For Immediate Release:
March 16, 2012

Contact:
Connie Skipitares, SVEF
(408) 205-8540

FLEXTRONICS FOUNDATION AWARDS $50K GRANT TO SILICON VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Funds to Go Toward ‘Stepping Up to Algebra’ Program

SAN JOSE, CA – Paving the way for more students to boost their math skills and reach for college, the Flextronics Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) to continue its summer math intervention programs for underserved students in Santa Clara County.

The grant will go toward SVEF’s “Stepping Up to Algebra” program that will mark its 5th year when it launches in June. Classes will be presented in more than a dozen school districts. More than 3,000 students from 6th to 8th grades have benefitted from the program since it started in 2008.

“Stepping Up to Algebra” is a four-week intervention course targeting middle school students who score at or below grade level in math and need help to succeed in rigorous high school math classes to go on to college.

The free math program is part of SVEF’s initiative to improve education for struggling students and help close the achievement gap between different racial groups.

''Funding this program is a big step toward our goal of preparing as many students as we can for college prep coursework,'' said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. ''Without this program, these students may not end up on a path to college. We need to nurture them to become our next scientists, engineers and leaders.''

''Flextronics is committed to supporting efforts to improve education in our communities around the world,'' said Thomas Ezrin, senior vice president of human resources at Flextronics. ''In Silicon Valley, we are very proud of our involvement with SVEF’s Stepping Up to Algebra program as a member of the inaugural program development team and grant provider since 2008 which has benefitted more than 3,000 students to date.''

The grant will go toward funding direct program services, which includes teacher salaries, classroom materials, student testing and costs of program administration.

About SVEF:
Silicon Valley Education Foundation is a non-profit resource and advocate for students, educators and corporate and individual donors. We drive scholastic achievement in the critical areas of math & science by combining resources and partnerships to provide innovative academic programs. We are a catalyst for policy solutions in public education in the region. Our mission is to make Silicon Valley the leader in academically prepared students. For more information, visit www.svefoundation.org.

For Immediate Release:
March 12, 2012

Contact:
Rosemary Kamei, SVEF (408) 790-9435
Connie Skipitares, SVEF (408) 205-8540

HOW DO WE GET MORE WOMEN INTO SCIENCE & TECH CAREERS?

 Silicon Valley Education Foundation Will Explore Ideas

SAN JOSE, CA – It’s a fact that women are notably underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), career areas critical to Silicon Valley’s success. Women occupy only 24% of all STEM jobs in the U.S., a statistic that has remained the same for more than a decade. (They fill 48% of all jobs nationwide).

How do we change that?

Hear female leaders in STEM fields talk at a lunchtime event March 14 about roadblocks to success, counteracting bias, developing role models and nurturing girls’ interest in math and science starting in elementary school.

The invitation-only event takes place from 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m., at the law offices of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, 1000 Marsh Road, Menlo Park. The event is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

Featured speakers include Imelda Terrazas-Salinas, group leader for the Test Engineering Group at NASA’s Thermophysics Facilities Branch; Telle Whitney, President & CEO of the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology; Jocelyn Goldfein, Director of Engineering at Facebook, and Annette Hurst, partner in Orrick’s San Francisco office. Moderator is NBC TV News anchor Jessica Aguirre.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s key mission is promoting STEM education to prepare students for college and careers.

''We have to nurture women and girls to go into STEM fields and help them overcome societal hurdles,'' said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. ''Having a focus and dialogue with women leaders in STEM careers can generate new ideas and actions that can help create the next generation of women innovators and leaders.''

Media representatives are invited to join us. Please contact Rosemary Kamei (408) 790-9435, or Connie Skipitares (408) 205-8540.

About SVEF:
Silicon Valley Education Foundation is a non-profit resource and advocate for students, educators and corporate and individual donors. We drive scholastic achievement in the critical areas of math & science by combining resources and partnerships to provide innovative academic programs. We are a catalyst for policy solutions in public education in the region. Our mission is to make Silicon Valley the leader in academically prepared students. For more information, visit www.svefoundation.org.

January 12, 2012

Contact:

Connie Skipitares

• Dr. Emmett Carson, CEO, SV Community Foundation
• Dr. Charles Weis, Supt., Santa Clara County Office of Education
• Dr. Jackie Horejs, Supt., Union Elementary School District
• Pearl Cheng, Board Trustee, Foothill-DeAnza Comm. College District
• Rachel Ehlers, Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst, Leg. Analyst Office
• Josephine Lucey, Board Member, Cupertino School District

January 4, 2012

Contact:

Connie Skipitares

SAN JOSE, CA – Some 1,500 students in Silicon Valley’s largest and most successful summer math program have taken an exciting leap ahead in math proficiency after completing the 4-week course this year, test results released this week show.

         The students took part in the “Stepping Up to Algebra/Math Acceleration Program,” sponsored jointly by non-profits Silicon Valley Education Foundation, ALearn and Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. The program targeted middle school students who underperform in math and prepares them for math success in high school and college entry.

         The students showed a 20-percentage-point gain in math proficiency at the end of four weeks, which program sponsors called significant.   

         Results were released Aug. 25 at an event recognizing program donors and participating school districts, which was attended by more than 70 Silicon Valley corporate leaders, educators, students and program volunteers.

         The 4-week, 4-hour-a-day summer program helps entering 7^th and 8^th graders prepare for Algebra I, considered to be a “gateway” subject that opens the door to college prep math coursework in high school and eventually college. This is the fourth year of the summer math program, the largest, most effective program aimed at narrowing the student achievement gap between ethnic groups. 

         Designed for students scoring below proficiency in state standardized math tests, the program engaged students in interactive instruction and computer exercises that addressed common gaps and misconceptions in math.  This year’s program more than doubled enrollment from last year’s 850 students and expanded from 9 to 15 school districts, including South County newcomers Morgan Hill and Gilroy.   

         The program served students who were largely from low-income and minority families.  It was a critical summer support program for Santa Clara County schools that are struggling with fewer resources because of elimination of virtually all summer school classes.

         Test results showed the 7^th and 8^th graders averaged an overall 20-percentage-point improvement in math understanding of key foundational concepts needed for success in algebra. More specifically, they showed gains in understanding fractions, rational numbers and operations and word problems.  Since many of the students are from English learner families, emphasis was made on interactive learning and comprehending word problems.

         According to a survey taken after the program, 93% of students said they now liked doing math.   Ninety-five percent stated they wanted to complete a 4-year college, and 58% said they wanted to pursue an advanced degree in engineering, medicine or other professional occupation. 

            Testing was administered at the beginning and end of the program. Added this year was a technology component – computer exercises and challenges provided by Khan Academy and MIND Research that students could access in classrooms.

         “We are thrilled to see such progress in learning as our program more than doubled enrollment this year and had a bigger impact with the new program directions we presented,” said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry.  “We hope to see these students continue to make solid progress when they go back to their own math classes this fall.  This program will push them ahead of their peers.”

         “We turned summer learning loss into summer learning gains for students,” said Kathryn Hanson, founder and CEO of ALearn.  “We provided an engaging, fun program with college information nights, college trips and end-program celebrations that included families and many students who will be the first to go to college.  Our program makes sure we get more students on a college path by addressing the key gatekeeper course where they often fall behind – math.”

         The SUTA/MAP program is part of the non-profits’ initiative to increase the number of students going to college and on to successful careers, improve education for underperforming students and help close the achievement gap.   

         The program utilized college students as teaching assistants and took students on visits to Santa Clara and San Jose State universities. 

         “Hundreds of Latino students have been injected with math and algebra skills that will lead them to a successful college education,” said HFSV CEO Ron Gonzales.  “Closing the Latino student achievement gap is our foundation’s No. 1 priority.  We are delighted to be a partner in this program that is closing that gap for Silicon Valley Latino students.”

          Participating school districts included Alum Rock, Berryessa, Campbell, Evergreen, Franklin-McKinley, Gilroy, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Mount Pleasant, Oak Grove, Orchard, San Jose Unified, Santa Clara Unified, Sunnyvale and Union School District, as well as ACE Charter School.

          This year’s program was made possible by grants from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SAP, Target, SanDisk, Leo Shortino Foundation, Google, Walmart, Yahoo, and many others.   

 About SVEF: 

         Silicon Valley Education Foundation  focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across all 32 Santa Clara County school districts. Our goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We are known for our focus on achieving results, partnering, and emphasizing creativity and innovation.  For more information about our programs, visit www.svefoundation.org.

About  ALearn:

         ALearn is a non-profit organization committed to helping under-represented students get to and succeed in college. Our programs enhance the opportunities, access and advancement to college for students who will be the first in their family to go to college.  Visit www.alearn.org.

About HFSV:

         The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is a public foundation dedicated to inspiring community philanthrophy and engaging people to invest in the education excellence, healthy aging, leadership development, and convening and engaging the Latino community. For more information, visit www.hfsv.org.

SAN JOSE, CA. -- The Silicon Valley Education Foundation will host its 7th annual Pioneers & Purpose dinner celebrating achievements in education on Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San jose.

    The Pioneers & Purpose dinner is a fundraiser benefitting SVEF programs for students and teachers across Silicon Valley. Programs include summer and after-school intervention programs for middle school students in math and science, teacher innovation grants.

    This year, the event honors Faysal Sohail, a prominent venture capitalist and philanthropist who has led numerous education initiatives in Silicon Valley and around the globe, with the 2011 Pioneer Business Leader Award for his outstanding contributions to business and education.

    Awards will also be given out to four noteworthy individuals and programs that set a new benchmark in Science, Technology and Engineering, and Math education. Each of the four “STEM Benchmark Award” categories are sponsored by Symantec, Oracle, Microsoft and Ernst & Young, respectively.

    Sohail, a co-founder and retiring board chairman of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, is a general partner at CMEA Capital in San Francisco.  He has led venture capital funding to numerous key start-ups in Silicon Valley’s technology and energy sectors.

    Sohail has used his vast business networking to gain corporate support to build programs that connect education and technology opportunities in Silicon Valley and across the world.  He has especially focused on promoting STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math – through the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and its programs to encourage today’s students to become Silicon Valley’s next innovators and leaders.

    His work in education across the globe revolves around two specific goals: getting students in the developed world to college, and getting students in the developing world to become computer literate.

    Sohail has dedicated his time and resources to building computer institutes to help thousands of children in small villages in Asia and Africa become computer literate. He has also had an integral role in the development of the curriculum, computer lab setup and the hiring of instructors.

    “I am honored to be given this award by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, which has made a huge impact in improving STEM achievement in Silicon Valley and is helping so many of our students prepare to become the technology leaders of tomorrow,” Sohail said. “Education is the only true economic equalizer in the world.”

    “Faysal’s commitment to education and technology is truly inspiring,” said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. “He has taken his passion for education and made a huge impact here at home and around the world that has changed the lives of thousands of children.”

    Ray Bingham, vice chair of SVEF’s board of directors, said honoring Sohail was “a natural choice, given his extraordinary work in improving the lives of children everywhere. His passion about education exemplifies the kind of leadership this award is all about."

    John W. Thompson, retired Symantec Corp. CEO and last year’s recipient of the Pioneer Business Leader Award, has been named to this year’s honorary event committee.

    “Faysal Sohail’s selection this year is well deserved. His work has transformed the lives of children across the globe,” said Thompson.

    The Pioneer Business Leader award has been given to several other distinguished leaders in Silicon Valley since 2005. In addition to Thompson, they include Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers, former Adobe Systems CEO Bruce Chizen, SanDisk Corp. Board Chairman Michael Marks, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, and Ray Bingham, managing director of General Atlantic.

    Proceeds from the dinner will go toward SVEF’s work to raise student performance in the areas of STEM education across Santa Clara County’s 32 school districts.

    The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.  The Fairmont Hotel is located at 170 S. Market St., San Jose.

    For more information, to purchase tickets, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, call (408) 790-9590, or visit www.svefoundation.org.

About SVEF:    

Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across Santa Clara County’s 32 school districts. Our goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We are known for our focus on achieving results, partnering, and emphasizing creativity and innovation.  For more information about our programs, visit www.svefoundation.org.

SiLICON VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION, NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR WORK TO BOOST 9TH GRADE SCIENCE SKILLS

$350K Grant Bolsters Biology Program in East SJ Schools

June 2011 – Paving the way for more students to get into college, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) and National Semiconductor Foundation are partnering to launch a first-of-its-kind summer science program for academically underprepared ninth graders to boost their science skills.

Stepping Up To Science (STEPS) is being offered to 240 students and 40 teachers in the East Side Union High School District from June 14 to July 14. The 4-week STEPS program, which is equivalent to approximately one semester of study in biology, is funded by a $350,000 Power of Education grant from the National Semiconductor Foundation, and helps to fill the void caused by summer school cutbacks.

“Preparing youth in the sciences is a core value for us at National,” said Don Macleod, chief executive officer of National Semiconductor. “Over the past 14 years, we have invested $6 million in teacher training and materials in technology, science and math. Our primary goal is to provide teachers with the knowledge and tools to teach in a way that gets kids excited about science and math so they may excel in these subjects.”

STEPS is a unique student intervention and teacher development program that will eventually provide all district-wide science educators with practical and engaging instructional tools. The free program targets youth in underserved schools who are below grade level in science testing. The curriculum was developed with a hands-on, experimental approach in mind. Participants include James Lick, Andrew Hill, Overfelt and Yerba Buena High Schools.

“In the East Side Union High School District – the second largest in the state – 4,200 ninth graders are not in a science course that counts for college,” said Muhammed Chaudhry, president and chief executive officer of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. “Without help from this program, these students may not end up on a path to college. We need to prepare kids to become our future scientists, engineers and leaders.”

The STEPS program was developed to bolster the East Side Union High School District’s recent adoption of “A to G” requirements, which are the course standards needed for students to qualify for California’s University of California and California State University colleges.

"The partnership with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation in implementing the STEPS program will help our students meet the higher A-G standards adopted by our Board last December,” said East Side Union High School Supt. Dan Moser. “We appreciate the support of SVEF, as well as National Semiconductor, which is providing funds to support the program."

In 2010, 66% of students in the East Side Union High School District were either not enrolled in a college-prep lab science course, or not enrolled in science at all, reducing their chances to get on a college path.

California ranks 49th nationally in science, an embarrassing statistic given that the state is the eighth largest economy in the world. In partnership with SVEF and the National Semiconductor Foundation, the East Side Union High School District expects to see at least 75% of students enrolled in STEPS over the next three years to successfully move into ninth grade biology.

Also supporting this year’s STEPS program are SummerHill Homes, the Westly Foundation, US Bancorp, Medtronic, JDS Uniphase and the Robert Half and Leo Shortino Foundations.

The $350,000 grant is a part of a larger $1.2 million worldwide Power of Education initiative that invests in programs that not only increase teacher’s content knowledge in science and math, but also focus on inquiry-based methods, hands-on experience and the connection of literacy in teaching science and math. In the field of education, which represents more than 50% of all of National Semiconductor Foundation’s giving, the focus has always been on teachers – specifically providing them with the training, tools and support to inspire and educate students in science and math. The STEPS program advances this initiative.

Reporters are welcome to visit our classrooms. Please contact Connie Skipitares at (408) 205-8540 or Krista Nilsen at (408) 721-5558 to arrange a visit.

