The following summary includes education-related proposals from the 2012 state of the state address. To assure that this information reaches you in a timely manner, minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) or format.
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Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.'s State of the State Address
PROPOSALS
Accountability, Assessment, Data-Driven Decisionmaking, Teacher Mentoring and Evaluation
--Reduce the number of tests and get the results to teachers, principals and superintendents in weeks, not months.
--With timely data, principals and superintendents can better mentor and guide teachers as well as make sound evaluations of their performance.
--Develop a qualitative system of assessments such as a site visitation program where each class is visited, observed and evaluated. Will work with the state board of education to develop this proposal.
Finance
--Devote more tax dollars to this most basic of public services (public education).
--Pass proposed temporary taxes.
Governance, Mandates, Finance, Local Control
--Clearly delineate responsibility between the various levels of power that have a stake in California's educational system. What most needs to be avoided is concentrating more and more decisionmaking at the federal or state level. Set broad goals and have a good accountability system, leaving the real work to those closest to the students. Demand continuous improvement in meeting state standards, but not impose excessive or detailed mandates.
----Replace categorical programs with a new weighted student formula that provides a basic leveling of funding with additional money for disadvantaged students and those struggling to learn English. This will give more authority to districts to fashion the kind of programs they see their students need. Will also create transparency, reduce bureaucracy and simplify complex funding streams.
Public Employee Pension Reform
--Put forth 12-point proposal. Three times as many people are retiring as are entering the work force. Benefits, contributions and the age of retirement all have to balance.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants
--Enactment of the Dream Act.
http://gov.ca.gov/docs/GOVERNOR_BROWN_OFFICIAL_STATE_OF_THE_STATE_ADDRESS_Final.pdf |
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