RECORD 1,614 SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED BY CALIFORNIA
BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT AND CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS 

Schools Selected by California Business for Education
Excellence for Prestigious Honor Roll  

May 15, 2012 (Sacramento, CA) – California GEAR UP is pleased to share today that a record 1,614 schools have been selected by California Business for Education Excellence (CBEE)  as schools in California to receive the title of 2011 Honor Roll school. Included on the list are many current and former California GEAR UP Schools.

Schools receiving this distinction from the California business community have demonstrated consistent high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and reduction in achievement gaps among student populations.  For High Schools, the Honor Roll recognition also includes measures of college readiness. The CBEE Honor Roll is comprised of two different awards, the “Star Schools” Award (527 schools),  “Scholar Schools” Award (1,087 schools) and special designation for “STEM schools ” with highest performance in math and science.

Like California GEAR UP Schools, CBEE Star Schools are those with significant populations of socio-economically disadvantaged students that have shown a significant increase in grade-level proficiency over time. CBEE Scholar Schools are schools that are showing significant levels of academic achievement, but do not have a significant socio-economically disadvantaged student population.

“We are so proud to to have California GEAR UP Schools recognized by California’s business community as an Honor Roll school,” said Gina Rodriguez, School Services Manager-Calfiornia GEAR UP.  “Our teachers and administrators work tirelessly to keep the focus on high expectations and student academic achievement and to continuously improving our practices. This hard work and dedication is paying off for all of our students, no matter their background.”

The Honor Roll is the premier school recognition program that uses only academic achievement data showing improved academic growth over time and a closing of the achievement gap.

A full list of the Honor Roll schools and the STEM Honor Roll can be found at: HERE. Full list of California GEAR UP Schools can be found on our website:www.castategearup.org.

Anaheim, CA–EdSource, a nonprofit that aims to make discussions of complex education policy issues accessible and participatory, hosted a symposium today in partnership with the California State Parent Teacher Association to evaluate the effects of the recession on education, on both the state budget and young students’ lives. California’s highly regarded Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor lead off the discussion with the latest developments on the state budget and its effect on schools. Leading researchers identified emerging data showing the impact of the economic crisis (including housing foreclosures and unemployment) on school performance. A panel of representatives from school districts and nonprofit organizations described innovative school and community strategies to help ensure that an entire cohort of students does not fall through the cracks.

The data was part of the EdSource most recent and ground breaking work: Schools Under Stress: Pressures Mount on California’s Largest School Districts. Using an innovative approach to gauge the mounting pressures facing school districts since the onset of the Great Recession in the 2007-08 school year, the report identifies eight “stress factors” that are affecting California school districts to varying degrees. The report is based on three surveys of the 30 districts conducted by EdSource in 2011 and 2012.

“In November, Californians are likely to be voting on two tax initiatives intended to provide more funds for the state’s schools. But most voters have no way of objectively assessing the extent of the challenges facing these schools,” said Louis Freedberg, EdSource executive director and lead author on the report. “We hope this report can help fill that gap.”

The findings of the report include the following:

• Twenty-two out of 30 districts have fewer counselors than they had before the onset of the Great Recession. Across all 30 districts, the number of school counselors has declined by 20 percent since 2007-08.
• More than one-third of the districts ended up laying off some 2,000 classroom teachers for the current school year.
• Twenty-six out of 30 districts are serving more free and reduced-price meals than in 2007-08. Across the state, 57 percent of students qualify for subsidized meal programs, a 6 percentage point increase since 2007-08.
• Sixteen out of 30 school districts are suffering from declining enrollments, resulting in decreased funding from the state.
• Half of the districts surveyed had 30 or more students in one or more of their K-3 grades, a stark reversal of the 1-to-20 teacher-to-student ratio that was the norm in almost every K-3 classroom in 2007-08. Only one district reported having an average class size of 20 students and that was only in one grade-kindergarten.
• Twelve out of 30 districts have an instructional year of less than 180 days.
• Nearly all of the state’s 30 largest districts are educating more students living in poverty than before the current recession.
• Every district is coping with the impact of high levels of unemployment on their students and their families.

If you attended the symposium, let us know what you think.

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson urged all Californians to find ways to appreciate teachers during May 6-12, designated as National Teacher Appreciation Week.

“Teaching is the most important job there is,” Torlakson said. “Ask just about anyone about the person who made the biggest difference in their life, chances are that person is a teacher. Let’s all take a moment this week to say `thank you’ to California’s teachers.”

Here’s Torlakson’s top 10 list.

For students:

1.     Thank your teacher for all of his or her hard work.

2.     Do your best on homework and in-class assignments.

3.     Behave in class, so your teacher can devote more time to teaching.

4.     Respect your teacher and your fellow students. This will create a better learning environment for everyone in the classroom.

5.     Raise your hand to answer your teacher’s questions and participate in learning.

For parents:

6.     Send an e-mail or a note with your children to school, thanking their teachers for their hard work.

7.     Appreciate teachers for the professionals that they are, and give them the same respect you would give a good friend who takes care of your children.

