TO: LIBRARY AND EDUCATION FROM: Jill Bourne COMMISSION

SUBJECT: Education and Digital Literacy DATE: March 10, 2021 Annual Report

Approved Date

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Library and Education Commission take the following actions related to the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy Update:

• Review the annual report on the implementation of the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy including the implementation of the Quality Standards, relationships with schools and school districts, and the evolution of City programs; • Review and provide feedback regarding program plans for Fiscal Year 2020-21; • Direct staff to return to the Library and Education Commission annually to report on progress implementing the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy.

OUTCOME

The Library and Education Commission (LEC) will be informed and provide feedback to staff on the annual report of the implementation of the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy, including implementation of program Quality Standards, relationships with schools and school districts, and the evolution of City programs.

BACKGROUND

On May 7, 2018, City Council unanimously approved the Education & Digital Literacy (EDL) Strategy1, and designated San José Public Library (“SJPL”, “Library”) as lead department, with direction to devise and implement a comprehensive educational policy and workplan for the following educational development areas: • Early Education - Entering School Ready to Learn and Succeed;

1 Education and Digital Literacy Strategy.pdf

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• Learning by Grade Level Proficiency - Expanding Education Beyond the School Day; • Pathways to Post-Academic Success - Graduating Ready for College and Career; • Digital Literacy - Ensuring Access, Affordability, and Adoption; and, • Policy and Governance

Each category in the EDL Strategy was examined with respect to the following essential factors: • The need in San José: Each strategic area must be analyzed by using local data to identify needs, evaluate potential solutions, and assess outcomes to determine success and make corrections. • Coordination and Integration: Coordinated systems, formalized collaborations, and partnerships are proven to improve access to and increase the quality of educational programs. • Standards and Quality Assessment: Quality standards that take into account differences in program intent and capacity are essential, as are tools for implementing regular assessments of program quality and alignment. • Reporting Structure: Create a governance structure that promotes transparency and accountability.

An action plan in each educational development area was articulated and approved within the EDL Strategy. Actions reflect the principles of piloting ideas with partners and learning quickly, demonstrating a bias toward action and a commitment to quality assessment, data collection, and analysis of program effectiveness and impact. Finally, all efforts are intentionally learner centered.

ANALYSIS This memorandum will provide updates on implementation of the EDL Strategy Action Items and will include data for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 and workplans for FY 2020-21.

Early Education – Entering School Ready to Learn and Succeed

In support of the City’s Education Policy and EDL Strategy, SJPL and PRNS provide several programs designed to meet the needs of children, ages 0-5, and their caregivers. On an annual basis, PRNS serves more than 1,500 children, ages 3-5, through programs such as the San José Recreation Preschool (SJRP), The Hatchery at Emma Prusch Park, Camp San José Junior, and vendor-led sports and performing arts activities. SJPL offers more than 4,500 free programs and activities targeted at children, ages 0-5, and their caregivers at 25 library locations throughout San José, with a total attendance of more than 167,000 in program participation each year.

Upon approval of the Early Education Quality Standards 2 (EEQS) in March 2019, City departments initiated and continued efforts to ensure that City-sponsored programs for children, ages 0-5, aligned with the adopted EEQS. To initiate this work, each department

2 City of San José Early Education Quality Standards (sjpl.org)

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identified City programs and quality Standard Areas in which to develop targeted assessment and quality improvement plans.

San José Recreation Preschool Program (SJRP) PRNS offered the recreation preschool program at 13 community centers across 25 classrooms, serving nearly 600 children. PRNS developed a phased-in strategy to enhance the SJRP program in alignment with the EEQS.

PRNS staff identified 11 classrooms to participate in a ten-month SEEDS of Early Literacy (SEEDS) pilot program in partnership and support of FIRST 5 Santa Clara County (FIRST 5) and Applied Survey Research (ASR), an evaluation consultant. The pilot at Almaden, Noble, Evergreen, Mayfair, Roosevelt, and Seven Trees served as a learning laboratory for PRNS, FIRST 5, and ASR to inform the collaborative team’s best practices, operations, and strategies to expand SEEDS citywide within a public, license-exempt setting. Programming remained consistent with previous years in 14 classrooms at the seven remaining SJRP sites: Camden, Kirk, Calabazas, Berryessa, Willow Glen, Southside, and Millbrook.

PRNS utilized the EEQS Assessment Tool to assess all 25 SJRP classrooms. Staff assessed SJRP on each of the eight program quality standards areas and rated according to the progressive levels of quality: (1) Basic (2) Proficient Quality; and (3) Advanced Quality. At the eleven SEEDS pilot sites, PRNS staff made infrastructure and programmatic changes and implemented best practices which consequently resulted in participating classrooms rating 1.75 overall in the Basic quality standard area. In contrast, traditional, non-pilot, SJRP sites maintained consistent programming and infrastructure, which is reflected in Basic Not Met (0) in the EEQS assessment. This implementation may require potential policy changes and long-term investment in infrastructure, resources, and programmatic strategies to achieve and sustain Advanced quality rating in the EEQS.

San José Public Library

In its first year of EEQS implementation, the Library focused on applying the standards to torytime programs, which have the potential to play a critical role in school readiness and in the development of early literacy skills at home. SJPL provides over 4,500 storytimes throughout the city, reaching approximately 28,000 children. SJPL conducted a pre-assessment to provide a baseline understanding of library performance within the EEQS.

The Library utilized the EEQS Assessment Tool to assess all 25 library locations on each of the eight program quality standards areas. Library staff made infrastructure and programmatic changes and implemented best practices which resulted in a 1.3-point increase in quality within the first year of implementation. The results from the implementation of the EEQS assessment tool highlights the great strides staff made to move from Basic to Proficient within the first year of implementation.

