Operation Close The Achievement Gap (C-TAG)

Operation C-TAG (Closing the Achievement Gap) will complement the SANKOFA (Students Accumulating New Knowledge Optimizing Future Accomplishments) Initiative. The West African term SANKOFA refers to 'drawing from the past to move forward to a great future.' Operation C-TAG will address the academic inequities evidenced by chronic underperformance of African American students in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Teachers will receive additional training in culturally relevant instructional strategies and students will receive culturally appropriate instruction. African American parents and guardians will be offered advocacy training opportunities and lessons on how to participate in the decision making process. Teachers will use critical thinking and interactive strategies, infused with aspects of African American culture to accelerate students to higher levels of mastery toward grade-level standards. Objectives include: 1) increase parent participation at schools; 2) increase the percent of African American students scoring No Child Left Behind standards of 'Proficiency' or above in English/Language Arts and Math; 3) reduce African American students in special education classes; and 4) reduce at-risk behaviors, discipline referrals, suspension and expulsion rates for African American students. NCA/NCF