Lodi Unified School District Graduation Task Force Recommendations

1. Lodi Unified School District Graduation Task Force Recommendations Board of Education Study Session August 18, 2009

2. Task Force Presenters • Dr. Odie Douglas, Associate Superintendent • Brad Watson, Interim Assistant Superintendent Secondary Education • Erik Sandstrom, Principal, Tokay High School • Randy Malandro, Principal, Christa McAuliffe • Steve Colwell, Principal, Lincoln Technical Academy

3. Task Force Membership • 24 members on the core team • Teachers K-12 • Administrators K-12 • Board Members • Parents/Community • Central Office staff

4. Graduation Task Force Members • Dr. Barbara Johnston, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education • Lori Michael, PTA President • Harvey Bills, LUSD Board Member • Bonnie Cassel, LUSD Board Member • Mariela DeLeon, Parent • Debra Ladwig, Assessment/Research/Evaluation Analyst • Cindy Mettler, Teacher • Lana Gentry, LEA Representative • Randy Malandro, Principal • Lisa Kotowski, Director, Curriculum & Instruction • Sue MacFarlane, Parent • Bruce Spaulding, Principal • Robert Rivas, Principal • Steve Colwell, Principal • Pat Patrick, Lodi Chamber of Commerce • Myra Round, Teacher • Debbie Ewing, Teacher • Judy Connolly, Teacher • Carol Adams, Counselor • Pam Deines, Teacher • Sandi Warmerdam, Counselor • Erik Sandstrom, Principal • John Chapman, Teacher • Manina Moles, Parent

5. LUSD Graduation Task ForcePurpose To review and revise the current Lodi Unified School District graduation requirements to ensure that all Lodi Unified graduates are college and career ready.

6. The Process/Timeline • Review LUSD graduation requirements and data • (January – April, 2008) • Explore and discuss requirements by core and program • (November, 2008 – April, 2009) • Identify recommendations for graduation requirement revisions • (November, 2008 – April, 2009)

7. The Process/Timeline • Present Task Force Recommendations to the Board of Education • (August, 2009) • Site Administrators, Staff, & Community Meetings • (September - October, 2009) • Board of Education presentation for approval • (November, 2009)

8. Implementation of Graduation Requirement Changes The goal is to have full implementation of all revisions for the class of 2016, our current 6th graders.

9. Areas of Interest • Mathematics • Science • Driver’s Ed • Health • Senior Project • Electives • Career Tech

10. Task Force looks at Math April 14, 2008 • Review the most recent information on the status of high school mathematics programs at the international, national, and state levels. • Look at the national response to mathematic graduation requirements to improve college/career readiness. • Share current Lodi Unified math program.

11. Math Teacher Focus Group Meeting Outcome To gather input from math teachers on the options for graduation requirements in mathematics to share with the Graduation Task Force

12. Possible Graduation Options • Requirement remains at 20 credits taken during grades 9-12 - Algebra I required • Requirement is revised to 30 credits taken during grades 9-12 – Algebra I required • Requirement is revised to 30 credits taken during grades 9-12 – Geometry required

13. Possible Graduation Options • Requirement is revised to 40 credits taken during grades 9-12 – Geometry required • Requirement is revised to 40 credits taken during grades 9-12 – Algebra II required

14. Summary of the Input from Focus Groups • Teacher focus group • Consensus on moving to 30 credits with additional courses for math credit being made available • Split on Algebra I or Geometry as minimum course requirement

15. Task Force Recommendation The Graduation Task Force recommends that the LUSD mathematics requirement for graduation be revised to 30 credits of mathematics and Geometry as the minimum course requirement.

16. Mathematics Recommendation Considerations 1. Submit the following Board Policy revision - a Geometry course successfully completed prior to 9th grade will count towards meeting the graduation requirement and will receive high school credit. 2.Additional math elective courses will be added to the schedule to ensure students have access to multiple pathways to meet the graduation requirement including career technical education.

17. Task Force looks at ScienceDecember, 2008 • Build a common understanding of science graduation requirements both locally and nationally. • To reach consensus on the interest of the Graduation Task Force in pursuing a 3 year science graduation requirement.

18. Information Shared • National trends • Comparison districts • UC/CSU recommendations • What does Lodi offer? • What are students taking in Lodi? • Proficiency scores in science • National assessment alignment

19. ScienceTask Force Recommendation The Graduation Task Force recommends that the LUSD science requirement for graduation remains as currently stated in Ed Code; a student must successfully complete at least two courses in science, including biological and physical sciences two years.

