San José pays considerable attention to its school age population and the Smart Start San José program is a good example of the City’s innovative efforts in school reform. Smart Start San José helps prepare children for academic, social/emotional, and ultimately, lifelong success by expanding the number of accessible, affordable, quality early care and education (child care) spaces in the City. The program has also developed kindergarten readiness criteria and an accompanying assessment tool in alignment with the California Department of Education Pre-K Learning and Development Guidelines. The City trains early childhood education professionals and kindergarten teachers on the kindergarten readiness criteria and use of the assessment tool. This training also helps early childhood education professionals and kindergarten teachers understand the importance of and how to prepare for a smooth transition for children entering kindergarten from another early care environment.

Smart Start San José is a multi-agency educational collaboration. Partners include the San José school districts, the City of San José, San José Public Library, Santa Clara County Office of Education, Head Start, local community colleges, IBM Corporation, Goodwill of Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara County Health Trust, and parents and early childhood development professionals. Smart Start San José partners all contribute program operation funds and in-kind contributions of land and utilities as well as family support programs. IBM donates Young Explorer computers to each center site and provides training for teaching staff in using this technology with young children. In partnership with Santa Clara County Health Trust, community health centers are being located next to Smart Start San José centers to facilitate access to family health services.

For older school-aged children, the 21st Century Education Program meets the structural and academic needs of students who have been unsuccessful in their regular schools. 21st Century program sites are located throughout the community, off school grounds, and are operated by community-based agencies. They provide a system of learning and student support that offers young people options in terms of time, place, programs, and formats in order to help them achieve their learning goals. 21st Century increases the number of students who obtain GEDs or high school diplomas, and increases the number of students who are placed in meaningful employment or seek higher education.