Democrat Janet Reilly's
Plan for a First-Class Education for all Californians

Great schools are the foundation of a healthy economy and a healthy society. That is why California must reverse the long decline in school performance and start providing our students with a first-rate education.

California's local governments and boards of education set many of our educational policies, but they can succeed only if they are funded fully and fairly. The Governor and the Legislature must take responsibility for improving the quality of our schools, and I will fight to ensure our public education system receives the funding it needs to provide the best education programs possible.

California's schools are clearly not meeting our children's needs:

• Only Louisiana and Mississippi performed worse than California on national reading and math tests between 1990 and 2003
• Nearly one third of our students drop out of high school
• Our state has among the worst student-teacher ratios in the nation

These problems may seem insurmountable, but there are solutions. It is important to have high expectations for all students. It is all too easy to give up on struggling students, but we must help them when they fall behind. Research has shown repeatedly that all students - high performers and low achievers alike - succeed when schools have high standards, students are challenged and engaged, and students are provided with the academic and personal support necessary to achieve academic success.

High expectations are important - but they are not enough. Instituting high standards and not preparing our students to meet them is a recipe for a failed public education system. We need to stop punishing our teachers and our schools for not meeting state requirements, and instead ensure they have the resources to educate our students.

California's future depends on leaders who set the right priorities for our schools, and right now our priorities are simply wrong. While general fund spending on postsecondary education in California has decreased by 16%, spending on corrections has increased by 184% in 2000. It is time we spend money on solutions rather than on consequences.

Every student deserves a quality education, and I will make the education of California's children one of my highest priorities. My plan to heal our schools and provide every Californian with a first rate education includes:

• Offering childcare and universal preschool
• Expanding after-school enrichment programs and community outreach
• Funding support services and preparation programs for students transitioning into adulthood
• Ensuring quality public high school education
• Increasing access to California's higher education system
• Supporting our teachers and schools
• Expanding health care coverage for all children

Preparing Our Children for School:
Childcare and Universal Preschool

As a mother of two young daughters, I understand the importance of providing children the opportunity to develop a solid foundation for their future academic years. That's why I will fight for affordable childcare and universal preschool for California's children - one of the best ways to support learning and academic achievement in California's children.

Expand Affordable Childcare Programs
Quality childcare can improve a child's later academic success, as well as assist in a child's cognitive and social development. Childcare programs help children, especially those from non-native English-speaking families, develop language and social skills - but the high cost prohibits many families from utilizing these crucial programs. In fact, over 220,000 eligible California children are on the waiting list for subsidized childcare - which indicates the importance and high demand for affordable childcare services.

Mandate Preschool for All
Universal preschool is an essential element for a strong public education system. Children who attend preschool develop the cognitive abilities and social skills that keep them engaged throughout the rest of their scholastic journey. They are more likely to become good readers in elementary school, less likely to be held back a grade, and more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. It is estimated that if every child in California attended a quality preschool, to the result would be a reduced need for special education, a decrease school dropout rates, and a reduction in juvenile petitions for violent crimes.

A report by the University of California found preschool to be beneficial for non-native English speaking children. The study found that those who attended preschool were able to develop a head start on literacy and language skills - which propelled them up through the 3rd grade. These children were also less likely to drop out of school before the 3rd grade. Preschool is one of the best investments our state can make. It is estimated that this investment will generate benefits of up to $4 for every dollar spent on preschools.

Voters will have an opportunity to pass the “Preschool for All” initiative in the June 2006 primary election. I strongly support this important measure and am working for its passage.

I believe in a California that is not afraid to invest in its children. That's why I will fight for universal preschool and affordable childcare in the Legislature.

Ensuring Our Students Are Prepared to Learn:
Enrichment Programs and Community Involvement

In a 2005 study, nearly 55% of California's 3rd graders failed to meet the state standards on math and reading achievement tests. We must do more to improve our students' acquisition of basic cognitive and literacy skills by providing additional instruction and practice outside of the classroom.

