Frequently Asked Questions
What is in independent charter?
We are a public school of choice that is chartered under Petaluma City Schools. As an independent charter we have our own Board of Directors made up of parent volunteers who are responsible for school policies and fiscal oversight. Our school office also functions as a district office, and our Executive Director Justin is also the Principal- we wear many hats here! Charter schools were developed to encourage educators to try different approaches in the public sector. We operate as a non-profit, our Waldorf inspired mission is renewed every 5 years.
Who is eligible to attend?
Anyone residing in the state of California! There are preferences given depending on your address per the California Education Code Section 47605(d)(2)(B). You can find more information on our How to Apply page.
Do you charge tuition?
No, charter schools receive funding from the state of California. This does not completely cover the level of education we offer, so it's supplemented by the Live Oak Charter School Foundation's fundraising efforts. You can learn more about that here.
What kind of curriculum do you offer?
We follow the core principles of Public Waldorf Education, merging the latest understanding of human development (including neurological understanding) with the slower paced course of teaching to match developmental stages. Internationally, this is a much more common model than here in the states. More information can be found on our Curriculum and What is Waldorf pages.
Do you have Aftercare?
Yes! You can find more information here.
What is a looping model?
Looping is when a teacher advances with the students to a higher grade. At Live Oak, our model is TK/K, 1st-3rd, 4th/5th, 6th-8th (though there is a lot of crossover between teachers in the Middle School, the main teacher is the same.)
The benefits of looping include:
-an improved relationship between teachers and students
-more efficient instruction as the time for getting acquainted is eliminated after the first year
-reduced apprehension about the new school year
-comfort with speaking to adults; we hear from high school teachers that they can always recognize a Waldorf student because they have no qualms about engaging with them!
-strong teacher/parent relationships
How can I apply?
Visit our Enrollment page. If you have additional questions please contact our Enrollment Coordinator, Casey Wilson, at enrollment@liveoakcharter.org.
We are a public school of choice that is chartered under Petaluma City Schools. As an independent charter we have our own Board of Directors made up of parent volunteers who are responsible for school policies and fiscal oversight. Our school office also functions as a district office, and our Executive Director Justin is also the Principal- we wear many hats here! Charter schools were developed to encourage educators to try different approaches in the public sector. We operate as a non-profit, our Waldorf inspired mission is renewed every 5 years.
Who is eligible to attend?
Anyone residing in the state of California! There are preferences given depending on your address per the California Education Code Section 47605(d)(2)(B). You can find more information on our How to Apply page.
Do you charge tuition?
No, charter schools receive funding from the state of California. This does not completely cover the level of education we offer, so it's supplemented by the Live Oak Charter School Foundation's fundraising efforts. You can learn more about that here.
What kind of curriculum do you offer?
We follow the core principles of Public Waldorf Education, merging the latest understanding of human development (including neurological understanding) with the slower paced course of teaching to match developmental stages. Internationally, this is a much more common model than here in the states. More information can be found on our Curriculum and What is Waldorf pages.
Do you have Aftercare?
Yes! You can find more information here.
What is a looping model?
Looping is when a teacher advances with the students to a higher grade. At Live Oak, our model is TK/K, 1st-3rd, 4th/5th, 6th-8th (though there is a lot of crossover between teachers in the Middle School, the main teacher is the same.)
The benefits of looping include:
-an improved relationship between teachers and students
-more efficient instruction as the time for getting acquainted is eliminated after the first year
-reduced apprehension about the new school year
-comfort with speaking to adults; we hear from high school teachers that they can always recognize a Waldorf student because they have no qualms about engaging with them!
-strong teacher/parent relationships
How can I apply?
Visit our Enrollment page. If you have additional questions please contact our Enrollment Coordinator, Casey Wilson, at enrollment@liveoakcharter.org.