Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Post

From Dr. Antwan Jefferson, “ I understand that my lane, generally, is education. But the lane of education has always been wide and winding, ranging from compulsory schooling nearly two centuries ago to desegregated schools several decades ago. In this issue, both phenomena–compulsory education (children are required to go to school) and education desegregation (all children should have access to public schools without discrimination)–are core in this issue, though neither term is specifically named. Also core is the need for a combination of care and knowledge, as these are vital to student and community success”. It’s clear that all kids in the United States are expected to go to school. But on the topic of recent migration increases, there seems to be a divide as to how we can best serve Newcomer Students. Our hope as a journal is for our audience to read through our content with an open mind and open heart. We’d like to encourage you to listen more than you speak. Listening might be the very practice that helps us to create more understanding as to how we can learn from the experiences of Newcomer Students. The state of our public education system is on the line. Read more from Dr. Antwan Jefferson, our Editor in Chief, here: https://lnkd.in/gEUVG4w5 #DJEC #Denver #Journal #Education #Community #DenverEducation #StudentVoice

Public education is one of the most important aspects of our society. As today is National Support Public Education Day, it’s an important opportunity to highlight the tremendous positive impact education has for society, as well as the challenges and opportunities to better support and improve upon it. The impact of AI and other technologies on education is immense — but organizations must set the necessary standards for responsible use of this technology across classrooms and institutions. AI has the ability to support teachers and automate many aspects of their role, so that they can focus more on teaching and learning. Educating and encouraging teachers to adopt this tech is critical. Ultimately, schools must promote a lifelong learning mindset — imparting in students a love of learning and recognition that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Holistic learning as well as skills-based learning and assessments is the future of education, key to serving the needs of diverse student populations while also advancing equity and preparing students for the future workforce. Education has the power to shape future generations and society at large. I encourage you to take the day to celebrate its tremendous impact on the world. How has public education shaped your life? Share your story below.

Opinion: Utah should look to the Founding Fathers when shaping public education policy LINK: https://lnkd.in/eYD2nwtT Hashtags: #Education #Policy #Legislation #HigherLearning #Schools #Students #Teachers

National Support Public Education Day is the perfect time to explore how we can make a difference! For us, fair and valid assessment is key to empowering schools, teachers and students. Accurate measurement promotes greater equity in education, a central part of our mission. In our recent partnership with @CDE, we developed a new model to measure student growth across California. By using a weighted average, we improved the stability and accuracy of growth scores, reducing disparities across schools and districts. This fairer measure provides more accurate data over shorter periods. With this knowledge, schools and governments can learn from the best and focus efforts where they are needed most to support students effectively. Assessment can power human progress and enhance educational and work outcomes. It’s crucial that organizations and institutions collaborate to support equity and access to quality public education, ensuring that education remains a passport to freedom for all. #NationalSupportPublicEducationDay #Education

Defunding public education was always the plan and the goal. https://lnkd.in/getNQwVj

💵 Laura Spitalniak reports: Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Tuesday credited the state’s nascent free community college program for nontraditional students with nearly doubling enrollment among those eligible.  #MassReconnect covers the cost of community college for state residents 25 and older who don’t have a degree. In the 2023-24 academic year, Massachusetts’s 15 community colleges enrolled 8,411 students in this age group, up 45% from the year before.   Since launch, the program has since distributed grants to over 4,500 people, according to Healey’s office. “This is a ticket to economic mobility, providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s economy and meet the needs of our employers,” Healey said.  Enrollment within the community college system reached 67,351 students in fall 2023, an 8% increase over the last year, representing a gain of 5,000 undergraduates. All 15 of the system’s institutions saw enrollment upticks. “These MassReconnect numbers show that when we are intentional about spreading the word far and wide that financial aid is available, students will make use of that aid,” Patrick Tutwiler, PhD, Massachusetts’ education secretary, said.  In May, state senate Democrats proposed universal free community college for all residents.  “#Tuition free Community College impacts individuals most in need and whom otherwise would not be afforded this opportunity,” Sen. Michael Rodrigues, chair of the state’s Senate Committee on Ways and Means, said. He added that the program would help students “meet the challenges of a global economy.” Senate leadership included $117.5 million in spending for the expansion, known as #MassEducate, in its fiscal 2025 budget. #Massachusetts is not the first state to enact a free college program for nontraditional students. #Michigan similarly offers tuition-free community college for adults with no #postsecondary credentials, and lowered the minimum age for participation from 25 to 21 last year. New Mexico also offers funding, known as the Opportunity #Scholarship, to older students who attend the state’s public colleges. #CommunityColleges #FinancialAid #AffordableEducation #PayingForCollege Michelle Miller-Adams Susan Woods #CollegeAdmissions

Exciting News for California's Community Colleges! According to a recent article in EdSource, enrollment across California’s 116 community colleges rose by 8.4% last fall, making significant strides toward recovering from pandemic-related declines. Chancellor Sonya Christian shared that the system projects over 2 million students enrolled this academic year, edging closer to pre-pandemic levels. Notably, enrollment among Black students increased by 9.5%, Hispanic students by nearly 9%, and white and Asian students by 8%. Dual enrollment also surged by over 20%, allowing high school students to get a head start on their college education. With projections indicating a return to pre-pandemic enrollment levels by the 2024-25 academic year, and potentially surpassing them the following year, the future looks bright for California’s community colleges! Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gvb-6TTN. #CommunityCollege #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #EnrollmentGrowth #EducationRecovery #DualEnrollment #CaliforniaColleges #InclusiveEducation #19Strong

In the latest entry in our series on public education, we examine perhaps the most critical facet of our education system: teachers. We are losing good teachers every year at an alarming rate and the replacement rate for them has plummeted. Propaganda against public schooling in general has certainly contributed to this, but what other factors are at play? Civic Way founder Bob Melville examines why we are losing teachers, why it is getting more difficult to replace them and why standards for evaluating teachers to ensure bad ones are not teaching children have fallen. https://lnkd.in/eKYanQmq

The crisis in higher education is undeniable – indoctrination, sky-high costs, and declining value have eroded public trust. We need reforms that promote affordability, protect free inquiry, and empower donors to support institutions that prioritize academic rigor and intellectual freedom.