Expand After-School Enrichment Programs
After-school programs show proven results in boosting student achievement and helping children develop the cognitive and social skills they need to excel in school.

In Los Angeles, the LA'S BEST program serves as a model after-school program that provides a safe environment for children to receive homework assistance, participate in educational and recreational activities, and develop their interpersonal skills. Located at 69 sites throughout Los Angeles, LA's BEST serves communities based upon criteria such as academic achievement, income level, and crime rates. The nationally recognized program serves over 23,000 children who need help the most. In a study evaluating LA's BEST researchers found that children participating in the program showed marked academic improvement.

Participation in after-school enrichment programs can also lower the juvenile crime rate. The after-school hours of 3pm to 6pm are the times that children are most at risk of participating in unsafe or dangerous behavior. The U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) reports that juvenile crime peaks in the afternoon hours on school days - 19% of all juvenile violent crimes and 1 in 7 sexual assaults by juveniles occur between 3pm and 7pm.. Juveniles also have a higher likelihood of being a victim of juvenile crime during these hours. The recommendation of the USDOJ is to offer more after-school programs for youths, especially to those youths that are at risk for engaging in dangerous behavior. Yet, less than half of California's elementary and middle school-aged children currently attend these programs.

The good news is that California voters have pledged their support for both before- and after-school enrichment programs. In 2002, voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 49, which more than tripled the amount of money that goes to these programs. I will work to ensure that after-school enrichment programs are fully funded and that we focus on new opportunities to integrate these programs into our comprehensive education system.

Increase Parental and Caregiver Involvement
Parental involvement is crucial to a child's academic success. Research has shown that when parents are involved in their children's education, students perform better on tests, attend classes more regularly, maintain better self-esteem, and demonstrate fewer behavioral problems.

Northern California has already taken steps to encourage parental involvement. San Francisco and five other cities have started a “Raising a Reader” program, which encourages parents to read to their children and distributes books in different languages .

I will support programs like these to give parents and caregivers the tools and assistance they need to play a more active role in their children's education.

Increase Community Involvement
Successful public education systems draw upon the diversity and talents of their residents to create schools that are active and vibrant parts of the community. When cities engage local residents, it benefits the schools, the children, and the community.

The San Francisco Unified School District is taking a proactive approach to involving the local community in local schools. The city has had success with its Beacon Initiative, which in 2003 provided after-school and evening programs for 6,144 children and 1,097 adults.

I believe that schools should serve as vibrant centers of community life, and I will support programs that foster stronger connections between communities and schools.

Helping Students Transition into Adulthood:
Support Services and Preparation Programs

Adolescence brings a special set of developmental challenges as children transition into adulthood. Our schools must have enough social workers and guidance counselors to provide students with the emotional support they need to succeed in school. Behavioral problems interfere not just with individual school performance, but impact the overall classroom environment.

This period of physical development and emotional change can be a precarious time for many children. For some children, adolescence may have a negative impact on their mental health. For others, adolescence is a time when they begin to experiment with adult-type behavior such as sex, drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. Without the proper parental and institutional support, an increasing number of children have a greater likelihood of becoming pregnant, engaging in criminal activities, or experimenting with substances and oftentimes dropping out of school. Just look at the facts:

• There were 39 teen births per 1000 births in California in 2003
• The teen suicide rate in California was 3.8 per 100,000 in 2003
• Among adults in the U.S. that smoke daily, 82% first tried cigarettes and 53% smoked daily before the age of 18
• 15% of 11th graders and 10% of 9th graders in California smoked cigarettes in 2004
• 37% of 11th graders and 25% of 9th graders in California consumed alcohol in 2004
• 94% of violent teens used alcohol, 85% used marijuana, and 55% used several illegal drugs in the U.S.

