Accountability Is Knocking on the Classroom Door

SACRAMENTO â€”  This may be one of those “darkest before dawnâ€� times. It has been very bleak and scary for California education, but now there are rays of light on the horizon.

The newest ray is a report to be presented today to state Supt. of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin by an advisory committee of mostly educators and business executives. The significance of the report is not so much what it recommends--there’ll be controversy--but that there’s a report at all. It’s the state’s first major effort to infuse public schools with accountability, a hot political buzzword.

Created by the Legislature and appointed by Eastin, the committee will recommend a series of carrots and sticks--rewards and punishments--to motivate schools, teachers and students.

Examples: big pay bonuses for high-performing teachers, state takeover of bad schools, admission tests at middle and high schools, mandatory summer classes for substandard students, university scholarships for the best students.

It’s not cheap: Nearly $1 billion annually when fully implemented, about 2.5% more than already is spent for K-12 schools.

“These figures are daunting,� the report concedes, but adds that it’s worth the money “if the public is serious about improving schools.�

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Accountability is viewed by Eastin and most reformers as one leg of a three-legged stool needed to prop up California’s schools. The other legs are closer to being in place: standards and assessments.

The first statewide academic standards are being adopted by the State Board of Education, laying out what California’s kids will be expected to learn. The board last month approved reading and writing standards, emphasizing phonics and spelling. It now is in the process of endorsing back-to-basics math standards. Next year, it will adopt standards for science and social studies.

All these standards will provide the bases for new, customized state tests to assess the performance of students--and also schools and teachers. But the state isn’t waiting for the customized tests. It will give initial “off-the-shelf� exams next May because lame duck Gov. Pete Wilson insists that the testing begin while he’s still around and can share in the credit.

The testing--assessments--will determine whether the standards are being met. Accountability will be a butt-kicking motivator to assure that they are.

“A statewide accountability system is vital if California is to regain the preeminent position it once held in public education,� asserts the advisory committee, co-chaired by former Lockheed Martin President Sam Araki and ex-Fresno schools Supt. Chuck McCully.

I got an advance peek at the panel’s recommendations, whose fate will be decided ultimately by the Legislature and governor. Most ordinary people will say “about time,� I suspect, but politicians obliged to skittish interests--such as teachers unions--will moan that the plan’s unworkable. Republicans and school boards may yelp about losing local control. But if the pols really want accountability, they can compromise.

Among the committee’s many suggestions:

* Reward teachers for their students’ progress--more so than their achievement levels--with cash bonuses of up to $2,500. Also give bonuses to administrators and aides. The committee fought about this, and the unions are sure to oppose setting up competition between teachers. Eastin tends to agree; she favors team awards.

* Have the state take over bad schools or even shut them down after “intervention� counseling fails.

* Compel kids who don’t meet the new academic standards to attend summer school. And no more courtesy graduations. For the best students, guarantee university admissions with tuition breaks. “Lack of student motivation is a major problem in California schools,� the committee says.

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California’s schools are in a world of hurt. Buildings are dilapidated. Textbooks are way outdated. Most classes still are overcrowded. Moreover, English is not the main language for one-fourth of the students.

But it’s demagogic to say nobody is doing anything. Things are happening.

Class sizes have been reduced substantially in grades K-3 and already there’s testing evidence that these kids are learning better.

“We’re on our way back. There’s a sense of energy,� says Eastin. As state schools chief, she’d be expected to say that while running for reelection. But we do see those light rays, those heartening, hopeful signs.

One bright spot is that all the politicians are talking about education. It’s finally their No. 1 issue. In fact, Democrats and Republicans have been seen working together to build that three-legged stool. They envision their own bonus--election day votes.