The K-16 Collaborative Fund has already begun showing a strong impact in the region. One example is the partnership with Mark Twain Elementary School in Calaveras County through the Steps to Educational Pathway Success Project (STEPS).
The project has two interconnected components:
- Academic Intervention – targeted support to strengthen reading and math skills.
- Peer Tutoring – a Peer Tutor Core from Bret Harte High School works alongside the intervention teacher at Mark Twain Elementary, providing mentorship and reinforcing key skills.
This collaborative approach is already producing noticeable results. While the State of California typically expects student performance to increase by about three points per year in each subject area, Mark Twain far exceeded those benchmarks in 2024-25:
- English Language Arts (ELA): +34 points
- Math: +18 points
- Science: +6 points
These impressive gains reflect a strong commitment from teachers, students, and families. By fostering a culture that takes learning and testing seriously, the MTUESD community has strengthened not only academic performance but also community pride and confidence in local schools.
District leaders credit this success to the collective effort of educators and parents who held students accountable to high standards. The results place MTUESD among the ranks of high-performing districts and highlight the power of strong community support for education.
As one outside observer recently noted:
“I enjoy reading your district weekly updates! You’ve got the surrounding counties talking about the great changes you’ve made.”
K-16 is working. The combination of innovative projects like STEPS and strong district leadership is helping shape not only higher test scores, but also future leaders.
