DEPARTMENT: Department of Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Resolution Adopting a City of San Antonio Education Policy Statement
SUMMARY:
This resolution adopts an Education Policy Statement for the City of San Antonio. The statement reflects the City of San Antonio's commitment, vision, and strategies for ensuring quality educational opportunities for all residents.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Despite the City's ongoing commitment to and involvement with educational programs in the community, the City has no statement to articulate its policy with respect to education. Based on priorities and feedback from the Educational Excellence Committee, a Subcommittee of the San Antonio City Council, the City Manager's Office drafted an Education Policy Statement reflecting the City of San Antonio's plan to ensure the availability of universal, quality educational opportunities. The Education Policy Statement reflects the City of San Antonio's commitment to educational success, provides a community vision to achieve this commitment, and outlines strategies to ensure all residents have access to education opportunities to promote an educated and competitive workforce.
On March 18, 2014, the Educational Excellence Committee voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the attached Education Policy Statement as an official position of the City of San Antonio.
ISSUE:
Through the adoption of an official Education Policy Statement, the City of San Antonio will reflect a commitment to working with local schools, nonprofit organizations, and other community agencies to leverage available systems and resources to provide high quality educational programming and opportunities. Specifically, the City of San Antonio will focus on strategies that promote goals identified through the SA2020 community visioning process in the areas of: kindergarten readiness; on grade level reading by the 3rd grade; increased high school graduation rates with a focus in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); college enrollment and completion; and an increase in professional certifications. The Education Policy Statement will serve as a guide to the community but is not intended to limit the City in future initiatives.
ALTERNATIVES:
The San Antonio City Council may elect to not issue a resolution adopting an official Education Policy Statement to guide the City's commitment and strategies toward the achievement of education related goals and indicators outlined in the SA2020 plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action will have no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council adopt the proposed Education Policy Statement as an official position of the City of San Antonio.
Attachment: City of San Antonio Education Policy Statement