Report for Merced County schools stresses migrant student success, teacher support
The Mondo Building in downtown Merced was filled with local educators and officials from the state, county and city level Wednesday for the ninth Merced County Schools Annual Education Report.
This was the first education report given at the Mondo Building since the Merced County Office of Education moved there recently, marking a “historic day,” said MCOE Media and Communications Manager Nathan Quevedo.
The new location off Canal and Main streets will act as a training and professional development center for educators countywide.
The presentation kicked off with a Taiko drum performance by Ballico-Cressey students. Taiko is a form of Japanese percussion.
Among the highlights of the 18 page report is the county’s continuing efforts to make migrant education a priority, plus the Continuous Improvement Program for educators.
“Migrant education serves students who are most at risk,” said County Superintendent of Schools Steve Tietjen. “Our challenges today pale in comparison to what immigrants face,” he added.
The school year can be disrupted for migrant students who move with the agricultural industry, according to the report.
MCOE’s Migrant Education Program keeps track of those students, helps them catch up on missed schoolwork and provides support to them and their families.
Stanislaus and Madera counties are also served through the program, which Tietjen called a “proven success.”
At just over 73%, a majority of Merced County students in 2019 were Latino. Winton School District ranked third out of 430 California districts, in terms of Hispanic student performance, according to a Positive Outliers Report by the Palo Alto-based Learning Policy Institute.
El Nido Elementary School District has the highest percentage of English learners at nearly 75%.
A presentation by Rosbelina Ward, a former recipient of migrant education and 2019’s Merced County Teacher of the Year, stressed the importance of emphasizing a teaching philosophy that advocates, rewards and encourages students.
Ward, who teaches fourth grade at Farmdale Elementary School, applauded MCOE workshops and training for educators.
“I feel I will forever be a lifetime learner, and I embrace that,” she said.
Tietjen’s update on the county expanding its role to assist academic achievement and behavioral outcomes noted that districts who received MCOE Continuous Improvement Program services saw three times as much growth in student performance than the county average.
Continuous improvement seeks to prepare educators by promoting a growth mindset and pinpointing best practices congruent with current curriculum.
“Our task as content coordinators is to change what’s going on in the classroom,” said MCOE Math Coordinator Duane Habacker. “Dissatisfaction without a clear vision is toxic,” he added.
Other highlights in the report included:
- County high school graduation rates exceeded the state average at about 92% compared to 88%.
- The Merced County school districts’ 2019-20 budget rose to almost $750 million, up from nearly $725 million in 2018-19.
- Merced County Schools enrollment rose to 59,357 in 2019-20 from 59,222 in 2018-19.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2020-21 budget proposed a $2.9 billion increase to education spending, including an added $900 million to special education.
The Kids Discovery Station is set to open this spring at the MCOE Yosemite Center.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 12:09 PM.
