Jack O'Connell Student Quotations

It's much more important to me that our students have the skills necessary to not only survive but to thrive in this new global economy, and that's more important to me than simply having a piece of paper.

Our students can't afford to miss school. Our schools can't afford missing students. And our state can't afford to rest for one day until we close the gap in achievement that threatens the futures of many immigrant children.

I hope 100 percent of students on the diploma track pass.

We must seek extraordinary achievement levels for those students to close the achievement gap,

It is clear that California must do more to improve student achievement. The scores released today are not surprising and are another indication of the challenges we face.

At this pace, we are on track toward a passage rate close to the same percentage of students that now fulfill all other requirements to receive a high school diploma,

I'm particularly concerned about African-American students and English language learners. The answer is not to ignore the achievement gap by giving diplomas to unprepared students.

At a time when our nation should be investing in the future of our students as never before, this budget cuts education funding for the first time in a decade.

Awarding a student a diploma without the necessary skills and knowledge does a great disservice to that student.

I hope this program to turn around the Oakland Unified School District will provide a model for innovation and commitment to our students and their families,

With data showing six years of improved student achievement, we know that California schools are headed in the right direction, ... We now need to maintain the focus on high standards to keep up the momentum for improved student achievement at all schools.

It's important to keep one core principle front and center: awarding a student a diploma without the skills and knowledge to back it up does the student a disservice.

The fact that more than half of our students have not yet achieved proficiency on the state's content standards, and that a wide achievement gap continues, shows how much work still needs to be done,

These much-needed funds come at a critical time when state budget cuts are affecting the students who need the most help, ... These funds will help kids meet California's high academic standards so they will be successful in school or the workplace without the need for remedial courses.

We accepted a higher proportion of English-learner students than any other state in the country, ... Our exclusion rate of English learners was 12%, while Texas' exclusion rate was 37.5% and New York's was 29%.