These are facts that cannot be ignored. But there are solutions. That's why I will fight to expand our state's outreach and support services for adolescents, educate families to recognize and cope with these mental health issues, and improve our mental health system to ensure that students have access to the emotional and personal support programs that will help them to succeed in school.

We cannot expect our children to meet the rigorous academic standards of college if they fail to acquire the basic cognitive and literacy skills in the lower grades. But we can harness the excitement and talents of our younger students to ensure they stay active and engaged in school during the critical elementary and middle school years.

Provide Elementary School Teachers with the Support They Need
Elementary school marks an important stage in our child's growth. If students do not acquire basic reading and mathematical skills between the grades of K-6, they will inevitably fall behind in the upper grade levels. Our elementary schools are not meeting our children's needs: Only Mississippi's 4th graders performed worse than California on math and reading tests between 1992 and 2003.

Throughout the state, some elementary schools serving low-income and urban students are performing as much as 250 points higher on the academic performance index than other schools serving similar populations. The top performing schools all share common threads - the teachers have up-to-date instructional materials; the support to provide supplementary instruction for English learners and low-performing students; full state certification; and a close working relationship with each other.

I will work with the Legislature to increase funds for resources and supportive services and direct them towards urban schools. I will also support professional development and teamwork training for our teachers and create negotiated incentives to draw more experienced teachers into lower performing schools.

Increase Supportive Services in Middle Schools
California currently ranks near the bottom of the states in the number of counselors per student. Last year, California had over 900 K-12 students for every counselor, more than three times the ratio of students to counselors recommended by the American School Counselor Association.

It is essential that we provide students with adequate emotional and psychological supports during this vulnerable stage in their lives. Early adolescents between the ages of 11 and 14 are going through some of their most dramatic physical, social, and emotional changes, and have developed their own sets of academic and personal needs.

Successful middle schools in the state often have supportive environments for their students. Bernice Ayer Middle School in California has initiated a successful “Safe to Be Smart” peer-assistance program that creates an environment where academic achievement does not alienate students from their peers. Peer mentoring programs, in which older students welcome and support incoming sixth graders, also help improve academic performance.

I will advocate for increased funding for school counselors, peer mentoring and peer assistance programs in middle schools.

Improve High School Readiness
Many students - particularly English language learners, minorities, and students from low-income families - struggle in the 7th and 8th grades and are unprepared to handle the rigorous coursework expected of them in high school. One of the best ways to close achievement gaps in high school is to target at-risk students in middle school, assess their needs, and ensure that they are caught up educationally to their appropriate grade level by the 7th and 8th grade.

Schools throughout the nation have raised the performance of at-risk students and prepared them for success in high school by first identifying those who may not be ready for advanced work by the end of the 8th grade, enrolling them in accelerated courses, and giving them the support they need to achieve academic success. These schools expect the best of their students and have realized that students will never meet grade-level standards unless they are taught to those standards, given challenging assignments, and expected to perform at a high level. When teachers assist students in mastering content formerly reserved for the “best” students, children meet these challenges and excel.

Studies have also found that the creative use of practicums - generally one-time work or service experiences done by a student as part of an academic class - is one of the best ways to improve the academic performance for students who have fallen behind. In Delaware, schools have implemented “high expectations with extra-help” programs that provide low-achieving students with intensive tutoring and rigorous summer programs. In these programs, students are encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems and apply skills to real-life examples to make studies relevant and engaging. In Maryland, the state established summer programs for students to acquire math skills by “preparing taxes” for fictional families or acquire science skills by “becoming weathermen.”

I will work to increase funds to expand the use of practicums at the middle school level and to expand the number of summer programs available for improving the performance of academically struggling 7th and 8th graders.

Expand Programs That Help Middle School Students Transition into High School
The passage of students from middle school to high school is one of the most difficult transition points in education. Children are moving from a smaller, more nurturing middle school environment into a larger environment and this change can be challenging both for struggling students and high achievers. Both parents and children need help adjusting to this transition.

