State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Projects Savings of More Than $15 Million from Testing Suspension Proposal

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson projected today that his recommendation to suspend standardized tests not required by the federal government starting next year would save more than $15 million, and called for the savings to be used to develop new high-quality assessments.

"Rather than continuing to spend scarce dollars and precious class time on outdated testing, we can invest these resources in developing the next generation of assessments that will help students focus on critical thinking and problem-solving— the skills they will need in college and their careers," Torlakson said.

The estimated savings and a summary of the state's current assessment system were detailed in a presentation today to the State Board of Education. The savings are broken down into contract savings and non-contract savings:

• Some $11,347,000 represents a reduction in contract costs and could be used for planning and facilitation of the transition to new assessments, and to further the development and/or acquisition of new assessments, particularly in mathematics and science.
• The remaining $3,750,000 represents a reduction in apportionments to local districts. These are local reimbursements that occur after the testing is completed.

Torlakson is sponsoring Assembly Bill 484 (Bonilla), which would enact his recommendations for transitioning California's schools to a new assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards. 

Read more of the CDE press release HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces California Joins National Partnership to Teach Students 21st Century Skills

Read the CDE press release HERE.

Torlakson, Duncan Urge Congress to Act Swiftly to Prevent Looming Sequestration Cuts

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson sent a letter on Tuesday urging Congressional leaders to work together and immediately pass legislation that would repeal drastic budget cuts set to take effect Friday under sequestration.

“Without Congressional intervention, automatic budget cuts from sequestration will take effect on March 1,” said Torlakson in a letter to Congressional leaders. “After years of extensive state and federal budget cuts to education, these cuts will devastate communities across California…. These automatic cuts will cause long-lasting and irreparable harm.”

Sequestration cuts could represent a $262 million funding reduction to California’s federal education program. These include estimated cuts of:

· $91 million for Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, intended to improve education for disadvantaged students;
· $72 million in special education funding for programs that serve the needs of students with disabilities;
· $2.8 million for public charter schools;
· $6.9 million for Career and Technical Education;
· $9.6 million in funding for English learners; and
· $3.7 million in Impact Aid affecting students in federally impacted school districts in California, including children of active duty service members.

Read more of the EdBrief post HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Appoints New Director of School Fiscal Services Division

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated Peter Foggiato on his appointment as the new director of the California Department of Education's (CDE) School Fiscal Services Division.

"Peter brings a wealth of knowledge to his new position at the department," said Torlakson. "School districts across the state rely on the department's fiscal experts for help navigating the complex world of school finance, and we're lucky to have Peter heading up that outstanding team."

Peter has worked at the CDE for seven years having served most recently as an education fiscal services administrator in the Office of Principal Apportionment and Special Education. Prior to joining the CDE, Foggiato spent seven years as an auditor evaluator at the Bureau of State Audits.

He replaces Scott Hannan, who directed the School Fiscal Services Division for nine years before retiring at the end of last year.

Read more of the CDE News Release HERE.

SPI Torlakson backs teacher evaluation bill AB 5

By Kimberly Beltran from School Innovations & Achievement (SI&A)

Tom Torlakson, chief of California’s public school system, today said the controversial teacher evaluation bill pending in the Legislature is the right approach to take toward improving educational outcomes for students statewide.

Torlakson personally carried his message to members of the media in a series of phone calls this morning, a day after AB 5, authored by Democratic Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes of Los Angeles, cleared its last hurdle to reach the floor of the Senate.

“This bill is a really positive step in the right direction for evaluating teachers and improving the teaching profession and student outcomes,” said Torlakson. “The goal of teaching is learning, and AB 5 points us toward a more comprehensive system for evaluating the extent to which that is taking place.”

Read more HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Issues Statement on Cuts to Education Budget

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement today on the final state budget:

"Preparing California's young people for the future—all the way from early childhood through high school—will be more difficult under our state's continuing budget problems. As Superintendent, I can sympathize with the difficult decisions faced by the Governor and the Legislature—but, as an educator, I am saddened today. The simple truth is that schools need more revenue if they are going to begin restoring some of what billions of dollars of cuts have already taken from them and from their students.

"In the budget passed by the Legislature, early child care funding was cut significantly—and then cut even more with the Governor's line item veto. Two other vetoes that disturbed me were the elimination of both AVID funding and the Early Mental Health Initiative. These are programs that aid our students, prepare them to succeed in school, and then help them graduate ready for careers and college. The final budget also allows districts to cut as many as 30 days of instructional time over the next two years—which amounts to a combined potential loss of the equivalent of one million years of schooling for California's 6.3 million public school kids.

"And still, our schools—even in the face of this continuing do-more-with-less approach—have found a way to raise graduation rates this year. To me, that shows they not only need and deserve our support—they have earned it."

Read the press release  HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Urges Parents to Vaccinate Children and Prevent Whooping Cough

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today urged parents of students entering the seventh grade to vaccinate their children to protect them against whooping cough as required by California law.

"I call on all parents to act as soon as possible and ensure their children receive this important vaccination," Torlakson said. "Taking a few minutes now will help protect your child's health, and help them get off to a smooth start in the next school year."

"In 2010, 9,000 Californians were diagnosed with pertussis and 10 infants died from the disease. Due to the collective statewide vaccination efforts this past year, pertussis cases are dramatically lower in California," said Dr. Ron Chapman, Director of the California Department of Public Health. "If your child has not yet been vaccinated, please do so immediately."

