El Rancho Unified Weekly Newsletter

This Week at ERUSD | August 21, 2026

Each week, Our El Rancho Story brings you highlights from our schools, important District updates, upcoming opportunities, community resources, and the people and programs supporting students across El Rancho Unified.

Taking the Next Step at El Rancho Adult School

For students at El Rancho Adult School, completing a program can be the beginning of something new. Whether that next step is college, a new career, or reaching a long-awaited educational goal, recent graduates are showing where these opportunities can lead.

For Issac Montecino, that journey has kept him connected to El Rancho Unified in several ways. An El Rancho High School graduate and former ERUSD School Safety Officer, Issac became one of the first students to complete the Adult School’s medical pathway. After gaining hands-on experience through an externship at a sports medicine clinic, he is now working at the same clinic where he trained.

Dante Espinoza found his next step after earning his GED. Following his graduation from El Rancho Adult School, Dante enrolled at Rio Hondo College to continue working toward his goal of entering the Fire Academy. His path shows how earning a high school equivalency can open the door to continued education and new career possibilities.

Those opportunities also reach ERUSD families. Maria Jimenez, a Durfee Elementary parent, learned about the Adult School’s Phlebotomy program through a community liaison, who encouraged her to apply for scholarship funding. Maria joined the program's first cohort this past May, a group that achieved a 100 percent passage rate.

This year, El Rancho Adult School is creating even more ways for community members to take their next step. A new High School Diploma program provides another path toward graduation, while Phlebotomy courses continue to prepare students for opportunities in healthcare. Free morning and evening ESL classes also remain available for adults looking to strengthen their English skills.

From former ERUSD students to parents raising the next generation of learners, these stories reflect the many paths education can take—and how learning can continue well beyond the traditional classroom.

Staff Spotlight: Helping Adult Learners Find Their Path

As El Rancho Adult School expands opportunities for adult learners this year, counselors Mrs. Tiscareno and Mrs. Tedtaotao are helping students turn their goals into a plan.

In addition to providing academic and career counseling, the two have taken on an important role in the Adult School's new High School Diploma program. They meet individually with prospective students, review where they are in their educational journey, and develop personalized plans that map out what each student needs to complete their diploma.

With one counselor available during the morning and another in the evening, students can access guidance around different work and family schedules. Whether someone is returning to school after time away, exploring a new career, or working toward a personal milestone, Mrs. Tiscareno and Mrs. Tedtaotao help students understand their options and identify the next steps toward their goals.

Their work reflects an important part of adult education: every student arrives with a different story, and sometimes moving forward begins with having someone help you find the right path.

Construction Update: Measure ER Projects

Work continues across ERUSD campuses as several Measure ER projects move closer to completion. At Birney Tech Academy, Magee Academy of Arts and Sciences, Rio Vista Elementary, and North Ranchito Elementary, restroom and parking improvements have advanced, while crews continue work on electrical systems, windows, and other multi-purpose room upgrades.

At El Rancho High School, crews are wrapping up work on the updated campus frontage and completing final items in the music classroom and pool shade structure. The new restroom and concession building is also nearing completion, with countertops, service windows, lighting, and final finishes underway.

Read the full construction update below for additional details.

Stay Connected with the District Events Calendar

Looking for what’s coming up across ERUSD? The District Events Calendar makes it easy to keep track of school activities, family events, important dates, and more throughout the year.

Families can visit the District Events page and choose which school calendars they want to view. Select one school or combine multiple calendars to see upcoming events in one place—especially helpful for families with students at different ERUSD schools.

Check the calendar regularly to stay up to date on what’s happening across our District.

Pathways to Success: Tutoring & Academic Support

Students learn in different ways, and sometimes a little extra support can make a big difference. Across El Rancho Unified, students have access to tutoring and academic support designed to help them strengthen skills, get help with schoolwork, and build confidence.

Through Tutor.com, ERUSD students can access free, on-demand online tutoring across multiple subjects. Students can connect with a live tutor for help or submit assignments for feedback, giving them another way to get support when they need it.

Students in grades K–8 can also receive academic support through ERUSD's partnership with Think Together. This includes High-Dosage Tutoring, which provides focused instruction in small groups to help students strengthen important reading and math skills. Think Together's model connects tutoring to grade-level learning and tracks student progress over time.

Additional tutoring and academic support may also be available at individual schools, including support offered by classroom teachers. Because these opportunities vary by school, families are encouraged to contact their child's principal to learn more about the options available to their student.

Together, these resources give students more ways to get the support they need both during and beyond the school day.

AltaMed Mobile Dental Services

Through ERUSD’s partnership with AltaMed Mobile Dental Services, students can access dental services right at their school. AltaMed offers on-site dental screenings, preventative care, and follow-up support, making it easier for students and families to access important oral health services.

Bringing these services to school campuses helps address dental health needs during the school day while supporting student wellness and attendance. The partnership is one of the ways ERUSD works with community organizations to support the overall well-being of students and reduce barriers to care.