California students near the bottom in reading. How another state turned its scores around
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Hey Bee readers! It’s Lasherica with the Ed Lab, and this is our weekly newsletter — the Oct. 12 edition.
I don’t know if many of you know this, but I’m from the deep south, Mississippi, to be exact. Growing up there, then spending the last three-plus years in Tennessee, I’ve noticed areas in education that California could be learning from southern states.
I’ve been reminded of that in ongoing reporting about California failing to get students reading on grade level. EdSource has reported extensively on it. CalMatters has stories about it. But do legislators and educators know proven ways for California to improve literacy?
Well, The New York Times reported on my home state being a model – trust me, this is a rare occurrence. In six years, Mississippi went from 49th to 29th in student reading performance.
I’m not bringing this up because of where the ranking started or finished. I’m looking at rising in rank by 20 spots.’
Mississippi has achieved the No. 1 spot in the nation for gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, with 4th grade students making the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics, 8th grade students outpacing the nation for growth in mathematics, and 8th grade reading holding steady, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.
But how? According to journalist David Kaufman, it was:
Laws:
“Kids who went through pre-K are already scoring higher in kindergarten,” the story discusses.
Early intervention: reading assessments at the beginning, middle and end of the school year, as well as quarterly reports on student progress and specific strategies being used to help those still struggling
Focus on assessment to identify most vulnerable readers
Training teachers in the science of reading (another hot topic here in Cali)
Focusing on the school day and after school programming
Based on 2019 data, California is still among the 10 lowest performing states in the country, a spot they’ve held since at least 2011.
The percentage of fourth graders in California who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 32% in 2019; the percentage was not much different from the 2017 percentage of 31% but was greater than 20% proficiency in 1998.
Check out the full New York Times story here.
HERE’S THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB
MacKenzie Scott just gave Fresno Unified schools $20 million. ‘Nothing short of a miracle’
It’s the largest donation in Fresno Unified’s history.
How Fresno schools got $20 million without asking. ‘MacKenzie Scott found Fresno Unified’
“We didn’t reach out to her. We don’t know her ... And we didn’t apply for the money.”
Clovis Unified celebrates $4.9 million donation from longtime benefactor, Qualcomm cofounder
The Foundation of Clovis Schools provides scholarships and grants to its students and staff, which are things affected by the district’s low funding.
From cash to controversy, here’s breakdown of some of Fresno Unified’s biggest races
With four seats up for re-election, Fresno Unified could be facing a shakeup of political power over the next month.
MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS
The UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 School Year. The UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research has Doctors Academy programs at Sunnyside High School and Caruthers High School.
More than 1,000 students have completed the program since the first graduation cohort in 2003.
The program was established at Sunnyside in 1999 and expanded to a rural site in Caruthers in 2007.
Students who want to be a part of the program but don’t live in Caruthers or the Fresno Unified School District must complete an interdistrict transfer to Caruthers or to Fresno Unified.
There will be two more informational meetings for students and parents (Caruthers held its informational meeting Monday evening):
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyside High School Library
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyside High School Library
Open to eighth grade students interested in careers in health and medicine, attendants will learn about the admissions requirements, program expectations and how to apply, according to a media release.
Applications are available until Dec. 1.
The UCSF Fresno-Managed California Area Health Education Center was recently awarded $1.98M to develop health professions pathway programs. The education center was one of 20 organizations to receive the grant from the Department of Health Care Access and Information, which supports and encourages students from underrepresented regions and backgrounds to pursue health care careers.
Fresno State and Kern Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program were also awarded grants.
“We are incredibly happy to have received this funding in support of HCAI’s statewide goals and local aspirations to increase and diversify our health care workforce,” said Dr. Ivan Gomez, chief of the UCSF Fresno Department of Family and Community Medicine.
The Area Health Education Center was established in 1972 to recruit, train and retain health professionals dedicated to underserved communities, a media release said.
Its five-year proposal focuses on “developing high school to post-baccalaureate pathway programs and education.”
Fresno City College will provide a community update about its West Fresno Campus on Oct. 20. FCC will introduce its new president, provide the vision for the West Fresno Campus, give a construction update and provide an overview of student services at that campus, an event flyer detailed.
The new campus is a part of the Transform Fresno initiative that identifies and implements investments that “will catalyze economic and environmental transformation in Downtown, Chinatown, and Southwest Fresno.”
The event will be at Gaston Middle School in the multi-purpose room from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Local Fresno journalists are having a Fresno Journalism Panel this Friday at the Paaras Youth Center.
Attendants will learn about career opportunities in print, audio, digital and photography, how to find a job after college and ways to get involved with the Youth Media Initiative.
Fresno Bee reporters Julianna Morano and Brianna Vaccari, CalMatters photojournalist Larry Valenzuela and KVPR’s Esther Quintanilla will be on the panel.
Fresno Unified’s campus culture manager Leslie Loewen has been recognized with the Earl Reum Award, which is voted on by the state board of the California Association of Directors of Activities, the district announced.
The award from the National Association for Student Activities recognizes “outstanding contributions” in training and mentoring student activity directors.
STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Julianna’s List
Biden’s student loan forgiveness application is coming soon. Here’s what you need to know
The application, promised in October, could go live as soon as this week. | CNN
How California’s newest community college is shaping its identity
A look at how breaking away from Reedley Community College and winning a $1 million grant is helping redefine Madera Community College. | EdSource
Lasherica’s List
An island of reading for youth in the California juvenile justice system
Alameda County Library staff fill in the gaps | EdSource
The Key to More Equitable Schools? Deep Commitment
Nothing short of an education overhaul will achieve equity | EducationWeek
And that’s it for this week’s newsletter.
