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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Stanislaus County Grand Jury • 2022-2023

Stanislaus County

47 pages
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Findings 14 findings

F1 Page 193
At comprehensive high schools in X R1. Districts should develop strategies X the County, while the CTE course for reaching out to English learners and offerings do not thoroughly cover all continuation high school students, to fifteen industry groups, and vary promote CTE programs. substantially by district and school, all students, including English learners, do have access to the programs.
F2 Page 171
Continuation high schools' access to CTE programs is very limited. Response: SCOE, responding with regard to access to CTE programs at SCOE, disagrees partially with this finding to the extent that we do not believe that access to these programs is "very" limited. (Penal Code§ 933.05(a)(2)). Explanation: SCOE disagrees with this statement, however lower enrollment numbers and fluctuating enrollment are contributing challenges. SCOE school sites offer students instruction through Independent Study ("IS") and classroom programs and CTE is offered to ALL students regardless of their program participation. Independent Study students can take virtual CTE elective courses or attend daily CTE classes offered on campus. Overall site enrollment is very low, with small class sizes, staffing ranges from 2-4 certificated subject area teachers and one CTE teacher. Credentialing determines teacher assignments. The cou11 school provides in-class instruction in units where students are placed by probation based on a variety of factors, however the average stay of a minor in the court school is 27 days. The adult charter operated by SCOE, CSK, serves students who are 18 years old and above. These students have access to CTE programs. Students enrolled in SCOE programs also have access to a variety of CTE opportunities and events which include the Career Inspiration Center, Apprenticeship Expo, Occupational Olympics, Destination Medicine, MJC Summer CTE Pathway Program, forklift certification program with Ag Safe, and dual enrollment opportunities.
F3 Page 171
Master schedule conflicts limit English learner participation in CTE programs because required EL classes, graduation classes, and CTE classes are frequently offered at the same time. Response: SCOE disagrees with this finding. (Penal Code§ 933.05(a)(2)). Explanation: Low and ever-fluctuating student enrollment numbers create many master schedule challenges. Offering CTE is not one of those challenges as we have flexibility, due to small class size to accommodate alternative schedules within the school day. Creative scheduling allows both IS and classroom students on each campus to participate in CTE courses. Most of the students referred to SCOE schools are credit deficient, and many have significant gaps in their education. CTE courses offer the opportunity to earn credits for all students. The only challenge is the variety of CTE classes offered and the length of time students are enrolled in our schools. EL students are provided EL support, as determined by the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California ("ELPAC") and EL classification, through their core classes and instructors. 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - Long term Enrollment-2019-2021 (2 school years) Total# of 9-12 English Only students enrolled for 2 full school years 11 Total# of 9-12 EL students enrolled for 2 full school years TOTAL# of students program wide enrolled for 2 consecutive years 12 2019-20 Enrollment by Site EL English Only IBA 12 61 PACE 22 92 SMA 18 100 Total 52 (17%) 253 2020-21 Enrollment by Site EL English Only IBA 20 126 PACE 17 126 SMA 15 119 Total 52 (12%) 371 2019-20 - CTE course enrollment COURSE EL English Only Horticulture 0 10 Small Engine Rep 2 12 Construction Tech I 3 28 Supply Chain T 3 27 Culinary 0 23 TOTAL 8 (7%) 100 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - 2020-21 CTE course enrollment Course EL English Only Horticulture 9 Small Engine Rep 2 6 Construction Tech I 4 17 .,,, Supply Chain I 20 Culinary 0 9 TOTAL 10 (14%) 61 The percentage of EL student participation in CTE classes in 2019-20 and 2020-21 (7% and 14%) closely aligns with the actual total percentage of EL students enrolled as a whole in SCOE schools for the same time span (17% and 12%).
