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December 4, 2007

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor of California

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

As an organization of hundreds of Californias sheriffs, police chiefs, district attorneys and

crime survivors, we know that there is no substitute for tough law enforcement. But we also

know from years of crime-fighting experience and rigorous research evidence that, to

safeguard our communities, we need to take steps to prevent kids from ever becoming

involved in crime. This is why we are writing to express our support for your strongcommitment to education reform.

Education reform is a public safety issue. A good education is one of the most fundamental

crime-prevention tools available. Kids who stay in school and graduate are more likely to

become productive citizens, and less likely to turn to crime.

However, California suffers from high dropout rates. One out of every three high school

students does not graduate from high school, which in turn threatens public safety. Across

the country, 68 percent of state prison inmates did not receive a high school diploma.

Researchers studying the relationship between graduation and crime concluded that a

ten-percentage point increase in graduation rates would reduce murder and assault rates byabout 20 percent. This means that increasing graduation rates in California from 67 percent

to 77 percent would result in approximately 500 fewer murders and over 20,000 fewer

aggravated assaults each year.

As you move forward in designing your reform proposal, we encourage you to consider the

following:

There is an urgent need to act now to reform education in California. Rigorous research demonstrates that certain reformsincluding high-quality

preschool and smaller learning communitiescan improve graduation rates.

Other strategiesincluding dropout prevention and after-school programshave strong potential to increase graduation rates.

Effective student data collection is essential.Specifically:

There is an urgent need to act now to reform education in California.

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Every day, more kids drop out of school, and follow a path that too often leads to crime. If we act now, we can keep

more kids in school and our streets safer. We look forward to working with you to help ensure that 2008 is the year

of education reform.

Rigorous research demonstrates that certain reformsincluding high-quality preschool and smaller learning

communitiescan improve graduation rates

Education reform should begin before a child enters kindergarten. Effective preschool is one of the most effective

ways to get kids on the right path to graduation and success in life. Evidence from two long-term rigorous evaluations

of the effects of preschool also shows that high-quality preschool increases high school graduation rates by as much as

44 percent, while also cutting crime. A recent analysis from UC Santa Barbaras California Dropout Research Project

concluded that the High/Scope Perry Preschool program would yield 19 extra high school graduates for every

100 students served, and the Child-Parent Centers in Chicago would yield 11 extra high school graduates for every

100 students served.

Ensuring access to effective preschool, particularly for low-income children and children who are English language

learners, is critical to education reform. In addition, in order to ensure that preschool programs improve student

achievement, the state should:

Strengthen the skills of preschool teachers and provide adequate compensation to attract and retaineffective teachers;

Strongly incentivize parental involvement; and Screen children for child abuse and neglect and developmental problems and then provide linkages to

services.

Investing in small learning communities at middle schools and high schools with individualized monitoring and support

also boosts graduation rates significantly. For example, First Things First targets middle school and high school kids,

and consists of three major components: 1) small learning communities (a school within a school); 2) family advocates

paired with each student to monitor and assist in their progress; and 3) instructional improvement. Research shows this

model yields 16 extra high school graduates for every 100 participating students.

Other strategiesincluding dropout prevention and after-school programs have strong potential to increase

graduation rates

Investing in dropout prevention programs for middle schools and high school students is also critical. For example,Check & Connect uses monitors to check that high-risk middle and high school students are in school, then they

connect the students to needed services with the help of school personnel, family members, and community service

providers. One study found that 12th grade students in Check & Connect were 33 percent less likely to drop out of school

than students not in the program. Another study found that 9th grade students not in the program were three times more

likely to drop out.

As you know, after-school programs have potential to increase attendance, reduce dropouts and improve graduation rates.

For example, Blair High School in Pasadena offers credit reclamation classes after school to students who need core

curriculum credits in order to graduate. The program has been so successful that the school graduation rate was at 92%

in June 2005the highest it has been in 20 years. In fact, 30% of graduates at Blair High School were able to graduate

only because of the credit reclamation program.

FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS is proud to have had the opportunity to work closely with you in passing and implementing

Proposition 49. To ensure the continued success of Proposition 49, this state-funded program, like school-age child care

programs and many state-supported education programs, should be guaranteed a cost-of-living adjustment, so schools

continue to have sufficient funding to provide effective programs in the years ahead.

Effective student data collection is essential

California needs a comprehensive student data system to keep track of who is graduating and who is dropping out.

Thanks to your signing of SB 219, schools will now be required to collect dropout rates and include them in the Academic

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Performance Index. Only if graduation and dropout rates are effectively measured, can we identify which schools are,

or are not, succeeding at engaging struggling students, and then encourage implementation of the best practices.

We appreciate your strong support for funding of the California Pupil Achievement Data System. A properly funded data

collection system is necessary to ensure effective tracking of individual students, and we encourage you to continue to

make this a high priority.

Research-based education reform can both help students succeed and substantially improve public safety. We appreciate

your consideration of these priorities and we look forwarding to working with you to ensure that 2008 is the year of

meaningful education reform.

