Oak View High School looks strong on accreditation report

Instruction,
involvement
cited as strengths
By Lori Porter
porter@theacorn.com

Oak View High School, the only continuation school in Oak Park that offers an alternative educational environment, recently learned that its instructional program is its No. 1 strength and the school has made strides in getting community participation.

Oak View just completed the long process of seeking and obtaining accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In response, OVHS received a final report from the WASC committee that evaluated the school.

WASC is one of six regional associations that grant accreditation after applicant schools complete a comprehensive self-study that’s followed by an on-site evaluation of programs and services.

The visiting team that evaluated Oak View was made up of three educational experts in alternative education.

Oak View Principal Millie Andress said she was pleased with the final WASC report and enjoyed meeting its committee members. "The staff received ideas from the team members and the team members received ideas from the staff," Andress said. The sharing of ideas is part of the process in WASC accreditations.

The report indicated that the Oak View’s academic program is its strength. The school provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful, real-world settings, the report said. All lessons in each course at OVHS are based on California and district standards.

Unique to Oak View is that at the beginning of each course, teachers make general statements concerning the purposes and objectives of the class. Subjects include English, biology, U.S. history, government, world history, economics, algebra and geometry.

WASC committee members evaluated whether students meet the 240 required credits for graduation. Traditional high schools also require 240 credits. Oak View students can earn credits more quickly because OVHS recently adopted a five-semester year.

Traditionally, a school year is divided by quarters that are 45 days. The quintile system at OVHS uses 36 days. It’s possible for students to earn up to 75 credits a year on campus vs. the usual 60. Oak View students are also encouraged to concurrently enroll in classes at local community colleges to meet their graduation requirements.

Oak View High School has been recognized three times as a model continuation school by the California Department of Education, most recently for 2003 through 2008. OVHS students who have taken the California High School Exit Exam have passed at a rate higher than some of the traditional high schools in Ventura County.

With three full-time teachers and an 18 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio, Oak View provides each student with an individualized approach to learning based on that student’s needs.

WASC also evaluated the school’s progress on key issues identified from its self-study and in the last WASC report. The recent WASC report indicated that Oak View had improved its community participation by implementing an annual Career Day. Oak View has offered the event for the last four years. OVHS students and parents have also gotten more involved in school activities and events, such as food drives and fundraisers.

A hugely successful program that was recently eliminated because of cutbacks from the state was also praised by WASC. Oak Park had the services of a community liaison officer, who for the past three years met with students to clarify laws pertaining to youth and to improve relations between law enforcement officers and young people.

The accreditation procedure was beneficial, according to Andress.

"The process itself allowed us to celebrate our success as well as identify areas for continued growth," she said.