Each year, the progress of California's elementary and secondary students is measured by targets established by federal and state government. This year's test results are in, and Rio School District has many accomplishments to celebrate:

— Rio del Mar Elementary School had the biggest gain of any school in Ventura County at 99 points.

— Rio del Valle Middle School had the biggest gain of any middle school in Ventura County at 33 points.

— Rio Plaza Elementary School raised its score by 27 points, making both Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress targets after seven years as a program improvement site.

— Rio Rosales Elementary School raised its score 16 points, only 3 points away from the statewide target of 800.

— Overall, district scores were raised.

Rio students also made significant improvements in Standardized Testing and Reporting, with 31 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced levels in English language arts, as compared to only 27.5 percent last year. Math scores increased districtwide, and 36 percent of the students tested at proficient or advanced levels.

Rio's test results confirm that the hard work and tremendous efforts of Rio School District staff are paying off. The board, teachers, staff and community partners are working together to ensure children in our community have access to high-quality education that improves their social, emotional, physical and academic well-being, despite language and economic barriers.

Partnership with VCOE

Last year, we partnered with the Ventura County Office of Education to develop and implement a plan that focuses on educational reform, aligning curriculum, assessment and instruction. Prior to that partnership, Rio School District had already begun reform by focusing on the well-being and success of the whole child. This has included counseling at all school sites, preschools on every campus, quality after-school programs and the development of our Office of Student and Family Services.

We are encouraged to see the gap closing between our students' proficiency and that of the average student in California.

Yet, our ability to sustain and build upon these dramatic improvements for our children is at grave risk. Parents and all members of the community should be very concerned about the devastating budget cuts being considered in Sacramento. The governor's proposal would reduce education funding by another $2.5 billion.

Devastating budget cuts

These cuts will erode the quality of public education in Rio and throughout California, regardless of whether funding is eventually restored. Our window of opportunity is now.

Our employees are working to ensure that our children have caring adults who encourage them to strive for their best, despite politics, budget cuts and a failing economy. Rio School District is an example of how districts can reinvent themselves to create better educational opportunities for our kids and achieve positive results. It is unconscionable that what few resources we have may now be taken away.

Politicians eagerly refer to our children as our most precious natural resource. I urge you as parents and concerned community members to join educators across the state and hold these politicians accountable. Our children do not have a voice — we must make sure that we protect them.

— Sherianne Cotterell is superintendent of Rio School District in Oxnard.