Veto Stirs Concerns Over California Data System

The feud continues over California’s problem-plagued school data system, with the latest clash coming after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used his line-item veto authority to cut $6.8 million from the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System, known as CALPADS .

The governor’s decision came after he signed the state’s $87.5 billion fiscal 2011 budget, approved by lawmakers Oct. 8 after a lengthy impasse. His veto drew the wrath of state schools Superintendent Jack O’Connell, who called it “shortsighted, ill-informed, and hypocritical,” and said it will hinder the state’s ability to collect crucial information from schools.

“Rather than maintaining California’s course toward meeting its education data goals of helping all students reach their full potential,” Mr. O’Connell said in a statement, “the governor’s veto of CALPADS funding just sent California racing to the...