On March 7, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District released a statement on the June 30 closure of the 26-year-old Pacific Coast Charter School, where student performance in math and English was substandard, absenteeism reached 20% and graduation rate of 81%. The closure will mean changes for the Virtual Academy.
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At the March 5 Board of Trustees meeting, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District approved the closure of Pacific Coast Charter School and the transition of its 136 students to a newly structured PVUSD independent study program.
Students will be enrolled at each of their neighborhood/home PVUSD schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The Board approval follows a previous vote by the PCCS Council, moving forward with the charter school closure.
Another key change includes a proposal to integrate Virtual Academy students and staff from a stand-alone school into the new independent study program.
Virtual Academy’s 43 students will now enroll in PVUSD’s independent study program at each of PVUSD’s neighborhood/home schools.
The new independent study program will be available to all TK-12th grade students ensuring greater accessibility across the district to an educational option.
“We recognize that transitions like these bring both challenges and opportunities, and our priority is to support students, families, and staff every step of the way. By restructuring our online independent study program, we are expanding access to flexible, high-quality learning options while maintaining strong connections to neighborhood schools. This new independent study program will ensure a smooth transition, provide comprehensive support, and continue to offer engaging learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of our students,” stated Dr. Heather Contreras, Superintendent of Schools.
PVUSD is committed to teacher continuity and current PCCS and Virtual Academy teachers will have the opportunity to continue teaching within the restructured independent study program. The District remains committed to offering enrichment and engagement opportunities for students, including an in-person art program, new optional in-person classes and enrichment opportunities at the neighborhood/ home school.
The District will now implement a comprehensive student support plan to facilitate a smooth transition for all PCCS and Virtual Academy students to independent study programs at their neighborhood/home PVUSD schools.
PVUSD is committed to supporting families of these school communities throughout this transition and ensuring all students receive high-quality, flexible learning opportunities.
The District will provide additional details and resources in the coming weeks to assist students and families with this transition for the 2025-26 school year.