Entries by Justina Janas

Graduation Information

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Class of 2026 Graduation Cap icon

Graduation 2026

Spring 2026 Graduates: Grad Letters, Checkouts, and Webinar Info Available Now!

Within the week, Visions will be mailing all potential grads a grad letter with graduation information, including ticket information. Included in this letter are parking instructions, a graduation checklist, and a list of graduation expectations that students are expected to abide by (see links to the PDFs below). To make accessing this information easier, we have created a Graduation Information page.

Graduates are responsible for reading and understanding this information prior to Grad Checkout and Graduation.

PDF Links:

For questions, please ask your teacher or contact us at graduation@viedu.org.

Grad Webinar

We will be holding an informational Graduation Webinar on May 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM. During this webinar, we’ll walk you through ceremony requirements, mandatory practice schedules, and essential graduation checkout procedures. Plus, we’ll provide you with key details to pass along to your guests who will be joining you for the ceremony. There will also be a chance to ask any questions you may have.





Register here!

Grad Checkouts

We will have five grad checkouts in May at different locations throughout our service area for students to get cleared for graduation, get caps and gowns, pick up tickets, and return outstanding materials. All sites will have staff to collect outstanding books, materials, and computers. All graduates must complete a grad checkout to be eligible to walk in our ceremony.

Published: April 20, 2026

Save the Dates! Spring Graduation is June 2 & 3, 2026!

Graduation is fast approaching, and we are excited to celebrate the incredible journey of the Class of 2026! You have worked hard, grown in meaningful ways, and helped shape the community around you. Below you’ll find the important details about your assigned graduation ceremony so you and your loved ones can prepare for this special milestone. We can’t wait to celebrate you and all that you’ve accomplished!

Graduation 2026: Ceremony Breakdowns

In order to accommodate our growing graduating class, this year we will be holding three graduation ceremonies over a two-day period! Graduation ceremonies will be held at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 and Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Students will participate in the graduation ceremony based on their principal group.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

AM Ceremony

Ceremony Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Students arrive by 9:00 AM

🎓 University Prep Students (McKinnis)
🎓 Moses Community

PM Ceremony

Ceremony Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Students arrive by 3:00 PM

🎓 Lewis Community
🎓 Patel Community

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

No AM Ceremony

PM Ceremony

Ceremony Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Students arrive by 2:30 PM

🎓 Alward Community
🎓 Home School Academy
🎓 Fall Grads Attending Spring Ceremony

How Do I Find My Principal Group?

If you haven’t met your principal or have forgotten which community you are in, you can check in LPAD under the My Contacts section in the left-hand sidebar.

You will also receive a letter with specific instructions and will be reminded as we get closer to our ceremony date. If you have any questions, please reach out to graduation@viedu.org.

Published: March 5, 2026

Fall Graduation 2026





Get Your Class of 2026 Spiritwear Here!

Congratulations Fall Graduates – See All The Photos and Videos Here!

Congratulations to our first graduates of the Class of 2026!

We hope that you’re taking the time to celebrate your hard work and plan for your future. Whether it be college, trade school or the armed forces, you all are ready to take your next steps and we at Visions couldn’t be any prouder of you.

Thank you for choosing our school to see you to graduation and we wish you all the best in your new adventures.

Photos & Videos





FLICKR PHOTO ALBUM





YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Visit our Flickr album for photos from checkouts and the big day and see this playlist for graduation day videos, including recordings of our speakers and student performers. 

Updated: April 13, 2026

Visions In Education Featured In Newsweek

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Featured In Newsweek: Visions In Education Delivers Award-Winning, Personalized Learning

Going the extra mile to ensure the academic success of all students

Newsweek badge

Group photo of Visions graduates

Visions In Education is featured in the July 26, 2024 edition of Newsweek (click here)!

See highlights below and click the button to read the full article about how our school is focused on student success.

For public charter school Visions In Education, success is built on the foundation that education should be tailored to the needs of each student. From its trademarked LPAD Student Support System (LPAD SSS) online portal to access to community college classes, the free non-classroom-based school is giving its learners a unique opportunity to succeed in their academic journey from the safety of home.



Read The Full Article Here!
Newsweek Article Excerpt

“We focus on our students individually because a one-size-fits-all approach to education doesn’t work, and families want public school options.”
Portrait of Superintendent Olmos
Dr. Steve Olmos
Superintendent and Executive Director of Visions In Education

Visions In Education: Powered by Technology

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Student seated on grass outside their home with Visions laptop on their lap

Visions In Education: Powered by Technology

At Visions In Education, our goal is to provide each student with a personalized public education that prepares them to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Technology is core to our educational model. 

Technology Pioneers

The LPAD Student Support System  (LPAD SSS™) is the single point of entry for parents to access student records, order curriculum and supplies, register for events and more. Visions has partnered with major vendors including Amazon, Staples, Bookshark, Lakeshore Learning, Rainbow Resource Center and TextbookX to make ordering much simpler. Staff use LPAD to track enrollment and attendance, manage vendors, monitor and track student requests and streamline communication. Because Visions built LPAD SSS™ from the ground up and have continually updated it for over a decade, you won’t find it at any other school.

