2011 Sweetwater Education Summit September 1st
Creating a Culture of Success The Sweetwater Union High School District delta illustrates the three guiding principals for the 2011-‐2012 school year.
Rising Student Achievement At Sweetwater Schools, we want to ensure that all students are being challenged to become 21st Century learners—young people who can think analy5cally, problem-‐solve and compete in the global marketplace. The latest state test scores show that our teachers and staff are succeeding in helping students reach their academic poten5al. English-‐Language Arts -‐ % of Students Scoring Proficient or Advanced
Grade 7 8 9 10 11
The delta is the Greek symbol for change. In the Sweetwater District, we want to embrace posi5ve change as we work to improve the district. Inside the delta are the three key groups we seek to serve: students, staff and the community. Students always come first. We want to usher in a new era of communica5on and collabora5on with the community to ensure that students’ needs are being met. In crea5ng a culture of student success, the delta helps to focus on priori5es. Outside the delta are the three top priori5es for the district: fiscal stability, teamwork and the Compact for Success.
Advanced Placement More students than ever are challenging themselves to reach their full poten5al. That’s why we are expanding opportuni5es for accelerated learning and enrichment. Advanced Placement classes allow high school students to complete college-‐level coursework and take exams qualifying them for college credit. Advanced Placement # of Students Taking Exams !#"(%
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2009 53 48 49 40 36
2010 54 54 60 46 40
2011 60 59 59 54 48
Algebra 1 -‐ Students Scoring Proficient or Advanced
Districtwide
2009
2010
2011
34
36
41
Source: CA Dept. of Educa5on STAR Test Results
Compact for Success When it comes to college, Sweetwater students have a BIG advantage. As soon as they enter 7th grade, Sweetwater students can lay claim to the San Diego State University promise of guaranteed admission by joining the Compact for Success. The Compact has helped Sweetwater raise the bar on achievement for all students by establishing a series of academic benchmarks for eligibility. Since the Compact began in 2000, proficiency in English and math among Sweetwater graduates entering SDSU has increased by 578%. In the decade between 2000 and 2010, the number of incoming freshmen from Sweetwater enrolling annually at SDSU has more than doubled. SDSU Trend Data
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College and Career Readiness To be^er prepare students for both college and the world of work, the Sweetwater District is now offering career technical educa5on programs in middle and high schools. Star5ng this year, eighth grade students at Granger Junior High and Hilltop Middle School now have the op5on of enrolling in a career explora5on pathway. Introduc5on to Health Science and Medical Technology is being offered at Granger. At Hilltop, students are able to enroll in Pre-‐Engineering and Design. Both pathways offer a year-‐long series of elec5ve courses that give students an overview of the chosen industry and the career op5ons offered in that field, and prepare them for strong pathways in high schools.
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UC/CSU College-Prep Classes Year-‐by-‐year, counselors work with students to keep them on track to complete the rigorous courses required for admission to the University of California and California State University systems. More than 35% of students gradua5ng in the Classes of 2007 – 2009 met the UC/CSU course requirements.
Honors and Distinctions For the past 25 years, the State of California has honored the top middle and high schools by naming them DisHnguished Schools. A total of 23 Sweetwater Schools have been named to the ranks of Dis5nguished Schools. In 2011, Rancho del Rey Middle School was one of only 97 schools in the state to receive this dis5nc5on. Dis5nguished Schools must demonstrate high levels of student academic performance, sustained growth and significant progress in closing the achievement gap. To select winners, the California Department of Educa5on reviews student performance among English language learners, socio-‐economically disadvantaged, Hispanic and African-‐American students.
Sweetwater High School
The Sweetwater District has also earned a total of 27 Golden Bell awards. Hundreds of school programs throughout California compete for this honor from the California School Boards Associa5on, which recognizes exemplary instruc5onal programs. In 2010, Olympian High School won for the Senior Experience program. Over two years, students helped build a school in Pakistan and water systems in Hai5. Southwest Middle School earned a Golden Bell for crea5ng a college-‐going culture by increasing academic rigor and providing in-‐depth tutorials through the AVID program.
