Low Performing Schools?

Early in 2010, the California legislature passed legislation that required the State Board of Education (SBE) to issue regulations allowing parents to apply to transfer their children from specified underachieving schools to higher-performing schools. Over the summer, SBE approved emergency regulations and generated a list defining the state's 1,000 "low achieving" schools. Any school on the list was required to notify parents of their option to transfer their children to a higher scoring school.

The formula used to identify schools for the list has been criticized as flawed by state officials, legislators, and members of SBE. Ironically, the 2010 list of "low achieving" schools includes 31 schools that scored above the target API of 800. Two of those schools are in the Berryessa Union School District; Brooktree, which scored 830 this year, and Toyon, which scored 810.

While we know that these schools are performing well and making great strides, being identified as a "low achieving" school is demoralizing for teachers, staff, and families. Fortunately, the state has a waiver process so that schools can be removed from the list. Next week, at our November 16 Board meeting, the BUSD Board will hold public hearings to approve submitting waivers for Brooktree and Toyon to the State Board of Education.