Monday's meeting of superintendents

A new nonprofit organization headed by state education leaders will focus on a unified education reform agenda across the state, said California Secretary of Education Bonnie Reiss in Los Angeles on Monday.

“The status quo is no longer acceptable,” Reiss said.  “California knows every child is capable of the right education…of going to college, getting a career.”

Reiss, along with five represented superintendents, gathered at 122nd Elementary School in Los Angeles to announce the creation of the California Office of Education Reform and its commitment to education reform across district lines.

The idea for CORE developed after seven superintendents collaborated on the second round of Race to the Top, a federal program created to fund states committed to education reform.  California was one of the finalists in the second round but ultimately did not receive a federal grant, partly because of their plan to use test score analysis as part of a teacher’s evaluation, which would require negotiations with teacher unions.

Despite the failure to receive federal money, the superintendents acknowledged the need to address the “civil rights issue of the 21st century,” said Chris Steinhauser, superintendent of Long Beach Unified School District.

Using the plans that were developed in the application for the Race to the Top, CORE will focus on implementing new forms of assessment of English/language arts in grades 2, 4 and 7, and mathematics, with an emphasis in algebra, in grades 3, 5 and 8, Steinhauser said.

The leaders of CORE repeatedly stressed the significance of collaboration, both between districts and at individual schools between principals, teachers, parents and students.  

“Working together as districts, rather than competing…we can improve education for children wherever we are,” said LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines.

Every school will be addressed individually according to the needs of the students and teachers, Cortines said.  But CORE will begin new lines of communication between districts to enable the sharing of information and knowledge.  This will allow struggling schools to implement methods that work based on collected data.

The nonprofit will also redirect the resources the schools do have, ensuring they are used most effectively.  Not relying on government funds will enable flexibility, Steinhauser said.

California Education Partners gave $3 million to CORE in initial funding and aid in raising additional funds, said senior partner Rick Miller, who said he recognizes that superintendents are “stronger as a team than individually.”

“It is incredibly exciting and transformational to have our local communities taking a joint leadership role in advancing California public schools,” Miller said.

Reach reporter Samantha Yerks here.

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