Heidi Gasca gave an overview of the school highlights for the month of September including enrollment, parent webinars, school community events, and counseling initiatives. 

Parent Vanessa Castaneda and student Dante Espinoza shared their experience of being enrolled at Excel Academy.

Jenny's presentation provided data on the school's academic performance over multiple periods. In the fall of 2022, 65.3% of students were at or above grade level in language arts, while 49.2% met the same criteria in math. The presenter then discusses the recent data, as of September 18th, 2023, showing a slight decrease in language arts, with 62.9% at or above grade level, and a comparable 48.9% in math. The school aims for at least a 2% increase in both subjects.

Excel Academy's focus will be on building vocabulary and comprehension in both language arts and math to boost scores. 

Moving on to the CAASPP scores in spring 2023, Jenny noted that 64% of students are at or above grade level in language arts and 53% in math. Excel celebrates the distance from standard scores, particularly in language arts, and a 1% increase in math.

EACS is putting their efforts into improving scores, including building fluency and strengthening written expression. 

Keri, the Director of Educational Services at EACS, aims to support teachers and principals at the school. Her focus is on simplifying paperwork and compliance requirements so that teachers have more time for students. Keri's presentation emphasized goals related to creating a positive school environment, student achievement and growth, partnership and connection, and ensuring that high school students have access to various pathways to graduation.

She also highlighted department-specific goals, including improving reading fluency in elementary grades, encouraging participation in secondary classes, and providing community opportunities for virtual path students. Compliance efforts involve ongoing documentation and training, with a focus on CalPADS reporting and attendance monitoring. The ultimate goal is to maintain a balance between meeting requirements and allowing teachers to focus on teaching while minimizing paperwork.

The board members expressed their appreciation and support for the work being done by the presenters and the organization as a whole:

• Susan thanked the presenters for their detailed presentation and acknowledged the significant amount of work they're doing to relieve teachers of administrative burdens. She highlighted the importance of this support for teachers.
• Mike commended the presenters for their focus on the right areas and how it benefits both students and teachers, recognizing that teaching is a challenging job. He expressed gratitude to the presenters and their staff.
• Larry praised the organization as a well-oiled machine with excellent communication and collaboration among its members. He attributed the organization's accolades, such as being recognized as a Distinguished School, to this teamwork and expressed pride in being part of the organization.
• Steve echoed the sentiments, appreciating the efforts of all staff members, including those who may not be seen regularly, like custodians, in contributing to the organization's success.
• Bill highlighted the importance of everyone's role within the organization, emphasizing that no one is more or less important. He acknowledged the support provided to teachers and how it ultimately benefits students, emphasizing the organization's focus on students.

Heidi expressed her agreement with the previous comments and appreciation for Keri being present. She acknowledged the dedication of the entire team, with a particular mention of Jenny's commitment. Heidi highlighted the collective effort involving numerous individuals, including teachers. She shared her experience of visiting a meeting in Brea, noting the enthusiasm and passion displayed by the teachers in their commitment to ensure that students continue to learn and grow, even when dealing with challenging situations. Heidi extended her thanks for the support given to the team.