Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
• 2020-2021
• Agency Response
Board of Trustees District Superintendent Jose E. Pereyra Raul Rodriguez Jr. Maria Luisa Baro Sheila Marie C. Cepeda*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 9 findings
F1
In-person learning is more effective than remote learning both academically and emotionally. GUSD response: Agree. We do note that some families preferred the remote learning format and sought to have their students continue in independent study in 2021-22.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
For student achievement, especially for low performing students, in-person learning in small classes or small groups is preferable to larger classrooms. GUSD response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Remote learning exposed the importance of outreach efforts to provide coaching to parents on creating a positive home learning environment. GUSD response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Santa Barbara County school districts did not use one common test throughout Santa Barbara County, making it impossible to compare countywide testing results. GUSD response: Agree. For summative testing during the 2020-21 school year, we administered Renaissance/STAR assessments in reading and mathematics in grades K-8 and California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests in English/language arts and mathematics in grades 3- 8 at the conclusion of the school year.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
That the Santa Barbara County school districts and the Santa Barbara County Education Office work together to develop a common summative testing program to be adopted for all Santa Barbara County school districts for the 2022-23 school year. GUSD response: Will be implemented. By 2022-23 we expect that all Santa Barbara County school districts will have resumed regular administration of California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests in English/language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8 and 11.
F5
Students with the greatest learning loss will require a concentrated effort to bring them up to Federal and State grade level standards. GUSD response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
That Santa Barbara County Schools outline their plans to attain Federal and State grade level standards for math and English language arts. GUSD response: Has been implemented. Goal 1 of the Guadalupe Union School District Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is to provide students high quality instruction that maximizes student achievement, including student accomplishment of English/language arts and mathematics standards.
F6
As the 2020-21school year wore on, remote learning and teaching techniques and students' computer skills improved. GUSD response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Federal and State COVID relief funds cannot be counted on indefinitely. GUSD response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Community organizations provided critical assistance to the Santa Barbara County school districts by expanding their efforts to bridge the learning gap between the home environment and school. GUSD response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
That each Santa Barbara County school district develop plans by the start of the 2022-23 school year to encourage community organizations to continue to provide critical academic and emotional support. GUSD response: Will be implemented. We are one of several school districts participating in a county consortium that is working to build stronger links between schools and governmental and community supports. The goal of the consortium is to foster "warm handoffs" when referrals are made so as to ensure that youth and families are accessing the services they need. Our school district is represented on the Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley board of directors, and we value the programs FBSMV provides in support of students, parents, and families. Finally, we already partner with local organizations ranging from the Santa Maria Valley YMCA to Central Coast Boys and Girls Club to United Way of Santa Barbara County to Allan Hancock College. Each partnership provides important support for students.
F9
Internet services were critical to remote learning and, in most cases, Santa Barbara County school districts filled the gap for homes that did not have them. GUSD response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
That each Santa Barbara County school district maintain adequate internet services for all students if distance learning or an emergency should again require remote learning. GUSD response: Has been implemented. Our Technology Department routinely supports families with internet services, either by providing information on low-cost internet access or by loaning them Wi-Fi hot spots. Sincerely and respectfully submitted, Emilio M. Handall, Ed. D. Superintendent Guadalupe Union School District
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.