CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS TO WATCH

Dedicated Teacher Office Hours: Designate specific, recurring time slots in the bell schedule when all teachers are available for student check-ins and academic assistance, normalizing access to support.

Structured Weekly Advisory/PRIME Time: Establish a mandatory, weekly period with a rotating content schedule to address student needs in three key areas: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), school-wide community activities, and personalized academic support (PRIME).

Inclusive Co-Taught Core Classes: Staff core academic classes (ELA and Math) with both a general education teacher and an Education Specialist, who share a preparation period, to support students with IEPs in the least restrictive environment and benefit all learners.

Required 6th Grade Exploratory Wheel: Implement a required rotating elective wheel for incoming students that exposes them to a short sample of diverse subjects (e.g., Art, Technology, World Languages) to help them make informed choices for future electives and pathways.

Involve Families in College Preparedness via AVID: Use the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program to provide comprehensive support to both students and their families, hosting family nights and organizing college field trips and guest speakers to build a foundation for four-year university attendance starting in middle school.