Improving Our Tech Support

Two years ago, Visions launched an in-house Student Technology Services (STS) Department. The STS team serves as the front-line support for students and their families, making sure a Chromebook gets into the hands of each high school student. As well as providing internet hotspot units for students from low-income communities. They also repair and refurbish tech along the way, and ensure the experience is as approachable and efficient as possible. Some members of the department are even former students themselves!

This year STS will also be purchasing and distributing new fleets of Macs and Chromebooks. This investment is estimated to cost three to four million dollars and will provide newer technology to better support our students and staff!

Team Technology

Visions Information Technology (IT) offices look exactly how you’d guess they would. Couches along the wall, a poster of Bill Murray on the door and a Dungeons and Dragons meme stuck to the back of the air conditioner. They also take their jobs seriously. They provide IT support, training staff on ransomware and anti-phishing protocols to enhance the securing of the entire school community. As well as tackle large projects like our migration to Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows us to streamline various operations. Our IT Team plays a critical role in our organization supporting student learning and keeping student information safe.

We’re very proud to be able to offer these tech benefits to our families and staff at no cost. Visions was even recognized by the Department of Education as a 2022 California Pivotal Practice School for our distribution of technology!

Blue banner with yellow and white outlined letters STS at the top and yellow and white words Student Technology Services established 2021 on a tech background.
Rocket logo with LPAD underneath in black letters then Student Support System underneath that in blue letters

Visions: 24 Years of Innovative Education Options For Families

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Teenage siblings studying at home due, they are watching online lecture together

Visions: 24 Years of Innovative Education Options For Families 

Visions believes that a one-size-fits all approach to education doesn’t work for all kids or families. Since 1999, Visions has never stopped innovating to meet the ever-evolving needs of Northern California families. As we approach our 25th anniversary, we are prouder than ever to be a lifeline for families needing something different.

We are a public school, free, and open to all students

Historically, being able to choose a school that was different from a traditional neighborhood school meant paying to attend a private school. This is a financial burden relatively few can afford. As a charter school that is part of California’s public education system, Visions has been – and will always be – free and open to any student in our service area who wants to attend regardless of their background. 

We meet the individual education needs of students to help them reach their full potential

For some students, a traditional school model is the best fit. Other families need greater flexibility to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of their child. Visions prioritizes personal learning for every student, no matter what a students’ needs are. Visions believes that public charter schools should provide opportunities for all students, including those for who opportunity has been hard to come by. About half of Visions’ student body is made up of students from low income communities, foster youth and/or students who are English Learners. 

We have three at-home education options available 

Visions offers Independent Study, University Prep and Home School. Our families get a personally tailored education experience and depending on the path each student chooses, a family can access:

  • a variety of curriculum and elective options,
  • a budget for certain education expenses and activities, 
  • free community college courses, 
  • social and emotional health supports, 
  • in-person events, 
  • over 25 student clubs, 
  • and so much more.
Visions graduate holding up her diploma

Technology is core to our education model

Our LPAD Student Support System  (LPAD SSS™) is the single point of entry for parents to access student records, order curricula and supplies, manage events and more. Visions has partnered with major curriculum and supply vendors including Amazon, Staples, Bookshark, Lakeshore Learning, Rainbow Resource Center and TextbookX to create custom integrations within LPAD SSS™ that make ordering much simpler. Staff use Launchpad to track enrollment and attendance, manage vendors, and streamline communication. Because Visions built LPAD SSS™ from the ground up, you won’t find it at any other school.

You can be confident that Visions will help your child succeed! But don’t take our word for it. Hear directly from the students we serve. 

Black teen poses at home on the first day of independent study high school with a sign, laptop and headphones

Visions Purchases New Office Building

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Photo of Visions building in Gold River next to the Visions logo and text that says "New Office Building Coming Soon"

Visions Purchases New Office Building

As we approach our 25th Anniversary, we have an exciting announcement to share! Visions, which has served the community for nearly 25 years, is moving to a more spacious and modern administrative headquarters that will allow us to provide a higher level of service to our growing number of students and families. We are hopeful that the space will be ready for us to occupy by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

We have been carefully considering real estate opportunities that would allow us to take advantage of the favorable commercial real estate environment. And, for the first time since 2014, we are happy to be able to make this investment in a new administrative headquarters that gives our staff new flexibility to better serve our nearly 7,000 students throughout our nine county region.

Building Details

The new location, 11931 Foundation Place, is located in Gold River and provides:

  • More opportunities to host gatherings and celebrations.
  • Significant technological upgrades.
  • Improved security.
  • Convenient freeway access for staff and families in our 9 county region.
  • Proximity to light rail and bus transportation.

Visions In The News

Visions and our newly purchased administrative headquarters was featured in the Sacramento Business Journal! The article includes information about the new building and how it will benefit Visions families, students and staff.

“We’ve been trying to find a building that will keep us all together and have training space as well,” said Tom Tafoya, chief operations officer for Visions In Education. “We’re excited for the new facility. It’ll be a lot of work.”

Read the article on their website (subscription required) or view a PDF version here. 

Front of Visions new office building in Gold River

Learning How To Work And Play

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Lenny, eSports champ, Visions graduate and STS staff member gives the peace sign at high school graduation

Learning How to Work and Play

Independent Study student Lenny M. recently graduated from Visions In Education, high school diploma, job and eSports gaming championship in hand. A fan of Super Smash Bros. and all things computers, Lenny used Visions’ unique educational structure to join an EliteGamingLive club and the school’s Student Technology Services (STS) team. This flexibility allowed him to focus on his studies and hone his tech and takedown skills. 

At Visions, students like Lenny are able to explore classes, clubs and careers that align with their goals and hobbies. Aside from on-the-job training received from his position at STS, Lenny was able to take coding and video game design courses. Other classes and extracurriculars offered at Visions, like the Find Your Voice class, our gaming CTE pathway and our STEAM Club, show students how their passion can become their profession.

Through personalized learning, Visions prepares students to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We empower them to develop academic, interpersonal and technological skills, and we make opportunities for this development. At Visions, clubs, events, field trips, community college dual enrollment and more are available and accessible.

With a flexible school schedule, Lenny was able to spend part of his time studying curriculum, part of his time learning about technology and part of his time battling his eSports teammates as his go-to character, Bayonetta. For Lenny, it was the perfect dodge, attack, finish combo. It could also be the winning choice for your student.

Learn more about Lenny and Visions’ support services in this video!

Lights, Camera, Action! Check Out Our New Commercials

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Student learning from home to escape the drama of traditional high school.

Lights, Camera, Action!
Check Out Our New Commercials

We are always looking for ways to share our flexible, at-home learning options with students and families in Northern California. So we made some fun (and informative) commercials about our school to help spread the word! 

We focused on the top three reasons many of our high school students enroll with us:

  1. Flexibility – choose your schedule or work a part-time job.
  2. Learn from the safety of home – escape the drama of traditional high school!
  3. Enrichment activities – use your free time and budget to learn something new.

Watch the commercials below and see how students, Sam and Monica, personalize their learning.

Thinking of someone that may be interested in Visions In Education? Share the videos with them so they can learn more about online high school and get enrolled!

Superintendent Olmos Interviewed on CA Charter Schools Association Podcast

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Superintendent Steve Olmos shaking a graduate's hand in a graphic that says "Charter Nation Podcast"

Superintendent Olmos Interviewed
on CA Charter Schools Association Podcast

The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) interviewed Visions’ Superintendent Steve Olmos for their My View From Here podcast segment. Dr. Olmos had the chance to explain the importance of flexible learning options and how schools need to adapt to meet the needs of their students.

Over the past few years, Visions has made a variety of changes, all with students in mind. We’ve increased our social and emotional supports, refined our programs to better support student outcomes, improved our technology, and more.

Listen to the podcast here to hear more from Superintendent Olmos.

Dr. Olmos also serves on the State Board of Education Advisory Commission on Charter Schools to help ensure that all California charters are accountable and focused on student achievement.

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!

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Visions recognizes teacher appreciation week

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!

May 8th-12th is National Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to recognize our educators and thank them for all of their hard work. The impact of a good teacher can make all the difference in the world, potentially altering the course of someone’s life for the better.

At Visions, our students aren’t shy about how much they appreciate their teachers; when we asked our student body to explain what made their teacher awesome, they answered in droves! Over two hundred and forty students, parents, and families shouted out their favorite teacher.

On behalf of everyone at Visions In Education, thank you to our wonderful educators for all that you do to make our students’ lives better!

May 7th-13th is National Charter Schools Week!

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May 7-13 is National Charter Schools Week banner with apple and Visions star logo

May 7th-13th is National Charter Schools Week!

This week is National Charter Schools Week! A time to recognize the value of school options and equitable education that meets the needs of individual students. Visions In Education is proud to be a free public charter school that offers students a unique learning model. We prepare students for life after TK-12 education.

Charter schools like Visions have provided safe learning options for students who do not thrive in traditional schools. During the pandemic, our unique learning model allowed us to meet the needs of students remotely with little loss of learning. We were even able to grow, being honored with a Pivotal Practice Award from the California Department of Education for our excellent Technology Services team.

We are proud to be a public charter school that meets our students’ educational needs while also providing a rich variety of educational enrichment opportunities and events. As we continue to refine our processes and improve the way we serve our students, we are also taking steps to advocate for free public charter school options. As we’ve previously shared, Visions leadership is meeting with Sacramento lawmakers and their staff to tell our story and advocate for equitable funding for all public schools in California.

We are grateful to be a school chosen by its students. Thank you to our staff, families, and student body that have been part of our success as an independent charter school.

Join the Celebration!

    • Thank a Teacher: National Charter Schools Week coincides with Teacher Appreciation Week and the National Alliance of Charter Schools is inviting all students to thank their teachers for all the hard work they do making charter schools shine. Shout out your favorite teacher using #thankateacher, #charterschoolsweek, and #VisionsProud.
    • Share Your Story! Start a conversation with your friends and family about the reality of being a charter school student.
    • Share on Social Media: Use one of these graphics (link since removed) to let the world know you are a proud member of a free public charter school.