Sending an SOS for Student Achievement: Close the State Accountability Gap
California has a history of leadership, creativity and excellence — qualities that should be evident in how the state supports its most valuable asset: public schools. It’s time California lives up to its reputation for innovation and becomes the first state in the nation to establish full reciprocal accountability.
“In order to deliver on our obligation to students, California must create a system of reciprocal accountability in which state government and local educational agencies share responsibility for student performance and where success is measured not by inputs, but by outcomes. Our Close the State Accountability Gap legislation is focused on transforming the state-level conditions, systems and operations that are critical to supporting and facilitating success at the local level.”
– CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy
What is the state accountability gap?
Thirteen different state agencies and departments work to oversee, assist and regulate school districts and county offices of education (COEs) in California, resulting in a dizzying array of guidelines and directives that have the potential to confound district and school site staff and distract from a focus on student support.
While California holds LEAs accountable for student outcomes, the state has never created an equally coherent, measurable plan for how its own agencies, budgets, policies and programs will support LEAs in closing achievement gaps.
The problem is not lack of effort or investment. In recent years, the California Legislature and Newsom administration have demonstrated substantial commitment to public schools. Activity, however, does not equal achievement. California needs an education governance system that holds the state accountable for results and ensures its investments are being optimized to support local schools and the students they serve.
How can California close the state accountability gap?
CSBA’s Close the State Accountability Gap legislative package consists of four bills (Assembly Bill 2225, AB 2514, AB 2149 and AB 2202) that, collectively, will transform state-level education governance to provide the systems and operational infrastructure needed to effectively support local schools and ensure alignment across state agencies.
To move beyond a patchwork of well-intentioned programs and pet projects toward a coherent, aligned system of state-level support, California must:
- Adopt a coherent state-level operations and support plan that supports — not dictates to —LEAs in closing persistent achievement gaps.
- Align state budgets, policies and practices to reinforce the state-level plan and optimize investments for student success.
- Replace an accountability system focused strictly on local school districts and COEs with a system of reciprocal accountability that shares responsibility across state, county and local levels.
- Move from a fragmented and disconnected series of programs toward a unified strategy of support for helping LEAs improve student performance.
- Evaluate every state program for effectiveness in helping LEAs close gaps, then modify or eliminate programs to focus on strategies proven to help LEAs boost student achievement.
- Reduce state-level barriers that inhibit the ability of LEAs to unlock innovation, meet local student needs and address achievement gaps.