The California Department of Education released the state’s student achievement scores last month, and to no one’s surprise, California schools still fail to produce the results students and taxpayers deserve. Across the state, student math and reading test scores have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests examine student performance in math and reading for grades 3-8 and 11, and performance in science for grades 5, 8, and 10-12. The state Department of Education’s press release highlights the state’s decreased chronic absenteeism, and slight increases in math (1.2%) and science (0.07%) scores compared to last year’s dismal results, but reading scores dropped (0.4%).
The press release celebrates California’s massive spending on education — over $129 billion for K-12 public education in 2022-23. But despite this staggering amount, less than half of students who took the Smarter Balanced English Language Arts assessment met state standards and just over a third of students met state math standards.
With taxpayers spending approximately $22,000 per public school student last year alone, there’s no excuse for California’s ongoing failure to adequately educate public school students. The National Association of Educational Progress (the “Nation’s Report Card”) found that Florida 4th graders in 2022 scored nine points above the national average for public school students, while California’s 4th graders scored two points below. All while Florida spends about $10,000 per public school student — half of California’s per-pupil amount.
California education officials can brag all they want about state spending on education, but all that money is not leading to better student outcomes.
If you’d like to examine how your school district performed but don’t know how to get started, take seven minutes to watch our latest Parent Union Toolkit video, CAASPP Tour, which provides an overview of how to use CAASPP’s online dashboard to explore student performance in your district and schools throughout the state.
And, if you haven’t visited our Parent Union website recently, there are many more resources available. Check out the toolkits below to learn how to track legislation, run for school board, file a public records request, track political contributions to elected officials and more. You can find all of these resources at parentunion.org/toolkits.
LegInfo Tour
This video guide will show you how to use the California legislature’s bill tracking website, LegInfo, an essential tool for anyone who wants to follow what’s really happening at the state Capitol. Learn how to track legislation, submit position letters on bills to legislative committees and more in this 8-minute video tour of the website.
How to Apply for an Interdistrict Transfer
When a student is struggling in their neighborhood public school, families have the option of an interdistrict transfer from one school district to another. Obtaining this approval, however, can pose a challenge for families since the success of their request is contingent upon two districts’ consent. This toolkit explains step-by-step the process for applying for an interdistrict transfer.
Education Funding in California
California’s massive public education system is financed through a complex process. Where does the funding come from? How is it allocated? This toolkit explains how Proposition 98, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and federal funding impact the state’s education budget.
How to Influence the Legislative Process
Every year, the California legislature proposes and votes on hundreds of bills that significantly impact students and parents throughout the state. Knowing how to make your voice heard can help stop bad bills and get good legislation passed. This toolkit provides a brief overview of the legislative process and tips on how you can get involved at each step.
How to Run for School Board
As a parent, one of the best ways to get involved with your child’s education is to become a member of your local school board, whether it be for your school district or your county’s Department of Education. But how do you get your name on the ballot? What do you need to know about running a campaign and keeping it compliant with the law? This toolkit explains the forms you must be aware of when running for school board and spotlights resources for potential candidates, including California Local Elected Officials’ virtual Candidate Training and handbook.
How to File a Public Records Request
The California Public Records Act (PRA) is the state’s version of the federal Freedom of Information Act: It protects the right of the public to access government documents to ensure our government remains transparent and accountable. Any citizen may file a public records request for any California government entity, including public school districts. That means you can utilize public records requests to find out what’s happening in your local school and what’s being taught. This toolkit explains the process of filing a PRA and provides a sample PRA request.
How to Track Political Contributions
Teachers unions and other public sector unions give hundreds of millions of dollars to California politicians. Union-bankrolled candidates regularly win seats on school boards and city councils and in the state legislature. Knowing how to track political donations will help you understand where candidates are receiving financial support. This toolkit provides useful links to websites where you can find information on campaign contributions to candidates and tools for examining those donations.
We know you’ll find many of these resources useful. Check back often at parentunion.org as we regularly add new toolkits and issue briefs on education issues.
The painful reality is our schools now exist to TRY and educate the children of people from poor countries. In their homelands, kids are lucky to get 3rd grade educations on dirt floor schools. Imagine their shock when they see schools with roofs, books and certified teachers! These generally are not students with high expectations. If you want better test scores, make sure the students come from cultures that revere education, not cultures that are shocked when schools have books, walls and concrete on the floors.