Support for Assessment Overhaul Legislation - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

Support for Assessment Overhaul Legislation - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):

California Education Leaders Voice Support for Assessment Overhaul Legislation

SACRAMENTO—California's education leaders are lending their support to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson's sponsored legislation that will accelerate the entrance of the state's testing program into the computer age.

Torlakson sent words of appreciation today to San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Randolph Ward and Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser for their support of Assembly Bill 484, which is currently before the state Senate.

Here is Randolph Ward's statement:

"AB 484 will allow us to prepare our students and staff for success rather than set them up for frustration. To do otherwise—to maintain two testing systems each of which requires very different instructional techniques and looks at very different skills—will result in a schizophrenic environment in our schools that isn't in anyone's best interest. Suspending the STAR tests and expanding field testing of new assessments allows time for educational leaders to prepare students for a completely different manner of demonstrating knowledge while ensuring districts have the means to provide accountability to the public."

Here is Christopher Steinhauser's statement:

"The Long Beach Unified School District supports AB 484 because we plan to administer Smarter Balanced assessments in grades three through eight and eleven this school year, giving teachers the opportunity to fine-tune their practice relative to this new assessment environment. This approach also provides students the chance to experience the new tests before the results are used for accountability purposes."

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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Testifies on School Employee Dismissal or Suspension Bill

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today testified before the State Senate Education Committee on Assembly Bill 375, which updates and streamlines the teacher discipline and dismissal process. The bill passed out of committee. Below are Torlakson's prepared remarks:

Good morning. Thank you, Senator (Carol) Liu and Senator (Mark) Wyland, for the opportunity to be with you today.

The safety of our children is our top priority. That's why I come before you today: to thank you for taking this important step forward in our work to make sure every child is safe at school.

I am doing all I can to gather the tools schools need to succeed in this critical work.

Assembly Bill 375 streamlines the system of teacher discipline and dismissal.

AB 375 increases the protection we afford our children by expanding the types of charges for which a school can—or, in some cases, must—place an employee on leave.

It doesn't place an arbitrary deadline on the consideration of abuse in dismissal proceedings.

And it does all this while protecting the rights of teachers.

Fundamentally, this is about having the collective will to take further steps necessary to protect children.

That's why I want us to get more serious about mandatory reporting, and it's why I urge you to pass AB 375.

Those of us who have made the care of children our life's work have accepted a tremendous honor—but we've also accepted a tremendous responsibility.

The overwhelming number of teachers in our classrooms today are deserving of the trust we have placed in them.

And as a teacher, like all teachers, I firmly believe that anyone who breaks that trust deserves the consequences.

Thank you.

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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100