The following document contains information about our four-yeat comprehensive action plan known as "Project Achieve."
Executive Summary
"Project Achieve" is a four-year comprehensive action plan for the Santa
Rosa City Schools District. It is designed to build on district strengths; to
correct district weaknesses; above all, to raise student achievement -- the
achievement of all students, whether they are headed at graduation for
college or the work world, and whatever their socioeconomic background.
The Plan contains 87 specific actions, grouped in five areas:
Increased Student Achievement
Safe Schools
Exemplary Staff
Improved Communication and Community Involvement
Maximized Use of Resources
The Plan shows in which year each action will be accomplished, beginning
with the 1997-98 school year. The Plan also includes an appendix listing
fourteen important goals which the actions will help the district achieve.
Some -- by no means all -- of the key features of "Project Achieve" are:
A very strong emphasis on elementary schools, especially on
effective reading and math programs, including a districtwide early
intervention program to assist struggling young readers.
More demanding high school graduation requirements, including
end-of-course examinations which students must pass to receive
graduation credit for certain subjects.
A sequential series of gateway and exit-level tests including a 7th
Grade entrance/6th Grade exit test, a high school entrance test,
and high school graduation examination, to ensure that students
do not automatically move on at important K-12 transition points
if they are not academically ready.
Intensive assistance for students at risk of not meeting the
rigorous district standards.
An end to social promotion, plus a new requirement that
promotion from one grade to the next will require demonstrated
mastery of grade-level content and performance standards.
Development of a master plan to increase the numbers of limited
English proficient students who become fluent in English and learn
basic skills.
A districtwide career/occupational program, building on current
programs, so that students who choose not to head for a four year
degree can earn certifications in various occupational areas.
Adoption of performance benchmarks, using various
measurements, for each school and for the district as a whole,
against which schools and district can be held accountable.
Steps to encourage greater parental involvement in their children's
education.
A series of steps to better inform the community about district
programs and issues, and to seek public comment, including an
annual Education Town Hall at which district performance can be
evaluated.
A careful linking of district budget with program priorities.
Steps to review and rewrite middle and high school course
descriptions and performance expectations, to ensure consistent,
demanding expectations at all schools.
Board decision making which emphasizes teacher and parent
participation.
Some of the actions of "Project Achieve" require little further planning
prior to implementation. Other actions will require additional preparatory
work. Factors like planning lead-times, state or federal mandates, fiscal
considerations, and the need for certain actions to be completed before
other ones can be implemented, have affected the completion dates in
the Plan.
The sources for "Project Achieve" include the district's Strategic Plan;
teacher, parent and administrator response to the partial draft circulated
in the Spring; published research; and writers and commentators whose
views have influenced individual Board members.
Under "Project Achieve," all students would graduate from high school
fully ready for the next stage in their lives. For students headed for
four-year degrees that means that they graduate ready for college-level
work, not needing, except in rare cases, remedial college courses. For
students not headed for four-year degrees, that means that they
graduate with a mastery of basic academic skills and meeting exit-level
assessment demonstrating that they are ready to enter a paraprofession,
trade or other well-paying occupation, or are ready to complete their
training in a Santa Rosa Junior College program linked to Santa Rosa
City Schools district programs.
Each year the Board of Education will review "Project Achieve" -- its
progress, whether there are actions to be deleted or added, and/or
changes to chronological priorities. As part of that review parent, teacher,
administrator and community comment will be sought.
Board of Education
Santa Rosa City Schools
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