California Education

For nearly six years, I have served on the Board of Trustees of the California State University system -- the last two as its chairman. This experience has been more than just professional; it has been a deeply personal one. With my term ending soon, I need to share my concern -- and personal pain -- that California is on the verge of destroying the very system that once made this state great. I came to California because of the education system. I grew up in Connecticut and attended college back East on partial scholarships and financial aid. I also worked part time, but by my first year of grad school, I'd maxed out my financial aid and was relying on loans that charged 14% interest.

This is it for Gov. Pete Wilson, the end of the game. Not only is it his last at-bat, it's his last swing. It's his last week to drive in runs, to produce legislation. He's mainly playing for more education reforms, a school bond issue with construction finance reforms and a water bond that agriculture can support. The 1997-98 legislative session--Wilson's last as governor--will be history by next Monday. After that, his role in the Capitol will be essentially reactive--signing or vetoing bills.

The overwhelming majority of African American parents care more about raising student achievement than broadening the racial diversity of schools, and most also say race should not be a factor in hiring administrators or teachers--even for largely black school districts--according to a new national survey.

Businessman Ron K. Unz and his allies had at least two goals in mind last year when they drafted Proposition 227: to end bilingual education in California and to ensure that the initiative would withstand a court challenge if it won voter approval. Those diverging aims produced a law with some internal conflicts. There is no mistaking the sweeping mandate--"all children in California public schools shall be taught English by being taught in English."

The state Senate on Friday approved a raise of up to 12% for more than 24,000 correctional officers and other prison employees, as unions representing more than 100,000 other state employees continued efforts to get a raise of their own. The measure was approved 27 to 2, the two-thirds necessary for passage in the 40-seat Senate. The Assembly was expected to take up the bill Monday, the last day of the two-year legislative session before the two houses adjourn for the year.

California school districts that want to maintain their bilingual education programs scored an important court victory Thursday when a judge ordered the State Board of Education to consider their requests to waive enforcement of Proposition 227. Unless the decision is overturned on appeal, school districts now may be able to obtain waivers to avoid dismantling bilingual programs for as long as two years. If the state board rejects the waivers, the districts can challenge the denials in court.

Candidates for the U.S. Senate hit the campaign trail Thursday with their post-debate attention focused on education, giving nearly simultaneous midday speeches about their divergent visions for the future of public instruction in this country. Polls show that the topic is among Americans' top concerns, and it promises to be a major issue in the contest between incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer and state Treasurer Matt Fong.

California school districts that want to maintain their bilingual education programs scored an important court victory Thursday when a judge ordered the State Board of Education to consider their requests to waive enforcement of Proposition 227. Unless the decision is overturned on appeal, school districts now may be able to obtain waivers to avoid dismantling bilingual programs for as long as two years. If the state board rejects the waivers, the districts can challenge the denials in court.

Up and down the state, public school officials have clamored for answers to a question posed by the passage of Proposition 227: If not bilingual education, then what? Although the initiative approved by voters in June was a loud statement against teaching children in two languages, the program it required instead--"structured English immersion"--remains suspect to many California educators.

Cashing in on the state's rebounding economy, Gov. Pete Wilson signed a number of bills Wednesday that will provide millions of dollars annually to students in the form of new textbooks, a longer school year, better teacher training and an improved after-school program. "Right now, California is enjoying good economic times--it's the envy of the rest of the nation," Wilson told a group of youngsters at Alta Loma Elementary School in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles.