SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today made the following statement regarding a new report by the Education Trust-West that details the success of California high schools on three indicators: graduation rates, rigorous curriculum, and student achievement.  

"Education Trust-West's report continues its record of standing up for students who have been deprived of opportunities as young adults because of low academic expectations.

"This report offers more evidence supporting our efforts to redefine high schools as institutions that provide a strong academic foundation for all students, whether they are bound for college or the workplace. Today, all of our students need the high-level communications, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills once required only for the college-bound. What we all should find unacceptable is the path taken by too many of our students — one with little rigor that leads to neither career nor college, but to lost opportunities and choices foreclosed.

"That is why I have introduced my High Performing High Schools Initiative and am focusing on improving our high schools. We must challenge students to provide them with real options as young adults and to expand the pool of highly qualified workers critical to our state's future."

Please see Education Trust-West's report at The Education Trust - West. Closing the Achievement Gap [http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/ETW/hs+report.htm] (Outside Source).

For more information about the High Performing High Schools Initiative, please visit High Performing High Schools Initiative - State of Education.