California
California schools fall behind despite spending increases | Opinion
As academic researchers continue to explore what happened to public education during and after the COVID19 pandemic, they are confirming the harsh reality of decline in such basic skills as reading and mathematics.
California’s schools are no exception, as the latest data from the Education Recovery Scorecard, a collaborative project of Harvard University and Stanford University, reveal.
Combining national and state academic test results, the research found that average student achievement in California remains 31% of a grade equivalent behind 2019 levels in math and 40% of a grade equivalent behind in reading.
However some California school systems bucked the trends. Compton Unified, serving one of Southern California’s poorest communities, was singled out for its progress in both reading and math.
“Between 2022 and 2024, Compton Unified has seen a steady rise in students’ performance on standardized tests in math, and their reading scores saw a jump post pandemic — an improvement that doesn’t surprise district Superintendent Darin Brawley, who has been leading the district since 2012,” EdSource, a website devoted to California education issues, reported.
“Brawley attributes the district’s growth to ongoing diagnostic assessments in both English language arts and math, allocating resources based on students’ performance and aligning district standards to the state’s dashboard.”
“Compton Unified School District’s achievements are truly inspiring,” Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo told EdScource. “Their impressive graduation rate, coupled with significant academic growth and a strong focus on college and career readiness … demonstrate a deep commitment to student success.”
Compton was not alone in going against the grain. Scorecard researchers report that 31% of California students attend districts scoring above 2019 levels in math, with 12% of students in districts scoring above 2019 levels in reading and 10% in districts that have recovered in both.”
Compton and other bright spots tell us that California’s public education system, with nearly 6 million students, is not necessarily doomed. While the education establishment insists that California needs to spend more — a lot more — to raise achievement, the fact that some school districts can do it on the current level of finances indicates there’s more to the equation than money.
One way to look at the relationship of academic achievement and money is what the private sector calls “return on investment.” By happenstance another education research project does exactly that.
The Edunomics Lab at George Washington University has calculated how well school systems are delivering academic results in relationship to how much money they’ve spent since 2013.
California, unfortunately, does not fare well vis-à-vis other states. Edunomics says that while California has elevated per pupil spending by 102% since 2013, reading comprehension has remained flat while math skills have dropped, based on federal academic tests.
California is not alone, since most states have seen academic declines during the period, but its lack of return on investment stands out because its 102% increase in per pupil spending is almost double the national increase of 56% and nearly three times the rate of inflation.
Brian Brennan, executive director of the 21st Century Alliance, a California organization that promotes governance reform and released the Edunomics data, said, “Anyone advocating for more education dollars in California needs to be straight with the public: Will new investments provide better returns than those of the last decade? Or, are we just doing more of the same, and hoping for a different outcome?”
Brennan cites the defeat of legislation that would have mandated the science of reading — in essence, phonics — to teach reading in California, as an example of official neglect. The powerful California Teachers Association led opposition to the legislation, Assembly Bill 2222, which died in the Assembly Education Committee a year ago without a vote.
Source link
California
UPDATE: Crash at California/Dakota
10:06 PM: Police are arriving at the scene of a two-vehicle crash reported at California/Dakota, with at least two people hurt.
11:06 PM: Police have just reopened the street. We went to the scene after a report that one vehicle had ended up on the lawn of a church – First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – is on the southwest corner – but all we could see was one vehicle on the sidewalk. We’re following up with SFD regarding the people who were hurt.
California
Southern California’s wild weather is not over. Wind gusts of up to 65 mph predicted
Last week’s rain won’t be the end of Southern California’s wild weather as strong wind gusts are forecast through the area until Tuesday.
Gusts of up to 65 mph are expected in mountains and valleys throughout the region, with the National Weather Service warning that power outages were possible and that residents should keep an eye out for downed trees and power lines.
“Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,” according to an alert issued by the National Weather Service.
