MEDIA ADVISORY from the San Diego Unified School District
Oct. 14, 2015
San Diego Unified Shows How Smart Investment Closes the Achievement Gap
New funding tool outlines what California school districts need to make the right down payment on students’ futures
WHAT: California can prepare virtually all of its students to succeed in school and the workplace through targeted strategies, according to a recent assessment of initiatives undertaken by the San Diego Unified School District. With this approach and a unique funding tool which will be unveiled on Oct. 21 by Superintendent Cindy Marten and the district’s Board of Trustees, the academic rigor and creative entrepreneurship needed for solving the state’s looming crises -- such as climate change, competing in a global economy and sustaining our high quality of life -- is within our grasp.
The tool is intended to calculate the funding needed from Sacramento to help school districts across California demonstrate what is needed to properly invest in students and classrooms to all but eliminate the achievement gap. The tool was developed in response to state legislators’ and budget staffs’ questions about what adequate public education funding should look like for California schools.
In San Diego, the funding template highlights the estimated costs of education based on realistic expenditures aligned with the district’s instructional objectives, allowing San Diego Unified to take to scale smaller initiatives that have been proven to be successful in closing achievement gaps to ensure each and every student will graduate high school career and college ready, and be vital future leaders for California.
California’s constitution stipulates that the state should be in the top 10 states for per-pupil expenditures. According to Education Week’s 2015 Quality Counts report, California’s per student spending in 2011-12, the latest data cited, put the state’s ranking at 46th in the nation.
The template is being shared with districts throughout California to demonstrate their respective local funding priorities and requirements. The intent is that districts will form a coalition to advocate for increased resources at the local and state level.
A statewide conference call is scheduled to discuss the results of San Diego Unified’s calculation with members of the media.
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
12 - 12:45 p.m.
WHERE: In Person: Eugene Brucker Education Center, 4100 Normal Street, Room 2249, San Diego (92103)
OR via WebEx Online Conference Call, Audio Connection: 1-415-655-0001, Access code: 195 557 610
SPEAKERS:
· Superintendent Cindy Marten
· Board of Education President Marne Foster
· Board of Education Vice President Dr. John Lee Evans
· Chief Financial Officer Jenny Salkeld
Members of the media are also welcome to attend a Public Education Town Hall scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2015, from 6:30 – 8 p.m., at the Eugene Brucker Education Center auditorium, 4100 Normal St., San Diego (92103).
CONTACT:
· Ursula Kroemer, chief public information officer, 619-760-6919
· Martha Alvarez, director of government relations, 916-798-1338
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