Orange County to launch baseball, softball microschool

Orange County Public Schools is going to launch a brand-new educational model designed to keep students enrolled in public schools. Beginning this August, the district is launching its very first "micro-school"—a specialized academy operating right inside an existing campus—and this program is built entirely for young baseball and softball players. The micro-school will operate out of Chaney Elementary School, using four to five classrooms. The program will have 48 students. "Essentially, they would have a 10U and 12U softball team and a 10U and 12U baseball team," Dr. Border explained. The academy will be staffed by two traditional academic teachers and two coaches. While students will receive the standard state-required elementary education curriculum, their athletic development will be integrated into the daily schedule across three phases.  "One on the field work, both also in the classroom strategy work, but then also skill work which could also be done in a classroom, hitting off tees into nets," Dr. Border said.