Student issues groups focus on achievement

For the second year, CSBA’s Annual Education Conference featured five separate sessions focused on connecting research into effective school board governance practices for raising student achievement with the successes and challenges of specific racial and ethnic student groups.

The sessions provided opportunities for local board members to work in small groups to examine and share governance practices in their school districts or county offices of education. They also included panel presentations from experts on the education needs of each student group.

At the Black Student Issues Conference Group, for example, Lisa William-White, an assistant professor of Education at California State University, Sacramento, presented a synthesis of research about the education of African American children. EdSource Executive Director Trish Williams outlined her organization’s recent study, “Similar Students, Different Results,” which explored the relationship between specific district practices and school performance, and Springboard Schools Executive Director Merrill Vargo and Managing Director Catherine Townsley discussed the characteristics of “high-performing” school boards and districts.

Each Student Issues Conference Group session was moderated by the local trustee who represents the group on CSBA’s Board of Directors: D. Shelly Yarborough, director-at-large, American Indian; Ben Liao, director-at-large, Asian Pacific Islander; Gwen Estes, director-at-large, black; Susan Heredia, director-at-large, Hispanic; and Sara Wilkins, director-at-large, county, who is working with county boards to focus on students enrolled in juvenile hall or court schools, county community schools and community day schools.

CSBA launched the five Student Issues Conference Groups in 2005 to reinforce the association’s commitment to diversity and—most important—to encourage and support state and local efforts to close academic achievement gaps, according to JoAnn Yee, the association’s senior director of Achievement, Diversity and Urban Affairs.
In the coming year, CSBA will facilitate the formation of working groups to share ideas, study and explore issues. Yee encourages the participation of school boards and individual board members, district and county office representatives, other student education associations that represent ethnic and racial groups, those involved in higher education, researchers, foundation liaisons and community leaders.

To jump-start the efforts, and to make a significant and immediate impact on student achievement with limited resources, CSBA staff will facilitate discussions with selected districts and county offices that serve significant populations of the targeted student groups. However, Yee stressed, all districts and county offices are encouraged to participate in the efforts of the conference groups to close the achievement gap and to seek the assistance of CSBA staff whenever needed.