Gubernatorial candidates must address the state’s education deficit

from Dan WaltersCalMatters

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For years, surveys of California voters have shown that public schools are a constant concern.

In a a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of Californiaresponses were mixed on whether the public school system is moving in the right direction, but 89 percent said it needs to change.

This concern is valid given that California students do not perform very well on national tests of academic skills compared to those in other states. This is one of California’s most vexed — and most important — issues, and it should get the attention of those in public office.

Still, when the six leading gubernatorial candidates answered questions during a 90-minute televised debate Wednesday night, education came up only once in a question from a viewer, not the debate moderators, and it was directed at Republican Steve Hilton.

Asked how he would improve schools, Hilton responded by “learning from what works in other states.” This was actually a valid response because California officials were generally resistant to learning about learning from other states that have been able to raise test scores— Mississippi readingfor example.

The candidates’ intentions on the state’s largest budget line — $81.3 billion this year — are especially important because outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed demoted the position of head of the public school to that of an advisory role, while entrusting primary responsibility for education to whoever succeeds him next January.

Moderators of future debates should at least make an effort to examine the candidates’ approaches to education, particularly how they would raise academic achievement, which is now mediocre at best.

The bright side of the public school situation is California finally embraced phonetics as the most effective way to teach elementary students to read, although it is still not mandatory. And on Wednesday, hours before the televised debate ignored education, the Senate Education Committee passed legislation to do something about California ranking even lower in math skills.

Simple 37% of California students perform at grade level in mathand the state ranks 43rd nationally in fourth-grade math proficiency. Moreover, there are distinct differences between children from families struggling to afford living in California and their more privileged classmates.

Senate Bill 1067 will create a statewide math testing system for kindergarten children and 1^St and 2^n.d assessments to identify those who struggle with numbers and need extra help. It is modeled after a similar system for measuring reading skills.

The bill is backed by EdVoice, an education reform advocate, and is being supported Senator Aquila Weber PearsonDemocrat from San Diego and daughter of Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who tirelessly championed education reform while a state legislator.

“California has already taken an important step forward by identifying and addressing early reading challenges with K-2 Universal Screening for Reading Difficulties. SB 1067 applies the same common sense approach to math,” EdVoice CEO Marshall Tuck said in a statement. “Students who struggle with basic math skills in the early grades continue to fall further behind without timely, targeted intervention. This bill helps prepare students for future success in school, careers and life.”

Mastering basic reading and math skills in the early school years is not only important for themselves, but is vital for students to climb the educational ladder as high as their innate intelligence allows and move on to productive and fulfilling careers that support the larger economy.

While California has no shortage of existential problems, none are more important than doing something about its education deficit. The Legislature finally seems to be getting the message, but the next governor needs to too.

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