Dual Enrollment with Yuba College and CTE Pathways

Understanding a wall-to-wall K–12 Career Technical Education (CTE) model is not something most people encounter every day. It’s perfectly okay not to know all of the details—that’s how learning begins.

At YES Charter Academy, we welcome thoughtful questions and productive conversations about our programs. We are proud of the work our students and staff accomplish, and we believe transparency and collaboration make education stronger.

Before sharing information publicly, we encourage everyone to look at the complete picture. Constructive dialogue, supported by facts, helps our entire community grow.

YES Charter Academy High School A–G Implementation Plan (2025–2026)

What matters is taking the time to ask questions, seek credible information, and understand the facts before drawing conclusions. Those are the same critical thinking skills we intentionally teach our students every day: research, analyze, verify, evaluate evidence, and remain open to learning.

After all, one of the most important lessons we can teach our students is that learning never stops—and that the best decisions are made when they’re informed by evidence, curiosity, and respect.

Supporting College Eligibility Through an Integrated College & Career Model

YES Charter Academy has adopted a comprehensive high school design that intentionally integrates University of California/California State University (UC/CSU) A–G college entrance requirements, Career Technical Education (CTE), project-based learning, dual enrollment, and work-based learning. This design is consistent with the educational vision outlined in the school’s approved Charter Petition and demonstrates that college eligibility is embedded into every student’s four-year educational experience—not offered as an optional track.

The Charter specifically states that YES Charter Academy’s high school model is designed as a wall-to-wall Career Technical Education school with embedded A–G coursework, articulated and dual enrollment opportunities with Yuba College, and pathways in Forestry & Natural Resources, Entrepreneurship, and Design, Visual & Media Arts.

The Charter further states that the school’s high school program will:

embed A–G courses throughout the curriculum,
provide articulated and dual enrollment opportunities,
integrate Project-Based Learning and Design Thinking,
prepare students simultaneously for college, career, and community leadership, and
create multiple postsecondary opportunities for every graduate.

Consistent with this vision, the 2025–2026 Master Schedule includes an A–G aligned sequence in every grade level.

UC A–G Area	YES Charter Academy Implementation
a. History/Social Science	World History, U.S. History, Government, Economics
b. English	English 9 Social Entrepreneurship, English 10 Entrepreneurship & eCommerce, English 11 Entrepreneurship & Professional Literacy, English 12 Ethnic Studies
c. Mathematics	Business Finance Integrated Math 1, 2 & 3
d. Laboratory Science	Forestry Biology & California Natural Resources, Forestry Chemistry & Environmental Science, Forestry Physics, Sports Exercise Physiology & Health Science
e. Language Other Than English	Spanish I and Spanish II
f. Visual & Performing Arts	Design, Visual & Media Arts 1 & 2
g. College Preparatory Elective	Personal Finance, Health, Senior Seminar, Leadership, Advisory, College & Career Planning, Dual Enrollment, Internships, Unit Recovery electives

In addition to meeting UC/CSU subject requirements, the schedule intentionally incorporates:

Three sequenced CTE pathways;
Dual enrollment with Yuba College;
Articulated college credit;
Industry certifications;
Internships and CTE Work-Based Learning (CTEWEE);
Senior Seminar focused on college applications, scholarships, ePortfolios, and transition planning.

These components directly reflect the Charter’s stated goal of creating graduates who are college prepared, career ready, environmentally literate, and lifelong changemakers.

Importantly, YES Charter Academy publicly states that students will graduate having completed College Prep A–G Requirements while simultaneously earning certifications in its three CTE pathways.

Conclusion

Claims that YES Charter Academy lacks an A–G graduation plan are inconsistent with both:

the approved Charter Petition describing an embedded A–G high school model with college preparation as a foundational design element, and
the adopted 2025–2026 Master Schedule, which sequences A–G coursework across grades 9–12 while integrating Career Technical Education, dual enrollment, internships, and college readiness supports.

The result is a wall-to-wall college and career preparatory model in which students are positioned to graduate with:

completion of UC/CSU A–G coursework,
multiple CTE pathway experiences,
college credit opportunities,
work-based learning experiences,
industry-recognized credentials, and
preparation for success in college, careers, and civic life.

Qualified Career Technical Education (CTE) Teachers at YES Charter Academy

YES Charter Academy is a wall-to-wall Career Technical Education (CTE) high school, meaning that Career Technical Education is integrated throughout the educational program rather than limited to a small group of elective courses. To support this model, CTE courses are taught by appropriately credentialed California educators who meet state requirements for the subjects they teach.

California Designated Subjects Career Technical Education (DSC CTE) Credential

The California Designated Subjects Career Technical Education (DSC CTE) Credential is a teaching credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). It authorizes educators with verified industry experience to teach Career Technical Education courses in one or more of California’s fifteen industry sectors.

