Education

The Stanford evaluation of School Finance and Governance in California study concluded that the system is fundamentally flawed and California students perform far lower on tests that do students in other states. The study recommendations must be adopted now.
Responsibility for education should be primarily the job of local school boards. The state should provide a predictable consistent level of financing. Proposition 98 should provide for adequate financing of schools but elected officials seem incapable of providing stable financing. Passage of the governors proposed budget stabilization act which will require saving money during good economic times for use during less profitable economic times is essential. Using Proposition 13 as an excuse for bad schools doesn't fly when assessed value is estimated to grow 9.3 percent in 2007-08 and 7.1 percent in 2008-09. The Stanford study found no correlation between spending per pupil and academic performance and concluded that if additional dollars were inserted in the current system there is no reason to expect substantial increases in student outcomes related to state goals. Once we make the changes recommended by the Stanford "Getting down to facts" study and pass the budget stabilization act, we can decide if more changes are necessary to assure that funding per student is competitive with other states.
Within the state, schools with high proportions of students in poverty are consistently failing to meet the standards the state sets out for them. (see my proposals for Welfare reform which may do more to help education than anything else). The "no child left behind" program should not be dumped but should be improved to accomplish its goals.
In the Stanford study, both principals and superintendents ranked the inability to dismiss ineffective teachers as the most important change that could help them improve student outcomes.
The Stanford study concluded that school governance in California is characterized by a hodgepodge of restrictive rules and regulations that often hinder, rather than promote, student achievement.
Bottom line: Immediately adopt the recommendations of the Stanford study and adopt the Governors Budget Stabilization Act to provide a stable source of funds.
Local school districts must be given the authority to enforce discipline. This is especially important in schools where parental support may be lacking
The high school drop out rate is totally unacceptable. Unless you have a full time job you shouldn't be able to drop out of school until your normal year of graduation. Optional boot camp/trade school/public service options should be offered but leaving school early to hang out on the street should not be allowed.
The high school exit exam wouldn't have been necessary if schools weren't offering social promotions but it has gotten the attention of students, teachers, and parents and should not be eliminated. The fact that so many inner city students can't pass this middle school level test indicates that perhaps we need a middle school exit exam so we stop social promotions from middle school.
Any student who isn't progressing should be attending school Saturdays and year round so there is some personal penalty for not working hard in school.