The recent storms that drenched Southern California and soaked the soil could also “increase the likelihood of damage” caused by downed trees and power lines, the agency noted.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory Sunday, warning that the western Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains and the Interstate 5 and Highway 14 corridors could see strong winds starting Sunday evening, lasting until Monday afternoon.
Winds between 20 to 30 mph are expected in those areas until Sunday evening. Wind speeds are then predicted to pick up until Monday afternoon, with northeast winds of up to 40 mph and gusts of up to 65 mph.
A similar alert for strong gusts was issued by the weather service for the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountain and valley regions, as well as the Santa Ana Mountains, where strong winds could linger until Tuesday afternoon.
Northeast winds with speeds of up to 30 mph are expected to hit the area starting this evening, with gusts of up to 60 mph.
The high wind alerts come after the region was drenched for days, causing debris flows that washed through homes in Wrightwood. At least three people were killed in storm-related deaths, including a man in San Diego who was struck by a falling tree. In Boyle Heights, a rare tornado touched down on Christmas morning.
More rain is expected this week, including the possibility of rain on New Year’s Day.
California
Gas line explosion rocks California: Video shows debris clouds filling the sky; residents report ‘jet-like’ roar – The Times of India
A major natural gas pipeline explosion in northern Los Angeles County on Saturday prompted authorities to issue shelter-in-place orders and temporarily shut down a key Southern California highway, officials said.The incident occurred around 4.20 pm local time near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place in Castaic, close to the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, a critical route linking Southern and Northern California. The damaged pipeline is a 34-inch transmission gas line, located just east of the freeway.
Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Brian Kight said emergency crews received multiple calls reporting the gas leak. While residents described loud noises, Kight stressed that “there were no reports of any explosions from the leak and no reported injuries,” the Los Angeles Times reported.Videos shared on social media showed orange plumes rising from a hillside, which appeared to have partially collapsed, with debris clouds filling the sky.Several residents said they heard loud booms, while NBC 7 San Diego reported that people across the Santa Clarita Valley felt their homes shake. One witness described a “strong sulfur smell and a loud noise resembling a jet engine,” the outlet added.At L.A. County Fire Department Station 149, located about a mile away, Kight said he could smell gas from “20 minutes out.” The Los Angeles City Fire Department also received reports of a strong rotten egg smell from residents as far away as the north San Fernando Valley.In response, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) closed all lanes of Interstate 5 at 5.12 pm, diverting northbound traffic to State Route 126 and southbound vehicles to State Route 138. Traffic came to a near standstill for miles, leaving motorists stranded for hours, the Los Angeles Times reported.A shelter-in-place order was issued at 5.40 pm that covered much of Castaic. Authorities advised residents to close doors and windows, shut off vents, and turn off HVAC systems.By 6 pm, the gas company had shut off both sides of the ruptured line, though firefighters and a hazardous materials task force continued monitoring a residual leak. The CHP announced shortly before 9 pm that Interstate 5 had reopened.The cause of the rupture remains under investigation. While officials said it is unclear what triggered the incident, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies told CBS Los Angeles that it was possibly caused by “a mudslide.”More details awaited.
-
Entertainment4 days agoHow the Grinch went from a Yuletide bit player to a Christmas A-lister
-
Connecticut4 days agoSnow Accumulation Estimates Increase For CT: Here Are The County-By-County Projections
-
Entertainment5 days agoPat Finn, comedy actor known for roles in ‘The Middle’ and ‘Seinfeld,’ dies at 60
-
Milwaukee, WI5 days ago16 music and theater performances to see in Milwaukee in January 2026
-
World1 week agoPutin says Russia won’t launch new attacks on other countries ‘if you treat us with respect’
-
Indianapolis, IN2 days agoIndianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
-
Southeast3 days agoTwo attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them
-
World3 days agoSnoop Dogg, Lainey Wilson, Huntr/x and Andrea Bocelli Deliver Christmas-Themed Halftime Show for Netflix’s NFL Lions-Vikings Telecast