About SVEF:
Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across Santa Clara County’s 32 school districts. Our goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We are known for our focus on achieving results, partnering, and emphasizing creativity and innovation. For more information about SVEF programs, visit www.svefoundation.org.

About National Semiconductor :
National Semiconductor is a leader in power management technology. Known for its easy-to-use analog integrated circuits and world-class supply chain, National’s high-performance analog products enable its customers’ systems to be more energy efficient. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.52 billion for fiscal 2011. Additional information is available at www.national.com.

National Semiconductor Foundation is a corporate-advised fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

For Immediate Release May 5, 2011

Contact: Jill Winkelstein Silicon Valley Education Foundation Jill@svefoundation.org | (408) 790-9590

NON-PROFITS TO HELP 1800 STUDENTS CONQUER ALGEBRA AND GET ON COLLEGE PATH

     

Valley’s most successful summer math program doubles enrollment reaching 14 school districts.

May 2011 – Silicon Valley’s most successful summer math program will help 1,800 middle school students conquer math phobia and get on the path to college when it launches its 4th year in June. This summer’s program will double enrollment from 850 last year and expand from 9 to 14 school districts, including South County newcomers Morgan Hill and Gilroy.

The “Stepping Up to Algebra/Math Acceleration Program (SUTA/MAP),” offered by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, ALearn and Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, is a critical summer support program for Santa Clara County schools that are struggling with fewer resources because of the elimination of virtually all summer school programs.

The program exposes students to four weeks of intensive pre-Algebra and Algebra instruction, and gets underway June 20. “Algebra is a gateway subject that opens the door to college prep coursework, and college, and eventually careers that keep Silicon Valley and California competitive in the global marketplace,” said Muhammed Chaudhry, President & CEO of Silicon Valley Education Foundation. “We have to get kids prepared to become our future engineers, scientists and leaders.”

The Stepping Up to Algebra/Math Acceleration Program is part of the non- profits’ initiative to improve education for struggling students and help close the achievement gap – the learning disparity among different racial groups.

“Besides teaching math, we change students’ mindset about their ability to do math and succeed in school. The program helps prepare middle school students to get on the path to college by showing them what college can do for them,” said Kathryn Hanson, CEO of ALearn.

Highlights of the program are a field trip to local universities, and a parent information night to educate families about college prospects for their children. Many of these students would be the first in their families to attend college. The program is free and targets students who score below grade level in math and need intervention before high school.

While representing 36% of Santa Clara County’s student population, Hispanic students as a group pose the greatest opportunity to narrow the student achievement gap and increase the number of students properly prepared for college. According to countywide statistics, only 18% of Hispanic students are scoring at the proficient level in Algebra I in 8th grade. This compares with 54% of white students and 73% of Asian students.

“Closing the Latino student achievement gap in math is our number one priority,” said Ron Gonzales, President & CEO of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. “The SUTA/MAP program is the best investment of our resources to accomplish that priority and give Latino students a chance for a successful college education.”

“We saw the success this program has had in other school districts and we wanted our students to be a part of that success,” said Dr. Deborah Flores, superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District, the newest district to join the program. “We want to help our students develop the skills and motivation to go on to college prep math courses in high school and reach for college.”

As a key metric of its success, students in the Stepping Up to Algebra/Math Acceleration Program have for the last three summers posted 20-25% gains in math proficiency, according to post-tests after completing the 4-week program.

Expansion of the SUTA/MAP program this year was made possible by grants from Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Agilent, Applied Materials, AT&T, Bank of America, Flextronics, JDS Uniphase, Juniper Networks, Lantern League, Leslie Family Foundation, Macy’s Foundation, Mentor Graphics, Medtronic, Myra Reinhard Family Foundation, Microsoft,100 Women Charitable Foundation, Pacific Service Credit Union, Plexus, SanDisk, SAP, Shortino Foundation, Symantec, Synopsis, Target, Tellabs Foundation, Verizon, Walmart, Wells Fargo, Western Digital and Yahoo.

Participating school districts include Alum Rock, Berryessa, Campbell, Evergreen, Franklin-McKinley, Gilroy Unified, Milpitas Unified, Morgan Hill Unified, Mount Pleasant, Oak Grove, Orchard, San Jose Unified, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara Unified.

About SVEF: 
Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information, visit www.svefoundation.org.

About ALearn:
ALearn is a non-profit organization committed to helping under-represented students get to and succeed in college. Our programs enhance the opportunities, access and advancement to college for students who will be the first in their family to go to college. For more information about ALearn, visit www.alearn.org. 

About Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley:
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is a public foundation dedicated to inspiring community philanthropy and engaging people to invest in the education excellence, healthy aging, leadership development, research, and convening and engaging the Latino community. For more information, visit www.hfsv.org.

GREEN EDUCATION FOUNDATION (GEF) PARTNERS WITH SVEF ON LESSONOPOLY.ORG TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION RESOURCES

GEF to feature green lessons and activities on Lessonopoly.org’s curriculum sharing website

March 2011—Green Education Foundation (GEF) announced its partnership this month with Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) on Lessonopoly.org – a free online tool that provides teachers the opportunity to upload and share classroom resources with one another. GEF will provide its sustainability education curriculum to educators using the lesson sharing website, for free.

“Lessonopoly provides teachers a tremendous opportunity to seek creative lessons that have been tested and proven in the classroom,” commented Victoria Waters, President and CEO of GEF. “The goal is to offer members a robust set of sustainability curricula, a growing area of interest and need for educators worldwide”

Lessonopoly.org offers lessons from a broad spectrum of subjects and grade levels, all uploaded for teachers by teachers. GEF’s sustainability education curriculum will further enhance Lessonopoly.org’s online content with lessons and hands-on projects focused on environmental, economic, and social systems in an effort to provide students with real-world applied learning strategies.

“GEF’s sustainability focused lessons offers a tremendous value add to our members,” noted Muhammed Chaudhry, CEO of SVEF. “This curriculum will allow teachers to educate their students on the value and importance of sustainability in an effort to create green habits that become lifelong behaviors.”

Thousands of educators currently utilize Lessonopoly.org on a daily basis to share their lessons via its online community. The addition of GEF’s library will also allow teachers to access curriculum relating to GEF-specific eco-challenge programs, including National Green Week, the Green Thumb Challenge , the Green Energy Challenge and the Green Building Program.

K-12 schools seeking green lessons and activities for Earth Week 2011 (April 18-22) are encouraged to visit Lessonopoly.org for a Top 10 Earth Day Projects list which offers suggestions and guidance on easy to implement sustainability projects for schools and classrooms to be kicked off during Earth Week 2011. Samples include, how to plant a school garden, kick start a recycling program, audit your school for green efficiencies and initiate green cleaning program, to name a few.

“Lessonopoly is great because it provides me with access to thousands of terrific lessons, many of which are hands-on and the students have found them extremely engaging. It provides a space to develop a professional learning community outside the boundaries of geography,” AdVENTURE STEM teacher Genvieve Dorsey said from the Oak Grove School District in San Jose, CA.

Educators can join the GEF Community and Lessonopoly.org to gain access to free online curricula.

For more information, please call Jill Winkelstein at 408-790-9590.

About Green Education Foundation (GEF) Green Education Foundation (GEF), a non-profit organization, is committed to creating a sustainable future through education. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging youth to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions. Visit www.greeneducationfoundation.org to register for free and to gain full access to GEF’s comprehensive library of standards-based lessons and activities.

About SVEF: Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information, visit www.svefoundation.org.

County Supports Preparing All Students for College and Careers

Board of Supervisors adopts resolution in support of countywide implementation of “A to G Requirements”

San Jose, CA – At today’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution in support of countywide schools implementing “A to G Requirements” at the request of Supervisor Dave Cortese, President of the Board of Supervisors. This resolution promotes the importance of a quality education for future success of current students. “A to G Requirements” automatically place students on the path toward a college education by requiring they take and pass certain college-track classes to qualify for entry into the University of California or California State University systems.

“There is a strong correlation between the lack of post-secondary education and the reliance on county services,” said Supervisor Cortese. “The County’s support of A to G requirements will help school districts realize the importance of preparing students for college and a successful career. Students should be by default placed on the track towards college rather than requiring them to opt in to that track.”

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF), a longtime advocate for A-G implementation in area schools, joins the Board of Supervisors in supporting the resolution. SVEF worked closely last year with East Side Union High School District officials when they implemented “A-G” as the standard curriculum in that district, the second district in the county to do so. San Jose Unified School District imposed A-G in 1992, and has eight years of positive data pointing to success.

“The debate is simple. Students need to be on the A-G track. The requirements push them to reach for a higher standard,” said Muhammed Chaudhry, SVEF President and CEO. “We are competing globally and students need to compete with the best and the brightest in the world. We have to get kids prepared to fill the workforce and become our future engineers and CEOs.”

In Santa Clara County, only 47% of students are fulfilling the “A to G” requirements. Among those, 70% are Asian; 52% are Caucasian; 26% are African-American, and 23% are Hispanic. Imposing A-G curriculum is a critical part of closing the achievement, or racial, gap.

The requirements expect students to pass 15 college-track courses and earn a 3.0 grade point average in them to qualify for entry to a University of California or California State University campus. School districts would mandate that students pass the classes. Only the UC and CSU systems use the “A to G” requirements.

Under “A-G,” students must take at least 3 years of college prep math; 2 years of lab science; 4 years of English; 2 years of history/social science; 2 years of foreign language; 1 year of visual and performing arts, and 1 year of college prep-electives.

For more information, please call Steve Blomquist at (408) 299-5030 or Jill Winkelstein at 408-790-9590.

About SVEF: Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information, visit www.svefoundation.org.

SVEF & TechNet Form Partnership to Expand Math & Science Education throughout Silicon Valley

Launch of TechNet's ConvergeUS non-profit will bring private, non-profit, government and academic sectors together to better use technology to solve education and social challenges.

SAN JOSE, CA. - The Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) and TechNet, a bipartisan network of technology CEOs, announced today the formation of a new partnership to expand the use of technology to improve science and math education in Silicon Valley and beyond.

The partnership was announced as part of TechNet's national announcement of the creation of a new non-profit called ConvergeUS, whose mission is to bring together the collective power of the technology, nonprofit, government, and academic sectors in a smarter, more purposeful manner to help solve America's most pressing social challenges.

The board of the new non-profit will be comprised of many of the global leaders in the technology and social networking sectors including TechNet President and CEO Rey Ramsey, Twitter Co-Founder and Creative Director Biz Stone, Kaboom! CEO Darrell Hammond, Cisco Systems Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Affairs, Tae Yoo, technology entrepreneur Kim Polese, and Paul Silverglate, Deloitte Strategic Services Partner.

As part of its national announcement, ConvergeUS announced that SVEF will be one of its initial two partnerships formed in the United States. SVEF was selected based on its proven track record of using technology and collaborative community partnerships to improve math and science education through its STEM Initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math).

"As an operating foundation born in Silicon Valley, we recognize the importance of technology in advancing every aspect of our lives – especially education. We're proud to be one of the two first partnerships behind ConvergeUS' launch," said Muhammed Chaudhry, President and CEO of Silicon Valley Education Foundation. "We believe our partnership with ConvergeUS will allow us to accelerate our efforts to improve math and science education here in Silicon Valley and create a model that can be used across the nation."

"Technology has transformative capacities and when combined with purposeful aspirations, amazing advances can occur," said Rey Ramsey, President and CEO of TechNet and Chairman of ConvergeUS. "If we converge the skills of the technology sector with key stakeholders engaged in the social sector, we can produce social dividends for this country. We look forward to working with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation to do just that when it comes to better preparing our young people for the jobs of tomorrow."

SVEF is spearheading the STEM initiative, which is aimed at improving math and science education in Silicon Valley public schools. Its successful Stepping Up to Algebra program accelerates student learning in mathematics to prepare students to take – and successfully master – Algebra I by the 8th grade. In addition to helping ensure today's students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow, success in Algebra I has proven to be correlated to success in completing high school and attending college. SVEF is currently in the process of launching a program aimed at improving students understanding and academic performance through a high school based physics program. The Stepping Up To Science Program will launch this summer.

About SVEF: Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information, visit www.svefoundation.org.

About ConvergeUS: Live stream here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/istrategylabs, follow on Twitter @convergeus and #converge, as well as follow ConvergeUS online in the future: www.facebook.com/myconvergeus; http://convergeus.com; http://convergeus.tumblr.com.

LET'S TALK ABOUT "WAITING FOR SUPERMAN"
Silicon Valley Education Foundation Hosts Panel Tuesday, Dec. 14

WHAT

Educators and civic leaders will discuss one of this year's most controversial documentaries focusing on public education's failings and triumphs. Are charter schools the answer to slumping schools? Are teachers' unions the problem? Come join the conversation.

PANELISTS

John Danner, Co-Founder & CEO, Rocketship Education
Jim Lianides, Superintendent, Sequoia High School District
Ash Pirayou, Partner, Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Diane Tavenner, Founder & CEO, Summit Public Schools
Dean Vogel, Vice President, California Teacher's Association
Dr. Charles Weis, Superintendent of Schools, Santa Clara County

WHERE

UCSC Extension in Silicon Valley
2505 Augustine Drive, Suite 100
Santa Clara, CA 95054

WHEN

December 14, 2010
4:00pm - 4:30pm (Registration)
4:30pm - 6:00pm (Discussion)

For more information visit the event's webpage or contact Rigo Magaña at rigo@svefoundation.org.

About Silicon Valley Education Foundation

Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math & science across Santa Clara County's 33 school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information visit www.svefoundation.org.

FORUM PROMOTING GIRLS IN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING SET FOR THURSDAY AT THE TECH
Event Sponsored by Silicon Valley Education Foundation

SAN JOSE, CA. - Why are there so few women scientists and engineers? Do stereotypes, gender bias and attitudes in college science and engineering departments present barriers for women entering these fields?

Find out at an interactive forum, "Women and Girls 2010: Thriving in the New Economy," presented by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and the Santa Clara County Office of Women's Policy on Thursday (Dec.2) at the Tech Museum of San Jose. The city of San Jose also is a sponsor.

The lunchtime event begins at 11:30 a.m. with registration. Program starts at noon and ends at 1:30 p.m.

The forum will explore ways to move women into education and training that leads to high-paying, non-traditional careers around science, technology, engineering and math.

In the next five years, the U.S. is expected to add more than 1 million information and technology jobs to the workforce, but women are only expected to fill a small number of those jobs because they lag in obtaining computer and technology degrees.

"This is a problem that threatens Silicon Valley's ability to compete and innovate in the future," said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. "It's critical that we strengthen science, technology, engineering and math education for girls, and other underrepresented groups. A start is better teacher training to encourage girls in these fields and overcome barriers to these important careers."

A recently-released report by the American Association of University Women, called "Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics," will be presented, with up-to-date statistics on girls' and women's achievement in these areas.

Participants will work to formulate an action agenda to address the problem and how to move more women into education and training for STEM and related careers.

Keynote speaker is Victoria Plaut, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Law and Social Science at UC Berkeley.

Panelists include Alana Conner, Ph.D., Vice President, The Tech Museum; Isaura S. Gaeta, Global Director of Corporate Affairs, Intel Corp.; Barbara Kamm, CEO, Technology Credit Union, and Alyssa Newman, Corporate Sustainability, SunPower Foundation.

