- #TeachBCSD
- Our District
Our District
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Located in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in the county of Kern, the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) is the largest elementary school district in California, serving approximately 30,000 students across 44 schools. The district operates on an annual General Fund Budget of over $400 million with approximately 3,000 personnel. Of the district’s approximate 30,700 students, 79% are Hispanic with 9% white and 8% African American. The remaining 4% are primarily Asian, Filipino, and American Indian/Alaskan. Almost 30% of the district’s students are classified as English Language Learners and almost 90% of the district’s students receive free or reduced lunches. BCSD is governed by a publicly-elected five-member Board of Education consisting of community members living within the boundaries of the school district.
Our History
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Established in 1867, what is now the Bakersfield City School District was known as the Kern River Island School District. During its first year of operation, the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) in the Kern River Island District was seventeen students. The name of the school district was shortened to Kern Island School District in 1868 and it retained that name until 1882 when it became the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD).
By 1900, BCSD educated 566 students at three schools. Flash forward 120 years, and the Bakersfield City School District is the largest K-8 school in California, serving more than 30,000 students at 44 school sites.
Our vision in the Bakersfield City School District is to be the model of educational excellence, equity, and innovation. With a staff of more than 4,000, we work daily to achieve our mission, to educate all students at the highest levels of academic excellence to become collaborative, creative, and critical thinkers.
Guiding Values
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Values
The Bakersfield City School District is committed to strong values that guide our daily behavior toward student success. The Bakersfield City School District Board of Education defines how we must work with our students, colleagues, and community through the following core values:- Equity: To ensure students and adults receive impartial treatment and that students have access to educational opportunities according to their unique needs.
- Integrity: To demonstrate honesty, trustworthiness, and strong moral principles.
- Caring: To treat others with empathy and genuine concern for their well-being.
- Collaboration: To work jointly towards common goals through the sharing of our responsibilities, knowledge, and experiences.
- Personal and Collective Accountability: To honor our obligations and take ownership of our actions and results.
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Vision
Our vision in Bakersfield City School District is to be the model of educational excellence, equity, and innovation.
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Mission
Bakersfield City School District’s mission is to educate all students at the highest levels of academic excellence to become collaborative, creative, and critical thinkers.
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District Goals
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Academic Achievement: Establish a culture of high-quality teaching and learning through individual and collective accountability with high expectations for all students.
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Social-Emotional Learning: Ensure a safe, healthy, and secure environment for all students, parents, guardians, and employees.
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Family and Community Engagement: Ensure all parents and community members are welcomed and engaged in the learning process.
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Core Priorities
Priority 1: A Culture of Collective EfficacyWe believe in the collective capacity of our staff and the ability of staff at each school to positively affect student achievement.Priority 2: A Culture of Teaching and LearningWe believe grade-level mastery of content standards (Language, Literacy, Mathematics, and the Sciences) are critical for college and career readiness.Priority 3: A Culture of Student-Centered SchoolsWe believe in the power of relationships, the importance of teaching self-awareness and self-management techniques leading to responsible decision making to support the development of the whole child to compete in our global economy.Priority 4: A Culture of Access and Inclusion to Ensure a Multi-Tiered System of Supports for All LearnersWe believe implementing a coherent system is vital to meet the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of all students. -
Blueprint for Academic Success
Effective LeadersEffective Leaders ensure a safe and nurturing educational environment in which all students receive high-quality instruction resulting in academic excellence.- Conduct daily classroom observations to monitor school climate, culture, and instruction.
- Empower the collective efficacy of all staff by promoting and supporting site-based professional learning academies.
- Participate in continuous learning to strengthen their leadership and pedagogical skills.
Effective TeachersEffective Teachers provide access to a guaranteed and viable curriculum for all students resulting in academic excellence.- Communicate the importance of a student-centered culture through positive relationships with students and families.
- Strengthen collective efficacy through collaboration, collective accountability, and implementing research-based high leverage strategies.
- Empower teacher leadership through our TAC, TLT (ELA/ELD, Math, Tech, SEL), and site leadership teams.
Targeted Student Support Systems
Targeted Student Support Systems provide a systematic multi-tiered system of support with comprehensive services that address the needs of the whole student.- Ensure coherent system-wide practice of meeting the academic, health, and social-emotional needs of all students through efficacious grade level and school-wide teams.
- Strengthen access to core programs through research-based effective interventions related to literacy and numeracy.
- Support inclusive access to academic programs utilizing schoolwide approaches to promote student learning and high achievement for all students.
School Culture, Climate, and SafetySchool Culture, Climate, and Safety are centered on all students and adults receiving a welcoming, safe, and nurturing learning environment.- Ensure implementation of the standard response protocol for District emergency procedures through regularly scheduled drills.
- Strengthen meaningful relationships within and across the school and District community.
- Support staff to ensure all classrooms are conducive to student learning
Family and Community EngagementFamily and Community Engagement is dedicated to empowering our families, community members, and schools.- Expand our Parent University program to strengthen connections between school and home.
- Ensure FACE liaisons & office assistants at school sites support the improvement of student attendance.
- Empower Parents As Leaders to promote leadership.
