Providing Education Is A Duty That Shapes Our Future

   If we believe what Thomas Jefferson told us, that “information is the currency of democracy,” then certainly our schools are the banks of that currency.
   Just as Jefferson also believed that a healthy democracy must have an educated citizenry, I believe that education is not only a necessity of the governed, but a duty. Society must assure every citizen has the access and the means to not only K-12 education, but higher education as well.
   Providing education for the next generation is one way we shape and guarantee, not only the health of our society, but also our own legacy.
   Unfortunately, we have seen tumultuous financial times force our federal, state and local governments to make severe cuts at many levels, nowhere more regrettably than in education.
   And yet, despite the painful cuts--which no rational person wants to see--we have had some success over the past several years.
   Two recent examples that I was proud to author are the Student Success Act (SSA) and the College Promise Partnership Act.

Here is a link to the fact sheet for SB1456, the Student Success Act of 2012:

The SSA, which recently moved out of the Senate Education Committee with a unanimous bipartisan vote, is designed to tackle a serious problem: While many students are getting through the door at our community colleges, many fail to get across the finish line. Fifty-four percent of all community college students fail to earn a certificate, associate degree or transfer within six years of entering a community college.
   This situation is unacceptable by any measure and demands immediate change. The SSA is an important first step in realigning our community college system to the goals of student success and achievement. It will rebalance priorities and hone the community college system's focus on the core missions of certificate and degree attainment, preparation for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, remedial education, and workforce preparation.
   The College Promise Partnership Act (CPPA), which passed the Legislature with unanimous bipartisan support in both houses and was signed into law by the Governor last October, partnered Long Beach Unified School District with Long Beach City College to better prepare high school students for college.
   The CPPA built upon an earlier framework partnering K-12 and higher education institutions within Long Beach--efforts I’m proud to say I was also involved in.
   According to the Business Higher Education Forum, this remarkable partnership “has become a defining feature of the community and a model for the nation.”
   These are just two examples. There are many more throughout the Legislature.
   In a perfect world, part of those successes would include zero cuts, but in the imperfect world we live in, we have all had to make tough choices.
   But this has in no way diminished my determination to fight for the best education system in the world. Ultimately, it will take the political will of the entire Legislature and the realization of the public that the current road of austerity, austerity, austerity, is not leading us in the right direction.
   If you would like to read more about my current legislation, including fact sheets, please visit my website at sd27.senate.ca.gov.