A long-awaited report on how to fix California’s schools was finally released last week, touting a batch of reforms with a $10.5 billion price tag. But with a nearly $4.5 billion shortfall for schools statewide, the report’s vision will likely be a dream deferred. Here’s a sample of the San Francisco Chronicle‘s take on it:
The governor’s 18-member Committee on Education Excellence spent nearly three years researching and preparing the report, which contains controversial proposals such as merit-based pay for teachers, giving local school districts more control of their finances and preventing most 4-year-olds from starting kindergarten.
But the Golden State’s looming budget deficit, estimated to be $8 billion by July 1, overshadowed many of those proposals, and the governor was among the first to point that out.
According to the Chronicle, the $10.5 billion is “based on estimates for additional pay for outstanding teachers; for training new teachers and administrators; developing a comprehensive data system on students and schools; and helping low-income families pay for preschool. Currently, the state spends about $50 billion a year on education.”
The commission included two San Diego locals: former state Sen. Dede Alpert and current county Superintendent Randolph Ward. Want to read through the report yourself? We’ve got a copy here.