Transition programs help ease middle school students into high school and prepare students for the challenges they face in the upper grades. “Middle Schools to Watch,” a national program that highlights successful schools, has shown that successful transition programs will:

• Provide parents with information on high schools
• Offer students their choice of courses
• Create social support networks, including partnering with the “Big Brother/Big Sister” program
• Host shared social events for incoming an current high school students
• Implement peer mentoring programs and meetings between middle and high school students.

The difficult transition to high school is a contributing factor in the decline in student attendance and academic performance of low-achieving students. A study by the Southern Regional Board of Education has shown that schools that implement programs involving individual counseling, summer programs, and school visits to help familiarize students with the demands of high schools have significantly higher attendance and performance rates, as well as fewer dropout rates.

“Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs” (GEAR UP) is a federal grant program that helps to prepare students of middle schools in impoverished communities prepare for college. Students are followed from 7th grade to high school graduation. In addition, the funds from GEAR UP can be used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

I will work with the Legislature to fund programs that help middle school students make successful transitions into high school. I will also push for increased federal funding for GEAR UP.

Ensuring Quality Public High School Education

All California children must have the opportunity to attend and graduate from a quality public high school. But a 2004 report found that an appalling 30% of all high school students in California fail to graduate in four years. This rate is even higher for minorities: 43% of Latinos and 41% of African Americans fail to graduate from high school in four years. A quality public high school education is no longer just an education issue; it has also become a civil rights issue.

Reduce Freshman Failure Rate
Our students are entering high school unprepared for more advanced course loads and increasing responsibilities. It is essential that we reach out to struggling freshmen because the failure rate for first-year high school students is up to five times higher than any other grade. If our schools do not address low achievement at this level, ninth graders are apt to fall into deep holes that they cannot climb out of without help.

It is important for students to get a head start before they enter the ninth grade so that they are more prepared for the challenges of high school academics. Schools throughout the country have created head- start programs for incoming freshmen that prepare students for high school success. In South Grand Prairie High School in Texas, students take a special twelve-week “jump-start” course to better prepare for the first semester of high school. This program has been especially helpful for improving the performance of English learners.

It is also important that freshmen receive intensive help when they are not prepared for high school work. One of the best ways to improve high school performance and freshmen retention rate is to provide intensive tutoring for struggling freshmen.

I will work with the Legislature to fund head-start summer programs for incoming ninth graders and increase supportive services.

Provide Students with Academic and Personal Support Services
Throughout the country, successful high schools are centering education on the three R's: rigor, relevance, and relationships. One of the best ways to improve academic performance in high school and college is to challenge students with a more rigorous curriculum that require four years of math, science, and English Language Arts. California has begun to embrace the “rigor,” but we must also make material challenging and help students adapt to the more advanced classes.

Relevance
Our students are graduating high school without acquiring critical thinking skills. Research has found that project-based learning helps improve academic achievement and keeps students interested and focused. When students are encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to solving problems with real-life examples, they are able to integrate subjects and acquire more advanced analytical skills. One of the best ways to introduce relevance into classrooms is to have students interact with business leaders and learn how skills are applied in the workplace.

I will promote instruction that engages students academically and will explore ways to introduce relevance into our high school curriculum. I will also work with the Legislature to fund more career-based internships in high schools.

Relationships
Many high school students have fallen behind and need additional assistance to meet high standards. The remedial programs that exist in California typically focus only on the most basic skills. Lower performing students are not given the chance to develop more analytical skills, such us reading advanced texts or developing advanced mathematical skills. In short, many of California's current extra help programs pigeonhole students in nonacademic courses that lack rigor and content and do not engage students.

There are many inexpensive ways to provide students with the additional help they need to excel in school. In Maryland, schools have partnered with local universities and students receive academic and personal support from college students.

I will work to increase funds for supportive services and encourage partnerships between schools and the state university system in California.