Sincerely,

Chief Jerry Adams Chief Randy G. Adams Chief Steve Adams

Lodi Police Department Glendale Police Department Upland Police Department

Chief Rick Alves Chief Michael Avery Chief Aaron Baker

Lake Shasta Police Department Ridgecrest Police Department Pittsburg Police Department

Chief Ken Barnes Chief Scott Berry Chief Landy Black

Alturas Police Department Truckee Police Department Davis Police Department

Chief Mitchel Brown Chief James Bueermann Chief Richard Bull

Oroville Police Department Redlands Police Department Ripon Police Department

Chief Thomas R. Bullard Chief Kevin Burke Chief Brad Burris

Rohnert Park Police Department Lakeport Police Department Stallion Springs Police Department

Chief Scott Capilla Chief Bob Carden Chief Gerald Carrigan

Red Bluff Police Department Visalia Police Department Paradise Police Department

Chief Stephen Cercone Chief Jim Copsey Chief Paul Cooper

Seaside Police Department Grover Beach Police Department Claremont Police Department

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Chief Joseph Cortez Chief John Couch Chief Garry Couso-Vasquez

Montebello Police Department Pismo Beach Police Department Atascadero Police Department

Chief John Crombach Chief Bruce Cumming Chief Timothy Dabney

Oxnard Police Department Morgan Hill Police Department Lompoc Police Department

Chief John DeRohan Chief Mark DeRosia Chief Pete Dunbar

Morro Bay Police Department Delano Police Department Pleasant Hill Police Department

Chief Dan Drummond Chief Jeff Dunn Chief Jerry Dyer

West Sacramento Police Department Kingsburg Police Department Fresno Police Department

Chief Richard Ehle Chief Fernando Estrella Chief Mark Evenson

Capitola Police Department Port Hueneme Police Department Brentwood Police Department

Chief Heather Fong Chief John Foster Chief Robert Garcia

San Francisco Police Department Grass Valley Police Department Azusa Police Department

Chief Mark Gillmore Chief Gregory Giusiana Chief Adolfo Gonzales

Brawley Police Department Gilroy Police Department National City Police Department

Chief Phillip Green Chief Dave Gundersen Chief Bruce Hagerty

Twin Cities Police Authority Blue Lake Police Department Chico Police Department

Chief Douglas Hambleton Chief Gary Hampton Chief Valerie Harris

Berkeley Police Department Turlock Police Department Auburn Police Department

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Chief Stanley Henry Chief Scott Holder Chief Steven Hood

Cathedral City Police Department San Ramon Police Department Petaluma Police Department

Chief Wayne Hose Chief Ken Hughes Chief James Hyde

Stockton Police Department Fairfax Police Department Antioch Police Department

Chief Timothy Jackman Chief Lynne Johnson Chief Roger Johnson

Santa Monica Police Department Palo Alto Police Department Monrovia Police Department

Chief Susan Jones Chief Keith Kilmer Chief Thomas Klose

Healdsburg Police Department Bell Gardens Police Department Sanger Police Department

Chief Joseph Kreins Chief Alan Lanning Chief Deborah Linden

Novato Police Department La Mesa Police Department San Luis Obispo Police Department

Chief David Livingston Chief Stephen Lodge Chief Edward Lopez

Concord Police Department Santa Clara Police Department Baldwin Park Police Department

Chief Richard J. Lyons Chief Dan Macagni Chief David Maggard

Maywood Police Department Santa Maria Police Department Irvine Police Department

Chief Chris Magnus Chief Susan Manheimer Chief Donald Mattei

Richmond Police Department San Mateo Police Department Belmont Police Department

Chief Allan McClain Chief Mace McIntosh Chief Chuck McMillan

Clearlake Police Department Sonora Police Department Porterville Police Department

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Chief Mike McQuiston Chief Terry Medina Chief Edward Medrano

Albany Police Department Watsonville Police Department Gardena Police Department

Chief Bernard Melekian Chief Richard Melton Chief Carlos Mestas

Pasadena Police Department Napa Police Department Hanford Police Department

Chief Patrick Miller Chief Don Mort Chief Jones Moy

Ventura Police Department Dixon Police Department Monterey Park Police Department

Chief Albert Njera Chief John Neu Chief Robert Nichelini

Sacramento Police Department Torrance Police Department Vallejo Police Department

Chief Martin Nicholas Chief George Nielsen Chief Matthew Odetto

Weed Police Department Placerville Police Department San Rafael Police Department

Chief Robert Ordelheide Chief Daniel Ortega Chief Scott Paulin

San Fernando Police Department Salinas Police Department Sausalito Police Department

Chief Joe Pecsi Chief Scott Pickwith Chief Mark Raffaelli

Bishop Police Department La Verne Police Department South San Francisco Police Department

Chief Bradley Ramos Chief Janet Rasmussen Chief Lisa Ravazza

Indio Police Department Hughson Police Department Piedmont Police Department

Chief Tony Ross Chief Greg Rothaus Chief Camerino Snchez

Tulelake Police Department San Carlos Police Department Santa Barbara Police Department