To qualify for a DSC CTE Credential, applicants must demonstrate significant recent industry experience in the credential area, complete required teacher preparation coursework, satisfy California educator requirements, and continue professional growth while teaching. This ensures that students receive instruction from professionals who combine real-world industry expertise with effective classroom teaching practices.

Unlike a traditional academic credential alone, the DSC CTE Credential recognizes that students preparing for college and careers benefit from instructors who have worked directly in business, healthcare, agriculture, media, engineering, public services, and other professional industries.

Highly Qualified Instruction

YES Charter Academy employs educators who hold the credentials appropriate to the courses they teach. Across the faculty, instructors may hold:

California Designated Subjects Career Technical Education (DSC CTE) Credentials;
California Single Subject Teaching Credentials;
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials; and
combinations of these credentials.

Many YES teachers already hold multiple California credentials, while others are actively completing additional credential authorizations to expand the courses they are qualified to teach. This commitment to ongoing professional growth allows the school to build interdisciplinary programs that connect rigorous academics with authentic career preparation.

Supporting a Wall-to-Wall College and Career Model

Because YES integrates A–G coursework with Career Technical Education, students learn academic content through real-world applications. Teachers collaborate across disciplines so that courses satisfy both California graduation requirements and UC/CSU A–G expectations while maintaining high standards for Career Technical Education.

This instructional model allows students to engage in project-based learning, dual enrollment opportunities, internships, leadership development, and industry-focused experiences without sacrificing academic rigor.

YES Charter Academy remains committed to ensuring that every course is taught by an educator who is properly credentialed or otherwise authorized under California law, while continually investing in staff development and additional credentialing to strengthen instructional quality across all programs.

Rigorous UC A–G, CTE, and California Standards Alignment

YES Charter Academy is committed to providing students with a rigorous college and career preparatory education by designing every A–G course to meet the expectations of the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) while integrating authentic Career Technical Education (CTE) experiences.

All YES Charter Academy A–G courses are developed and maintained through the UC Course Management Portal (CMP) and are reviewed and approved through the UC A–G course submission process. Course outlines are updated as needed to reflect current instructional practices, industry trends, and university expectations, ensuring students have access to courses that satisfy UC/CSU admissions requirements.

Each approved course is intentionally designed to incorporate:

University of California A–G learning outcomes and academic rigor;
California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards;
California Common Core State Standards (CCSS);
California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), where applicable;
California History–Social Science Frameworks, Visual and Performing Arts Standards, World Language Standards, Health Standards, Visual and Media Arts and Physical Education Standards, as appropriate for each subject area; and
Industry-recognized technical skills and professional practices aligned with workforce expectations and emerging career sectors.

Rather than treating academics and career preparation as separate experiences, YES Charter Academy intentionally integrates both into every pathway. Students engage in project-based learning, technical skill development, leadership experiences, work-based learning, and real-world problem solving while mastering the academic content required for college admission.

Course development is a collaborative process involving credentialed teachers, industry partners, college faculty, and educational leaders to ensure curriculum remains current, relevant, and aligned with postsecondary expectations. Many courses also include opportunities for dual enrollment, articulated college credit, industry certifications, internships, and capstone projects, providing students with multiple pathways to college, careers, and lifelong success.

This comprehensive curriculum design reflects YES Charter Academy’s mission of preparing every student to graduate college eligible, career ready, and equipped with the knowledge, technical skills, and professional competencies needed to thrive in an evolving global workforce.

WASC Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement

YES Charter Academy is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) as a K–12 institution, demonstrating the school’s commitment to continuous improvement, academic excellence, organizational effectiveness, and student achievement.

WASC accreditation signifies that YES Charter Academy has undergone a comprehensive external review of its educational program, governance, curriculum, instruction, assessment systems, school culture, and operational practices. The accreditation process includes ongoing self-study, stakeholder engagement, measurable schoolwide action plans, and regular progress reporting to ensure the school continues to meet high standards of educational quality.

As a WASC-accredited school, YES Charter Academy continuously evaluates and refines its instructional programs, including its wall-to-wall College and Career Technical Education (CTE) model, to ensure students receive a rigorous, relevant, and equitable educational experience.

Combined with California credentialed educators, UC Office of the President (UCOP) A–G approved coursework, California Career Technical Education standards, Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), dual enrollment opportunities, and strong industry partnerships, WASC accreditation provides additional assurance that YES Charter Academy’s educational program is designed to prepare students for success in higher education, careers, and lifelong learning.

Together, these elements reflect YES Charter Academy’s commitment to providing every student with a high-quality educational program that meets California’s expectations for academic excellence while preparing graduates to become college eligible, career ready, and engaged members of their communities.