On February 25, 250 youth and adult leaders from 17 PICO organizations across California met with top state officials to address the state's dropout crisis, beginning with fully funding a new student data systme to track the problem. In an historic step for PICO California, 130 youth leaders were the driving force behind the meetings, which also focused on small schools and youth violence prevention. 

In meetings with Secretary of Education David Long, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, and State Senator Darrell Steinberg, PICO leaders urged officials to support full funding of the student data system this year, despite the state's estimated $16 billion budget deficit. They also asked questions about a range of critical education issues, including the proposed budget cuts, teacher supply and quality, support for small and alternative high schools, and parent engagement.

During the meetings, PICO youth and adults shared personal testimonies and reported on the local organizing work that has been effective at increasing educational opportunities for all students.

For example, Guadalupe Lara, a student at a small high school in Oakland started by PICO affiliate Oakland Community Organizations, contrasted her positive experience at the small high school with the chaotic and unsupportive environment she found at one of the district's large high schools. Elisa Gonzalez, a parent advisor at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, shared how parent-teacher home visits – started by PICO affiliate Sacramento Area Congregations Together – have helped struggling high school students receive the support they need to pass the state's Exit Exam and have provided parents with key information about high school graduation and college eligibility requirements.

PICO leaders also met with Paul Seave, Governor Schwarzenegger's recently appointed Director of Gang and Youth Violence Policy. Leaders shared their work to develop comprehensive strategies that support youth inside and outside of school and to make schools and communities safer for youth and adults alike. Seave spoke of the link between the state's dropout crisis and the rise in violence involving youth and said one of his top priorities is to conduct a detailed accounting of the funds the state currently spends on gang intervention and violence reduction. San Bernardino high school students, representing PICO affiliate Inland Congregations United for Change, also shared their work with Secretary Long, who is the chairperson of the U.S. Department of Education's Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee.

The meetings were part of a two-day gathering in which PICO members also participated in discussions and trainings on local strategies to address the dropout rate. Among the strategies explored were the use of data to identify and then provide intensive support to students with a high likelihood of dropping out and the development community-wide coalitions to tackle the issue.

For more information about PICO California, visit our Web site at www.PICOCalifornia.org 

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