Education vs The CSS People

Turn the coin over. For years we have heard that California schools were failing and it's not altogether true. A more critical look reveals that there is an entire "California Schools Stink" group-bias that has been at work for a long time, decades. The CSS effort is to convince everyone that achievement levels in K-12 schools in California have steadily fallen behind, and for many years I have believed these people - but they were distorting the facts. Why would they do such a thing? In my research I discovered John Mockler, a former Executive Director of the State Board of Education, a well known California educator and administrator who has given a different insight. At last we have discovered an authority that presents the  truth: 

California Public Schools K-12: 

Great Results With Diminishing Resources". 

Great results? Contrast that view with the CSS (California Schools Stink) headlines, and then note their several selfish agendas. These people have actually profited by declaring California schools to be a failure. Most of them are wealthy and angry and have children in private schools. How is this possible? They support the privatization of public schools, and repeat the mantra: 

• Massive teacher evaluation results in improved teacher performance.  
• Strong teacher's unions impede achievement. 

They offer no evidence that to support either. The CSS people rant and rave and will not give schools more money until achievement improves, but when achievement improve the schools still go don't get more money. Instead,  the CSS folks find an excuses while they continue to complain (even louder) that the schools are not doing their job. This situation is starting to smell.

Teachers are usually not compared to each other in a school district or to STATE STANDARDS.  When the CSS  says that K-12 education in California is not competitive they are usually  referring to NATIONAL testing.

• The commonly used National Assessment of Educational Progress" (NAEP) test scores are not aligned to California's grade level academic standards. No wonder the answers were skewed. 

• For example; in California more than 60% of our 8th grade students take algebra. NAEP does not test algebra in 8th grade math tests. 

• California tests English learners the first year they are in school; Texas tests English learners after they have been in school for 3 years. 

Obviously there is a problem  when trying to compare California students with those of other states. When judged by the CALIFORNIA ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX (which you rarely hear about), California's public schools K-12 have been on a steady path of academic growth for the most recent 10 years.

Yes, it's true.