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28
Community Council
Conclusions
is important to create learning
environments where students feel
safe and valued. A school culture
that puts a priority on persever-
ance and academic achievement
can reduce the dropout rate and
increase post-high school success.
A school is more likely to achieve
the results it seeks when it creates,
sustains, and institutionalizes a
shared vision for success.
18
Teachers and staff play important
roles in fostering students’ social
development and in supporting
their academic achievement.
Teachers who have expertise in
their subjects, are well-trained in
pedagogy and enjoy interacting
with students can have great
influence on schooling. Effective
teachers have integrity and
empathy and encourage student
creativity.
19
Students need positive role
models they can identify with
and relationships with adults who
care about them in order to build
self-esteem and achieve success.
Because most faculty and staff in
our region’s schools are not Latino,
Latino students often lack adult
role models at school who share
their ethnic or cultural heritage.
20
Adverse childhood experiences
(ACES) can lead to diminished
cognitive development, learning
disabilities, substance abuse, and
other behavioral issues, which
can lead to disengagement and
dropping out. Trauma-informed
practices generate better learning
outcomes for students with ACES.
21
Significant investments in early
learning, including prenatal
programs, are important because
children learn most quickly in the
first five years of life and because
early learning programs generate
high levels of cognitive, social and
economic returns.
22
High-quality early learning is
important because children who
are behind grade level when they
enter kindergarten will have dif-
ficulty catching up, are more likely
to drop out of high school and are
less likely to complete a four-year
degree. It is important to engage
parents in early learning programs
for their children.
23
Project-based learning enhances
student engagement at all levels.
24
Postsecondary workforce programs
that are aligned with industry stan-
dards and labor force demand gen-
erate jobs and promote regional
economic growth.
25
After-school and summer edu-
cational programs offer students
important opportunities to learn in
fun environments. Through hands-
on, engaging, creative activities,
these programs promote 21st
century skills and expand students’
horizons.
26
It is important to teach stu-
dents the “hidden curriculum” of
schools—such as how to take
notes, keep a schedule, be orga-
nized, advocate for yourself and
access resources—because those
skills boost academic achievement,
graduation rates, college applica-
tion rates, and scholarship awards.
27
STEM education integrates in-
struction in science, technology,
engineering, and math through
project-based learning. Providing
high-quality STEM education, be-
ginning in elementary school and
offered on a daily basis, promotes
critical thinking, problem solving,
and collaborative teamwork and
can help students better prepare
for employment opportunities in
the growing STEM workforce.
28
Music and arts education en-
hances engagement in school and
provides opportunities to learn and
practice 21st century skills such as
problem solving, effective commu-
nication, teamwork, and profes-
sionalism. Our region’s vibrant arts
community and creative economy
supports and is supported by mu-
sic and arts education.
29
High-quality Career and Techni-
cal Education that is aligned with
industry standards can prepare
students for immediate entry into
the labor market and can lead to
postsecondary education as stu-
dents develop a passion for their
field of study.
30
Dual-language education affirms
positive self-identity, which en-
hances engagement, and increases
executive functioning skills, which
promote student success.
31
The AVID program increases on-
time high school graduation rates,
and AVID strategies promote suc-
cess for all students.
32
Junior Achievement supports
students’ work readiness, entrepre-
neurialism, and financial literacy.
33
Investments in professional de-
velopment for teachers and staff
enhance their efforts to address
student issues, support student
success, and effectively teach valu-
able content.
34
More resources are needed to sup-
port the role of guidance counsel-
ors and career advising at both the
high school and postsecondary
levels. Effective career develop-
ment at all levels can help students