Promote Quality High Schools in Urban Districts
Today's large, impersonal high schools are not meeting our children's needs. Studies have shown repeatedly that building smaller schools and smaller learning communities within large high schools are an effective and cost-efficient way to improve student achievement and help all students thrive. Smaller learning communities provide students with the opportunity to form personal relationships with their teachers and with one another.

Chicago has spearheaded the national effort to build smaller schools and transform large, ineffective schools into smaller learning environments, and its effort has paid off: students who attend these schools have higher achievement rates, more self-esteem, and higher graduation rates in both high school and college. These schools can reduce the effects of poverty on student achievement by up to 50% and create a positive impact on low-income communities.

One strategy to develop better student-teacher relationships is to reduce the physical size of the school. The state is making an effort to modernize and rebuild schools and has increased funds to support this effort.

I will work to direct these funds to urban areas to create smaller schools and smaller communities within large schools. The federal government is poised to increase spending for small learning communities, and I will push for maximum federal funding.

Promote Literacy in the Upper Grade Levels
The 3rd grade marks the important stage where students transition from acquiring reading skills to applying it across other areas and subjects. California has taken great strides with its campaign to ensure that every 3rd grader can read, but our older students must be able to understand, interpret, and synthesize texts to become active, successful members of our economy.

There is a major deficit in the literary achievement of our secondary school students: many high school students are graduating without the reading comprehension skills necessary to succeed. Even high-performing students find themselves unprepared for the rigors of college work. There is clearly a need for continued literacy instruction for our older students.

Throughout the nation, cities are creating a “culture of literacy” in middle schools and high school. They have developed adolescent literacy programs that challenge students and get them excited about reading. Schools need to first identify struggling readers and provide them with intensive literary instruction to ensure that they have the skills necessary to become successful and engaged readers.

In Virginia, J.E.B. Stuart High School has made adolescent literacy its top priority and is beating the statistical odds. Nearly two thirds of the students are English language learners and more than half qualify for free or reduced lunch. Their students had once been among the lowest performing students in the state, but since implementing a high school literacy program six years ago, 95% of its students now meet state standards on reading comprehension.

California has the opportunity to launch the first statewide adolescent literacy campaign to promote reading in the upper grade levels and I will spearhead an effort to develop literacy programs in our high schools and middle schools.

Promote Quality Teaching and Instructional Leadership
The academic success of California's schools largely depends on the skills and knowledge of the adults who teach and run them. Excellent teachers and principals are key to excellent schools. All students deserve to have access to quality educators, yet our urban and underserved schools often have the least percentage of credentialed teachers.

I support negotiated settlements to attract teachers to lower performing schools. I will also work with the Legislature to ensure that maximum funding is made available for professional development and teamwork training programs.

Effective leadership is essential for any school to function well, and we have too many schools that need good principals. I will work with the Legislature to establish principal academies in urban districts that are connected with the state university system.

Improve California's Testing and Accountability System
Students need to be assessed regularly so that schools can reach out to struggling students, but our current testing and ranking systems puts the blame on schools and punishes them for lower test scores instead of trying to help them raise student performance.

The federal No Child Left Behind legislation has forced educators to teach with the sole purpose of getting students to perform well on tests. This “drill and kill” method is alienating students and making them less interested in school.

My goal is to work in concert with our congressional representatives to find ways to improve our testing and accountability system so that tests are more diagnostic and useful in helping teacher gauge a student's capabilities. I will also work to ensure that multiple measures are used to determine school success besides test scores.

Increasing Access to California's Higher Education System

California has broken one of its most sacred promises: that a college education would be available to all Californians who were qualified. It's going to take bold leadership, political courage, and detailed plans to renew California's commitment to higher education. That's why I will fight in the Legislature to increase state investments in our UC and CSU systems, expand the availability of technical schools and community colleges, and new technologies that allow more innovative methods of teaching. Simply put, everyone should have a chance to be educated beyond high school.