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In Fall 2019, the Library conducted a Storytime Survey with over 590 caregivers. 87% of respondents claimed to read “more” or “much more” as a result of attending Library storytimes. Library storytimes and children’s books are considered to be the most valuable resources to parents and caregiver. This feedback has been evident during the Library closures with increasing attendance at virtual storytimes and high volumes of children’s books requested for curbside pickup at branch locations. 86% of respondents highly agree that the Library provides important learning experiences for children, with another 83% claiming to be “more” or “much more” engaged in learning opportunities such as talking, playing or singing because of Library resources and programs.

Early Education in FY 2020-21

In the current year (year two of implementation) PRNS partnered with FIRST 5, ASR, and Kate Horst, developer of the SEEDS curriculum, to implement best practices and strategies across SJRP in both in-person and virtual programming. This helps to ensure a high-quality early education and recreation program in adherence to the EEQS. PRNS will focus on the following:

Assessments: Nationally recognized and evidence-based assessment tools to conduct pre/post assessment of participating children and classroom environments (in-person operations); Professional Development: Training, coaching, and support for PRNS and SJRP staff for both program models; EEQS: Assessments including development of Quality Improvement Plan and follow-up for both program models; Curriculum: Implementation of standardized curriculum, educational materials, and resources for in-person and virtual instruction; and, Evaluation: Implementation of evaluation framework and data management tools to track and report outcomes.

The Library is focused on continual quality improvement by investing in staff training and professional development. Special emphasis in year two implementation is being placed on increasing positive outcomes for children and families in our community through training on the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework and Trauma-Informed Supports for children. The inclusion of the Strengthening Families Framework and self-assessment tool will be used to improve the lowest score and advance the Library’s standing from Basic Not Met to Proficient for EEQS 7: Family Engagement.

To ensure staff have the necessary resources to provide high quality programming, SJPL is also partnering with experts from the San José State University (SJSU) Early Childhood Institute to review, analyze, and assess the recently implemented virtual Storytime programming as part of their year two implementation of the EEQS. This in-depth analysis of EEQS 3: Curriculum and Teaching Practices will determine the veracity and efficiency of these programmatic changes as SJPL continues to explore the reach of virtual programming for the community. In addition to the research and recommendations from SJSU, library staff will conduct regular internal coaching and reflective practice for staff presenting storytimes and gather data from evaluations

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distributed to both library staff as well as families participating in storytimes to continually review goals and intended outcomes for alignment. Library staff will use the assessments to determine if this model is appropriate for the San José community and aligns with current library services and staffing. Library staff will learn, develop, and present high quality early childhood programming and experiences for caregivers and the children participating in their programs.

Early Education in FY 2021-22

For FY 2021-22, PRNS is currently exploring continued support from FIRST 5 to provide SEEDS training and evaluation support. With the easing of public health restrictions, PRNS is planning to provide in-person SJRP programming at all 13 community centers. PRNS staff will survey families to assess their interest in virtual SJRP which was offered for the first time in FY 2020-21.

To continue to support and expand the work of the EDL Strategy, the Library will begin evaluating additional early education programs in FY 2021-22. In addition to Storytime, library staff will begin assessing and aligning preschool programming to the EEQS. Expanding assessments to additional programming will help the library improve the level of quality which is essential for achieving positive child outcomes in San José.

Learning by Grade Level Proficiency – Expanding Education Beyond the School Day

Grade-level proficiency impacts San José students across all neighborhoods and has been proven to be one of the leading indicators of later academic success in students of all demographics. Currently, San José is home to a variety of afterschool and summer program opportunities which are offered by City Departments, school districts, non-profit and community-based organizations, clubs, and private providers. These programs, while individually impactful, have historically been working independently and without coordination. SJPL has taken on the role of connector and facilitator, building a community of program providers and increasing program effectiveness through collaboration and networking. These expanded learning programs for young people serve many critical functions for our city: bolstering skills needed for academic success, supporting workforce development, keeping our youth safe, and increasing civic engagement.

Quality Standards

The City – primarily through the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) and Library Departments – provides several programs designed to enhance learning outside of the school day. On an annual basis, PRNS serves more than 4,200 unduplicated students through programs such as Recreation of City Kids (R.O.C.K.) at 26 afterschool sites; After School Education and Safety (ASES) at four sites; 12 teen centers; and a variety of camps throughout the year. Similarly, SJPL offers more than 9,600 free programs and activities designed for

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afterschool and summer at all 25 library locations throughout San José with a total attendance of 133,630 in program participation each year. Upon conducting analysis and research of existing standards, the Quality Standards for Expanded Learning (ELQS) emerged as the choice for Citywide adoption and implementation3. Created by the California Department of Education and already utilized by a vast majority of afterschool providers, including all ASES funded programs as well as PRNS, the ELQS provided a common language and easily understood baseline for the San José Expanded Learning ecosystem. Upon adoption of the ELQS by the City Council, City Departments began applying the ELQS to all City-sponsored programs for Expanded Learning. Staff worked to identify and use appropriate assessment tools for each program. Assessment of programs was interrupted by the COVID-19 closure of in-person programming and the delivery of seasonal programs. Full implementation of the ELQS has been delayed to 2021-2022, however staff is using the ELQS in program design.

Out Of School Time (OOST) Programs

In FY 2019-20, PRNS continued evaluating programs against the ELQS through seventeen Camp San José programs in 2019 and 38 Camp San José Strong programs in 2020 using the Site Evaluation Tool. Evaluations are conducted tri-annually, in October, February, and May. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, May 2020 assessments were cancelled.

