K-12 Education
Implementing a high-quality education system that enables California children to become a capable workforce is the only way the state can ensure its future success in the global economy. Yet, California faces tremendous, unique challenges in educating every child well. The size and diversity of the state's student population necessitates policy reforms that allow educators the flexibility to address a wide variety of student needs and that give all students access to the curricula and support necessary for them to meet state standards. While California students have posted gains in achievement test scores in recent years, the reality is, at the current rate of improvement, it will take 30 years before every group of children reaches state performance goals. Less than half of all students are reaching grade level standards in English and math. Supplemental programs that provide additional support for struggling students show promise, but their reach is limited. Tens of thousands of students leave school each year without a high school diploma and unprepared for work or further schooling, undermining their lifetime prospects and California's future prosperity.
California's efforts to improve its education system face many imminent challenges, including a teacher shortage. Thousands of teachers are nearing retirement, and existing pathways to a teaching career will not meet California schools' staffing needs. The state also has yet to develop and implement a data system capable of providing educators and policymakers with the information necessary to make funding, programmatic and curricular decisions based on needs or effectiveness.
Learn More about K-12 Education
Facts & Figures | Policy Recommendations | Related Links | Events
Facts & Figures [back to top]
- 6.3 million children attend public school in California. About 48% are Latino, 29% are white, 11% are Asian American and 8% are African American.
- Nearly 1.6 million students are English Learners (ELs) in California, representing one quarter of the state's public school students and about 40% of the EL students in the nation.
- Just 43% of California's students are reaching grade level standards in English Language Arts. In math, only 41% are reaching grade level standards. Those percentages are essentially unchanged from 2006.
- California is projected to spend about $8,500 per student for K-12 education in 2007-08, a 4% increase from 2006-07. California's per pupil spending has been among the lowest in the nation for more than two decades. In 2005-06, it ranked 34th of the 50 states.
- Just 65% of California's high school students graduate on time with a regular diploma. California ranks 38th in the nation on this measure.
- As many as 22% of teachers leave the profession within their first four years.
- California's student data system has just four of the 10 national standard elements in place to adequately measure student achievement over time, which prevents educators from tracking individual students' long-term academic progress.
Policy Recommendations [back to top]
- Secure educational facilities funding to meet the unique needs of California students. Facilities funding should be provided at all levels to meet enrollment projections, renovate outdated buildings, avoid overcrowding, provide access to high-quality early care and education programs, and incorporate appropriate structures for such vital programs as after school and career technical education. A school facilities bond that meets those needs and includes funding specifically for preschool should be placed on the November 2008 ballot.
- Promote a comprehensive and balanced overhaul of the K-12 education system. California's ability to substantially improve student success is impeded by inefficient funding structures, blurred governance and an inequitable distribution of resources. The state must improve the transparency of resource allocations so everyone can understand how much is being spent, on what and for whom. Furthermore, school and district funding must be more equitably distributed and closely tied to student needs for achieving state goals. Concurrent with those changes, California needs to invest more resources in the K-12 education system to ensure sufficient and stable funding. Those changes are required to significantly improve the system and raise the achievement of all students, including closing the gap between low-income students and students of color and their peers.
- Establish a comprehensive, integrated, longitudinal data system. A data system that includes educational records from preschool through college, as well as data related to child welfare, social services, juvenile justice and the workforce, must become a reality in California. That system is necessary to support continuous improvement efforts on the part of students, teachers, administrators and policymakers alike. A centralized governance structure should be established to coordinate data collection, provide policy guidance, create security protocols, and ensure that educators and researchers have access to useful data.
- Improve students' college readiness and reduce dropout rates. In order for California to remain competitive in the global marketplace, it must improve high school student retention and ensure that students complete the coursework required to attend college or participate in the state's workforce. The state's high schools need to provide safety nets for at-risk and struggling students, as well as provide rigorous and relevant programs to keep them engaged in challenging and meaningful work. At the middle school level, schools must increase assignments' rigor to better align with grade level standards and provide interventions to help struggling students get back on track and create personal connections with caring adults to ensure they successfully transition to high school.
Related Links [back to top]
Events
In February 2007, Children Now held public forums in San Francisco and Los Angeles on finding common ground on K-12 education reform in California. Influential education, business and community leaders came together to discuss public education governance and finance reform and the importance of breaking the stalemate in Sacramento.