F4 Page 173
Promotion by districts of available CTE transportation is lacking. Response: SCOE disagrees with this finding (Penal Code § 933.05(a)(2)). Explanation: SCOE can't address other districts' transportation services for their CTE students, but SCOE transports students to a variety of student events and activities which include the Career Inspiration Center, MJC Career Pathway Day, Apprenticeship Expo, Occupational Olympics, Industry Tours and additional CTE related opportunities. Transportation is available to all students and included with all of the opportunities mentioned above. Transportation for students who wish to attend CTE classes on other SCOE school sites is a challenge due to the distance and time involved in moving students to one site and back within the school day without impacting their attendance in the core classes needed for graduation, as mandated by the State of California. Administrators have attempted transportation back and forth to school sites, however travel time and the cost of weekly transportation made it challenging. FS. Payment for out-of-pocket CTE expenses is a barrier to participation for some students. Response: SCOE disagrees with this finding. (Penal Code § 933.05(a)(2)). Explanation: Students are not charged, and don't have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for any CTE related programs and activities.
F5 Page 194
Payment for out-of-pocket CTE X R5. To promote access, equity, and X expenses is a barrier to participation for participation, districts should promote some students. CTE transportation options.
F6 Page 173
Access to technology, particularly learning applications are not always provided in alternate languages creating a barrier to participation. 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - Response: SCOE disagrees with this finding. (Penal Code § 933.05(a)(2)). Explanation: The online curriculum for both classroom and Independent Study students, Edmentum, offers translation supports for the CTE classes and programs offered.
F7 Page 174
Promotion of CTE programs for English learners and continuation of high school students is inadequate. Response: SCOE disagrees with this finding. (Penal Code § 933.05(a)(2)). Explanation: All students, including English learners, are informed of the CTE program opportunities in a variety of ways. Translation services are also provided as needed. Promotion of CTE programs and activities include career navigator presentations, student intake meetings, flyers, back to school night, boot camp- meet the teacher, Gateway to Gallo presentations, MJC presentations, and the SCOE Student/Parent Handbook.
F8 Page 174
More support is needed for English learners and continuation high school students, to improve access and promote equity of CTE pathways. This support can take many forms, including education for parents and students on the value of CTE. Response: SCOE disagrees with this finding. (Penal Code § 933.05(a)(2)). Explanation: All students, including English learners are informed of the CTE program opportunities in a variety of ways. Translation services are also provided as needed. Promotion of CTE programs and activities include career navigator presentations, student intake meetings, flyers, back to school night, boot camp - meet the teacher, Gateway to Gallo presentations, and MJC presentations. CTE course offerings are all listed in the SCOE Student/Parent Handbook provided to every student and parent upon enrollment, in English or Spanish. Counselors meet with every student and parent to create a grad plan where CTE class information is shared. FINDINGS: Participation
F9 Page 174
English learner enrollment in CTE varies considerably by district and school. Response: SCOE agrees with this finding. Explanation: Each district has their own EL population and data. SCOE operates alternative education sites and CTE programs. SCOE alternative education sites should not be compared to comprehensive sites and continuation high schools due to the unique needs of students who are referred to the programs that SCOE offers. School districts across the county offer more variety due to higher enrollment and more consistent student enrollment from year to year. Enrollment at SCOE alternative education sites, including EL students, fluctuates significantly throughout the course of the year. 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - 2019-20 Enrollment by Site EL English Only: JBA 12 61 PACE 22 92 SMA 18 100 Total 52 (17%) 253 2020-21 Enrollment by site EL EO IBA 20 126 PACE 17 126 SMA 15 119 Total 52 (12%) 371 2019-20 - CTE course enrollment COURSE EL EO Horticulture 0 10 Small Engine Rep 2 12 Construction Tech I 3 28 Supply Chain I 3 27 Culinary 0 23 TOTAL 8 (7%) 100 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - 2020-21 CTE course enrollment Course EL EO Horticulture 9 Small Engine Rep 2 6 Construction Tech I 4 17 Supply Chain I 3 20 Culinary 0 9 TOTAL 10 (14%) 61 FINDINGS: Achievement FIO. The CTE completion rate for English learners is low. Response: SCOE agrees with this finding. Explanation: SCOE had O CTE completers when the data was requested for the 18-19 school year. SCOE only had one completer during the 19-20 school year and the student was an English only student. SCOE alternative education programs historically have low completer rates due to a variety of factors which include the following: *Students migrating in and out of programs. Limited number of students complete 2 years in SCOE's alternative education programs. *CALPADS reported data is only August-October. Students who transition to SCOE programs after October are not reported in CALPADS data. *Singleton CTE courses offered due to low enrollment and staffing *Students focus on credits for grad requirements and often times do not need additional CTE credits because they received these credits at their comprehensive sites prior to attending SCOE alternative education sites. Fil. The graduation rate for continuation high school students varies dramatically by school, and the graduation rates are significantly lower than for comprehensive high schools. Response: SCOE agrees with this finding. Explanation: Graduation rates for SCOE alt. ed. schools are calculated through DASS, an alternative measure to reflect annual rates rather than 4-year cohort rates. Community, court and charter schools offered by SCOE provide the highest at-risk students the 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - opportunity to gain a high school diploma. Graduation rates cannot be compared to comprehensive school sites. The adult charter graduates are all students who did not graduate from a comprehensive high school and made the choice to return to CBK to earn a high school diploma. Over 1371 students, who were reported as drop-outs at one point, are now high school graduates.