Areas of evaluation are assessed on a scale from 1-3, with a score of 1) needs improvement, 2) meets standards, and 3) exceed standards. The areas of inspection and scores are included in Table 1.

ELQS Safety Healthy Academic Enrichment Customer Program Human Final Area of Activities Support Service Information Interactions Overall Evaluation and Rating Recreation Total 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Possible Average Program 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Score

Table 1: Areas of evaluation and scores for PRNS programs

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At the conclusion of site evaluations, the Out-of-School Time administrative team provides direct feedback to onsite supervisors and frontline staff. Post-evaluation includes recommendations for improvement and technical coaching, development of short term and long term action plans, specified trainings, and support on best practices to ensure Continuous Quality Improvement, that programs maintain their Clear Vision, Mission and Purpose, and aim programs towards exceeding ELQS expectations.

In addition, PRNS hosted a citywide Recreation Leader Training in February 2020 for 150 frontline staff, creating trainings and professional development opportunities aligned to the Quality Standards. Based on the data gathered above from 52 program site evaluations, the team targeted trainings focused on the six point-of-service Quality Standards, with a focus on sessions promoting Safe and Supportive Environments, Quality Staff and Continuous Quality Improvement, and Active and Engaged Learning.

Senior Recreation Leaders supporting Camp San José sites continued to program intergenerational activities as part of the Mayor’s Gen2Gen Initiative providing continuous quality improvement and incorporating collaborative partnerships into programming, impacting 424 youth, 195 older adults, and 83 direct program staff.

Homework Club

In FY 2019-20 SJPL’s Homework Club (HWC) piloted the Continuous Quality Improvement Cycle in alignment with the identified priority areas Diversity, Access and Equity, Quality Staff, and Collaborative Partnerships, at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (King Library). HWC hours were extended an extra hour each day, and the program expanded to include art, music, and coding enrichment activities. The King Library served 140 students with 30 volunteers, including 28 Childhood and Adolescent Development students from San José State University. Parents surveyed after the program reported that the SJSU students acted as college age role models for students and that getting one on one attention from volunteers with diverse backgrounds and language skills were important considerations for their participation in the HWC program. In Spring 2020, King Library planned to further train SJSU volunteers in social emotional learning skills and techniques to further the growth of HWC attendees. Due to COVID-19, a virtual HWC was developed system-wide for a launch in the Fall 2020 school semester. Learning objectives for staff, students, and coaches aligned with the ELQS: skill building, safe and supportive environment, collaborative partnerships, and diversity, access and equity. Over the course of the Fall 2020 semester, 884 students participated in Virtual Homework Club. This consisted of 58 two-hour sessions (116 hours) and 140 unique participants and 177 volunteer coaches. Parents surveyed reported that the program allowed students to have the opportunity to complete their homework, feel more equipped to complete their homework in the future, understand the underlying concepts in their homework, trust staff and coaches and see them as role models and feel comfortable asking questions. SJ Learns

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The San José Learns Initiative (“SJ Learns”) aims to bolster academic achievement by funding promising and innovative expanded learning programs that serve San José public school students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through 3rd grade. The initiative, launched in 2015 by Mayor Sam Liccardo, was shaped by the SJ Learns Working Group and Advisory Committee – bodies composed of educational experts and stakeholders representing nonprofits, foundations, school districts, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and the City of San José. SJ Learns provides Local Education Agencies (LEAs: public school districts and charters) with resources that leverage their own expanded learning program budgets, as well as that of any provider(s) they select, to increase the number of at-risk students who attend high-quality expanded learning programs. Additionally, SJ Learns facilitates dialogue among participating LEAs, school sites, program providers, and the broader learning community to inform understanding around best practices and shape policy, including aligning curriculum with in- school learning, and alignment with the ELQS. In FY 2019-20, SJ Learns served 833 students in 13 elementary schools. SJ Learns grantees are required to participate in a Community of Practice (COP). In FY 2019-20 the SJ Learns COP met quarterly, focused on continuous program quality improvement in alignment with the ELQS, and on specific quality standards: • ELQS 1: Safe and Supportive Environments • ELQS 4: Youth Voice and Leadership • ELQS 6: Diversity, Access and Equity An SJ Learns program evaluation is conducted by a third-party evaluator, Social Policy Research Associates; the program evaluation is expected to be available in Spring 2021.

In May 2020, all SJ Learns grantees were given an opportunity to reallocate funds to support students in meaningful ways as identified for the context of distance learning. Proposals included: digital inclusion tools such as approved devices; supportive services like parent education; training for updated protocols and procedures related to reopening, and facilitation of on-site and virtual high-quality educational experiences. All grantees took advantage of this opportunity and have been actively working to support students at their schools with distance learning.

Expanded Learning in Fiscal Year 2020-2021 PRNS will continue to follow closely County and City health and safety guidelines to make final determination on the program model for in-person activities in FY 2020-21. If PRNS is able to return to full program implementation, it is poised to serve more than 4,200 students through R.O.C.K., ASES, teen centers, and other enrichment and recreation programs. For Summer 2021, PRNS is proposing to offer Camp San José and Camp Jr. citywide and will continue to reduce barriers to access by offering full scholarships for eligible families. R.O.C.K ‘n’ Learn

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To meet the childcare needs of families, and to provide students, K-8th grade, a safe and supportive environment in which to participate in their distance learning classes, PRNS and the Library offered the R.O.C.K. ‘n’ Learn (RNL) program at 15 community centers and parks and six libraries between August 24, 2020 and June 11, 2021. To eliminate any barriers to access, eligible families were provided a full-scholarship. City staff worked closely with school districts to identify and refer vulnerable students experiencing challenges with distance learning. In addition, City staff worked closely with school districts to provide free lunches daily and secured shelf stable meals for school holidays through CARES Act funding. Since August 2020, RNL has served 676 unduplicated youth in 45 unique classrooms at 21 locations.

