CA lawmakers are considering a plan to close the achievement gap

from Dan WaltersCalMatters

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California is not only the nation’s most populous state; it is also the nation’s most economically, ethnically, culturally, and even geographically diverse state.

This uniqueness has its advantages, but it makes governing California extremely difficult. Often, competing interests, each clamoring for political attention, tend to block the consensus that is vital to effective policymaking.

As a result, major issues remain unresolved year after year, even decade after decade, despite promises by candidates to act boldly and effectively if elected. Obvious examples include homelessness, poverty, water supply, housing shortages, and—most importantly—low levels of academic achievement in the public school system that claims to educate nearly 6 million children.

As we should all know by now, national achievement tests have revealed that students in California are doing poorly compared to those in other states. Reading comprehension among fourth graders in California ranked 37^th among countries c 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress Testfor example, with only 29% showing proficiency, down 2 percentage points from 2022.

The ability to read and understand is a fundamental skill without which students are doomed to fail in mathematics and other subjects.

Doing something about low reading scores has been a political football for years, until just recently the state finally did declares a preference for using phonetics to teach reading – rare progress.

However, the state still lacks a binding commitment to improving academic achievement backed by accountability. Instead, we have many levels of partial power, ranging from local school board members to the governor, and a debate that usually starts and ends with arguments about moneyrather than effective teaching.

As he prepares to vacate the governorship — and possibly launch a presidential campaign — Gavin Newsom is proposing to demote the elected state schools superintendent to an advisory role and gives his successor as governor a leading role in public education.

Whether this will improve governance and accountability in education or simply rearrange organizational boxes is uncertain.

Meanwhile, the California School Boards Association is proposing that the state make the binding commitment to academic improvement that has been lacking.

“Educators in California are working tirelessly to support students, but the state has never had a unified plan to help close the achievement gap,” said Assemblywoman Darshana Patel, D-San Diego, who chairs the Assembly Education Committee, as a package of four bills was unveiled Tuesday.

It is author’s Assembly Bill 2225which calls for the creation of a “comprehensive statewide strategy with clear goals, measurable metrics and annual performance targets so that the state can provide local school districts with the support they need for student success.”

The other bills would have the Legislative Analyst’s Office examine how the plan fits with the state budget (AB 2149)come up with a dashboard to keep the public informed of progress (AB 2514) and authorizing a new commission to oversee the plan (AB 2202).

“School districts and county offices of education are expected to deliver results for students every day,” said Debra Schade, president of the School Board Organization, in a statement. “The SOS package for student achievement recognizes that the state must also be responsible for ensuring that its own policies, programs and funding are aligned to support local efforts. Every student deserves an education system designed for their success.”

The package may not be the answer to the wheel-spinning that has marked public education reform for so many years. But it is, at the very least, an attempt to gain traction on an issue that is central to the state’s economic and social prosperity — and to the future of its children.

There is nothing more important.

This article was originally published on CalMatters and is republished under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives license.