[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6209824,"mediaKeyId","3728713-43ba21af7d968199bca400c8a4a22bff","parentId",3728713,"title","Santa Clara Unified to implement PE exemptions after CDE guidance; debate highlights teacher and student concerns","audioSeconds",355,"startMs",1322000,"endMs",1677000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728713-43ba21af7d968199bca400c8a4a22bff&start=1322&end=1677","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728713-43ba21af7d968199bca400c8a4a22bff/thumbnail_1322000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6209824/California/Santa-Clara-Unified-to-implement-PE-exemptions-after-CDE-guidance-debate-highlights-teacher-and-student-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209824-a5dc6b8ae74485d0e42fdfb6036e4196/orig.mp4?Expires=1776256725&Signature=Nlp~e4~J-8xf3n9TpS55iaXT0mnKFp9GI0pQrp2lousTXRhXRElWcGuJx-nMmYOdIK86BdXXhAHR6M1wpAvFaPvBTZBradONnvQ2fCfMg9ep5b7X-YiheQcx8Rzl1H2G5nAyvLPk-IcOjnbS13SmaZ2Vietz80kSrowk0ZZQ9PeQIFXZY7kOGodgEsK5NzRpgT3AYfrZiKqYzK8wc28sLRJiJizFLGF5fNpDUpwW7oGbPPXaZrkUVHvLIaiDsJi3lV0gvjM-LIRcC5cSwp~k8tc4D0spPxGRX9P8aneLsXe6KzQRIgXe5PHtLTTTSjSrCdB4g63jZVxoD7oKECpS9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-10T00:57:53.54Z","article","Trustees debated changes to administrative regulation AR 6142.7, which would allow students participating in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) athletics to seek exemptions from some high‑school physical education (PE) requirements. Staff said the California Department of Education (CDE) advised the district to implement an exemption pathway—not to award PE credit for CIF participation—and identified a “permanent exemption” option available to students who are 16 years old after completing their sophomore year.

A district staff member explained to the board: “The guidance from the CDE was to use the language that is in the board policy and education code, to focus on the use of exemption, not on credit for participation in interscholastic athletics after school.” The staff member added that the district would establish a permanent exemption as part of the annual student renewal process to limit inequitable application of the law.

Board and public discussion covered several recurring concerns:

- Equity and access: Union leaders and multiple teachers argued the change could deepen disparities for students who lack access to after‑school sports because of money, transportation or family responsibilities. Trustee Fairchild and UTSC representatives highlighted that chronically absent students—often low‑income, multilingual learners or students with individual needs—could lose access if prerequisites emphasize attendance and grades.

- Impact on PE courses and special‑education inclusion: Several PE teachers warned that an exemption could reduce enrollment in athletics‑oriented PE courses and threaten unified PE offerings that include students with IEPs. One PE teacher said the district risked losing programs that combine general‑education and life‑skills students, saying, “If these students are able to receive permanent exemption when they are 16... we will not be able to have that unified class anymore.”

- Teacher workload, scheduling and staffing: Staff told trustees they will hold staffing harmless for the coming year to assess actual enrollment impacts. The district also said it will work with PE teachers this summer on standards compaction and grading consistency to ensure students who take only a required 9th‑grade PE class still receive exposure to state standards.

- Student health and workload: Parents and student athletes urged the board to allow exemptions, saying athletes already train extensively and that the exemption could reduce risk of overuse injury and provide needed time for academics. One parent said students often put “far more time and energy into their sports than they would with a regular PE class.” Another student speaker said the exemption provided needed relief for athletes balancing rigorous practice and academics.

Public comment reflected a sharp split. PE teachers and UTSC representatives urged the board to slow implementation and examine equity and scheduling impacts; parents and students asked the board to implement the AR so student athletes can benefit on the same basis as peers in other districts. A parent organizer reported collecting 75 student signatures at one high school in support of the exemption.