Throughout the R.O.C.K. ‘n’ Learn program, the Out-of-School Time team has supported the continued implementation of ELQS, programming citywide events focusing on Continuous Quality Improvement. Staff engaged students in activities designed around Active and Engaged Learning (Lights On Afterschool, Read Across America Day) and Youth Voice and Leadership (Gen2Gen programming with PRNS Senior Nutrition Program), provided virtual trainings to frontline staff on behavior management and inclusion (Diversity, Access and Equity, Quality Staff), and provided regular support and guidance to onsite teams to ensure staff, students, and families are following COVID-19 guidelines (Safe and Supportive Environments, Clear Vision, Mission and Purpose). Enrollment by session and demographic data are included in Attachment A; a complete report was presented to City Council on February 02, 20214.

Homework Clubs HWC will continue to use the ELQS as a guide for programming. HWC will focus program assessment, reviewing the program for progress in all quality standard areas, specifically in the following: • ELQS 6: Diversity, Access, and Equity • ELQS 7: Quality Staff • ELQS 9: Collaborative Partnerships Based on the findings from the assessment, HWC will make adjustments and improvements. SJPL’s Education and Programming Services unit will provide training for library staff and support the implementation of the Expanded Learning Quality Standards.

SJ Learns Community of Practice

During academic year 2020-21, the Expanded Learning Community of Practice (CoP) has shifted its design and professional learning model to more effectively support SJ Learns grantees in the context of distance learning. Changes include:

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• The CoP has a regular monthly cadence of communication with the leadership and practitioners. • CoP members contribute to and can easily access a shared resource folder. • The CoP engaged a consultant from the Stanford d.school K12lab to support the design and development. • CoP members are encouraged to become “official” collaborators based on their expertise and interest. They are involved in the planning and facilitation of the session. This has enhanced levels of engagement and provided members with opportunities to share first- hand knowledge and to develop facilitation skills. • The CoP Scope and Sequence (included in the Table 2 below) was developed collaboratively among members to address the ELQS: o ELQS 1: Safe and Supportive Environments o ELQS 6: Diversity, Access, and Equity o ELQS 9: Collaborative Partnerships

9/2/2020 10/7/2020 11/18/2020 12/2/2020 1/13/2021 High-level Goals Introduction to Equity Focus Equity Focus Social Emotional Design Thinking Learning Focus Workshop Workshop Workshop Design for Belonging

2/3/2021 3/3/2021 4/7/2021 5/5/2021 6/2/2021 Social Emotional Engagement Focus Engagement Focus Reflection & Reflection & Learning Focus Planning Focus Planning Focus Workshop Workshop Workshop Workshop Workshop Table 2: SJ Learns COP Scope and Sequence

Coding5K Challenge The Library is preparing to expand the application of the ELQS and the Digital Inclusion Quality Standards to the Coding5K Challenge. In Summer 2021, all SJPL Coding5K (C5K) Virtual Camps will complete the Quick CASP Assessment Tool, a summer program quality assessment tool. Camps will be assessed on the 12 program quality standards areas and rated according to the tool. Information from the assessment will identify program strengths and opportunities for growth as well as a Quality Improvement Plan. The information from the assessment tool will drive programmatic decisions, professional development, and conversations around growth of the program.

Pathways to Post-Academic Success – Graduating Ready for College and Career

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The Library strives to provides a continuum of college and career readiness program to youth and adults throughout the City. Students throughout the City may participate in programs like SJ Aspires or in their local Library Branch’s Teens Reach program, which provides volunteer, community engagement, and leadership opportunities to students. Furthermore, middle and high- school-aged children can visit TeenHQ at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library to access resources, equipment and programs such as computers, Makerspace, Gamer Lounge, and Recording Studio. During FY 2019-20 12,764 teens attended library programs and 1,769 teens volunteered 34,103 hours for the library.

Quality Standards

The College and Career Readiness Quality Standards (CCRQS)5, adopted by City Council in November 2020, were developed by an ad-hoc committee of college and career leaders from a variety of secondary schools, postsecondary schools, and nonprofit or governmental organizations that support college and career readiness. The Library will pilot the implementation of these standards through the San José Aspires (SJ Aspires) program in 2021, with a larger application to other college and career readiness programs to follow after the initial implementation.

SJ Aspires

For high-school aged students, the Library promotes post-secondary readiness by creating and managing a micro-scholarship program, SJ Aspires. While some of these programs are more limited than others, SJPL’s long-term goal is to create a clear pathway to college and career success regardless of a learner’s age or educational background.

Students at San José High School, Overfelt High School, and the Opportunity Youth Academy are currently participating in the SJ Aspires programs, which provides students with the opportunity to claim financial awards during their four years of high school. As part of the pilot program, students could earn up to $500 towards their post-secondary education. The expanded program will allow students to earn up to $5,000. The San José Public Library Foundation (SJPLF) is actively fundraising in support of this program with the goal of establishing an endowment so that SJ Aspires is a permanent opportunity for students throughout the City.

