Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, May 21, 2010

State Faces Multiple Suits of Failure to Adequately Fund Schools | California Progress Report

State Faces Multiple Suits of Failure to Adequately Fund Schools | California Progress Report

State Faces Multiple Suits of Failure to Adequately Fund Schools

By David M. Greenwald
Given the state of California's economy and cutbacks to education, perhaps it is not surprising that several different groups are threatening to sue. On Thursday a lawsuit was filed in Alameda County by the California School Boards Association, the Association of California School Administrators, and the California State PTA.
The suit calls for the courts to get rid of the current financing system and to direct the governor and Legislature to create one that is sound, stable and sufficient. They argued it prevents six million students from receiving the education that they are entitled to under the state's constitution.
read more

PPIC May 2010 Poll Shows Californians Want Democrats and Higher Taxes

By Robert Cruickshank
PPIC is out with its May 2010 poll, and boy is it a doozy. It shows improving numbers for Democrats, confirms the collapse of Meg Whitman's lead, and perhaps most important of all, leaves absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Californians want higher taxes instead of spending cuts.
First, the campaign numbers (March 2010 in parentheses):
GOP Gubernatorial primary: Whitman 38 (61), Poizner 29 (11), Undecided 31.
Gubernatorial general election:
Brown 42, Whitman 37
Brown 45, Poizner 32
Just look at the collapse in Whitman's numbers. She's spent $68 million dollars and only has a single-digit lead with 31% of the wingnut electorate undecided. Wow.
As a result, Jerry Brown's numbers have recovered against Whitman, over whom he now has a small lead. As expected, Brown fares better against Steve Poizner.
read more