With the establishment of the Master Plan for Higher Education in 1960, the state of California made a firm commitment to California residents that a college education would be available to all who were qualified. And for decades, our higher education system was the envy of other states and other countries. However, our political leaders have allowed this model system to deteriorate. They have consistently taken money earmarked for education and used it to cover budget deficits, forcing school administrators to increase student tuition and fees. Many politicians have simply ignored making long-term investments because the results will not materialize in time for the next election campaign. This is shortsighted and must stop.
A college education is an investment in our future. Today nearly seven out of 10 jobs require some form of postsecondary education. However, with only 50% of public high school graduates entering college, California is on the verge of having a workforce that is ill-prepared to compete effectively in the global economy.
A college education provides the essential knowledge and skills that ultimately have a positive effect on a person's future earnings, consumption, and productivity levels. For the state, this translates into increased future income and sales tax revenues, as people with a college degree have better job opportunities and higher incomes. Additionally, as the number of people with a college degree increase, the number of people that are incarcerated and the number of people on poverty-related programs markedly decrease. This common-sense investment will reduce the state's future expenditures and increase future revenues.

Despite the known positive benefits of a college education, we have now reached a point where:

• Eligible California high school graduates are being denied admission
• California is under-funding higher education
• Students cannot afford the skyrocketing student tuition and fees

But there are solutions. We can fix our higher education system and fulfill the promise that the state made to all Californians 45 years ago.

Accommodating a Growing Population
California faces a substantial expansion in student enrollment in its colleges and universities. By 2015, the number of Californians between the ages of 18 and 24 - the typical age range of college-eligible people -will increase by almost 1 million. According to the California Department of Finance, this demographic shift will result in a dramatic increase in student enrollment in California's colleges and universities by 2010: 35% in the UC system, 31% in the CSU system, and 23% in the community colleges. But with limited funding available to increase the physical capacity of our colleges and universities for the foreseeable future, our schools will remain at mostly fixed capacity with the number of available seats at colleges remaining constant.
This should not mean denying eligible students a college education simply because our facilities have reached their physical limitations. Instead, California should embrace more innovative methods of teaching. If we are to provide all college-eligible people in California with a college education in this environment of limited government funding, we must expand our use of technology in our colleges and universities.

Incorporating Technology in the Curriculum
In California, community colleges like West Valley Community College in Saratoga are already offering “distance learning” course options through the Internet and television to allow students to achieve their educational goals on their own schedule. West Valley currently has over 4,000 students participating in distance learning and taking classes online in a variety of subjects such as art, history, and anthropology. Electronic media allows students and instructors the flexibility to accommodate their schedules. Online chat rooms and e-mail can also serve as facilitators in enhancing discussions between students and instructors. This is all possible without sacrificing academic quality. California colleges can significantly expand their student enrollment and concomitantly expand their revenue bases without reducing the number of available seats. This is a win-win situation for everyone, and I will work to increase our investments in technology in California's colleges and universities. We must better equip our schools to meet the changing needs of our students.

Increase State Spending on Higher Education
There are many layers of benefits to investing in our education system. A college education not only enhances a student's cognitive abilities, it also has a positive impact on his or her future earnings and productivity. One reason for the increase in earnings and productivity is that college graduates have more opportunities for employment and higher wages.
In the last twenty years, college graduates in California of all ethnic groups experienced higher wages relative to high school graduates. A California college graduate earns 213% more than a high school graduate. In addition to the associated increases in employment and higher wage opportunities, this investment in knowledge and skills increases worker productivity and the quality of work.

