188 California School districts in financial trouble

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Reports Record
Number of School Districts in Financial Jeopardy

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson warned today that 2.6 million California children now attend schools in districts that are in financial jeopardy—the highest number of financially troubled districts in state history.

"This is the kind of record no one wants to set. Across California, parents, teachers, and administrators are increasingly wondering how to keep their schools' lights on, their bills paid, and their doors open," Torlakson said. "The deep cuts this budget crisis has forced—and the uncertainties about what lies ahead—are taking an unprecedented and unacceptable toll on our schools."

The state's Second Interim Status Report for 2011-12 also shows a record-high 188 local educational agencies (LEAs) are either in negative or qualified financial status. That's up 61 LEAs from the First Interim Status Report for 2011-12 issued in February, and up 45 from the Second Interim Report for 2010-11 issued a year ago.

The Sacramento Bee, on the other hand, thinks that the problem is teacher quality. There is little evidence to support the Bee's position.

The Sacramento Bee editors on May 20, issued another of their pronouncements on schools in an essay titled, "New Pressure for Teacher Quality,"

That the Bee editorial writers and Pia Lopez endorse the lobbying group that calls itself students first is not a surprise. They have long been in this camp which ignores the reality of classrooms. You can choose to follow the lead of the politicians, the Bee Editorial Board, and even "Democrats for School Reform," or you can choose to seek to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The Politicians, including our Democratic Leaders, argue about laws such as those listed. At the same time, these politicians vote to cut the funds of schools by $1,000 per student.  That is some $32,000 per classroom. Politicians and fake school reformers argue that their laws will make a difference. Yet, the cuts in school funding make more of a negative difference.  The politicians, and the Bee Editorial Board has abandoned the schools in favor of a gimmick and a headline. Where are the leaders of our state? See reports on who funds these "leaders" at the Democracy and Education Institute site.http://sites.google.com/site/democracyandeducationorg/

As noted below:

Common core standards is what the politicians talk about while cutting school budgets.  Such standards do not teach a single student. Similarly "teacher quality" is what the funded advocates talk about. They don't work in schools and they don't improve schools. 

Two interesting essays there on the funding of school "reform" advocates.