How Do We Improve Public Education in America?

These days, much of my focus has been on the gross under-funding of public schools, particularly in California. I believe that our funding decisions reflect our values as a society, and the steep reduction in funding of schools means that we don't understand how important quality education is to the future of our state and country.

Besides funding, there are also real questions about the way to structure our schools in order to offer equal opportunity to all students, regardless of background.

There is a large amount of evidence that student performance correlates with poverty rates no matter the educational model used. Here is a provocative interview with Professor Michael Marder at the University of Texas in which he presents data showing the strong correlation. While many people are pushing charter schools as a panacea, Professor Marder's data also shows that charter schools clearly lag public schools in performance. We must be very careful in how we expand the charter school movement in order to make sure it really does benefit all students, both at the charters and the traditional public schools.

Ten years ago, Congress created "No Child Left Behind," which puts a great emphasis on testing in order to gauge student progress and created an expectation that all students will be proficient by 2013. While the goal is admirable, additional tools or strategies were not offered along with the evaluation components.

We can learn a lot from schools in Finland, which are widely recognized as the best performing schools in the world. In Finland, there are no standardized tests. Students are evaluated by their teachers and the National Ministry of Education tracks progress by periodically testing a random sample of students. The key is that Finland's model for education relies on "the idea that every child should have exactly the same opportunity to learn, regardless of family background, income, or geographic location. Education has been seen first and foremost not as a way to produce star performers, but as an instrument to even out social inequality... This starts with the basics. Finland offers all pupils free school meals, easy access to health care, psychological counseling, and individualized student guidance." In other words, school is about more than curriculum. It is about making sure that all students are provided with everything they need to be successful. By the way, there are no private schools in Finland. The public schools are given all the resources they need to educate everyone. [Read more about Finish schools.]

Until we make education a priority and are willing to learn from the data and from education models that are working, we are shortchanging many of our next generation. Let's resolve in 2012 to work together to find ways to address the underlying needs of our students. It can be done through public schools, without relying on private institutions or charter schools.

School Budget Spared - for now

Today, Governor Brown announced the trigger cuts for the middle of the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Things aren't as bad for K-12 schools as feared. The Governor has declared that the economy is improving, and as a result, just $1 billion in cuts will be triggered. While higher education and child care took significant cuts, K-12 schools will be spared. There are some cuts to transportation funding, which amounts to about $11 per student.

As you may remember, this year's state budget included an assumption of $4 billion in additional revenue. If the money didn't materialize, automatic cuts would be triggered on January 1. Today's projection from the Department of Finance shows a shortfall, but less of one than many expected. Schools faced as much as $250 per student in mid-year cuts. Our district set aside the money in reserve to cover the potential cuts for the remainder of this year. We can now use that money to make up for some of our ongoing structural deficit over the next few years.

However, we are not out of the woods yet. Recent estimates are that California faces another $7 billion deficit for 2012-2013. So once again, the legislature will be contemplating cuts when discussing the next budget. That is, unless revenues can be raised in the November 2012 election.

In the mean time, we can enjoy a happier holiday season, knowing that things could have been much worse. Let's hope that the economy continues to improve and California can begin to reinvest in our children.

Transitional Kindergarten

Today is December 2, the date by which children must be 5 years old in order to enter kindergarten in California. Starting next year, that date will move forward by one month each year until it settles on September 1. This will align California with much of the rest of the United States, making sure that children are 5 years old by the time they start school.

Rather than make children born between September 1 and December 2 wait another year, school districts must begin operating a transitional kindergarten program staring in 2012. Studies show that students who have a pre-K educational experience are more likely to be successful in school. During the first year of the new program, districts are required to offer the program to those with birthdays between November 2 and December 2. In the fall of 2014, the program must be fully implemented and offered to those with birthdays after September 1. It will be up to districts if they want to expand the program and make it available to students that were born after December 2.

Transitional kindergarten offers children the opportunity to develop maturity and skills they need to excel in school. It also helps schools by making sure that students are better prepared and less likely to be placed in special education or be retained as they get older.

Berryessa School District is beginning to discuss how we will implement the program. For the first year, there will be approximately 1 transitional K class for every 10 regular K classes. That means the program will not be offered at every school and may be confined to just 1 or 2 campuses. In upcoming board meetings, we will have conversations on how the program will take shape.

Giving Thanks for Berryessa's Successes

As we enter the second trimester of the school year, schools in California face many challenges. We will begin having conversations about many of these topics over the next few months. The news is full of reports that California's revenue is coming in below expectations, so schools may be facing significant mid-year cuts. We continue to deal with the requirements of No Child Left Behind, particularly at our schools that are currently in Program Improvement status. In addition, we must implement a transitional kindergarten program for students who will be too young to start traditional K in August 2012. I will begin writing more about these and other topics starting next month.

But in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to give thanks for the great work being done by teachers, staff, parents, and students throughout the Berryessa School District. There are great things happening at all of our schools. So thank you everyone, for your dedication to providing top-notch education for Berryessa's students.

In November's Berryessa Sun, Superintendent Will Ector wrote a column highlighting some special achievements in the district. I encourage you to read it here. And make sure you have a safe, enjoyable, and restful Thanksgiving holiday.

Mid-Year Cuts Inevitable?

