Frequently Asked Questions
2025/26 School Year
We are happy to announce that we are opening a New Public Waldorf Charter TK - 8th school in Petaluma and moving to a new location next year as we are now a dependent charter of Petaluma City Schools (PCS). For details and latest updates, please visit: New Charter, New Chapter.
Four changes for next year:
Four changes for next year:
- What is a dependent charter? We are a public "school of choice" and an integral part of PCS's portfolio of schools, receiving funding, additional support services and governance by the district's board, rather than our parent board. Live Oak worked closely with both PCS and the Valley Vista community, to outline mutually beneficial agreements (MOU & New Charter) that ensure our Waldorf practice & other priorities will be honored and nurtured going forward. Learn more New Charter, New Chapter.
- Where is the new campus? As part of Petaluma City Schools, our new dependent charter school will be located on the beautiful and beloved Valley Vista Elementary campus at 730 Webster Ave Petaluma, CA. Because the campus is bigger than where we reside on the Petaluma Fairgrounds, we will have the opportunity to serve more children, shifting from one class per grade (1st - 8th) to two classes per grade (except for next year's graduating 8th grade.)
- What school calendar do we follow? We will follow PCS and our minimum day will move to Wednesday.
- How can I apply? New families should apply through the Petaluma City Schools website. The program they use for application is SchoolMint. Please select "New Public Waldorf Charter School" (the temporary name of the new school.) Current families of Live Oak Charter and Valley Vista do not need to re-register for the new school. However, siblings attending their first year need to apply and will have priority. See Enrollment for instructions.
2024/25 School Year
What is an 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 is also the Principal. Charter schools were developed to encourage educators to try different approaches in the public sector. We operate as a non-profit and our Waldorf informed 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 integrate the Common Core State Standards with the core principles of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, merging the latest understanding of human development (including neurological understanding) with a slower paced course of teaching that mirrors human developmental stages. Internationally, this is a much more common model than we have in the United States. More information can be found on the Curriculum and What is Waldorf pages.
What student services do you offer?
There are a range of options available for supporting students with needs. These approaches include Student Success Team (SST) meetings, 504 plans, and Individual Education Plans (IEPS). For each of these a team of professionals and parents of students meet to determine what support a child may need, then plan and the closely track results over time. For Special Education services, Live Oak Charter partners with Petaluma City Schools. All service providers are PCS employees who work on Live Oak's campus.
What School Calendar do you follow?
Live Oak follows a Traditional School Academic Calendar. We understand that families may have children at different schools so we strive to follow the Petaluma City School's calendar as best we can. Generally speaking, Live Oak begins school in mid August and ends around the first week of June. Please note, Live Oak has a minimum day for all students on Thursday (school ends 12:45) . See our school calendar.
Do you have Aftercare?
Yes. You can find more information here.
What is your Immunization policy?
Live Oak Charter follows California state law which requires all children to receive a course of immunizations to attend public school in California. Immunization records must be submitted for all students during registration. If immunization records are not current, updated, and submitted to the school site by the first day of school, students will not be allowed to attend school. Personal Belief Exemptions are no longer accepted per SB277. See full Enrollment Guidelines for Live Oak, but in brief:
What is a looping teacher model?
Looping is when a teacher spends multiple years with the same class of students, advancing with them through successive grades. 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:
How is technology used in the classroom?
We offer a tech-less campus, with technology being introduced slowly, as the children move through the grades, giving them an opportunity to build foundational, real-life, hands-on skills. What does that look like for Live Oak? Technology is not used in the classroom from TK-Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Starting in 3rd grade, students use computers for two weeks in the spring for mandatory California State testing (CAASPP). In 4th and 5th grade, students use computers for CAASPP testing and teachers will use overhead projectors, along with the illustrated chalkboards. In Middle School (6th - 8th) students are introduced to Google Classroom, and use computers for research, writing papers, and designing presentations. By the time they graduate, the students have a full range of skills making them ready for High School and beyond.
What is the personal electronic device policy?
