Director, Student Programs, West County Region, Bianca Bloom, Ed.D.
Director, Student Programs, Central County Region, Marie McClaskey
Director, Student Programs, East County Region, Jane Shamieh, J.D.

The Golden Gate Community School programs provide successful learning experiences for all students in an alternative education environment. Staff will assist students in reaching their academic and career goals by implementing teaching strategies and techniques which will enable students to succeed personally, socially, and educationally in society today.

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Golden Gate Community School is an alternative education program serving the educational needs of students during their enrollment. All courses taken and credits earned are transferable to the student's home district. The school's main purpose is to prepare the students to return to their home districts.

Golden Gate Community School's mission is to empower students to become productive members of the community by providing quality learning opportunities in three domains:

• Basic Academic Skills
• Requirements for High School Graduation
• Life/Prevocational Skills

Staff members assist students in reaching their academic and career goals by implementing teaching strategies and techniques that enable students to succeed personally, socially, and educationally in society today.

Golden Gate Community School provides the following learning opportunities:

• Complete a course of study leading to a high school diploma or General Education Development certificate (GED).
• Develop individual potential and an appreciation of self and others while learning to become productive citizens.
• Develop individual talents, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the knowledge to succeed.

Golden Gate offers 6 classes in the following cities:

• Martinez
• Rodeo
• Brentwood (grades 6-8)
• Brentwood (grades 9-12)
• San Pablo
• Richmond
• Pittsburg

School hours vary at each site. The program runs Monday through Friday, and follows the CCCOE approved holiday and vacation schedule. Most sites operate a summer school program.

In addition, Golden Gate Community School offers Independent Study in East County and West County. For more information, call the Golden Gate Community School Office at 925. 313.2950.

Parent Involvement

There are several ways for parents to become involved with the school. At the time a student enters the program, the student, parent and the classroom teacher meet to review the student transcript, design an Individual Learning Plan, and go over the rules of the program. If the student is eligible for Special Education services, the instructional support teacher is included in the meeting. There are also frequent phone calls both parent and staff initiated during the student ‘s enrollment. Parents can be invited or request to spend the day in the classroom. At the end of each semester, a transition meeting is held with the parent, student, principal, teacher and local school district representative. The purpose of the transition meeting is to review the student’s progress, plan for the next semester, and to determine if the student will return to the local district.

Enrollment Information Procedures

A letter of referral or a referral form along with transcripts, immunizations, IEP (and any special education information), and the terms of expulsion (NO CUM FOLDERS) faxed or mailed to the Golden Gate Community School Office will start the enrollment process. A letter of Referral or Expulsion must be filed with the Golden Gate Community School office before the enrollment process may begin.

For more information, call the Golden Gate Community School Office at 925. 313.2950.

Referral Process

Students are considered for the Golden Gate Community School when referred by one or more of the following:

1. Court wards or dependents whose case manager (Judge, Probation Officer, or Social Service) has determined that it is in the student's best interest to attend the Golden Gate Community School for truancy, if district program is not available, and/or as a transition period from institutional program.
2. District students whose needs have been reviewed by the District School Attendance Review Board (SARB), or whose parents have requested attendance in the Golden Gate Community School.
3. Expelled students who may no longer attend district schools.
4. Students who have been referred by the Probation Department as informal probationers will be carried as an at risk student if agreed to by all parties.

Since each student previously attended a local district school program, Golden Gate Community School program seeks to transition the students back to an appropriate educational, training, and/or employment setting upon completion of their contractual requirements. The Community School program is student-centered and adapted to meet the student's individual needs.

Initial Student Contact

After the referring agency has completed the referral process and sent the paperwork to the main office, the parent/guardian or student must call the office to set up an enrollment appointment. Interview dates will generally be set for the following day or the first available date thereafter.

Golden Gate Community School must have the information listed below before an enrollment appointment can be set:

• Medical information, i.e., medical doctor, telephone number, the hospital the medical doctors works from, insurance carrier, and appropriate identification numbers
• Emergency contact, relationship, and telephone numbers
• Social Security Number

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Along with Mt. McKinley School, Delta Vista High School is one of two Court School Programs operated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. Delta Vista High School operates at the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility in Byron. All of the students who are enrolled in Delta Vista come from Mt. McKinley School at Juvenile Hall. The assessments and Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is updated and forwarded to Delta Vista when the student is transferred.

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The school program at Delta Vista is offered during five class periods a day. Students are assigned to either five academic periods or three academic periods and the Work Experience program. Similar to Mt. McKinley School, there is school-wide implementation of the standards-based Character Based Literacy program for a 90-minute period daily. All of the subjects required for graduation are taught using up-to-date textbooks correlated to the state standards. Students who are assigned to Work Experience program are assigned jobs at the facility and are supervised by Probation. Work Experience students are required to complete work-related academic instruction with one of the teachers.

At both Mt. McKinley School and Delta Vista High School, screening and preparation for the General Education Development (GED) test is provided and eligible students participate in testing preparation activities. A qualified employee of the GED Testing program conducts on-site testing each month. An Individualized Support teacher and a special education instructional assistant provide identified students with support services. Additionally, a Title 1 tutor is available to provide individualized instruction to low functioning or limited English proficient students, and to administer academic pre/post assessments. Students who earn all of the necessary high school credits and pass the High School Exit Exam are eligible to receive their high school diploma.

History of the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility

The Contra Costa County Boys Ranch opened in 1960, with 20 boys, two teachers and a small staff of counselors. Throughout the years, with the addition of several classrooms and dormitories, capacity has increased to 100 boys.

In 1994, the name was changed to the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility in honor of Orin Allen (left), one of the ranch’s original counselors. A longtime advocate for the county’s at-risk youth, Mr. Allen rose through the rank of the Probation Department to become the ranch’s fourth superintendent.

 

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Along with Delta Vista High School, Mt. McKinley School at Juvenile Hall is one of two Court School Programs operated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. It is located in the Juvenile Hall facility in Martinez, as well as in the Chris Adams Girls Center.

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Students

Students at Mt. McKinley take grade-appropriate academic courses and work on their basic skills to complete appropriate courses or earn high school credits. Mt. McKinley School is a General Education Development (GED) Test Center and the test is administered to eligible students each month. This school is WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accredited.

Students who have been identified as Special Education are provided supplementary services by Resource Specialists and two instructional assistants. Additional support is provided through Title 1 and English Language Learner programs for eligible students.

Teachers

All teachers are certified, and the curriculum is aligned with the State Frameworks. Lessons are designed to accommodate classrooms diverse in ability and learning styles. Technology is highly valued and all students have access to computers. This program also helps students develop pro-social behaviors and life skills.

The school staff at Mt. McKinley is dedicated to the belief that education is a very powerful tool, which opens doors of opportunity for those who embrace it. For teachers, it is both a challenge, as well as a meaningful opportunity, to work with troubled youth to increase their skills, promote positive changes in their behavior and prepare them for a successful future.

Assessment

Each student entering the program spends three days in the Assessment Center. There, a comprehensive diagnosis of academic skills, career interests and learning styles is completed. Significant behavioral issued are also identified, and students are oriented to the facility, its operation, and program expectations. School orientation is also provided during this assessment class. In order to ensure a more successful transition to the main program, students are expected to remain in this class until all assessments have been completed, and appropriate behaviors have been consistently demonstrated.

Placement Programs

Additionally, Mt. McKinley School operates a classroom within the Chris Adams Girls Center, which is a collaborative program with Probation and Mental Health. The Chris Adams Girls Center is a transitional program for adolescent girls, in which therapy for the student and her family is an integral component. Transitional services are provided for one year when students return to the community.

 

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