The pilot phase of the program concluded in FY 2019-20 with 232 registered users and $12,625 distributed in financial awards. Overall, SJ Aspires has distributed over $27,000 in financial awards to students in the program. For the pilot cohort, over 54% of the students came from three zip codes in San José: 95122, 95127, and 95116 (30%, 14%, and 10% respectively) with the next highest participation from 95148 with 5%. Demographically, SJ Aspires split about evenly between students who identified as male or female (48% and 49% respectively); students

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predominately identified as Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish Origin (71%), Asian (19%), or Black or African American (5%); 82% stated that they would be First-Generation College Students; and 55% of the students said they intended to enroll in a Community College after graduating from high school and 37% intended to enroll in four-year college or university. Please note, all gender, race and ethnicity, first-generation status, and postsecondary plans were self-reported by students as part of the pilot. Not all students answered each question, and students could enter multiple races or ethnicities.

Career Online High School

Adult learners in San José without a high school diploma can enroll in the Library’s Career Online High School (COHS) program. Through COHS, students can earn a high school diploma and a career certificate in one of nine high-demand career fields. All COHS students receive a scholarship to cover the cost of the program; the program may take students up to 18 months to complete. The Library hosts bi-annual commencements to celebrate recent graduates from the program. During FY 2019-20, 51 students were awarded scholarships and enrolled in COHS and 39 students graduated with a high school diploma and career certificate. In total, more than 100 students have earned their degree through COHS. In the last year, SJPL began piloting a Working Scholars program. This program was made available to graduates of the COHS program and allows students the opportunity to obtain their college diploma virtually. This program is managed in partnership with Study.com, and with support from San Jose Public Library Foundation. Six students enrolled in the Working Scholars program during the 2019- 2020 fiscal year. Of these students, two are on track to complete the first portion of the program in 2021.

San José Works Youth Jobs Initiative

San José Works - Youth Jobs Initiative is a partnership between work2future and the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force (MGPTF), which began in FY 2015-16 and is currently in its sixth year. A complete report on programs and services in FY 2019-20 was presented to the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee in November 20206.

Due to COVID-19, approximately 80% of the internships are virtual/remote or hybrid positions. An example of some of the companies that have participated to date include: Ignited, Italian American Foundation, Delta Machine, BeWell Insurance, JP Graphics, NK Technologies, Better Business Bureau, Millers Vinyl Graphics, Conklin Brothers, Catholic Charities, Boys & Girls Club, District 10, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, Opportunity Youth Academy, San José Public Library, Emma P. Park, Bright Futures, and Project Hope.

In early 2020, San José Works introduced a pilot mentoring program to complement the subsidized program curricula on job readiness, workplace skills, financial literacy, career

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exploration, academic and life skills. The goal was to match youth participants with mentors that match their academic and career aspirations.

Experienced professionals and retired community leaders from some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent companies such as Intel and Western Digital served as mentors to interns, offering guidance and serving as role models. Each week for one month, mentors and interns, paired based on common interests, meet virtually in small groups for an hour to talk about career choices, workplace skills, and how to turn a setback into an opportunity. The mentors were instrumental in fostering the students’ professional and personal growth: They guided the students through topics, ranging from developing productive social and emotional skills to exploring career interests. By sharing their experiences, the mentors were able to develop a positive rapport with the students which in turn helped them develop their communication and critical thinking skills. The result: most students felt that the program increased their self- confidence in talking to new people, especially adults. Moving forward, the program will focus on the mentor-student component as it is instrumental in enhancing one-on-one relationships and engagement, and further capacity and sustainability.

The unsubsidized program is open to San José residents between the ages of 16 and 29; clients in search of employment or employment services are directly paid by the employer when hired. To date, 106 clients have enrolled in the unsubsidized program where they receive employment services such as resume building, mock interview practice, job search, access to job fairs and job leads, and Metrix learning certification. Full time or part-time employment is obtained either independently or with the help of a San José Works job coach. An example of some of the companies that have participated to date include: Via Systems, Kaiser Permanente, Naprotek, and the United States Postal Service.

College and Career Readiness in Fiscal Year 2020-21

The CCRQS will be used to evaluate a focused number of City programs in 2021 and become the basis for all City sponsored college and career readiness programs in the future. SJPL is also leading the effort to develop a City-wide logic model for college and career programs, to further streamline college and career pathways for all San José residents.

SJ Aspires is undergoing a large expansion and has enrolled approximately 675 students from three partner schools: San José High School, Overfelt High School, and the Opportunity Youth Academy. The program is looking to expand to other nonprofit partners that work with underserved or high needs students. Students in 9th or 10th grades are the focus of this expansion enabling more students to have the opportunity to earn $5,000.

In addition, COHS staff are working with outside partners to create a stronger referral network for students into the program. This will increase the reach of the COHS program and allow the library to promote its 1:1 tutoring to potential partners who may not be familiar with the program.

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For FY 2020-21, 265 SJ Works youth have participated in the subsidized program which is a paid internship for youth between the ages of 14 to 18 in San José. Subsidized employment opportunities include the direct placement of youth in high growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, business/financial services, construction, health care and social assistance, and information and communications technology. To date for FY 2020-21, the SJ Works 6.0 Youth Jobs Initiative has provided subsidized and unsubsidized employment opportunities to 471 participants with a target of 1,000 eligible youth to date. The subsidized spring cohort currently has 102 applications, which may increase the 265 total to 372. Onboarding will begin the week of March 8, 2021 to complete the FY 2020-21 6.0 program year.

SJ Works will provide services to 1,000 youth virtually however the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the year end results.

