The Berkeley City Council heard an update on the educational equity plan this week, learning about what has worked and what still needs to be done.
2020 Vision
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: How can you help Berkeley youth qualify for a good career?
Berkeley can certainly take pride in the remarkable rise in our local high school graduation rate, but we still fall far short of what’s needed to assure equal opportunity for all students, especially disadvantaged youth. In the 2013-14 school year, the most recent year with comparative statewide data, Berkeley’s high school graduation rate was 89%, […]
Posted inCity
Rent Board commissioner Alejandro Soto-Vigil challenges 22-year incumbent Linda Maio in Berkeley’s District 1
Alejandro Soto-Vigil hopes to beat incumbent Linda Maio for the Berkeley City Council’s District 1 seat. Photo courtesy of Soto-Vigil Alejandro Soto-Vigil hopes to beat incumbent Linda Maio for the Berkeley City Council’s District 1 seat. Photo courtesy of Soto-Vigil Alejandro Soto-Vigil, city Rent Board commissioner and aide to Councilman Kriss Worthington, has filed to […]
Posted inSchools
Bridge Program helps narrow Berkeley’s achievement gap
Graduating seniors from Berkeley High School’s Bridge Program (L to R): Raejean Hightower, Ryen Deloatch, Carl (Neal) Edwards Joshua Butler, Zierre Robinson, Armando Maravilla, Labria Young, and Michelle Resendiz. The program held a ceremony May 27 to present the seniors with sashes. They will graduate June 13. Courtesy: The Bridge Program Four years ago Armando […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: The 2020 Vision and the next election: Is the goal in sight?
What evidence do we have that the 2020 Vision for equitable outcomes in Berkeley schools will reach its goal by the year 2020? The photo, left, shows 10 members of the 2020 generation when they were in kindergarten. They are now in the sixth grade. Have they advanced significantly? Are they on target for outcome equity? […]
Posted inSchools
2020 Vision: Skills improve, absences down, gap remains
The Berkeley Unified School District showed improvements in student reading proficiency by third grade between spring 2012 and 2013. (Click to see the full report.) Image: 2020 Vision A citywide initiative proponents hope will close the achievement gap in Berkeley public schools appears to be working, though significant disparities remain, according to data presented Tuesday night […]
Posted inSchools
Alcohol, marijuana use decline in Berkeley schools
Berkeley students continue to report higher rates of marijuana use than the most recent statewide average that’s available, according to the 2012 California Healthy Kids Survey. District staff said that overall, however, substance use in Berkeley appears to be on a downward trend. See the full survey here. Source: Berkeley Unified School District Students in […]
Posted inCity, Schools
Mobile asthma clinic makes its debut at Berkeley school
Outside the Breathmobile at Malcolm X Elementary School, Oct. 18, 2012. Photo: Emilie Raguso A mobile asthma clinic designed to keep kids in school and out of the hospital debuted Thursday at Malcolm X Elementary School in south Berkeley. The Breathmobile, a 33-foot-long Winnebago RV, drew inquisitive looks and questions from students throughout the day. The vehicle was […]
Posted inSchools
2020 Vision symposium highlights progress in Berkeley
A packed cafeteria at the 2020 Vision Symposium, Oct. 11, Longfellow Middle School, Berkeley, CA. Photo: Emilie Raguso Last week, more than 100 community members, educators and city and school officials came together to share a meal and a vision for a future of equal opportunities for all children in Berkeley schools. The theory behind […]
Posted inSchools
School Board candidates respond to key questions
Old City Hall, where the school board meets Berkeleyside recently sent all the candidates for the School Board a set of questions, partly based on the suggestions our readers provided. Six candidates are running for three positions on the board: Josh Daniels, Norma Harrison, Karen Hemphill, Julie Holcomb, Priscilla Myrick and Leah Wilson. All except […]
Posted inCity
Berkeleyside interview: Mayor Tom Bates
Mayor Bates: “People will need to start contributing” Mayor Bates: “People will need to start contributing” A couple of items distinguish Mayor Tom Bates’ office from the municipal run of the mill. Among the ceremonial tchotchkes exchanged with foreign mayors, there’s a large bottle of beer labeled AB 3601 and on the wall is a […]
Posted inSchools
Pilot 2020 Vision projects announced
Photo: BUSD By Deirdre Nurre A second special joint meeting between the Berkeley School Board and the Berkeley City Council will be held tonight at 6 p.m. in the council chambers. They’ll discuss the 2020 Vision for Berkeley’s Children and Youth. The Berkeley Alliance developed the 2020 Vision, as a “citywide movement to ensure academic success and […]
