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02/27/2008   GAAS:102:08   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Print Version | Email / Share

Governor Schwarzenegger Announces Framework to Bring Accountability to Challenged Schools

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell to announce their recommendations to improve 97 districts that have persistently failed to meet the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.  With this action, California becomes the first state in the nation to take an individualized approach to districts in program improvement under NCLB.  NCLB requires states to take action or risk losing federal funding.

"Students who have persistently lagged behind have suffered too long and they need our help right now. I have joined forces with Superintendent O'Connell to craft individualized reform plans to make sure the solution fits the district. By working together, I know we can make great strides for the children of our state," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

"In all cases we embrace a singular goal - to make sure that all districts and schools are working effectively to improve student achievement," O'Connell said. "The state has an obligation to not only implement federal law but to assist our school districts to close the achievement gap and help all students succeed in school."

The Governor has proposed four levels of individualized assistance to support challenged school districts. Every district has been analyzed individually to arrive at the most appropriate level of intervention to improve student achievement. These include:

• Intensive: The State Board of Education will assign a state-approved education assistance provider to the lowest performing districts to conduct an independent analysis of district performance. Based on this analysis, recommendations will be presented to the Board for further corrective action under federal NCLB. 
  • Corrective actions can include: replacing school district personnel, appointing a receiver or trustee, permitting students to transfer to different schools, putting new curricula in-place and-in the most serious cases-abolishing and restructuring the district.
• Moderate: The school district will choose its state approved education assistance provider in consultation with the local county superintendent of schools. In these districts, as above, the assistance provider will create a plan of action for the district's improvement that the district will be required to implement.
• Light: The school district will choose a state-approved technical assistance provider. This provider will help develop a tailored plan to assist the school district in meeting federal accountability targets.
• Other: Districts that narrowly missed federal accountability targets will be directed to revise their Local Education Agency (LEA) plans, which outline how they will implement NCLB. Additionally in this category, there are LEA plans that require special attention based on extenuating circumstances, such as voter approved consolidation/elimination of school districts.

The Governor is committed to getting the $45 million in available federal funds to turn these school districts around.  The Governor will be working very closely with the Legislature to ensure these funds are allocated to maximize results and boost student achievement in these school districts.

Since taking office, Governor Schwarzenegger has increased education funding by almost 34 percent. In 2003-04, the state's contribution to K-12 education from its General Fund was about $29.8 billion. In the budget Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed for 2008-09, that same number would be $39.9 billion - an increase of nearly $10.1 billion dollars. Including federal and local dollars, the amount of money going into California classrooms per-pupil, has increased by 20 percent.

The 97 districts that have not met federal compliance under NCLB for the past five years and the proposed interventions are below:

The State Board of Education will consider the Governor and Superintendent's proposal at their next meeting, March 12-13, 2008.