NCUST

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San Diego State University

Presence In Urban Education

Surrounded by several of the nations largest urban school districts and seated in the heart of California’s second largest city, San Diego State University understands that its future is inextricably linked to the future of the area’s urban schools.

While the traditional function of the College of Education has been educator preparation, SDSU has committed to building an infrastructure that supports change in the policy and practice of urban public schools. The City Heights K-16 Educational Collaborative, the Compact for Success, and the San Diego Literacy Initiative are examples of the university's outreach to urban schools.

Research Capacity

The SDSU College of Education has substantial capacity to organize and conduct practical research studies that identify what works in urban schools and systems, under what conditions, and what constraints. The College produces more than 100 publications and over $14 million annually in grant and contract funding.

The College's practical experiences in urban education have led to an appreciation of research that informs the everyday practice of urban educators in ways that lead to measurable changes in student learning.

Educator Preparation

SDSU's College of Education is the second-largest college of education in the state and the tenth largest nationwide. Through these preparation programs the University influences the education of tens of thousands of urban students each year.

Leadership that Understands Urban Education

The Dean of the College of Education at SDSU and a primary architect of NCUST is Lionel "Skip" Meno, former superintendent of a major urban school district, and former Commissioner of Education in Texas. Dr. Meno has focused energy, time, and resources on making the College of Education a model of how institutions of higher education can support constructive change in urban K-12 education.