­      Designed by the CA Charter School Association to increase the number of "high-quality" charter schools in CA, CCQI is a comprehensive program for new charter schools that provides training and extended supports in the areas of leadership, instruction and operational management.

­      Results - Girard's support helped establish the program and subsidized the participation of several local charter schools.

­      Created a series of workshops for charter schools to increase their use of data to improve instruction and demonstrate performance.

­      Results - Participating schools made major changes in their data systems and are using data in all aspects of their planning and decision-making.

­      Girard's support over the years helped HTH develop the original high school curriculum, create the state's first school-based teacher credentialing program, dramatically reduce special education costs while improving service, and grow into a sophisticated charter management company currently operating 7 schools.

­      Results - HTH schools consistently score at the top of the range locally and statewide.

College and Career Preparedness

­      Collaboration with the AVID Center to help Oceanside and Poway Unified School Districts leverage the highly-successful AVID program as a strategy for increasing the college-readiness of all students.

­      Results - all of the high schools and middle schools in both districts are currently in process of creating plans for expanding AVID.

­      Designed to increase the number of students pursuing college, the program provides extra counseling and supports to students in low-income schools.  Students must maintain a 3.3 GPA or higher.  Program operated at Lincoln High School between 1987-2003 and been offered at Oceanside High School since 2002.

­      Results - program has consistently posted almost 100% college enrollment for program graduates.

Educational Leadership

­      Collaboration with four local districts (Escondido Union, Poway, San Dieguito, San Marcos) designed to make organizational changes that would allow school principals to shift their focus from administrative duties to the job of being a "leader of learning."

­      Results - changes made by the districts included: shifting more responsibilities to teacher leaders and administrative assistants, computerizing administrative support systems and creating professional support networks for the principals

­      Initiated a countywide collaborative of universities, school districts and the County Office of Education to improve the preparation of school principals.

­      Results - administrative credentialing programs were revamped, a two week "field experience" was created for aspiring principals and a Leadership Assessment center was established at the County Office.

­      Created in collaboration with UCSD, the program gave experienced school principals an opportunity to learn modern management practices from local business and civic leaders and to visit a variety of workplaces.

­      Results:  over 165 principals from around the county completed the program, which received consistently positive reviews from participants and their superintendents.

School Finance

­      Conducted by the Rose Institute of Claremont-McKenna College, this annual study compared the revenues and expenditures of all 42 school districts in San Diego County for five years. 

­      Results - Study received extensive media coverage and encouraged school districts to be more publicly transparent about their finances.

­      Commissioned School Services of California to create a budget format which school districts could use to produce meaningful and simple-to-understand financial reports for their constituents.  Updated annually, the format is distributed on CD-ROM.

­      Results - SSC continues to distribute the CD-ROM and has registered over 900 users in school districts throughout California, colleges of education, and the California Department of Education.

Teacher Quality

­      Program created to help schools more effectively integrate technology into their curricula.  A key to success was the use of a consultant help the schools develop their technology plans and train staff.

­      Results - Helped build capacity at five local schools.

­      Established a mini-grant program for elementary and middle school teachers, which continues to be operated by the San Diego Foundation.

­      Results - Since its inception the Fund has distributed over 600 grants totaling over $500,000.