College and Career Indicators

By Kristin McKenna, College and Career Readiness Director

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT of Education has created a new measure for local school districts that is called the College / Career Indicator. This indicator measures how likely students will be able to succeed after graduation. Every high school graduate receives a rating of Prepared, Approaching Prepared, or not Prepared. There are multiple ways students can achieve the prepared status on the college / career indicator. 

In order to be prepared, students must meet one of the following criteria (1) receive a “standard met”, or level 3, on the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment in Math and English Language arts, (2) score a 3 or higher on two seperate advanced placement exams, (3) complete two semesters of Dual Enrollment with a grade of C- or better, (4) earn the state seal of biliteracy and score a 3 on the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment, (5) complete all CSU A-G requirements and one of the following additional criteria; a. Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment score of 3 in math and 2 in ELA or 3 in ELA (English, Language, Arts) and 2 in math, or one semester of dual enrollment, or a score of a 3 on one Advanced Placement exam or completion of a CTE pathway, (6) complete a full CTE pathway sequence with a C or better and one of the following; a. Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment score of 3 in math and 2 in ELA or 3 in ELA and 2 in math, or one semester of dual enrollment, or a score of a 3 on one Advanced Placement exam. 

In Madera Unified students have many opportunities to be prepared on the College / Career Indicator. It is the goal of Madera Unified that all students find a way to meet this new indicator. We have 23 full pathways in Career Technical Education, that students can pick from, depending on their interests. Many courses receive A-G credits which allows students to graduate with A-G status. In addition, many students each year receive the State Seal of Biliteracy. This year alone we had 53 seniors receive this honor. One of the newest areas of growth is in regards to Dual Enrollment. During the 2018-2019 school year students could take one of 32 sections of Dual Enrollment that was offered on the Madera High or Madera South Campuses. Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college courses for free. Students are also eligible to take classes at Madera Center in their junior and senior years through the Madera Community College Center Advanced Program (MCCAP) to earn college credits. This is an opportunity for students to earn college credits, before graduating high school, at no cost to them or to their families.