Our principals and teachers start preparing for the exam well before the school year begins. They review each student's results from the previous year to identify academic areas that need strengthening, and teachers attend workshops throughout the year to learn how to teach to the district's rigorous standards and benchmarks that spell out the specific skills students need to know. All of us want students and schools that are top performers. The entire community feels a sense of pride when students perform well, and we can all play a role in making that happen. Parents and the community are key to raising the awareness and expectations for all students to bolster their skills.
Parents can help by encouraging their children to enroll in challenging courses every year.
Talk to your children about homework and their day at school, and the importance of working hard and completing assignments. And when it comes time for them to take the Stanford 9, encourage them to take pride in their performance and to do their best. Thanks to the leadership of our board, our employee organizations, and particularly our outstanding teachers' association, the Elk Grove Education Association, we are launching a long-range financing plan to improve academic performance through improved instruction. We plan to improve instruction by increasing professional learning opportunities, further reducing class sizes, and enhancing technology for student learning and classroom support. In a way, our plan is similar to saving up money for a down payment on a house.