January 15, 2015

 

LAWT News Service 

 

With 2015 underway, Compton Unified School District (CUSD) is continuing efforts to improve instructional practices and educational programs at secondary schools.

 

The Dominguez High School staff is working hard to ensure all students are college and career ready. Following its three-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) last spring, they have wasted no time implementing recommendations made by the accrediting commission after a one week visit in March.

 

“CUSD is proud of the efforts of the entire staff and student body during this process,” said Dr. DeWayne Davis, Senior Director of CUSD Secondary Education. “The recommendations of the team were to continue to build upon the foundation laid for student success in the areas of AP (Advanced Placement) courses, CAHSEE, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports), college exams such as PSAT, and data driven instruction.”

 

Davis added that Dominguez staff members mobilized quickly to make sure best practices are within WASC guidelines. “Using the recommendations to inform the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), the staff have corralled to ensure full implementation and renewed commitment to graduating college and career ready students,” he said.

 

Principal Vanessa Landesfeind said that following Dominguez High’s WASC accreditation, classroom lesson plans and discussions have become much more engaging for students. 

 

“We do see teachers implementing WASC strategies. In fact, some teachers have collaborated to implement them in the core classes. Additionally, we have focused on keeping students in class, in terms of day-to-day attendance and period attendance,” she said. “We have begun training all our teachers in AVID strategies and other agreed upon instructional methods. Thus far teachers have been trained in organization strategies for students, marking the text, interactive note-taking, and academic discussion.”

 

Landesfeind also explained why WASC accreditation is so important for high schools, especially Dominguez.

 

“The teachers know they are accountable for keeping our students engaged. One can definitely feel a shift has taken place. Student complaints are very low while staff expectations for performance and behavior have gone up. There is a sense of accountability.”

 

Landesfeind added, “Full implementation of the WASC recommendations would mean a top quality education for every student. It would mean that we could guarantee that any student graduating from our school is truly college and career ready.”

Category: Education