Editorial: Students without boundaries

State's District of Choice transfer program deserves renewal by Legislature.

A relatively little-used option permitting students to enroll in public schools outside the district in which they live expires July 1. Lawmakers should renew the District of Choice program, one of the few choices that California's rigid public schools allow parents in deciding where their children will attend classes.
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Dear Friends PDF Print E-mail
Our public education system is what made California the true Golden State.  But, today we face a crisis in the very institutions that are the greatest equalizers in our nation.

We have an opportunity to race to the top once again.  For this reason I launch my candidacy for California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2010.  I will fight to restore excellence in education in order to ensure the next generation is given the educational tools required to compete in our changing global economy.  

I’ve long been a champion for public education.  These are tough times, but my tenacious leadership and courage to fight for a strong and fair educational system was recognized and led to me being named as the new Chair of the Senate Education Committee.   I am recognized as one of the most innovative voices for our students, parents and schools.  My personal history mirrors that of so many students who hunger for education: my mother had a 6th grade education; I earned a PhD.  I beat the odds and chose teaching as my profession.  I understand the powerful role of education in transforming one’s life.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is California’s chief education voice and advocate.    In a nonpartisan voice, I want to work with you in reordering our priorities to put student achievement first.

To do this, our next Superintendent must be ready to:
1.  Tackle an education governance structure which has become overly complex and burdensome.  This means reducing the burdensome red tape that has become confused with accountability.  I want to see a downsizing of the state educational bureaucracy and a return of decision-making to local entities and stronger parental involvement.

2.  Ensure fair funding that rewards results.  Our method of funding education is broken and no amount of tinkering will fix it.  Rather than abdicating our responsibility to the courts to intervene, we need to reallocate state resources to truly follow the student.  This means overhauling antiquated funding streams and formulas in favor of a system that bases funding on student outcomes that actually meets state goals.  Fiscal incentives which reward excellence and support achievement are long overdue.  We must fight for a greater investment in our education system rather than our prison system in California!  But when we obtain these funds, we must not squander the opportunity to use them more sensibly.

3.  Strengthen teaching and leadership at all levels from quality teachers, to greater participation from parents.  It is no longer sufficient to just send teams to districts on watch lists.  The state must assume responsibility to help districts develop the tools and capacity needed to promote success of educational leaders.

4.  We must invest in a world-class system of data and information.  For too long California has been flying blind without a radar screen to track and improve our student outcomes.  Without sound information, California can not help schools and districts improve or make the best choices and investments.
 
5.  Close the achievement gap.  All of California’s students fall far below national rankings of excellence and performance.  Unacceptably wide schisms exist between white and African American and Latino students.  The rate of dropouts in California is deplorable, and costs our economy millions annually while destroying lives.  The greatest economic stimulus is education!

6.  Re-imagine--not just reform—education.  We have an opportunity to modernize our modern high schools, and instill a new set of three R’s:  rigor, relevance, and readiness.  Ensuring that our students are both college ready and workforce prepared with new technology skills needed in today’s global economy is essential.

7.  Connect our segments of education which have been, too often, left in isolated silos.  California’s next Superintendent must understand that learning begins at birth and connect Pre-K with K-12, and connect these segments with our higher education pipeline.  There is a reason that the Superintendent sits as both a UC Regent and CSU Trustee: to ensure a continuity of purpose in our educational systems and facilitate a smooth and seamless academic pipeline from Pre-K through our colleges and universities.

As our nation embarks on a new and dynamic chapter of change, I am enthusiastic about my campaign to move beyond status quo and restore California to a golden state of educational excellence.  I look forward to working with you—and on your behalf—as California’s next Superintendent.  

Sincerely,


Gloria Romero