Moderator is John Fensterwald, Chief Editor for SVEF's Thoughts on Public Education blog (www.TOP-Ed.org).

The event will take place in The Tech Museum's New Venture Hall, 201 S. Market St., San Jose.

For more information about this event contact Rigo Magaña at rigo@svefoundation.org or visit www.SVEFoundation.org

About Silicon Valley Education Foundation

Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math & science across Santa Clara County's 33 school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information visit www.svefoundation.org.

East Side Union High School District Unanimously Adopts New Curriculum to Ensure All Students Meet College Entrance Requirements

SVEF's College Readiness initiative achieves major milestone

SAN JOSE, CA (Nov. 19, 2010) – The East Side Union High School District voted last night to approve a new standard curriculum that would put all students on a path to meet the entrance requirements for the University of California and the California State University systems. The Board voted unanimously to approve the new standards, known as the "A-G" requirements.

Currently, the State of California's high school graduation requirements do not align with the minimum entrance requirements for California's public four-year universities. As a result, many students, especially minority students, begin their high school careers on a track that will not allow them to apply for entrance into four-year universities.

By adopting the "A-G" requirements, the East Side Union High School District will ensure that all incoming freshmen start their high school careers on a path towards college. East Side is one of the largest school districts in the State to adopt these standards. ESUHSD serves nearly 25,000 students.

"If Silicon Valley wants to continue to lead the global economy, we must grow our own talent, " said Muhammed Chaudhry, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. "Thanks to the leadership of the East Side Board of Trustees, every student will be on the track for college and career-preparing them to succeed in the jobs of the future."

"If we challenge our students to aim higher, we know they will rise to the occasion," said Eddie Garcia, Board President of the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees. "By setting high expectations, I know our efforts will help close the achievement gap in our schools, especially for our Latino and African American students." Garcia, a 1981 graduate of James Lick High School in the East Side, helped kick off the drive toward the A-G curriculum during his "State of the District" speech this January.

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation has worked for the past year on advocating for local school districts to adopt the "A-G" curriculum to help increase the number of Silicon Valley students that ultimately enter four-year universities. The Foundation has held a series of community meetings with parents, educators and community leaders through out the East Side to discuss college entrance requirements and the benefits of adopting the A-G curriculum.

Of specific concern is the low number of Latino and African American students who meet the entrance requirements for California's universities. In Santa Clara County, only 22.7% of Hispanic students and 26.5% of African American students successfully meet the "A-G" requirements. In the East Side Union High School District those numbers are 20.4% and 26.2% respectively. That compares to 70.2% of Asian students countywide and 60.8% within the East Side Union High School District.

While the District adopted the "A-G" curriculum as the default curriculum for its students, it is considered an option and not a requirement for graduation. As such, students and families who choose to opt out of the A-G curriculum can choose a path that focuses more heavily on vocational training or more traditional graduation requirements.

"The sad reality is that too often bright, capable students are placed in the wrong classes in their Freshman and Sophomore years, placing them far behind the curve for meeting college requirements," continued Chaudhry. "This new policy puts every student on the college track and places the decision as to whether college is the right path in the hands of students and parents."

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation has partnered with W.K. Kellogg Foundation to research and advocate for greater college readiness in Santa Clara County. Additionally, the partnership has led to an ongoing engagement with the community about increasing the number of students who are prepared to enter and graduate from college.

About Silicon Valley Education Foundation

Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math & science across Santa Clara County's 33 school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information visit www.svefoundation.org.

TIME TO ACT: CLOSING THE RACIAL ACHIEVEMENT GAP
Silicon Valley Education Foundation Hosts Forum Wednesday

WHAT

Educators and civic leaders will discuss one of education's most persistent problems: The gap in achievement scores between white & Asian students and their African-American & Hispanic peers. Talk will focus on recommendations for action developed by Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Keynote

Mike Honda, Congressman, 15th District

Speaker

Erica Wood, VP, Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Moderator

Barbara Marshman, Editor, Editorial Pages, SJ Mercury News

Panelists

Fred Jones, Leg Advocate/Counsel (California Business Education Assoc), Leg Coordinator (Get REAL Coalition)
Kenneth R. Magdaleno, Professor, Fresno State University, Director of the CALSA Center for Latino Leadership, Equity and Research.
Vincent Matthews, Superintendent, San Jose Unified S.D.
Deborah Stipek, Dean of Education, Stanford University

WHEN

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, from 12:00pm to 1:30pm

WHERE

East Side Union High School District, 830 N. Capitol Avenue, San Jose, CA, 95133

For more information about this event contact Rigo Magaña at rigo@svefoundation.org

About Silicon Valley Education Foundation

Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math & science across Santa Clara County's 33 school districts. Everything we do supports our objective to make Silicon Valley the number one geographic area in California in the percentage of high school graduates academically prepared for college and careers. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information visit www.svefoundation.org.

Want To Know The Science Behind NFL Plays? A Former NFL player and Lessonopoly.org Can Tell You!

SAN JOSE, CA. – Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Mario Celotto will make a special appearance at Sylvandale Middle School Thursday (Nov. 4) to treat students to a unique science lesson with a football angle. The event begins at 8 a.m. at the school, 653 Sylvandale Ave.

Celotto will join teacher Gary Waters in showing students the math and science behind football. The science lessons, "Science of NFL Football," were developed by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, along with the National Science Foundation and NBC Learn. They can be found on SVEF's Lessonopoly.org open source website.

Celotto, who played for the Raiders in the early 1980s, will bring his NFL career experience to the students. He played for the Raiders during their 1981 Super Bowl win.

Celotto and Waters will use a video and classroom activity from the "Science of NFL Football" series that show students Newton's Second Law of Motion.

Video clips in the series include NFL players like Joey Harrington, Orlando Pace and Antonio Freeman explaining how the scientific principles apply to them. And scientists from the National Science Foundation, creators of the project along with NBC Learn, explain scientific theories.

Student activities include testing the design and shape of different balls for different sports to understand how the shape of a football enables an accurate pass. They also will focus on nutrition of athletes, computing how many calories a player needs to sustain energy during a game.

NBC Learn, the education arm of NBC News, is providing the 10-part video series. SVEF developed the innovative lessons, which are tailored for grades 5-9 for physics, biology, physical education and math classes.

"These lessons bring science to life and help kids understand complicated scientific concepts," said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. "They show kids that science is fun and cool. And they show them that science is everywhere, even in football."

Lessonopoly.org is SVEF's online open education resource through which teachers share lesson plans with other teachers about all school subjects. The site was developed by SVEF and Cisco and has 5,000 registered teacher users and more than 9,000 lesson plans.

Several dozen Santa Clara County teachers are expected to participate in the football-focused science project that offers interactive challenges testing student data gathering, lab and research skills.

These same scientific principles have also been shown in brief clips on the Today Show.

Videos offer frame-by-frame illustrations of specific scientific principles, such as Newton's Three Laws of Motion, kinematics and projectile motion.

"Science of the NFL" lessons and videos are aligned with California State Standards. The football project follows a similar series on Lessonopoly.org that was launched last January about the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Videos and lesson plans can be viewed at lessonopoly.org. Teachers can register by visiting www.lessonopoly.org.

About SVEF
Silicon Valley Education Foundation's (SVEF) goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We focus on having all students prepared for college and careers. We are committed to raising student performance in math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. We strive for results through partnering, advocacy, and emphasizing creativity and innovation. Beyond serving students, teachers, and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information visit www.SVEFoundation.org.

Want To Know The Science Behind NFL Plays? SVEF's Lessonopoly.org can tell you!

SAN JOSE, CA. – With football season here, educators are bringing the popular sport into the classroom to explore the science behind a spiral pass, a lineman's tackle and a runner's sprint to the goal line, thanks to a new learning project launched by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

Using videos and classroom activities, "Science of NFL Football" exposes students to a range of science linked to football, from nutrition and hydration of players to Newton's laws of motion and the Pythagorean Theorem.

Students are treated to video clips from NFL players like Joey Harrington, Orlando Pace and Antonio Freeman explaining how the scientific principles apply to them. And scientists from the National Science Foundation, creators of the project along with NBC Learn, explain scientific theories.

Students engage in activities, such as testing the design and shape of different balls for different sports to understand how the shape of a football enables an accurate pass, and computing how many calories an athlete needs to sustain energy during a game.

NBC Learn, the education arm of NBC News, is providing the 10-part video series that is now linked to SVEF's Lessonopoly.org open source website. SVEF developed the innovative lessons, which are tailored for grades 5-9 for physics, biology, physical education and math classes.

"These lessons bring science to life and help kids understand complicated scientific concepts," said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. "They show kids that science is fun and cool. And they show them that science is everywhere, even in football."

Lessonopoly.org is SVEF's online open education resource through which teachers share lesson plans with other teachers about all school subjects. The site was developed by SVEF and Cisco and has 5,000 registered teacher users and more than 9,000 lesson plans.

Several dozen Santa Clara County teachers are expected to participate in the football-focused science project. A new video and lesson plan is released each Friday through the end of October.

Accompanying the videos are SVEF's classroom lesson plans specifically created for the videos that include interactive fun and challenges testing student data gathering, lab and research skills.

These same scientific principles have also been shown in brief clips on the Today Show.

The science is broken down by capturing the athletes' movements with a high-speed camera, which captures movement at 2,000 frames per second. Visuals allow for frame-by-frame illustrations of specific scientific principles, such as Newton's Three Laws of Motion, kinematics and projectile motion.

Tenth-grade science teacher Ann Shioji at San Jose's Yerba Buena High School said the videos and lab exercises engaged her students in a way that is easy to understand. "The kids connected with the lessons right away and had fun. The lessons were topical and valuable. Students who don't normally pay attention in class did for this project."

One test had students weighing water and vinegar-soaked eggs, which were bloated, and comparing their weight to eggs subjected to drying by a fan, which simulated dehydration. The eggs represented football players at different stages of hydration and dehydration.

"This really showed you what football players can go through during a game," said student Ngoc Nguyen.

"Science of NFL Football" lessons and videos are aligned with California State Standards. The football project follows a similar video and lesson plan series on Lessonopoly.org that was launched last January in conjunction with the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Videos and lesson plans can be viewed at lessonopoly.org. Teachers can register by visiting www.lessonopoly.org.

About SVEF
Silicon Valley Education Foundation's (SVEF) goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We focus on having all students prepared for college and careers. We are committed to raising student performance in math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. We strive for results through partnering, advocacy, and emphasizing creativity and innovation. Beyond serving students, teachers, and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. For more information visit www.SVEFoundation.org.

California's Education Experts and High-Tech Leaders Gather in Silicon Valley to Show How Data and Technology Can Close the Achievement Gap for Students

SAN JOSE, CA. - The Information Alliance-Children Now, The Education Trust-West, Silicon Valley Foundation for Education, and Silver Giving Foundation-will convene influential educators, policymakers, community and business leaders from across California for its upcoming policy forum, "From Inputs to Outputs: The Power of Data and Technology to Close the Achievement Gap," on Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at the Microsoft Corporation in Mountain View, California.

Participants will learn more about the innovative work of California's school districts, charter management organization and education non-profits in using the power of data and technology to close the achievement gap. From building early warning systems to using software to track student data to inform teacher instruction, innovators around California are using student data systems in powerful, new ways. Rather than viewing data systems as collectors of "inputs," these education leaders have focused on "outputs" and how data can be used to change the lives of children, improve the decision-making of school and district leaders and inform the educational practice of teachers and other educators.

In keeping with the innovative spirit that has made Silicon Valley the high-tech capital of the world, participants will examine pioneering local technology practices. Presenters will showcase their work and discuss the "lessons learned" that they believe can inform California's effort to create an effective statewide longitudinal data system. Participants will also have the unique opportunity to hear from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, about their pioneering partnership to build a "user-friendly" statewide data system in Texas.

What: From Inputs to Outputs: The Power of Data and Technology to Close the Achievement Gap

When: Tuesday, October 19, 2010, from 9:30a.m. to 3:00p.m.

Where: Microsoft Corporation, Building One, Galileo Theatre, 1065 La Avenida Street, Mountain View, CA 94043

For more information about this event contact Rigo Magaña at rigo@svefoundation.org

About the Information Alliance for Education

The Information Alliance for Education (formed by Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Children Now, Education Trust - West, and Silver Giving Foundation) is working to ensure that Californians have the information they need to make the best decisions about education and workforce development.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Honors Symantec's John W. Thompson With Award
6th Annual Fundraiser Held

SAN JOSE, CA - John W. Thompson, chairman of the board of Symantec Corporation and one of Silicon Valley's most prominent business and technology leaders, was honored this week for his deep commitment to education with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation's 2010 Pioneer Business Leader Award.

Thompson, who was recently named CEO of Virtual Instruments, received the award at the foundation's 6th annual Pioneers & Purpose dinner Monday night at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel.

The event raised nearly $700,000 for SVEF programs to improve student performance in math and science and programs aimed at SVEF's key mission - to be the number one region in the state with the highest percentage of graduates completing college and forging successful careers.

More than 600 people attended the gala dinner, which featured speeches by Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese; Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Chuck Weis; Emmett D. Carson, CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and Muhammed Chaudhry, CEO of SVEF.

"We are very pleased with the success of this night," said Chaudhry. "It is heartwarming to see so many Silicon Valley companies come out to show how much they care about education. It demonstrates how important education is to Silicon Valley and the importance of nurturing the next generation of smart leaders."

Thompson said he was honored to receive the Pioneer Business Leader Award. He stressed the value of education and the need to turn around appallingly low high school graduation rates across the U.S. He called for fiscal reform in California to bring more money to hard-hit schools.

Thompson spent his decade-long tenure at Symantec transforming the leading antivirus software company into a major force in helping customers secure and manage their information. He serves on the national board of Teach for America, an organization dedicated to eliminating educational inequities among all children.

Last year, he was awarded the David Packard Medal of Achievement by TechAmerica, the technology industry's highest award honoring significant lifetime contributions to the high-tech community and distinguished service to the community at large.

"John's contributions to education and technology have made a tremendous impact both here in Silicon Valley and across the globe," said Chaudhry. "His passion for children and public education has transformed lives and helped students better prepare to be tomorrow's leaders."

Faysal Sohail, chairman of SVEF's board of directors, said, "John Thompson's commitment to improving children's lives exemplifies the kind of leadership defined by this award."

The Pioneers & Purpose event received generous corporate sponsorship from The CORE Companies, The Chizen Family Foundation, TriNet, Integrated Archive Systems, General Atlantic, PG&E, SanDisk, Symantec, Flextronics, Oracle, Cisco and Southwest Airlines.

During Monday evening's "Fund-A-Need" segment led by NBC Bay Area news anchor Jessica Aguirre, $125,000 was donated toward programs for children, largely through generous giving by companies and corporate leaders, such as Thompson.

Funds raised at the Pioneers & Purpose event go toward SVEF's STEM Initiative to improve achievement in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as the Lessonopoly open-source website, school readiness programs, Education Forums, and Teacher Innovation Grants that give $500 to teachers for special classroom projects.

Principal of the Year award was given to Destiny Ortega, of the Moreland School District, and Teacher of the Year was Ken Chiu of the Milpitas Unified School District. Prominent leaders who attended the dinner included San Jose Assemblyman Jim Beall; Ron Gonzales, CEO of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley; Bruce Chizen, former CEO of Adobe Systems; Ray Bingham, managing director of General Atlantic; numerous San Jose council members, and many of Silicon Valley's most prominent business and education leaders.

