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
Fixing our bizarre school governance system
- 06-27-2011
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Column by Peter Schrag/California Progress Report
Among the classic examples of California’s convoluted governance structure few are as bizarre as that governing K-12 education. Here, the independently elected state superintendent of public instruction is supposed to carry out policies set by the state board of education, which is appointed by the governor. In turn, the governor, along with the legislature, controls much of the budget both for the badly under-funded Department of Education which the SPI directs and the 1000 or so local districts that actually run the schools. But of course the board can’t fire or discipline the elected superintendent, though “State Board of Education v. Honig,” a wacky (and very political) court decision handed down in 1993, gives it the power to approve his or her choices for deputy and associate superintendents and set state policy. (more...)
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