Lessons Learned -- QEIA Reforms Lift Up At-Risk Students
Contact: Mike Myslinski at 408-921-5769 or mmyslinski@cta.org
Sacramento -CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act Is Model Intervention Program
The largest public education reform program of its kind, California’s Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) of 2006 is making sustained progress in helping at-risk students succeed in the classroom after two full years of implementation, according to new initial research unveiled today at a CTA symposium here on QEIA with nearly 200 California teachers, education experts and lawmakers’ staff.
The landmark law, sponsored by CTA, shows that California educators are part of the conversation about meaningful education reform for our schools of greatest need. Providing extra state funding for proven reforms like smaller class sizes at lower-performing schools, QEIA and its emphasis on collaboration among educators, parents and principals is helping to make strong academic gains despite challenges from student poverty, diversity and language, the new CTA research shows.
For the 2009-10 school year alone, QEIA schools, on average, experienced nearly 50 percent higher growth on the California Academic Performance Index (API) than similar, non-QEIA schools. Also, the report shows QEIA is helping to close student achievement gaps. QEIA schools are making “greater gains in API with African-American and Hispanic students, English Language Learners, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students” than comparable lower-performing schools, the report concludes.
“It’s clear from this initial success that QEIA and its emphasis on proven reforms like smaller class sizes, additional counselors, better training for teachers and principals and parental involvement is paying off for our most at-risk students,” said David A. Sanchez, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association. “Sustained intervention works. When schools are given the resources and assistance
