Top 10 Education Challenges

Quality Educators

Find, develop and keep the best school staff, teachers, and principals. In the long haul this is the key to preparing our kids for success in college, careers, and life!

Useful Academic Standards

What should every student, in every grade, know and be able to do in math, science, art and other subjects to advance academically and socially?

Measuring Achievement

How will you know if the schools are going in the right direction?

Preschool Standards

A good foundation is essential, right? The City Council agrees, and passed landmark legislation to expand pre-K for all four-year-olds. Now we're studying teacher certification and other policies that can prepare our earliest learners for school and beyond.

Career and Technical Education

Let's help our kids gain 21^st century skills as well as a great education, and help them concentrate on rewarding careers, not just college diplomas.

Community Involvement

Good things happen when families and communities are engaged in a child's education. That's why you're important to our schools. Your time is precious, and we're looking for ways for you to be involved — and effective.

Healthy, Physically Fit Kids

What role can and should the schools play to discourage obesity and promote healthful lifestyles?

The Arts

Arts education is essential, not a frill. It fosters creativity and engages young minds. Our new arts standards not only will help defend against budget cuts, but propel students and teachers out of the classroom and into our city's magnificent museums and theaters.

Virtual Learning

Some kids need more time. Others are a credit shy of a diploma or want to learn Arabic when the school can't afford a teacher. Online courses offer a way to expand and customize academic options to meet kids' needs.

World Languages

Our economy is global. Our communities are multicultural. Yet unlike most places, we don't require students to learn another language. Is this wise? Nyet! Non! Nej!