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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Brownley, Solorio Discuss Assembly’s Big Step Forward in Race to the Top | California Progress Report


Brownley, Solorio Discuss Assembly’s Big Step Forward in Race to the Top | California Progress Report


Brownley, Solorio Discuss Assembly’s Big Step Forward in Race to the Top

Posted on 12 December 2009
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By Assemblymembers Julia Brownley and Jose Solorio
SACRAMENTO – In this Democratic weekly address, Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Education, and Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) discuss legislation passed in the Assembly this week that will make California a strong competitor for federal Race to the Top education funding by implementing key reforms for California’s schools.
Click onto the following link for the English language MP3 file. The running time is 2:10.
Click onto the following link for the Spanish language MP3 file. The running time is 2:36.
Website of Assemblymember Julia Brownley: www.asm.ca.gov/brownley
Website of Assemblymember Jose Solorio: www.asm.ca.gov/solorio 

Transcript:

Hello, this is Assemblymember Julia Brownley, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Education.
This week, the Assembly passed legislation that will help bring about long term improvement for California school’s and make our state competitive to win President Obama’s Race to the Top Initiative.
We’ll target California’s low performing schools with proven turn-around strategies and the tools needed to make them work.
We’ll use real data to better coordinate classroom instruction and keep parents and the public better informed about student progress.
And new state standards for math and language arts that are internationally benchmarked will be developed to help our students prepare for college and careers in a competitive global economy.
The Assembly held many hearings over the last few months and worked with education stakeholders to make sure these and other reforms closely adhere to the federal guidelines states must follow to receive a portion of the $4 billion in Race to the Top funding.
In passing the education bill this week the Assembly listened to compelling concerns and made important amendments.  We expect further discussion and compromise—like the compromise the governor says he supports—as the bill moves onto the Senate for consideration.
As the Race to the Top deadline gets closer the progress we’ve made puts California in a better position to win.  More important, we have set the stage for real and lasting reform. But the governor must do his share. More than 25 percent of the Race to the Top’s score will be based on a comprehensive plan he outlines – one that he has not yet shared publicly.
This is Assemblymember Julia Brownley. Thank you for listening.