Dear Kern High School District Parent,
| As Superintendent of the Kern High School District, I believe the 2007-08 school year will prove to be one of the most successful in the District's 114-year history. The KHSD is the largest 9-12 high school district in the state with more than 37,000 students. The District offers a wide array of instructional, athletic, extra-curricular and career & technical programs to help these students to continue the District's long "Tradition of Excellence." One source of my optimism is a renewed District focus on the success of freshman students. Numerous studies have shown clearly that success the freshman year is vital to a successful 4-year high school experience. In 2006-07, District trustees enacted a new "Ninth Grade Promotion Policy" to encourage freshman success. In 2007-08, the District has instituted a new "Freshman Academy" program to assist students entering high school below grade level in various skills such as reading and math. The effectiveness of the new "Ninth Grade Promotion Policy" was evident in district statistics that showed greater academic achievement among 2006-07 freshmen. We expect the new "Freshman Academy" program to result in even greater academic achievement for District freshmen. The District will continue to maintain rigorous classes in other areas reflected in the improvement for the sixth straight year on the State's Academic Performance Index. Additional opportunities for classroom success will also be found in an increased number of classes provided through the District's GATE, Honors, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement classes. The District is also placing a greater emphasis on Career & Technical programs during the 2007-08 school year. The KHSD offers a wide array of Academies, electives and other programs with which to launch a career either immediately upon graduation or after attending college. The KHSD has long been a leader in California's School-To-Career Academy Movement. The KHSD currently operates 12 such academies that combine career-specific electives with core classes into which career skills are infused. With renewed support from the state for School-To-Career academies, a significant increase in the number of KHSD Academies can be expected. District athletic teams continue to distinguish themselves in California Interscholastic Federation competition. District teams competing in such programs as Mock Trial, "We The People..." and Academic Decathlon continue to grow in prominence in state and nationwide programs. Success achieved in all of the above areas will be due in large part to the efforts of one of the finest assemblages of teachers to be found at any school district in California. The district has long prided itself on recruiting and retaining the best teachers to be found anywhere in the nation. These efforts have resulted in a staff of more than 1,700 highly qualified teachers fully committed to educating the young people of Kern County. The District will be able to achieve all of the above while continuing to observe the sound, conservative fiscal practices that have made it one of the most financially stable school districts in California. Having already built and opened six new schools in the past 15 years, the district will open two more new schools in August 2008. My optimism about the 2007-08 school year is also grounded in the value of teamwork. A school district is most successful when parents, teachers, students, and the community all partner together for student success. For that cooperation, I thank all in advance.
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