Do you offer a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program?

Students must turn 5 between September 2-December 2. Kindergarten age-eligible students are allowed to choose TK if their 5th birthday is between June 1st-September 1st; however, they must sign the Kindergarten Continuance Form verifying that the parent/guardian agrees to have his/her child continue in kindergarten for one additional year. Students may not be promoted directly from TK to 1st grade. For students with their 5th birthday after December 2nd, they must enter TK on or after their 5th birthday. If a student turns 5 after September 1st, entering kindergarten is not an option, they must enroll in TK. To enroll in Kindergarten, students must turn 5 on or before September 1st.

What documents are required?

Excel is free to those who reside within our servicing counties. What documents are required to enroll? - Proof of Residency - Birth Certificate - Immunization Records - Transcripts (High School only) - Oral Health Report Form or waiver (TK, K and 1st Grade only) - Health Exam Form/Waiver (TK, K and 1st Grade only) Translated documents are available upon request.

When can my child start Kindergarten?

Student must turn 5 years old on or before September 1st.

Will I be able to choose what grade level my child will be enrolled in?

Student enrollment is based on your child's date of birth, per the California Department of Education. Unless your child has repeated a grade previously, or has official school district documentation stating why he/she should be retained or advanced, they must be placed in the grade level that their birth date reflects. We cannot adjust a child's grade level based solely on parent request.

I am currently homeless, can I still enroll my kids in Excel, and if so, what do I submit for the Proof of Residency?

Yes, You can definitely still enroll! Please email admissions@excelacademy.education and ask for a copy of the McKinney-Vento form. All you need to do is fill that form out and send it back to us. We will accept it as your Proof of Residency.

can you guarantee enrollment?

No. Enrollment is based on a first come, first served basis, depending on the date a completed application is received and approved AND the space and availability we have of a ToR in your geographic area. A student is officially enrolled when the parent AND student have signed a Master Agreement with a ToR.

My student has an IEP, do you service Special Education students?

Yes. We have a Special Education program, and we provide a variety of services based on a student'sIEP. Students with IEPs cannot participate in independent study unless it is deemed an appropriate instructional placement. The CDE provides explicit rules regarding the admission of students with IEPs into independent study: A. Special education students may not participate in independent study unless it is specified as an instructional method in their individualized education program (IEP). EC Section 51745(c) For more information, please see our Special Education page.

Must I include an original copy of my child's birth certificate?

No, a copy of the original will be sufficient.

Where can I get a copy of my childs immunization records?

You can obtain a copy of immunization records from your child's physician. In most cases, they can email you a copy.

Where do I get the Report of Health Exam filled out?

You may take the form to your child's physician or clinic. The physician will complete and sign the form for you. If you cannot make it to the doctor or choose to waive the exam, you may fill out the waiver portion of this form.

What do I need for proof of residency?

You must provide a current utility bill such as gas, electric or cable. Other acceptable forms of residency include a property tax bill or rental/lease agreement. All items must be dated withing 6 months of the current date.

I live with someone and none of the bills are in my name. How do I show Proof of Residency?

Email our Admissions Lead (admissions@excelacademy.education) for the Shared Residency Affidavit. You can fill out this simple form and turn it in with a copy of the proof of residency from the residence you are residing at.

I registered online, now what?

Your application will be reviewed and verified by our Admissions Department. If there is anything missing or incomplete, you will receive an email explaining specifically what is needed. Once the application is verified and approved, you will receive a Welcome Letter which will contain further information, including dates and times for you to attend a mandatory New Family Orientation Meeting. Your student will not be assigned to a teacher until after you've attended one of these New Family Orientation Meetings. Submitting the application does not constitute automatic enrollment.

Special Education

At Excel Academy Charter School, we are committed to serving all students, including those with special needs. We are supported by the Sonoma County Charter SELPA and employ an internal staff of highly qualified teachers and specialists to serve students across Southern California. Special education and related services are available to students who are determined eligible through a formal assessment process. As a public school we are required to follow all laws and regulations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the California Education Code, including the requirement that all special education students enrolled at Excel Academy are able to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Independent Study setting.

Special Education Department Contacts

Parent Support

Parent support is available during school hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M.– 4:30 P.M. Please see the information below for special education department contact information.

Mailing Address

Our office is located at:

1 Technology Drive, Ste I-811
Irvine, CA 92618

For all questions regarding continuing students, please first contact your student’s assigned Case Manager (“CM”) for support. You will receive contact information for your student’s CM prior to the first day of school. If you wish to reach a different staff member by email, please use one of the contacts below.