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Chief Randy Schienle Chief Scott Seaman Chief Joshua Short

Mammoth Lakes Police Department Los Gatos Police Department Etna Police Department

Chief David Singer Chief Ishmael Solis Chief Tom Sonoff

Whittier Police Department Parlier Police Department Signal Hill Police Department

Chief Frank Steenport Chief Greg Stewart Chief Carey Sullivan

Huron Police Department Union City Police Department Woodland Police Department

Chief Walter Tibbet Chief Robert Todd Chief Steve Towles

Alameda Police Department South Gate Police Department Vernon Police Department

Chief Michael Trevis Chief Tommy Tunson Chief Rod Uyeda

Huntington Park Police Department Arvin Police Department Manhattan Beach Police Department

Chief Jack Van Etten Chief Jay Varney Chief Brian Vizzusi

Burlingame Police Department Chowchilla Police Department Lincoln Police Department

Chief Paul Walters Chief Jeffrey Weaver Chief Dale Webb

Santa Ana Police Department Sebastopol Police Department Anderson Police Department

Chief Ken Weldon Chief John Welter Chief Chris Wenzel

El Monte Police Department Anaheim Police Department Danville Police Department

Chief Robert Whitney Chief Mark Wright Chief John Zapalac

Blythe Police Department Murrieta Police Department Woodlake Police Department

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Chief Ron Ace (Ret.) Chief Burnham Matthews (Ret.) Sheriff Greg Ahern

Concord Police Department Alameda Police Department Alameda County

Sheriff James Allen Sheriff John Anderson Sheriff Tom Allman

Mariposa County Madera County Mendocino County

Sheriff Leroy Baca Sheriff William Brown Sheriff Michael Carona

Los Angeles County Santa Barbara County Orange County

Sheriff Bill Cogbill Sheriff Lorrac Craig Sheriff Adam Christianson

Sonoma County Trinity County Stanislaus County

Sheriff Jim Denney Sheriff Robert Doyle Sheriff Steven Durfor

Sutter County Marin County Yuba County

Sheriff Curtis Hill Sheriff Larry Jones Sheriff William Kolender

San Benito County Glenn County San Diego County

Sheriff Raymond Loera Sheriff Jim Mele Sheriff Steve MooreImperial County Tuolumne County San Joaquin County

Sheriff Greg Munks Sheriff Clay Parker Sheriff Greg Penrod

San Mateo County Tehama County San Bernardino County

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Sheriff Gary Philp Sheriff Ed Prieto Sheriff Perry Reniff

Humboldt County Yolo County Butte County

Sheriff Steve Robbins Sheriff Richard Scholl Sheriff Gary Stanton

Santa Cruz County Mono County Solano County

Sheriff Steve Warren Sheriff Bill Wittman Sheriff Donny Youngblood

Lassen County Tulare County Kern County

Hon. Lawrence Allen Hon. J. Kirk Andrus Hon. George Booth

Sierra County D.A. Siskiyou County D.A. Mono County D.A.

`

Hon. Gerald Benito Hon. Edward Berberian Hon. Robert Brown

Shasta County D.A. Marin County D.A. Mariposa County D.A.

Hon. Ronald Calhoun Hon. Dolores Carr Hon. Bonnie Dumanis

Kings County D.A. Santa Clara County D.A. San Diego County D.A.

Hon. Bradford R. Fenocchio Hon. Birgit Fladager Hon. Dean Flippo

Placer County D.A. Stanislaus County D.A. Monterey County D.A.

Hon. James Fox Hon. Paul Gallegos Hon. Michael Harper

San Mateo County D.A. Humboldt County D.A. Trinity County D.A.

Hon. Kamala Harris Hon. Robert Holzapfel Robert J. Kochly

San Francisco County D.A. Glenn County D.A. Contra Costa D.A.

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Hon. Gary Lieberstein Hon. Patrick McGrath Hon. Clifford Newell

Napa County D.A. Yuba County D.A. Nevada County D.A.

Hon. Thomas Orloff Hon. Stephan Passalacqua Hon. David Paulson

Alameda County D.A. Sonoma County D.A. Solano County D.A.

Hon. John Poyner Hon. Michael A. Ramos Hon. Jeff Reisig

Colusa County D.A. San Bernardino D.A. Yolo County D.A.

Hon. Todd D. Riebe Hon. Michael Riese Hon. Jan Scully

Amador County D.A. Del Norte County D.A. Sacramento County D.A.

Hon. Gerald T. Shea Hon. Christie Stanley Hon. Gregory Totten

San Luis Obispo D.A. Santa Barbara County D.A. Ventura County D.A.

Hon. Jeffrey Tuttle Ms. Maggie Elvey Mr. Marc Klaas

Calaveras County D.A. Crime Victims United of California KlaasKids Foundation

Ms. Alexandra Matteucci-Perkins Ms. Luisa Prudhomme Ms. Harriet Salarno

The Joseph Matteucci Foundation for Parents of Murdered Children Crime Victims United of California

Youth Non-Violence