The Santa Clarita Valley Trustees Association is comprised of the six school districts that serve the Santa Clarita Valley. We would like to take this opportunity to share the contributions made by the educational community both academically and financially.

The public education workforce is substantial:

Castaic             340                 Saugus                         1,662   William S. Hart             2,289

Newhall            1138                Sulphur Springs            1,600   College of the Canyons 1,700

CONTRIBUTIONS

• We are collectively the largest employer in the Santa Clarita Valley    8,729 employees!
• Our institutions provide an educated population available to the business community. This segment of our workforce that grew up in this valley has a vested interest and is committed to the health, welfare and success of this community.
• Our workforce represents enormous purchasing power as it contributes to the success of our state and local economy.
• Our institutions are state and nationally recognized. Our stellar reputations are a huge factor when home buyers are looking to raise their families in a community that supports education.
• Our school sites’ facilities are used by community groups to serve all neighborhoods. We are a hub that contributes to the culture of this valley.
• Our schools contribute to the positive public relations enjoyed by the City of Santa Clarita and Chamber of Commerce.

CONSEQUENCES

• Elimination of educational programs at all levels will adversely impact our student achievement. It will force students to seek opportunities outside the Santa Clarita Valley.
• Reduction in school day or calendar year will contribute to increased drop out rate and crime.
• Businesses will be affected by the budget constraints imposed on households that have seen a reduction in income.
• The housing market will suffer two fold:

Relocations due to job loss

Compromised reputation of school districts may force families to look elsewhere

ASSISTANCE

• Actively support public education in the existing school districts!

• Partner with our public schools!
• Join us in advocating on behalf of our students to state and federal offices!

Santa Clarita Valley K-12 School Districts are comprised of 5 independent agencies:

Wm. S. Hart High School District 7-12

Castaic Union School District Pre-K-8

Newhall School District Pre-K-6

Saugus Union School District Pre-K-6

Sulphur Springs School District Pre-K-6

We request consideration regarding the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Waiver for California

All Title I schools and districts will be labeled as failures in 2013 because of NCLB’s unreasonable “Adequate Yearly Progress” (AYP) assumption that all students will reach proficiency in 2014. This includes SCV schools that have been recognized as State Distinguished Schools and Blue Ribbon Schools. The unwarranted label of failure is harmful to our community, our hard working staff, and our students and their families. Millions of dollars will be wasted on prescriptive “improvement” strategies including mandatory set asides for student transportation to other schools and payments to private vendors for ineffective supplemental educational services. No one disputes this scenario and few would argue that NCLB remains a workable and viable template for education.

The school districts of the SCV believe that reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) should be the state and nation’s number one priority. However, it appears that the federal government is unable to complete this task.

Rather than submit a waiver from NCLB that reflects the Obama administrations priorities, as 36 other states have done, Mr. Torlakson and the State Board of Education (SBE) have chosen to develop and submit a “state-defined General Waiver” that does not address the administration’s priorities.

We feel:

1) The General Waiver’s maintenance of AYP and 100% proficiency, and therefore 100% failure, should be replaced with a proposed growth model based on California’s API.

2) The General Waiver needs to be strengthened with elements that reflect the administration’s priorities.

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