EdCal EdCal v48.31 5/8/18 | Page 6

6 EDCAL May 28 , 2018

Transitions

Nevada Joint Union High School District announced that Brett McFadden has been appointed the district ’ s next superintendent . McFadden replaces Louise Johnson who is retiring as superintendent after a successful 34-year career in California public education . McFadden was formerly
the associate superintendent in the Monterey Peninsula USD . Many ACSA members may remember that he once served as a legislative advocate and management services executive for ACSA from 2000 to 2010 .
n n n
Riverbank USD announced that Barbara Brown has been hired as their next director of student services . Brown succeeds Karen Young , who retired after more
than three decades service to education , including the last 28 in Riverbank . Young received Region 7 ’ s recognition as Pupil Personnel Administrator of the Year this past spring .
n n n
Los Gatos Union School District has hired Paul Johnson as their next district superintendent . Johnson has served the last seven years at the helm of Mill Valley
School District . Prior to that , Johnson served as superintendent of Loomis School District .
n n n
Send ACSA-member news for Transitions to EdCal Editor Cary Rodda at crodda @ acsa . org .
CCEE Content Library needs digital vetters
The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence is seeking qualified individuals to vet new digital materials for the California Content Library , a free digital database containing high quality training resources about the state ’ s school finance and accountability systems .
This is an excellent opportunity to help equip educators with the knowledge , skills and tools to understand the state ’ s Local Control Funding Formula , Local Control Accountability Plan and California School Dashboard .
The CCEE supports and curates the Library in partnership with review teams , the members of which may include representatives from county offices of education , statewide education associations , advocacy organizations , community-based organizations , and other entities selected by the CCEE .
If you are interested , an online application form is available at http :// bit . ly / 2ID5YGp . The deadline to submit an application is June 15 .
n n n
National FFA hands out hundreds of scholarships
The National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation have awarded more than $ 2.5 million in scholarships to 1,842 recipients , thanks to the generosity of 114 sponsors .
More than 8,800 students applied for the scholarships , with many of the applicants being considered for multiple awards .
Approximately one in every five students who applied was awarded a scholarship . The scholarships were available to students pursuing two-year or four-year degrees or vocational programs . The average recipient had a GPA of 3.77 on a 4.0 scale , and the average class rank was 23 out of 261 .
This year marks the 34th year for the scholarship program , which began in 1984 with 16 scholarships offered . Since then , more than $ 50 million has been awarded in scholarship funds through the National FFA Organization .
The selection process takes into account the whole student , including FFA involvement , work experience , supervised agricultural experience , community service , leadership skills and academics .
A list of recipients is available on the scholarship results webpage on www . FFA . org . Recipients are listed first by the states in which their high schools are located and then alphabetically by student last name .
n n n
Building expertise How do you keep up with the latest trends in student equity and autonomy and realize gains in student learning ? Attend LSI ’ s annual Building Expertise National Conference , June 13-15 in Lake Buena Vista , Fla . Gain access to transformative classroom and leadership practices and sessions ideal for teachers , coaches , and leaders . Keynote speakers include author / expert Robert Marzano and original Freedom Writer Manny Scott . ACSA is partnering with LSI on a discount using the code KFBE18 at checkout . Find out more at https :// bit . ly / 2HcRYhS .
n n n
PERS hires COIO The California Public Employees Retirement System announced that Elisabeth Bourqui has been selected as chief operating investment officer , leading the business and operations functions of the Investment Office .

