A note from Don Bolce
August means the start of another school year, and for every student it means another step on the path to adulthood. For some, this step will be the first day of preschool, for others it may be entering middle school, high school or college.
We know that regardless of where they are on the path, students benefit from having support in a culture of high expectations and a vision of where they can go and how to get there.
On Sept. 28, schools around Santa Clara County will celebrate "College Day" with activities designed to promote a "college-going culture of high expectations, academic achievement, and college knowledge."
The promotion of this "college-going culture' is especially important for students who have not had other family members attend college. These students may not have role models or adults who can show them the college path, and they may not be encouraged to aim high or to take the courses or steps needed to be ready for college or other post-secondary education.
College Day is intended to encourage all students and their families to aspire to college and to provide access to the information and resources to make it a reality. Activities will include establishing college corners in classrooms, speakers and information packets for students and families. An estimated 30,000 students participated in last year's inaugural College Day.
College Day is sponsored by a broad coalition of organizations participating in the First Generation College Attainment Group, and includes San José Unified School District, ALearn, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, San José State University, Santa Clara County Office of Education, Kids in Common, Office of the Mayor-City of San José, Sacred Heart Community Services, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Breakthrough Silicon Valley, Downtown College Prep and many other local organizations.
For more information on the event, including how to get involved, visit the College Day website.
SCCOE Program Director,
Special Projects
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Dr. De La Torre: Closing achievement gap will require 'resolve, resilience, reengineering'
Dr. Xavier De La Torre is the new Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools.
Previously, he was superintendent of the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas. While he was there, the district was a two-time finalist for the prestigious Broad Prize for Excellence in Urban Education.
Prior to his time in Socorro, he worked as an administrator, teacher and coach at public schools in Northern California. Click here to read more about his background.
Recently Dr. De La Torre answered a few questions about his new position and SJ2020.
Q: What made you decide to take the position of Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools?
A: When considering the opportunity, I read with great interest and intrigue the literature surrounding SJ2020. In addition to being drawn by such a bold and ambitious agenda, I was encouraged by the resolve, collaboration, and commitment by the power players in the community to eliminate the achievement gap.
 The agenda around the achievement gap plaguing many of our children of color is an issue of profound interest to me. Given the resources and ingenuity that reside here, I felt that if the achievement gap cannot be eliminated in Silicon Valley, it can't be eliminated anywhere. And that is something I refuse to believe.
However, we know it won't be easy. It will require resolve, resilience, and the reengineering of how we educate our children. It will also require courageous conversations about the efficacy of current pedagogy and practices in our schools.
Q: Why is so much stress placed on closing the gap?
A: Well, at the most fundamental level, it's just a matter of fairness.
Every student in every school should have the opportunity to succeed -- and that is clearly not our current reality. Our American public school system was founded on the basis of the notion that all students who enter our schools should be positioned to succeed, in school and in life. That's the ultimate goal and outcome that I am convinced we must consistently pursue with conviction.
The second issue is much more practical, but no less important. As we progress deeper into the 21st century, it's abundantly clear that the future workforce is going to require well-educated people at a historically unprecedented level. Therefore, it is imperative that all students graduate with the fundamental tools that will enable them to ultimately succeed in the workforce.
Q: What are some of the challenges to closing the gap?
A: It's a very complex challenge, and one that will require highly collaborative approaches that aren't necessarily shackled to conventional wisdom. We need the support not only of educators, but also of parents and families, nonprofits, business leaders, the high technology sector and basically, the entire community.
It also requires a systemic approach, starting as early as possible. The Santa Clara County Office of Education has strategically placed resources in early learning, which we know is a key factor in putting students on an equal footing when they start school, and enabling them to maintain that footing as they continue.
Of course, if we're going to boost the skills of the lowest achievers, we'll need great teachers and administrators, great support for those people, and an open mind about employing the best, research-based, instructional practices that have a proven track record of succeeding. The COE is committed and ready to lead; to provide that support; and to help to facilitate the conversation around those practices.
Q: You've spoken about "the other achievement gap." What does that mean?
A: We hear a lot about the gap between lower-performing Latino and African-American students versus higher-performing Asian and white/non-Hispanic students. However, there is also an emerging gap between our highest-performing students, and their counterparts in other countries.
The workforce is global now, and the students of today will be competing with people from China, India, Japan, and other developed nations for the jobs of tomorrow. We have to make it our goal to provide an education to our children that is not only the envy of the rest of the state, and the nation, but the whole world.
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COE Early Learning efforts help San Jose earn national honor for promoting youth reading
 A collaboration with the COE contributed to the city of San José's recent recognition by a national campaign for its efforts to address challenges that keep many low-income students from learning to read.
The city was named a Community Solutions PaceSetter by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a collaborative effort to ensure that low-income children nationwide succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, career and active citizenship.
The Campaign focuses on a critical predictor of school success and high school graduation: grade-level reading by the end of third grade. The PaceSetter Honors recognize communities that are "leading by example" to solve one or more of the challenges that can undermine early literacy.
Several efforts to increase school readiness rates in the area are underway:
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 In fall 2010, the COE launched its Early Learning Master Plan, a comprehensive plan to ensure that all children in Santa Clara County have access to quality early learning opportunities. The plan is a key component of SJ2020. - San José's Smart Start Initiative works to increase quality and access to early education through communication between pre-K and elementary schools, parent engagement, and use of redevelopment funds to increase the number of high-quality early education spaces. Any licensed program that meets Smart Start's quality standards can participate in the initiative.
- Several agencies are working to bring to Santa Clara County an Educare center -- a high-quality, full-year, full-day program for 200 at-risk children ages 0-5 and their families. The site will serve as a "teaching hospital" for early learning quality in the county and house a professional development institute and family resource center.
- Through funding from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the county is planning to implement local transitional kindergarten (TK) programs. TK provides 5-year-olds with a two-year kindergarten program to develop strong foundational skills for long-term academic success. The COE has provided strategic planning, training, and technical assistance to school districts in the county to ensure the successful implementation of TK programs.
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Campaign connects volunteers, nonprofits to narrow achievement gap
A local campaign makes it simple for Silicon Valley residents to find convenient opportunities to volunteer to help students.
 The goal of 1,000 Hearts for 1,000 Minds is to gather 1,000 volunteers to serve as tutors and mentors to 1,000 K-8 students who are struggling in core areas of literacy, math and science.
Launched by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the City of San José in 2011, the campaign seeks to narrow the achievement gap in Silicon Valley by harnessing the energy of the region's workforce and residents.
 1,000 Hearts for 1,000 Minds does not seek to create new programs, but rather directs volunteers to nonprofit groups that have existing programs that are helping to narrow the local achievement gap. These programs also screen, train and supervise volunteers to ensure a quality volunteer experience.
To that end, the campaign has also recently partnered with the COE on a grant application that would help expand the capacity of three local programs focused on literacy in the 2013-14 school year.
As education funding continues to dwindle, 1,000 Hearts for 1,000 Minds recognizes the increasing importance of nonprofit groups whose programs help support children and augment classroom instruction.
In its first year, the campaign has gathered about 200 volunteers, but more are needed now -- especially as the new school year approaches.
The campaign makes it easy to help. Volunteers are asked to commit as little as one hour a week for as little as eight to 12 weeks. Through its 17 nonprofit partner programs, opportunities are available at times and locations convenient for everyone.
Check out a list of volunteer opportunities, or contact the campaign by email or telephone at (408) 501-7874. Donations can also be made online.
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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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