header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Ford Roosevelt, CEO of Project GRAD, partners with CSUN and LAUSD to help high school students succeed in math. Photo courtesy of Ford Roosevelt.

According to recent studies on college dropouts, approximately 70 percent of Americans enroll at a four-year institution of higher education, but less than 50 percent will graduate. In fall 2016, the California State University system launched Graduation Initiative 2025, a statewide and systemwide, ambitious benchmark that aims to increase graduation rates for CSU transfer students and first-time freshmen.

Targeting first-time freshmen, the California State University, Northridge Michael D. Eisner College of Education joined forces this year with Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) Los Angeles, a locally based nonprofit that has worked to foster greater education equity since 1999. The CSUN-Project GRAD partners aim to build a communication pipeline of sorts — a two-way pipeline — between high school teachers and university professors. The organizers behind the new initiative unveiled in spring 2013 a one-of-a-kind in California, fourth-year math course — Transition to College Math and Statistics (TCMS) — to prepare LA high school seniors for college-level math.

Project GRAD Los Angeles President and CEO Ford Roosevelt explained that lack of academic readiness leads many first-time freshmen to be unprepared for college-level math and English classes — forcing many into remediation classes, after they score low on the CSU English Placement Test and the Entry Level Mathematics exam between high school graduation and the start of freshman year.

“If high school students take remediation courses and don’t do well, their life in college is at risk,” Roosevelt said.

According to Project GRAD, more that 60 percent of high school seniors in the northeast San Fernando Valley place into remediation classes in math, English or both after taking the placement exams for the CSU system. If the students don’t pass their remediation courses within the first year, they are “stopped out” of the CSU and must attend community college to catch up. Only then may they return to the four-year university, which creates a major obstacle for many students, Roosevelt said.

“If we intervened earlier and trained [high school] teachers to have a course that would teach a little bit differently the critical thinking skills students need when they take the [placement] tests, they might do better,” he said.

Easing the Transition to College-Level Math

In 2013, in collaboration with LAUSD, CSUN and Project GRAD, the partners tested a 10-week pilot course for the TCMS course. The partners found that seniors who took the course achieved a 37 percent passage rate on the placement tests, compared to a 22 percent passage rate for those who did not.

“From that point, the course was expanded into a full-year course, approved by the CSU and [University of California] to satisfy a ‘C’ requirement of the ‘A to G’ course requirements,” Roosevelt said. “In the most recent academic year, the third year of full implementation in seven LAUSD schools, the success rate has risen to 61 percent of students needing either none or one remediation course only. Students may complete this required course in the summer before they enroll at CSUN. The district has reached out because they liked the results and now would like to roll this out at all LAUSD high schools — 160 [schools] in the next two years.”

So far, the optional math courses are available at seven high schools: San Fernando High School; Arleta High School; Sylmar High School; the Academy of Scientific Exploration, the Arts Theater Entertainment School and the Teacher Prep Academy at Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies; and at the Los Angeles Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles.

“CSUN is the lead agency training the teachers. It’s a pretty big deal and can really change the conversation of what kids need to do to get ready and go right into college-level math,” Roosevelt said. “There’s a lot on the table, but CSUN — and particularly professor Katherine Stevenson — have been amazing partners to help make things come to fruition.”

The 23-university CSU system spends about $90 million a year on remediation courses — an amount CSUN and Project GRAD are now trying to re-allocate into college-level instruction courses at LA high schools.

“There is a lack of communication between different segments — high schools, community colleges, CSUs and UCs,” said Katherine Stevenson, professor of mathematics and director of Developmental Mathematics at CSUN. “If there is no communication and if we don’t understand what the different expectations are, then it seems like we have actually built a gap in our system. If you want high school teachers to listen to college teachers — and college teachers to listen to high school teachers — the only way you can achieve that is to have an authentic task that everybody is engaged in.

“We have an interest in having students arrive [at the university] and not need to have developmental math (remediation courses),” Stevenson said. “That is what we’re going to be looking at as our gold standard. Hopefully, [students] place into college-level mathematics and quantitative reasoning courses, and they are successful in those classes — that’s the absolute goal.”

Beyond Math: Fostering a Sense of Belonging

Roosevelt said the initiative soon will target a similar preparation course for English and involve local community colleges in the partnership.

“We bring together CSUN’s best faculty to collaborate on best practices in teaching and professional development for the high school teachers, and to create a cross-level dialog between college instructors and high school instructors — to learn from each other,” he said.

Another target for the professors and other educators involved is the range of social and emotional issues students face while taking remedial college courses, such as self-doubt and the uncertainty of belonging.

“Every student who comes to the CSU and certainly to CSUN is capable of getting through their developmental math requirements,” Stevenson said. “The [test scores] don’t indicate if they belong to the university. The students belong here — and their grades just give them information for their next step. We’ve been working very hard on making that explicit [to them].”

The partnership with Project GRAD developed independently from the CSU 2025 Graduation Initiative, but it will be a major step toward higher graduation rates, according to Michael Spagna, dean of the Eisner College.

“CSUN has had a long-term commitment to building partnerships with local schools in the community,” Spagna said. “It is through these partnerships that the university promotes student success, emphasizing college preparedness and career readiness before individuals ever make the decision to come to our campus to pursue their dreams.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


HIGHER EDUCATION LINKS
LOCAL COLLEGE HEADLINES
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special joint meeting with the Associated Student Government in open session from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024
Holly Hitt-Zuniga has been selected to represent COC and the National Science Foundation’s Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education in Iceland.
Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024
When you enter the main floor of the west wing of the California State University Northridge library, you’ll soon notice a new mural blending art, nature and the Indigenous history that the campus sits on.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
California State University, Northridge’s Spring 2024 Cinematheque series will pay tribute to Hollywood casting director and producer Deborah Aquila, executive vice president and head of casting at Paramount Television Studios and CBS Studios, to mark the end of Women’s History Month on Wednesday, March 27.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
Join the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355, for the SCAA monthly meeting and guest demonstrator.
April 15: SCAA Presents Debbie Abshear Watercolor Demo
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
April 6: Grand Opening for Santa Clarita’s 38th Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is preparing for the annual fundraising event, Celebrity Waiter, with the theme “California Dreamin’” on Saturday, April 27 at Bella Vida, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Table Sponsorships Still Available for Celebrity Waiter Dinner
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Ken Striplin | A Fun, Festive, Egg-Filled Day
SCVNews.com