Campus with the most improved attendance at end of school year
will win free summer concert from Wild 94.9 FM

San José, Ca., December 2, 2004 --- San José Mayor Ron Gonzales and Wild 94.9 FM radio congratulated Prospect High School students for taking the early lead for the most improved attendance among public high schools serving San Jose in the first two months of the school year. 

Today’s noontime rally celebrated Prospect’s progress to boost average daily attendance. Since the start of the school year, it has improved its ADA by over 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year. In second place after two months was Branham High School, also in the Campbell Union High School District, with a gain of 2.7 percent.

“I’m determined to get more students into school, keep them there, and celebrate all of your achievements,” Mayor Gonzales said to Prospect students today.  “To reach your dreams, you need to do your best. To do your best in school, you need to be at school.”

"As a committed supporter of education, Wild 94.9 is excited to partner with San Jose and Mayor Gonzales in the ‘Kings of the Campus’ attendance contest,” said Michael Martin, Regional Vice President of Clear Channel Communications, which owns Wild 94.9.

“We’re delighted to offer the opportunity for South Bay high schools to compete for most improved student attendance with the reward of free student admission to a Wild 94.9 summer concert in May 2005.”   

Studies have shown that the more time students spend in class, the better they do on test scores and grades.  In addition, incomplete attendance also hurts funding for school districts that rely on ADA reimbursements from the state.

San José high schools receive on average about $7300 per student per year from the state over the course of a year.  These funds are used for instructional materials, teacher salaries, training, and school safety.  School budget deficits have forced massive cuts to these expenditures, and increased school attendance could help offset these deficits.

The 23 San José public high schools represent more than 41,000 students among four school districts.  For the past three years San José high school average daily attendance has ranged between 93% and 98%.  An ADA of 93% is equivalent to 2,888 high school students not in class on an average day.  Each percentage point gain in ADA is worth approximately $3 million per year more in state funding for San Jose high schools.

 The partnership between San José and Wild 94.9 is another step in Gonzales’ education priorities that help improve educational opportunities for San José youth.

Radio station Wild 94.9 KYLD-FM, owned by Clear Channel Communications, has been broadcasting to the Bay Area for over ten years.  It has been regularly involved in numerous community activities such as fundraisers, school events, and neighborhood revitalization projects in San José and other Bay Area communities.

Gonzales is the vice chair of the National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and Families.  The YEF Institute provides guidance and assistance to municipal officials across the country with information on promising strategies and best practices to strengthen education in communities.  San Jose is one of five cities selected by NLC to work on collaborative initiatives specifically aimed at high school improvement in a project funded by the Gates Foundation.