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Ventura County calls for more options in alternative education
A report on "High Schools for the 21st Century" was presented to superintendents and school board members at a monthly meeting of the Ventura County School Boards Association. The document was developed by the county's High Performing High Schools Commission. The report determined that high schools continue to operate from an early 20th century model of education. The commission will release a full report on the study next month. Charles Weiss, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, told guests at a meeting that even though students in county schools perform well on state exams, and many students are accepted by acclaimed colleges, too many college graduates have "sketchy" career plans, and students who drop out of school leave with minimal skills. High schools must offer rigor and relevance in classes surpassing core academic subjects, the commission concluded. Twenty-first-century skills should include a focus on "global awareness, financial, economic and business and entrepreneurial literacy, civic literacy, and health and wellness awareness," the report said. "High-achieving kids have been asking for relevance," said Roger Rice, commission chair and assistant superintendent of Oxnard Union High School District. Global competition Rice also warned that if other nations outpace the United States educationally, the standard of living will drop, the world's investors will take their money elsewhere, and more jobs will be "outsourced"- - offered to other countries where people are willing to work for lower wages. Rice presented an example of doctors sending MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans) to India for interpretation. Labor costs in India are 10 percent of those in the U.S., he said. People from China, India, Korea and Japan now compete for jobs, and the global economy has put the United States on alert, Weiss said. Students who don't speak English as their first language need more help, according to the report. A supportive culture The needs of special education students are also growing rapidly. "All too often, the students who require the most attention are assigned our least experienced teachers. It is they who deserve our most experienced teachers," the report advised. Personalized student support was recommended, and smaller "learning communities" within schools, which create a supportive culture. Adults must adjust to students' needs and take responsibility for those who are "struggling and disengaged." Technical education career courses also were recommended, especially for students who may not be college bound. Web design, computer applications, drafting and other courses would prepare students to enter the workforce. Magnet schools and smaller academies within the larger high school setting reportedly meet these goals. A student from Santa Susana High School presented his senior project--a video on the six academies offered at the school. Melissa Ramirez, who attends Channel Islands High School in Oxnard, discussed the mechanics of block scheduling. Instead of taking six classes each day, a block schedule alternates and lengthens classes so students attend only three daily. Superintendents respond Anna Merriman, assistant superintendent of the Moorpark Unified School District, said she believes students don't feel connected to their schools. "Students will try harder, work longer, when they are supported and assisted by their teachers," she said. "High schools in our surrounding areas are changing," said Sandra Smyser, superintendent of the Las Virgenes Unified School District. Smyser said Agoura and Calabasas high schools have implemented student support periods to help improve achievement and foster more contact between teachers and students. Programs to ease the transition from middle to high school have also been introduced at the two campuses, Smyser said. Alternative education opportunities have also been expanded, she said. "We are planning to open our first alternative education school that will provide increased independent study and online learning options for our students." A concurrent and dual enrollment program was recently approved by the Las Virgenes school board. Students can enroll in college level classes, earning both college and high school credit. Exceptionally motivated students could actually complete two years of college while in high school, Smyser said at a recent board meeting. Oak Park Unified School District also offers support periods, concurrent enrollment and dual credit for college courses. "We are educating an entirely new and different generation of kids commonly referred to as 'millennials,'" Superintendent Tony Knight said. "These kids have grown up digital for one thing, and I'm not sure our schools are well prepared to serve them. I think we could look at offering more in terms of technology, video and film production . . . and other ways to engage our kids. "We want our students to have a variety of experiences in high school," he said, "so that they can perhaps find their passion in something and pursue that in post-secondary education." Knight said Oak Park High is considering the creation of a culinary arts program. "This is an area that is growing tremendously worldwide, and there are many related career opportunities in this area," he said. "I still believe that the first and foremost responsibility of our high school is to prepare our students for college. We just know that a college education is essential in our modern world and that there is a marked quality of life difference for people who graduate from college." For a preview of the report, visit the Ventura County Office of Education's website at www.vcoe.org and link to Assessment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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