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FAQ
BCS
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What is the process to enroll?Bullis Charter School (BCS) enrolls any student residing in California. There is no fee or entrance exam. To enroll: Create an account on the SchoolMint platform Enter your child’s information (first-time applicants only) Create an application* in the appropriate school year Gather and upload your supporting documents (see question below) *Paper applications are also available here and at our school office located at 102 West Portola Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022. You can email to enroll@bullischarterschool.com or mail completed applications along with all supporting documents. All applications submitted for the next school year within our open enrollment period during the fall/winter of the current school year are eligible for the our enrollment lottery that is held in early spring. This lottery includes SCCOE-authorized enrollment preferences (see question below). Offers of enrollment are made to families following the lottery in the spring and summer months of the school year prior. Parents will be notified of their child(ren)’s enrollment status via email or can view the status in SchoolMint. Offers are made to students who have been placed on the school’s waitlist as openings become available.
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What grades does BCS serve?Bullis Charter School serves students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 8th grade across two campuses in Los Altos, California. Grades TK-5 are served at both campuses while students in Grades 6-8 are served solely at our North Campus (102 West Portola Avenue).
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Where should a child reside to attend BCS?Bullis Charter School is open to all TK-8th grade students in California. Most BCS students reside in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Mountain View.
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What is distinctive about BCS?The Bullis Charter School mission is to offer a collaborative, experiential learning environment that emphasizes individual student achievement. As a model of educational innovation, BCS inspires children, faculty, and staff to reach beyond themselves to achieve full potential. Using a global perspective to teach about the interconnectedness of communities and their environments, the BCS program nurtures mutual respect, civic responsibility, and a lifelong love of learning. We strive to: Encourage joyful learning Cultivate curiosity Inspire confidence Develop a global perspective Promote kindness Foster collaboration
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What is the charter school renewal process?In California charter schools are authorized for a limited period of time and must renew with their authorizing agency based on a stated timeline. The authorizer for Bullis Charter School is the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). The charter for BCS was last renewed in 2016. Because of state-mandated renewal delays due to COVID-19, 2024 is a renewal year for Bullis Charter School.
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What are the school hours?Students are welcome to arrive on campus beginning at 7:45a for breakfast. Instructional Hours: Transitional Kindergarten (TK) & Kindergarten | 8:15a - 3:05p Grades 1-5 | 8:35a to 3:15p Grades 6-8 | 8:00a to 3:30p After school activities run from 3:15p-5:30p (see below for more details).
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What is the age requirement for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) / Kindergarten?Transitional Kindergarten For the 2024-25 school year, your child must turn 5 between September 2, 2024 and June 2, 2025 to be eligible for the Transitional Kindergarten program at BCS. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, any child who turns 4 by September 1 of that school year is eligible to enroll in the Transitional Kindergarten program at BCS. Kindergarten Any child who turns 5 by September 1 of that school year is eligible to enroll Kindergarten at BCS.
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Does BCS offer free breakfast and lunch to students?BCS participates in California’s Universal Meal Program and provides free breakfast and lunch to any student that requests a meal at school. More information about our school meal program can be found here. Additionally, families that qualify for the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) may receive additional benefits such as P-EBT access, support with school supplies, yearbooks, etc. Eligibility for this program is based on income level and/or participation in other state nutrition assistance programs (i.e. CalFresh, CalWORKS, MediCal). BCS provides families with the the CDE’s application (en español) and encourage them to fill it out annually.
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Who owns and maintains the BCS facilities?The Los Altos School District provides facilities to Bullis Charter School, currently split across two campuses shared with Egan Junior High and Blach Intermediate Schools. Buildings are owned and maintained by LASD in cooperation with BCS.
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What are the after school options onsite?Optional after-school programming is available for all TK-8th grade students on both the North and South campuses from 3:15p to 5:30p daily: Extra-Curricular Classes (M-W, 3:30p to 4:15p) Taught by BCS Teachers Choice of multiple classes each day Fall Session (Oct-Dec) and Winter/Spring Session (Feb-May) After School Spanish Immersion Program (M-F, 3:15p-5:30p) Provided by WayToGo Programs Activities vary by day - sample schedule Additional fee based on income eligibility Performing Arts (2-3 days/week, schedule varies) Theatrical productions in Fall and Spring Musical ensembles - e.g. choir, band, orchestra Sports & Clubs (1-2 days/week, schedule varies) Flag Football First Lego League
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What student support services are offered at BCS?The Bullis Charter School (BCS) program is designed to meet the needs of students across a spectrum of learning styles and help every child reach their full potential. Teachers provide additional academic support is available to their students outside of regular class time through programs such as teacher office hours. BCS offers support services to all students including those students with documented disabilities and accommodations (IEP, 504) as well as english language learners. BCS also provides social services to learners and their families by way of family advocacy and service referrals. Mental health counseling is available on-site and through referrals to appropriate providers.
