by Ernie Silva
The School for Integrated Academics and Technologies (SIATech) is California’s first dropout recovery school to adopt UC approved a-g courses available to all students. UC utilizes “a-g” subject requirements to ensure that students have attained a body of general knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced study.
To earn UC approval, a school must demonstrate that the courses are to be academically challenging, involving substantial reading, writing, problems and laboratory work (as appropriate), and show serious attention to analytical thinking, factual content and developing students’ oral and listening skills. SIATech serves to reengage dropouts in partnership with Department of Labor agencies. The school’s population are very-low income students from inner-city neighborhoods who have reengaged in school to earn a fully accredited public school diploma and advance their career and college aspirations.
SIATech provides 14 high school sites throughout California and has awarded fully accredited diplomas to 9,000 former dropouts since 1998. In addition to offering a-g coursework for its students, SIATech provides opportunities for career development with its federal partners. Students at SIATech are offered a competency based education which allows students to work at their own pace intended to accelerate learning and make up for grade level deficiencies from prior schools.
By adopting an a-g curriculum SIATech will increase college opportunities beyond the community college system that 40% of its graduates attend. Successful graduates have gone on to careers in teaching, community services, medical support, construction and other middle class careers.
To learn more about enrollment in SIATech, complete the Student Interest Form or email info@siatech.org.
