Education

Brown struggles to hit education stride

With education becoming a major state issue just in time for the election, Gov. Jerry Brown has found himself in an uncharacteristic position. The often unflappable governor, who has prided himself on following the beat of his own drum, has

Torlakson continues lying about teacher-discipline law AB 215

Chris Reed October 1, 2014

Tom Torlakson supports a status quo in which an average of 2.2 of the state’s 275,000 public school teachers are fired each year for incompetence — a figure so ridiculous you barely need to add context. It shows the public

VIDEO: California’s GOP — Can There Be A Resurgence?

CalWatchdog Staff September 29, 2014

CalWatchdog’s Brian Calle talks to Assembly Republican Leader-Elect Kristin Olsen about the lessons the GOP has learned in California. Can the Golden State GOP build a winning coalition based on education reform?

CTA battles CA Democrats

James Poulos September 26, 2014

In a surprise twist this election season, the CTA and its backers, across a number of pressing issues, have adopted positions at odds with powerful Democratic incumbents and newcomers. The catalyst was the Vergara v. California case. Education scholar Joshua

Language of teacher discipline bill shows Torlakson’s deceit

Chris Reed September 23, 2014

At a little bit after the 51-minute mark of a forum in Los Angeles last week with state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and challenger Marshall Tuck, the candidates are asked a question from the audience about the Vergara

In debate, Torlakson misrepresents teacher-discipline bill

Chris Reed September 18, 2014

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson debated challenger Marshall Tuck on Wednesday night and once again found himself on the defensive over the teacher tenure laws targeted in the Vergara decision. Cabinet Report details how Tuck went after …

VIDEO: Can “Parent Trigger” Fix Our Schools?

CalWatchdog Staff September 17, 2014

With the invention of the “parent trigger” there’s a new tool that parents can use to fix their broken school systems. Film maker Bob Bowdon joins CalWatchdog’s James Poulos to discuss.

Unions bank on CA for new gains

James Poulos September 11, 2014

Across the country, union membership has long been in fairly steep decline. After a series of recent reverses, including a failed attempt to pass national minimum wage legislation in Washington, D.C., union leaders shifted to a state-by-state, city-by-city approach to advancing their

CSU fee addiction shows value of Props 13, 26, 62, 218

Chris Reed September 10, 2014

The newsrooms of California appear to have collectively decided that the state props that make raising taxes and fees more difficult for elected officials — starting with 13, 26, 62 and 218 — are irrational. This is regularly reflected in the

Debate: Kashkari closing channels Reagan in 1980

Chris Reed September 4, 2014

Questioner asks about high cost of UC, CSU being barrier to poor students. Kashkari sympathizes and cites student loan burders. Brown notes, correctly, how many CSU and UC students pay no tuition because of waivers and says CA students have