INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM CHAMPIONED BY THE BAY AREA COUNCIL SHOWING RESULTS

A game-changing pilot project to increase student achievement that the Bay Area Council helped introduce at a Marin County school district and hopes to see replicated elsewhere got strong marks during a recent report on its progress. The project at the San Rafael City Schools is modeled on a similar program introduced by Dr. Jerry Weast, who has been described by some as the Best Superintendent in America, when he was head of the Montgomery public schools in Maryland. Bay Area Council member Jay Paxton of Buchalter/Nemer was instrumental in bringing the program here following a business delegation the Bay Area Council led to Maryland to learn about Weast’s program. The program seeks to improve student achievement by incorporating processes and cultural practices of highly effective businesses and educational organizations into the local district, including establishing a Business Advisory Council on which several Bay Area Council members serve.  Education was also on the minds of Bay Area Council members who attended a recent briefing by state Board of Education President Mike Krist on progress implementing California’s Common Core State Standards, new rigorous and internationally-benchmarked educational standards that seek to better prepare students to graduate, enter college and pursue a productive career.  Thank you to TechNet and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation for co-hosting this event. Kirst described a dauntingly complex agenda to bring state education policies into line with the new standards, which all schools in the state must implement over the next several years.  To participate in our education policy work, contact Linda Galliher.