Staff described specific next steps: include a permanent exemption option in the annual student renewal process; design an application form that will require athletic director and counselor sign‑off and principal sign‑off before any exemption is recorded on transcripts; maintain or expand PE elective offerings so students who do not seek exemption can still access required minutes and curriculum; and work with PE teachers on standards alignment and grading policies over the summer. Staff also said the district must ensure the statutory requirement of 400 minutes of PE per 10 school days for students who remain enrolled in PE is met or that adequate PE electives are offered.

Trustees emphasized they want to protect both students and staff. Trustee Ryan called attention to reports that some students who spoke in favor of the exemption had been targeted by staff and said that behavior was “completely unacceptable.” No final board vote changing policy occurred that evening; staff presented the AR and the legal interpretation and outlined implementation steps.

The district said it will monitor impacts next year and report back to the board, with particular attention to elective availability, special‑education inclusion, staffing and grade‑level scheduling.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting - May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees debated administrative regulation AR 6142.7 (PE exemptions for students participating in CIF athletics), following guidance from the California Department of Education that the district implement exemptions—not PE credit—and build a permanent exemption option for students 16 and older after completing sophomore year.","taxTitle","Santa Clara Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",14497,"location","California","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6209829,"Santa Clara Unified highlights comprehensive school counseling program, reports gains in middle- and high‑school interventions",94,1154000,1248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728713-43ba21af7d968199bca400c8a4a22bff&start=1154&end=1248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728713-43ba21af7d968199bca400c8a4a22bff/thumbnail_1154000.jpg","/articles/6209829/California/Santa-Clara-Unified-highlights-comprehensive-school-counseling-program-reports-gains-in-middle-and-highschool-interventions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209829-671184395c5096ef1a871e4df2e494c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776256726&Signature=GfJtchP7WBMQHnPMIk95PNxZJ171HunGqf6MdcP-1dmgndt~ElDppZ2rLiTEp2iQeANfPHdsDQyBg8yf6~ebT78aQkaKE6dPSo9h0ifoY22IgDskRf5h25AnyiuFOq7IVPUN32gkx0ZebBTvnjQyvj01-IykN8Qx79iu32cgrJqouUFFsQRi~jWq9nitVl5XXVTAQumoyIbH5kUNeMarTYtW8ejW6PVT0AMbkuGGScUb6tiB4dI1Gdb8Ci-lo5OJ6rQkqTGNyT6Je5DTl4eovDeLgPlkpbVB3WiB4NNbHBaTFBz2RMhqksFMs5egMa7E0U~l5nmx2chAWPw7uWrReg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees heard a presentation on the district’s comprehensive school counseling program from Amy Herron, the district lead counselor, on the evening the board met. Herron told trustees the program uses an 80/20 model that delivers a common “tier 1” curriculum across all middle and high schools and a targeted “tier 2” set of interventions tailored to site needs.

Herron said the counseling work centers on academics, social‑emotional learning and college and career readiness and aligns to the American School Counseling Association national model. “School counselors are the only educators on a school campus who have the big picture view, where they're tracking things like attendance and discipline and A through G completion and graduation rates,” Herron said.

Trustees heard concrete examples and outcome data from multiple sites. At Peterson Middle School, counselor Amarina Fedani said a three‑lesson “getting ready for high school” unit produced a 315% increase in students who knew the number of credits required for graduation and a 10% drop in students reporting nervousness about starting high school after the lessons. At Santa Clara High School, counselors Katie Weeks and Daniella Asuela reported a 56.7% increase in freshmen who said understanding personality preferences would help them choose careers and a 20.65% drop in F grades from quarter 1 to the end of the fall semester after revised classroom lessons and translated materials were used.

Bookster Middle School’s Homework Club was presented as a tier‑2 intervention. Counselor Marcy Van Horn said the club—run Tuesdays and Thursdays with university student tutors—recorded a 95% attendance rate, served about 61 students during the year and was associated with a 22.2% decrease in Ds and Fs (comparing quarter 2 to quarter 3) and a 9% increase in As and Bs among participating students.

