Santa Ana Unified superintendent outlines literacy, reclassification and college-readiness goals
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Summary
New Superintendent Lorraine M. Perez presented district priorities focused on reading by third grade, English learner reclassification by fifth grade and college-and-career readiness; council members welcomed the engagement and pledged continued partnership.
Dr. Lorraine M. Perez, in her first year as superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District, presented the district’s priorities to the Santa Ana City Council on Wednesday, emphasizing literacy, English-learner reclassification and college-and-career readiness.
Perez described the district’s graduate profile and how the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and single plan for student achievement (SPSA) align to those priorities. “My hope, it is my desire that everybody in the community know these goals,” Perez said, naming three headline targets: reading on grade level by third grade, reclassification of English learners to proficiency by fifth grade, and college-and-career readiness for graduating students.
Perez summarized recent data: for the 2024–25 school year, 25% of third-graders met or exceeded CAASPP standards; 56% of K–3 students were at or above benchmark on DIBELS; reclassification rates for English learners declined from prior years (8.08% reclassified in 2024–25), and 38.8% of the Class of 2024 met the state college-and-career indicator. Perez stressed that reclassification correlates with college-going: 70% of four-year college-bound students were reclassified English learners in the district’s analysis.
Council members praised the superintendent for outreach and partnership. Mayor Meskwah and council members thanked Perez for meeting principals and families. Council Member Penalosa noted that a superintendent appearing before the council was unusual and welcomed the strengthened relationship.
Perez invited city agencies, nonprofits and higher-education partners to collaborate on literacy and other supports and said the district will publish a board presentation calendar and return with regular progress reports. “We will publish that so everybody knows and can follow along and, you know, help in any way that that you see fit,” Perez said.
No formal council action was requested or taken; the session was a presentation and discussion of district priorities and data. Council members asked staff to continue coordination and to keep the council informed of progress and opportunities for city support.