Digital Equity & Literacy – Ensuring Access, Affordability, and Adoption

In support of the EDL Strategy and Digital Equity goals, the City is committed to providing quality digital connectivity, resources, and programs to San José residents. In the context of social distancing and in-person services interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital connectivity has become a lifeline for residents to access essential services and participate in our community.

On February 12, 2019 the City Council approved the Digital Inclusion Fund (DIF) program and engaged the California Emerging Technologies Fund (CETF) to assist in managing grantmaking to community-based organizations (CBOs) and public agencies in order to achieve the overall goal of connecting 50,000 households to the internet and ensuring that these households are digitally proficient in key skill areas. On February 25, 2020, the City Council awarded $1M in 23 Digital Inclusion Grants to achieve 4,000 Full Adoptions, defined as households connected to the internet and digitally proficient in key skill areas. In accordance with the San José Education Policy 0-30 and the City’s commitment to ensuring quality educational programming for its residents, the Digital Literacy Quality Standards (DLQS) were developed by an Ad Hoc Committee led by the Library and approved by City Council on May 19, 20207.

Digital Literacy Quality Standards Progress

The DLQS were designed to serve as an overall programmatic guide and continuous quality improvement tool by defining standards and identifying strategies to improve the quality of digital literacy programs. It is intended for programs that promote digital skills for students and community members, which are City-sponsored, meaning the programs are operated by, funded by, or offered in partnership with City staff or using City assets. Through the use of the DLQS,

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the City will be home to residents who are capable of and eager to utilize the many available online and digital resources.

Each Standard Area is equally important in providing the framework for building quality digital literacy programming. As outlined, the DLQS are organized into three (3) categories that make up a Quality Continuum, measuring progressive levels of program quality.

Digital Inclusion Fund Grant Progress- SJPL

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work on the DIF grant in FY 2019-20 evolved from the originally proposed program methods to one that would be safe for staff and residents in accordance with State and County health guidelines, as well as meeting the changing needs of our community.

During FY 2019-20, 35 laptops were purchased with DIF grant funds in anticipation of the device kit circulation pilot program and an additional 200 refurbished devices were purchased through partner Tech Exchange. These devices were then prepared to be used in the loan-to-own portion of SJPL’s DIF program. Provided to high-needs families with K-12 children in the home, these devices allow them to complete a six-hour Digital Literacy course and participate in vital activities such as distance learning, telehealth, work from home, and more.

SJPL staff worked to adapt the in-person Digital Literacy workshop curricula to an online learning platform, Articulate, which allows participants to move through each module from the safety of their own home. This online course was pre-loaded onto both the circulation laptops and the loan-to-own devices to ensure ease of access for program participants.

FY 2019-20 also provided SJPL an important opportunity to build and strengthen new and existing community partnerships in order to better reach the communities with the highest need for these services. Partnerships with organizations such as local education agencies (LEAs), fellow DIF grantee Tech Exchange, and the CalWorks social services agency, provided SJPL with new opportunities to reach families at this difficult time.

Digital Inclusion Grant Progress - PRNS

To expand efforts in addressing the digital divide and social isolation, particularly among older adults, PRNS was awarded a grant of $49,000 in December 2020 from Sourcewise. PRNS staff will leverage these funds with a $25,000 grant from CETF, 100 digital devices from AT&T Tech for Good, and a $46,000 Kaiser Foundation grant to provide a comprehensive approach to

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increase access to digital devices and affordable internet services, as well as address the digital inclusion and literacy gaps among older adults, youth, and low-resourced communities.

Connectivity and Device Access

The work to connect students and households was a high priority in the City’s emergency response. Staff worked diligently to identify the needs of students and families, and worked with partners to explore partnerships, using data to target high-impact opportunities. In late April, a Digital Inclusion (DI) Branch was activated within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) involving staff from the Library, Office of Civic Innovation, and Information Technology Department. The DI Branch team explored numerous potential approaches for expanding resident access to broadband connectivity, with a focus on connecting low-income households and under-resourced communities. The most promising and timely opportunities included: facilitation of the full buildout of Community Wi-Fi in partnership with East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD); enhancing outdoor Wi-Fi capabilities at City facilities; proposed pilot programs in partnership with telecommunications providers; and ongoing support for device donation activities through refurbishment.

The Schools-City Collaborative Committee was leveraged to support the Connectivity, Inclusion, and Access Forum (Forum) in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education. The Forum, held in June 2020, provided information on the development of partnerships like the East Side Wi-Fi program, information on the current need for devices and connectivity of San José’s students, as well as digital access needs throughout Santa Clara County.

Hotspots Partnership

In June and September 2020, the City Council approved an agreement and amendment, respectively, with AT&T to provide 15,800 high-end hotspots with unlimited 4G LTE data plans to unconnected and under-connected students and residents in San José. AT&T included an in- kind contribution of over $5 million, including donating the hotspot hardware, a discounted unlimited data plan, and direct deployment support and technical assistance from AT&T.

In partnership with SCCOE, the City distributed hotspots to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) based on their understanding of families requesting or identifying a connectivity barrier preventing their student from engaging in distance learning. 12,800 hotspots were distributed to LEAs from the total purchase of 15,800 hotspots. Staff has provided ongoing training, engagement, need assessment, distribution monitoring, technical assistance, and record management support to LEA staff. On March 18, 2021 the Schools-City Collaborative will hold a special convening to support LEA executives with planning for academic year 2021-2022 connectivity support.

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A total of 3,000 hotspots are currently circulating through SJPL. As of March 10, 82% of devices are checked out. Staff has received survey responses from borrowers that the primary use of their library hotspot device was for distance learning. Staff is working to understand how to determine and support K-12 students that received a device from the Library rather than their school, such as automatically extending the loan terms to the end of the school year.

