Commentary

Governor Schwarzenegger Calls For Education Overhaul in Special Legislative Session

As the Sacramento Bee reports:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday called a special legislative session for lawmakers to repeal a controversial law that prohibits linking teacher evaluations to student performance. . . .

Specifically, the proposal would repeal a law that prohibits using student test scores in combination with a statewide system for storing information about teachers that will go online next year. The Obama administration has said states that prohibit linking teacher evaluations to student performance will not be eligible for the “Race to the Top” stimulus funds.

The Governor is also calling for legislators to lift the cap on charter schools, allow children in failing schools to attend any school in the state, and for legislation to close the lowest-performing schools in the state and replace them with higher-performing schools.