We recognize that many students carry cell phones, smart watches or other electronic devices and need access to them before and after school to communicate with family members or caregivers. In order to provide the best possible learning environment, students will keep all devices powered off and in their backpack throughout the school day. Approved medical needs will be an exception.
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 is also the Principal. Charter schools were developed to encourage educators to try different approaches in the public sector. We operate as a non-profit and our Waldorf informed 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 integrate the Common Core State Standards with the core principles of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, merging the latest understanding of human development (including neurological understanding) with a slower paced course of teaching that mirrors human developmental stages. Internationally, this is a much more common model than we have in the United States. More information can be found on the Curriculum and What is Waldorf pages.
What student services do you offer?
There are a range of options available for supporting students with needs. These approaches include Student Success Team (SST) meetings, 504 plans, and Individual Education Plans (IEPS). For each of these a team of professionals and parents of students meet to determine what support a child may need, then plan and the closely track results over time. For Special Education services, Live Oak Charter partners with Petaluma City Schools. All service providers are PCS employees who work on Live Oak's campus.
What School Calendar do you follow?
Live Oak follows a Traditional School Academic Calendar. We understand that families may have children at different schools so we strive to follow the Petaluma City School's calendar as best we can. Generally speaking, Live Oak begins school in mid August and ends around the first week of June. Please note, Live Oak has a minimum day for all students on Thursday (school ends 12:45) . See our school calendar.
Do you have Aftercare?
Yes. You can find more information here.
What is your Immunization policy?
Live Oak Charter follows California state law which requires all children to receive a course of immunizations to attend public school in California. Immunization records must be submitted for all students during registration. If immunization records are not current, updated, and submitted to the school site by the first day of school, students will not be allowed to attend school. Personal Belief Exemptions are no longer accepted per SB277. See full Enrollment Guidelines for Live Oak, but in brief:
- Students entering TK-Kindergarten must be fully immunized according to State requirements (HERE)
- Students entering 7th grade must have proof of DTAP (1), ChickenPox (2), Polio (3), MMR (2)
What is a looping teacher model?
Looping is when a teacher spends multiple years with the same class of students, advancing with them through successive grades. 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:
- 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
- Curious to learn more? From the New York Times: What Most American Schools Do Wrong (Oct 2023). Also, another article in US NEWS: The Benefits of Teacher Looping (Feb 2023)
How is technology used in the classroom?
We offer a tech-less campus, with technology being introduced slowly, as the children move through the grades, giving them an opportunity to build foundational, real-life, hands-on skills. What does that look like for Live Oak? Technology is not used in the classroom from TK-Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Starting in 3rd grade, students use computers for two weeks in the spring for mandatory California State testing (CAASPP). In 4th and 5th grade, students use computers for CAASPP testing and teachers will use overhead projectors, along with the illustrated chalkboards. In Middle School (6th - 8th) students are introduced to Google Classroom, and use computers for research, writing papers, and designing presentations. By the time they graduate, the students have a full range of skills making them ready for High School and beyond.
- Curious to learn more about the effects of tech on human development, check out social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt's book The Anxious Generation (2023) or listen to this interview with him HERE (57 min).
- The "Tech Wise Parent Posse" is a group of Live Oak parents exploring how to thoughtfully engage with technology and media within their families, without judgment.... but they do serve tea & snacks. Once a month. See Community.
What is the personal electronic device policy?
We recognize that many students carry cell phones, smart watches or other electronic devices and need access to them before and after school to communicate with family members or caregivers. In order to provide the best possible learning environment, students will keep all devices powered off and in their backpack throughout the school day. Approved medical needs will be an exception.
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How does Live Oak perform on CA State Testing - CAASPP?
Live Oak Charter students from 3rd - 8th grade participate in annual state testing every spring. (More info on CAASPP testing.) Here is our latest report for the 2023/24 school year:
How does Live Oak Charter compare to the Petaluma Education Community and to California?
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How can I apply for the current 2024-25 school year?
Visit Enrollment.
For further questions contact Enrollment Coordinator
Visit Enrollment.
For further questions contact Enrollment Coordinator