[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1838]]



             A PARTNERSHIP WORKING FOR SACRAMENTO STUDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a superlative 
example of the success which can result from partnerships between 
education and business.
  In Sacramento, Encina High School and Sutter Health have forged a 
partnership to rethink the way students are prepared for life after 
school. The partnership has come to serve as a model for other schools 
and was a large factor in Encina High School's recognition by the U.S. 
Department of Education this year as one of the Nation's 10 New 
American High Schools.
  This award recognized Encina's commitment to offer challenging 
academic standards for all students and demonstrates how new and 
innovative learning environments and career education opportunities can 
make a difference in helping all students achieve success.
  At Encina High School, small academies provide students with a 
nurturing environment that enhances their ability to achieve. Each 
student enrolls in one of the five career academies that organize the 
academic curriculum around a career-related theme. This structure 
customizes learning to accommodate a variety of learning styles, 
interests, and life experiences.
  The academies provide more one-on-one attention from adults, use 
technology appropriate to the course of study, and give students a 
better understanding of their field of interest by learning through 
doing in the classroom, in workplaces and through community service.
  The 7-year-old Encina High School Health Academy, in partnership with 
Sutter Health, has been recognized as a national model program. It 
provides a rigorous academic education with a health care focus. The 
program has enhanced the school-to-work transition by offering students 
many work experience opportunities such as apprenticeships and summer 
jobs, so that students can see themselves as a part of a productive 
work environment. The Health Academy program has resulted in improved 
student attendance, improved student learning, a greater student 
interest in continuing education--90 percent of the first year's 
graduates entered college.
  In addition to the Health Academy, Sutter has committed much more to 
the San Juan Unified School District. Sutter has established a health 
care link with the district, providing health care services for teens 
and pregnant minors, a physician and bilingual nurses to serve students 
and their families on school campuses, immunizations, medical 
screenings, and vision testing.
  Sutter Health has provided exemplary leadership by modeling the 
benefits of school and business partnerships and by encouraging other 
businesses to reach out to schools, especially in tough economic times.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Encina High 
School and Sutter Health for their extraordinary success in this school 
and business partnership. This program illustrates a new approach to 
education I hope more school districts across the Nation will strive to 
adopt.

                          ____________________