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by Gus Mattammal (Author), Sara Patterson (Cover Design by)
A is for Average outlines Gus Mattammal's bold reform agenda for California's public school system, which, despite approximately $130 billion dollars spent in the current fiscal year, will finish around 40th in the nation in results. Here are some highlights from that reform agenda: A complete redesign of the supplemental/concentration grant funding system, which will add $20 billion in funding to the state's most struggling schools without raising taxes. All growth in the education budget over the rate of inflation would route to the initiative until it is fully funded, and all funding would be used to reduce class sizes, which is the only way the gap between white/Asian and Black/Latino/Indigenous students will be reduced. An innovative proposal for performance-based teacher compensation that rewards star teachers in struggling districts far more aggressively than anyone has ever done before. A proposal for defined contribution retirement plans for new teachers, half of whom leave the profession before the current defined benefit system provides any value to them. Specific content-driven reforms in reading, mathematics, and history/ethnic studies that will elevate the performance of students and leave them better prepared to get jobs. Specific ideas around project-based learning that will engage California's large and talented business community in the important work of improving our schools. Most importantly, at the end of every chapter, concrete actions regular citizens can take to get engaged in improving our schools. Ideas are organized by: - Basic level: if you only have a few minutes and need something super easy - Intermediate level: if you have a little more time/energy for something bigger - Jedi level: if you want to organize a major project and get lots of people involved
