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Board reviews student data, family outreach in court and community schools
Summary
County education leaders told the Board that targeted outreach and flexible transportation increased family engagement for students in court and community schools; staff described course alignment and supports for English learners and credit recovery.
San Mateo County education officials presented student data and described outreach strategies for Court and Community Schools at the Board of Education’s Oct. 23 meeting. Associate Superintendent Kris Shouse and Executive Director Sarah Notch said staff prioritized proactive family contact and tailored transportation, and that the work helped increase engagement and access to courses that transfer back to students’ home districts.
Board Member Hugo Torres noted he was "excited about the 100% engagement from parents," and Associate Superintendent Shouse said families appreciated "being contacted for positive reasons rather than only when their child was in trouble." The presenters explained transportation arrangements vary by referring district: some districts provide buses while others arrange taxis or bus passes; the County Office also partners with SamTrans to provide no‑cost bus passes to families in need.
The presenters described academic alignment steps taken at Hillcrest and Gateway: Hillcrest offers in‑person math and science classes (math follows the Carnegie adoption), the County Office is working to align syllabi and course approvals so credits transfer to students’ districts, and Gateway now offers a new English Language Development (ELD) class for long‑term English learners. Board members asked for an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) template and pressed on supports for students who have had limited progress despite years in the system.