Chula Vista High School
Mar Vista High School
Campus Modernization Sweetwater is renova5ng schools to provide a safe, healthy and top quality learning environment for all students. The first makeovers are happening at the oldest nine campuses. Construc5on was made possible through voter-‐approved Proposi5on O. The bond measure is providing $644 million for new construc5on and moderniza5on at 35 middle, high, adult and alterna5ve school campuses. State-‐of-‐the-‐art classrooms, modern science labs and libraries are among the projects completed before the start of the 2011-‐2012 school year. Highlights include: •A new Crea5ve and Performing Arts Center at Chula Vista High that is now the biggest and best-‐equipped theatre in South Bay. In addi5on to classrooms and rehearsal rooms, the new building includes a 680-‐seat theatre complete with stage ligh5ng and a professional sound system. •A new three-‐story building at Sweetwater High in Na5onal City houses 34 classrooms, a library, 200-‐seat theatre, student services office, counseling and health centers. •At Hilltop High, students are enjoying four new one-‐story buildings with classrooms and modern science labs, a two-‐story building with special educa5on and tradi5onal classrooms, a new industrial and technology arts facility equipped with a woodshop and photography lab. For a full list of Prop O projects completed and in progress visit www.buildingpropo.com
Adult Education Lifelong learning opportuni5es are plen5ful in Sweetwater’s Adult Educa5on Division. More than 25,400 students a^end classes at four adult school campuses—Chula Vista, Na5onal City, Montgomery and San Ysidro. In addi5on, classes are brought to learners’ doorsteps at other convenient mee5ng loca5ons in recrea5on centers, elementary schools, public libraries and community agencies. Worker-‐ friendly class schedules make con5nuing educa5on accessible to even the busiest adults. Course offerings help students polish skills in English as a Second Language, U.S. Ci5zenship prepara5on, Parent Educa5on, Older Adults, Health & Safety Career Technical Educa5on, Adult Basic Educa5on and Adult Secondary Educa5on allowing students to earn a High School or General Educa5on diploma.
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Source: SUHSD Adult Educa5on Division
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90-day Plan to Improve Sweetwater Schools Legal Services
Issues The high cost of Legal Services Analysis • SDCOE conducted a study comparing legal fees paid by similar districts • Most districts do not have General Counsel at Board Mee5ngs Outcomes • Recommend no General Counsel • Use legal counsel as needed from approved firms Next Steps • Ongoing monitoring of fees and restructuring of retainer agreements • Quarterly audit of legal fees
Credit Recovery
Issues Concern over credit recovery program at Castle Park High Analysis • Inves5ga5on of credit recovery prac5ces • Review of coursework completed with teachers Outcomes • Original grades restored on transcripts; students/parents no5fied • All SUHSD administrators trained on district guidelines and proper use of forms • All principals and Credit Recovery Coordinators signed assurances • Audited credit recovery procedures districtwide • Appropriate disciplinary ac5on taken Next Steps •Con5nual monitoring of credit recovery courses •Train responsible site staff
Proposition O Issues Perceived lack of oversight on Prop O management Analysis • Internal audit of Prop O spending and construc5on progress • Review of change orders and comparison to other districts Outcomes • Increased quan5ty and quality of informa5on and reports on website • Prop O team has had over 160 informa5onal mee5ngs with a variety of stakeholder groups to communicate scope, progress and next steps • CBOC reviews expenditures, scopes of work, to ensure we are spending the money per the Prop O bond language. Next Steps • Con5nue monitoring Prop O spending and ensure 5mely construc5on deadlines are met
Food Services
Issues Employee fiscal misconduct in Food Services Analysis • Inves5ga5on conducted by external firm • Internal and external audits of fiscal controls • Audit of employee hiring prac5ces Outcomes • Uncovered ethical lapses and illegal ac5vity by several employees • Dismissal of personnel and change in Food Services Leadership • Corrected fiscal controls and made changes in vendors • Implemented universal pin numbers for schools Next Steps • Improve internal business controls • Implemented addi5onal employee training and accountability measures • Reinforce Code of Conduct procedures
