Pastorek says Calif. offers model of how to transform schools

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Mar 27, 2008 - Page: 14A - UPDATED: 12:20 a.m.

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State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek plans to urge most public school superintendents statewide to launch at least one high school in their district that differs sharply from traditional operations.

Pastorek made his comments during a meeting this week of the state’s High School Redesign Commission, which is leading efforts to reinvent high schools in Louisiana.

A wide range of policy changes are already in the works, including a tougher curriculum starting with ninth-graders this fall.

Backers say changes are needed to trim the dropout rate, make classes more relevant to students and better prepare them for 21st-century jobs.

Others contend that, while policy changes are important, they fall short of the sweeping transformation needed to overhaul high schools.

“We have not seen a lot of change as far as the whole school,” said Stephanie Desselle, senior vice president of the Council for A Better Louisiana and a member of the commission.

Pastorek said he previously struggled to understand what high school redesign means.

But, he said, he underwent something of a “conversion experience” after visiting a California public high school, which he said offers state educators a model for truly transforming schools in Louisiana.

Pastorek said he plans to start meeting every other month with every superintendent and will urge them to adopt something similar for at least one high school in their district.

The state could help with the costs, he said, and funds for just such schools may be sought during the 2009 session of the Legislature.

The five-year-old Sacramento school caters to students who have struggled with traditional curriculum. It includes computers for all students. Maximum enrollment is 500.

Pastorek said Tuesday that 95 percent of students there graduate compared with 61 percent in Louisiana. He said 99 percent of the Sacramento graduates pursue post-secondary education.

Pastorek also said students typically make 300 oral presentations over four years in front of their peers.