Read more of the CDE News Release HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Spotlights New Youth Laws for 2012

SACRAMENTO—As Californians close out 2011 and welcome in the New Year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson highlights some of the new education and child safety laws that go into effect in 2012.

“Our goal for the new year and every year is to make education accessible and effective for all children,” said Torlakson. “These new laws will help ensure children are safer, enter kindergarten at the appropriate age, learn what they need to know to succeed in life and careers, and fulfill the dream of a college education.”

See CDE News Release HERE.

Torlakson Issues Statement on NCLB Waivers

From the California Department of Education NEWS RELEASE

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement today regarding the proposal made by US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan regarding state waivers to No Child Left Behind:

"Today's announcement represents an acknowledgement by the Administration that the one-size-fits-all policies of No Child Left Behind are unworkable.

"We are carefully examining the proposal, which would appear to cost billions of dollars to fully implement, at a time when California and many other states remain in financial crisis.

"I would hope that the Administration is prepared to provide the funds necessary to implement these provisions, or provide greater flexibility to California, which already has a strong school accountability system in place.

"With bipartisan support for a new generation of accountability systems that measure growth in student achievement over time, I will continue to advocate for Congress to approve a new Elementary and Secondary Education Act."

Article HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces New Director to Head Department's State Special Schools and Services Division

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that Scott D. Kerby has been selected as Director of the California Department of Education's State Special Schools and Services Division.

"I am pleased that Scott is coming on board as our director of State Special Schools, bringing with him more than 30 years of teaching and administrative experience," said Torlakson. "Scott has already spent several years at the California School for the Deaf in Riverside so he is well-situated to understand and support the culture, issues, and structure of these vital communities."

See CDE News Release HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Urges California to Address Financial Emergency in Public Schools

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson marked California Day of the Teacher by joining his fellow educators at the State Capitol in urging California to address the financial emergency facing public schools.

For more on the article click here.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Releases Academic Performance Ranks, 2010 Base API for California Public Schools

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today released the 2010 Base Academic Performance Index (API) and the public school ranks, marking the start of California's annual reporting cycle of academic growth and achievement.

"Today signifies the beginning of a new reporting cycle of testing and reporting under the API, which gives us one measure of school's academic performance. This is the jumping-off point where, based on last year's testing results, schools are given a number of points by which they must grow in order to satisfy the requirements of our state accountability system," said Torlakson

See California Department of Education News Release HERE.

Pertussis Vaccine Requirement Video Message

A video message from Tom Torlakson, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, on the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination requirement starting in fall 2011.
View HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on State Board of Education Action on Draft Parent Empowerment Law Regulations

From the California Department of Education NEWS RELEASE

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued this statement after the State Board of Education voted today to circulate draft regulations governing the state's Parent Empowerment law for public comment.

"The State Board of Education's action today represents another step in the process of providing parents with a more clear and workable process to carry out the Parent Empowerment law," said Torlakson. "I'm pleased at the success we have had in quickly bringing together parents, teachers, administrators, and the charter school industry. While differences of opinion remain about a number of issues, I am hopeful that gathering additional public feedback will give members of the Board the best information possible before a final decision on regulations is made."

For information on the Parent Empowerment proposed regulations, please visit the California Department of Education Website at Parent Empowerment Regulations - Proposed Rulemaking & Regulations.

Article here.

School Financial Emergency

From CA Dept of Education - What's New

Reports to the education community and the public on the impact of California's state budget crisis on education funding.

On January 6, 2011, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson declared a state of financial emergency in California’s schools. He launched a department-wide review and urged Californians to come to the aid of schools across the state.

"There’s simply no other way to describe it: this is an emergency. Every day, teachers, school employees, and principals are performing miracles, but the $18 billion in cuts over the last three years are taking their toll. We have 174 districts teetering on the financial brink. If this isn’t an emergency, I don’t know what is. The law won’t let me call out the National Guard. So I’m saying to every Californian: ‘Your schools need your help. And they need it now.’"

— Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Read complete article HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson to Districts: Plan for the Worst

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is warning school districts to plan for the worst and took steps to tally the impacts on California schools if the state's temporary taxes expire July 1.

"Californians cherish their schools," Torlakson said. "Before we miss the chance to help our state's 6.2 million schoolchildren weather this financial emergency, people have a right to know the consequences."

Read more of the California Dept of Education News Release HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on California's Parent Empowerment Law

"Parent involvement is essential to student achievement. It is important that Californians know that the state's Parent Empowerment law, which has been on the books since April 2010, has remained fully in effect and available for parents to use."

see CDE Release HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Issues Statement on Parent Empowerment Law

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement after hearing testimony from parents about the Parent Empowerment Law during today's State Board of Education meeting. The statute has been incorrectly identified as the "parent trigger" law.

Read the California State Department of Education News Release HERE

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Notes California's First Fred Korematsu Day

From California Department of Education - NEWS RELEASE

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today urged all Californians to observe the first annual Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution on Sunday, January 30, 2011.

"Fred Korematsu bravely resisted the grave injustice that began with the incarceration of Japanese Americans following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and ultimately, he prevailed and helped to right one of history's great wrongs," Torlakson said. "I urge Californians to take a moment this Sunday to study the case of Fred Korematsu so that we may learn from history and never repeat the shameful moments of our nation's past."

Legislation cosponsored by Assembly members Warren Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County) and Marty Block (D-San Diego) officially made January 30 Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution.

Read more HERE.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Leads Drive for Energy Efficiency

Awarding $848 million in federal tax credits for a wide variety of school construction projects, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today launched an effort to see that a larger number of future projects incorporate energy efficiency and renewable power.
Read more HERE.