State schools chief Tom Torlakson optimistic despite facing many challenges
SANTA CRUZ -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson wants to look at the best ideas used in California schools, then figure out what's the common ingredient of success and how to "scale up" and promote those practices.
"Test scores have been going up," he said. "We could do so much more if we had the resources."
Torlakson spoke to 100 school board members, superintendents, politicians and business leaders Friday at the Cocoanut Grove at the invitation of county superintendent Michael Watkins.
"I want to keep education in the forefront of the public and the necessity to support public education," Watkins said, noting how ongoing state shortfalls have cut school budgets. "I don't think any other business could operate the way the schools operate with continued cutbacks."
Torlakson, a teacher before going into politics with a daughter who graduated from UC Santa Cruz, outlined his "Blueprint for Great Schools," touching on the need
