Chairperson: Andy Ball, President and CEO, Webcor Builders
Staff Lead: Linda F. Galliher, J.D., Vice President Education and Healthcare, 415-946-8708

The Education Committee learned that California lacks a strategic plan for collecting and reporting student information and has its data system ranked 48th among the states. The Committee took a leadership position on the data system, believing strongly that good data would be necessary for quality decisions in all areas. We have met with policymakers and have brought in experts to speak to members and to appear at a Hearing in Sacramento on the data system. The Committee anticipates working on data system design and improvement s for the next few years, in addition to driving policy on finance and governance reform as those issues develop.
Current Priorities

The Education Committee currently is focusing of education reform opportunities that arise from a major body of research, overseen by Stanford University, into the finance and governance of public education in California. The research was requested by bi-partisan leaders Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate Pro Tem Perata, Speaker Nunez, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell
Three large themes for reform emerged from the research:
• First - Finance issues: Cumbersome restrictions exist on the use of funds. Funding does not follow state priorities or the educational needs of students and California spends significantly less per pupil than other states
• Second - Human capital issues such as teacher assignments and professional development and the training and use of principals as instructional leaders.
• Third - Information systems: California has failed to invest in a comprehensive longitudinal data system that adequately tracks students, programs, and teachers at the state level.