20. Task Force looks at non-core requirements • Build a common understanding of current state and local non-core credit graduation requirements • Generate interest list of new ideas • Reach consensus on the next steps of the Graduation Task Force in considering the revision of non-core credit graduation requirements

21. State Driver Ed Requirement • California Education Code Section 51220. The adopted course of study for grades 7-12, inclusive, shall offercourses in the following areas of study: (j) Automobile driver education, designed to develop a knowledge of the provisions of the Vehicle code and other laws of this state relating to the operation of motor vehicles.

22. Questions from Task Force • Driver Education • Can be an elective course • Need to provide the opportunity to take the course during the school day • Can also be offered at other times • Board Policy recommendation to accept programs approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles which would allow for online courses as an alternative for some (AVID, AP Human Geography)

23. Health and Safety State Course Requirements • California Education Code Section 51200 … school districts shall ensure that all pupils in grades 7-12… receive instruction on AIDS, AIDS prevention, personal and public health and safety …., instruction on alcohol, narcotics, and restricted dangerous drugs.

24. Course and Credential Info • Health requirement – there are six lessons on HIV prevention etc. Anyone who has received the training can teach these lessons. • Health • May also be taught in different departments if the curriculum is appropriate to the credential

25. Family Living – World Geography A Closer Look • Family Living – • Non College Prep class • Semester in length • One of two options for graduation • World Geography • College Prep class - UC approved • Semester in length • Also approved by UC in other districts as a year long course

26. Who is taking Family Living?

27. Who is taking Family Living?

28. New Possibilities • Technology Literacy (what do you need to be successful- proficiency/ mastery demonstration) • Career Exploration/Post Secondary Explorations • Life Skills

29. New Possibilities • Ethics • Cultural Geography • Communication • Health

30. Option Discussion • What elements of each option do you believe best meets our goal of ensuring that students are college and career ready when they leave our system? • What elements of each option do you have continuing concerns about? • What implementation considerations might need to be included in the recommendation?

31. Task Force Non-Core Recommendations The Graduation Task Force recommends the following graduation requirement considerations for all students: • World Geography 5 credits • Family Living/Health 5 credits • Career Pathways 2.5 credits • Technology Proficiency 5 credits • Driver Education 2.5 credits

32. Other Options Discussed • Career Pathways 2.5 credits • Discussion included alternative ways to meet this requirement, participation in AVID, academies, etc. • Technology Proficiency 5 credits • Discussion included students being able to demonstrate proficiency and meeting this requirement • Driver Education 2.5 credits • Explored the option of meeting this requirement outside the classroom

33. Questions/Considerations • Timeline for development of new courses • Technology • CTE (Career Technical Education) • Math • Impact on reduction of elective credits to 60 • Final recommendation for Driver Education

34. Cabinet Recommendations • Offer Drivers Education, but not make it a graduation requirement • Recommend including Career Pathways information into existing District approved courses • New Implementation Timeline (Class of 2016)

35. Cabinet Recommendations(cont.) • Implement cost saving methods for: • Infusing Career Pathways information into existing courses • Developing Technology Proficiency Standards

36. Career Pathways/Preparation • Infuse career pathways into existing Board approved courses: • Require Industry Sector/Pathways to be included in CTE Course of Study – (currently not required of existing CTE courses.) Five CTE teachers per comprehensive site, one teacher per alternative site, two days at $150 equals $6,900 (Perkins funded).

37. Technology Proficiency • Mobilize a team of CTE site representatives to complete the following tasks: • Identify technology proficiency skills, e.g. internet, database, desktop publishing, spreadsheet, and word processing applications.

38. Technology (cont.) • Using “identified proficiency skills”: • Develop a District Challenge Test • Recommend the Information Technology Course (already Board Approved) be made a requirement • Review courses of study from existing Board Approved technology courses to “identify proficiency skills.” Identify any additional courses that meet graduation requirement.

39. One-time Costs From Categorical Funding Source – Carl Perkins • One-time: $6,900 to infuse Career Pathways/Preparation into existing courses • One-time: $10,350 to develop Technology Proficiency Graduation Requirement

40. Career Technical Education Use the Career Technical Education Curriculum Advisory Committee to revise selected CTE courses of studies (including identifying courses that will align with the mathematicsstandards) to meet the District’s graduation requirements.

41. Proposed Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2016 (current 6th grade students)

42. Final Recommendations from Graduation Task Force and Cabinet to the Board of Education • Geometry 10 credits • World Geography 5 credits • Health/Family Living 5 credits • Technology Proficiency 5 credits or Pass Challenge Test

43. Final Recommendations from Graduation Task Force and Cabinet to the Board of Education (cont.) • Offer Drivers Education as a 5 credit course, but not make it a graduation requirement. • Recommend infusing Career Pathways information into existing approved District course. • New Timeline – Implement proposed graduation requirements beginning with the Class of 2016. • Implement cost saving methods for: • Infusing Career Pathways into existing courses • Developing Technology Proficiency Standards