Why Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified is launching a new athletics-based school program – Orange County Register

The Placentia Yorba Linda School District has approved a program focused on athletics. Called the Universal Sports Institute, this 3rd through 12th grade program is designed to create an environment in which students can hone their athletic skills. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

An Orange County school district will launch a new program next year aimed at giving student-athletes an alternative approach to training and education.

Starting next school year, the Placentia Yorba Linda School District will offer what it calls the Universal Sports Institute.

The tuition-free, sports-focused program allows students in third through twelfth grades to train extensively at an elite level in the sport of their choice while allowing flexibility in their school work, such as: E.g. distance learning or personalized timetables.

Although Universal Sports is referred to as an “institute,” it is not a new school. Instead, it is a niche program dedicated to developing a student's athletic abilities. Students will be educated at Parkview Independent Study School in Placentia, an already established alternative school that offers “self-learning” curriculum.

The program provides coaches and trainers – including some coaches and athletic directors from other county high schools who will take on additional work at Universal Sports – so that students have “personalized training and fitness programs, mental performance training, nutrition planning, recovery programs, and leadership development.” , the website says.

Athletic training facilities will be established on district property in Yorba Linda that now houses educational services offices. There will likely be no major construction on the property, said Superintendent Alex Cherniss, but there will be updates to the facility soon.

According to the program's website, the campus is expected to have strength and conditioning rooms, speed and agility training areas, a tumbling mat area, cold plunges, a therapeutic swim spa, turf training areas, batting cages and a golf simulator.

The facility will also be opened to students across the district who do not participate in the Universal Sports program, Cherniss said. The facility will have an “extracurricular program” created by PYLUSD administrators.

Cherniss said opening the space to students across the district creates athletic opportunities for students who cannot afford specialized education.

The program can provide training for all sports sanctioned by the CIF, the governing body of collegiate sports in California. And it is open to Southern California students outside of PYLUSD boundaries.

At the high school level, participants in the Universal Sports program may attend one of the district's high schools and take up to two courses (in addition to their studies at Parkview): El Dorado, Esperanza, Valencia or Yorba Linda.

To be accepted into the program, students must meet certain athletic requirements.

A student-athlete must, according to the website, “demonstrate evidence of athletic excellence,” or in other words, “achieve a level of performance that places them on a state, national or Olympic track in their field.” Universal Sport program director Taylor Holloway and Parkview principal Dominique Polchow will lead the selection process, Cherniss said.

Those who participate in the Special Olympics or Paralympics are also considered for admission based on their level of performance in their respective sport.

To maintain eligibility, students must submit annual activity logs and achievement portfolios, including rankings and awards, which are reviewed by some program administrators.

“This is a turning point for our district and a new direction for public education as parents and children continue to seek options and specialization for their educational experiences,” Cherniss said. “It is great to see PYLUSD at the forefront of these new education trends and is undoubtedly a reason our enrollment is increasing at a time when other districts are declining.”

Orange County is already home to a few different sport-specific academies.

In San Juan Capistrano, EM Speed ​​and Power Traning's primary clientele is softball and baseball athletes, but it also supports some soccer and football players. There, students at every grade level can learn independently and train extensively for their respective sports as part of a charter study program.

Orange County Sports Fundamentals in Anaheim houses a preparatory academy for athletes in seventh through ninth grades and uses El Rancho Charter School for its teaching staff.

“Educational specialization is the future,” Cherniss said. “That’s why all these academies are opening and thriving. Instead of staying on the sidelines, PYLUSD chooses to lead rather than follow.”

But Nancy Watkins, a professor of education at Cal State Fullerton, raised concerns about “accessibility and inclusion issues” and claimed the program could “indirectly discriminate against disadvantaged families in our community.”

“This facility will only serve a small portion of the student body — those with the aptitude and interest to pursue athletics at a competitive level,” said Watkins, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Orange County Board of Education this year.

“This creates an environment in which resources are allocated disproportionately to the benefit of a select group, potentially neglecting students who may benefit more from investments in arts, science or technology resources that are better aligned with their interests and needs,” Watkins said.

But Jess Battaglia, father of two PYLUSD students, sees Universal Sports as a potential “future” for his children.

“This is what I would call an exciting innovation brought to our district,” said Battaglia, who attended PYLUSD schools. “And not only does it allow PYLUSD to be competitive with other school districts, but it also helps us stand out from the rest.”

Universal Sports, Battaglia said, has the opportunity to offer its students a “wealth of opportunities” in specialized education.

“Over the years, sports in general have arguably become more competitive than ever before,” Battaglia said. “A simple point of differentiation could well make the difference between advancing to the next level of competition.”

But not all PYLUSD parents are on board.

Noting that the PYLUSD community was just informed of plans to open Universal Sports during the February county board meeting, parent Molly Kurzbard said she has questions about where the program's funding will come from — as well as its longevity .

“The district is not transparent and keeps details secret,” Kurzbard said. “Instead, they hype the Universal Sports Institute with propaganda marketing and brag about a program and building that doesn’t yet exist.”

Universal Sports will receive its funding through Parkview, Cherniss said, which is funded the same way as other schools in PYLUSD, based on average daily attendance.