CSUN University News Clippings

New study details state’s education woes

(August 26, 2009)

The latest results from California’s standardized student tests continue to show incremental improvement in academic achievement, but the state still faces a monumental crisis, Oakland-based Education Trust-West says in its annual report on the status of public education.

The report was issued as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger renews his demands for education reform, calling a special legislative session to align the state with President Barack Obama’s new reform program.

While the state is making incremental improvements, “the gaps in achievement separating Latino, African-American, and low-income students from their more advantaged peers are not closing but in some cases, are actually widening,” EdTrust-West said as it released its report.

“By nearly every measure, our public schools continue to struggle to serve our most vulnerable children well,” it continued. “Unfortunately, the schools profiled in this report remain the exception, rather than the rule. State leaders must seize the opportunity provided by the federal government’s unprecedented investment in education and the governor’s call for special legislative session to enact the type of change that will forever close gaps in access and achievement. We simply cannot afford to tinker at the edges of reform while another generation of young people-particularly our low-income students and students of color-go underestimated and underserved by our education system.”

The full report, highlighting the organization’s assessment of what’s working and not working in the classroom, is accessible here.

Publication: Sacramento Bee