Wilcox High School counselors Adam Rios and Christina Watkins described a targeted effort focused on 9th‑grade Hispanic students who had one or two Ds or Fs in quarter 1. Wilcox developed five workshops (career exploration, executive functioning and academic planning among them), individualized monitoring and a parent night. Rios reported a 45% increase in the target group’s understanding of post‑secondary career options and a 143% increase in students’ understanding of how to create an individualized post‑secondary plan.

Herron said two schools are pursuing the Recognized ASCA (American School Counseling Association) program designation and that the counseling department is using data to refine interventions and to “close opportunity gaps for those who have historically been underserved.”

Board members praised the presentations and data. Trustee Canova said the work is “critically important.” Trustee Muirhead and others noted the presentations showed a clear data‑driven process linking identification of needs, targeted interventions and measurable outcomes. Student Trustee Brown thanked counselors for their on‑campus work and said middle school presentations had noticeably improved.

No formal board action was required on the counseling presentation. Earlier in the meeting trustees voted 7–0 to move item L‑1 (the counseling presentation) forward on the agenda so presenters could be heard.

The district said it will continue to expand tier‑2 offerings, follow up on sites pursuing national recognition, and use the RAMP/RAMP‑style data process to refine target groups next year.","The Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees heard a presentation on the district’s comprehensive school counseling program from Amy Herron, the district lead counselor, on the evening the board met.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6209819,"Board enforces expulsion with suspended enforcement for student 061324A; orders home/hospital placement",3662,9708000,13370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728713-43ba21af7d968199bca400c8a4a22bff&start=9708&end=13370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728713-43ba21af7d968199bca400c8a4a22bff/thumbnail_9708000.jpg","/articles/6209819/California/Board-enforces-expulsion-with-suspended-enforcement-for-student-061324A-orders-homehospital-placement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209819-92d47d30bee281ae64b3c1bfc6e42d67/orig.mp4?Expires=1776256726&Signature=AFN4pcc4U7weieGjOyl3eAegvpFcsSbrkLjQkBF3DuVh6SdE2Lt7ChSYRFQb-d~Xu6EB2F6RkuK3ym~sl38iS3ALCqEhPP~ie8v1YiEvgG-fftPKnol~~cX~3T6Uo4Pw~8TqcC0E6JU2BNvLVsIt4J0psoPS9Ag4c75A64OQLYzwd1QCVnTwF1d9oDBjzsxTTFc7pTQ7QEOp9kMbOiEJlPPr7nQ9teFkOaorP5vw0mmbbV31eDoJWpVojK~5teSctuGRG4bAGnrQe0d~G6GrhHKWSpTg0YTVUWeR9eZ8rXjP4M8diLTwhfDbcmKSQbmBAH6VUHRrr0KW26UNxUZtWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Following closed‑session consideration of staff recommendations and related evidence, the Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees voted on a motion to enforce the expulsion (previously suspended) of student 061324ADot1 for the remainder of the original rehabilitation plan and to change the student's placement from Cabrillo Middle School to home/hospital instruction.

Trustee Rotterman moved the motion; Trustee Watanabe seconded. The board conducted a roll‑call vote: the motion passed 7–0. The board recorded that the student may apply for reinstatement at the end of the original expulsion term on June 13, 2025.

The board’s closed‑session report earlier in the meeting stated trustees “discussed the recommendation of staff and related evidence regarding expulsion with a suspension of enforcement of student 062324A.1” and later publicly announced the action taken in open session.","The Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees voted 7–0 to enforce the expulsion with suspension of enforcement for student 061324ADot1, change the student’s placement from Cabrillo Middle School to home/hospital instruction, and allow the student to apply for reinstatement at the end of the original expulsion term (06/13/2025).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Santa Clara Unified to implement PE exemptions after CDE guidance; debate highlights teacher and student concerns

Santa Clara Unified highlights comprehensive school counseling program, reports gains in middle- and high‑school interventions

Board enforces expulsion with suspended enforcement for student 061324A; orders home/hospital placement