High Quality learning Conditions Needed

Hello, I am Marian Sheppard, Transfer Center Director at Sacramento City College. I have 34 years of experience in education- serving as a teacher, counselor, and administrator at levels that served K-18.

Please read the Working Paper of California Tomorrow, "The High-Quality Learning Conditions Needed to Support Students of Color and Immigrants at California Community Colleges". It is extremely important: http://www.info-ren.org/network-democracy/camp/bb/topics/sl/testimony/ct.html

A hidden gap in California's learning infrastructure is the lack of a sufficient student-counselor ratio. Community college ratios average 1900 students to 1 counselor in 2002. 
According to the American School Counselor Association(ASCA), the '99-2000 counselor student ratio for K-12 was 994 students to 1 counselor, the highest ratio in the nation. ASCA's maximum recommended ration for K-12 is 250:1.

With these conditions, the morale of the counselors has plummetted. Students are not getting the information, guidance, and support they need to stay on track. 

Students need an educated advocate within the school system who can assist them, longterm, to plan to reach their educational and economic goals, and to navigate life problems that interefere with getting an education. The counselor is the bridge between the family and higher education. "Connection" is a critical piece of the educational experience for students of color. Counselors, given a reasonable case load, provide that connection.

High quality and successful learning includes intensive teamwork of teachers and counselors.