PPIC

Continued from page 1
adults nationwide ( 50 percent , according to a February 2018 CBS News poll ).
“ In the wake of the Florida mass shooting tragedy , many California public school parents are concerned about school safety ,” said Mark Baldassare , PPIC president and CEO . “ Yet most oppose having more teachers carry guns .”
Immigration enforcement
Asked about another contentious national issue involving children in schools , 70 percent of Californians are very ( 43 percent ) or somewhat ( 27 percent ) concerned that federal immigration enforcement will affect undocumented students in local public schools and their families . Latinos ( 59 percent ) are the most likely to be very concerned , compared to fewer African Americans ( 43 percent ), Caucasians ( 35 percent ), and Asian Americans ( 34 percent ). Democrats ( 61 percent ) are more likely than independents ( 36 percent ) and three times as likely as Republicans ( 20 percent ) to be very concerned .
For the second year in a row , 65 percent of Californians support the designation of public school districts as “ sanctuary safe zones ” to protect undocumented students and their families from federal immigration enforcement . Strong majorities of Democrats and solid majorities of independents are in favor , while strong majorities of Republicans are opposed . Across racial / ethnic groups , Latinos ( 82 percent ) are the most likely to be in favor , followed by African Americans ( 70 percent ). About half of Caucasians ( 52 percent ) are in favor .
“ Solid majorities of Californians – with deep divisions by party – continue to support having their local school districts declared as sanctuary safe zones for undocumented students ,” Baldassare said .
Candidate views
With the June midterms fast approaching , Democrat Gavin Newsom ( 26 percent ) remains the top choice among likely voters in the governor ’ s race , followed by Republican John Cox ( 15 percent ), Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa ( 13 percent ), Republican Travis Allen ( 10 percent ), and Democrats John Chiang ( 7 percent ) and Delaine Eastin ( 6 percent ). Nearly a quarter of likely voters ( 22 percent ) remain undecided .
The gubernatorial candidates ’ positions on K-12 public education is very important
to a majority of likely voters ( 64 percent ). Democratic ( 69 percent ) and independent ( 65 percent ) likely voters are more likely than Republicans ( 55 percent ) to hold this view .
“ Despite a rancorous political climate ,” Baldassare said , “ majorities across party lines agree that the candidates ’ positions on K-12 public schools are very important in deciding whom to support .”
SPI race
In the nonpartisan primary election for superintendent of public instruction , an overwhelming majority of likely voters ( 74 percent ) don ’ t know whom they ’ d vote for , while candidates Tony Thurmond and Marshall Tuck are tied at 13 percent .
Asked whether candidates for statewide office should work with or push back against the Trump administration on K-12 issues , 52 percent of likely voters prefer that candidates push back , while 39 percent prefer that they work with the administration .
More funding
A majority of likely voters ( 60 percent ) say state funding for public schools is inadequate , and parents are most likely to name lack of funding as the biggest issue facing K-12 schools in their community ( 24 percent , compared to 9 percent teacher quality , 7 percent safety and bullying ).
When asked how California ’ s school funding compares to other states , 48 percent of likely voters and 47 percent of public school parents say per pupil spending for K-12 education is either average or below average . The National Education Association ranks California 29th of the 50 states .
Voters may get the opportunity to approve additional school funding . A possible 2020 initiative could change how commercial property taxes are assessed . The additional revenue would be divided between K-12 public schools and local governments . How do voters feel about this potential ballot measure on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Proposition 13 ? Among likely voters , 53 percent say they would vote yes . Democrats ( 71 percent ) are much more likely than independents ( 55 percent ) and far more likely than Republicans ( 39 percent ) to support it .
A majority of likely voters ( 60 percent ) would also vote yes if their school district put a bond measure on the ballot to pay for construction projects , which would require a 55 percent majority to pass . But fewer than half ( 48 percent ) would vote for
a local parcel tax to fund public schools , which falls short of the required two-thirds vote . When asked about reducing the vote threshold for passage of local parcel taxes for schools to 55 percent , half of likely voters ( 49 percent ) say yes and 41 percent say no .
“ Six in 10 likely voters say the state ’ s K-12 funding is inadequate ,” Baldassare said . “ Solid majorities favor local school bonds , while fewer support local parcel taxes for schools in this election year .”
Governor and Legislature
Half of likely voters ( 50 percent ) approve of the way that Gov . Brown is handling his job . Fewer than half ( 40 percent ) approve of his handling of the state ’ s K-12 public education system , while a relatively high percentage ( 19 percent ) don ’ t have an opinion on this question . Among public school parents , 55 percent approve of Brown ’ s handling of K-12 education .
Fewer than half ( 42 percent ) of likely voters approve of the way that the California Legislature is handling its job , while 49 percent disapprove . Just 34 percent of likely voters approve of the Legislature ’ s handling of K-12 education , while 20 percent don ’ t know . Approval of the Legislature ’ s handling of K-12 education is higher among public school parents ( 52 percent ).
LCFF and achievement
Although the governor ’ s proposed budget fully funds the Local Control Funding Formula , more than two-thirds of Californians ( 70 percent ) say they ’ ve heard nothing at all about it . LCFF gives additional funding to school districts with more English language learners and lower-income students , and it also gives districts increased flexibility on spending decisions . After being read a description of the policy , 71 percent of Californians favor it . While majorities across parties favor the funding formula , Democrats ( 81 percent ) and independents ( 73 percent ) are much more likely than Republicans ( 55 percent ) to do so .
Most Californians ( 71 percent ) are at least somewhat optimistic that the implementation of LCFF will lead to improved academic achievement among English language learners and lower-income students . Across racial / ethnic groups , Latinos ( 86 percent ) and Asian Americans ( 78 percent ) are more likely than African Americans ( 68 percent ) and Caucasians ( 60 percent ) to expect improvement . Notably , 41 percent of Latinos expect academic achievement among these students to improve a lot .
Across parties , strong majorities of Democrats ( 75 percent ) and independents ( 68 percent ) expect improvement , while Republicans are more skeptical ( 50 percent think achievement will improve ).
The LCFF requires school districts to develop , adopt , and annually update threeyear Local Control and Accountability Plans and to reach out to parents and the community for input . A majority of public school parents ( 54 percent ) say they have received information on how to get involved . How likely are they to participate ? Latino parents ( 80 percent ) are more likely than Caucasian parents ( 68 percent ) to say they are at least somewhat likely to do so .
Local schools
Most public school parents ( 61 percent ) give their local schools grades of A or B when asked to rate their quality . A third of public school parents are aware that state test scores are lower than scores in most other states . Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show that California test scores in grades 4 and 8 in English and math rank below average or near the bottom nationally .
To help parents learn about the quality of their local K-12 public schools , the state launched the California School Dashboard in December . The dashboard is an online tool that evaluates school performance using multiple measures . Although an overwhelming majority of public school parents ( 83 percent ) say they can easily find information about the quality of their child ’ s school , most ( 56 percent ) have heard nothing at all about the new dashboard .
When it comes to the types of schools they prefer , a majority of public school parents say it is extremely or very important that their local school have a mix of students from different racial / ethnic ( 63 percent ) and economic ( 50 percent ) backgrounds . Given a hypothetical choice among public , private , religious or charter schools for their children – if cost and location were not an issue – a third of parents chose a traditional public school ( 35 percent ). A similar proportion chose a private school ( 31 percent ), while fewer picked a religious school ( 18 percent ) or charter school ( 13 percent ). Most parents also want their children to graduate from college . A third ( 35 percent ) hope their children earn a four-year college degree and nearly half ( 48 percent ) hope they obtain a graduate degree .
More information about the PPIC can be found at www . ppic . org .