Educators discuss college, career readiness

NORWALK - Cerritos College hosted the first College and Career Readiness Summit for its partner K-12 districts on Oct. 18, with more than 150 attendees discussing ways to ensure college and career readiness, which is part of the newly mandated Common Core state standards.In attendance were high school counselors, administrators and faculty from ABC, Bellflower, Downey, Norwalk-La Mirada and Paramount unified school districts; St. John Bosco High School and Southeast ROP; and representatives from Golden West College, Cal State Long Beach and Cerritos College. The summit was led by JoAnna Schilling, vice president of academic affairs; Sue Parsons, director of Teacher TRAC and mathematics professor; and Jeanne McHatton, former Cerritos College board member and a retired school administrator. Lively discussion continued all day focusing on three objectives: to understand statewide college and career readiness data, to define college and career readiness, and to identify programmatic gaps and alignment opportunities. Attendees were assigned to district and discipline groups and captured their discussions electronically using Google Forms which enabled immediate sharing of group discussion results. Some groups suggested solutions such as alignment of college courses, a better understanding of college assessment tests, and developing outreach programs in which college instructors visit high schools to familiarize students with the various college and career options available post high-school graduation.

********** Published: Oct. 31, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 29