8.     Provide a helping hand in the classroom, during sporting events, on field trips, or at the school site.

9.     Donate school supplies. Teachers often pay out of their own pockets to provide their students with the tools they need to learn.

10. Hold fundraisers and donate the proceeds to schools that have been hard hit by state budget cuts.

May 8 is National Teacher Appreciation Day, an annual tradition continued by the National Teachers Association. May 9 is California Day of the Teacher, a day established under California Education Code Section 37222, to encourage schools to conduct exercises commemorating and directing attention to teachers and the teaching profession.

For the California Day of the Teacher, two organizations created themes to honor educators. The California Teachers Association theme is, “Great Teachers: Building a Better State for Public Education.” The Association of Mexican American Educators theme is, “Educating Students for a World of Opportunities.”

California’s Economic Payoff: Investing in College Access & Completion is new statewide report conducted by researchers at the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues at the University of California, Berkeley. It was commissioned by The Campaign for College Opportunity and co-released with the California Civil Rights Coalition and the California Chamber of Commerce. The report answers two questions: What are the benefits of investing in higher education? And, is it worth it for Californians?

This study concludes that the benefits of higher education extend well beyond the direct payoff for students and include substantial gains to the state, and it is indeed worth the investment. California´s higher education investments pay off for all of California, not only for the individuals who receive a college education through increased lifetime earnings, but for the state in increased tax revenue and reduced costs for social welfare programs and incarceration.

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated four California schools that were among the first 78 nationwide to earn U.S. Department of Education “Green Ribbon Schools” titles for exemplary environmental programs and practices.

“California’s schools are leading the way into a cleaner, more energy-efficient future, and it’s wonderful to see that work recognized with some of the very first national Green Ribbon Schools awards,” Torlakson said.

Twenty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and the Bureau of Indian Education nominated nearly 100 schools, of which 66 per public, including eight charters, and 12 were private. California nominated four schools (the maximum number allowed) and all were declared winners.

They are:

·         Environmental Charter High School (Lawndale Elementary School District.

·         Longfellow Elementary School  (Long Beach Unified School District)

·         Grand View Elementary School  (Manhattan Beach Unified School District)

·         The Athenian School, a private school in Danville

“I commend today’s winners for their commitment to the earth and to learning,” Torlakson said.

Torlakson, whose Schools of the Future report issued last year led to California’s participation in the federal awards program, said he was impressed by the inventive projects undertaken at the winning schools, from Walk-to-School Wednesdays to community recycling centers to rainwater collection irrigation systems.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made the announcement of the Green Ribbon Schools winners this morning in Washington, D.C., where he praised the efforts of America’s newly declared green schools.

To access the U.S. Department of Education’s News Release, please go to: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/obama-administration-names-78-schools-29-states-and-dc-first-ever-us-department-.

In his proclamation declaring April 22, 2012 as Earth Day, President Barack Obama said, “As we work to leave our children a safe, sustainable future, we must also equip them with the tools they need to take on tomorrow’s environmental challenges. Supporting environmental literacy and a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math for every student will help ensure our youth have the skills and knowledge to advance our clean energy economy.” To read the complete proclamation, please go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/20/presidential-proclamation-earth-day.

For more information on Torlakson’s Schools of the Future Report, please visit the California Department of Education Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/sf/documents/sotfreport.pdf

For more information on the USDE Green Ribbon Schools Program, please visit the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/sf/greenribbonprog.asp.

SACRAMENTO—Sharing the vision of California GEAR UP in the vital importance of parent involvement in the success of students, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today released a new, free publication, Family Engagement Framework, a Tool for California School Districts, to help school districts engage families in their children’s education.

“Parents are every child’s first teachers,” Torlakson said. “The good news is you don’t need an advanced degree to help your child succeed at school. It’s the little things that make a big difference—reading at home, talking with your child about school, and setting high expectations. Our Family Engagement Framework provides practical ways to help schools support parents to stay involved and help their children learn.”

The Family Engagement Framework is the culmination of nearly a decade of collaboration between the California Department of Education (CDE), an informal Title I advisory group to the CDE called Family Area Network, and the California Comprehensive Center at WestEd, California GEAR UP strategic partner and evaluator.  Funding for the project was provided through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The development of the Framework is authorized under Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act and CaliforniaEducation Code Section 11503.

The Framework describes 18 principles that are essential for family and community involvement with the school district. These principles are grouped into five action areas to:

(1) help school districts build the skills and confidence of parents,(2) demonstrate leadership, (3) use resources, (4) monitor progress, and (5) ensure access and equity for everyone. Specific actions to engage families and the community are described for each principle, ranging from basic to progressive to innovative. The Framework is outlined in a way to help school districts evaluate their progress and plan for improvements.

“This new resource from the department will be a valuable addition to our family engagement initiatives and we will share this tool with GEAR UP schools across the State.  In collaboration with our partners, we provide statewide services to families because we know that “Families Make the Difference”.

