WriterCoach Connection

Soda Foundation renews support for WriterCoach Connection

One of the most stalwart of WCC's financial supporters, the Y & H Soda Foundation, has once again expressed the strength of its commitment to its shared vision with Community Alliance for Learning (CAFL), with a generous $20,000 grant for the continuation of WCC's work with under-resourced students in Oakland.

A planning grant from the Soda Foundation two years ago enabled CAFL to lay the groundwork for what became a spectacularly successful program launch last year in Oakland, at Media Academy, part of the Fremont Federation of Small Schools in the Fruitvale District. With continuing support from the Soda Foundation, we hope to expand WCC to the 12th grade at Media this year and to continue to spread the program throughout Oakland in the years to come.

Robert Menzimer

WCC makes an impact in Oakland

Over the past year, our Oakland WriterCoach Connection site, Media Academy, achieved the highest Academic Performance Index (API) gain of any high school in the district--a giant leap of 79 points that exceeded Media's API growth target by a full 65 points.

We would never try to occupy the spotlight in recognition of achievement like this, when the proper bows should be taken by the hard-working district staff, the Media administrative and teaching staff, and Media students and families. But we are really excited to see Media's API gain, and grateful to Jeannie Johnson, director of College and Career Readiness for the Oakland Unified School District, who commented, "I was thrilled to see Media's improvement this year. Congratulations on your good work!"

The Academic Performance Index (API) is based on test-score performance through a two-year cycle. The base score is for the first year and the growth score is for the second. The scale is 200 to 1,000 and the statewide goal for all schools is 800. Media Academy's base score for 2008 was 521, the growth target was 535 and their growth result was a remarkable 600.

We hope to expand writer coaching at Media Academy this year to include not only the tenth graders but the twelfth-grade students as well, working on their Senior Projects. Media Academy is on a roll, and we're privileged and proud to be part of it!

Robert Menzimer

Welcoming the new school year!

As classrooms spring to life for the new school year, WCC site coordinators are working with teachers to formulate the coaching schedule for 2009-10. At most sites, coaching will begin in mid-October. Meantime, coach training sessions are on the near horizon. The first of nine training sequences begins Tuesday, September 15 and the final fall training sequence concludes on Tuesday, November 10. To register for training, click this link.