FIELD Board Sets the Record Straight on Recent Public Misinformation About Its Adult High School Program  

WASC Accreditation at Risk Since 2022, Violations Not Addressed 

Aug. 27, 2024 – In response to recent public misinformation about its adult charter high school program, EPIC (Escuela Popular Instituto Campesino), the FIELD Board of Directors announced it has been investigating concerns about its WASC accreditation being at risk due to long-standing violations in the program, concerns that were first raised to FIELD administrative leaders sometime in May 2022. The Board only learned of these WASC violations in January of this year. 

EPIC, a program of FIELD, is a free adult school for those looking to earn their high school diploma. Students are taught in a traditional school setting by credentialled instructors. 

Responding to concerns that WASC, the educational accrediting commission, raised about the program – including 11 different instructional schedules at the various campuses, and not enough time for inter-school teacher collaboration per WASC’s recommendations – EPIC’s current administrators and consultants have been working to address and improve prior deficiencies.  

In March 2024 EPIC administrators and consultants conducted a student survey on how to improve the program and how to best meet their instructional needs. These survey results indicated that 80% of current EPIC students preferred to take classes during the morning hours of  8 a.m. to noon and in the evening hours from 5 – 8 p.m. Only 20% of students wanted classes between noon and 3 p.m. These student-based results informed the decision to implement a split instructional schedule, where students will now receive instruction from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and then are able to return to complete their classes from 5- 8:30 p.m. 

To best accommodate WASC accreditation rules along with students’ preferences, the Board voted to adjust teachers’ work schedules. The new split shift schedules reduce their weekly hours from 40 hours to 35.75 hours, without any reduction in pay. With the new schedule, teachers’ daily work hours do not exceed 7.5 hours Mondays through Thursdays and 5.75 hours on Fridays. 

Dispelling Other Allegations 

Regarding other allegations about the Aug. 2, 2024 Board Meeting and lack of air conditioning, the unanticipated overflow crowd of 30-40 people were in fact accommodated by FIELD staff in the organization’s multipurpose room. Since this was a last-minute adjustment, the air conditioning units had to be turned on and took time to cool the room.  

Regarding intimidating security guards, FIELD only had its normal security present to monitor the parking lot, no different from their regular services. 

FIELD does not discuss specifics of any pending personnel matters. Mr. David Villarino has been on a sabbatical leave since April 2024 and more recently was put on a paid administrative leave while FIELD conducts an investigation that is presently on-going. While on leave, Mr. Villarino is not acting as an agent or in any official capacity for FIELD or EPIC. 

For any questions concerning this matter, please contact Ines DeLuna, Chair of FIELD Board of Directors. She may be contacted by phone at (877) 877-1112 Email: ideluna@fieldinstitute.org