Community Wi-Fi Partnership with East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD)

Staff coordinated with City departments, ESUHSD, and the SCCOE to develop a strategic approach to expanding on the Access East Side Community Wi-Fi project to eight high school attendance areas in the district. Through shared investment, these networks are projected to serve both the ESUHSD academic community and approximately 305,790 individuals when completed.

The James Lick, Overfelt, and Yerba Buena High School attendance areas networks are currently online and operational. Independence and Andrew P. Hill attendance area networks are currently being designed, and the Oak Grove attendance area network design will begin in April 2021. Staff expects construction to begin for the Independence attendance area in Summer 2021 and come online in late-Fall 2021. Staff is currently working to identify funding and a timeline for installing fiber to the Mt. Pleasant attendance area, which will provide connectivity to the Silver Creek attendance area as well. Additional updates on this infrastructure expansion will be brought to the City Council in April 2021.

Enhanced Outdoor Wi-Fi at Libraries and Community Centers

Beginning in October 2020, Library Information Technology (Library IT) and PRNS staff worked with the City’s Information Technology Department (ITD) and Public Works to strengthen and expand outdoor Wi-Fi into public spaces around and at the following public buildings: • Libraries: Alviso, Joyce Ellington, Educational Park, Alum Rock, Evergreen, Hillview, Bascom, East Branch, and Biblioteca Latino Americana. • Community Centers: Alma, Alum Rock Youth Center, Cypress, Evergreen, Gardner, Mayfair, Willow Glen These sites were identified using an equity review of census data, including: the density of K-12 students, households without a computer, households without internet, and poverty rates, in addition to infrastructure constraints related to fiber backhaul available. Wireless Access Points were installed at each location and configured to utilize the facilities’ fiber backhaul, providing at least 1Gbps at each Library location and up to 100mbps at Community Centers. Coverage at each location includes the parking lots, public spaces, and some additional areas within 100 yards of each Access Point. As of February 5, 2021, all sites are operational. SJPL has indoor

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Wi-Fi at all 25 Library locations. Additional investment is necessary to establish Wi-Fi network capacity at many PRNS locations. Digital Inclusion in FY 2020-21

Work on DIF Grant programs, the DLQS implementation plan/assessment tool rollout, and Digital Inclusion goals and services through the City’s Emergency Operations Branch will continue through FY 2020-21, as outlined in the Digital Inclusion memo presented to the Neighborhood Services and Education (NSE) Committee in March 20218.

In addition, SJPL staff developed a two-year digital inclusion work plan to implement beginning FY 2021-2022. The theory of change guiding the plan is as follows: The City of San José will reduce San José’s Digital Divide by targeting historically underserved community groups to provide learning opportunities, access to tech equipment and digital resource information in order to advance social and economic equality.

The SJ Access initiative will expand to serve at least 2,500 patrons through a range of materials, services and programs that follow the City’s 3 A’s digital inclusion framework: Access to devices, information about Affordable and sustainable connectivity options and skills-building opportunities that lead to long-term digital Adoption.

SJPL has identified four main strategic objectives to reach this goal: • 500 Adult Learners demonstrate Digital Literacy proficiency resulting from SJPL programming, in alignment with DLQS; • SJPL provides access to digital tools to 2,500 community members; • SJPL prepares a diverse next generation of tech leaders through Coding 5K and STEM programming for youth; and, • SJPL develops additional resources to support community with ongoing tech support.

SJPL will continue to invest in areas to ensure meaningful long-term impact. Digital Literacy classes will focus on reaching adult Learners with little-to-no and intermediate tech skills, including specialized workshops on practical applications such as online banking, tele- health services, and job seeker support. Based on overwhelming support from patrons expressed during SJ Access Community Conversations, SJPL will maintain 2,000 hotspots and add 1,000 computing devices as part of the Library circulation materials in the next fiscal year. SJPL will also continue to build on its successful Coding and STEM programming to support the diversification of the tech workforce by prioritizing learning opportunities for youth that identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx and from other Communities of Color, as well as gender diversity. Offering technical support and opportunities to develop digital literacy skills has been vital to the success of SJ Access programs.

8 City of San José - File #: CC 21-049 (legistar.com)

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This scope of work was formed based on the first six months of implementing the SJ Access initiative, as well as feedback gathered from community members, Local Education Agencies and other digital inclusion stakeholders.

Policy and Governance

In the EDL Strategy, City Council authorized the development of an Education Policy intended to: establish the City’s core values and perspective on education as a significant indicator of quality of life; provide a framework for citywide governance and administration of this cross- departmental work; guide the City’s ongoing engagement with community and education stakeholders; and ensure that rigorous evaluation and oversight is provided to ensure accountability for program quality and the expenditure of resources.

The Education Policy is driven by four core values:

• Equity of access to quality educational experiences for all children of San José is essential and must be cultivated by actively removing barriers; • Opportunity to experience a wide variety of educational options extended to all learners, connecting students to skills-based learning, mentors, and potential career pathways; • Quality of program offerings must be aligned with evidence-based practice and include the application of standards for student learning and assessment of program efficacy; and • Accountability to our youth and their families with rigorous oversight through outcomes- based reporting along-side data on the resource investment in learning and education.

Since May 2018, the Library has conducted outreach to more than 60 organizations and interviews with key stakeholders. The programmatic focus and framework of the Education Policy was reviewed with NSE Committee in November 2018 and feedback was incorporated, with an initial goal of returning to City Council in spring 2019. However, since that time, significant City Council actions introduced related priorities in enhancing early care and education options and allocation of resources toward educational initiatives. As such, the Education Policy was also crafted to address relevant items in areas of land use, transportation, infrastructure, and resource allocation, and approved by Council in February 20209.