The improvements in earnings and productivity have a positive impact on California's economy. As people's earnings level increases, their consumption levels similarly increase. Increased consumption translates into higher sales tax revenues for the state. Additionally, people will have more money to save for retirement or for other investments in stocks or real estate. With more money in savings, people will be less reliant on public services. Most importantly, the benefits of a college education will lift more people out of poverty, thereby reducing the demand for welfare programs. College education is a necessary investment for California.
California must recommit to increasing the level of support from the state's General Fund. California families spend nearly 32% of their family income to pay for a public four-year university and almost 25% of their income for an education at the community college. This spending ranks 10th and 15th highest in the nation for the respective higher education systems.

The California Postsecondary Higher Education Commission notes that that the large increases in student fees are due to shrinking funding from the General Fund. We should continue to freeze student fees for the next several years with the state paying any estimated increases in student fees from the General Fund. Also, we need to make sure that we increase financial aid efforts so that all qualified students can attend college.

Education is an investment in our children and an investment in our state. For every $1 put into education, California receives $3 in net benefits. Investments in higher education will increase people's incomes, increase state tax revenues, and lower the cost of government programs. But this will take an investment on the state's part. That's why I will work to implement these proposals to increase our state spending and increase California's investment in higher education.



Make Community College Free For All Californians
With 109 colleges serving more than 2.5 million students, California's community college system was designed to help students attain a technical or career certificate, an associate's degree, or credits to transfer to a four-year university. Although community colleges were supposed to receive almost 11% of their funding from the state under Proposition 98, California shortsightedly diverted the money to the state's General Fund to balance the budget.
First, we must restore the funding for community colleges as required under Proposition 98. Second, we must create forgivable loan programs for students so that students do not abandon their dreams of a college education due to overwhelming financial burdens. Our investment in our children in the short-term will generate higher earnings and greater productivity in the long run. This is not only good for our children - this is good for California.
Unless we increase state spending on higher education, the skyrocketing tuition levels at California's colleges and universities will keep many eligible students from obtaining an education beyond high school. I will work to make community college free for all college-eligible students, and to implement a long-term educational financing plan based on projected state revenues that is gradual and predictable. We should set fees to an objective index of personal income growth to keep tuitions at affordable levels, and we should increase the amount of financial aid available to low-income children so they can receive a college education. With an anticipated 1.8 million Californians who will be denied entry into our public universities in the next decade, the time to act is now.

Supporting Our Teachers and Schools

California cannot have a first-rate public education system until we fully support our teachers and our schools. If we are going heal our schools and raise academic performance, our leaders must stand up and fight for adequate funds, quality facilities, access to instructional resources, and experienced teachers.

Increase Money Going To Schools
We cannot improve our public education system unless we make the necessary investments. California has taken many positive steps to increase school spending: voters have approved more than $11 billion in general bonds for school improvements. After a sharp rebuke from voters in the November 2005 election, the Governor has called for repayment of $1.67 billion in Proposition 98 funds; there has been a $4 billion increase on K-12 funding in the 2006-2007 budget; and per-pupil spending may be increased to as much $11,000. These are very important first steps, but California must still do more.

Californians must also rethink our outdated school funding system. We cannot have successful schools until they receive a stable, adequate, and reliable stream of funding that is protected during times of economic turmoil. Proposition 98, which was intended to increase money for schools, has instead been used to set minimum funding requirements. We also cannot hope to attract or retain the quality teachers necessary to a good education system unless teachers are given the wages they deserve.

I will work with the Legislature, the Governor and stakeholders to act on four key initiatives: ensuring that, as revenues increase, our schools receive the full funding accorded to them per state constitutional requirements and that this money is directed towards the schools that need it most; ensuring that Proposition 98 provides additional, and not just baseline funding; revising our school funding system to ensure all schools have enough money to educate our children properly; and supporting local school ballot measures.

Improve Quality of Urban Facilities
It is time to ensure that all students have access to quality, modern facilities. In 2004, voters approved Proposition 55, which authorized the sale of $12.3 billion in general obligation bonds for the construction and renovation of our schools. The state must take this opportunity to upgrade and modernize urban facilities that have been neglected over the last generation and build smaller schools in these areas. Creating new safe and upgraded schools is an investment that will benefit the students who will ultimately drive our economy.

