californiacapitalvalley.teachforamerica.orgCalifornia Capital Valley | Teach For America

Skip to main content Google Tag Manager Secondary Navigation What We Do Where We Work Stories Support Us Donate Search Search Icon Search Submit Search Search Main navigation How to Join Life in the Corps Life as an Alum Secondary Navigation Mobile What We Do Where We Work Stories Support Us Donate User account menu Log in Search Submit Search Search Close Close California Capital Valley Toggle Arrow Our Community Our Work Join the Corps Support Our Work California Capital Valley Our Community Our Work Join the Corps Support Our Work In the capital of California, corps members, alumni, and community leaders are uniquely positioned to help create state-wide policy change in education. Trying to figure out where you’d like to teach? Our Compare Regions tool can help. Compare Regions New Boundaries We are a growing movement of leaders focused on moving the boundaries on what is possible in education. To do this we are building a diverse network of leaders focused on systems change and inspiring fierce advocates for excellence and equity in education so that students across our region learn, lead and thrive. Students in California are driven to lead the future of their classrooms, schools, and community. In partnership with our communities, and alongside our students, we work to re-imagine and re-define the boundaries on what is possible so that students in the California Capital Valley are prepared to shape the world for themselves and all of us. Today there are nearly 50 corps members and over 450 alumni working with thousands of students across the California Capital Valley. Every day we are focused on ensuring students in our classrooms and schools have the opportunity to learn the necessary knowledge and skills, grow in their unique leadership potential, and access opportunities that mark the path of economic mobility. Rich History, Alternative Future The Great Central Valley is one of the most ecologically diverse environments in the world including deserts, grasslands, foothills and rivers that have supplied life, health and vitality for generations beginning with Yukot communities over a millennia ago. Today, the Valley includes growing metropolitan areas like Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno and Bakersfield that grew exponentially with the influx of people moving in from across the country and around the world. Over the last 100 years, wide swaths of pristine land have been transformed through large scale agriculture, suburban sprawl, and population growth. The economic change has brought some of the most innovative and disruptive technology that continues to reshape opportunities, jobs, and pathways to economic mobility for students. We envision a future in which our students not only understand the language and structure of this rapidly changing reality but become the designers and architects of our future jobs, economy, and politics. Progress and the Path Ahead While there has been tremendous progress in education we know there is still work to be done to ensure every student has the opportunity for an excellent education. On average, 25% of students in our region read on grade level in 3rd grade and fewer than 25% are on grade level in 8th-grade math. And yet, schools like Yav Pem Saub Academy in Sacramento, where our corps members and alumni teach, the number of students at grade level has doubled in the past 3 years. And, while fewer than 30% of students score a 21 or higher on the ACT, in Stockton Unified, where we have a critical mass of corps members and alumni, that number has grown from 36% to 51% over the last 4 years. These are important milestones on the path to economic mobility. And, this type of progress has given us important insight into how we can continue to see meaningful change and the type of leadership necessary to make this change a reality. Our Priorities We know that to continue building on the progress of our region over the past 7 years we will need to focus our collective effort in three areas. Grow Diverse Talent and Systems Leadership We are committed to growing the diverse Talent we need in education and focusing our work on systems change. While we have seen tremendous progress in the growing number of excellent classrooms and schools we know the work of the next 10 years must be about evolving systems to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. Inspire Fierce Advocates for Educational Equity We are focused on inspiring leaders and champions across our communities to be deeply committed to the work required to make One Day a reality and this not only includes our staff, corps members and alumni but our donors and community stakeholders, business and civic leaders, and students, parents,and families. Prepare Students to Learn, Lead and Thrive We believe that students can and must play a central role in shaping the world for themselves and all of us and to do this they must meet and exceed milestones that mark the path to economic mobility. Students will build foundational knowledge and skills, social capital and gain greater access to opportunities that allow them to lead and shape the future of the California Capital Valley. 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Redefine the future for students at Teach For America. Take the next step and join the corps today. Join The Corps Close Thanks for signing up! You'll find great content in your inbox soon. At Teach For America, we know lasting change can happen: All children will get the excellent education they deserve. See how change happens. Watch Video Close...