Torlakson Reacts to May Revise - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Torlakson Reacts to May Revise - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Reacts to May State Budget Revision

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement in connection with Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.'s May Revision  of the State Budget:

"Governor Brown's May Revision reaffirms California's commitment to local control over education dollars, and continues the state's progress toward empowering local administrators, teachers, parents, students, and school communities to determine how best to serve our young people. It further frees our schools and districts to do this crucial work by lifting the weight of years of deferred payments.

"And, importantly, this budget takes another small but valuable step toward the kind of education that truly prepares students for the world they will encounter outside our classrooms. Already, nearly three million students have participated in the field test of modern new assessments, and we are learning a great deal about what our students and schools can do during this 'test of the test.' Governor Brown's proposed $30 million to build up our high-speed connections will play an important role as we take what we learn this year and apply it to being ready to go operational next year.

"Finally, I appreciate the Governor's willingness to tackle the issue of providing a secure retirement for California's teachers, and I look forward to many conversations to come on this important part of education policy."

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

Smarter Balanced Assessments Field Test Update through May 9

Week Seven of Smarter Balanced Field Test*

• Students beginning testing (cumulative):  2,844,979.
• Students completing testing (cumulative):  2,783,737.
• Average daily number of calls to California Technical Assistance Center (CalTAC) for Week Seven: 383.
• Trending topics of calls to CalTAC: general questions about test administration, including about accommodations for students, and identifying or resetting passwords.

*This week's update includes scheduled system downtime on Thursday and Friday, May 8 and 9.

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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction