« Back to: Emerging Work

Spotlight On: Success For All

Region: California Statewide
Investment: $160,000 over three years
URL: http://gardnercenter.stanford.edu/

John W. Gardner Center,
Stanford University

The Challenge

According to WestEd's California Healthy Kids Survey, the population of youth served by continuation high schools is three times more likely to be in foster care or to be living with a relative other than a parent.  These students are more racially and ethnically concentrated than the general population.  Continuation students' mobility is greater than the general population of students, so continuation high schools have less time to try to help them.  Rates of heavy drug and alcohol use are twice as great with continuation students.  The challenges in serving this group of young people are evident: they are highly vulnerable and face multiple risks.

Taken together, the size, scope and legislative design of the continuation high school program make clear that these schools are a cornerstone of the state’s drop-out prevention strategy. This study concludes, however, that these schools of last resort may be the last schools ever attended by large numbers of California students because they are not getting the academic and support services they need to succeed.

from Alternative Education Options: A Descriptive Study of California Continuation High Schools, by Jorge Ruiz de Velasco, Greg Austin, Don Dixon, Joseph Johnson, Milbrey McLaughlin & Lynne Perez, April 2008
This Project’s Focus

This two-year study offers an opportunity to contribute to the field by taking a close look at selected programs in four counties (Fresno, San Diego, San Mateo and Santa Clara), with a focus on continuation high schools that have a track record of success.  The purpose of the study is to identify effective practices and to learn how instruction, school structure, and staffing choices make a difference in student outcomes in diverse county, district and school settings. It will also investigate how local, regional and state agencies work to strengthen the ability of the institutions to better provide the opportunities and resources needed for this vulnerable population.

The study is being conducted in partnership with the Warren Institute at the UC Berkeley School of Law and the California Department of Education’s Alternative Options Office, and will be guided by an Advisory Committee of educators and other experts.

Intended Outcomes
  • Identification of promising practices and policies for curriculum, governance and staffing in alternative education.
  • Publication of research papers and issue briefs based on field research.
  • Dissemination of findings to policymakers, educators, and journalists.