Special Report
School & District Management

Calif. Assembly Passes Race to the Top Package

By The Associated Press — December 11, 2009 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The California Assembly on Thursday approved a controversial package of legislation that would allow the state to compete for a piece of the $4.3 billion being offered by the Obama administration to reform the nation’s worst-performing schools.

By a 47-25 vote, the Assembly approved legislation by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica, that would lift the cap on the number of charter schools in California, revamp the state’s academic standards and target federal funding to the worst-of-the-worst failing schools.

The legislation is intended to clear the way for California to compete in the Race to the Top program. The state is eligible for up to $700 million.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told reporters outside his Capitol office in Sacramento, Calif., that he would veto an Assembly version of legislation designed to improve California’s chances of securing funding from the federal Race to the Top program. Mr. Schwarzenegger said the Assembly measure fails to meet federal guidelines and will not bring the reform California schools need.

But education reformers say Brownley’s legislation is a weak effort that would allow schools to keep failing poor and minority children.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday he would veto the legislation if it hits his desk, calling it a watered-down package rather than real school reform.

He supports a bill by state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, that would give parents more authority to intervene in failing schools or to move out their kids. The California Teachers Association opposes that measure, which narrowly passed the state Senate last month.

Legislative leaders are trying to work out a compromise. Without one, schools that have already lost billions of dollars in state funding in the last few years won’t be eligible for the extra federal funds.

“We anticipate further discussion and amendment as the bill continues moving through the Senate, which is its next step in the process, not the governor’s desk,” Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, said in a statement following the Assembly vote. “The governor says he wants compromise. The reality is compromise is already driving the process.”

The first applications for the Race to the Top program are due Jan. 19.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Events

Student Achievement Webinar What Effective Tutoring Should Look Like—and Achieve
Join this webinar to learn how to sustain effective tutoring programs that help improve students' performance in reading and math.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Engaging Every Learner: Strategies to Boost Math Motivation
Math Motivation Boost! Research & real tips to engage learners.
Content provided by Prodigy Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
The Ripple Effect: Mental Health & Student Outcomes
Learn how student mental health impacts outcomes—and how to use that data to support your school’s IEP funding strategy.
Content provided by Huddle Up

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Food and Massage Coupons: How Principals Signal Their Appreciation for Teachers
Small gestures can go a long way this Teacher Appreciation Week.
5 min read
Image of a notebook page with "THANK YOU TEACHER" written with some doodles and smiley faces.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How to Be a Focused Leader When There’s a Lot of Noise
Burnout, attrition, absenteeism, and disengagement are key issues for schools. Here's a path forward for educators.
3 min read
Screen Shot 2025 04 29 at 6.54.09 AM
Canva
School & District Management 'Go-Betweens' Are Invaluable to Principals. A Guide to Cultivating Them
A school leader's guide to creating and supporting a second-line leader.
2 min read
Wooden pawns on interconnected circles. Concept of interrelationships. 3d illustration.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Well Do You Understand K-12 Leaders’ Social Media Habits?
Test your knowledge of how school and district leaders use social media—what platforms they prefer, how often they post, and getting their attention.