Media Advisory: Bay Area Council and State Education Leaders to Hold Press Phone Briefing to Ask for Reinstatement of Funds for Statewide Education Data System in State Budget
Bay Area Council President & CEO Jim Wunderman, California State Senator Joe Simitian and Long Beach Superintendent Chris Steinhauser will hold a press phone briefing this morning Monday, June 6th, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to ask for the reinstatement of funds for California’s statewide education data system and to outline the consequences of cutting the program from the budget.
The first draft of the “May Revise” budget suspended funds and development of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) and its sister program for tracking longitudinal teacher data (CALTIDES). The Bay Area Council opposes the suspension of these critical, federally-funded programs, as does the state’s well-respected, non-partisan Legislative Analyst. This week, Assembly and Senate committees voted to reinstate the program as well.
California risks losing $1.6 billion in Title I federal education funds if the state cuts the data system as part of the budget. Additionally, the Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Education have made it very clear that any state application for a number of federal funding opportunities, including Race to the Top – are and will continue to be heavily dependent on the development of a comprehensive statewide student data system.
“Throwing away federal funds for the student data system is just plain wrong – especially when our state is facing a $10.8 billion shortfall and the state contractor still gets paid if the job is never completed. Furthermore, as the Obama administration continues to award more and more competitive education funding to states that have data management systems, it would be wise to align California’s education system with the goals of the federal government, so our state can receive as much funding as possible in this down economy.”
WHO: Bay Area Council President & CEO Jim Wunderman, California State Senator Joe Simitian and Long Beach Superintendent Chris Steinhauser
WHAT: Press phone briefing to highlight the importance of reinstating funds for the statewide education data system and to outline the consequences of cutting the program from the budget.
WHERE:
Conference Call Number: 1-888-311-9051
Participant Passcode: 018701
Press *6 to mute or unmute your line
WHEN: 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Monday, June 6, 2011
***All media planning to participate should RSVP to jarellano@bayareacouncil.org, 415-946-8725 ***
