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Findings and Recommendations 26 findings
F01
The failure of Ventura County K-12 schools to adequately prepare students for college-level classes results in the Ventura County taxpayers paying for the same education two or more times for remedial students, once in K-12 and again in college. (FA-08)
No recommendations for this finding
F02
Students taking remedial, non-transferable courses, drop out of college at a greater rate than students taking transferable courses and thus use resources that college-prepared students could be using. (FA-02-05)
No recommendations for this finding
F03
Students taking remedial, non-transferable courses, use a disproportionate amount of financial aid and other district resources that could otherwise be used by students taking transferable courses. This includes costs for these remedial, non-transferable courses that detract from the total number of courses available for transferring students. (FA-11-14) Wasting Education Money: Paying Twice 7
No recommendations for this finding
F04
Providing remedial courses at the community college has put a higher and unnecessary burden on the taxpayer to provide the same education twice (once in K-12 and again in college). This includes the time and energy expended by student and faculty, as well as the cost of facility use. (FA-01-03, 05, 07, 09)
No recommendations for this finding
F05
It is more cost-effective for taxpayers to use alternative methods of remediation, such as on-line programs, adult education, vocational training and private tutorial programs. (FA-10, 11) [Ref-17, 18]
No recommendations for this finding
F06
The overall average public high school graduation rate for San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties is 72%, which is lower than the national average. (FA-02, 07, 08) (Att-01) [Ref-06]
No recommendations for this finding
F07
The 2008-2009 percentages of Ventura County students that scored at or above the proficiency level in English was 58.4%. (FA-19) (Att-02)
No recommendations for this finding
F08
The 2008-2009 percentages of Ventura County students that scored at or above the proficiency level in math was 59.4%. (FA-19) (Att-02)
No recommendations for this finding
F09
Nationwide, community colleges spend more than $3.7 billion a year, which includes $1.4 billion for remedial education after graduating from high school, which could provide classes and services for college-prepared students. (FA-03-05) [Ref-23]
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Close to $2.3 billion is lost to our economy because students who are required to take remedial reading are more likely to drop out of college without having earned a degree, thereby earning less and impacting the local tax base. In California over the last three years, $809 million was removed from the funding of community colleges, causing reduced class offerings and services. (FA-07, 08, 11, 20) [Ref-22] (Att-05)
No recommendations for this finding
F11
A recent survey of the various community colleges in Ventura County revealed that there were 9,913 remedial students. Of those, 2,067 were taking remedial English and 6,211 were taking remedial math in the Fall of 2011. There may be students taking both English and math which could account for discrepancies in numbers. Therefore, these college resources are not available to college-prepared students. (FA-22) (Att-07)
No recommendations for this finding
F12
In the Fall of 2011 there were 354 remedial courses in the various community colleges within the VCCCD. In the Spring of 2012 there were 325 remedial courses offered in the VCCCD. Therefore, these college resources are not available to college-prepared students. (FA-21, 22) (Att-07)
No recommendations for this finding
F13
There is no evidence that there is a task force with the VCCCD and the Superintendants of Schools. (FA-26) 8 Wasting Education Money: Paying Twice! Recommendations
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The Grand Jury survey found that Ventura Community College listed 3,903 students taking non-transferable English and math courses. [Ref-15] (Att-07)
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The estimated national drop-out rate for community colleges is reported at 20%. [Ref-16]
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The Los Angeles Times reported that students taking non-transferable courses expend greater amounts of time and money to meet their educational goals. [Ref-16]
No recommendations for this finding
F17
There were 394 remedial classes offered at VCCCD for Fall 2012. A professor’s pro-rated salary is $5,800 (based on a Master’s Degree annual salary of $58,000) for a 3-unit class. [Ref-14, 15]
No recommendations for this finding
F18
The average Conejo Valley Unified School District compensation for teaching a standard English or math class would be $3,750 (based on a BA with a credential). [Ref-17, 24]
No recommendations for this finding
F19
The public high school graduation rate for San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties is 72%. The 2008-2009 percent of Ventura County students scoring at or above proficient level in English was 58.4%. The math proficiency level was 59.4%. (Att-02)
No recommendations for this finding
F20
The nation’s community colleges spend more than $3.7 billion a year in taxes to remediate students. This number includes $1.4 billion to provide remedial education to students who have recently completed high school. [Ref-05, 06, 23] 6 Wasting Education Money: Paying Twice!
No recommendations for this finding
F21
Of the $3.7 billion in taxes, almost $2.3 billion in economic losses occur because remedial students are more likely to drop out of college without a degree, thereby reducing their potential earnings. [Ref-23]
No recommendations for this finding
F22
Reduction of state funding for community colleges has caused a loss of $809 million over the past three years with more reductions expected. [Ref-24]
No recommendations for this finding
F23
The Los Angeles Times article research stated “the issue is especially acute in California, where about 85% of students entering a two-year college are assigned to remedial classes and 73% to remedial math…”. [Ref-16]
No recommendations for this finding
F24
The loss of funding for remedial math/English/reading impacts the fiscal budget for college-prepared students. [Ref-26]
No recommendations for this finding
F25
The VCCCD is required to meet the Mission of the California Community Colleges (Ed. Code 66010.4). It is, in part: “The mission … the California Community Colleges shall, as a primary mission, offer academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level for both younger and older students, including those persons returning to school. In addition to the primary mission of academic and vocational instruction, the community colleges shall offer instruction and courses to achieve all of the following:. . .remedial instruction. . .instruction in English as a second language. . .adult non-credit instruction. . .and support services….” [Ref-27]
No recommendations for this finding
F26
The Grand Jury found that there is no on-going interface between the VCCCD and the school districts in Ventura County. The office of the Conejo School District confirmed that there has been no communication between the VCCCD and that office. Findings
No recommendations for this finding