District lays out course selection, adoptions, dyslexia screening and Early College Academy; board hears push to switch junior testing from CAASPP to SAT

Assistant Superintendent Dustin Seaman used the Feb. 11 school board meeting to walk trustees through multiple instructional initiatives that will affect course schedules and assessments for the 2025–26 school year.

The most immediate items were course selection and testing timelines. Seaman said site counselors continue course verification through April and reminded families there will be a Swap‑a‑Palooza in August to let students change courses before the school year begins. He also outlined the district’s assessment calendar: local diagnostic assessments (I‑Ready and NWEA), PSAT/SAT administration, CAASPP window in April and Advanced Placement exam schedules in May.

Why it matters: Trustees used the presentation to press for clearer communications to families and to debate assessment strategy. Multiple trustees and staff argued the state CAASPP exam consumes instructional time and urged the district to advocate at the state level for moving to SAT or ACT school day for 11th grade; Seaman said the district would draft a letter and pursue regional advocacy.

Curriculum adoptions and ethnic‑studies planning: Seaman said the district is running two math adoptions (elementary and middle), driven in part because the current math publisher discontinued the product. Teachers have piloted options and staff will present recommended adoptions after usability, teacher and student feedback.

Seaman also described work on a semester‑length ethnic‑studies elective (African American, Asian American, Latinx and Native American studies; the district has added Jewish American as a possible topic). The district has not yet adopted a textbook; staff expect to bring a scope and sequence and potential resources for a study session in March with additional community review before any adoption.

Dyslexia screening and interventions: The district is planning to implement the state’s new dyslexia screening in kindergarten through second grade in 2025‑26. Seaman said the district is leaning toward the Amira screener; he said Amira would be free for the district and the vendor selection was still under review. Staff promised a follow‑up presentation that will detail post‑screening interventions and any additional staffing or budget needs.

Early College Academy with Santa Monica College: Seaman announced an inaugural Early College Academy for current juniors. Selected seniors would take SMC IGETC‑transferable classes on the SMC campus from 8:00–9:30 a.m. and return to BHHS for remaining classes. The district said accepted students could graduate BHUSD with their high‑school diploma plus 15 transcripted SMC credits; participation would be concurrent and students would still be eligible for athletics and extracurriculars. Transportation will initially be a family responsibility; the district said it would explore carpooling and possible supports but did not commit district transportation.

Summer school and summer‑program options: Seaman reviewed the summer‑school plan and grant funding (Extended Learning Opportunity Program/ELOP) that currently funds roughly 17 percent of elementary students for remedial/bridge programs. Trustees pressed staff to expand summer offerings, including combining remediation and enrichment and co‑locating vendors for wraparound care; staff recommended further study, possible vendor partnerships and a request back to the board for any general‑fund support.

AP exams and testing debate: Seaman noted the district purchases AP exams for students, removing financial barriers. Trustees discussed whether the district should adopt a policy requiring AP students to sit for the College Board exams; staff noted Ed Code limits district control over classroom assessment and recommended further study. Several trustees and administrators also discussed statewide advocacy to replace 11th‑grade CAASPP with SAT or ACT school day to reduce testing days and give students a free college‑entrance assessment.

Clarifying details and next steps: The presentation included these specifics discussed at the meeting: the district is reviewing four approved dyslexia screeners and leaning toward Amira; the Early College Academy will onboard by March 11 for summer registration and SMC onboarding; OLSAT 125 is used by the district as a GATE cutoff (third‑grade screening); elementary summer ELOP invitations went to about 212 students (~17% of elementary population). Seaman and principals said they would return with more detailed recommendations and community engagement opportunities for the ethnic‑studies scope and the math adoptions.

Ending: The board scheduled additional study sessions on the strategic plan and deferred policy decisions about AP‑exam requirements and assessment advocacy until staff could provide more detailed cost and equity analyses.