Education

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Written by: Editor

Published: 05 October 2015

SACRAMENTO – A measure to protect students from being placed in less challenging mathematics classes – even though they meet the academic requirements for more challenging courses – was signed into law on Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

SB 359 authored by Senator Holly J. Mitchell will take effect Jan. 1, 2016, and requires public school districts to develop and adhere to performance and assessment-based standards for assigning youths to math courses by the start of the 2016-17 school year.

The legislation is a first step in remedying the growing problem of “math misplacement,” which can impede a capable student’s progress both in learning math and advancing toward higher education and career goals.

A 2010 Noyce Foundation Pathways study had found that African American and Latino students, in particular, were improperly held back in nine Bay Area school districts despite having demonstrated proficiency on state standardized math tests.

“Kids deserve the best shot we can give them at success,” said Senator Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). “Yet too many students who are working hard to build the skills they need to be successful in our economy are being prevented from doing so.”

While California increasingly relies on jobs and revenue from its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) industries, that sector depends on the state to provide a trained workforce.

Yet a 2014 Brookings Institution report, among others, shows that there are not enough qualified STEM workers. African Americans and Latinos hold fewer than four percent of the jobs at the six largest Silicon Valley tech companies.

Given that nearly 60 percent of California's children belong to those ethnic groups, while technology jobs are projected to grow by 22 percent in the state over the next five years, opening a career pipeline for children of color into STEM careers is crucial for both them and the state.

“The governor’s action today marks a significant victory for everyone involved in working to end the disturbing practice of math misplacement in our schools,” said Dr. Emmett Carson, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, sponsor of SB 359. “Now that districts across the state will be called upon to establish fair, objective and transparent mathematics placement policies, we can better assure that our education system is designed to give all children a fair chance to succeed.”

With the link between math misplacement, technology worker shortages and persistent poverty now clearly visible, California cannot afford to allow students who are demonstrating they can overcome challenges in their backgrounds to lose earned places in high school mathematics.

For the full text of SB 359 click here. 

For more information about math misplacement visit http://www.siliconvalleycf.org/mathmisplacement .

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Written by: Doyle. J. Conatser

Published: 04 October 2015

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Our first grading period ended last week and we had multiple awards handed out by our Principal Mr. Strahl.

Normally, to get gold level you have to at least get 15 credits with 90-percent attendance but this grading period was different due to school being cut short due to the fires.

The staff decided that students only had to get 5/6th of what we would normally require in credits.

The gold level list is as follows: Nicole Arlitt, Kristin Melcher, Jason Arson, Samantha Miller, Andrew Astorga, Chris Nuzzo, Kacy Barro, Michael Nuzzo, Nick Begins, Emily Simmons, Jose Bendana, Alexis Stickle, Destiny Blevins, Nick Strickland, Ben Boyce, Elijah Clark, Doyle. J. Conatser, Kayla Doyle, Martin Ceja, Erik Fielden, Jasmine Heckard, Allen Hernandez, Zack Humphrey and Brianna Legg.

Awards were also handed out to students who got 100-percent attendance last grading period. Here is that list: Andrew Astorga, Brianna Legg, Anna Barnard, Chris Nuzzo, Kacy Barron, Alexus Stickle, Destiny Blevins, Nicholas Strickland, Doyle. J. Conatser, Triston Famalaro, Gage Fowler and Allen Hernandez.

Last year’s valedictorian Quintessa Strahl received a scholarship and started college up in Coos Bay, Oregon. Carlé would like to wish her luck and great success along with all of our previous graduates.

Carlé welcomed two new students last weeks and their names are Bessie Taylor and Sarah Viale.

Carlé would like to promote a program held at the Harbor on Main. The program is called Friday Night Live and it is hosted by Kendra Boyce. More information will follow in the next chronicle.

In student council last week we elected officers and we will report on the officers next week.

Our teacher Alan Siegel was picked by State Superintendent Tom Torlakson to be on the 2016 State Teacher of the Year selection committee. Unfortunately due to the Valley fire he had to evacuate and was unable to attend.

Doyle. J. Conatser is a student at Carlé Continuation High School in Lower Lake, Calif.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 02 October 2015

UKIAH, Calif. – Hour-long, guided walking tours of the Mendocino College Ukiah campus are being offered during the fall 2015 semester.

The tours will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, and Thursday, Nov. 12.

Tours will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a light lunch to be provided by the Culinary Arts Department at 12:30 p.m.

Highlights of the tours include the Library/Learning Resource Center, auto technology, ceramics, science complex, allied health/nursing facility and Culinary Arts management.

The tour starts promptly at 11:30 a.m. and commences on the terrace of the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts building.

Tours are limited to 20 participants.

To reserve your spot or for more information contact the Mendocino College Foundation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-467-1018.