Long Beach Unified School District High School Reform Initiative

identifying career interests and appropriate course sequences offered in high schools in career
technical education courses.
Task 5: Adapt the Approach to Evaluation to Account for Formative Assessments and the
Integration of Technical Curricula
In order to strengthen the role of data collection and accountability in a system of change, the
district, in conjunction with site-based Instructional Leadership and smaller learning community
teams, will need to establish standardized, data-driven school improvement processes where
teams of teachers examine student-level, cohort, and disaggregated data to determine student
achievement needs, and to design and implement school improvement plans.
The district will also need to collaborate with site-based Instructional Leadership Teams, smaller
learning communities, business partners, and postsecondary representatives to establish a series
of quality indicators for the integration of technical curricula and experiences in a student’s
course of study. These indicators can be used to conduct periodic reviews of program progress
and to determine benchmarks for program effectiveness.
Task 6: Improve the Culture and Climate at School Sites by Ensuring Personalization,
Equity, and Access for All.
Smaller Learning Communities. The district is improving the quality and implementation of
Smaller Learning Communities at its comprehensive high schools, by expanding pathway
offerings. Students will be able to experience emotional, social, and academic support in focused
four year courses of study that integrate career technical education and thematic foci. In
conjunction with counselors, administrators and school staffs, the SLCs will continue working to
meet the challenge of connecting with students on an individual basis, as a key approach to
personalization.
Increase participation in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and the
expansion of AVID strategies school-wide. In order to fulfill the goal of the Academic Career
Success Initiative, schools will increase participation in the AVID elective program to the 10%
by the year 2014. The intensive support provided through the elective class will increase the
number of traditionally underrepresented populations access and success in postsecondary
aspirations. As part of the expansion schools will incorporate AVID strategies school-wide to
support the success of all students in rigorous and relevant course-work. Schools will continue
to provide professional development on AVID strategies through departments or smaller learning
communities. The professional development will be followed by sessions for refinement based
on a review of student work, walkthroughs, and sharing of best practices by colleagues.
Diversity training. All high schools are instituting programs on diversity training, tolerance and
character education, partnering with nationally recognized groups to address these issues.
20