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Superintendent's Update - January 17, 2025

Superintendent's Update - January 17, 2025

From the Office of the Superintendent

Board Agenda Calendar

View Calendar of Board Items 2024-25


Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .

As previously shared, I held our first Superintendent’s Student Council meeting. I want to set the stage. A planning group of students from our three high schools met with me several times to prepare. I asked each of them to recruit a few peers for the first session. That gave us a total of roughly 20 students. The 20 students would then be asked to respond in groups about four questions or topics with the planning members acting as facilitators. My role was largely to just listen.

Let me start by saying we have amazing kids. The group was eclectic in every way imaginable. There was no “group think” mentality and no agendas that survived past the ice-breaker. My assistant, Vicky, was equally impressed with our students from the time they arrived until the night was over.

A reader may think that the insights of 20 students can’t possibly capture the reality of the masses. Before sharing the takeaways, let me state that qualitative studies add tremendous value and interviews of three people can earn a person a doctorate if done properly. Now, our exercise should not be confused with scholarly work. It wasn’t. It was, however, really fun and insightful.

POSSIBLE ELIMINATION OF HIGH SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

The discussion on the idea of eliminating high school boundaries in the future took interesting twists and turns. Students initially feared a potential imbalance, thinking one school would initially get more transfers. I listened to their reasoning and asked a few questions.  

We talked about the differences between our three schools. The beauty of this conversation was our Palo Alto Middle College High School is already a school without borders. The students from PAMC had some good thoughts about the concept of choice and why they made theirs. 

We asked several questions:  

How far do you live from your current school?

Who is your favorite teacher and why?

What is your favorite subject?

Is there anything that frustrates you at school that could be addressed?

What is your first reaction to the idea of no boundaries?

Which school would you have picked if there were no restrictions?

After much discussion, I think I have a better understanding of what may be worth exploring in the future. Some students were concerned about the choice being made by parents instead of them. For that reason, some sided with the idea that boundaries are good and provide some certainty. In the end, I think this group had some consensus that boundaries weren’t bad and should remain. There was also agreement that, perhaps, simply loosening up the transfer process would be a good first step. That is interesting and we will pursue that idea. Let’s see where this one goes. For now, it was a great first conversation.

In future updates, I will share the discussions we had around Evidence-Based Grading (EBG), Cell Phone Policy, and Artificial Intelligence.

To the students who participated - Thank you!


Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement Paused

Please see this link for more information.


Empowering Educators: Advancing Literacy Through the Reading Apprenticeship Framework

This week, 20 secondary teachers attended the Reading  Apprenticeship workshop to deepen their knowledge of supporting adolescent learners in developing discipline-specific literacy skills. The workshop is rooted in the Reading Apprenticeship framework's four dimensions of learning: social, personal, cognitive, and knowledge-building. Teachers explored how to recognize and model reading strategies that are useful in their subject area, engage students in understanding their thinking processes, teach subject-area literacy, and foster learning dispositions such as persistence, stamina, problem-solving, and collaboration. 

To date, approximately 100 secondary teachers across all content areas, including Biology, have completed the three-day training. Biology teachers, for instance, are using these strategies to help students analyze complex texts, interpret scientific data, and understand technical vocabulary. The skills acquired in the workshop directly support PAUSD’s Promise goal, which emphasizes literacy. The workshop has gained interest in the context of the literacy initiative.  As teachers learn to analyze and act on student reading outcome data, they have sought opportunities to integrate support for literacy skills into their existing courses.  

Teachers who complete the workshop have access to ongoing learning and support as they implement new strategies. Past participants have benefitted from customized coaching days at their school sites and additional training opportunities to deepen their expertise and collaborate with colleagues.


Showcasing Student Talent: Explore PAUSD’s CTE Pathways

The Department of Innovation & Agility supports K-12 career-themed pathways aligned with the California Department of Education (CDE) to prepare students for future employability and advance the goals outlined in The Promise. For the 2024-25 school year, Key Performance Indicators include increasing industry certifications earned by students by 3%, expanding certification pathways by 10%, and diversifying the Industry Advisory Committee to represent all 10 career sectors within the District’s pathways. Strategies focus on enhancing employability through K-12 career exploration and industry certifications, expanding post-secondary opportunities for Middle College students, and connecting industry experts to classrooms.

Currently, more than 4,000 PAUSD secondary students are enrolled in Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway courses, with pathways available in 10 of the 15 state-recognized industry sectors. These programs provide diverse opportunities for students to develop skills, explore careers, and gain industry-recognized certifications that prepare them for future success.

To celebrate students’ work that embodies college and career readiness, please join us for PAUSD’s Career-Themed Pathways Showcase on Wednesday, January 29, 2025! 


Literacy: K-2 Dyslexia Screener Selection Pilot Committee

Since 2019, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) has been at the forefront of identifying dyslexia markers in K-3 students, beginning with implementing the "Shaywitz Dyslexia Screen." Each year, the Superintendent and Board receive a comprehensive report detailing the results of these screenings.

In fall 2022, PAUSD expanded its efforts by implementing the “i-Ready Dyslexia Screener” as part of the “i-Ready Reading Diagnostic” for all students in grades K-3. This integrated approach enhances the District's ability to identify reading challenges at the earliest stages.

PAUSD’s leadership has inspired statewide action. Beginning in fall 2025, the  California Department of Education requires all public school districts to use state-approved screening tools to identify students at risk for reading difficulties, including Dyslexia, in kindergarten through second grade.

In preparation for this mandate, PAUSD’s Educational Services department has convened a Dyslexia Screener Selection and Pilot Committee. This committee, composed of K-2 teachers, specialists, administrators, and community members, will evaluate potential screening tools and recommend a selection for Board approval in alignment with  Board Policy 6161.1 and state guidelines.

The selection process will prioritize tools that align with the District's Promise Literacy Goal and ensure robust support for early literacy development. Community members and educators have been invited to express their interest in serving on the selection committee,  reflecting the District’s commitment to collaborative decision-making and student success.


Paly Power Moves Walks For CA Fire Victims!

Please support Paly's POWER MOVES walkers who are dedicating all of their laps on the Paly track to raising funds for the fire victims in southern California. Students are now homeless in L.A. from the fires. Schools are damaged or burned down. One hundred dollars per lap will help us reach our goal of $10,000 by March 18th. All funds will be directed straight to the  American Red Cross, which is helping southern California residents fleeing from the massive and fast-moving wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes of all sizes. The Red Cross is focused on making sure everyone has a safe place to stay and no one faces this heartbreaking crisis alone. Please give as you are able. All donations are dedicated to the lifesaving work of the Red Cross to help these fire victims. 

Link to donate!