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CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS TO WATCH

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California Schools to Watch is a statewide program implemented by the California League
of Middle Schools, California Department of Education, California Middle Grades Alliance, National Forum, and the California Schools to Watch model schools.
Tetzlaff Accelerated Learning Academy

Redesignated: 2017, 2020, 2023

Designated 2014

ABC Unified School District

Los Angeles County

Josie Summers, Principal

12351 Del Amo Blvd., Cerritos, CA 90703

562.229.7795

School Characteristics

Community: Urban, Mid-Size City; Enrollment: 659; Grade Levels: 7-8; School Schedule: Six period day with twenty-minute Homeroom daily. Early release on Friday for staff collaboration.

School Demographics

37% Hispanic; 21% Asian; 17% African American; 15% Filipino; 8% White; 1% To or more races; 1% Pacific Islander1% American Indian. 41% Free/Reduced lunch. 8% English Learners.

Replicable Practices

  • Tetzlaff’s elective program is designed to provide clear pathways to high school Career and Technical Education elective courses such as: Project Lead the Way, Model United Nations, Television Broadcast, Spanish 1, Speech/Debate, Band and Performing Arts.

  • In addition to common assessments and grading systems Tetzlaff is piloting “Performance Task Tuesdays” once a month. During extended Homeroom all students take a common assessment based on a common rubric developed by subject areas.

  • AVID strategies have been implemented schoolwide using the AVID WICOR system, and inquiry based cooperative learning. All students are explicitly taught organizational skills such as note taking and binder organization.

  • Technology implementation is monitored by the school’s Technology Implementation Team (almost half the staff from all departments) who discuss successes and challenges, and plan next steps to technology implementation in the school. Technology is used extensively in all classrooms by staff and students.

  • Ensuring a safe and peaceful campus, Tetzlaff has fully implemented both the PeaceBuilders program and school-side Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in every classroom.

  • Parents are involved in multiple advisory and support groups in the school and participate in “Shadow Your Student Day”, in which they are invited to follow their students through a typical school day. In addition, the Wellness Coordinator offers workshops for parents on social emotional learning.

  • Teachers open their classrooms several times a year for learning walks, during which colleagues are able to see best practices in action while looking for the “Super 8”, eight instructional practice focused on schoolwide.

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