Category Archives: Alternative education

New Federal Guidance Aims to Improve Schooling for Incarcerated Youth – Education Week

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By Evie Blad

The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice will jointly announce today guidance on education of confined or incarcerated youths with the aim of helping states and localities to improve outcomes when juveniles are released and to reduce their likelihood of recidivism.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder will release the materials at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center in Alexandria, Va., following on recommendations from a report created as part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. That effort seeks to improve schooling outcomes and opportunities for boys of color.

African American boys are more likely to be disciplined at school than their peers, and they also face higher rates of incarceration and contact with the justice system.

via New Federal Guidance Aims to Improve Schooling for Incarcerated Youth – Rules for Engagement – Education Week.

Schools compete in friendly race to collect canned food – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

It’s the battle of the barrels as local high schools see who can gather the most canned goods in a friendly competition between Armijo, Fairfield and Rodriguez high schools, and the alternative schools, Matt Garcia Learning Center, Sem Yeto Satellite and the Public Safety Academy.

The winner brings in a catered meal for the entire school from Fuddruckers.

“Any time kids are involved in doing projects like this, raising money, gathering food for different organizations like rescue missions, we’re all in,” said George Almeida, owner of the local Fuddruckers, and seven others in the Bay Area, Oregon and Idaho. “It’s a good thing and everyone should support that.”

via Schools compete in friendly race to collect canned food Daily Republic.

Model Continuation High Schools for 2014 – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

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SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced the designation of 24 new Model Continuation High Schools. These schools are being recognized for their exemplary programs that provide at-risk students the environment they need to flourish.

“Continuation high schools serve as an alternative highway for struggling students to complete their high school education and continue on the road to higher learning or out into the workforce,” Torlakson said.

Continuation high schools offer students aged 16 years or older an alternative high school diploma program. While most students who attend continuation high schools do so because they are behind in high school credits, others may be in need of a flexible school schedule because they have jobs outside of school, family needs, or other circumstances.

via Model Continuation High Schools for 2014 – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education).

Bill to limit ‘involuntary transfer’ of expelled students vetoed by Brown | EdSource Today

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By Jane Meredith Adams

Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill Saturday that would have required greater transparency from districts about the process of involuntarily transferring expelled students, and other students, to alternative schools and the process for allowing those students to return to regular schools.

Senate Bill 744, introduced by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, called for school districts to develop a clear set of requirements that expelled students must meet and set a timeline for when students can return to regular school. The bill was sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of California, Public Counsel, Children Now Legal Services for Children, Youth Justice Coalition and the Youth Law Center.

via Bill to limit ‘involuntary transfer’ of expelled students vetoed by Brown | EdSource Today.

Golden Hills Community School earns accreditation – Solano County Office of Education

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Golden Hills Community School has earned initial accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)!

Solano County Superintendent of Schools Jay Speck and I are thrilled to share with you the news that our Golden Hills Community School has earned initial accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This is excellent news for our campus as it marks a significant milestone in our ongoing development. Schools receiving initial accreditation meet the WASC criteria for full accreditation and exhibit a history and support system of providing a high-quality instructional program focused on student achievement. The dedicated staff at Golden Hills Community School provides a rigorous standards-based educational program tailored to the individual academic needs of every student while also paying close attention to and supporting their healthy social-emotional development as well as providing positive behavior intervention. Golden Hills offers a choice of site-based and online blended learning opportunities based on students’ unique needs.

via Solano County Office of Education.

Golden Hills Dream Team Students Celebrate Success – SCOE | Facebook

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By Solano County Office of Education

The Dream Team Summer Work Program recognized 10 students from the Golden Hills Community School at a luncheon held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield on August 2.

Students worked over the summer at the following local businesses: NorthBay Health Care, Paradise Valley Estates, Solano Garbage Company, Marshalls in Vacaville, Credit Bureau Associates, and Gillespie’s Abbey Carpet and Floor.

via Golden Hills Dream Team Students Celebrate Success | Facebook.

Major overhaul of GED will mean tougher tests next year | EdSource Today

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Adults who did not graduate from high school often turn to the General Education Development test, or GED, considered by many employers as an adequate substitute for a diploma. But the GED is about to get tougher when new computerized tests replace the paper-and-pencil tests in January, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

via Major overhaul of GED will mean tougher tests next year | EdSource Today.

Vallejo Times-Herald: Vallejo teen mom overcomes odds, graduates with top honors

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By Lanz Christian Bañes Times-Herald staff writer/

A little less than a year ago, Lucia Zepeda gave birth to a healthy baby girl after five hours of labor.

There was only one complication: Zepeda was 16.

Like many teen mothers, Zepeda faced a difficult of choice of dropping out of school altogether or try and earn her diploma. She knew there was only one answer.

