Officially, class at Denair Elementary Charter Academy begins at 8:30 each morning and lets out between 2:50 and 3:10 each afternoon, depending on grade level. But for more than 150 students involved in the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), school can start as early as 7:30 a.m. and last until 4:30 p.m.
ELOP – which also exists at Denair Middle School and Denair High School – allows students to get more attention from instructors on core subjects like English, math and social studies in addition to enrichment opportunities in areas like art, yearbook or Baile folklorico dancing.
At Thursday night’s meeting of the Denair Unified School District board, DECA Principal Laura Cardenas explained more about how ELOP works. She was accompanied by some of her teachers as well as some students.
“ELOP is filled with purposeful learning and engaging activities,” Cardenas told trustees. “Students receive dedicated homework support to build confidence and essential study skills, while enrichment opportunities allow them to explore their extracurricular activities.”
DECA has 555 students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. Of that number, 154 participate in ELOP, which has been offered since 2021.
For some parents with busy work schedules, being able to drop their children off by 7:30 a.m. and not having to pick them up until later is important. Whether before or after school, ELOP aims to take academic advantage of that extra time.
Some students practice on personalized iReady tests to help them improve their foundational skills while others enjoy enrichment opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects. Teachers also come up with fun activities in the afternoon in addition to study sessions.
Superintendent Terry Metzger recognizes that a nine-hour instructional day is a long day for students and applauded staff for continually working to ensure that before and after school programs are a balance between academic support and fun activities. “We’re already looking forward to our summer program,” she added.
In other action Thursday, trustees:
- Approved a request by the Denair High School Sober Grad Committee to host Grad Night 2025 at the Gas Light Theatre in Denair. After the graduation ceremony May 23 at Jack Lytton Stadium, students and chaperones will go to the theatre for a party that will last until 1 a.m.
- Heard a report about the second year of results in the iReady testing program. Superintendent Terry Metzger said the district is seeing progress but must continue to monitor platform usage and lesson pass rate in order to see “stretch growth” (which refers to students who are two or more years below grade level in a subject catching up faster as part of an effort to close their achievement gap).
- Listened to a midyear report on the district’s performance relative to its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), which is required by the state. Metzger said all schools showed growth on the identified metrics in the areas of academics, engagement, and college and career readiness.
- Approved the 2025-26 school safety plan, which continues to be updated as safety and security projects are completed on the district’s campuses. Metzger said the district is working with Knowledge Saves Lives to develop a threat assessment team/protocols document.s
- Voted to keep the busing schedule as it is and make no changes to it for the next school year.
- Approved the 8th annual trip to Disneyland by members of the high school football team. Coach Anthony Armas is a big Disneyland fan and uses the trip as a team-bonding experience. This year, players will travel to Anaheim June 27-30. The cost is about $600 per player – which they must pay for and includes admission to Disneyland and California Adventure, plus their hotel room.
