Report 2016-114 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2016-114: College Readiness of California's High School Students: The State Can Better Prepare Students for College by Adopting New Strategies and Increasing Oversight (Release Date: February 2017)

Recommendation #6 To: Stockton Unified School District

To increase students' access to and completion rates of college preparatory coursework, districts should create a robust and stable network of credit recovery options that reflect the needs of their student populations. These options—which the districts should monitor for effectiveness—should include summer school courses and evening courses.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From June 2018

SUSD has provided students' access to consistent and rigorous coursework to support credit recovery options that reflect the needs of our student populations.

These options include:

*Online learning

*Extended School Day

*Extended School Year

*Fifth Year Graduation Option

*Independent Study

Supporting documentation will be sent Aaron Fellner via email.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

We have reviewed the information provided by SUSD and found that it has created a number of credit-recovery options for students to use. Further, it has created several mechanisms to monitor the effectiveness of these credit-recovery options.

1-Year Agency Response

On 9/20/17 reported the following update:

SUSD offers multiple credit recovery options such as Saturday school, extended day, online classes, dual/concurrent enrollments, articulated courses, fifth year graduation, after school tutoring, testing out of courses, independent study and summer school.

A Student Assistance Program Chairperson was hired to provide support and assistance to the activities identified in the College Readiness Block Grant. This person also supports district personnel and community members to develop, promote, monitor/manage, and assist in successful implementation of the college and career readiness initiatives.

In addition, a Director of Educational Equity was also hired to assist with improving student achievement, closing the achievement gaps for student subgroups, and creating equitable educational opportunities. This person also is responsible for ensuring equitable course access in regards to A-G.

Stockton Unified' s A-G task force is continuously monitoring the effectiveness of the programs. The A-G strategic plan has been emailed to CSA. The plan is a working document.

2/27/18 update:

The district has established an A-G committee which meets 1-2x per month. The committee recently updated the SUSD credit recovery options. The information will be available in the next 30 days on the district website. The information on the website will cover the district credit recovery options, process, and requirements. All high schools are currently providing the information and credit recovery options at each of their sites. The effectiveness of each credit recovery option will be evaluated on an ongoing basis with a final report submitted to the California State Auditor's by June 30, 2018.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented

We have reviewed the SUSD strategic plan and found it has taken some concrete steps to implement our recommendations.

6-Month Agency Response

SUSD offers multiple credit recovery options such as Saturday school, extended day, online classes, dual/concurrent enrollments, articulated courses, fifth year graduation, after school tutoring, testing out of courses, independent study and summer school.

A Student Assistance Program Chairperson was hired to provide support and assistance to the activities identified in the College Readiness Block Grant. This person also supports district personnel and community members to develop, promote, monitor/manage, and assist in successful implementation of the college and career readiness initiatives.

In addition, a Director of Educational Equity was also hired to assist with improving student achievement, closing the achievement gaps for student subgroups, and creating equitable educational opportunities. This person also is responsible for ensuring equitable course access in regards to A-G.

Stockton Unified' s A-G task force is continuously monitoring the effectiveness of the programs. The A-G strategic plan has been emailed to CSA. The plan is a working document.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

SUSD utilizes an online content delivery program as well as re-enrolling students in previously failed courses. SUSD contacted all non-gradates of what would have been the class of 2016 in the fall and worked with them to return to complete coursework. Approximately 50 were contacted an engaged and half completed and received their diploma in January 2017. The new SAP staff member will lead credit recovery monitoring efforts starting in the 2017-18 school year.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2016-114

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.