“It was important (to stay in school) because I wanted to graduate and go on to college so I could take care of my daughter,” said Zepeda, who has been at Peoples High School since the end of her junior year.

via Vallejo teen mom overcomes odds, graduates with top honors.

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: 8th-graders from Golden Hills received certificates of achievement

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8th-graders from the Golden Hills Community School in Fairfield received certificates of achievement on June 5. Family, friends, and SCOE staff were on hand to praise the students and recognize their hard work and perseverance. Congratulations!

via 8th-graders from the Golden Hills Community School in Fairfield received certifi….

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: High school students at Golden Hills were celebrated for their achievements

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High school students at Golden Hills Community School in Fairfield were celebrated for their achievements during the school’s Graduation and Student Recognition Ceremony on June 5. Family, friends, and SCOE staff were on hand to wish the students well.

via High school students at Golden Hills Community School in Fairfield were celebrat….

Vallejo Times-Herald: Tight-knit Liberty High students grab diplomas, look to future

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By Lanz Christian Bañes/Times-Herald staff writer/

BENICIA — Some thought they’d never make it. Others left months ago.

But on Thursday, 31 students from Liberty High School walked across the stage to receive their diplomas just before the sun set at the Benicia Yacht Club.

“We wouldn’t have been able to graduate without some amazing support,” said Monica Torres-Jones, who gave welcoming remarks to her friends, family and fellow classmates.

via Tight-knit Liberty High students grab diplomas, look to future.

The Reporter: Country High School graduates rejoice

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By Richard Bammer/ RBammer@TheReporter.com

They are no longer high school students who are considered at risk of not graduating at the normal pace.

Some 89 seniors, by far the largest class in the history of Country High, earned diplomas, with nearly 70 students choosing on Thursday to walk across the stage set up midfield at Vacaville High School’s Tom Zunino Stadium.

Under a partly cloudy sky and temperatures in the low 90s at the 6:30 p.m. commencement, the atmosphere was understandably festive for the continuation school’s year-end ceremony, the first to be held outdoors.

via Country High School graduates rejoice.

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: Solano County Academic Bowl at New Foundations (photos)

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Students at the New Foundations Residential Treatment Facility in Fairfield put their knowledge of Russian history to the test when they participated in the 2013 Solano County Academic Bowl on May 29. The Academic Bowl is based on the successful Academic Decathlon program. New Foundations students shared their knowledge of Russian history and leaders, from Peter the Great to Vladimir Putin, as they participated in a written exam, an individual presentation, and a team super quiz.

via Students at the New Foundations Residential Treatment Facility in Fairfield put….

EdSource Today: Bill aims to help expelled and truant students get back on track

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The purpose of a complicated bill aimed at preventing students from languishing in alternative schools became much clearer after the testimony of a former student who got stuck in one.

Jessie Camargo, now 18, was transferred to a community school two weeks before his eighth grade graduation. That summer he completed all the requirements set by his district, which included drug and alcohol counseling classes, 140 hours of community service, and an anger management class, but was not allowed to return to his regular high school. Instead, he spent 2 ½ years in the community school, he testified Wednesday at a Senate Education Committee hearing on Senate Bill 744.

via Bill aims to help expelled and truant students get back on track – by Susan Frey.

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: From Gang Member to Pastry Chef

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Gail Pizzo, SCOE Special Education Principal, arranged for Pastry Chef Edward Martinez to give a motivational talk to incarcerated youth in the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF) on April 8.

“The Resource Program at JDF focuses on transition skills as part of the Individual Education Plan for students,” said Pizzo. “One of the incarcerated youth has a background in culinary arts and a goal to become a chef. Resource Specialist, Sandra Schuster, guided the student to write a letter to Executive Pastry Chef Edward Martinez, who responded by offering to speak with students. The students were awed and inspired by Mr. Martinez’s real-life experience… from gangster to pastry chef.”

via From Gang Member to Pastry Chef

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: The New Foundations Program was honored to host a guest speaker, Ms. Leah Vautro

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The New Foundations Program was honored to host a guest speaker, Ms. Leah Vautrot, on March 21. Leah is the daughter of Leonard Vautrot, a recently retired SCOE JDF teacher, and travelled from Los Angeles to share her story.

via The New Foundations Program was honored to host a guest speaker, Ms. Leah Vautro….

Legislative Analyst’s Office: Independent Study and Technology-Based Instruction

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Adopt Governor’s January proposal to remove various IS requirements but modify to: (1) require students enrolled in an asynchronous course to be part of an IS program, (2) explicitly link funding rates to achieving student learning outcomes, (3) require measures of satisfactory educational progress be aligned with the state content standards, and (4) implement the proposal more gradually.

via Independent Study and Technology-Based Instruction.