Citizens tend to grade their local schools higher than they grade

the nation’s schools

T

The concept that underlies schools based management is that

decisions are typically based in better information when they are made close to the level at which

they will be implemented

T

Americans have been in general, in agreement about several

educational issues. One of the primary areas of agreement is that

public education is a necessary element in a democracy

T

While many American agree that additional finds should be provided

for students with special needs, controversy has developed

regarding allocation of funds for bilingual education

T

Perhaps most fundamental among the man disagreements in

American education is the issue of financing America’s schools

F

While many states have approved the voucher system, CA has not

approved this plan

T

Over the past several decades the federal government’s role in

education has gradually expanded. However, the expansion was reduced under George Bush

F

The California lottery has been a boon for California schools in that it has generally increased a district’s

income by 5-10%

F

Public education is a high priority in the US and this country spends

more money on education then any other nation in the world.

F

Wainer of ETS found that there is no correlation between a district’s

expenditures for education and student achievement

F

Chapter 2

In the year 2004 California exceeded all other states in the number of students enrolled in

public K-12 school

T

The most common source of revenue for the support of schools in the US is the local property tax. This statement is also true of CA

public education

F

• Not all states have property tax

Prop 13 approved by CA voters placed a limit on property taxes at 1% of the assessed value of the

property

T

Senate bill 813, also known as the Hughes-Hart Education Reform

Act established the mentor teacher program an increased the length of

the school day and school year

T

Proposition 98 approved by the voters in 1988, ensured that K-14 education receive a minimum base funding of 50% of CA tax revenue.

F

• It’s 40.33%

In 1996 the California Legislature approved funds to lower class size in K-3 grades to a maximum of 20

students per teacher. This act resulted in California’s public-

school class size becoming one of the lowest in the nation

F

• “lowest in the nation”…Ha!

In 1993 CA citizens approved school vouchers. As a result parents can now receive state

financial support for enrollment of a child in private school

F

Proposition 227, approved by CA voters in 1998 virtually eliminated

CA’s bilingual program

T

• It changed the dual language program. No more primary language instruction other than English

Gray Davis, elected governor of CA in 1998 declared education his first,

second, and third priority

T

Under the leadership of Gov. Davis, several educational initiatives were

approved including the PAR program, public school

accountability and the high school proficiency exam.

T

Chapter 3

The control of CA’s schools has largely shifted from local school boards to the governor and state

legislatures

T

California expenditures per pupil, in comparison to the rest of the nation

rank below the national average.

T

California citizens have generally been very supportive of education

and have provided funds to purchase the facilities necessary to

house students

F

Student enrollment greatly increased during the 1990s. It is expected to continue to increase

during the first decade of the 2000s

T

The state provides base revenue limit for all CA school districts . The base revenue can be increased by

a vote of the citizens of a local school district.

F

• Cannot be increased by a vote of the citizens

California has an increasing percentage of students

representing ethnic and racial minorities. During the 1990s these

students became a “majority-minority” of K-12 enrollment in CA.

T

California has been fortunate in leading the nation in the

development of technology. This development has resulted in CA classrooms exceeding all other

states in the number of computers in each classroom

F

California schools educate a very diverse student population. As one

measure of this diversity, approximately 50% of California

students are limited-English-proficient

F

The charter school movement has been successful in California

although the number of charter schools in the state is limited to

100.

F

• It was at the beginning but this has changed.

Class size reduction has been a popular program. The program has had a positive effect on a district’s

capacity to provide adequate classrooms.

F

Chapter 4