In October 2009, Mayor Reed joined Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Charles Weis, Ph.D., to launch SJ2020 a bold educational initiative was developed to eliminate the achievement gap in San José schools by the year 2020. A collaborative effort between the City of San José, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, school districts and educational institutions, and business and non-profit organizations, SJ2020 embraces the proven strategies and best practices of the more than 200 experienced representatives from numerous public sectors.
To reach its goal of having all students test as proficient or advanced on grade-level state assessments, SJ2020 members are working to build an educational foundation that includes:
a culture of success that includes high standards for all students;
qualified, effective teachers and administration;
regular assessments to track progress and determine areas for improvement; and
unity among the community and families to put forth a strong, well-rounded effort
In San José, 40,000 students—nearly half of all public school students tested—are not proficient in their grade-level skills. As a McKinsey study reports, “avoidable shortfalls in academic achievement impose heavy and often tragic consequences, via lower earnings, poorer health, and higher rates of incarceration.” Over their lifetimes, dropouts earn an estimated $400,000 less and are 3½ times more likely to be incarcerated than those graduating from high school.
There is also a disparity in academic performance, known as the achievement gap, between under-performing Hispanic/Latino and African-American students and their Caucasian and Asian peers. As illustrated in this graph, only 41 percent of Hispanic/Latino students and 45 percent of African American students in San José tested as proficient or advanced on the mathematics portion of the 2009 California High School Exit Examination, compared to 69 percent of Caucasian students and 85 percent of Asian students.
Although the goal is ambitious, it is attainable. In our local schools, there are examples
where the achievement gap has been eliminated or significantly reduced. We will take the
strategies from these schools and implement them city-wide. Utilizing local best practices and
findings from national research over the last three decades, we know what must be done to
close the achievement gap:
Provide high‐quality preschool programs that are accessible to all children that will
prepare them to be successful in kindergarten
Create a culture of success that includes high standards for all students
Engage students in reflection and provide feedback to inform them of what they know
and what they need to work on
Recruit, develop, and retain high‐quality teachers and effective leaders
Use regular assessments to inform instruction
Employ extended learning time strategies (i.e., longer days, longer school year, and
preschool attendance)
Involve parents in their children’s education
Utilize a multi‐disciplinary approach and curriculum that is relevant to the real world,
beyond high school (e.g., Career Technical Education)
Unite the community to support students and families holistically
Eliminating the achievement gap will take the dedication and commitment of the City of
San José, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, school districts, charter schools, colleges,
and business and nonprofit community agencies. As long as each agency is willing to play its
role in addressing the issue and working together, we will help every child in San José achieve in
school and in life. We invite all interested parties to join our SJ2020 coalition and sign our Compact to Eliminate the Achievement Gap to affirm their commitment.
It is a bold vision, and it will take a bold commitment to realize it—a commitment to
fundamentally change our culture, improve our practices, share and learn from one another,
align resources, and work strategically to make San José the first large urban area in the nation
to eliminate the achievement gap by the year 2020.
Office of Mayor Chuck Reed
200 East Santa Clara Street San José, CA 95113
tel. (408) 535-4800 fax (408) 292-6422 mayoremail@sanjoseca.gov
The City of San Jose is committed to open and honest government and strives to consistently meet the community’s expectations by providing excellent service, in a positive and timely manner, and in the full view of the public.
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