say they need.

“Our responsibility doesn’t stop with the student,” said Fidel Ramirez, CEO of Vaughn Next Century Learning Center. “It includes the entire family.”

Because Vaughn serves students from Pre-K through high school, many families stay for 15 years or more. Ramirez calls that an “investment of trust,” built through relationships, consistency, and care.

Families also choose Vaughn because of its high school pathways for teenagers, including medical, engineering, and arts programs, alongside strong college and career preparation. Students are encouraged to pursue four-year universities, community college, trade schools, or the workforce—based on their own goals and dreams.

In recent years, Vaughn’s graduation rate has reached about 99%, with growing numbers of students accepted to competitive universities such as Stanford, Yale, and Columbia.

Families who choose Vaughn are not just choosing a campus. They are choosing community. They are choosing partnership. They are choosing possibility.

This enrollment season, take the time to learn about all of your public school options. Visit campuses, ask questions, and talk with other families. Charter public schools are part of our public education system, and they exist to serve your children and your community.

You have the right to choose a school where your child feels seen, supported, and inspired to succeed. Exploring your local charter public schools could open the door to new opportunities, stronger partnerships, and a brighter future for your family. For more information, please visit my organization’s website at www.ccsa.org 

Myrna Castrejón has been the President and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association since January 2019. Innovate & Educate is an occasional column in which she explores statewide K-12 issues through a charter public school lens.