Bill gives California a chance at ed funds

Published online on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009

SACRAMENTO -- California is back in the race.

Sunday afternoon, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that took away the biggest obstacle to the state winning a share of $4.35 billion in the federal Race to the Top funds for education.

Senate Bill 19, written by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, eliminates a statewide ban against tying student test scores to teacher evaluations.

President Barack Obama and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan had warned California leaders in recent weeks that the state would not see any of the Race to the Top stimulus funds if they didn't change the law.

Education experts have said Race to the Top grants could be as high as $200 million to $300 million.

State schools chief Jack O'Connell said Tuesday that SB19 gives "California a fighting chance to compete for Race to the Top funding."

The legislation eliminated a paragraph in another state law passed in 2006 that barred the state from using student achievement to evaluate teachers.

But the language caused confusion, and only a couple of school districts in the state are using student test scores to evaluate teachers.

Rick Miller, deputy superintendent of state schools, said the new legislation clarifies the issue for school districts.

Fresno Unified School District Superintendent Michael Hanson said the bill signed by the governor is not as aggressive as a competing bill, but it will enable California to compete for the federal money.

"What I think is important is, he signed something that addresses Race to the Top funding," Hanson said.

Hanson said he believes it's time for a more performance-based education system. "In a time of tight resources, we absolutely have to be able to prove that folks in education are having an impact on the students we're teaching," he said.