REL#08-149
CONTACT: Hilary McLean
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHONE: 916-319-0818
October 28, 2008
E-MAIL: hmclean@cde.ca.gov
SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING
BUDGET CRISIS AND THREAT TO STUDENTS
SACRAMENTO – In light of the state’s worsening financial condition, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today urged the Governor and Legislature not to solve the state’s fiscal problems by cutting public education.
"I'm deeply concerned about the state's budget crisis and the threat it poses to California’s students. Our schools are already struggling to make ends meet as costs have risen significantly while their budgets were effectively cut by $3 billion. We knew the recently passed state budget was built on faulty assumptions, and now that things have gotten worse the state must not expect a bailout from our schools.
“All over the state, schools are already cutting staff, increasing class size, and turning to PTAs to acquire even basic classroom supplies. Our public schools have already stretched and carefully managed local budgets to provide the teachers and textbooks for students who just recently started the school year. Mid-year cuts would be extremely disruptive to the education of California’s students.
“These are difficult times for all California families and businesses as well as for state and local governments. But when families must cut back, parents make sacrifices before letting their children suffer; when businesses cut back, they cut strategically so that they may survive in the future. I firmly believe that as a state we must do everything possible to protect students first because education is the key to protecting our economic future.
“The Governor and Democratic leaders in the Legislature have been willing to consider increasing revenues to get our state through this difficult time. It’s time for everyone to step up to the plate and put our students first.”
# # # REL#08-150 CONTACT: Hilary McLean FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHONE: 916-319-0818 October 28, 2008 E-MAIL: hmclean@cde.ca.gov
REL#08-150
SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL COMMENTS ON TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER GRANTED IN ALGEBRA I LITIGATION
SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today announced that the Sacramento Superior Court has granted a temporary restraining order preventing the State Board of Education from implementing its July 9, 2008 decision requiring all eighth grade students in California to be tested in Algebra I, effectively requiring all eighth graders to be enrolled in an Algebra I course.
The case was filed in Sacramento Superior Court by the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators. O’Connell submitted a declaration to the court in support of the request for a temporary restraining order.
“I am pleased that the court has approved a temporary restraining order preventing the State Board of Education from implementing its decision to require all eighth grade students in California to take Algebra I. The Board made the decision in response to a letter from the Governor sent just hours before the Board met. I said at that time that there had not been adequate public notice or discussion for an issue of this magnitude. The Court found that these concerns were valid and stopped implementation of the Board’s plan until a full hearing can be held on the merits of the case in December.
“Algebra is a critical skill that all students must master. But, our public education system currently is not set up to provide the institutional support that schools, teachers, and students will need to ensure every student succeeds in Algebra I in the eighth grade. To do so would require significant investments to our system, costing billions of dollars. For example, California would have to double the number of middle school Algebra I teachers over the next three years. Given the growing budget shortfall in our state and the troubled national economic climate, which Governor Schwarzenegger is discussing with legislative leaders and key constituent groups just this week, it is unlikely that the Governor would be able to find the resources necessary to successfully implement the Algebra 1 mandate.“
Please see the attached declaration and exhibits filed by Superintendent O’Connell requesting the court to grant a Temporary Restraining Order.
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