FIX SUSD

Overall, 22% of our students do not graduate. That is almost 1 out of every 4 students.

In math, more than 90% of Stockton’s students are 1 or more years below grade level. In reading, 85% of our students are reading 1 or more years below grade level. Around 2/3 of students who do not read proficiently by the 4th grade are likely to do jail time. Our Board’s failures are reinforcing the school-to-prison pipeline.

Over 65% of our students are not completing the classes needed to apply for higher education or trade school. Students cannot break through generational cycles of poverty as they are unable to achieve the education to be competitive in today’s workforce.

Due to mismanagement by the Board, SUSD will have at least a $30 million deficit by the fiscal year 2024-2025. This could cause staff layoffs and cutting back on more student programs. A grand jury report found that SUSD has no plan to deal with this deficit.

The Board will have to deal with the deficit. They must change course. If they do not, they will have to rely on bonds, grants, and increasing taxes on Stockton residents to come up with the money to run our schools and/or teacher and staff layoff. It may also result in a state takeover of our schools.

The Board received $241 MILLION in federal funding to handle the pandemic and learning loss. This money was also meant to address the needs of students with disability, English learners, and students experiencing homelessness. A Grand Jury investigation could not figure out how this federal money was spent. How are parents expected to deal with this lack of transparency?

Not all SUSD School Board meeting notes are approved and posted online. This makes it difficult for parents who have work or family obligations to know what is happening with their children’s education.

There is a lack of public discussion on agenda items during School Board meetings. It gives the appearance of business happening "behind closed doors." There is a culture of mistrust among the staff and Stockton residents.

The lack of certified translators for Board meetings causes inaccurate translations in meetings. This makes it harder for non-English speaking parents to be involved in their child's education.