The Pioneer Business Leaders Award has been given to several other exceptional leaders in Silicon Valley since 2005. They include Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers, former Adobe systems CEO Bruce Chizen, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, and H. Raymond Bingham, managing director of General Atlantic.

Thompson, 60, who grew up in West Palm Beach, Fla., is the son of a postal worker and school teacher. His teacher mother was one of his best role models, instilling in him a love of education.

Thompson currently serves on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, and has served on the National Infrastructure Advisory Committee and as chair of the Silicon Valley Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aviation Security and Technology.

Prior to Symantec, he worked for IBM Corporation for 28 years.

The evening also hosted a presentation by students and a teacher who participated in SVEF's successful "Stepping Up to Algebra" program, which also received money from the night's fundraising.

About SVEF:
Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across Santa Clara County's 33 school districts. Our goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We are known for our focus on achieving results, partnering and emphasizing creativity and innovation. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. www.SVEFoundation.org

NASA Helps Create Brighter Future for Students in Silicon Valley

MOFFETT FIELD, CA. - Renewing the spark of curiosity in math and science for students is a top priority for NASA.

In an effort to keep that flame of curiosity burning brightly, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is teaming up with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) and the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV). This collaboration targets students in underprivileged areas throughout the Bay Area to increase their interest and capabilities in science and math by using the NASA curriculum, "Smart Skies."

On June 1, 2010, the Ames Exploration Encounter located at NASA's Ames will host an event that is open to media to kick-off the collaboration by demonstrating the "Smart Skies" software with middle school students, NASA docents, and air traffic controllers from the Federal Aviation Administration. Ron Gonzales, who is the former mayor of San Jose, Calif. and chief executive officer of HFSV, Muhammed Chaudhry chief executive officer of SVEF, and NASA'S Ames Deputy Center Director Lewis S. G. Braxton III will offer their comments on the collaboration.

"We are extremely proud of our success rate in helping students achieve higher math skills. We know that by using the 'Smart Skies' software, we will achieve results with these students that will open doors to opportunities they didn't know existed," said Chaudhry.

The initial focus of the collaboration is the SVEF's website, "Lessonopoly," which, will offer lesson plans and access to the educational materials of "Smart Skies," a standards-based curriculum that teaches students about science and math by providing solutions to air traffic management problems.

"The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is proud to foster the collaboration with NASA-s Ames Research Center and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation to help all children in our community to succeed in school and have a bright future," said Gonzales. "NASA's Smart Skies software is a fun and challenging way to get kids to learn math and science that can help them pursue their dreams," he added.

At the June 1 event at NASA's Ames, a class of students from ACE Academy of San Jose, Calif., whose mission is to help "students who have fallen significantly below grade level," will demonstrate NASA's "Smart Skies" application. FAA Air traffic controllers will work with students on the "Smart Skies" application and be available for discussion with the media.

In 2007, NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster the development of students' skills in science, technology, engineering and math. The agencies' initial focus is on a NASA curriculum called "Smart Skies." Smart Skies is an online air traffic control simulator for students in fifth through ninth grades. It offers a fun and exciting way to learn math and skills central to air traffic control while providing multiple modes of problem solving for students who learn in different ways.

Who: NASA's Ames Deputy Director Lewis S. G. Braxton III, Chief Executive Officer of HFSV Ron Gonzales, and Chief Executive Officer of SVEF Muhammed Chaudhry will discuss the collaboration.

What: Collaboration between NASA's Ames Research Center, HFSV, and SVEF to heighten youth's interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

When: 12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Where: NASA's Ames Exploration Encounter is located in Building N226, De France Avenue. To reach NASA's Ames, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Moffett Field, NASA Parkway exit and drive east on Moffett Boulevard towards the main gate and bear right into the parking lot.

For more information about the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, visit www.hfsv.org. For more information about “Smart Skies,” visit www.smartskies.nasa.gov. To view a video about “Smart Skies,” click here. For more information about NASA's Ames Research Center, visit www.nasa.gov/ames.

Symantec's John W. Thompson to be honored as Pioneer Business Leader

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Will Present Award at its 6th Annual Pioneers & Purpose Dinner June 7

SAN JOSE, CA. – John W. Thompson, former CEO of Symantec Corp., and a distinguished business and civic leader who has made major contributions to education through his work with Teach for America, will be honored with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation's Pioneer Business Leader Award for 2010.

The award will be presented to Thompson, Symantec's chairman of the board, at the foundation's 6th annual Pioneers & Purpose dinner on June 7 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose.

Thompson is one of Silicon Valley's most prominent technology leaders who during his decade-long tenure at Symantec transformed the company into a major force in helping customers secure and manage their information. He serves on the national board of Teach for America, an organization dedicated to eliminating educational inequities among all children.

Thompson currently serves on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, a congressional committee investigating the collapse of the U.S. financial system. He has also served on the National Infrastructure Advisory Committee as an appointee of President George W. Bush, making recommendations on security and infrastructure for the United States. In addition, he has served as the chair of the Silicon Valley Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aviation Security and Technology to improve security around national and local aviation.

He also serves as a director on the boards of UPS, Seagate Technology and a number of early-stage companies. Prior to his tenure at Symantec, Thompson enjoyed a 28-year career at IBM Corporation.

"I am honored to be selected to receive this award from an organization that is so committed to the education of our children," Thompson said. "The Silicon Valley Education Foundation plays a critical role in improving math and science achievement, and turning out students who will become the technology leaders of tomorrow."

SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry said, "John's contributions to education and technology have made a major impact on Silicon Valley and the world. His work has transformed lives across the globe and has helped students better prepare to be leaders of tomorrow."

Faysal Sohail, chairman of SVEF's board of directors, said, "John Thompson's commitment to improving kids' lives exemplifies the kind of leadership defined by this award."

The Pioneer Business Leader award has been given to several other exceptional leaders in Silicon Valley since 2005. They include Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers, former Adobe Systems CEO Bruce Chizen, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang and H. Raymond Bingham, managing director of General Atlantic.

Thompson, 60, who grew up in West Palm Beach, Fla., is the son of a postal worker and school teacher. His teacher mother was one of his best role models, who instilled in him a love of education, he said. From his postal worker father, he learned about business at an early age, helping his dad collect rent at apartments he owned.

Thompson holds a bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University and a master's in management science from MIT's Sloan School of Management. In addition, in 2008, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Notre Dame University.

The Pioneers & Purpose dinner will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel, 170 S. Market St., San Jose. Proceeds will go toward SVEF's work to raise student performance within its STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Initiative, which benefits students across Santa Clara County's 33 districts.

To learn more about this event click here or call (408) 790-9590.

About SVEF
Silicon Valley Education Foundation's (SVEF) goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We focus on having all students prepared for college and careers. We are committed to raising student performance in math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. We strive for results through partnering, advocacy, and emphasizing creativity and innovation. Beyond serving students, teachers, and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy.

Forums To Tackle Solutions To Achievement Gap

Three forums that will explore causes and identify solutions to California's troubling student achievement gap will be presented by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Silicon Valley Community Foundation beginning Feb. 26.

A host of top educators, business and civic leaders, including California schools superintendent Jack O'Connell, will tackle ways to narrow the gap – the academic gulf that separates Hispanic and African-American students from their white and Asian peers.

That academic gap, which has persisted for decades, is reflected in lower overall test scores and lower high school graduation rates among Hispanic and African-American students.

"Closing the achievement gap is the most critical challenge of this generation," said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. "Too many low-income Latino and African-American students are not succeeding in crucial math and science classes that are needed to prepare them to enter industries that drive Silicon Valley and 21st century jobs."

"It is unacceptable that Silicon Valley's public education system is unable to prepare all students, regardless of their race, ethnicity or income level, to achieve their full potential," said Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO and president of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which awarded $1.9 million in grants last year to close the achievement gap in middle school mathematics. "The goal of these forums is to change this for the students and the businesses that depend on them to become part of the future workforce."

Carson and Chaudhry will speak at the forums, offering their foundations' perspectives.

The Feb. 26 forum, "Institutional Racism and the Achievement Gap: Together and Unequal," takes place at Hewlett-Packard, 3000 Hanover St., Palo Alto, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The remaining two forums, which will offer solutions and policy changes to help close the gap, are scheduled for March 17 at Google and April 28 at Microsoft.

Latino students, who comprise Santa Clara County's largest student minority population at 37% of all students, especially struggle with math and science, critical subjects demanded for 21st century jobs.

While there are many out-of-school influences contributing to the achievement gap, such as children raised in poverty and an increase in the English Learner population, these forums will focus on how public education as a system can change practices to better meet the needs of students of color. The forums will identify a set of local policy recommendations that business, education and government leaders can support and local school boards can push to adopt.

The March 17 forum, "Solutions for Closing the Achievement Gap," will be held at Google, 1500 Plymouth St.,Mountain View, from 3 to 5 p.m.

The April 28 forum, "Developing Effective Local Policy Changes to Close the Achievement Gap," takes place at Microsoft, 1065 La Avenida St., Mountain View.

For more information about the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, visit www.svefoundation.org. For more information about Silicon Valley Community Foundation, visit www.siliconvalleycf.org

About SVEF:
Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. Our goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We are known for our clear focus on achieving results, partnering, and emphasizing creativity and innovation. Beyond serving students, teachers, and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy.

About Silicon Valley Community Foundation:
Silicon Valley Community Foundation is a catalyst and leader for innovative solutions to our region's most challenging problems. Serving all of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the community foundation has $1.7 billion in assets under management and 1,500 philanthropic funds. The community foundation provides grants through donor advised and corporate funds in addition to its own endowment funds.  The community foundation serves as a regional center for philanthropy, providing donors simple and effective ways to give locally and around the world. Find out more at www.siliconvalleycf.org.

New Education Partnership Offers Summer Algebra Programs

SAN JOSE, CA. – The Silicon Valley Education Foundation, ALearn and the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley today announced a partnership with nine Santa Clara County school districts to hold middle school math acceleration programs this summer.

“In this tough economy, innovative non-profits are leveraging resources to do more.   The partnership between ALearn, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and the Hispanic Foundation – three organizations that focus on improving education for underserved students – will help more students reach proficiency in Algebra in middle school and get on the college track,” according to Muhammed Chaudhry, SVEF CEO.

The four-week program for incoming seventh and eighth graders is aimed at students from underserved schools who are below grade level in math and need to boost their proficiency. 

“We add to a strong academic program a college-bound focus, which includes a college student tutor/mentor in every classroom, a College Inspiration Night for students and parents, and a student visit to local universities, such as Stanford and Santa Clara,” noted Kathryn Hanson, CEO of ALearn. 

ALearn’s Math Acceleration Program (MAP) helps incoming seventh grade students succeed in Pre-Algebra and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s “Stepping Up to Algebra” (SUTA) program prepares incoming eighth grade students for Algebra I.   For students who are below grade level in math, the four-week summer programs strengthen math comprehension and build strong study and learning skills. 

Targeted students include Hispanic and African-American students at underserved schools, who consistently post low scores in math in state standards tests. 
SVEF and ALearn have separately led summer math acceleration programs since 2008.  This summer, the joint program, which is free of charge to students, plans to serve 750 students in nine school districts.

For the last two years, students in the SUTA program have posted 20% proficiency gains after taking the four-week summer course.  Students in the ALearn program also demonstrated a 20% gain in the MAP summer program.

“Closing the Latino student achievement gap is our foundation’s No. 1 objective,” said Ron Gonzales, President & CEO of HFSV.  “These algebra programs provide one important step in moving Latino students forward, getting them on a college track and raising graduation rates.”

"In my Oak Grove School District last summer, I found that the ALearn and SVEF programs were very effective in giving middle school students the skills, attitudes and motivation needed to be successful in math,” said Manny Barbara, retired Oak Grove Superintendent and SVEF’s Vice President for Thought Leadership and Advocacy and ALearn board member.  “The college student teaching assistants working side by side our teachers worked very well to engage the students and raise their desires to go to college.”

The program also features corporate volunteers from Silicon Valley companies who act as tutors and mentors in the classroom to show students the value of a math education in everyday work life.

“Middle school is a watershed for developing the math comprehension and study skills needed for success in high school college track,” said John Porter, Superintendent of Franklin McKinley School District.  “Success in Algebra by end of eighth or ninth grade determines success in completing college prep courses in high school.”

With reduced state funding forcing cancellation of most summer school programs, the SVEF and ALearn math programs are helping fill the gap.

“It’s important to all of us that every student has the chance to succeed in school and beyond.  Many Hispanic and African-American students are not performing well enough in math, and we need to do better,” said Charles Weis, Superintendent for the Santa Clara County Office of Education.  “It is crucial that all students receive a solid grounding in algebra in middle school.  Anything we do to further that can only help.”

The participating school districts include Alum Rock, Berryessa, Franklin-McKinley, Mount Pleasant, Milpitas Unified, Oak Grove, Orchard, San Jose Unified and Sunnyvale School District.  Anyone interested in the summer algebra program should contact schools in those districts.

About SVEF:
Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across Santa Clara County’s 33 school districts. Our goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We are known for our focus on achieving results, partnering, and emphasizing creativity and innovation.
For more information about SVEF programs, visit www.svefoundation.org. Go to How We Help.

About ALearn:
ALearn is a non-profit organization committed to helping under-represented students get to and succeed in college. Our programs enhance the opportunities, access and advancement to college for students who will be the first in their family to go to college.  For more information about ALearn, visit www.alearn.org.

About HFSV:
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is a public foundation dedicated to inspiring community philanthropy and engaging people to invest in the health, educational achievement, and leadership development of a thriving Hispanic community in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit www.hfsv.org.

Target Gives Grants For School Field Trips

SAN JOSE, CA. – With school funding at an all-time low, especially for “extras” like field trips, Target and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation are partnering to provide grants for Santa Clara County teachers to take students on educational outings.

The grant money will be handed out to more than a dozen school districts at an open house to be held on Feb. 11 at SVEF offices, 1400 Parkmoor Ave., San Jose. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed will distribute grant awards. The event is from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The field trip program will take students to three major educational sites: The Tech Museum of Innovation and Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose, and the Marine Science Institute in Redwood City. All have developed special programs for visiting field trip students.

“We look forward to partnering with Target to help our kids gain experiences that they would not otherwise have,” said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. “A trip to the science or tech museum is an invaluable experience that will enrich students’ lives.”

Many of the students who will participate in the field trips rarely have the opportunity to leave their neighborhoods to explore outside experiences, such as San Jose’s Tech Museum or Children’s Discovery Museum.

“Learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom,” said Benny Boveda, Target District Manager. “These grants allow students and teachers to learn in all kinds of settings. Many adults look back on their school years and fondly recall a memorable field trip they took that inspired them in some way.”

The grants include transportation and admission fees to the three museums. Cost for the average class to go on a field trip is valued at $800. The program is free to students.

The open house will give educators the opportunity to network and learn more about Silicon Valley Education Foundation programs, such as its open source initiative Lessonopoly.org, its summer Stepping Up to Algebra math improvement program and its Teacher Innovation Grants.

