 January 19, 2012/Sacramento—In yesterday’s State of the State speech, Governor Brown made his case that California is not in decline, despite the pronouncements of what he called “dystopian journalists” and other critics. He acknowledged the budgetary problems he faced when he entered office a year ago, but said progress has been made, although mostly through cuts, in reducing the state’s structural deficit. He pointed out matter of factly that he couldn’t find four Republican legislative votes to pass an extension of temporary taxes last June, and so now he is forced to go to the ballot to avoid further reductions in services.
Restating a theme he has sounded often since last spring, Brown claimed he doesn’t like the cuts, but said the situation demands them along with his proposed tax increase. He noted that the current version of his tax proposal would be for “half of what people were paying in 2010,” referring to the one half cent sales tax he is floating, and that it remains a temporary tax.
In time, he said, he wants to finish the job of tax reform, but that’s for later. Putting our fiscal house in order is good stewardship, he said.
He’s right. So why not now?
In comments on KQED radio’s “California Report” following the governor’s speech, CFT president Joshua Pechthalt said the governor’s proposed tax increase should not be temporary, and it shouldn’t include asking those already hurt by the Great Recession and years of underfunding to pay more through increased sales taxes. Pechthalt called on the governor instead to back the alternative proposal by the Restore California coalition for a Millionaires Tax.
Big, bold ideas
Brown talked a lot about big, bold ideas, as he often does. He made a strong pitch for the bullet train project, comparing its critics to those who derided the Federal highway project in the 1930s, and the Suez and Panama canals before they were built.
He called on the Legislature to work together to restore the Sacramento Delta ecosystem, at the same time as ensuring a reliable water supply for the entire state.
His education program was almost an afterthought to these big ideas, but he did introduce a surprise. Noting that public education consumes more tax dollars than any other government activity, “and rightly so, since it has such a profound impact on our future,” he wanted to make sure we get it right. He said that everyone thinks they’re an expert on education, since everyone went through it, and somewhat sarcastically referred to experts, academics, and consultants who “usually call their ideas “reform.””
He admonished them that given California’s scale, with six million students, three hundred thousand teachers, and 100 languages spoken, “Some humility is called for.” With that caveat, he then offered his thoughts.
Leave the real work to those closest
He said responsibilities for education must be clearly delineated between various stakeholders. He objected to more and more decision making concentrated at federal and state levels, and said ultimate responsibility should rest with elected school boards, for better or worse. But he cautioned that we should “leave the real work to those closest to the students,” teachers, principals and parents.
He repeated earlier pronouncements that we should simplify complex funding streams and replace categorical programs with new weighted formulas with extra funding for disadvantaged students and those struggling to learn English. This would, he said, provide flexibility for school districts.
He also said that given the cuts that have already taken place, California must devote more tax dollars to this most basic of public services. He said that if he is successful in convincing voters to approve his tax package, the schools will be much stronger.
It was in his discussion of accountability that Brown introduced his surprise. He noted that California has detailed state standards and lots of tests. But he lamented that the test results are not provided until after school is over. He called for a reduction in the number of tests, and said we should get the results to teachers, parents and administrators within weeks so that they may be put to the best use.
Brown also called for qualitative assessments in addition to the quantitative data collected on student progress. He provided few details as to how this might work, saying that his role as governor is to listen. He shared his “hunch” that principals and teachers know the most about what students need, but said he is willing to listen to any good ideas.
Also of interest to CFT members were the governor’s remarks on public employee pension reform. Referring to his 12 point proposal, he stated that reform is necessary since three times the number of public employees are retiring as entering the work force, and “the math doesn’t add up.”
In his commentary on KQED radio following the governor’s speech, CFT president Joshua Pechthalt said that both as a teacher and a parent of a seventh grade student, he was heartened by Brown’s emphasis on reducing the amount of testing. “It is clear that the governor has been listening to teachers, administrators, and parents, and this represents a shift in the approach by the state, and it also represents a welcome shift away from scapegoating teachers and parents for the problems faced by public education,” said Pechthalt.
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