They told you they’d be back, Arnold
California is trying a novel approach to closing stubborn achievement gaps: Give educators more resources.
Three years ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger “borrowed” billions of dollars earmarked for education, then reneged on a promise to give it back. But the California Teachers Association (CTA) went to court and to the legislature, ultimately winning passage of a bill restoring the total $2.9 billion.
The money will be distributed over seven years through competitive grants to 500 of the state’s 1,455 lowest-scoring schools, $500 to $1,000 per student per year.
Eligible low-scoring schools have 134 percent more English-language learners than others in the state, 98 percent more students on free and reduced-price lunches, and 167 percent more students whose parents didn’t graduate from high school. They have 8 percent fewer fully credentialed teachers.
“We’ve been talking for years about putting our money where our hearts are,” says CTA President Barbara Kerr. “We want to see if lowering class sizes, providing quality teachers, and securing quality materials can make a difference. We believe it will.”
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