Your Voice, Your Choice

This is election month and Americans are headed to the polls. During this election season, when we are even more steeped in the democratic process, I am reminded of the power of the collective voice and each one of our voices. We use our words and actions every day to accomplish things, move ideas forward, question, counter, and advocate. Our voices are vital to making progress. The resources provided and plans developed under the new Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) are designed to help the voice of a school community better represent its needs. Districts and schools are being equipped with resources and support to better engage their communities, set achievement goals, acquire resources to accomplish those goals, track and improve progress, and change course when goals are not being met. All this is done in the service of improving the academic experience for students, using the voice of the community to forge strong and effective partnerships.

Our Office is actively working with our school districts to provide resources and trainings as they seek to transparently engage their communities and provide a clearer analysis and understanding of academic progress. I am very excited to share that because of our extensive experience convening and supporting family engagement and advocacy, the Alameda County Office of Education has been chosen to lead the Family Engagement Network, working directly with district family coordinators on strategies to better understand, interpret, and use the new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Evaluation Rubrics as a tool to support student improvement.

Much like our democratic election process, the new LCAPs empower individuals, districts, and schools to work communally to provide the best possible learning experience for all students. Even now as this new system continues to undergo changes in response to public comment, school districts are implementing new strategies and maintaining best practices. I encourage you all to use your voice to exercise your choice at the ballots next week and throughout the school year.

In partnership,

L. Karen Monroe
Alameda County Superintendent of Schools