Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Report: Clovis, Sanger Districts Among Best at Closing 'Achievement Gap'
NANCY WEBSITE HEADSHOT 1
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 6 years ago on
September 10, 2019

Share

Clovis and Sanger unified school districts are among seven in California that are making the most progress in closing the so-called “achievement gap” for students of color and those in poverty, according to a new report released Tuesday in Sacramento.
The Learning Policy Institute, a research nonprofit that aims to improve education policy and practice, released the report and a set of case studies focusing on districts where those students are succeeding academically at higher rates compared to their peers in other California school districts.
The institute had previously identified more than 100 California school districts where students across racial and ethnic groups were doing better than their peers on new math and reading assessments. Many of these same districts also were closing the gap on other outcomes, including graduation rates.

Looking For Common Traits

The institute then sought to learn how and why it was happening. An initial study released in May, “California’s Positive Outliers: Districts Beating the Odds,” identified factors that contribute to the students’ success and found a common denominator: The schools where students were showing the best achievement gains were those with the most qualified teachers who had more experience, and with fewer teachers on emergency permits or with substandard credentials.

“Even with the work highlighted in this report, closing the achievement gap is an area that we acknowledge we still have work to do, and we will continue to work towards that goal.”Sanger Unified Superintendent Adela Madrigal Jones
That led to the new study, “Closing the Opportunity Gap: How Positive Outlier Districts in California Are Pursuing Equitable Access to Deeper Learning,” which focuses on the seven school districts.
Sanger Unified Superintendent Adela Madrigal Jones said she and others in the district have worked hard to improve outcomes and to ensure that all students have access to learning opportunities. It’s gratifying to be recognized for making gains, Jones said.
But, she added, “Even with the work highlighted in this report, closing the achievement gap is an area that we acknowledge we still have work to do, and we will continue to work towards that goal.”

It Takes A Village

Clovis Unified students have benefited from a strong partnership of schools, families, and the community, said Debbie Parra, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Breaking bread with students, families and advocates at local control and accountability dinners has created the opportunity for conversations where needs are identified, said Parra, who is responsible for training teachers and developing many of the district’s intervention efforts that were identified in the institute’s report.
Parra said she hopes Clovis and other districts will glean best practices identified in the report and continue to move forward.
“Using the information in the report will not only benefit CUSD students but hopefully our students in the San Joaquin Valley and state,” she said.

‘Outlier’ Districts Are Spread Across California

The  districts identified in the case studies vary in demographics, geographic region and size — from San Diego Unified and Long Beach in Southern California, two of the state’s biggest unified school districts, to tiny Gridley Unified north of Sacramento. But they share common traits, the institute’s analysis found, including:

“We hope that other school districts and states will focus on the lessons from these case study school districts to ensure all students have access to deeper learning regardless of the size, location, and wealth of the district where they go to school.” — Linda Darling-Hammond, Learning Policy Institute president
  • Prioritizing learning for every child.
  • “Instructionally engaged” leadership.
  • Strategies to hire and retain a stable teaching workforce.
  • Supports for students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.
  • Engagement of families and communities.

The study found that the districts closing the achievement gap took advantage of a number of changes in statewide education policy in recent years: New learning standards have been implemented across English language arts, mathematics and science to focus on building students’ skills in analysis, inquiry and problem-solving; student testing was changed to better measure these new skills; and increased state funding accompanied by more local control over how it’s spent.
“Rapid and dramatic change in California’s education system provided an excellent incubator for school districts to make changes to improve instructional quality and equity,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, LPI’s president. “We hope that other school districts and states will focus on the lessons from these case study school districts to ensure all students have access to deeper learning regardless of the size, location, and wealth of the district where they go to school.”
The study includes a set of recommendations for federal, state and local policymakers, including making sure there are enough qualified teachers and other school leaders for all schools, allocating resources for equity, and using data from assessments to support continuous improvement by students.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Authorities Arrest Man in Dinuba Shooting

DON'T MISS

Fresno Murder Suspect Arrested in Madera County Following Shooting

DON'T MISS

Millions of Americans Like Trump Better in Theory Than in Practice

DON'T MISS

Tucker Carlson Says Trump ‘Complicit’ in Israel’s Attack on Iran

DON'T MISS

Fresno Stabbing Leads to 7-Hour SWAT Standoff and Arrest, Suspect Identified

DON'T MISS

A Look Inside Israel’s ‘Fortress of Zion’ Command Beneath Tel Aviv

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Make DUI Arrest, Cite 135 Drivers in Distracted Driving Crackdown

