Creating a Top Notch System of Public Education

By Joe Simitian

I believe that an overwhelming majority of Californians have high regard for the value and importance of quality schools, and realize that a quality school system is essential to creating a state filled with opportunity. That set of values has manifested itself in recent times in a remarkably strong public interest in and support for public education. The challenge now is to channel and harness that support in ways that have real and positive impacts.

While I would not describe it as a weakness, the extraordinary diversity of our student population is an almost overwhelming challenge -- a challenge not faced by most other states or private schools within this state.

Our system is weakened by: inadequate resources; a system of school finance which is, at best, described as a Rube Goldberg contraption; a two-thirds requirement for school bonds; a critical teacher shortage; the lack of a state-wide master plan; insufficient flexibility to meet the varied needs of almost 6 million kids in 7,000 different schools in 1,000 different districts; and substantial ambiguity about who is accountable to whom for what.

How can we work to improve California's education system?

We should indicate by word and deed that the work of teachers is valued.

We should provide compensation sufficient to attract and retain top quality teachers (with special attention to the challenges faced by high-cost-of-living districts).

We should work with State colleges and universities to ensure adequate opportunities for teacher training. Then get serious about long term staff development that reinforces state/district instructional goals.

I support maximum school choice for parents and their students within the public school system (i.e., public school choice).

I oppose voucher proposals, which take public funds away from public schools in order to support the individual choice some parents may make for a private or religious school placement. My position is essentially the same on other school funding schemes which, in essence, use public funds to subsidize private choices in lieu of K-12 public education.

As a legislator I intend to work closely with local districts (just as I have as a Councilmember, Mayor and County Supervisor). I would make myself available, consult on matters of shared concern and draw upon your expertise as appropriate.

I believe that the role of the state should be to set clear expectations for the performance of the public schools but not to prescribe how the expectations should be met. Such a relationship, however, must be predicated on real accountability.

Good public school administrators play an invaluable role in making sure that the whole is more than the sum of its parts -- that the individual efforts of folks in a district are focussed and coordinated to a common instructional purpose and result. Good public school administrators manage, and do it well, but also lead their organizations, at every level, to a clearly articulated vision for their students.