Joint School/Library Card Initiative

In FY 2019-20, SJPL has partnered with 14 LEAs to provide students with a joint library and school ID card which ensures more students in San José will have access to the resources and services offered by SJPL.

Distribution and Promotion

9 Education Policy.pdf

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SJPL has created multiple options for the delivery of the Student Library Card to local schools. LEAs such as Moreland Unified School District and Union School District opted to create a student-designed card while other districts have chosen to use school identification numbers to create a unique library card number for each student that follows the student through their academic career. Based on the unique needs of the school districts, students have received welcome and information kits regarding how to access the Library and its resources. Students and their families may access information about their Student Library Card anytime10 which includes detailed instructions for logging into their accounts and using Library resources. SJPL has worked closely with districts to ensure that all card information is received by the students.

School School Local Education Agency Enrolled Students Active Student Library Cards Type Campuses Alpha Public Schools Charter 4 1,619 1632 Alum Rock Union School Public 29 10,264 9,462 District Discovery Charter I & II Charter 2 1,150 1,095 Franklin-McKinley Public 16 9,775 Pending School District Luther Burbank School Public 1 517 521 District Moreland School District Public 7 4,683 4186 Mt Pleasant Public 5 2,110 2103 Elementary School District Rocketship Public Schools Charter 10 5,516 5492 San José Unified School Public 41 30,172 29,586 District Union School District Public 8 5,860 5884

114 66,880 59,961 TABLE 3: Student Library Cards by school district 2019-20

Outreach to students

In FY 2019-20, SJPL outreached to students about library services and materials by hosting 117 in-person class visits serving 5267 students in San José. In spring 2020, SJPL worked to ensure that students and families continued to have access to resources and materials as they adjust to learning from home. Librarians provided virtual class visits, joined teachers for virtual storytimes during class Zoom sessions, provided Library information via newsletter to school staff, and attended virtual school staff meetings to provide information about the Student Library Card and electronic resources. From March-June 2020, the Library hosted 146 Virtual Class Visits reaching 3,650 students.

Library Cards FY 2020-21

10 San José Student Library Card | San José Public Library (sjpl.org)

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Partnerships In Academic Year 2020-21, the Library continued to develop partnerships to provide Student Library Cards to more students. Partnerships with additional LEAs include:

School School Enrolled Local Education Agency Status Type Campuses Students Berryessa Union School Public 14 6,842 Pending data transfer District Cambrian School District Public 6 3,366 2,717 Eastside High School Public 26 26,537 Pending MOU District Evergreen School District Public 18 10,462 Pending MOU Downtown College Prep Charter 4 1,823 1,759 Franklin McKinley School Public 15 9,775 6,720 District KIPP San José Charter 1 - Pending MOU Oak Grove School District Public 18 9,757 9428 102 68,562 TABLE 4: Student Library Cards by school district 2020-21

Educator e-Card SJPL introduced an Educator e-Card in November 2020 in order to provide educators in the City of San José increased access to library resources and further support the needs of their students. The Educator e-Card provides an extended checkout period and no accrual of fines on overdue materials. In addition to physical learning materials, the Educator e-Card will allow teachers working in distance learning or alternative settings to access online resources and databases to support classroom curricula. To date, 77 San José educators have library cards and library staff are working with school districts for additional outreach to educators.

Assessing Student Usage and Impact Through the upcoming fiscal year, the Library will continue to assess student usage and the impact of the Student Library Card, including feedback from participating school districts.

While significant progress has been made in the first year of implementing the EDL Strategy action items, staff will focus on continued efforts to fully implement the programs described in this memorandum, move into assessment and evaluation, collect data, and initiate actions that are yet to be addressed.

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

As the City’s lead for the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy, the Library will work with PRNS and other applicable departments to assess the implementation of the Education and Digital Literacy Strategy and report assessments annually to the Library and Education Commission and the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee.

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/s/ Jill Bourne City Librarian

For questions, please contact Ann Grabowski, [email protected] or Vidya Kilambi, [email protected].

Attachment A R.O.C.K and Learn Program data

R.O.C.K ‘n’ Learn unduplicated enrollment demographics

Gender M 358 Zip Codes 95008 2 F 290 95035 6 U 28 95037 1 676 95050 2 95051 2 Ages 95110 13 4 3 95111 33 5 45 95112 52 6 86 95116 85 7 99 95117 15 8 110 95118 2 9 94 95119 2 10 85 95120 4 11 66 95121 22 12 51 95122 84 13 33 95123 31 14 3 95124 17 15 1 95125 27 676 95126 17 95127 107 District 95128 42 1 17 95130 2 2 40 95131 13 3 75 95132 17 4 52 95133 19 5 202 95134 1 6 77 95135 5 7 90 95136 23 8 48 95138 3 9 38 95139 4 10 31 95148 23 Out of City 6 676 676

R.O.C.K ‘n’ Learn enrollment by session

R.O.C.K. 'n' Full Day Pods Full Day Afterschool Afterschool Total Pods Total Learn Enrollment Pods Enrollment Enrollment Session 1 14 119 4 25 18 144 Session 2 22 225 5 24 27 249 Session 3 28 318 4 23 32 341 Session 4 31 361 4 31 35 392 Session 5 32 366 3 24 35 390 Session 6 34 359 2 11 36 370 Session 7 36 405 1 8 37 413 Session 8 37 420 1 12 38 432