Bounce Back Independent Study High School
Issues Percep5on that students in BBISHS were incorrectly placed and receiving a lower quality educa5on Analysis • Enrollment in BBISHS is voluntary. Students, parents and school staff must sign Master Agreement. • 2 State inves5ga5ons • BBISHS students use same curriculum and texts as conven5onal HS Outcomes • All state recommended ac5ons implemented • BBISHS accredited by WASC and courses are being approved for the CSU/UC “A-‐G” course list. Next Steps • BBISHS will be evaluated annually and CST results will be analyzed • Director of Alterna5ve Educa5on will con5nue to iden5fy areas for improvement
School Fees Update
Issues ACLU sued California school districts for charging student fees -‐ Students en5tled to free and appropriated public educa5on Analysis • District met with all ASB Deans and administrators the week before school • Reinforced that sites cannot charge for anything that is required • Mailed le^ers to parents offering refunds • Defined how funds benefit students and the sites • Itemized how ASB cards funds were used at schools Next Steps • Con5nue to audit ASBs and ensure no required charging • Share more informa5on with the public through newsle^ers • Ongoing training for site staff
Unique Opportunities for 7th Graders
Issues By comparison with charter schools, SUHSD offers unique opportuni5es for 7th graders: • Compact for Success eligibility, guaranteeing admission to SDSU • World Language and Algebra courses taken in middle school for high school credit • Mul5ple foreign language classes available in Chinese, Tagalog, French, Japanese • Structured enrichment opportuni5es offered in aqer school program • Special interest courses available in: Technology, VAPA, Health Services, Engineering • State-‐of-‐the-‐art science labs Next Steps • Request access to prospec5ve family contact informa5on from feeder districts • Expanded outreach to provide access for incoming 7th graders • Visits with 6th grade students and middle school campus visit opportuni5es for prospec5ve families before charter school lo^ery
A-G Courses
Issues Low A-‐G comple5on rate among low-‐income students of color Analysis • A-‐G comple5on rate has remained steady at 35% for the past few years Outcomes • Rigorous changes in curriculum and instruc5on made in last 4 years, such as year long science in 7th grade • Board approved A-‐G curriculum as default curriculum Next Steps • Expand college readiness by increasing A-‐G comple5on rate • Assess impact of making A-‐G default curriculum on elec5ve course offerings • Increase enrollment in VAPA and foreign language to meet A-‐G requirements
Finance
Issues State Cash Flow Crisis Analysis • SUHSD has a $350 million budget and an es5mated $80 million may be overdue from State by June •Cannot make payroll in April, May and June •85% of school districts borrow between funds •Op5ons: •Put financing package together •Borrow internally and repay ourselves with interest Next Steps •Obtain legal opinions of borrowing from district funds
Synthetic Drugs
Issues There has been an increase in use of synthe5c drugs, such as Spice, among South Bay youth Analysis • Presenta5ons to Chula Vista City Council •Legisla5on is being sponsored by CA Assembly Member Ben Hueso Outcomes • Parent town hall mee5ngs in Chula Vista and Na5onal City • Trained all APs, nurses and health teachers on dangers of Spice and Bath Salts Next Steps • Con5nue working with state legislators and community • Create a Board policy to prohibit these items on campus
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SUHSD Board of Trustees: Jim Cartmill Bertha J. López John McCann Pearl Quiñones Arlie N. Ricasa Dr. Edward M. Brand, Ac5ng Superintendent Sweetwater Union High School District programs and ac6vi6es shall be free from discrimina6on based on gender, sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, na6onal origin, ethnic group iden6fica6on, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sexual orienta6on or the percep6on of one or more of such characteris6cs. SUHSD Board Policy 0410.