In 1998, parents and teachers, inspired by the Waldorf model of education, founded Monterey Bay Charter School. In 2006, the school was given its first autonomous charter status by the Board of the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE). Monterey Bay Charter School is a tuition-free public school using the core principles of Public Waldorf Education aligned to the state standards. The school’s emphasis is a solid academic foundation, artistic expression, and social / emotional development. A holistic, arts-integrated approach to learning emphasizes the child’s relationship to the natural world thereby promoting respect for the environment and humankind. The goal is to nurture the whole child with the objective of enabling students to become self-motivated, competent life-long learners.