About SVEF:
Silicon Valley Education Foundation focuses on raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science across all 33 Santa Clara County school districts. Our goal is to be the leading advocate for public education in our region. We are known for our clear focus on achieving results, partnering and emphasizing creativity and innovation. Beyond serving students, teachers and administrators, we provide value to the larger community by making investing in education easy. www.svefoundation.org.

Media Alert                                                                                                   

Jan. 21, 2010                                                                                      

Educators, Corporate Leaders Discuss Pathways To College And Career Success

Cisco To Host Major Summit Co-Sponsored by Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Harvard Graduate School of Education, City of San Jose, Irvine Foundation and FSG Social Impact Advisors

Who: Dr. Martha Kanter, US Undersecretary of Education, will keynote a summit of more than 100 prominent Silicon Valley business, education and non-profit leaders.  Also  participating are George Boggs, CEO of the American Assn. of Community Colleges; Muhammed Chaudhry, CEO of Silicon Valley Education Foundation; Santa Clara Superintendent Chuck Weiss; San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed; Emmett Carson, CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation; Mike Kirst, Professor Emeritus of Education and Business Administration at Stanford; and Bill Symonds, director of the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

What: "Pathways to Prosperity" will examine one of the most urgent challenges facing the nation and Silicon Valley: Our failure to prepare young people to succeed in the 21st century. The Pathways conference will drive collaboration between private and public organizations to improve graduation rates and encourage successful transitions from adolescence to adulthood by developing a system of high-quality options for young adults, with career education ranging from business to engineering and health care.  New, non-traditional 21st century models will help ensure that students complete a meaningful post-secondary degree or credential and attain successful, rewarding careers.  Silicon Valley educators, business leaders, the non-profit community and the Cisco Networking Academy will be mobilizing to weave together multiple pathways to success, in a format that can be replicated across the nation.

When: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 8:30AM - 3:30PM PT

Scheduled keynote speakers include:

• Dr. Martha Kanter, US under secretary of Education
• George Boggs, president and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges

*SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry will be available for press interviews at 408-790-9410, 408-621-2984.  For other press related information, contact Connie Skipitares, SVEF, 408-205-8540;connie@svefoundation.org.
Cisco executives and educational presenters will be available for press interviews after the event.

Where: Cisco San Jose Headquarters Building 9, 260 E. Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134

*Press please RSVP by contacting Cara Sloman, Cisco PR, 831-440-2411; e-mail csloman@cisco.com.

SVEFis a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and education community. Informaton about SVEF can be found at www.svefoundation.org.

About Cisco Systems
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, this year celebrates 25 years of technology innovation, operational excellence and corporate social responsibility. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

# # #

Math Profciency Crucial To Silicon Valley's Future
By Muhammed Chaudhry

Thirteen-year-old Kayla Savage was failing math. Like many of her classmates in middle school, she hated the subject. Stuck in a large 7th grade class with a teacher who had little time to offer individual help, Kayla was lost among rational numbers and polynomials.

Her frustration led to a phobia of math, an all-too-common affliction that often starts in middle school and threatens to derail students’ future math studies in high school and chances for college.
Kayla is like thousands of students across America who struggle with math. The struggle in California is borne out by this grim U.S. Education Department statistic: Students in California rank 40th in 8th grade math, a critical year in math learning that sets the path for math success in high school and beyond.

In Santa Clara County, only about 39% of 8th graders meet the California standard for Algebra I proficiency. One study showed that less than one-third of 8th graders have the skills or interest to pursue a math, or science, career. Yet careers in math, engineering and technology are the drivers of our future.

For Silicon Valley, this means there won’t be enough graduates in math and science to fill the gap left by the fading generation of inventors who made this region the innovation capital of the world. For the U.S., it means failure in the global race to develop cutting-edge technology.

Recognizing this, President Obama has proposed Educate to Innovate, a call to arms to corporations, non-profits and engineering and science societies to partner with schools to promote math and science achievement and train tomorrow’s workforce. The goal, says the president, is to push our students to the very top in math and science education over the next decade. Currently, American students rank 25th out of 30 in math literacy among students from developed countries, and 21st out of 30 in science literacy.

Locally, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation has also recognized low math proficiency by creating a unique summer intervention program for middle schoolers called Stepping Up to Algebra. The 4-week program prepares entering 8th graders for Algebra I success, which sets students on a path to take other college prep math courses.

This summer, Kayla and 400 fellow classmates who enrolled in the program achieved an impressive goal – a 20% increase in their math skills after the four weeks. The gain is especially impressive for these students from underserved schools, who often struggle harder with subjects like math and science and often have less prepared teachers. These students are the target population of Stepping Up to Algebra (SUTA).

The SUTA students said the class showed them the connection between their studies and the value of math in the real world, perhaps forming their own vision of becoming software engineers, video game designers or astrophysicists.

This program is just a start. We need more summer and after-school intervention programs to help kids who struggle to learn. State officials and business leaders need to tap into the president’s vision to boost math and science learning by focusing funding into smaller math and science classes, teacher training to better equip teachers to teach math, and recruiting new math and science teachers. Too many teachers are not fully prepared to step into an algebra classroom.

Non-profit and for-profit partners are collaborating to tackle the challenges ahead. SUTA is a perfect example. SVEF is joined in this effort by corporate partners Flextronics and Cisco, who offer funding and classroom volunteers. But broader resources are needed to ensure our students’ success.

Today, Kayla Savage is successfully pursuing Algebra in her 8th grade class, thanks to SUTA. “I’m not scared of it anymore. I can do it,” she said.

Kayla wants to be a mechanic someday, or maybe pursue a technical job. Her math success will certainly push her closer to that goal and no doubt will open the door to other career dreams.

MUHAMMED CHAUDHRY is CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He wrote this article for the Mercury News.

[Published 12/28/09]

Students Post Gains In Summer Math Program

SAN JOSE, CA. – In the midst of all the grim data about poor student performance in math, there is some good news: one local math program has posted strong gains in algebra achievement among 8th graders.

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation announced that students who took its 4-week summer algebra program, Stepping Up to Algebra, improved their algebra proficiency by 20%.

While it's difficult to point to one clear reason for the achievement gap, research for years has linked low-income students to low academic performance. Children from poor families usually attend less advantaged schools where spending per student is less than at schools in middle or upper-class areas, and teachers are less experienced.

The results from testing given to some 400 students at the start of the four weeks and at the end were released recently.

Testing was done by the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project, an outreach project of the University of California and California State University Mathematics Departments.

The SUTA program is a 4-week summer math intervention course for students who are about to enter 8th grade. Eighth grade is a critical juncture for math success, setting up student achievement before high school math and college prep courses.

"This kind of increase among students who have struggled in math is very impressive,” said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. “It shows how effective a focused summer program that concentrates just on math for 4 to 5 hours a day can be. We are very pleased."

"Students lose a lot of knowledge in the summer,” he added. “This program not only helped students stay sharp in math, it pushed them ahead of their peers who had no summer classes."

Stepping Up to Algebra, which is offered free, targets students from less-advantaged schools who often score low in state standardized tests. The goal is to demystify algebra concepts and give students a foundation in algebra so they can enroll in Algebra I in 8th grade and go on to take the progression of higher-level math classes in high school. Seven school districts across Santa Clara County participated.

With so many summer school programs cancelled this year because of devastated school budgets, this algebra program – made possible through a collaboration between the non-profit SVEF and Silicon Valley tech companies like Flextronics and Cisco – is helping to fill the gap.

The algebra classes are unlike any other students take during the regular school year. They emphasize fun, are hands-on and encourage students to collaborate in groups, often sitting cross-legged on the floor to solve problems together.

Kayla Savage, 13, is a typical SUTA success story. Failing math in 7th grade, her parents enrolled her in the summer math class. Before long, she was tackling equations and rational numbers with ease. “I hated math because I didn’t understand it,” she said. “When I took the class, things started to make sense. Now I can do problems by myself. I’m not afraid of it anymore. Algebra is fun.”
Kayla is now enrolled in algebra in the Oak Grove School District and doing well.

The algebra program is part of the SVEF’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) Initiative, an effort among the education, business and civic communities to create programs that raise achievement in math and the sciences. The goal is to get more students into 4-year colleges and successful careers in engineering and science, which is critical to the future of technology-driven Silicon Valley.
The seven school districts that participated in offering the algebra program this year include Alum Rock, Berryessa, Franklin McKinley, Milpitas, Oak Grove, Orchard and Sunnyvale.

For more information about the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, visit www.svefoundation.org.


About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

Muhammed Chaudhry, CEO of Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Featured on Comcast Newsmakers

Muhammed Chaudhry was recently features on Comcast Newsmakers program, where he discussed SVEF's strategy for ensuring students are prepared for post-secondary education.

New Ed Undersecretary To Tackle Grad Rates, Achievement Gap
Silicon Valley Education Foundation Hosts Martha Kanter

SAN JOSE, CA. – Newly confirmed U.S. Education Undersecretary Martha Kanter told business, education and civic leaders today that her top priorities upon arriving in Washington will be working to raise graduation rates and closing the student achievement gap.

“The huge question for American education is how do we keep students in school?” she said. “Last year, 1 million students across the U.S. did not graduate; 7,000 drop out every day.”

Kanter, currently chancellor of the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District, spoke at Hewlett Packard headquarters in Palo Alto, her first public appearance following the announcement that she was confirmed this week. She begins the job July 1.

The lunchtime event was sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Hewlett Packard.

Kanter said that even in Silicon Valley, the center of innovation and bright minds, there are huge numbers of students who reach 4th grade and cannot read at a 4th grade level. Reasons include a range of social and economic problems – hunger, poor health and poverty, which also must be addressed to tackle the whole problem, she added.

“Education is the civil rights issue of our generation,” Kanter said, quoting her new boss, President Obama. “Education is a path out of poverty and into opportunity.” She wholeheartedly embraces the president’s goal to raise the percentage of students who graduate from high school from 40 to 60 percent over the next four years.

Kanter said the U.S. needs to step up the number of students who earn bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, as well as those who earn high school diplomas, in order to compete globally. She compared the U.S.’s 40 percent rate of bachelor’s degrees with Canada’s 50 percent. “We simply have to get better than Canada,” she exclaimed.

The new undersecretary said when she was first offered the post by U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan, her response was, “Absolutely yes. I didn’t hesitate. When it’s the president of the United States, you don’t say no.”

During the talk, Kanter emphasized the importance of partnerships between the corporate community, non-profits, unions and tech leaders to create internships, scholarships and other opportunities for students get through college and successfully move into the workforce.

Many companies, such as Hewlett Packard, Cisco and Agilent, already have such programs in place. Many non-profits, such as the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, partner with the corporate community to develop programs that support student achievement. SVEF offers a summer algebra program to give middle school students a head start before enrolling in high school math courses.

Muhammed Chaudhry, president and CEO of SVEF, said Kanter has been a valuable mentor and education leader in Silicon Valley and he hopes she will continue to be a passionate supporter for local education concerns once she lands in Washington.

“We know she will support us in our primary objective – making this county the No.1 county in the state with the highest number of students prepared to achieve a post-secondary education,” Chaudhry said.

Kanter responded, “Don’t worry about me leaving Silicon Valley. It’s in my blood. We very much need to listen to you and craft an agenda that the federal government can use to address what works.”

Kanter, well known in education circles as a passionate and visionary leader, is the first person with a community college career background to hold such a high-level education post in federal government. As chancellor for the past six years, she has helped raise the district’s profile to one of the foremost community college districts in the nation.

Prior to leading the 44,000-student community college district in Los Altos Hills, Kanter was president of DeAnza College for 10 years. Previously, she was a vice president at San Jose City College and vice chancellor of the California Community Colleges System.

As chancellor of the community college district, Kanter helped create a partnership with NASA/Ames to prepare students for Silicon Valley’s green-tech work force and pursue advanced study in science, math, technology and engineering.

Kanter holds a doctorate in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in clinical psychology and public practice from Harvard University.

For more information about the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, visit www.svefoundation.org

About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the corporate sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

Obama Nominee Martha Kanter To Speak At HP
Silicon Valley Education Foundation Sponsors Event

SAN JOSE, CA. – Dr. Martha Kanter, chancellor of the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District and nominee for U.S. Undersecretary of Education, will speak about the state of education, especially concerning higher education, on Friday (June 26) at 11:30 a.m. at Hewlett Packard in Palo Alto.

The lunchtime event, sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, will offer audience members a chance to ask Kanter questions about a variety of education issues. Mercury News columnist Mike Cassidy will moderate the “interactive” lunch.

Hewlett Packard is located at 3000 Hanover St., Palo Alto.

Kanter, who was nominated for the undersecretary post in April, awaits confirmation. She would report to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The undersecretary oversees policies, programs and activities related to post-secondary education, vocational and adult education and federal student aid.

Kanter, well known in education circles as a passionate and visionary leader, would be the first person with a community college career background to hold such a high-level education post in federal government. As chancellor for the past six years, she has helped raise the district’s profile to one of the foremost community college districts in the nation.

Prior to leading the 44,000-student community college district in Los Altos Hills, Kanter was president of DeAnza College for 10 years. Previously, she was a vice president at San Jose City College and vice chancellor of the California Community Colleges System.

As chancellor of the community college district, Kanter helped create a partnership with NASA/Ames to prepare students for Silicon Valley’s green-tech work force and pursue advanced study in science, math, technology and engineering.

Kanter holds a doctorate in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in clinical psychology and public practice from Harvard University.

Kanter has spoken passionately about the importance of increasing high school graduation and college readiness among students and of increasing high school graduation rates, especially for Latino and African-American students in the U.S.

“HP’s commitment to education extends back many decades, so we’re excited that one of Silicon Valley’s education thought leaders has been nominated to serve in the U.S. Department of Education,” said Yvonne Hunt, Director of HP Global Social Investment.

“Martha’s wealth of knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to our nation’s leaders as they tackle the urgent challenges in education facing our country today,” Hunt added.

“We feel very privileged to have Martha Kanter speak at this event,” said Muhammed Chaudhry, SVEF president and CEO. “She will be a passionate representative for Silicon Valley in bringing our education concerns to Washington. She has worked creatively and tirelessly for students and will bring strong, intelligent leadership to the post of undersecretary.”

Event sponsors also include Hewlett Packard.

For more information about the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, visit www.svefoundation.org.

About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the corporate sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Honors Cisco's John Chambers With Leadership Award
5TH Annual Fundraiser Held This Week

SAN JOSE, CA. –John Chambers, Silicon Valley executive and global philanthropist, was honored this week for his deep commitment to education by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) with their 2009 Pioneer Business Leader Award.

Chambers, Chairman and CEO of Cisco, received the award at SVEF’s 5th annual Pioneers & Purpose dinner Tuesday night at the San Jose Fairmont. The event raised funds for programs aimed at improving student performance in math, science and the English language arts and for teacher grant programs across Santa Clara County’s 34 school districts.

More than 500 people attended the dinner, which featured speeches by honoree John Chambers and Dr. Martha Kanter, Chancellor of the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District and nominee for U.S. Undersecretary of Education.

Chambers said he was deeply humbled and honored to receive the 2009 Pioneer Business Leader Award. He stressed the importance of corporate social responsibility and said that in tough economic times it especially makes a difference.

"Our education system is in trouble," he said. "The most successful must give back. We need to do this for the next generation."

