Position on Education

By Tom Bates

School Readiness:

Work with early childhood educators, school administrators and primary grade teachers to develop and implement programs that actively support school readiness for all our youngsters;

Ensure that the City's Department of Health and Human Services, along with the Alameda County Children and Families First Commission (Proposition 10) analyze and improve the support Berkeley provides for our youngest children, birth to five years old.

Educational Success:

Support our public schools in their mission of providing an excellent academic curriculum for all of Berkeley's children and youth by working closely with the District to integrate school efforts with the work of City departments and community partners, and actively advocate for additional resources from the state, the community college and UC systems, and private philanthropy.

Establish new relationships between community-based and City-funded after school programs, and the Berkeley Unified School District, in an effort to support students' social, physical and academic needs.

Ensure that all City of Berkeley funded after school programs provide quality academic enrichment, with a special emphasis on literacy.

Support the creation of smaller learning communities within our largest schools so that all young people have the opportunity to work closely with, and be well known by, a small group of caring adults.

Assist Vista College and the Berkeley Adult School to engage struggling and out-of-school youth in academic and vocational endeavors that will lead to stable adult futures.

Support, expand and coordinate City-sponsored mentoring programs for all youth who need help by inviting public and private sector employees, college students, seniors and other youth to join a community service program of tutoring and mentoring.

Partner with organizations of parents/guardians to support and increase parent/guardian involvement in their child's education (i.e. campaign for Nightly Reading or "Take Your Parent/Guardian to School Day").

Continue the School Gardens and Healthy Food # Working with the concerned parents and the school district I helped start gardens in every public school in Berkeley. The program helps students appreciate the value of natural spaces and habitats and teaches them, in a hands on way, about nutrition.

Promote a strong partnership between the BUSD and the Berkeley Police Department ensuring that our schools are safe.

Partner with the University of California's Graduate School of Education, and other UC departments, to engage Cal students and faculty in research and community efforts that support Berkeley's educational programs and teacher support and professional development, both in the schools and in expanded learning programs throughout the community.

Family Support:

Promote collaboration among school-based, community-based and City-and County family support services to develop strategies and partnerships to better meet the basic needs of Berkeley's families.

Provide leadership to community collaborations (i.e. the Berkeley Citywide Collaborative for Youth and The Berkeley Alliance) moving forward strategies that maximize community resources and decrease duplication.

Advocate for Berkeley children, youth and their families and educational and family support programs in the state legislature, with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and with Congress.