By Elizabeth Campos
Staff Writer
All Gabrielino High School students should be given an equal chance to advance their education. Yet, on March 7 at the Parent Teacher Association meeting, the question of if outside summer schools should be an accepted form of education due to the increasing amount of students pursuing schools outside of Gabrielino was raised. While the decision to consider the restriction on schools other than Gabrielino was postponed until next school year, programs such as Options For Youth and other summer schools are still an available option for students this summer. Despite the question of credibility of outside schools and the rigor of their summer school courses, significant reasons still stand as to why students should still be given the right to take classes offered at other schools.
One of the most significant programs Gabrielino students have utilized for summer school is Options For Youth. Options for Youth is a government funded charter school that provides classes to those who can not adhere to a normal schooling experience while still allowing them to receive an education. Alongside the classes offered during the school year, the summer school program has been convenient allowing students the flexibility they need to take classes in the summer with the same amount of rigor of Gabrielino summer school courses.
Providing students with possibility to get ahead in their classes to take more advanced ones, and open spaces in their schedules for electives and sports to pursue their passions were all attainable through Options For Youth. Yet, with administrators debating to discontinue what they have been accepting for years, the convenience for students to grow in their academics without having to pay hundreds to do so, is at risk of being taken. With 1,011 out of 1,812 Gabrielino students identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged in accordance to the School Accountability Report Card, it is obvious that a large portion of Gabrielino families might find it hard to afford classes that are over hundreds of dollars. Free classes such as the ones offered at OFY aid in the financial strains these families face.
“We don’t know if [outside course offered by other schools] are rigorous enough to allow students to be successful at the next level course they’ll be taking at Gabrielino.” Stated Assistant Principal Vincent Lopez, “ We’re looking into the credibility of other classes, when [students receive] a graduation diploma from Gabrielino, [ it’s because that student] went through Gabrielinos High School curriculum and [students receive a] grade point average based off of classes taken at Gabrielino, [administration] can check to see if these classes are applicable [to our criteria] So when [students] take classes that are off campus when you’re carrying a Gabrielino diploma, [administration] wants to make sure that the integrity of our diploma is upheld.”
While administrators question as to whether classes at OFY were not at the same level of classes offered at Gabrielino Summer School, and due to this, would be put into question of being accepted by Gabrielino. OFY is accredited by the Western Associations of Schools and Colleges and is aligned with Common Core standards. Not only this, but all of their high school English, US History, US Government, Economics, World History, Art History, Intro to Plays and Theatre, and Psychology classes are UC and CSU A-G approved. As well with classes such as Health being a Gabrielino graduation requirement being state approved and offered at OFY.
Providing the possibility for students to advance in their education without having to pay the price to do so is important for students to have. While not all students can afford to take expensive summer school classes, not all students can afford the time to do so either. With many relying on the opportunity to attend OFY over the summer, taking this away would impact Gabrielinos student population in a way that should worked to be avoided keeping the opportunity available for all.
