SBCSS News and Press Releases

County Superintendent Delivers State Of Education Address

2008-01-23

SAN BERNARDINO - Bridging gaps in student achievement, working with districts on stable leadership and finding solutions to the state's budget crisis were among the issues County Superintendent Herbert Fischer highlighted in his ninth annual State of Education Address today.

"Our goal is to see that all students master the state standards and to help our schools and districts transcend the access and achievement gap for all of their students," Fischer said in his speech at the Sturges Center for the Arts.

Among those who attended the address were Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of Public Instruction, who introduced Fischer, and County District Attorney Michael Ramos, who served as the master of ceremonies for the event. Elected officials, educators and community partners were among approximately 400 who attended the annual speech.

To close gaps - whether it's the achievement gap between ethnicities in learning or through support to districts facing challenges like Program Improvement - Fischer said the County Schools' office will be an active partner with schools and districts to meet their needs. County Schools' primary focus is to help county schools and districts transcend the access and achievement gaps for all of their students by:

• Sharing and promoting outstanding and effective models of schools within our own schools and districts.
• Providing the critical data to schools and districts to help them with school and instructional decision-making.
• Supporting teachers and administrators at school and district level with professional development, principal coaching, administrator training, data analysis and curriculum alignment.
• Serving as the Riverside, Inyo, Mono and San Bernardino counties' regional lead for after school programs. Research shows after school programs make a difference. Some students need more time for intensive instruction.
• Supporting those schools participating in the Quality Education Investment Act with their planning and implementing. The legislation, which was passed by the state last year, will benefit 42 county schools with seven years of funding for Decile 1-2 schools.
• Aiding those districts in corrective action under No Child Left Behind. County Schools' District Assistance and Intervention Team participated in the state pilot program.

Working with districts on sustaining stable leadership is another focus for the County Schools' office this year.

"School boards need to hire superintendents who fulfill key leadership responsibilities, and they need to support district and school level leadership and goals for student achievement in ways that enhance stability," said Fischer, who has worked with 87 district superintendents among the 33 districts in the county during his nine years as county superintendent.

Districts in the county and around the state face major financial challenges this year from the preliminary budget proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The governor's budget recommends spending $300 per pupil less than last year. California invests nearly $2,000 per pupil less than the national average for state students, according to Education Week's Quality Counts report.

"This budget crisis did not originate in our public school classrooms, and neither will the solution to the crisis be found by reducing funding to the classroom," Fischer said.

Other highlights from the address included:

• Featuring high-achieving student programs at Maple Elementary in Fontana Unified and Westside Park Elementary in Adelanto. Both schools exited from Program Improvement Year 4 last year - among only 20 statewide to accomplish the feat. "These two schools have made student learning the No. 1 commitment, and the results show," Fischer said.
• Efforts to close the loopholes in laws that govern charter schools continue. "I am pleased to announce today that with the support of State Superintendent O'Connell and County District Attorney Ramos, our office is working on legislation to see that charter schools are held accountable for improved student achievement and sound business practices," Fischer said. "Charter school boards also must be held to the same public scrutiny as school district boards by following Brown Act procedures and conflict of interest requirements." San Bernardino County District Advocates for Better Schools has embraced this as part of its legislative platform. County Schools has the support of the California School Boards Association and the state's Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team in this effort.
• According to Fischer, the No. 1 issue in the region continues to be an under-educated workforce. County Schools' solutions are rising from the regionalized efforts of the Alliance for Education and P-16 Councils that are working on common goals: improving literacy and math skills; increasing graduation and college-going rates; and responding to regional employability and career needs. "Through the Alliance and P-16 Councils, we have more than 1,500 partners in business, labor, government and faith-based communities with the will and courage to help us get the job done," Fischer said.