Focus Goals
Academic Excellence and Learning
- Improve student connectedness and strengthen support systems for student social, emotional, physical health
- Encourage site-developed approaches to improve student connectedness
- Continue and strengthen the relationship with Project Safety Net Task Force
- Identify strategic opportunities through Project Cornerstone survey results
- Develop a multi-year systematic approach to these complicated issues
One of the most important and fulfilling parts of being educators is the opportunity to work with parents on the social/emotional development of our students. To align with District focused goals to improve student connectedness and strengthen support systems for students, PAUSD is working in conjunction with Project Cornerstone a county non-profit organization helping communities build asset rich environments for the youth. The 41 Developmental Assets model provides a framework for building resiliency and other positive character traits amongst youth. This effort is in partnership with Project Safety Net and community agencies for a common vision and language for what youth and teens need to thrive.
Presentations and Materials 
Presented to the Board of Educaton on March 8, 2011 
Presented to the Community on February 13, 2011 
Presented to the Board of Education on December 14, 2010 
Palo Alto Developmental Assets Initiative
Project Safety Net

The Project Safety Net Committee, a group of community members who came together to address the crisis our community recently faced, has developed a set of recommendations to increase the support of youth and teens in Palo Alto.
Project Safety Net Mission
- To develop and implement an effective, comprehensive, community-based mental health plan for overall youth well-being in Palo Alto.
- The plan includes education, prevention, and intervention strategies that together provide a Safety Net for youth and teens in Palo Alto, and defines our community’s teen suicide prevention efforts.
Project Cornerstone
41 Development Assets Initiative
Developmental Assets are defined as the positive values, relationships and experiences that help youth and teens succeed and thrive. The Developmental Assets framework identifies 41 essential elements for supporting the health, resiliency, and overall well-being of youth within their communities. Research shows a significant correlation between higher number of assets and positive indicators, such as school performance and resiliency, and lower numbers of assets and increased risk-taking behaviors such as drug and alcohol use. The framework has been adopted by the Palo Alto Unified School District, the City, YMCA, Youth Community Services and many other youth-serving agencies. You can find more information about the Developmental Assets at Project Cornerstone.
The Developmental Assets provide a common vision and language for youth and teen well-being. Research done by the Search Institute has confirmed that the more of these assets kids have, the better they do in school and life. But kids cannot develop the assets on their own; many of these relationships and experiences depend on interactions and opportunities in the community surrounding our youth.
2011 PAUSD Developmental Asset Survey Reports

FAQs for Developmental Assets Survey Results 
Developmental Assets Comparison Chart 
Elementary Schools Full Report 
Elementary Schools Appendices
Addison 
Addison Appendices
Briones 
Briones Appendices
Duveneck 
Duveneck Appendices
El Carmelo 
El Carmelo Appendices
Escondido 
Escondido Appendices
Fairmeadow 
Fairmeadow Appendices 
Walter Hays 
Walter Hays Appendices
Hoover 
Hoover Appendices 
Nixon 
Nixon Appendices 
Ohlone 
Ohlone Appendices 
Palo Verde 
Palo Verde Appendices 
**Survey reports for the following schools were made available post district reports of March 2011. Thus, the PAUSD elementary school report has also been updated to reflect the changes with the additional elementary school reports:
Addison, El Carmelo, Nixon, Palo Verde
Middle Schools Full Report 
Jordan Middle School 
JLS Middle School 
Terman Middle School 
High Schools Full Report 
Gunn High School 
Palo Alto High School 
2011 California Healthy Kids Survey
Your child is being asked to take a survey at school. The California Department of Education requires schools and districts to ask students about alcohol, tobacco, and other drug issues, as well as questions about school safety and the learning environment. Participation in the survey is voluntary on the part of the student, and we hope you will encourage your child to participate so that his or her opinion and knowledge can be part of the information gleaned from the survey.
The survey is anonymous. No names or any other identifying information is connected to the answers except for the name of the school.
You may examine the questionnaire at California Healthy Kids Survey.
PAUSD Customized Module includes:
Core
Resilience Supplemental
Closing the Achievement Gap (CTAG)
AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs), Violence & Suicide (Questions on Depression and Suicide)
If you have questions, please contact Amy Drolette, Coordinator of Student Services at 650-329-3769.
For more information on Student Connectedness, please contact Amy Drolette, Coordinator of Student Services, at adrolette@pausd.org or 650-329-3769
Revised 10/17/11/bt
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