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DONORS & PARTNERS
Policy Goes to School Series
As part of its continuing effort to end the achievement gap and help provide the best education for all, the Gevirtz School began a “Policy Goes to School Series” that examines how educational research can and should influence policy.
The fifth event, "Crafting California’s New School Finance" was held on Wednesday, November 11, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, Victoria Hall, 33 W. Victoria Street, Santa Barbara. California’s fiscal crisis has focused attention on the budget cuts public education faces. But the problem of how to finance the state’s schools equitably and efficiently runs much deeper than the current funding shortfall. At this free community symposium, policymakers and school finance experts discussed the roots of the problem, and some possible remedies. Featured panelists for the symposium included: Professor Jacob Adams (Claremont), California State Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, Professor Leo Estrada (UCLA), former California State Senator Gary Hart, Associate Executive Director of Governmental Relations for the California Teachers Association Joe Nuñez, Senior Policy Analyst for the Education Sector Robert Manwaring, Deputy Superintendent of the Santa Barbara School District Eric Smith, and Professor Jon Sonstelie (UCSB). (In photo at left, l-r: Russell Rumberger, Leo Estrada, Gary Hart, Jon Sonstelie. In photo at right, l-r: Joe Nunez, Julia Brownley, Robert Manwaring.)[event press release]
The fourth event, "Accountability and Quality in Higher Education: Are They Compatible?" was held on Thursday, May 28, 10 am – 4:30 pm, UCSB Corwin Pavilion. Experts examined what accountability means in higher education, especially in light of the UC Accountability Framework. Public higher education has long recognized the need to be responsive to its many publics. Except, however, for financial controls, it has not relied on the kinds of formal accountability mechanisms, such as standardized tests, which are common in elementary and secondary education. The challenge for higher education is to show that it is accountable for the outcomes expected by stakeholders without narrowing the curriculum or compromising the educational opportunities and research creativity that have made U.S. universities major engines for economic growth, upward social mobility, and personal development. The plenary address at the event was presented by Mark Yudof, President of the University of California (pictured in photo). [event press release][event program]
The third event, “Accountability in K-12 Education: Where Do We Go From Here?” held on February 9, 2009, featured panel discussions with experts from the university, schools, think tanks, and the government. They examined hot button issues like No Child Left Behind, statewide standards, and standardized testing in an effort to discover if the accountability movement can not only assess students and schools but also help students learn and help schools close the achievement gap. (Pictured in photo from l-r: Keyone speaker Susan Fuhrman, Dean Jane Close Conoley, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, and Chancellor Henry Yang) [event press release]
The second event, "Realizing Bakke’s Legacy: Equal Opportunity and Access to Higher Education," was held on May 16, 2008. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark Regents of the University of California v. Bakke decision, this symposium included nationally recognized scholars who explored the complex set of legal and educational policy circumstances established by this historic court decision that continue to simultaneously frame, narrow, and confound our understanding of access and equity in higher education. (Pictured in photo are Patricia Marin and Catherine Horn, editors of the book Realizing Bakke’s Legacy: Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, and Access to Higher Education.) [event press release] [event program]
The first event, “Promoting Pre-K through Graduate School Educational Success” held on January 11, 2008 was a resounding success. Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23), a panelist at the event, said, “I’m going to go back to Washington and encourage all my colleagues in the House to hold events like this one.” (Pictured in photo from l-r: Dilling Yang, Dean Jane Close Conoley, Congresswoman Lois Capps, presenter Delaine Eastin, and Chancellor Henry Yang) [event press release]