I will work to ensure voter-approved bond measures are fully funded and that this money is directed to the schools that need it the most.

Promote Healthier School Lunch Options in School
California, along with the rest of the nation, is experiencing an epidemic of obesity. The statistics are alarming: 28% of fifth, seventh and ninth graders are overweight. Our children are exhibiting high incidences of diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory problems. There are psychological costs involved as well: overweight students develop self-esteem problems and face taunting from peers. Schools only compound these problems by allowing the presence of junk food and vending machines on campus.

Throughout California, school districts are developing strategies to draw students toward healthier lunch options. The Oakland Unified School District has limited the sale of junk food and soda in school cafeterias. The Healdsburg Unified School District has overhauled its school lunch program and offers freshly prepared lunches instead of the prepackaged, frozen foods unpopular with students and food service. And the Berkeley Unified School District has partnered with Chez Panisse's Alice Waters to overhaul school lunches, provide nutritional education, and create “urban gardens” where city children learn how to cultivate and grow their own vegetables.

I will work with the Legislature to create incentives for school districts to limit the sale of unhealthy food items in their cafeterias and provide healthier school lunch options. I will also support innovative nutritional education programs. And I will support programs that encourage districts to use fresh, locally grown food for our student meals.

Bring the Arts Back to California Schools
Studies have shown that the performing and visual arts can enhance a student's academic success, and is a powerful way to boost student achievement. Students who have access to a quality arts education are more motivated, have improved math and reading skills, and perform better on standardized tests. The arts connect students to themselves and one another, transform the classroom environment, provide challenges, and reach students who are otherwise not being reached.

Many exceptional arts programs exist within the city and the state. Alvarado Elementary School in San Francisco participates in the “Artist in Residence” program and has integrated visual arts within all areas of education. At Glendale High School in Los Angeles, the school has made performing arts its top priority, and was honored by the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education for its efforts in promoting arts programs at school.

All too often, these programs are viewed as “extracurricular” and are the first to be cut during difficult budget times. In 2005, the Governor eliminated funding for the arts, leaving California with no state funding specifically designated for arts education.

California will not have a successful public education system until we bring the arts back to our schools. It is important for our students to receive a quality arts education at all grade levels, but our current testing and ranking system is forcing schools to eliminate electives.

I will spearhead the effort to restore funding for arts education programs, and work to broaden the academic performance index to include other measures of school success, such as access to art and music.

Fostering Healthy Students:
Expanded Health Care Coverage for All Children

Our children cannot succeed in school unless they are healthy. Children without access to regular health care miss more school, are less able to concentrate and exhibit more behavioral problems. There are too many consequences for our children, our families, our health care system, and our economy to allow any child to live without health insurance for adequate preventative care.

An estimated 800,000 children in California currently lack health insurance. California has taken many strides to ensure that more children have access to health care through its Healthy Kids, Healthy Families, Medi-Cal and Medicaid programs - but 202,000 children under the age of six in California in 2001 still lack health insurance. Approximately 78% of these children were eligible, yet not enrolled in either Medicaid or Healthy Families programs. Moreover, dental care coverage is typically considered an optional expenditure for many families, when in fact, oral health problems can lead to speech impediments and psychological problems. Regular visits to the dentist could easily resolve these problems.

Families need better access to available health plans. Although the state offers health care rograms to children, many families, especially those that do not speak English, do not understand how to apply for coverage. In response, some school districts have developed innovative ways to enroll uninsured children into health plans. Los Angeles has started an “Express Lane” enrollment program that educates families about their health insurance options and enrolls children in plans when their parents apply for reduced lunch benefits.

That's why I will spearhead the effort to provide universal health care for all of California's children to foster a healthy student population necessary for scholastic success. Until that measure is achieved, I will support programs that help families gain access to the programs that are available to them.

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