August 31, 2019
A deal that Gov. Gavin Newsom helped broker will bring big changes to the state’s charter school law and, for now, detente in the bitter battles between advocates for charter schools and California’s teacher unions. This week, we discuss the agreement, which the Legislature will take up within the next weeks, and debate which side got more of what it wanted.
We also interview two key players with opposite perspectives on a controversial proposal by the California State University chancellor’s office to require a fourth year of math or an additional course using quantitative reasoning as a CSU admissions requirement.
Chris Steinhauser, superintendent of Long Beach Unified, supports the idea. His district already requires a fourth year of math, with evidence, he says, that more students have been admitted to and are succeeding in college.
Audrey Dow, senior vice president of the nonprofit Campaign for College Opportunity, opposes the proposal. She says it will present another obstacle for students in low-income high schools that already can’t find math and science teachers and don’t offer courses already required by CSU.
CSU trustees may vote on the proposal in the fall.
For more, see the following articles:
- Governor, lawmakers agree on new controls on California charter schools
- Governor’s team jumps into fray over contested charter school bill
- Gov. Newsom proposes tighter rules on charter school enrollment
- Critics urge CSU to drop or delay plan to require extra year of high school math
- Opponents urge CSU to reject 4th year of high school math or related courses for admission
- Cal State drops intermediate algebra as requirement to take some college-level math courses