Earning Credits Where Credits are Due

Manteca Adult School Helps Students Get Back on Track

The California Education Code establishes a minimum set of requirements for graduation from California high schools, while California universities maintain their own set of required courses approved for admission known widely as the A-G course list.

For a student to be eligible to graduate and/or apply for admission to a university, one would have needed to pass required courses with full credit and/or receive a C letter grade or better in all courses needed on the university list. Sometimes, high school students need to remediate, or repeat, courses to meet these requirements.

Since 2011, MUSD has made significant efforts to refine and expand remediation programs making them more targeted and apt to meeting actual, specific student need. Whereas before, if a student did not receive full credits in a core course (such as English, math, science, or history) the student would likely need to repeat the course for an entire semester to earn a better grade alongside underclassmen taking the course for the first time.

The District’s refined remedial programs aim to address learning gaps by reteaching the core content necessary to reach California grade level standards. In sum, it is designed to close the gap between what an individual student knows and what they’re expected to know. These established remedial programs became crucial when some students needed to remediate courses having faced unprecedented challenges amid the pandemic. For some students, these programs have given viable avenues for their return to academic success.

Students study on their devices

“I write inspirational messages every day— my favorite one is ‘You can do this!’” expressed Susan Huarte, registrar for MUSD’s remedial program. The program, at large, is coordinated by MUSD’s Adult School, though is offered on some high school campuses as a session before school, after school, and during the school day for students who have room in their schedule, in addition to morning and evening sessions at the Adult School located on MUSD’s district office complex.

The sessions are taught by certificated educators who utilize an adaptive program to meet students where they need the most help— targeted learning for individual student need. “Some students may not need to remediate the entire course, but only the section where they were unable to earn full credit,” explained Brad Harrison, Adult School principal and former high school administrator. He painted a scene of a senior sitting in a freshman English class for remediation and explained that this environment is not encouraging for the senior, and posed the question: Why would that senior occupy a spot in a freshman class for an entire year when they may only need a few weeks to recover?

Day in and day out, Susan collaborates with high school counselors to place students where they best fit into the remedial program. The counselors give recommendations considering the student’s unique situation, and Susan finds the space available and the location that is accessible. “My goal is to never have a program waiting list,” she added.

This year the program has already served over 400 students and by the end of summer, Brad anticipates around 1,500 students will benefit from this kind of support.

“We’re always communicating with students,” said Susan. She explained that some students need the continued support and encouragement from instructors, “We give them 110% as long as they’re trying their best.”

“Each year the program gets better and better as we continue to meet student need,” added Brad. Speaking to Susan’s instrumental role and dedication to the program, he expressed, “The reason it works is because of her.”

With the program highly accessible to those students in need, it is another resource and strategy in place toward individual student achievement.

Susan Huarte, Registrar