By San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini
May 1, 2006

As mayor of San Juan, I have proposed the establishment of a new independent educational system for my city, tailored to the needs, interests, and aspirations of its school-age population in response to the abysmal conditions of the public schools. Neither I, nor the municipal government of San Juan, remain indifferent to the deterioration of the public education system in Puerto Rico and the repercussions to the city’s social and economic fabric, and its public safety. Students from low-income families will comprise 70 percent of the enrollment, and the system will provide them with financial assistance. This new education system will integrate all educational levels – infant development, pre'school, elementary, secondary, and post'secondary – promoting continuity in advancement.

Our children, students and schools are in crisis. I received the results of a needs study, statistics from the U.S. Census and U.S. Department of Education, and study findings on the progress and achievements of the current educational process in San Juan. These indicate the following:

• 11 percent of the school age population (ages 5 to 19) is not enrolled in school.

• Public school enrollment has decreased steadily since 1972, stabilizing at 50,000 students since 1999.

• 21 percent of students starting elementary school, 12 percent of students starting intermediate school and 29 percent of students starting high school will not complete the level.

• Close to 7 percent of all active students are not promoted to the next grade, and 20 percent of those had to stay in the same grade for two years or more.

• Test score reports show that 23 percent of students have poor academic performance.

• Results of the Puerto Rican Test for School Competency indicate that up to 65 percent of students lack the skills and competencies corresponding to the school grade and basic courses for which they were tested.

• 61 percent of San Juan’s public schools do not satisfy required performance levels according to the parameters established in the No Child Left Behind Act. Most of these schools, primarily Junior High Schools (7th -9th) and Senior High Schools (10th -12th), are now in the improvement plan status. If these schools do not improve significantly in a period of two years, the state will be required to take drastic measures, such as: reconstitute the school, changing individual school administrators and faculty, offer parents the choice to attend other schools, allow for another local entity to take over the school, find a private administrator, or close the school.

Since I don’t believe in waiting for the other shoe to drop, as mayor, I have asked the municipal government to take the necessary steps to actively pursue educational independence. Even though the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is responsible for public education, the Municipal Government of San Juan needs to be the proponent to remedy this situation. This has led the way for the creation of a municipal education code for San Juan by its city government, and the establishment of an independently operated municipal public education system detached from the Puerto Rico Department of Education. This new public school system would be governed by a local board of education that will set the administrative and academic norms.

I have proposed that the new San Juan Municipal Education System begin operations for the 2006-2007 school year. It will have its own distinct educational culture that will:

• Promote holistic and broad-based development of students by offering additional academic programs in sports, fine arts and culture, technology, and provide extended opportunities for teaching and learning tailored to the needs of students, parents, and the community.

• Give courses in English and Spanish which will allow students to search for knowledge through their own quest, and teachers to be facilitators of the educational process.

• Use an integrated curricular model strengthened with the use of computers and other technologies with scientifically proven effectiveness.

• Include ethics and morals as modular components of the curricular design including a course within the curriculum on Reflection, Ethics and Social Skills.

• Prepare students to continue their education at community college, university, technical college or a technically certified career.

• Involve teachers in activities related to the well-being and integral development of their students and the community.

• Base testing for skills and knowledge on the analysis of problems and situations, as opposed to memorization and concept repetition, and link the curriculum to the required skills and knowledge for postsecondary education and the world of work.

The goal is to stimulate a holistic and integrated approach to student development, establish quality interaction with knowledge systems, improve student retention and graduation rates, and instill in students an understanding of the benefits and a personal commitment to life-long learning. As in other American cities, the public schools in San Juan will be gradually reclaimed as an integral part of the city. In the end, we will have helped our children be prepared to face the challenges of their future. I believe if government, community, and parents work together, we will develop responsible citizens, productive leaders, and sensitive human beings with a life-long desire to learn, and a citizenry committed to its city.

For additional information on San Juan’s Municipal Education System, contact Julia I. Malavé-Vélez, Director, San Juan Municipal Education System at 787-723-1744.