An Orange County school district is set to launch a new program next year aimed at providing student-athletes with an alternative approach to training and education.
Starting next school year, Placentia Yorba Linda School District will offer what it’s calling the Universal Sports Institute.
The tuition-free sports-focused program will let students from third to 12th grade extensively train at an elite level in their sport of choice while also allowing for flexibility with their school work, such as remote learning or personalized schedules.
Despite being called an “institute,” Universal Sports is not a new school. Instead, it is a niche program dedicated to advancing a student’s athletic abilities. Students will be taught through Parkview Independent Study School in Placentia, an already-established alternative school that offers “self-learning” curriculum paths.
The program will provide trainers and coaches — including some coaches and athletic directors from other district high schools who will take on additional work at Universal Sports — so that the students have “personalized exercise and fitness programs, mental performance training, nutrition planning, recovery programs and leadership development,” according to its website.
Athletic training facilities will be established at a district property in Yorba Linda that now houses offices for education services. No major construction is expected to take place on the property, Superintendent Alex Cherniss said, but there will be facility updates happening shortly.
According to the program’s website, the campus is expected to feature strength and conditioning rooms, speed and agility training areas, tumbling mat space, cold plunges, a therapeutic swim spa, turf training areas, batting cages and a golf simulator.
The facility will be opened to students throughout the district who aren’t enrolled in the Universal Sports program as well, said Cherniss. The facility will have an “after-school program” created by PYLUSD administrators.
Opening the space to students across the district, Cherniss said, creates athletic opportunities for students who can’t afford specialized training.
The program can provide training for all sports sanctioned by CIF, the governing body of high school sports in California. And it’s open to Southern California students even outside the PYLUSD boundaries.
At the high school level, those in the Universal Sports program can compete and take up to two courses (in addition to their studies at Parkview) at one of the district’s high schools: El Dorado, Esperanza, Valencia or Yorba Linda.
To be accepted into the program, students must meet certain athletic requirements.
A student-athlete must “provide evidence of elite athletic performance,” or in other words, achieve “a level of performance that places them on a state, national or Olympic track in their field,” according to the website. Universal Sport’s program director Taylor Holloway and Parkview principal Dominique Polchow will manage the selection process, Cherniss said.
Those competing in the Special Olympics or Paralympics will be considered for approval based on the level of achievement in their respective sport as well.
To maintain eligibility, students must provide annual activity logs and performance portfolios, including rankings and awards, that will be reviewed by some of the program’s administrators.
“This is a game changer for our district and the new direction for public education as parents and kids continue to seek options and specialization for their educational experiences,” Cherniss said. “It is great to see PYLUSD on the cutting edge of these new educational trends and is no doubt a reason why our enrollment is increasing at a time when other districts are in decline.”
Orange County already houses a few various sports-specific academies.
In San Juan Capistrano, EM Speed and Power Traning’s main clientele are softball and baseball athletes, but it assists some soccer and football players as well. There, through a charter academic program, students of any grade level can study independently and train extensively for their respective sports.
Orange County Sports Fundamentals in Anaheim houses a prep academy for seventh- through ninth-grade athletes and utilizes El Rancho Charter School for its academics.
“Educational specialization is the future,” Cherniss said. “That is why all these academies are opening and flourishing. Rather than stay on the sideline, PYLUSD is choosing to lead and not follow.”
But Nancy Watkins, a Cal State Fullerton education professor, expressed concerns about “accessibility and inclusivity issues,” alleging that the program may “indirectly discriminate against underserved families in our community.”
“This facility will only cater to a small segment of the student population — those with the aptitude and interest in pursuing athletics at a competitive level,” said Watkins, who unsuccessfully ran for an Orange County Board of Education seat this year.
“This creates an environment where resources are disproportionately allocated to benefit a select group, potentially neglecting students who might benefit more from investments in arts, sciences or technology resources that align more closely with their interests and needs,” Watkins said.
But Jess Battaglia, a parent of two PYLUSD students, sees Universal Sports as a potential “future” for his children.
“This is what I would call exciting innovation being brought to our district,” said Battaglia, who attended PYLUSD schools. “And it allows for PYLUSD not only to be competitive with other school districts but to help us shine above the rest.”
Universal Sports, Battaglia said, has a chance to give its students a “plethora of opportunities” in specialized training.
“Arguably, over the years, sports in general have become more competitive than ever before,” Battaglia said. “A simple point of differentiation could very well be the difference between advancement to the next level of competition.”
But not every PYLUSD parent is on board.
Noting that the PYLUSD community was only just informed about the plans to open Universal Sports during the district’s February board meeting, parent Molly Kurzbard said she has questions about where the funding for the program will be coming from — as well as its longevity.
“The district isn’t being transparent and is keeping details held tightly,” Kurzbard said. “Instead, they are hyping up the Universal Sports Institute with propaganda marketing bragging about a program and building that doesn’t even exist yet.”
Universal Sports will receive its funding through Parkview, Cherniss said, which is funded in the same manner as other schools in PYLUSD, based on average daily attendance.