Main Office/General Special Education Information:

Parent Support - parentsupport@excelacademy.education

Records Requests:

Noel Park, Registrar - registrar@excelacademy.education

Case Manager and Service Provider Questions:

LaKeyshia Ono, Department Coordinator - lono@excelacademy.education

IEP Questions or Concerns:

Leah Vides, Program Specialist - lvides@excelacademy.education

All of the Above & Any Other Questions or Concerns:

Lara Ulmer, Director of Special Education - lulmer@excelacademy.education

Newly Enrolled Students

Students newly enrolled in Excel Academy Charter School with an active Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be supported during each step of the transition. Once the admissions process is complete, your student will be assigned to a Teacher of Record, who will walk you through the details of the Master Agreement as well as the Acknowledgement of Responsibilities. Once both have been signed, your student is considered fully enrolled. Our special education Intake Manager will support the process of requesting, gathering, and reviewing your student’s records prior to sending a welcome letter via email describing next steps. Once you have received your student’s welcome letter, please contact our Intake Manager if you have questions.

Procedural Safeguards

Individuals with disabilities and their parents are afforded rights and procedural safeguards to ensure that all individuals with disabilities are provided a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).

Parents can obtain assistance in understanding their rights and procedural safeguards from the Excel Academy Charter School Special Education Department, the Sonoma County SELPA, or the California Department of Education.

Please refer to the following links for the most current Notice of Procedural Safeguards. If you require translation in a language other than Spanish, please contact our office for assistance.

Public Hearings

2023-2024 Public Hearing (English) 2023-2024 Public Hearing (Spanish)

Frequently Asked Questions

I think my child’s sibling may need special education services. Who do I call?

Please contact EACS’ Intake Manager, Sondra Ryan, at sryan@excelacademy.education for additional information.

My student has a private specialist they really enjoy working with. How can I request that we work with them for their IEP services?

EACS will not accept requests to develop new relationships with specific special education agencies or providers. The internal special education team currently includes a staff of highly qualified and appropriately credentialed professionals to provide the majority of IEP services. For any specialty areas in which we do not employ internal staff, an appropriate NPA-approved provider will be identified and assigned within your county of residence.

What is the process for requesting a new Case Manager or IEP service provider?

Due to the complex nature of matching IEP teams to hundreds of students across several counties, the EACS team is not able to consider requests for specific Case Managers, providers, or related service agencies.

*If you have a concern to report regarding your Case Manager or a related service provider failing to implement your student’s IEP, please contact Leah Vides, Program Specialist at lvides@excelacademy.education.

How am I expected to keep up with the expectations of this school?

EACS provides support to students and families in successfully accessing and participating in independent study. All EACS students must additionally have the support of a primary educator in the home setting during the school day; usually a parent or guardian. We understand that each of our families have different personal circumstances, however, the success of your student in our independent study placement depends largely on the ability of a consistent adult to provide core instruction.

I recently received a new diagnosis from my student's pediatrician that may affect their learning. Do I need to inform the IEP team?

Anytime you have new information regarding your child that may affect their learning it is important to share with the IEP team. Please contact your Case Manager with this information and an IEP meeting will be called to review any new records and discuss if any changes to the current IEP are necessary.

I have private speech, PT and OT services through my insurance. Can I choose to only attend those instead of the IEP services EACS offered to address my student's needs?

EACS is required to ensure the provision of all services to your student, by qualified personnel, in accordance with their current IEP offer of FAPE. We understand that many students additionally receive privately funded services outside of school hours however they cannot replace educationally-based services. If you believe your student no longer requires these services to address their unique educational needs, please contact your student’s Case Manager to request an IEP meeting and discuss their progress.

I am not willing to transport my student to multiple locations during the week to meet with their IEP service providers. Can I change all their IEP services to virtual delivery?

EACS is a Non-Classroom based charter school. All special education services are either provided virtually, in-person at a service provider’s clinic/agency, or in-person at a mutually agreed location between the student’s home and the service provider’s location. Service delivery setting (in-person or virtual) is an IEP team decision determined according to the individual student’s needs as a result of their disability. Travel distance is not a consideration when determining whether virtual or in-person services are appropriate.

Can I request all individual service delivery? My student doesn’t do well in groups.

Service delivery is an IEP team decision based on the recommendation of the service provider and team discussion. The IEP team will consider the student’s specific needs and IEP goals as a guide when determining the appropriate service delivery group size for each individual student. At times it may be appropriate for a student to receive special education services within a small group setting to support goal progress, while at other times individual services are determined appropriate.

How do I request a copy of my student’s special education records?

Please contact registrar@excelacademy.education.

I have a question about my student’s recent IEP. Who do I contact?

Your first point of contact for all questions regarding any portion of your student’s IEP, or the implementation of services, is your student’s current Case Manager.