Preparing all kids for a global economy
Education is the one thing that can give any person the opportunity to succeed, regardless of background. But the facts are stark: Our schools are failing too many kids, and the achievement gaps are widening.
In Denver, less than 40 percent of Latino and AfricanAmerican public school students are proficient in math. Nationally, four out of five Latino and African-American students are scoring belowproficient on fourth-grade reading tests, and more than half of these same children are not even reading at a basic level.
Denver’s economic vitality and quality of life depend on how well we prepare all Denver kids to compete and succeed in a global economy. The stakes are higher than ever. Children today must be prepared to compete with children in Shanghai and Tokyo.
It is incumbent upon all of us to move with resolve to raise expectations for every student and to focus not on merely closing the achievement gap, but eliminating it.
DPS is the fastest-growing urban school district in the country with a track record of taking bold steps to put our school systemon a path to success. Since 2005, we have seen double-digit gains in reading, writing, science and math, including a 14-point jump in math proficiency. Butwe can and must do better.
Cities throughout the country are facing the same glaring reality. Numerous school districts and municipalities, like Denver, have stopped waiting forWashington, D.C., to act and are effecting real change at the local level.
In partnership with SacramentoMayor Kevin Johnson, ProvidenceMayor Angel Taveras, and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, we are launching the Mayors for Educational Excellence Tour today in Denver. We will travel to each of our cities to understand what policies, practices and programs are putting children first by innovating, making bold decisions, and delivering real results for students.
My hope is that we will identify impactful programs and practices that we can bring home to our respective cities and, moreover, help give every child in every neighborhood— regardless of race, ethnicity, income or disability — the resources and support necessary to graduate high school prepared for success in college and beyond.