State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson continued his efforts today to increase cooperation with Mexico to better serve California students who end up attending school on both sides of the border. He met with leaders of Baja California’s education system, including Miguel Ángel Mendoza González, the Secretary of Education for the State of Baja California, and visited schools in Tijuana.

Officials from both nations are exploring practical ways to better serve these shared students by making it easier to share student records, encouraging more teachers in both nations to be trained in bilingual teaching, and expanding teacher exchanges between Mexico and California to promote bilingual education.

“It is so important at this time to let the people of Baja California and Mexico know that we are extending the hand of friendship,” said Torlakson. “By working together, we can improve the education of students who formerly attended schools in California and may eventually return to California. We can also help meet the needs of Mexican born children attending school in California,” he said. “We are a strong team together! Somos un equipo fuerte!”

Source: Torlakson Meets with Mexican Education Leaders – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)