Cesar E. Chavez High School in Santa Ana and Hillview High School in Tustin were named 2024 Model Continuation High Schools among 31 campuses throughout California.
On March 5, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced the Model Continuation High School Recognition program had selected these alternative education sites for their commitment to helping students excel through offering opportunities to achieve academic and social success.
“Congratulations to these outstanding schools for their all-around excellence as alternative centers of learning,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “Teachers and administrators at our Model Continuation High Schools work to develop relationships with students to create a positive and personalized learning environment and provide them with opportunities to explore options beyond high school, preparing students for the next chapter in their lives.”
California is home to more than 430 continuation high schools that serve almost 51,000 students and provide a high school diploma program for those who are required to attend school and may not be on track to graduate.
Founded by the California Department of Education in partnership with the California Continuation Education Association Plus, the Model Continuation High School Recognition program seeks to honor educators and school sites that provide at-promise youth with comprehensive services that include flexible scheduling and exceptional instruction, as well as guidance and counseling services.
The Santa Ana Unified School District’s Cesar E. Chavez High and Hillview High in the Tustin Unified School District will be recognized at the California Continuation Education Association Plus State Conference in April. They will maintain their Model Continuation High Schools designation for three years.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Stacey Middle School seventh-grader Katelyn Nguyen was crowned the spelling bee champ at the Orange County competition on March 2. She scored first place after correctly sequencing the letters in “discretionary.”
- On April 25, OCDE will amplify students’ voices through civic learning and engagement activities while hearing from local experts at the OC Civic Learning Celebration.
- OCDE Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes helps explain how the Orange County Department of Education got its name while delving into the history of the department’s multifaceted role in his latest column.
- More than 70 local arts educators and advocates were spotlighted for providing unique learning and performance opportunities to elementary and secondary students at the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards.
- Eleven Irvine Unified School District projects are set to receive nearly $200,000 in funds through the 2024 Innovative Grant Program, created by the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.
- Orange County Sheriff’s deputies are teaching students about the lasting effects of substance use through the Above the Influence program. Since its founding in 2021, 37 private and public schools across the county have enrolled.
- In order to foster calming spaces that combat school stressors, Fullerton Joint Union High School District educators have worked to install student-led gardens for classroom lessons and self-care.
- Laguna Beach High School seniors Elaina Seybold and Tyler Palino were recognized as the city’s Junior Citizens of the Year ahead of the annual Patriots Day Parade, which was canceled due to inclement weather.
- As the Orange County Registrar of Voters continues to tally votes in the March 5 primary election, three members of the Orange County Board of Education are leading in their respective races, according to the Orange County Register.
- Meanwhile, the Register reported that the Orange Unified School District is moving toward a recall of two of its board trustees based on Tuesday’s votes.
- The Los Alamitos Unified School District broke ground this week on a $26 million sports complex project that will house three basketball courts and electronic equipment for future Esports teams.
- Emergency Response Pathway students at Los Alamitos High School can now perform electrocardiograms and check vital signs thanks to a new state-of-the-art ambulance simulator supplied by the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program.
- Data gathered by the EdVoice Institute shows 60 percent of California youth cannot read by the third grade. At the same time, a new bill introduced by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio aims to tackle low literacy rates across the state.
- In honor of Read Across America week, dozens of community leaders read stories to Peterson Elementary School students on March 1 as part of the Huntington Beach City School District’s seventh annual story time celebration.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.