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
Jack O'Connell leaves imprint as he leaves top California schools post
- 01-03-2011
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By Sharon Noguchi/San Jose Mercury News
He helped shrink class sizes, cement higher academic standards and close the racial achievement gap. And when California's shriveling state budget squeezed schools, Jack O'Connell zoomed around the state to call for more funding while urging schools to stay on target and continue to do more with less. When he steps down today as state superintendent of public instruction, O'Connell will leave a large imprint on California education -- but one that's already eroding as the unprecedented budget crisis dismantles some of his signature reforms. O'Connell, 59, is retiring after eight years leading California education and 20 years in the Legislature. Assemblyman Tom Torlakson of Concord was elected in November to succeed the term-limited O'Connell. "He never retreated from the high standards California had," said Mike Kirst, professor of education at Stanford University. O'Connell has also been a staunch defender of the high school graduation test in the face of its sometimes vocal critics. Among the achievements he touts: Half of California schools now meet the state's growth target of 800 on the Academic Performance Index; eight years ago, only 20 percent met those targets. And about half the state's students are proficient in math and English, up from about one-third in 2003, and fewer students remain at the lowest levels. (more…)
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