Chambers praised the Silicon Valley Education Foundation for its ability to provide access to academic and other children’s programs across all of Santa Clara County’s 34 school districts and how the foundation connects the education, business and civic communities in Silicon Valley.

Chambers has led numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives around the world, many of them focused on improving access to education.

Generous corporate sponsorship for the event came from General Atlantic, Oracle, Cisco, FoxConn, Flextronics, PG&E, Salesforce.com, SanDisk, Alloy Ventures, Bozzuto Insurance, Comcast, Goldman Sachs, Greenberg Traurig, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi Data Systems, TriNet and Wells Fargo.

In addition, $130,000 was raised at the event by individuals such as John Chambers, who started off the night with a personal donation. Other donors included Bruce and Gail Chizen, Ray and Kristin Bingham, Fasyal and Shazia Sohail, Lisa and Matt Sonsini, Wim and Maria Roelandts, John Radford, Alex Mendez, and a number of executives from Cisco, including Larry Carter, Van Dang, Laura Ipsen, Randy Pond, Tae Yoo, Eric Yuan, Donald McLaughlin, K. Blair and Joe Christie, and Kevin Johnson.

Prominent elected officials who attended the dinner included San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Santa Clara County Schools Superintendent Chuck Weis, County Supervisor Dave Cortese, San Jose City Councilmembers Kansen Chu, Pierluigi Oliverio, Sam Liccardo, Pete Constant, Ash Kalra and Nancy Pyle, along with many of Silicon Valley’s most prominent business and education leaders.

During her speech, Kanter emphasized that investing in education is a way to restart the economy and invest in the future. She said although education statistics are grim and dropout rates are high, programs offered by SVEF are helping move students toward success in high school and college readiness.

The evening also included a presentation by students and a teacher who participated in the foundation’s successful Stepping Up to Algebra program last summer. They described the benefits of the special program for middle school students, which will benefit from funds raised during the evening. The program last year – its first – raised algebra proficiency among students who took it by 20 percent over the four-week course.

Funds raised for Pioneers & Purpose go toward SVEF’s Silicon Valley STEM Initiative to raise student performance in science, technology, engineering and math; the Lessonopoly open-source website; School Readiness programs; Education Forums, and Teacher Innovation Grants that offer $500 to teachers to implement innovative classroom projects.

"We are very pleased with the success of this night," said Muhammed Chaudhry, SVEF president and CEO. "It is heartwarming to see so many Silicon Valley companies come out to show how much they care about education. It demonstrates how important education is to Silicon Valley and the importance of nurturing the next generation of smart leaders."

Special recognition was given to single mom Olga Aguilar and her two children as SVEF’s Family of Distinction for overcoming numerous hardships in their lives.

The fundraising event was the second put on under the banner of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, which formed in February 2008 by the merger of the San Jose Education Foundation and the Santa Clara County Education Foundation.

About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the corporate sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Fundraiser June 9
Event honors Cisco’s John Chambers with Business Leader Award

SAN JOSE, CA – The Silicon Valley Education Foundation will host its 5th annual Pioneers & Purpose dinner on Tuesday, June 9, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. This year, Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers will be honored with the Pioneer Business Leader Award for 2009.

The event, from 6 to 9 p.m., is a fundraiser benefitting programs for school children across Santa Clara County.

Chambers, global corporate leader and philanthropist, is receiving the special award for his deep commitment to education.

Chambers is one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent business leaders who has spent the past 18 years building Cisco into a multi-billion-dollar corporation, while simultaneously leading numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives around the globe, many focused on improving access to education and healthcare.

Included among those initiatives was contributing $825,000 in cash and product grants to assist the Silicon Valley Education Foundation in the development of the Foundation strategy and for infrastructure and building of “Lessonopoly” open-source software tool. Lessonopoly allows teachers across school campuses to lead and share lesson plans and collaborate on teaching materials and strategies.

“I’m proud to be recognized by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, an organization that has been focused on improving education through connecting businesses to schools and investing in teachers and other key programs,” said Chambers. “Cisco is dedicated to transforming education through technology, and together with the help of the Foundation, we can improve access to education, give every child an opportunity to learn, and build a stronger workforce for our future."

SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry said, “John’s contributions to education and technology have made a huge impact on Silicon Valley and the world. His work has transformed lives across the globe and has helped students prepare to be the industry leaders of tomorrow. His commitment exemplifies the kind of leadership defined by this award.”

Proceeds from the event will go toward the education foundation’s work to raise student performance in the critical areas of math, science and the English-language arts across Santa Clara County’s 34 school districts.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with an hors d’oeuvres reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. In addition to the award to Chambers, a Santa Clara County family that has overcome hardship will receive SVEF’s Family of Distinction Award.

The Fairmont is located at 170 S. Market St., San Jose. For more information, to purchase tickets ($150) or learn about sponsorship opportunities, call (408) 790-9400 or visit www.svefoundation.org.

About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

	News Release
For Immediate Release June 1st, 2009 Silicon Valley Leadership Group Phil Yost (408) 501-7853 Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network Duffy Jennings (408) 278-2256	Contact: Jill Winkelstein, SVEF Jill@svefoundation.org (408) 790-9590

Non-Profits Receive Grants To Close Math Achievement Gap
3 Valley Groups Get $250,000 From SVCF

SAN JOSE, CA – Three well-known organizations in Silicon Valley have been awarded a total of $250,000 in grants from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to continue their efforts to raise student performance in middle school math and help close the region's achievement gap.

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation has been awarded a $100,000 grant for the Stepping Up to Algebra summer program, which is being offered for a second year. The program helps 7th grade students fill in the pre-algebra gaps before taking 8th grade algebra, which better prepares them for high school math courses. Some 750 students in seven Santa Clara County school districts will take part in the four-week summer course.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group has received a $75,000 grant to support the third year of its teacher professional development project, Silicon Valley: A Laboratory for Learning. This project offers local teachers 80-hours of training, using the "Intel Math" program curriculum, to help bolster participants' subject matter knowledge in math. Thanks to the generous contributions of members of the Leadership Group since the project's inception in 2006, and the recent grant from the Community Foundation, this project will reach nearly 100 teachers this year alone.

Joining the math achievement effort is Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, which received a $75,000 grant from the Community Foundation to support the Math Matters program, which combines Intel's Math Institute with follow-up coaching for middle school math teachers designed by the University of Massachusetts.

"We are very pleased to be the recipient of this grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to continue our work in narrowing the achievement gap," said SVEF president and CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. "This will help us present a second year of our Stepping Up to Algebra program with double the number of students from last year. We need to arm these students with better math tools so they can go on to good colleges and successful careers as our future engineers and scientists."

These three organizations are working collaboratively to ensure that teachers and students have the tools they need to be successful in mathematics and proficient in Algebra. More specifically, teachers participating in Stepping Up To Algebra can have the opportunity to participate in the professional development opportunities offered in the Laboratory for Learning and Math Matters programs and, conversely, those programs can feed into the Stepping Up To Algebra's teaching corps.

The grants by the Community Foundation are part of more than $1.8 million awarded in 2009 to education and non-profit organizations that are helping more than 2,000 underperforming students build a foundation in math to help them go on to high-demand careers in engineering and technology.

"What an honor it is to have the Community Foundation invest in our work to improve student achievement in math," noted Carl Guardino, President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. "We look forward to working with the Foundation and our strategic partners to give our local teachers and students the tools to improve math instruction and achievement. We applaud the Community Foundation's vision for improving math achievement in our Valley and their active engagement."

Added Russell Hancock, president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, "We are so pleased to have received the support of the Community Foundation as we join others in addressing our dismal standing in middle school math achievement. The acquisition of Math concepts in middle school is essential to students' success in high school, college and the technological fields in our Valley."

SVEF also is in line to receive $190,000 in federal funding under President Obama's Stimulus Recovery Package that will support the summer algebra program (SUTA) and SVEF's overall STEM Initiative addressing the achievement gap in science, technology, engineering and math subjects.

The Stepping Up to Algebra (SUTA) program is offered free to middle school students who have scored at the basic or below basic level on the math portion of the California Standards Test. Many students are from low-income ethnic minority families and from families of English learners, who statistically score the lowest on state math tests.

Laboratory for Learning and its Intel Math curriculum, as well as a stipend for participants who complete the 80-hour training, are provided free to local teachers. This project targets schools and districts scoring in the lower ranges of the state's Academic Performance Index (API), but the training is suitable for all teachers and districts. The Intel Math program curriculum is based on a successful project that shows measurable improvement in student achievement.

Here in Silicon Valley, only 37% of 8th graders meet California's standard for Algebra I proficiency. Studies have shown that students who master Algebra, a gateway subject, are more likely to go on to take the sequence of high school math subjects that lead to entry into a four-year college.


About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

About Silicon Valley Leadership Group:
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, founded in 1977 by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard, is a public policy trade association composed of more than 300 leading employers in Silicon Valley. The Leadership Group is organized to involve member company executives with government and policy leaders in a cooperative effort to address major public policy issues facing Silicon Valley. The Leadership Group's portfolio includes advocating for a quality education system.

About Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network:
Established in 1993, Joint Venture provided analysis and action on issues affecting Silicon Valley. The organization brings together established and emerging leaders from business, government, academia, labor and the broader community to spotlight issues, launch projects and work toward innovation solutions.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Fundraiser June 9
Event honors Cisco’s John Chambers with Business Leader Award

SAN JOSE, CA – The Silicon Valley Education Foundation will host its 5th annual Pioneers & Purpose dinner on Tuesday, June 9, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. This year, Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers will be honored with the Pioneer Business Leader Award for 2009.

The event, from 6 to 9 p.m., is a fundraiser benefitting programs for school children across Santa Clara County.

Chambers, global corporate leader and philanthropist, is receiving the special award for his deep commitment to education.

Chambers is one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent business leaders who has spent the past 18 years building Cisco into a multi-billion-dollar corporation, while simultaneously leading numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives around the globe, many focused on improving access to education and healthcare.

Included among those initiatives was contributing $825,000 in cash and product grants to assist the Silicon Valley Education Foundation in the development of strategy and infrastructure and building the "Lessonopoly" open-source software tool. Lessonopoly allows teachers across school campuses to lead and share lesson plans and collaborate on teaching materials and strategies.

"John’s contributions to education and technology have made a huge impact on Silicon Valley and the world. His work has transformed lives across the globe and has helped students prepare to be the industry leaders of tomorrow," said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. "His commitment exemplifies the kind of leadership defined by this award."

Proceeds from the event will go toward the education foundation’s work to raise student performance in the critical areas of math, science and the English-language arts across Santa Clara County’s 34 school districts.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with an hors d’oeuvres reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. In addition to the award to Chambers, a Santa Clara County family that has overcome hardship will receive SVEF’s Family of Distinction Award.

The Fairmont is located at 170 S. Market St., San Jose. For more information, to purchase tickets ($150) or learn about sponsorship opportunities, call Jill Winkelstein at (408) 790-9590 or visit .svefoundation.org.

About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

Poverty And The Student Achievement Gap
How to Tackle It -- Silicon Valley Education Foundation Hosts Forum

SAN JOSE, CA. – The student achievement gap and how poverty factors in will be the topic of a lunchtime forum on May 8, sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation at Xilinx in San Jose.

A panel of educators, legislators and civic leaders will discuss how this economic factor affects student achievement and what schools, parents and the community can do about it. The forum starts at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1:15 p.m. Xilinx is located at 2100 Logic Dr. The event is in Building 4.

While it's difficult to point to one clear reason for the achievement gap, research for years has linked low-income students to low academic performance. Children from poor families usually attend less advantaged schools where spending per student is less than at schools in middle or upper-class areas, and teachers are less experienced.

Low-income children have fewer home resources, they have a harder time finding a place and time to study, and they have nutrition issues, child care issues and attendance problems. Many are from single-parent homes where critical parent involvement in school work is minimal.

Often included among low-income students are minority children and those who struggle with English. Their academic performance and test scores are often at the bottom of the range – especially in reading, math and science – which presents the biggest challenge in narrowing the achievement gap.

"This has long been a concern in the education community and here at the foundation," said SVEF CEO Muhammed Chaudhry. "We constantly grapple with how to narrow the achievement gap, especially in math and science. We are developing programs that address this. Overall, we need to look to better funding for underserved schools, more qualified teachers, higher standards and a challenging curriculum."

Forum panelists include California State Assemblyman Tom Torlakson; Dr. Carlos Camargo, Director of Foundation Relations at the Tech Museum; Lisa Sobrato Sonsini, Board President of the Sobrato Foundation, and Bob Nunez, Superintendent of East Side Union High School District. Torlakson recently announced his candidacy for California Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Forum sponsors also include the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Mercury News, Bay Area Council and Xilinx.

Forum moderator is Mercury News Editorial Writer John Fensterwald.

For more information and to register for the free event, go to the Silicon Valley Education Foundation Website at www.svefoundation.org, or call (408) 790-9400.

About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and find innovative solutions to their challenges.

Obama Stimulus a Boon To Education, But Is It Enough?
Linda Darling-Hammond Gives Her Insights to Educators

SAN JOSE, CA. – Despite the grim economy everywhere, there is a bright spot for education as the Obama administration prepares to pump $100 billion into schools across the U.S. to shore up education and spark school program redesign and reform.

Nationally-recognized educator Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond talked about the windfall and funding slated for early childhood education, technology enhancement and stepped-up teacher training at a forum this week sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

Joining her was Dr. Michael Kirst, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, and a member of SVEF’s board of directors.

Both educators pointed out that the federal stimulus money – the largest such investment since the 1960s – will help plug an $11 billion hole in California’s schools budget. But the funds are a one-time infusion, lasting just two years, which makes them both wary about how much of the president’s sweeping plans for education reform can truly be implemented.

"A lot of this reform money will just save jobs – patch the holes – and it’s just for two years," Darling-Hammond warned. "We want to make sure we implement other things, too, like technology in the classroom, creating a state data system and creating teacher incentives."

Kirst added, "Education reaped a bonanza with this stimulus package. The basic fear is this can’t go on. Will we have this upshoot for a while, then go on a very bumpy ride?"

Darling-Hammond, a Stanford educator and expert on education change who led President Obama’s Education Transition Team, is one of Obama’s biggest cheerleaders. She joined Obama’s campaign for president nearly two years ago because she was impressed by Obama’s deep commitment to education and his vision for change.

"He had a 21st century vision for education with sweeping changes that included a college education for everyone and bigger and better technology for schools long before he was elected," she said. "He looks ahead to the system we’d like to build and sees this (stimulus) money as a down payment on future reform."

The Obama administration is making a significant investment in early childhood education -- $10 billion for Head Start and other pre-K-12 programs – and the president is spending twice what the Bush administration spent on education technology.

The president, she says, "believes in making an investment on the front end because of the payoff down the road" in lower school dropout rates and fewer young people entering the criminal justice system.

"The president’s stimulus plan and its focus on early childhood programs, more math and science for our kids and more technology in the classroom falls squarely in line with our mission," said Muhammed Chaudhry, president and CEO of SVEF. "We look forward to those dollars benefitting education in Silicon Valley, the heart of technology and innovation."

Darling-Hammond, who has written more than a dozen books on education, is founder and co-director of Stanford University’s School Redesign Network, which works to improve underperforming schools. She was named the 10th most influential educator in the U.S. by Education Week magazine in 2006.

