Chapter III
Progress Report
The Three Year Progress Report was submitted to the East Side Union High School Board in April 2001 and subsequently to the Accrediting Commission in May 2001. Since that time, the East Side Adult Education Program (ESAEP) leadership has continued to implement the major recommendations of the last WASC Visitation Team. The following are the updates that have been made in response to recommendations from the last WASC visit:
Progress Report of WASC Major Recommendations
Major Recommendations:
In a continuing effort to keep pace with current technology, new computer systems were installed in ABE, GED, ESL classes, and in the HSD Math Lab. Over $100,000 has been expended in these classrooms and labs. Funds for these purchases came from a combination of grant money, the general fund, and Measure G. The new computers has afforded the opportunity to use the latest software and web-based tutorials. Older computers have been reassigned to other classroom for student use.
Also, the ESAEP purchased the initial licenses of a new academic package from PLATO Learning Inc. Future budgets will include additional purchases of licenses to increase student and teacher use of these programs. Grammar software CD’s have been made available for purchase from the bookstore providing students with additional study tools for home use.
Funds from the 231 Grant have given the ESAEP the opportunity to increase and enhance technological access for students and to help fund staff development.
These funds have also made possible the beginning of a process to install teacher presentation systems in each of the classrooms. These computerized video projector systems with Internet access add variety and innovation to the classroom curriculum.
The ESL Program has used grant funds to obtain a digital camera, digital camcorder and numerous document cameras for classrooms. In addition, new software has been acquired so teaching staff can create tests (Quiz View), develop word searches and crossword puzzles (Crossword Companion), and design interactive web pages (Dreamweaver and Coursebuilder).
For Vocational Education and Community Education classes, the teaching theater has been recently augmented with an LCD ceiling-mounted projection system connected to a new teacher’s station. This new learning environment includes 30 new Pentium 4 student stations in room 303. The medical software was upgraded and Microsoft Office 2003 was also installed. The addition of the new equipment has allowed the Program to broaden Vocational and Community Education course offerings.
The Adults with Disabilities Program has acquired over 20 computers that have been made available at two outreach sites. One location is a senior-assisted living agency with an Alzheimer’s unit where the teacher will incorporate computer usage into classes already being taught. The second location is at a psychiatric facility where a new Computer Basics Class has start that meets three times a week.
Community Education has established partnerships with Piedmont Hills, Yerba Buena, Silver Creek, and Santa Teresa High Schools in order to offer state-of-the-art classes without significant capital investments. Some offset of costs has come in the form of software licenses, software purchases, or monetary commitment for lab upkeep.
The ESL Program has also developed partnerships with Oak Grove High School, and Smith and Montgomery Schools to offer state-of-the-art classes without significant capital investments. Some offset of costs has come in the form of software licenses, software purchases, or monetary commitment for lab upkeep.
Purchasing PLATO, a multimedia software program directed toward individualized instruction, is a good example of how staff researches and evaluates new acquisitions to make sure they are current and adult-student based. It is also important to be able to accommodate different learning styles and service the broadest number of departments and students. Teachers in the ABE/GED/HSD/Voc Ed Programs spent personal time visiting different school sites to evaluate Plato software and its competitors before deciding on the package.
The PLATO Learning Systems academic software was purchased to better address individual student’s needs and track progress. ABE, GED, the HSD Programs have held a series of workshops to familiarize teachers and lab staff with the contents of the package. Teachers designed curriculum templates in PLATO to meet a student’s need and augment their lesson plans with the new software and its flexible structure adding a new dimension to their teaching style. Using the existing course templates and the ten new English and Math templates, ABE, GED and HSD teachers have planned the computer course work for the upcoming semester.
The ESL Technology Committee explored new curriculum, Computer Competencies, and several teachers designed class projects during the summer 2003. Working under a grant from the CDE, citizenship lessons were produced by adult education staff as an online source for any ESL/Citizenship or Citizenship student to use.
Community Education (fee-based) instructors have been offered the opportunity for staff development by attending Opening Meetings when these occurred across all departments. Due to the targeted scope of the curriculum, their subject area’s disciplines are not integrated. However, there does remain a need to gather staff together for program improvement, and fee-based teachers, unlike ADA-generating staff, cannot be paid through dismissing classes early.
A classified Supervision Chart is distributed to all classified and administrative staff regarding supervision of each individual. This clarifies the lines of supervision and shows that assignments are equitable.
Community Education has created a networked, real-time registration system so that staff can see at-a-glance the status of a class and how many students are enrolled to provide accurate information to the public; this is also provided in hard copy with updates on a daily basis during peak registration periods. Notices to Community Education teachers with email addresses are being sent over the Internet for prompt communication.
With limited funds, the ESAEP approached the on-line Registration Project" where the only cost would be the time spent. With Boston Reed’s registration solution, the Program offered Community Education students the option to enroll online with a $1.50 fee per use starting the Fall 2004.
For several semesters the technician position (for Career Center) was posted and an active search took place. But, the lack of a qualified /experienced applicants and budgetary concerns has placed this position on hold.
However, the Program has done other things to assist students in career planning and job placement:
The East Side Adult Education Program has a partnership with the One-Stop Center, which provides a workable connection with EDD (State of California Employment Development Department). A representative from that Center has come to speak about how to log onto the CalJOB Website. Then, once an individual has registered online, he/she can go to the One Stop Center for further assistance: writing a resume, making a cover letter and attending workshops.
Partnerships with Boston Reed have made more medical Vocational Education classes available with certification that is accepted during job upgrades or job searches.
The Community Advisory Board continues to have quarterly meetings. Some of the non-profit representatives have given technical assistance and occupational outlook information.
The Student Council at the Independence Adult Center (IAC) has installed a Student Job Board in the IAC Student Lounge. Job openings are posted and student council members keep the information current.
Student Surveys in Community Education reflect that students primarily enroll to build skills for a hobby, and secondarily, to build skills for business. Low enrollment in career-related fee-based classes such as Job Search, Job Prep, Resume Writing and Career Tools has led the Program to limit offering such courses under the fee-based program.
CalWORKs in addition to providing references and assisting with resumes, informs students of job training programs in the community.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES