Magnolia Charter Schools

Magnolia Educational & Research Foundation

The Magnolia Educational & Research Foundation (“Foundation”) is a non-profit organization established in August 1997. The Foundation is granted tax-exemption status (501(c)(3)) by the IRS, and the State of California. The headquarter of the Foundation is located in Los Angeles, California.

The founders, a group of active community members in Southern California, believe that increasing educational opportunities at every level is an asset to progress and further development. The vision of the Foundation is “Inspiring students to choose career paths in science and technology.”

The Magnolia Foundation methodology is a model rooted in the Accord Institute Educational Model, and its core values.

In 1998, the Foundation began organizing volunteer tutors for middle and high schools, especially in math, science and computer technology areas by utilizing their connections to major research universities throughout Southern California.

In 1999, the Foundation organized and implemented a joint program with Culver City District to provide tutoring for students all around the city. It also started a free tutoring program in the Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys Area of the San Fernando Valley. These programs resulted in cooperation with school districts to develop partnerships to support educational initiatives. In the fall term of 2002, the Foundation established the first charter school, Magnolia Science Academy (“MSA”), in the San Fernando Valley. Throughout the years, the Foundation has established another five charter schools to provide the innovative and high-quality education to the nearby community in Southern California. Currently, the Foundation plans to establish charter schools which are already granted by State Education Department and local school districts throughout California.

In 2009, the Foundation was approved by the California State Board of Education to start ten state-wide benefit charter school sites in California over the next six years. The approval was a testament to the success of our schools, as it was only the third time that a charter school operator has been granted such permission in California. The first two school sites operating under the statewide benefit charter opened in Sacramento and Orange County in August 2009.