Darling-Hammond’s talk was also sponsored by TechNet, Bay Area Council, Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network, Santa Clara County School Boards Association and the League of Women Voters.

California Needs Quality Preschools With Access For All To Bridge Gap
Silicon Valley Education Foundation Hosts Forum

SAN JOSE, CA. – California needs to build an early childhood education system that offers quality programs with accessibility to all if it is going to make headway in closing the student achievement gap.

That was the message from a panel of educators who spoke Thursday about the importance of universal preschool at a forum sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. The forum was held at Nvidia in Santa Clara.

"The gap exists when kids walk through the kindergarten door at age 5," said Dr. Karl Black, superintendent of the Milpitas Unified School District, one of four panelists. "If we want to get serious about closing that achievement gap, we have to expose our kids to school earlier than that."

The educators said California needs a more uniform preschool system, rather than the current patchwork of public, private and in-home centers that includes teachers with varied levels of training. And there needs to be more accountability and measurable outcomes.

There also needs to be more collaboration between preschools and K-12 schools to make student transition smoother, and more involvement by cities, health systems and other entities in preschool development, they said. Parents also need to become more involved and teachers need more training.

A number of studies suggest that students who attend preschool are better equipped to succeed in school and are less likely to drop out, become involved in crime or go on welfare. And some statistics show that youngsters from poor families who attend preschool experience twice the gains of middle-class children in early language and mathematics learning.

About two-thirds of California families currently send their four-year-olds to preschool. About half choose preschool programs run by the state; the other half choose privately-operated preschools. About 60 percent of Santa Clara County’s four-year-olds attend some type of preschool.

The forum panel featured Jack O’Connell, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Catherine Atkin, President of Preschool California, and Yolanda Garcia, director of WestEd’s E3 Institute Advancing Excellence in Early Childhood Education, in addition to Black.

The panelists said they are hopeful that the infusion of federal money by the Obama Administration into early childhood education will improve quality and encourage development of more preschools. California is slated to receive $230 million in federal stimulus funds for child care development, including preschool programs, which is one-time funding that stretches over two years.

One panel member – Jack O’Connell – came out in opposition to the upcoming Proposition 1D on the May 19 special election ballot, which would shift funds from FIRST 5 early childhood development programs to other state programs, decimating FIRST 5 services.

For more information about the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, go to www.svefoundation.org.

Insights From An Obama Insider: Linda Darling-Hammond To Speak At SVEF Event

SAN JOSE, CA. – Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, Stanford educator and nationally-recognized expert on education change, will speak on the implications of the federal stimulus bill for California’s schools on Monday (April 6) from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, 1400 Parkmoor Ave.

Darling-Hammond served as chair of President Barack Obama’s Education Transition Task Force and is founder and co-director of Stanford University’s School Redesign Network, which works to improve underperforming schools.

Known as a “teacher-friendly” educator, Darling-Hammond has written more than a dozen books on education and is a household name within education circles, best known for her research on effective teachers and schools.

Education Week magazine named her the 10th most influential educator in America in 2006. She will present her insider’s perspective on the Obama administration’s education program, including re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (otherwise known as the No Child Left Behind Act or NCLB).

Dr. Michael Kirst, Stanford University Professor Emeritus of Education, will also weigh in on what the new stimulus bill means for the state’s schools. Kirst sits on the board of directors of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

For more information about the event, go to the Silicon Valley Education Foundation Website at .svefoundation.org, or call (408) 790-9400.

Corporate Leaders To Advise Businesses On Giving Back In Tough Economy

SAN JOSE, CA - Strategies to show businesses how they can embrace social responsibility in today’s tough economic climate will be the focus of an evening networking event sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation on Feb. 26.

It will be held at SAP, 3410 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

The evening is also sponsored by SAP, My Venture Pad and the Entrepreneurs Foundation. Cost is $195 per person. A $100 discount is offered to those who register before Feb. 12.

In an interactive panel discussion, entrepreneurs will have the unique opportunity to pick the brains of top business leaders and VCs about the role social responsibility can play in their business, especially in a down economy.

The event offers participants a chance to network with some of Silicon Valley’s most influential business leaders and venture capitalists and to discuss how companies can get involved in giving back to their community in this time of great need. Social responsibility programs can motivate employees and help increase a company’s visibility and engagement in the community.

In addition to idea sharing and powerful networking opportunities, participants will have a chance to win a one-hour consultation with a leading VC/Entrepreneur by entering a raffle.

Winners of the raffle will receive a one-hour private consultation with Faysal Sohail, general partner with CMEA Ventures, or Mark Leslie, former CEO of Veritas, now a lecturer in entrepreneurship and sales at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The meeting will offer business advice, including a review of business plans, growth strategies and ways to set up or increase social responsibility programs.

One raffle ticket is included with registration. Additional tickets can be purchased at $100 each. Proceeds from ticket sales go toward supporting the Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s STEM Initiative to raise student performance in the critical areas of math and science.

Panelists for the event include Ammar Hanafi, General Partner at Alloy Ventures; Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Materials; Bret Waters, CEO of Tivix, and Saad Khan, Partner at CMEA Ventures. Moderator is Roger Quinlan, Vice President of Field Operations and GM at SAP in Palo Alto.

For more information and to register, go to http://svefoundation.org/rsvp/

For media passes, contact Jill Winkelstein at jill@svefoundation.org or (408) 790-9590.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Celebrates First Anniversary

SAN JOSE, CA. – The Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) celebrates its first anniversary this week after launching several successful initiatives over the past year that benefitted thousands of children and teachers across the county.

Among the initiatives were the launch of the “Stepping Up to Algebra” summer math program, the “Lessonopoly” website for sharing teacher lessons, a grant program rewarding teachers for creative class projects and a teacher housing assistance program.

SVEF raised a total of $1.8 million in 2008, largely from the corporate sector and through its Pioneers & Purpose annual fundraising dinner last fall. It received $2.5 million in grant money from other foundations to provide programs.

The Stepping Up to Algebra program, part of SVEF’s STEM Initiative, gave 450 middle school students a chance to master algebra during the summer before they entered high school. The STEM campaign focuses on creating science, technology, engineering and math programs to help close the student achievement gap in those subjects.

The algebra program was developed through a $1.7 million Knight Foundation grant. Plans are to offer as many as 1,250 students across Silicon Valley the chance to take classes in the upcoming summer 2009 program.

SVEF’s Lessonopoly software tool, developed through a $400,000 Cisco Systems grant, has connected 1,500 teachers to lesson plans and other shared teaching aids. Any teacher can load lesson plans or other materials on the site. The open-source tool can be viewed at .lessonopoly.org.

More than 300 teachers have been awarded Teacher Innovation Grants totaling $175,000 for unique classroom projects that pushed the boundaries of learning for their students. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to teachers for in-class projects or field trips. Projects last year included creating a video club for sixth graders, a field trip to San Juan Bautista to see a California mission first hand and a program that provided harmonicas to students to play tunes about historic events they studied.

Several first-time teachers received rental assistance subsidies under the Teach Here, Live Here program, a partnership with the city of San Jose, to help them secure housing in San Jose to stay and build careers here.

SVEF also provides school readiness programs under the First 5 Santa Clara County project, which assists struggling families with health, developmental and social needs for young children so they can enter school prepared to learn. Some 500 families – 3,000 individuals – were served in 2008.

Over the year, SVEF has sponsored several public forums on topics that included arts education in schools, the importance of algebra, high school dropouts and engaging corporate philanthropy. More forums are planned in March and April to discuss the state budget crisis and universal pre-school.

SVEF is looking forward to hosting its 5th annual Pioneers & Purpose fundraising dinner scheduled for June 9 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose when Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers is honored with the Pioneer Business Leader Award.

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation was born from the merger in February 2008 of two previous foundations – the San Jose Education Foundation and the Santa Clara County Education Foundation.

It now serves the county’s 33 school districts and one adult education district, and has become a clearinghouse for businesses and individuals interested in giving to public schools. Its programs, said SVEF president and CEO Muhammed Chaudhry, can help bridge the gap created by the state’s severe budget cuts.

"Having one foundation that serves the entire county has helped us make a bigger impact this past year," said Chaudhry. "There is now a central place to give and we can leverage our broad reach to tap Silicon Valley companies and individuals."

For more information about SVEF or to donate online, visit .svefoundation.org

Another major change in 2008 was the relocation of SVEF offices from cramped quarters on San Jose’s east side to the new two-story Sobrato Center for Non-Profits at 1400 Parkmoor Ave., which is also home to United Way, the Silicon Valley Council of Non-Profits and other charities. Space was donated by the Sobrato Family Foundation.

Parent Involvement, Early Intervention Among Solutions At SVEF Dropout Forum

Greater parent involvement, one-on-one attention to failing students and intervention as early as the first grade for those who lag behind could help turn around the high school dropout crisis in Santa Clara County and across the state.

Those were some of the solutions discussed Thursday (Jan. 29) among a panel of noted educators and civic leaders at a forum on the dropout dilemma sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

"What we know is kids don’t start losing interest in school and think of dropping out in ninth grade. Teachers can see the warning signs in first and second grade when they see kids disengage," said McLaughlin, keynote speaker and Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Center for Research and Context of Teaching at Stanford University.

McLaughlin stressed the importance of parents getting involved early in a child’s education – as early as pre-school – to set the standard that school is important to be successful in life. Educators also need to stimulate students to keep them actively engaged in school.

Other solutions that emerged to help kids stay in school include earlier social services intervention for families with problems, getting more credentialed teachers into low-performing schools and increasing career and workforce readiness programs.

The forum on high school dropouts was sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Kids in Common. Synopsys, Inc. hosted the event at its Sunnyvale campus.

The dropout rate in California – currently one in four students drops out -- is one of education’s toughest challenges, here at home and across the U.S. When students drop out, consequences not only impact the individual who leaves school early, they also impact the state’s welfare, prison and health care systems, as well as the general economy.

High school dropouts are 3½ times more likely to be incarcerated during their lifetime than students who finish school, according to the American Youth Policy Forum. And nearly half of those who drop out end up on welfare. In 2007, the U.S. economy lost $329 billion in wages and taxes from high school dropouts who couldn’t find employment.

Other facts about dropouts:

• 7,000 kids a day drop out of high school across the U.S
• African-American and Latino students drop out at the highest rates, 50% and 45% respectively.
• Low-income/high poverty students drop out at six times the rate of peers from more advantaged families.
• A high number of those who drop out move into some form of substance abuse.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Tackles School Dropout Crisis

The high school dropout crisis and how to turn it around is the focus of a forum featuring some of the region’s top education experts to be held on Jan. 29 at Synopsys, Inc. in Sunnyvale.

The lunchtime forum, “High School Dropouts: The Valley’s No. 1 Education and Economic Problem,” is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Kids in Common. It takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Synopsys campus, 455 N. Mary Ave.

Well-known youth expert and author Milbrey McLaughlin will give the keynote speech and lead a panel of educators and Silicon Valley leaders in discussing ways to help kids stay in school.

The dropout rate in California – currently one in four students leaves school -- is one of education’s toughest challenges, here at home and across the U.S. When students drop out, consequences not only impact the individual who leaves school early, they also impact the state’s welfare, prison and health care systems, as well as the general economy.

High school dropouts are 3 ½ times more likely to be incarcerated during their lifetime than students who finish school, according to the American Youth Policy Forum. And nearly half of those who drop out end up on welfare. In 2007, the U.S. economy lost $329 billion in wages and taxes from high school dropouts who couldn’t find employment.

Other facts about dropouts:

• 7,000 kids a day drop out of high school across the U.S.
• African-American and Latino students drop out at the highest rates, 50% and 45% respectively.
• Low-income/high poverty students drop out at six times the rate of peers from more advantaged families.
• A high number of those who drop out move into some form of substance abuse. The dropout forum will examine this troubling issue and discuss strategies to reduce numbers, including alternative education, vocational and social programs.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Gives Chinese Educators Pointers On Fundraising

A group of visiting educators from China got an up close and personal lesson on the inner workings of school foundations during a visit Wednesday to the Silicon Valley Education Foundation in San Jose.

The delegation of elementary school principals and college professors from Beijing wanted to visit the foundation to learn how to create and grow similar foundations in China to raise funds for public schools. The group also learned about SVEF’s many programs that support student achievement and classroom projects, such as its algebra readiness program and special funding for teacher innovation projects.

Chen Juan, an official with Beijing Normal University who was part of the delegation, said government funding of education in China is declining, just as it is in the U.S., and educators are looking to other means to supplement school programs.

"It was very helpful to learn about the foundation’s model building relationships with big companies to raise money," Chen said. "In China we are starting to do that, but we would like to do it more."

SVEF president and CEO Muhammed Chaudhry emphasized the importance of partnerships the foundation has forged with companies such as Cisco, Flextronics and National Semiconductor, which enables SVEF to deliver academic programs that enrich regular school-year programs. SVEF provides the programs during summer to Silicon Valley schools.

"The role we play linking people and programs with big business is pivotal in a way that’s never been done before," Chaudhry told the visiting educators. "We are the only foundation doing work that reaches across all 34 school districts in Santa Clara County."

Among the programs SVEF sponsors is its $3 million STEM Initiative, which provides courses that focus on improving student performance in science, technology, engineering and math. SVEF last summer launched a math initiative –"Stepping Up to Algebra" – to increase middle school students’ skills in algebra. The initiative hopes to narrow the student achievement gap in math and science in Silicon Valley.

SVEF also sponsors the open-source website Lessonopoly that allows teachers to load lesson plans and share them with other teachers.

The Beijing delegation, called China K-12 Education Management and Innovative Talent Education Delegation, is spending the week visiting schools and universities in Silicon Valley and the East Bay. The tour is sponsored by the U.S. China Exchange Council, based in Hayward.

About SVEF:
We are a non-profit organization that delivers literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and the education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and approach their challenges with innovative solutions. Log on to the SVEF website at www.SVEFoundation.org.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Hosts Chinese Delegation

A delegation of 17 educators from China will visit the San Jose offices of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation on Wednesday, Jan. 14, to learn about the special academic programs it sponsors and its work focusing on closing the student achievement gap in math and science.

The group plans to visit the foundation and meet with president and CEO Muhammed Chaudhry and other staff members from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. The office is located at 1400 Parkmoor Ave., Suite 200, San Jose.

The delegation chose to visit SVEF to learn how foundations in the U.S. can be effective in supporting education programs. Members also are eager to gain more overall knowledge about California’s K-12 education system during the visit.

The group is called China K-12 Education Management and Innovative Talent Education Delegation. Delegation members are interested in learning about the working relationships between K-12 school districts and universities. They will spend four days in Silicon Valley, including a visit to San Jose State University, and one day visiting the East Bay with visits to UC-Berkeley campus and the Alameda Office of Education. .

"We are excited to welcome the delegation and showcase our success in providing special programs for schools, especially our STEM program addressing math and science needs," says Chaudhry. "In turn, we also hope to learn more about the Chinese education system."

A key focus of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation is its $3 million STEM Initiative, which provides academic programs aimed at improving student performance in science, technology, engineering and math. Many students in Silicon Valley lag in the STEM subjects, and programs that SVEF provides are helping to bridge the knowledge gap. The foundation partners with numerous Silicon Valley tech companies to offer the programs.

