Santa Clara County’s English learner students, part of the largest group in the nation, saw mixed progress during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Santa Clara County school districts with the largest populations of English learners, data reviewed by San José Spotlight showed three districts had a drop in test scores while the others saw an increase. The...
Santa Clara County graduation rates are up
More Santa Clara County students are crossing the stage to get their diplomas than years past, and education leaders hope to keep the momentum going. High school graduation rates for the 2021-22 school year increased across Santa Clara County’s largest school districts, data from the California State Dashboard reveals. Rates also went up for vulnerable...
Silicon Valley makes history with trio of South Asian trustees
Three of the seven members on the county’s board of education are South Asian —making history for the most representation on the county’s powerful education board. The Santa Clara County Board of Education swore in its first Pakistani American members, Maimona Afzal Berta and Raeena Lari, this month. Both members won in November’s election: Berta...
San Jose school district spends art grant on salaries, benefits
One East San Jose school district is receiving millions in state funding for the arts, but nearly 72% of it will go to staff salaries and benefits. The East Side Union High School District expects to receive $13.2 million in state funds but will use $9.5 million of it for “operational costs” which includes paying for retirement...
San Jose school district still weighs cops on campus
A year after San Jose’s largest school district decided to bring police officers back to campus, residents say they are being left out of the conversation. A San Jose Unified School District committee charged with reviewing the use of law enforcement and evaluating potential alternatives has made little progress, advocates said. The school board formed...
Former San Jose official appointed to county education board
The search to fill a Santa Clara County Board of Education seat is over after an expedited selection process. Sitting members appointed former San Jose Councilmember Donald Rocha on Monday to represent Area 3, with San Jose District 1 Councilmember-elect Rosemary Kamei vacating the seat next month. “I want to thank the Board of Education...
Why East San Jose students are missing school
One East San Jose school district is looking at how post-pandemic challenges are contributing to students skipping school, as chronic absenteeism rises in the local education system. One out of five students in the East Side Union High School District were chronically absent in the 2021-22 school year, missing class as families struggled with financial...
Four compete for open Santa Clara County education seat
The Santa Clara County Board of Education has a vacancy, and four individuals would like the job. Rosemary Kamei’s win as councilmember-elect in San Jose District 1 opens the seat in Area 3. The board plans to fill the seat during a special session on Nov. 28, where public comment will also be heard. Community leaders previously...
San Jose college students demand changes to 988 hotline
Activists are demanding changes to Santa Clara County’s suicide prevention hotline amid concerns the service is failing to live up to community expectations. College advocacy group Students Against Mass Incarceration gathered at San Jose State University on Thursday to urge the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to make several changes to how the 988...
Silicon Valley special educators reach breaking point
More than 100 Santa Clara County special education workers in violet shirts emblazoned with phrases like “Together we rise,” chanted “Hey hey! Ho ho! Unsafe classrooms got to go!” as cars blasted horns in support. The Tuesday rally is the latest action taken by SEIU Local 521, a union that represents about 700 county special education...