March 7, 2025
The San Lorenzo Unified School District (SLZUSD) is working on four main areas for improvement after a detailed review of its schools, student services and family support. This review was led by the Alameda County Office of Education.
The district's focus areas include:
- Making sure all schools follow the same learning goals and teaching methods.
- Helping students and families adjust, especially those new to the country, by offering additional language and cultural support.
- Providing teachers with improved training that meets their needs based on experience and subject area.
- Making sure families and staff receive clear and useful information through websites, calendars and guides.
These priorities align with the district’s Local Control Accountability Plan and its 2023-27 Strategic Plan.
To achieve these goals, SLZUSD is:
- Setting up teams of staff and family members to guide the work.
- Reviewing current programs and identifying ways to improve them.
- Creating clear goals to measure success.
Kimberly Valentino, a former principal and now an administrator for alternative programs, shared that this work is already underway, beginning with the formation of teams of district staff and family members to guide the work and set goals for success.
Desired outcomes include improved standardized test scores, reduced absenteeism, higher graduation rates, more support for students’ social and emotional well-being and greater college and career attainment.
In 2023, the Alameda County Office of Education asked SLZUSD to participate in a Systemic Instructional Review (SIR). This was based on multi-year data showing the need for improvement in areas like supporting students with disabilities, Black students, and families facing housing challenges.
The review was conducted by WestEd, a research organization. Their process included gathering data, reviewing documents, visiting schools and speaking with teachers, administrators, families and staff members.
The final report, completed in 2023-24, also highlighted the district’s strengths, which include:
- Dedicated teachers who create a strong sense of belonging for students.
- Inclusive programs that support students from diverse backgrounds and focus on racial equity.
- Opportunities for teachers to work together and participate in professional development.
- Major investments in school buildings, science labs and athletic facilities.
- A culture of open communication between district leaders and teachers' unions.
A one-page overview of the report is available here on the district website, along with a link to the full text.
When the report was first shared on Oct. 15, San Lorenzo Schools Superintendent Dr. Daryl Camp thanked everyone who took part in the process. He emphasized that improving education for students is a shared effort.
“Thanks again to our team here in San Lorenzo, and thanks again for the support of the Alameda County Office of Education, all working in partnership to improve educational outcomes and opportunities for students,” Dr. Camp said.
Juwen Lam, the chief of accountability partnerships for the county Office of Education, also praised the collaboration, saying that broad input is key to making real improvements.
“We very much appreciated having the opportunity for WestEd to come in and to speak with community members, with labor partners, with teachers and with administrators,” Lam said, “because I think that is the only way in which these plans or reviews happen.”
SLZUSD will continue working on these focus areas to create better learning experiences for all students. The district will share updates on its progress through the website, newsletters and presentations to the School Board.