September 25, 2007
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Names
New Members to Statewide P-16 Council
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the appointment of six new members to the Superintendent's California P-16 Council. The P-16 Council includes educators, parents, elected officials, business leaders, researchers, librarians, and students that represent all segments of public education from preschool through college. O'Connell has charged the P-16 Council with the development of a specific and ambitious plan that will hold the state of California accountable for creating the conditions necessary for closing the achievement gap.
The newly appointed members of the P-16 Council are:
Carlos Garcia, Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District
"Superintendent Garcia has a long and proven track record of success in the field of education, having served as a teacher, a principal, and an administrator," O’Connell said. "He is a driven and passionate advocate for the students of this state, and I know he will be an active and valuable contributor to the work of the P-16 Council, especially as we focus in on closing the achievement gap."
"Closing the achievement gap is the most important challenge that we face in education today," said Garcia. "I look forward to joining with the other members of the P-16 Council to put our best thinking into action for California’s children. Our schools will not be good enough for any of our children unless we can make them good enough for all of our children."
Debra Watkins, President of the California Alliance for African American Educators
"Through work with the California Alliance of African American Educators and as a teacher at Phoenix High School, Debra Watkins has shown a firm commitment to improving education in California and especially among the African American community," O’Connell said. "Her experience will bring a valuable perspective to the table as the P-16 Council works to strategize on ways to close the achievement gap."
"As president of the California Alliance of African American Educators, I am deeply honored to be selected to serve on the P-16 Council because Jack O'Connell's commitment to addressing the achievement gap through a racial lens is exactly what our organization has advocated since its inception six years ago," said Watkins. "After my selection, I asked to join the Council's subcommittee on Climate and Culture because I believe it is doing the most courageous work. I am excited to engage in real solutions for real students in real time."
Horace Mitchell, President of California State University, Bakersfield
"Dr. Mitchell has long served a central role in the administration of higher education in California for both the UC and CSU systems," O’Connell said. "His experience will bring a valuable perspective to the table as the P-16 Council works to strategize on ways to close the achievement gap. I am absolutely thrilled to have him play a part in this worthy cause."
"I am honored to have been appointed to the P-16 Council," said Dr. Mitchell. "The most important investment we can make as a state is to invest in the education of our children beginning at the pre-school level and sustaining that investment all the way through higher education. Our future quality of life and economic health require that we improve student learning at all levels and eliminate the achievement gap."
Patricia Rucker, Legislative Advocate for the California Teachers Association
"Patricia Rucker has a long track record of working on behalf of California’s students in her role as a legislative advocate for the CTA," O’Connell said. "Her experience in helping to craft and push the legislation and policies that affect California’s students will bring a valuable perspective to the table as the P-16 Council works to strategize on ways to close the achievement gap."
"I am thrilled and honored to work with Superintendent O'Connell and the teams of the P-16 Council," said Rucker. "The achievement gap is not a single entity quantified solely by a single test. Closing the achievement gap requires developing policies that articulate and address many program quality gaps that impact teaching and learning, including cultural and social dynamics, teacher quality, depth and breadth of the core curriculum, and school leadership. Closing these gaps will require the systemic will to create high-quality conditions for teaching and learning that are the norms – not the exceptions. I commend the Superintendent for taking on this charge."
Saundra Bishop, Director of the Compton Adult School in Compton
"Saundra Bishop has shown a tremendous passion for all things in education, especially for the adult students of our state," O’Connell said. "Her valuable experience will bring a unique perspective to the table as the P-16 Council works to strategize on ways to close the achievement gap."
"I am excited and honored to serve on the Superintendent's P-16 Council, and I hope to contribute to the development of effective solutions in assisting California's students to achieve maximum success in school and beyond," said Bishop. "My adult education perspective will focus on how to provide parents with tools that will help them help their children. Parental involvement is a key element to student success."
Philip Halperin, President of the Silver Giving Foundation
"Philip Halperin has long been a committed and passionate supporter of improving education in California," O’Connell said. "I look forward to working closely with Philip, and I’m certain that his experience will bring a valuable perspective to the table as the P-16 Council works to strategize on ways to close the achievement gap."
"I am thrilled to be appointed to the P-16 Council and will continue to advocate tirelessly for improvements to our state’s educational system," said Halperin. "Every single one of our six million students must have access to a high-quality education. That means access to quality preschool, superior teaching, and leadership at every level; opportunities for rigorous academic challenges and enrichment opportunities, and a laser-like focus on preparation for college and career. The future of our workforce and our state depends on it."
"Since I appointed a statewide P-16 Council in 2004, the members have been meeting regularly to identify strategies aimed at creating a culture of rigor and relevance in high school classrooms, and also to identify strategies for teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development for all levels of educators. In the past year, the Council has focused on the critical challenge of closing the achievement gap between students who are African American or Latino and their peers who are white or Asian," said O'Connell. "I look forward to working with these new members and commend them for their drive and passion in making education in California the very best that it can be."
"It is my great pleasure to welcome the newest members of the P-16 Council," said Dr. Barry Munitz, chair of the group. "Each new appointee brings a rare skill set and a diverse collection of experiences that will contribute marvelously to our work. Superintendent O'Connell has asked us to restore rigor and relevance to the classroom, and now he is calling on the Council to assist in his efforts to close the achievement gap. With these new members of our team, we are even more optimistic that it will be possible to shape creative and constructive strategies."
O'Connell announced the establishment of the P-16 Council in December 2004, during his first term in office. The Council was charged with examining ways to: improve student achievement at all levels and eliminate the achievement gap; link all education levels, from preschool, elementary, middle, high school, and through higher education to create a comprehensive, seamless system of student learning; ensure all students have access to caring and qualified teachers; and increase public awareness of the link between an educated citizenry and a healthy economy.
While the P-16 Council remains focused on these four general issue areas, O'Connell has made closing the achievement gap a top priority during his second term, and earlier this year he called on the Council to play a leading role in this effort. The Superintendent also formed a special P-16 Unit within the California Department of Education to offer further support to the P-16 Council. The P-16 Council's work toward closing the achievement gap is based on the premise that major factors inhibiting the learning of all students can be grouped into four themes known by the acronym, ACES:
Access
How do all students gain access to what they need? This could include rigorous curriculum and instruction; highly effective teachers; counselors; extra learning options that supplement the education provided in a typical school day; and health and social services.
Culture/climate
How can schools offer the best learning environment for all students? Is it a safe place for students to learn? Is it an en environment that promotes learning and a sense of belonging for students and school staff? Does it offer culturally relevant and responsive instruction? Do effective school-family-community partnerships exist?
Expectations
Are high expectations for teachers and students truly held? Is it evident in the curriculum, instructional practices, student assignments, and the school's communication to students, parents, and school staff? Is student progress measured using data and effective instructional strategies?
Strategies
What practices have proven effective (or are promising) for closing the achievement gap? Strategies should address improving the quality of instruction; differentiated instruction; increasing instructional time; teacher collaboration time; reconsidering how to differentiate schools by grade span; etc.
"Each member of the P-16 Council and I believe strongly that we all have a moral, social, and economic stake in providing every single child in California with the opportunity to succeed," O'Connell said. "The work of this Council always has been important, but even more so now as we work to tackle the achievement gap."
For more information about the Superintendent's California P-16 Council, please visit P-16 Council - Initiatives, Projects, & Programs.