About SVEF:
We advocate for the needs of all 34 school districts in Silicon Valley. SVEF seeks to improve public education through delivery of literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and the education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and seek to understand their challenges by providing innovative solutions.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Presents High School Dropout Forum

High School dropout rates and their effect on education and the economy is the topic of a forum to be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, at Synopsys, Inc., 455 N. Mary Ave Sunnyvale.

Sponsored by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Kids in Common, the event, “High School Dropouts: The Valley’s No. 1 Education and Economic Problem,” begins at 11:45 a.m. Lunch is included. The program ends at 1:15 p.m.

The forum will feature keynote speaker Milbrey McLaughlin, Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Center for Research and Context of Teaching at Stanford University. Her speech will be followed by a panel discussion. The forum will address the high school dropout problem in Santa Clara County, examining its scope, discussing strategies to reduce the dropout rate and focusing on consequences for students who don’t complete high school.

"The high school drop-out rate is one of the most critical issues facing education today,” says Muhammed Chaudhry, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. “With one in four high school students dropping out of school in California, we need to focus more attention on this serious problem."

Forum panelists include Chris Funk, Assistant Superintendent, San Jose Unified School District; Lynne Murray, Foothill High School Principal, East Side Union High School District, and Lois Baer, Deputy District Attorney, Santa Clara County.

Forum moderator is Mercury News Editorial Writer John Fensterwald. For more information and to register for the free event, go to the Silicon Valley Education Foundation Website at SVEFoundation.org, or call (408) 790-9400.

SVEF advocates for the needs of all 34 school districts in Silicon Valley. SVEF seeks to improve public education through establishing effective partnerships with the private sector and the education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and seek to understand their challenges by providing innovative solutions.

Arne Duncan, New Education Secretary, Named

Agenda includes support for charter schools, teacher merit pay, rewards program for good grades and upgrading technology in schools

New U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, named Tuesday by President-elect Barack Obama, is widely known as an education reformer with a record that includes improving student achievement and graduation and college entrance rates within the Chicago school system he currently runs.

"When it comes to school reform, Arne is the most hands-on of hands-on practitioners," Obama said Tuesday as he announced the appointment. "He’s not beholden to any ideology, and he’s worked tirelessly to improve teacher quality." Duncan said, “No issue is more pressing than education…It is the civil rights issue of this generation."

As a close personal friend of the president-elect, Duncan is said to agree with Obama on most education issues. Obama, for instance, has pledged to spend $500 million to award merit pay for teachers and upgrade school technology. Many of the teachers who would be in line for higher salaries are math and science instructors given the belief that school students are receiving too little science and math education to compete in the global economy.

"The federal government has a significant role to play in setting the tone for how public education gets administered at the local level, and Arne Duncan has the experience to move public education in the right direction," said Muhammed Chaudhry, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. "He understands the importance of addressing education needs now if we expect our students to be competitive in the global economy."

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation has made closing the achievement gap in science and math education its key focus in the programs it has developed and delivered to Santa Clara County’s 250,000 public school students as part of its comprehensive Silicon Valley STEM Initiative supported by Cisco, National Semiconductor, LSI, Xilinx, Flextronics, General Atlantic and more than twenty other valley firms.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Names New Board Members

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Education Week, published online, November 4, 2008

Obama Elected 44th President

President-elect Barack Obama and his family arrive on stage for his election night victory rally at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
- Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

The Democrat’s agenda includes expanding preschool, recruiting teachers, increasing funding for charter schools, and amending the No Child Left Behind Act.

By David J. Hoff

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, whose campaign platform laid out an expansive agenda for pre-K-12 education, will have the chance to fulfill those promises when he takes office Jan. 20 as the 44th president of the United States.

The Democratic candidate, who defeated Sen. John McCain of Arizona in a hard-fought campaign that concluded Nov. 4, said he would expand federal preschool programs, “recruit an army of new teachers,” and provide scholarships to college students and to professionals from other fields who promise to pursue careers in teaching. The president-elect also has said he would work to change the No Child Left Behind Act, building on the federal law’s accountability measures designed to improve student achievement, and would double federal funding for charter schools.

In addition, Obama has pledged to spend $500 million to upgrade school technology and award merit pay for teachers, including higher salaries for math and science instructors. He warned that American students are lagging behind students in other parts of the world, specifically in Asian countries, in advanced engineering degrees, and that jobs are going unfilled because of a lack of skilled applicants. He also argues that elementary school students are receiving too little science and math education to compete in the global economy.

However, with budget pressures driven by deep troubles in the financial markets and in the broader economy, the Obama administration may have difficulty generating public support for the campaign’s ambitious education agenda and the spending needed for the programs in it.

The president-elect alluded to those problems in a speech shortly after Sen. McCain called him to concede the election.

“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term,” said Mr. Obama at a rally in Chicago’s Grant Park.

But Mr. Obama said in the past month that he considers education an important ingredient for addressing the country’s long-term economic problems. In the Oct. 8 presidential debate, he rated education as a priority on a par with expanding access to health care, reforming entitlement programs, and developing new forms of energy.

“We’ve got to deal with education so that our young people are competitive in a global economy,” Mr. Obama said in that second debate with Mr. McCain, held in Nashville, Tenn. He made a similar statement in an interview with CNN shortly before the election.

Expanding Federal Role
President-elect Obama campaigned on a wide-ranging education platform that would expand the federal role in preschool and in teacher recruitment, retention, and compensation, in particular.

His platform proposed to spend $10 billion a year to create grants to help states offer universal preschool and expand existing programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start.

Complete Election Coverage
As part of Mr. Obama’s proposals to improve the quality of teaching, he would offer scholarships to college students and midcareer professionals to pay for costs of undergraduate and graduate studies that would prepare them to enter jobs in the classroom. The president-elect also would create residency and mentoring programs to help beginning teachers, particularly those who work in schools with the most challenging learning environments.

The most significant—and perhaps most controversial—section of his education plan is to underwrite federal efforts to experiment with teacher pay plans that deviate from traditional salary scales, which set teachers’ pay based on their years of experience and levels of educational achievement.

Mr. Obama and his education advisers said throughout his two-year campaign for the presidency that an Obama administration would support efforts to link a portion of teachers’ pay to the achievement gains of their students.

He has said that such pay experiments would need to be negotiated with teachers. That could be hard to do, given teacher unions’ opposition to pay plans that differ from the traditional pay system. Despite disagreement on that issue, both the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers endorsed Mr. Obama for president.

Growing Democratic Majority
To enact his education agenda, Mr. Obama will be working with a Democratic majority in Congress than is larger than the current one.

In the House, Democrats will gain at least 18 seats with the outcome of at least one race still unclear, according to the Associated Press. The House had 235 Democrats and 199 Republicans going into the election, with one vacancy.

After last night’s election, the Senate will have at least 54 Democrats plus two independents who currently caucus with the party. The outcome of races in four states was still unclear, according to the AP. The Senate now has 49 Democrats and the two independents.

The top education issue facing the president-elect and Congress is the renewal of the NCLB law.

Now that the Democrats control both the executive and legislative branches, they will have to reconcile differences within their party on education in order to get a reauthorized version of the NCLB law, said Jack Jennings, the president of the Center on Education Policy, a Washington-based research and advocacy organization.

He said Democrats would be looking to the new Obama administration to set priorities for the law. Republicans, particularly in the House, are likely to become more conservative and seek a reduced role for the federal government in education, he said.

“I’m confident that [Democrats] will resolve the differences among themselves,” said Mr. Jennings, who served as an aide to Democrats on the House education panel from 1967 to 1994. “I don’t think there will be deep divisions because of the moment, because of the political demands of the time. … Democrats have been out of power for so long they understand that they have their chance now. It isn’t a permanent chance, they could lose it, [the] moment means they have to govern correctly.”

The nearly 7-year-old law, which is one of President Bush’s most important domestic accomplishments, is overdue for reauthorization. Its critics, who span the political spectrum, say it requires states to do too much testing and make accountability decisions based primarily on the results of those tests.

The law requires states to assess students in grades 3-8, and once in high school, in reading and mathematics. The law’s accountability measures kick in for schools and districts that are not on pace to meet the law’s goal that all students be proficient in reading and math by the end of the 2013-14 school year.

President-elect Obama said during the campaign that he supported the NCLB law’s goals, particularly the one to narrow gaps in achievement between minority and white students. He said he believes that the law hasn’t received enough federal money, and that he would work to improve the quality of tests used under the law so they measure higher-order thinking skills.

“We also have to fix the broken promises of No Child Left Behind,” Mr. Obama said in a Sept. 9 speech in Riverside, Ohio. Among the problems with the law, he said, are inadequate funding and lack of support for schools failing to make its achievement goals.

But, Mr. Obama added, “I believe that the goals of this law were the right ones.”

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Holds Algebra Summit

SVEF And CISCO Host Technology Forum

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Hosts Algebra Summit

Sillicon Valley Education Foundation Raises $550,000 At Annual Fundraiser

Silicon Valley Education Foundation Launches STEM Program

The STEM Initiative’s first year is off to a successful start with the launch of the Foundation’s Stepping Up to Algebra program this summer. SVEF partnered with Valley firms, such as Flextronics, IBM, and SAP, to implement this year’s accelerated math program designed to advance students ahead one full grade-level in math. Nearly 450 6th and 7th grade students completed the inaugural program, which will give them a leg up when they enter Algebra I during the school year, before entering high school.

The launch of the Silicon Valley STEM Initiative was announced at a ceremony at Flextronics celebrating the success of students and teachers completing Stepping Up to Algebra’s first year.

SVEF recognizes that Silicon Valley companies desperately need a workforce skilled in these subject areas, and that local students struggle to master these vital skills. Recently, the State Board of Education instituted a requirement that all 8th grade students take Algebra I, a mandate our schools do not have resources to achieve, according to Muhammed Chaudhry, President and CEO of SVEF.

To address this knowledge gap, SVEF has formed the Silicon Valley STEM Leadership Board comprised of Silicon Valley executives, state and local legislators, educators and community leaders, who are advising the foundation on how to shape the STEM Initiative. “The goal of the Silicon Valley STEM Initiative is to bring innovative approaches to STEM teaching and learning by bringing together the education, business, government and non-profit communities,” said Chaudhry.

“Flextronics, like most valley firms, is always looking for talent with engineering and math skills. We must cultivate our local talent to keep Silicon Valley at the forefront of innovation for the global economy,” said Paul Humphries, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Human Resources and Management Systems at Flextronics and co-chair of the STEM Leadership Board.

“The Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s STEM Initiative is a transformative effort that changes the lives of local students,” said David Mills, Program Director for the James S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Companies represented on the SVEF STEM Leadership Board include Flextronics, Google, National Semiconductor, Cisco, IBM, KeyPoint Credit Union, SanDisk, and Agilent. Educational and civic leaders represented on the board include Stanford University, San Jose State University, San Jose City College and State Senators Abel Maldonado and Elaine Alquist.

SVEF recently released its comprehensive Silicon Valley STEM Education study conducted by research firm WestEd, noting that only 26% of 9th grade students in Silicon Valley score above the “basic” level in Algebra I. The report identifies the challenges in local STEM education and potential opportunities for enrichment in those subject areas. This is the first-ever study of its kind for local schools.

The Stepping Up to Algebra program is the first of a series of educational programs created by the Foundation to improve student achievement in STEM. The program, funded by SVEF, serves students who perform at or above grade level in math, and is free to students.

“Before going through this summer program, the thought of taking Algebra scared me,” said Marlene Rodriguez, who will enter 8th grade in the fall. “Now I know if I work hard, and use what I learned in this program, I can do it.” Teacher Chris Barbara, called the students inspiring. “They gave up their summer and worked hard to prepare themselves for Algebra I next year. The Stepping Up to Algebra program is giving them a path for success in their academic career,” said Barbara. The Foundation plans to expand enrichment classes for students next year in other STEM subjects.

SVEF’S Stepping Up to Algebra is a model program showcasing how Silicon Valley businesses can partner with local schools to meet a mutual objective: prepare more students to excel in mathematics. “We are pleased with the success of our first year, and look forward to securing additional support from the Silicon Valley business community to expand the program next year,” Chaudry said.

 SVEF advocates for the needs of all 34 school districts in Silicon Valley. SVEF seeks to improve public education through establishing effective partnerships with both the private sector and the education community. We focus on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community, and education leaders. We listen to their needs and seek to understand their challenges by providing innovative solutions.
Fri, 23 Oct 2009 7:27:59 EDT Silicon Valley Teachers Honored for Innovation in Classroom http://svefoundation.org/svefoundation/?q=node/1452

For Immediate Release May 15, 2008.

Contact:  Muhammed Chaudhry (408) 283-6192

Foundation Announces Teacher of the Year

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) and Xilinx hosted the event which also honored teachers named in the K-BAY/SVEF Teacher of the Month program and SVEF’s Teacher Innovation Grants, both recognize teachers who use innovative and creative methods to inspire learning in the classroom.  They were joined by San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, members of the business community and dozens of Silicon Valley school superintendents, school board members, principals and classroom teachers.

SVEF named Scott Wolf a 2nd grade teacher at Arbuckle Elementary School in the Alum Rock Union School District, as the 2007/2008 Teacher of the Year for his hands-on paleontology project.   SVEF also recognized Karen Benitez, a science teacher at George LeyVa Middle School in the Evergreen School District, as the 2006/2007 Teacher of the Year for her project surrounding the laws of motion. 

“A quality education begins with creative, dedicated teachers,” said Muhammed Chaudhry, President and CEO of SVEF.  “Tonight’s awardees exemplify the innovative and creative spirit Silicon Valley schools need to succeed.  It’s important that we honor their commitment and reward their efforts.”   

"A good community needs good schools and good schools need good teachers", said Mayor Chuck Reed, "I'm pleased to join the SVEF in presenting recognition awards to our outstanding teachers.  Please continue to inspire the future innovators of Silicon Valley."

The Teacher of the Year was selected from the pool of SVEF Teacher Innovation Grant winners.  The Teacher Innovation Grant program seeks to incentivize innovative approaches to learning in the classroom by providing $500-1,000 grants to teachers through a competitive process.  Each month, K-BAY 94.5 and SVEF select one teacher as “Teacher of the Month” who is publically recognized on K-BAY throughout the month.  The Teacher of the Year was selected from the “Teacher of the Month” winners.

“Xilinx is committed to ensuring Silicon Valley schools prepare our students for the Silicon Valley jobs of tomorrow,” said Ivo Bolsens, Senior VP and CTO, Xlinix.  “It’s our honor to recognize teachers who inspire their students to achieve their best, and who show the courage to try new approaches to teaching to get results.”

As part of the awards ceremony, the 2007/2008 Teacher of the Year awardee received a $2,500 grant from IBM for their school to go towards the purchase of equipment, materials, training, field trips or other educational purposes to further the school’s academic programs.  Additionally, the Teacher of the Year receives a $500 grant to be used for their classroom and a $500 grant to be used for any purpose the teacher chooses, and a laptop computer donated by Apple. 

Also recognized at this evening’s event were the participants in SVEF’s Teach Here, Live Here program. Teach Here, Live Here offers teachers a $5,000 grant for rental and move-in assistance for teachers committing to teach in San Jose for three years.  The program was started with a $100,000 grant from the City of San Jose, proposed by Mayor Chuck Reed.  To date, the program has helped school districts recruit new teachers, specifically in the hard to fill positions of math, science and special education.