The Turlock Unified School District is working on redefining its program at eCademy Charter at Crane School – and wants to hear from the public.

Originally opened in 2011 when Crane School was transformed into eCademy, the school’s charter is set to expire on June 30, 2027. An informational meeting is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the eCademy campus, 1100 Cahill St.

“We’re inviting the community to come and ask questions and give input,” said Turlock Unified School District Superintendent David Lattig. “It’s the community’s school, right? And we want to hear from the community. We never want to make decisions in a vacuum. We always want to listen to different perspectives.”

The school currently exists as a TK-6 homeschool program with an independent study program for grades 7-12. The independent study programs will be moved to comprehensive middle schools and high schools, while the homeschool program at eCademy will expand to include seventh- and eighth-graders.

“You don’t necessarily have to have a separate school to handle independent study,” said Lattig. “And we’d like to keep the independent-study students connected to the school that they normally attend. Most of the eCademy kids reside within the TUSD boundary, and we feel we can address their needs at the middle schools and high schools. That way they can still have counseling services and be involved with sports.”

The original goal behind eCademy was to focus on students who were home schooled, on independent study, working on credit recovery, working through online distance learning, and those interested in occupational classes. But district staff found then that many students were leaving TUSD to go to other schools that offered more programs. During the 2009-10 school year, TUSD lost 234 students in elementary school grades, 64 students in middle school grades, and 146 students at the high school level, according to district staff reports.

“In the home-school modes, the parent serves as the teacher,” said Lattig. “The school just makes sure standards are followed, assessing, making sure progressing through standards. But in home school model parent is the teacher.”

Lattig invites parents and community members to email him at

dlattig@turlock.k12.ca.us if they want more information.