A note from Don Bolce
In late September, students across our community heard from teachers, community volunteers and leaders about the path to college as part of "College Day San José." The Sept. 30 event was a community-wide initiative to promote and support a culture that aspires for higher education.
"College Day San José" is a wonderful example of the vision of SJ2020: "One community working together" to ensure that all students, from cradle to career, receive the high-quality education and support they need for college and workplace success.
That day, teachers and volunteers shared with elementary, middle and high school students their personal pathways to college -- including obstacles they faced and overcame, the support they received, and the rewards and fulfillment they enjoy from their college experience and education. These compelling stories are sampled at the "College Day San José" website and Facebook page.
"College Day" evolved from discussions in the "First-Generation College Attainment Group," a collaboration of individuals and organizations that recognized the importance of promoting college success for first-generation students within the San José Unified School District. It blossomed into a community-wide effort that engaged multiple school districts, business leaders and nonprofit organizations.
The energy and success of this first-annual event is a tribute to literally hundreds of teachers and volunteers who participated, as well as a broad coalition of supporting organizations.
Three cheers for College Day!
SCCOE Program Director, Special Projects |
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Student test scores show signs of improvement
 Traditionally, late August and early September are the time when families readjust to the resumption of school. In California, this time of year recently has brought another tradition: the release of testing data.
The California Department of Education releases a vast amount of data around then, with an array of acronyms that even educators find dizzying: CST, CAHSEE, APR, EAP....
But the bevy of results also brought very positive news about Santa Clara County schools and students.
For example, results of the 2011 California Standards Tests (CST) show that progress is being made among county students in closing the achievement gap. Some highlights of the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) analysis:
 Students continued to show steady improvement over time, and also continue to outperform statewide peers. The Hispanic subgroup demonstrated growth on all four academic areas assessed by the CST between 2010 and 2011. And not only did county Hispanic students demonstrate growth in academic areas, they also reduced the achievement gap with the white student subgroup (which also demonstrated academic growth) in ELA and Math between 2004 and 2011.
Similar results were seen in the results of the California State University's Early Assessment Program tests in English and math. An analysis showed that the percentage of Santa Clara County 11th graders who scored at a "ready for college" level rose from a year ago -- even as the number of students who take the assessments continued to rise as well.
A third positive sign was seen in the 2011 Accountability Progress Report (APR). The SCCOE's APR analysis showed that since 2007, the gap between Hispanic and white students who score at proficient or higher has decreased by five percentage points in ELA, and six percentage points in math.
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Program helps students become AVID about college
 More than 800 class of 2011 high school graduates in the region planned to enroll in college this fall, thanks to their participation in the Advancement Via Individual Determination program.
AVID is an elementary-through-secondary college readiness system that truly focuses on "readiness." In alignment with SJ2020, AVID works to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.
 After focusing on the least-served students in the academic middle, AVID creates a school-wide college readiness culture by training staff in AVID-emphasized instructional strategies, such as writing, critical thinking, collaboration and reading. Aided by these strategies, the AVID elective course teaches students study skills, test preparation, writing skills, motivation and other tools that support success in rigorous courses such as a-g, Advanced Placement and honors courses.
Launched in 1980 in San Diego, AVID programs today exist worldwide. They show a strong success rate that is also evident in Santa Clara County, which counts 25 participating high schools and 33 middle schools. In 2011, the county saw 608 college-bound graduates.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education coordinates the Region V AVID program, which serves Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.
Region leaders provide ongoing coaching and support to school and site teams to help develop quality programs. Specifically, the region offers outreach to potential schools; teacher coaching; technical support to sites; professional development opportunities; data collection; and many other services.
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School attributes API growth to focus on student needs
 A renewed focus on the individual needs of students at Lietz Elementary School is paying off in API growth -- both school-wide and across various student subgroups.
Over the last three years, the San José campus has seen a school-wide API score growth of 98 points as well as increased scores across student subgroups: Hispanic student scores increased 105 points; white students, 98 points; socieoeconomically disadvantaged students, 102 points; and English learners, 106 points.
 Principal Chris Izor attributes growth at Lietz, a part of Union Elementary School District, to a variety of techniques and programs, but the standout source of success boils down to a focus on specific student needs.
"We're really targeting our instruction to the individual student's needs," he said. "We focus on our specific subgroups and where they compare with others. We start asking real questions about those groups: What do those kids bring to the table, what are their needs, and what can we do for them?"
Lietz also used Title I and Economic Impact Aid funds to hire two reading intervention teachers and three instructional aides -- an investment that Izor believes is paying off in student achievement.
"We invest heavily in people," he said. "You can have the best program in the world, but if you don't have the right person with the bright background knowledge to teach it, it's not going anywhere. Programs come and go, but teachers giving quality instruction and feedback is what matters."
The school also emphasizes the use of "thinking maps," an instructional strategy to help students organize information. Also, Lietz has worked to ensure the arts stay in the classroom as a means to educate the whole child, Izor said.
"It's been a really positive thing," he said. "Students are more open to learning and are engaging more. We've seen not only our scores increase, but more parent involvement. We've seen better fundraising, and richer community-based events. Across the board, we've seen a lot of growth in the community."
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What do you think about 'Closing the Gap'?
 Please share your opinions about Closing the Gap by taking a brief and anonymous online survey.
The four-question survey is available here, and includes an opportunity to suggest future story ideas.
Your valuable feedback will be used to improve future issues of Closing the Gap, an electronic newsletter published quarterly since January 2011.
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 Nonprofit partners older, younger students for academic, career success
Breakthrough Silicon Valley simultaneously prepares motivated middle school students for success in rigorous college-preparatory high school programs and entry into four-year colleges, as well as readies high school and college students for careers in education.
 Serving about 140 Santa Clara County middle and high school students, Breakthrough connects middle grade students with college and high school students who serve as teachers, role models and mentors.
Students commit to two years of free and intensive six-week summer sessions and after-school programs. They take classes in core academic subjects, and participate in a variety of elective courses. The classes are small -- four students for every teacher -- and rigorous, with full participation and attendance expected.
The organization reports that 100 percent of students take algebra or higher-level math in the eighth grade; 93 percent enroll in college-preparatory high school programs; 100 percent take at least two college tours before ninth grade; and 86 percent enter four-year colleges and universities.
As for these students' teachers, 72 percent of the mentors go on to pursue professional careers in education.
 Breakthrough Silicon Valley is part of the national Breakthrough Collaborative nonprofit founded in 1978. The Collaborative joined forces in 2002 with Applied Materials and the San José Unified School District to bring the model to Santa Clara County middle schools. By 2009, Breakthrough became an independent nonprofit organization.
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It is the vision of the City of San José, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, school districts, charter schools, colleges, and business and nonprofit community agencies to join together to eliminate the achievement gap in San José by 2020. The "achievement gap" refers to the disparity in academic performance between two groups: lower-performing Hispanic/ Latino and African-American students, and higher-performing Asian and White/non-Hispanic students.
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