OCSA expects to receive approximately $26 million from the State of California, depending on actual enrollment numbers. This funding is allocated as follows:

• 100% of OCSA’s Academic Instruction expenses, including teacher and support staff salaries, health benefits, classroom supplies, and professional development
• 75% of OCSA’s Security expenses
• 75% of OCSA’s Technology expenses
• 75% of OCSA’s General & Administrative expenses
• 75% of OCSA’s Capital expenses
• 75% of OCSA’s Facilities expenses
• 75% of OCSA’s Debt Service (Mortgage Payment) expenses

Yes. Each conservatory director will determine the performance calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. Additional performance fees may be requested for specific performance opportunities.

Many corporations offer a matching gift program. Foreach dollar donated to the school, your employer may match your donation! Additional information can be found on this page. 

We encourage families to take advantage of the alternate fundraising opportunities offered as part of the Voluntary Contribution Agreement. A limited amount of assistance from OCSA’s Foundation may be available to those conservatories whose families qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program. Financial contributions are not required for a child to participate in any conservatory or academic program.

Conservatory budgets are based solely on collective parent commitments of cash donations and fundraising activities. At the beginning of the school year, if there are conservatories with low parent donations/fundraising commitments, those conservatory programs will be budgeted to have a modified or reduced program. If there are conservatories with parent donations fundraising commitments that are dramatically less than budgeted, those conservatory programs may have the number of instructional days reduced to compensate for the lack of funding. If your personal situation changes during the year and you are unable to fulfill your commitment, please contact Becky Parsons, Family Liaison, at becky.parsons@ocsarts.net or (714) 560-0900, Ext. 5535.

A comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities will be provided at On-Campus Registration in August. Volunteers are needed at the school during school hours, but many jobs can be done on weekends, in the evenings, and at school performances, including making phone calls or stuffing envelopes. There is a volunteer opportunity to fit almost every time frame and skill level. Parental involvement is not a requirement for acceptance to, or continued enrollment at, OCSA.

Encore is a fun, social membership group that provides opportunities throughout the year to:

• Socialize with other OCSA parents and grandparents
• Receive premier seating to select events, including Season Finale
• Receive invitations to special events, including Season Premiere, Tree Lighting, and Gala
• Attend private pre-event receptions and adult conservatory events for Culinary Arts & Hospitality, Ballroom Dance, Visual Arts, and more
• Receive an exclusive all-access campus parking pass (Maestro level and above)
• Win $2,500 for arts enrichment and/or master artist guest teachers for your student’s conservatory (awarded to the conservatory with the highest percentage of Encore members each fall)
• And more!

Best of all, proceeds are tax-deductible, providing valuable support for school-wide initiatives, including College Fair and campus security. Join online today at www.ocsarts.net/encore. For questions about Encore, please contact Anna Belmer at anna.belmer@ocsarts.net.

Based on an enrollment of 2,325 students, the projected total annual operating budget will be approximately $38 million for the 2020-2021 school year. OCSA will receive approximately $26 million from the State of California and expects to raise approximately $12 million through fundraising activities.

OCSA must raise approximately $12 million for the 2020-2021 school year to pay for 100% of OCSA’s Arts Instruction expenses and the remaining 25% of each of the expenses listed above.

Additional donations and fundraising activities above the amount indicated will go directly to your child’s arts conservatory program.

Many OCSA parents and students have sent letters to friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues requesting donations. All donors will receive tax receipts each January for the prior calendar year. Sample letters can be downloaded above on this page.

Please contact Cathy Michaels, OCSA’s Vice President of Development, at cathy.michaels@ocsarts.net or (714) 560-0900, ext. 5532 to coordinate.

From its earliest days, philanthropy has played a key role in OCSA’s ability to provide this transformative arts and academic experience. OCSA is not a private school; as a public charter school, it is tuition free and donation dependent. OCSA serves a diverse student body and is accessible to all students, regardless of their family’s socioeconomic standing. The nonprofit OCSA Foundation helps raise nearly $12 million annually in private contributions from individuals, businesses, corporations, and foundations to support the following areas:

• State-of-the-art facilities
• Help students in need through the Artist Scholar
• Sponsorship Program
• Inspire students through the Master Artist Series and Creators & Innovators Series
• Create enriching opportunities and provide necessary equipment and supplies through Hearts for the Arts
• Provide accessible community arts engagement programming

The OCSA Foundation’s focus is not to single handedly fund the day-to-day operations of the school, but rather to partner with parents, providing additional financial support and enrichment opportunities to benefit all students.

The Parents Arts Council (PAC) is a group of parent representatives who serve as a leadership entity for each arts conservatory program. The PAC focuses on communication, marketing activities, social opportunities, and fundraising initiatives for a specific conservatory. The PAC is similar to a traditional high school “booster club.”

The Parent Support Organization (PSO) provides an opportunity for parents to stay connected to what’s happening at OCSA, by providing the school community with a supportive and collaborative organization for parents, teachers, and staff. The PSO helps to provide resources to the school in order to further enhance students’ academic, artistic, physical, and emotional growth; organize OCSA parents for volunteer efforts; keep parents informed; and solicit parent input regarding school policies. The PSO also makes contributions each year for teacher grants in support of school-wide initiatives. The PSO is similar to a traditional high school “Parent Teacher Association” or “PTA.” To learn more, please visit www.ocsarts.net/pso.