-Shelley Davis

Director, CA GEAR UP

The California Comprehensive Center did a thorough review of literature showing a strong link between parental involvement activities and student achievement. The research is summarized in the Framework, coupled with specific examples of what schools, communities, and parents can do to help students succeed. The publication also contains a list of articles that school administrators and teachers can read to create effective, research-based practices in family engagement. For example, the Framework can guide districts in planning and coordinating family engagement programs more effectively and includes examples of communications to families that may be copied or adapted for use in newsletters, e-mails, and other outreach efforts.

Copies of the Framework will be distributed to all school districts in California and will also be posted on the California Comprehensive Center Web site at http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/cpei/family-engagement-framework.pdf

As part of the extensive six-month planning phase, California GEAR UP has completed 51 school site visits and three statewide events in Glendale, Berkeley, and Costa Mesa.

Participating in the planning phase of the California GEAR UP program, schools will complete the following activities:

• Host a School-Site Visit for GEAR UP Orientation (2 hours maximum) with key leaders (potential GEAR UP Leadership Team) to be scheduled between January 27 and February 29, 2012.

• Participate in a Planning Session for GEAR UP: A full-day session, 8 am – 4 pm, for the school leadership team.

• Complete Perceptions Activity with school-wide staff.

• Schools Receive Notification by May 21, 2012: Schools will be notified of their final selection for participation in the 6-year California GEAR UP Program.

Schools level of enthusiasm and commitment already demonstrated tells me that they are ready to be a part of something bigger that will help to create systemic change at their school, in their community and state wide. Plus the fact that we have the opportunity to work with these schools for five and half years – this will give us the time to go deeper and hopefully make a bigger impact for each school, their students, families and the community!

Michele Molitor-Whole School Services Coach

The goal of California GEAR UP is to develop and sustain the organizational capacity of middle schools to prepare all students for high school and higher education through a systemic network of  support for adults who influence middle school students, specifically their counselors, faculty, school leaders, and families.

The planning phase activities have been designed to begin the capacity building process by introducing tools and services to school leadership teams and begin the 6 year California GEAR UP Whole School Services process.

CGU is about working with the adults who want to change school culture for the better, so that ALL students are prepared to go college. It is systemic change. Despite lay-offs, budget cuts and the changes that come along with these:  teachers, counselors and administrators want what is best for kids and it has shown in the amazing work of the leadership teams at our events.  This is truly uplifting work!

Gina Rodriguez-Whole School Services Manager

Leadership teams will now return to their schools to share the planning phase tools and strategies with the entire community, including participating in the Perceptions Tool Activity.

Schools Receive Notification by May 21, 2012: Schools will be notified of their final selection for participation in the 6-year California GEAR UP Program.

Costa Mesa, CA–California GEAR UP Leadership Team gathered in Costa Mesa, CA today to kick off the planning phase of a 6 year plan to create a college going culture at their school. Teams will learn more about tools and resources provided by California GEAR UP and collaborate with each other on successful strategies to introduce GEAR UP information into the school wide community.

California GEAR UP schools commit to strong academic programming and a cohesive college and career readiness curriculum, beginning at the middle school and connecting with area high schools and local postsecondary institutions. GEAR UP provides a network of support and professional development activities to integrate a college-going culture into school site reform efforts.

Forty-six middle schools will be selected to receive support developing a college-going culture through professional development, engagement of families and communities, counseling support, partner services and resources for the six-year grant period.

The purpose of California GEAR UP is to develop and sustain the organizational capacity of middle schools to prepare all students for high school and higher education through a statewide network of support for adults who influence middle school students, specifically their counselors, faculty, school leaders and families. As a result of this expanded capacity, a higher proportion of students, particularly from backgrounds and communities that have not historically pursued a college education, will enroll and succeed in higher education.

To view the planning phase presentation from the Glendale Workshop, please click here.

For more information on California GEAR UP, please visit our website.

California GEAR UP Leadership Team gathered in Berkeley today to kick off the planning phase of a 6 year plan to create a college going culture at their school. Teams will learn more about tools and resources provided by California GEAR UP and collaborate with each other on successful strategies to introduce GEAR UP information into the school wide community.

California GEAR UP schools commit to strong academic programming and a cohesive college and career readiness curriculum, beginning at the middle school and connecting with area high schools and local postsecondary institutions. GEAR UP provides a network of support and professional development activities to integrate a college-going culture into school site reform efforts.

Forty-six middle schools will be selected to receive support developing a college-going culture through professional development, engagement of families and communities, counseling support, partner services and resources for the six-year grant period.

The purpose of California GEAR UP is to develop and sustain the organizational capacity of middle schools to prepare all students for high school and higher education through a statewide network of support for adults who influence middle school students, specifically their counselors, faculty, school leaders and families. As a result of this expanded capacity, a higher proportion of students, particularly from backgrounds and communities that have not historically pursued a college education, will enroll and succeed in higher education.

To view the planning phase presentation from the Glendale Workshop, please click here.

For more information on California GEAR UP, please visit our website.