Santa Clara County Voter's Guide On Children's Issues

Santa Clara County Board of Education, Trustee Area 1

Grace H Mah

https://www.GraceMah2024.org

I am a champion for all children, working to provide an excellent education that all students and families deserve in Santa Clara County. I support parents and families in under-resourced communities to be engaged with their children's education. And I value recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers, who are the heart of every school.

  1. Over 80% of voters polled say they want elected officials to prioritize children and families. What are the top three issues affecting our children and families and how will you make our region a place where all families can thrive?

    1. The living wage gap of working parents and the resulting housing shortage and food insecurity affect our children and our region. General Basic Income programs would help immensely.
    2. Inadequate teaching and learning in literacy, especially for our English Language Learners, of whom we have a large population. Over 50% of our students are not reading at grade level in California. Emphasizing the Science of Reading methodology will increase academic achievement.
    3. Implementing universal preschool for all of Santa Clara County will help families, children, earning income mothers, increasing economic stimulation for our communities.

  2. High quality childcare improves school readiness and parents' workforce participation. What will you do to improve access to high quality childcare and preschool programs in our diverse communities?

    I co-founded the Strong Start Coalition, a group of cross-sector private and public organizations, to increase the opportunities for early learning for all 0 - 8 year olds in Santa Clara County. We advocated for funding ECE in all areas (reimbursement rates, facilities planning, teacher pay and professional develop, as well as tuition reimbursement, etc.) in all City Council and School Board meetings in Santa Clara County. We had a yearly Lobby Day in Sacramento with strong attendance of Strong Start members. I’m working with Margaret Brodkin of Funding the Next Generation to plan revenue-generating tax measures to bring Universal Preschool to Santa Clara County.

  3. Much of the student achievement gap has been linked to the opportunity gap that children in low-income families and children of color confront (e.g., lack of access to healthy food, preschool, tutors, and enrichment activities). If elected, what will you do to increase equity of opportunity?

    As mentioned above, I will work on advocating for Basic Needs assistance and programs through schools to help alleviate the opportunity gap for low-income children. Concerning education, I support good public schools, local districts and charter schools, which consistently achieve outstanding academic outcomes for their students. I champion innovation in education and accountability for all public school charter schools so children in underserved communities have equal access to a quality education.

  4. What steps will you take to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with disabilities and their families in our community?

    I proposed the SCCOE conduct a study of its special education department by an external research group, much like the study conducted 10 years ago for our alternative education department. The altEd study by WestEd included focus group meetings at each alternative school, including parents, students, and staff. I attended all focus groups and found WestEd’s work was excellent. The study recommendations were the basis for improvements for many years. My proposed Special Education study has the same purpose: listen to parents, students, and staff; compare our program with other counties, SELPAs, etc., and work toward incorporating best practices and process improvements for the next 5 yrs.

  5. If elected, how will you use the resources of your new role to improve children's well-being and access to mental and behavioral health services?

    The SCCOE has been instrumental in providing mental health wellness centers at middle schools and high schools throughout Santa Clara County. Through creative funding and winning grants, the wellness centers are helping children in secondary schools address and recover from
    1. The trauma of the pandemic, 2. Isolation and loneliness from relying too much on cell phones and social media and 3. The prevalence and availability of opioids, fentanyl, marijuana, and alcohol.

    Increasing awareness for parents, teachers, students, and the community is key to helping our youth survive these difficult times. I am working with one of my colleagues and the superintendent to create a Youth Health Summit.