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District leaders propose MOU with high‑school district to smooth 8th‑to‑9th grade transitions
Summary
Chief of instruction Tasha East presented a proposed memorandum of understanding to formalize collaboration and data sharing with the Fremont‑area high school district; parents urged clearer articulation for dual‑immersion, special‑education transitions and transportation supports.
The Sunnyvale School Board on Nov. 7 heard a presentation from Chief of Instruction Dr. Tasha East on a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the high‑school district to improve academic articulation and 8th‑to‑9th grade transitions. East said the MOU would formalize data sharing and collaborative work already underway and align with the district’s four strategic goals to support students "not just when they're with us, but also looking to the future".
Multiple parents and program advocates urged staff and trustees to make the MOU specific about protections for dual‑immersion students and supports for students with special needs. Gabriela Conte, speaking from the San Miguel community, asked district leaders to "design this pathway in a way that they can continue with the literature" and preserve Spanish language development during the high‑school years. Tita Colacotta, representing families of students with special needs, requested that the district collect and make available data showing how students with IEPs fare after the transition so the elementary and middle grades can prepare appropriate interventions.
Board members and staff said the MOU is conceived as a framework and that director‑level teams will start the work to build trust and processes before putting requirements in the document. East told the board the document reflects input from families and staff and will be refined with additional family and principal feedback; she said the process will be incremental because "ultimately, we are two separate districts" and collaboration must respect each system’s constraints.
Parents also raised transportation concerns for families in North Sunnyvale and urged the districts to track dropout points and examine whether the transition to Fremont Union creates gaps. Board members asked staff to return with more detailed proposals, joint reporting options and an engagement plan so the MOU can move from a conceptual framework to a concrete set of shared actions.