F10 Page 194
The CTE completion rate for X English learners is low.
F11 Page 194
The graduation rate for X continuation high school students varies dramatically by school, and the graduation rates are significantly lower than for comprehensive high schools.
F12 Page 177
EL high school graduates who graduate have low "college/career" scores. Response: SCOE agrees with this finding. (Penal Code§ 903.05(a)(l )). Explanation: Based on table 5, SCOE agrees with this finding, however lower scores are due to student fluctuation, lower enrollment, and students coming to SCOE alt. ed. sites as credit deficient. College and career readiness rates are lower because students need to meet set criteria to be college and career ready. Many students do not stay enrolled in SCOE alt ed programs for more than one year, which makes it challenging to meet this set criteria. Delineated below you will find the criteria for being college and career ready. SCOE alternative education sites have significant challenges meeting this criterion due to fluctuating student enrollment over the course of the year. A small population of students attend SCOE alternative education sites for 2 years, as noted above. • Career Technical Education Pathway Completion. • Grade 11 Sma1ter Balanced Summative Assessments in ELA and mathematics. • Advanced Placement Exams. • International Baccalaureate Exams. • College Credit Course (formerly called Dual Enrollment)
F13 Page 177
The percentage of continuation high school students who graduate varies from school to school, but the percent not "college/career ready" is significantly low. Response: SCOE agrees with this finding. (Penal Code§ 903.05(a)(l)). Explanation: The same rationale applies as referenced in Finding# 12 above. Based on table 5, SCOE agrees with this finding, however lower scores are due to student fluctuation, lower enrollment, and students coming to SCOE alt. ed. sites as credit deficient. College and career readiness rates are lower because students need to meet set criteria to be college and career ready. Many students do not stay enrolled in SCOE alt. ed. programs for more than one year, which makes it challenging to meet this set criteria. Below are delineated the criteria for being college and career ready. SCOE alternative education sites have significant challenges meeting this criterion due to fluctuating student enro 11m ent over the course of the year. A small population of students attend SCOE alternative education sites for 2 years, as mentioned above. • Career Technical Education Pathway Completion. • Grade 11 Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments in ELA and mathematics. • Advanced Placement Exams. • International Baccalaureate Exams. 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - • College Credit Course (fonnerly called Dual Enrollment)
F14 Page 178
Districts need to find additional avenues for English learners and continuation high school students to gain skills to help them succeed in life, be it in college or in a career. Promoting greater participation in CTE is an opportunity. Response: SCOE agrees with this finding (Penal Code§ 903.0S(a)(l)). Explanation: It is essential to continue to find additional avenues for English learners and continuation high school students to gain skills to help them succeed in life, be it in college or in a career. Since 2018, SCOE has added the following programs and student resources listed below. SCOE will continue to build on CTE programs and student opportunities. The addition of these programs and opportunities demonstrates that SCOE continues to increase avenues for students to gain CTE skills that will help them succeed in life. *Career Inspiration Center *A pprenticeship Expo *Small Engines at PACE *VCHS robotics *Ag Safe Forklift trainings *Summer Career Inspiration Center Bootcamp *Gateway to Gallo Program *www .stancareerpath.com *MJC Career Pathway Day *MJC Summer CTE Pathway Program *Career Navigator Site Support *Dual Enrollment CTE Opportunities *Destination Medicine *Floriculture@ Juvenile Hall *Culinary Arts at Juvenile Hall *Performing Arts at VCHS 2022-2023 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury - RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS

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