Communities and schools must work together to strengthen their capacity so that schools work for all children. Courageous Connections highlights events, resources, initiatives and projects that show how communities and schools are able to spark and sustain changes.

San Antonio’s Community Conversation on Education

In September 2010, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, in partnership with the National League of Cities, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and UTSA President Ricardo Romo, gathered educators (from early childhood to higher education), policymakers, and community and family leaders for a Community Conversation on Strengthening San Antonio Education from Birth through College and Career. The purpose of the event was to reach community consensus on a set of broad goals for improving outcomes for children in San Antonio across the educational continuum. The first day focused on outcomes for children from birth to age 8 (third grade). The second day was dedicated to examining outcomes from fourth grade to college.

Knowedge for Action

At the request of the Mayor’s Office, Voices for Children of San Antonio presented data on early childhood and IDRA presented data for all schools in the city (fourth grade to college). IDRA aggregated and analyzed this data from its OurSchool data portal, its annual Texas high school attrition study and a series of research reports and census data, and presented it to the city as part of its Snapshot on Education in San Antonio.

The snapshot shows that:

• High dropout rates persist. Almost four out of every 10 high school students (39 percent) in Bexar County were lost to attrition between 2005-06 and 2008-09.
• Teaching quality varies significantly. The percentage of teachers working in their field of study varies across local high schools, from a low of 70 percent to a high of 97 percent.
• College readiness lags behind the state. More students are taking advanced courses and AP tests in San Antonio then statewide, but fewer students in almost every subgroup take AP tests and meet criteria to earn college credit.
• Fewer than one in three San Antonio students enrolls in a two-year college after graduation; fewer than one in five enrolls in a four-year college or university.

The NLC and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics shared findings from community conversations around the country.

Youth Voice/Perspective

A contingent of youth from around the city joined the gathering to provide their perspective on education in San Antonio and what steps can be taken to strengthen it. A number of students joined IDRA for a review of OurSchool portal data in advance of the meeting, including tutors from IDRA’s Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program at South San Antonio ISD and former Youth Tekies, who provided peer-counseling on college access in Edgewood.

IDRA asked students about their vision for education in San Antonio. Here are highlights of what they said…

• Teachers serving all students
• Teachers have what they need to succeed
• Find more motivated teachers
• Classes for teachers, especially about how to work with all students
• High school teachers know parents as well
• More strict about skipping
• More seniors who are ready for college
• Prepare us beyond the TAKS

City sets bold goals

Coming out of the meeting, participants called for bold action to improve education in three areas:

• Expanding participation in early childhood and pre-k programs
• Cutting dropout rates
• Raising college readiness, participation and success

Mayor Castro announced goals of doubling the number of college graduates to 200,000 and cutting the high school dropout rate in half.

The city announced the launch of its Café College website. (See story in the San Antonio Express-News.)

The education goals outlined at the Community Conversation are being integrated into SA 2020, a city-wide now underway to chart San Antonio’s course for the next decade.

San Antonio is the first of 90 communities to formally signed onto a charge by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics “be transparent about statistics for college completion and to publicly disclose a goal for improving the rate of college graduation.”