History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
A common-sense educator
- 04-28-2010
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Editorial/Los Angeles Times
It's not entirely clear why the framers of California's Constitution decided that the state superintendent of public instruction should be elected rather than appointed. It is especially mystifying considering that the state Board of Education, which sets policy and enacts regulations, is appointed, while the elected superintendent is tasked with carrying out those policies — the opposite of how things are done in all local school districts. In addition, the state has an appointed secretary of education, whose main job is to advise the governor. In other words, if the governance structure for California schools made more sense, we wouldn't be endorsing a candidate for state superintendent. But there it is: The nonpartisan position is important — it calls for overseeing the state's single most expensive responsibility — and there are 12 candidates vying for it. (more...)
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