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What is Bullis Charter School (BCS)?Bullis Charter School is a family-founded, free, public charter school serving students in TK - 8th grade who reside in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View and the surrounding area.
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What documents are needed to enroll?You will be required to provide documentation to verify your child’s age and residency as part of your application to Bullis Charter School. These documents can be uploaded directly to your child’s application in SchoolMint or provided to our enrollment staff via hard copies. A list of acceptable documents is below. Age Verification – any ONE of the following: Copy of child’s birth certificate Copy of child’s passport Copy of child’s baptismal certificate Residency Verification – any TWO of the following: Recent Property tax bill Current Rental property contract, lease, or payment receipts Voter registration card Current DMV vehicle registration Utility bill that dates within 3 months (gas/electric, land line, garbage, water, cable – cell phone not accepted) Please note: You will need to provide copies of documents for EACH child's application. All documents must contain the parent/guardian name(s) and corresponding residential address for the student provided on the enrollment application. If your child receives an enrollment offer to Bullis Charter School, you may be required to submit additional documents to verify your child’s information. If we cannot verify the needed information through documents submitted, the enrollment priority and/or offer of enrollment may be rescinded. If you have other questions or issues providing the required documents, please email enroll@bullischarterschool.com or call 650-947-4100 to discuss your situation with our enrollment coordinator.
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When does the school year begin and end? When are the school breaks?The school calendar for Bullis Charter School runs from mid-August to early June. It is approved by the Board of Directors in winter/early spring of the the school year prior and consists of 180 instructional days. School holidays and breaks are generally aligned with surrounding districts and include the following: Thanksgiving Break (late November) Winter Recess (late December) Mid-Winter Break (late February) Spring Break (April) Federal and state holidays The board-approved school year calendar(s) can be found here.
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Does BCS serve students with learning differences?Bullis Charter School is committed serving students of all abilities and their needs regardless of ability level or learning differences. These include, but are not limited to, students with disabilities and english language learners.
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What is BCS ranked?Bullis Charter School is one of California’s highest performing charter schools ranked at #10 among California’s charter elementary schools and #2 for California’s charter middle schools (U.S. News & World Report 2024). BCS has received California Distinguished and Gold Ribbon School awards. Additionally, we have been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and are accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools.
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How does the waitlist work?There is often a waitlist to enroll based on the number of openings and number of applicants in an individual grade level. Applications entered in the lottery but not offered in enrollment are placed first on the waitlist for their grade level based on the SCCOE-authorized enrollment preferences. Any applications received after the close of the open enrollment period will be placed after those included in the lottery. Parents with a student on the waitlist are notified when a spot becomes available via the email and/or phone number on their SchoolMint account and have approximately one (1) week to accept or decline the offer of enrollment before the next person on the waitlist will be offered the spot. Please note that submitting an application does not automatically guarantee enrollment Bullis Charter School. Most enrollment offers are typically extended in the spring and summer months preceding any given school year. However, there are occasions when spots could become available after the start of school due to status changes for currently enrolled students. You can email enroll@bullischarterschool.com with any questions regarding your child's application status.
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What are the enrollment priorities?California Education Code and our charter with the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) govern the enrollment procedures. If there are more applications than spots for a specific grade level, then enrollment is determined by a public random drawing, also known as “the lottery”, that is held following the close of the Open Enrollment period. SCCOE-authorized enrollment preferences for this public lottery are applied based on the following hierarchy within each grade level: Siblings of current BCS students who reside within the boundaries of the Los Altos School District. Children who qualify for free or reduced priced meals and reside within the boundaries of the Los Altos School District, limited to 10% of the total openings at each grade level. Children of BCS staff members who reside within theboundaries of the Los Altos School District. Children who reside within the boundaries of the Los AltosSchool District. Siblings of current BCS students who reside outside of the boundaries of the Los Altos School District. Children of BCS staff members who reside outside of the boundaries of the Los Altos School District. Children who qualify for free or reduced priced meals who reside outside the boundaries of the Los Altos School District but within California. All other applicants who reside within California. BCS offers equal access to applicants regardless of their actual or perceived disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code or association with an individual who has any of the aforementioned characteristics. View the Charter School Complaint Notice and Form, per CA Education Code (EC) Section 47605(d)(4), here.
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Can my child transfer to BCS if they did not enroll in TK or Kindergarten?Parents can submit an application for their child to enroll in any grade. If there are no spots available, the student will be added to the waitlist and parents will be notified as soon as one opens up.
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How much does it cost to attend?BCS is a tuition-free, public charter school open to any TK-8th grade student in California.
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Do you offer open houses or tours for families interested in enrolling?Bullis Charter School holds enrollment information events during the fall and winter each year for families interested in enrolling their child(ren) in the upcoming school year. Times and dates for these events are generally announced in late October. Please note that we are not able to accommodate school tours for individual families at this time.
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