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About the California Student Success Project
- The California Student Success Project (CSSP) is a new campaign that will focus attention on the immediate policy window to actively engage
policymakers, business leaders, educators, labor leaders, and civic leaders in the need to design and implement a comprehensive change
framework that is aligned to higher student and educator outcomes and has
the resources needed to dramatically improve the future for California's
children and the state.
- CSSP will leverage declarations by the governor and legislative leaders that 2008 is the
"Year of Education," as well as the unprecedented demand for an educated
and skilled citizenry, and the wealth of new research and data to
accomplish the following:
- Help to create and support a sense of urgency with the policymaking community that
the imperative for comprehensive change is NOW, particularly the need for a
longitudinal information system that includes at least P-20 data and a change framework that will guide and
direct future policy development in the state.
- Build consensus in the field to commonly define the elements of a high-performing state education system.
Leverage that common definition to help frame the rigor and scope of education policy debate in California.
- Facilitate, sponsor, and support productive, open, rigorous debate on proposed education policies between
a wide range of organizations, viewpoints, and political factions.
- Elevate and raise awareness of the key issues that emerge from CSSP and other education reform groups.
- CSSP believes that improving educational outcomes for California
students and ensuring that all students are well prepared for
post-secondary education and the world of work is the best thing we can do
for our children and our state. The connections between the knowledge and
skills gained by California
students and their future prospects in life and the state’s social and
economic vitality are undeniable.
- CSSP acknowledges real progress by schools over the past decade in educating our children. California has put an accountability system in place and test scores in reading and math have shown steady improvement. However, that progress is not enough. To go further, we need real change and real investment in our schools.
- Current estimates -- widely agreed to -- are that an increasing percentage of our work force (75 percent by 2020) will need at least some college to have the skill levels required for success in new economic conditions. Current projections -- also widely agreed to -- are that only 61 percent of our work force would have that level of education by 2020, leaving the state and its people well short of the educational attainment needed for success in the 21st century. Meeting that level of educational attainment also has a direct link to the quality of life Californians will enjoy in the future.
- Through these efforts, CSSP seeks to change the way that education policy is debated. Solutions to the seemingly intractable problems identified by the research will require making the most of what already is available and of additional investments. Through a shared vision of what can be and the commitment of stakeholders to achieve that vision, we are better assured of California's education renaissance and a bright social and economic future for all Californians.
- CSSP is a project of CIF of the San Francisco Foundation, with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and The Stuart Foundation.
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