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Azusa Pacific University SCHOOL OF EDUCATION High school transforms learning culture in Bakersfield QEIA SCHOOL: West High School DISTRICT: Kern High School District SUCCESS FACTORS: Schedules and incentives API SCORE IN 2013: 746 STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS: 2,200 students; 62 percent Hispanic, 18 percent white, 15 percent African American; about 60 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunches; 6 percent English learners. "We have changed our school culture. Students want to succeed. It used to be not cool to be smart, but now it is cool," says Trent Combs, business teacher, site rep, and site council chair, pictured above left with Principal Dean McGee. What's working: West High teachers in Bakersfield noted students were not showing up for remedial or intervention work during lunch or after school. Now this is mandatory during the school day, an idea borrowed from a QEIA professional development training. Two periods were extended from 50 to 85 minutes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, to help students catch up. Remaining periods were shortened. Teachers can "do intervention work, reteaching or labs," says Combs. "Students who are not behind get enrichment instruction." Another program, "Think Gold," rewards students who stay on track with an extra five minutes of lunch time, social events, T-shirts, and a chance to be named to the campus academic "Hall of Fame." These incentives are based on standardized test results, so the tests become more important to students. "The extra five minutes of lunch really motivates the kids, and it costs us nothing," says Combs. They're proud: The school culture changed, thanks to the strong support of Principal Dean McGee. Discipline problems and suspensions declined sharply. The graduation rate of nearly 84 percent in 2011-12 was higher than the district and state rates. Smaller class sizes and more resources also made a difference. "QEIA allows us to do all these things sooner," Combs says. "It shows what you can accomplish with all of these resources." READ MORE SCHOOL PROFILES at Earn your degree from a university known for excellence in education. Azusa Pacific has a reputation for consistently producing innovative and comprehensively prepared educators. Our graduates serve as teachers, counselors, coaches, librarians, and administrators throughout Southern California, and are known in their schools and districts as leaders in their field. Choose from more than 60 ways to earn your credential and degree at APU, including a bachelor's degree completion program in liberal studies, and join a 114-year legacy of excellence in education. Programs start throughout the year. Contact us today! apu.edu/explore/education (626) 815-4570 cta.org/qeiasuccess. Learn about the power of good professional development at Marilyn Avenue School in Livermore. Plus, see how the Francisco Sepulveda Middle School in Los Angeles is benefitting from smaller class sizes. 15112 AZUSA | HIGH DESERT | INLAND EMPIRE | LOS ANGELES | MURRIETA SEP TEMBER 201 3 www.cta.org ORANGE COUNTY | SAN DIEGO | VENTURA COUNTY | ONLINE Educator 09 Sep 2013 v3.6 int.indd 35 35 9/3/13 2:26 PM