Special Report
School & District Management

U.S. Education Chief Urges Calif. to Enact Reforms

By The Associated Press — September 04, 2009 3 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Thursday urged California lawmakers to make education reforms or risk falling further behind the rest of the nation and losing out on a slice of $4.3 billion in federal stimulus money.

Duncan met with lawmakers from both parties at the state Capitol as they prepare to debate potential changes to California law. If enacted, some of the reforms would allow the state to compete for federal money under the Obama administration’s $787 billion economic recovery plan.

The Race to the Top competition will reward states that are focused on education reforms. States that agree to expand public charter schools will be first in line for the money, along with those that allow performance pay for teachers based on student achievement, which is currently prohibited in California.

Democratic lawmakers and the state’s two teachers unions, which are major donors to Democratic campaigns, have typically opposed such changes.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special session of the Legislature to take up the reforms so California can apply for the money. That session will start sometime after lawmakers finish their regular session next week.

School officials say they need the money after $18 billion in funding cuts to K-12 schools and community colleges over the past two fiscal years.

Speaking before an audience of school children, Duncan said California can choose to dramatically improve its school system or “stay on the sidelines.”

“It’s going to take real courage. It’s going to take real leadership. But at the end of the day, we have to do the right thing by the children here,” he said during a back-to-school rally hosted by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who started a Sacramento charter high school after retiring from the NBA.

Gov. Highlights Push for Race to the Top Education Reforms at Back-to-School Rally

From www.youtube.com/GovSchwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger is seeking legislation that will help improve school accountability, recruit high-quality teachers and principals, turn around low-performing schools and provide better data on teacher performance. He supports linking teacher evaluations and pay raises to student test scores.

The politically powerful California Teachers Association has fought many of those proposals in the past, but some of the changes are necessary to compete for the stimulus money unless the Obama administration revises the guidelines, which are not final.

After meeting with Duncan on Thursday, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, said she was optimistic that Democrats could agree to some reforms.

“I walked away feeling that it’s not necessarily going to be a problem. What was most important to hear is that the secretary and the Obama administration is not trying to force a rigid formula down our throats,” Bass said. “And so given that, I think there’s room (to negotiate).”

The administration has said it will not award money to states that bar student performance data from being linked to teacher evaluations, such as in California, but some lawmakers are optimistic they can change that law while being sensitive to union concerns.

Outside the back-to-school rally Thursday, Duncan told The Associated Press that he is not worried about opposition from the teachers unions or other labor groups.

“I don’t think it’s about bucking anyone. This is about folks working together, and I have a lot of confidence California’s going to do the right thing by children. That’s what this is about,” Duncan said.

He said California is expected to receive at least $9 billion in stimulus funding dedicated to schools, even without the Race to the Top money.

Schwarzenegger urged lawmakers Thursday to put ideology aside and work quickly, despite a host of other pressing issues they are facing, including a possible reduction in the state inmate population, sweeping tax reforms and water policy.

The Republican governor said he needs the education measures on his desk by early October “so we can be totally in sync with the Obama administration and with the vision of our secretary of education.”

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

Events

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
Reading & Literacy Webinar
(Re)Focus on Dyslexia: Moving Beyond Diagnosis & Toward Transformation
Move beyond dyslexia diagnoses & focus on effective literacy instruction for ALL students. Join us to learn research-based strategies that benefit learners in PreK-8.
Content provided by EPS Learning
Classroom Technology Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: Is AI Out to Take Your Job or Help You Do It Better?
With all of the uncertainty K-12 educators have around what AI means might mean for the future, how can the field best prepare young people for an AI-powered future?
Special Education K-12 Essentials Forum Understanding Learning Differences
Join this free virtual event for insights that will help educators better understand and support students with learning differences.

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 Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About The District Academic Officer Persona?
The district academic officer is a key player when it comes to purchasing. Test your knowledge of this key buyer persona and see how your results stack up with your peers.
School & District Management Download Navigating Tense Conversations at Work: A Guide for Educators (Downloadable)
A downloadable guide to help educators navigate polarizing conflicts.
3 min read
Polar opposite hands hold u a triangular flag. Teamwork, resolution, truce.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + DigitalVision Vectors
School & District Management Opinion Education Leaders, You Can't Do Your Job in Isolation
An unusual way to begin a leadership team retreat leads to a deeper understanding of why teachers and leaders need to work together.
5 min read
Screen Shot 2024 10 01 at 7.05.34 AM
Shutterstock
School & District Management Educators Rush to Get Food and Shelter to Their Students After Hurricane Helene
Districts slammed by an unprecedented natural disaster have become shelter zones for their communities.
7 min read
A passerby checks the water depth of a flooded road, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. Torrential rain from Hurricane Helene left many area streets flooded. In addition, traffic lights are inoperable due to no power, with downed power lines and trees.
A passerby checks the water depth of a flooded road, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. Torrential rain from Hurricane Helene left area streets flooded, and strong winds downed power lines and trees. Schools have become hubs to support their communities as recovery begins.
Kathy Kmonicek/AP