DON'T MISS

Russia Says US Has Cancelled Next Round of Talks on Easing Tensions

DON'T MISS

Protester Killed at Utah ‘No Kings’ Rally Was Fashion Designer From ‘Project Runway’

DON'T MISS

Possum the Wanderer Finds Her Groove After Tumor Surgery

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Lambasts Trump for Giving Immigrants’ Health Data to Deportation Officials

UP NEXT

‘We Will Kill You Dead’: Florida Sheriff’s Stark Warning to Demonstrators

UP NEXT

US Marines Carry out First Known Detention of Civilian in Los Angeles, Video Shows

UP NEXT

Youth Invited to Unplug, Connect With Nature at Day Camp in Auberry

UP NEXT

Here’s What to Expect at the Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade on Trump’s Birthday

UP NEXT

Fresno State Matches the Scholarships for 25 FUSD Students

UP NEXT

California Opens Investigation Into State Farm

UP NEXT

California Police Are Illegally Sharing License Plate Data With ICE and Border Patrol

UP NEXT

Trump Can Keep National Guard Deployed to Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules

UP NEXT

Judge Temporarily Bars Trump From Deploying National Guard Troops in Los Angeles

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

Spyware From US-Backed Israeli Firm Targeted European Journalists, Report Finds

42 minutes ago

Israel’s War of Choice With Iran Puts Trump in a Bind

48 minutes ago

Prather’s Oak Fire Active in Fresno County, 46% Contained

55 minutes ago

Tulare County Authorities Arrest Man in Dinuba Shooting

1 hour ago

Fresno Murder Suspect Arrested in Madera County Following Shooting

1 hour ago

Millions of Americans Like Trump Better in Theory Than in Practice

2 hours ago

Tucker Carlson Says Trump ‘Complicit’ in Israel’s Attack on Iran

2 hours ago

Fresno Stabbing Leads to 7-Hour SWAT Standoff and Arrest, Suspect Identified

2 hours ago

A Look Inside Israel’s ‘Fortress of Zion’ Command Beneath Tel Aviv

3 hours ago

Fresno Police Make DUI Arrest, Cite 135 Drivers in Distracted Driving Crackdown

3 hours ago

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

A Madera man was sentenced Monday to more than 21 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, federal prosecutors ...

16 minutes ago

The crest of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo
16 minutes ago

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

21 minutes ago

Touring a Tunnel That Leads Underneath a Hospital in Southern Gaza

Flowers and hand-written messages sit at a memorial outside the Minnesota State Capitol in honor of Democratic state assemblywoman Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, after a gunman killed them, in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S., June 15, 2025. (Reuters/Tim Evans)
23 minutes ago

Suspect in Minnesota Lawmaker Killing Visited Other Legislators’ Homes, Prosecutors Say

Spyware from U.S.-backed Israeli firm Paragon Solutions was used to target prominent European journalists’ phones, raising concerns about government surveillance and commercial spyware abuse. (Shutterstock)
42 minutes ago

Spyware From US-Backed Israeli Firm Targeted European Journalists, Report Finds

President Donald Trump speaks as he attends a military parade to commemorate the U.S. Army's 250th Birthday, on the day of his 79th birthday, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 14, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
48 minutes ago

Israel’s War of Choice With Iran Puts Trump in a Bind

The Oak Fire near Morgan Canyon Road and Country Oak Lane in Prather remains active at 46% containment, burning 14 acres with 45 personnel working alongside multiple air tankers to strengthen containment lines. (CalFire)
55 minutes ago

Prather’s Oak Fire Active in Fresno County, 46% Contained

Gilberto Lopez Mendez, 23, was arrested after pistol-whipping and shooting a victim in the leg near Dinuba on , with deputies recovering a converted fully automatic firearm. (Tulare County SO)
1 hour ago

Tulare County Authorities Arrest Man in Dinuba Shooting

Fresno police have arrested Scott Alvarado, 41, in the shooting death of Nicholas Bolanos, 33, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Fresno PD)
1 hour ago

Fresno Murder Suspect Arrested in Madera County Following Shooting

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend