Rebuilding Safe Schools After Eaton Fires

Wildfire relief

San Gabriel Valley

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

The January wildfires near Eaton Canyon worsened already unstable facility conditions for four public charter schools in Altadena and Pasadena. These schools serve over 1,300 students—most from low-income and historically underserved communities—and are now facing urgent displacement. In LA County, the charter school facilities landscape is already inequitable and costly, making recovery even harder. Without immediate support, these schools risk being left in temporary, inadequate spaces, disrupting students' learning and well-being. For their communities, these schools are vital hubs for education, support, and stability. The fires added to years of structural barriers, and without intervention, these schools may not recover in time to serve families in need. Now is the moment to help them secure affordable, long-term facility solutions and access public funding resources to rebuild stronger.

This grant will support Blueprint’s initiative to help four fire-impacted charter schools in Altadena and Pasadena secure long-term, affordable facilities. Our approach combines two critical efforts: (1) guiding each school through the complex Charter School Facilities Program (the most recent round is Proposition 2) funding process—which could unlock substantial state dollars for permanent facilities—and (2) simultaneously identifying and evaluating other viable facility options, such as leasing, acquisition, or shared-use spaces. What makes our work unique is that we don't just advise—we act as an extension of each school’s team. We provide hands-on project management, real estate expertise, and strategic guidance rooted in deep knowledge of both charter school operations and California’s public funding landscape. With over 20 years of experience delivering more than 136 school facilities serving 55,000+ students, Blueprint is equipped to help these schools make timely, informed decisions. By managing timelines, consultants, applications, and negotiations, we allow school leaders to focus on students while we help them plan and build a stable future.

In the short term (Oct 2025–Oct 2026), we will guide four fire-impacted charter schools through the Charter School Facilities Program (Prop 2) funding process while assessing long-term facility options, including leasing, acquisition, and shared-use models. Each school—serving in total over 1,300 students from under-resourced communities—will be able to move toward stable and affordable facilities. Long term, our goal is to secure permanent homes for all four schools and continue to improve our model of support which can be used across LA County. By combining technical guidance, real estate expertise, and funding navigation, we aim to help more schools overcome systemic barriers to facilities access and ensure more students have safe, stable places to learn.