S4S Research Update – 9/26/13
S4S Project
Research Plans for 2013-14
Announcements  None

Orientation Days Survey
o Report being drafted
FYE

FYE Extended Analysis:
o Report being drafted
S.L.
 None
Math-075
 Analysis is in progress – expected completion end of October
English-096
 Analysis is in progress – expected completion end of October
Learning
o None
Consortiums
Other
o The Research Office will be conducting additional analyses using the Scorecard
data to try to understand more about the cohorts. Specifically, one thing we’re
trying to understand is why the persistence rate is lower for “prepared” students
compared to students in the “unprepared” category.
o Pre-Survey distributed to Noncredit ESL and GED courses during 2nd week of
semester to obtain information on how we can improve the Noncredit ESL and
Non-Credit to
GED programs for students. Post-survey to be distributed at the end of the
Credit
semester.
Transition
o Working with Noncredit Placement Team and consultant to examine Noncredit
data to help inform decision for the appropriate placement test for Noncredit
ESL.
o Fill in OneNote. Contact Catherine anytime for help with this.
Reminders
o Capture documentation of anything that provides evidence of changes and
student success as a result of your work (i.e. video documentation).
SCV Math Learning Consortium Executive Summary
September 17, 2013 4:30-6:00 in UCEN 212
Attendees: Christine Benitez(Co-Chair & Golden Valley), Collette Gibson (Co-Chair & COC), Stephanie
Viramontes (Golden Valley), Will Pieleszek (Canyon), Olumuyiwa “Ayo” Idowu (West Ranch), Matt
Teachout (COC), Angela Grigoryan (COC & Skills4Success), Chelley Maple (COC Student Success &
Support Program).
Placement into COC Math Classes:
Chelley was agreeable to looking at ways to weigh completion of high school math classes with scores
on the Accuplacer exam for placement into math classes. This relates to research brief #59 at COC.
To follow-up with items related to placement, we need to report back on how students who participated
in the Math Preparation Workshops in April 2013 performed on the math placement exam. We also
need to share research brief #59 with Chelley Maple and new high school faculty joining Consortium
Senior Math Class Development:
Chelley suggested that as we create a senior math class, we have a pathway in mind for students to
transition to COC. The pathway we will move toward is to prepare students to enter COC’s Math
075/140 path. Matt provided a good background of information for COC’s Math 075. He mentioned
Carol Dweck and the growth mindset. Matt asked that the senior math class build in an arithmetic
review.
To prepare for future discussions:
Christine will look into a class that Saugus offers. We need to find potential textbooks. Could a custom
book be created where several chapters from two different books are combined? We need to know if
the high school classes will have access to computers to determine if the course should be designed
toward calculators only. Some high school faculty expressed interest in observing evening Math 075
classes. We should share the journal assignments from Math 075.
Next Meeting: October 15, 2013
Santa Clarita Valley Learning Consortium
English Meeting Minutes
September 17, 2013: 4:30 – 6:00 p.m., LTLC-161
Attendees: Karen Lopez, Tracey Sherard, John Albert, Louise Davies, Victor Limon, Jennifer
Putt, Mary Petersen, Andy McCutcheon, Liz Shaker, and Kari Soffa
Summary:
1. The meeting opened with a presentation by Liz Shaker, COC Counselor and coordinator of the
College 2 Career Day. She spoke about the efforts of the Hart District and College of the Canyons
to promote college and career readiness which she said goes hand in hand with Common Core
implementation. We discussed the meaning of college and career readiness and highlighted
skills such as managing time, modulating emotions, asking for help, setting goals, and persisting.
Liz reported that the Hart/COC leadership team, including Dave LaBaron and Audrey Green) is
trying to create a Santa Clarita Valley model of 7 principles to promote college and career
readiness.
Liz also presented the draft copy of the Hart/COC College and Career Readiness Plan. She
described the committee process of generating the grade level goals which are not yet finalized.
The goal is to generate a standardized model which will be used throughout the Santa Clarita
Valley and which will have measurable SLOs that will be assessed.
Karen said that the focus on college and career readiness goes well with ERWC (Expository
Reading and Writing Course) module entitled “What’s Next” which engages students in
reflection on life after high school.
Karen also inquired about the number of Hart District students who enrolled in English 101
through the EAP exemption. Chelley later confirmed the number to be 41. Karen asked whether
these EAP exemption students are being monitored for success and retention. Mary felt that
they are as part of the EAP pilot but contact Daylene Meuschke to confirm.
Kari reported on the grant funded Career Coach program that she and COC counselors are
engaged in at the Hart District which also builds affective skills and career readiness.
Kari also reported on the Naviance program which is also funded by a COC grant and is in its
second year of implementation. High schools use this online program as a tool for course
planning, and it includes college and career modules. Parents, teachers and students have
access to the program.
Liz added that the COC Career center offers an online program to help determine career options
called “Kuder Journey.”
Mary reported that there are upcoming workshops presented on college and career readiness.
The Get Focused Stay Focused conference will be offered January 9 & 10 at Santa Barbara City
College. The college is also offering a one day workshop in Los Angeles on October 15th.
2. The group determined that its goal for this semester is to explore this affective component of
classroom pedagogy and share best practices for engaging students in activities that promote
skills such as metacognition, setting goals, monitoring progress, managing time, persisting,
asking for help. It will also stay abreast of Common Core implementation and monitor the
college and career readiness program at the district level. Mary volunteered to share the first
presentation on an affective best practice.
Next meeting: October 15, 2013
Minutes respectfully submitted by Mary Petersen
Skills for Success
Professional Development Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
2:00-3:00 PM – Mentry Hall, 246
Thursday, October 17, 2013

Introductions/ Welcome –In attendance: Brent Riffel (History), Denee Pescarmona (Academic
Affairs), Anzhela Grigoryan (Mathematics), Mary Petersen (English), Adam Kaiserman
(English), Joe Gerda (Mathematics), John Makevich (Distance Learning), Adam Kempler
(English), Kevin Jenkins (Graphics/Multimedia), Leslie Carr (Professional Development)

Subcommittee Goals for 2013-2014 – Attendees expressed an interest in, among things,
improving training, particularly for adjuncts and new faculty, breaking down silos between
departments, developing new professional development FLEX opportunities, disseminating high
impact practices more widely, and developing and implementing a greater S4S professional
development web presence (perhaps including a twitter and resource feed).

Discussion: What are your interests in terms of professional development and student success? –
The 2014 S4S Symposium was discussed. Denee indicated that it will focus on completion.
Possible breakout sessions were also discussed. In addition, Denee described the potential for
state funding models based on completion that may be implemented by 2017.
The future of the Skilled Teacher Certificate and the Associate Program was discussed and
several expressed an interest in reviving elements of the latter. Joe mentioned the need to
prioritize professional development ideas to make improvements for the greatest number of
students. A debate over whether to focus on one or two basic approaches or instead developm a
more varied approach ensued as well.

Faculty Inquiry Groups (FIG) – The committee discussed Faculty Inquiry Groups and considered
the possibility of forming them to research and roll out practices from which students and faculty
would benefit. A two-page handout that describes the basic function of FIGs was distributed.
Mary raised the issue of whether FIGs needed to “reinvent the wheel” in terms of research, and
Denee responded by saying that the need for research was more connected to how to roll out, for
example, acceleration or reading across the curriculum, more than the need to conduct a literature
review.

Next Meeting – A meeting request will be sent out for the next meeting: Thursday, November 21,
2:00-3:00 PM.