As you may recall, school districts were bailed out at the last minute for this year in the state budget process. K-12 education funding was kept flat from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012. That allowed Berryessa to avoid having to implement cuts that we had been discussing for much of the spring.

Since the state was unable to secure any guaranteed new revenues, the budget bailout was based on a projection of about $4 billion in increased revenue resulting from an improving economy. The caveat in the final agreement was that if revenues fell short of the projected level, automatic cuts would be triggered midway through the budget year, in January 2012. If updated projections show the state falling up to $2 billion short, cuts will be made to state unversities, child care, and health programs. If revenues fall more than $2 billion short, K-12 education face cuts of up to $1.9 billion. The full level of cuts would mean a reduction of about $250 per student in the current year. For Berryessa, that would create an additional hole of over $2 million.

Based on revenue reports from the first quarter of the fiscal year, it does not look like the state will meet the optimistic budget projections they made in June. The likelihood that the state will fall short by the entire $4 billion is growing as the economic recovery remains very slow.

The cuts are supposed to be automatic based on certain state budget triggers, at the discretion of Governor Brown. I asked one of our Assembly members last week whether the Governor would pull the trigger by himself or consult with the legislature first. I was told that while the Governor would have the authority to make the cuts on his own, he would likely confer with our representatives first. Perhaps adjustments will be made so that schools won't take as big of a hit.

When our Board adopted this year's budget, we prepared for the possibility of midyear cuts by setting aside enough money to cover the shortfall without having to change our course in the middle of the year. But if we end up spending that money in the current year, the district faces tough decisions on what to cut from our budget next year in order to remain solvent. We could be in for a bumpy ride if current budget projections are correct.

Physical Fitness Compliments Mental Fitness

Educating the whole child includes a robust physical education. Studies show that physical fitness enhances mental fitness and learning. All of Berryessa's schools are taking physical fitness seriously, regularly participating in walk-a-thons, Jump Rope for Heart, and other events. These activities are above and beyond the traditional PE classes that are a part of California's curriculum.

I want to recognize several schools for their extra commitment to fitness. This morning, folks from the district and Ruskin Elementary School were in Sacramento to receive the grand prize in the 2011 Governor's Physical Fitness Challenge competition. Participant schools encourage regular physical activity by their students and log exercise time. Ruskin students had 100% participation this year and logged nearly 159,000 active days. As a result, they have been awarded $100,000 worth of gym equipment, which will be installed at the school. A local celebration and awards ceremony will be held in the near future.

Ruskin wasn't the only participant in the Governor's challenge this past year. Brooktree and Noble Elementary Schools both also finished in the top 10 statewide. Congratulations to all 3 schools.

The playground is an important place for students to get their daily exercise. Noble Elementary School was one of 4 schools in the entire country to be awarded a free playground courtesy of Old Navy and Terracycle. The playground is made in part out of recycled used flip-flops. This past Saturday, the school held a very successful and enjoyable community build event. Parents and district staff were on hand to build the playground and kids will start using the new equipment this week.

Noble is also participating in Earthquakes Fit. Earlier this week, representatives from the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team came to the school for a kick-off assembly. Third and fourth graders will log their exercises and after 5 weeks, a closing assembly will hopefully include a visit from an Earthquakes player.

Continuing on the fitness theme, Noble's PTA, with the help from other district schools, is organizing the first Berryessa 5K Walk/Run. Join me on Sunday morning, October 9, as we run through Penetencia Creek Park and the surrounding community, beginning and ending at the Berryessa Community Center.

District Continues to Improve Performance, but Challenges Remain

Congratulations to all the staff of the Berryessa Union School District on another year of stellar growth on the API test. Overall, the district showed a 20-point gain, reaching a score of 843. Twelve of our 13 schools met their API targets and 11 are now above 800, which is the state target. In addition, all of our subgroups showed gains and 11 of the schools had the subgroups meet their targets. This tremendous performance is testament to the hard work of all teachers, staff, administrators, and of course our wonderful students.

Despite the gains, the federal targets set by No Child Left Behind continue to grow at such a rapid pace, that even with the growth our district showed, more of our schools are falling into the Program Improvement category. Simply put, even though our district is meeting California standards for exemplary performance, we are receiving what amounts to a failing grade from the federal government. The chart on the right (from the Mercury News) shows the increasing statewide proficiency levels and the much steeper national targets.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) looks not just at overall school performance, but sets targets for all subgroups, including racial minorities, socio-economically disadvantaged, and English language learners. Understanding how our schools are performing with each of these categories of students has helped staff focus on students who have traditionally struggled. As a result, strategies are being implemented to help narrow the achievement gap. This is valuable information for our schools.

However, the punitive nature of the accountability system removes school site flexibility and results in severe sanctions that are not always best for our schools. Since Congress appears unlikely to act on solving the problems with NCLB, California's Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is seeking a waiver from the program. Here are a couple of articles discussing Torlakson's feelings:

• Torlakson Wants NCLB Waiver



• Torlakson's Letter to the Department of Education



• California Could Join NCLB Revolt

Back to Berryessa's latest scores. Four of our schools achieved API gains of 20 points or more; Laneview, Majestic Way, Sierramont, and Vinci Park. A special congratulations should go to Vinci Park, who achieved one of the highest single year gains anywhere in the state, with scores going up by 48 points! Great work to everyone in the district who work hard to educate the children of Berryessa.