In 1990, PACE issued a plan for CA schools, addressing the challenges of explosive growth, increasing diversity, and lagging student achievement. Five years later, PACE has revised the plan to include measurable statewide education goals, a new student assessment system, teacher education reforms, and the goal of English proficiency for all students. Other recommendations include school finance reform, coordination between schools and social services, evaluation of local reform efforts, experiments to improve student achievement, and linking school-to-career policy with education reform.

The article discusses the importance of parent involvement in education and its effects on student achievement. It suggests that schools need to create a welcoming environment for parents and engage them in meaningful ways, such as through volunteering and decision-making committees. Additionally, the article emphasizes the need for schools to provide information and resources to parents, especially those who are disadvantaged, to ensure that they are equipped to support their children's learning at home.

The seventh edition of Conditions of Education in California by PACE focuses on education policy issues in a national context. The report analyzes California's education data by placing it in multi-state, national, and international contexts. The report's first three chapters analyze evolving education policy issues, Sacramento political dynamics, and student achievement. The remaining three chapters provide longitudinal data on student enrollment, finance, and system characteristics. The report aims to provide a continuing picture of education in California.

US high school students, especially those who do not attend college, have been found to lack skills and knowledge necessary for the job market. The California Partnership Academies program has been developed to address this issue and has been adopted by over 50 high schools. The program has received support and positive evaluations. Factors contributing to the issue include societal changes, the education system, and changes in the labor market. If these issues are not addressed, the US risks falling behind international competitors and a lower standard of living.

School finance has become a prominent issue again due to court decisions and litigation in several states. This article explores school finance changes in the 70s and 80s and outlines key issues for the 90s, including the relationship between finance and education goals, site-based management, teacher pay, accountability, school choice, and nontraditional issues such as preschool and non-educational services for children.

Traditionally, educational evaluation has focused on measuring student achievement and program performance. However, education reforms are now linking schooling to economic development, leading to a shift towards managerial expectations and politicization of the field. This article explains the human capital imperative and its relation to education, summarizes the history of educational evaluation, and outlines an alternative model for educational appraisal in the context of government-led education system reforms aimed at enhancing national economic growth.

The U.S. ranks low in international education comparisons, but the discussion is misleading because it does not look at postsecondary education. The value added by the postsecondary education system, including community colleges, trade schools, and universities, is ignored. The U.S.'s strongest suit is probably its entire postsecondary education system in the international arena.

CA's education system is affected by external factors like shifting demographics, declining economics, and intensifying politics, limiting the traditional routes of local decision-making and property taxation. Although some districts show excellence and commitment, creating and sustaining a statewide education system to meet 21st-century expectations is difficult without a comprehensive reform plan. Political conflict over revenue earmarking and school reform distracts from education improvement. This report describes and analyzes these issues, suggesting a comprehensive set of solutions.

This article delves into the issue of class size in education, examining how it affects student achievement and suggesting policy alternatives. With some states proposing and implementing class size reductions, the analysis discusses the research on the subject and its policy implications. The piece is divided into four sections, starting with an introduction that provides context for the class size debate.

Educational indicator systems are in demand in the US due to their strong linkages to policy issues. This article covers five major issues related to educational indicators, including what they are, major initiatives in the US, and indicator strategies in California. It also discusses key issues related to indicator development and use and outlines alternative strategies for making sense of educational indicators, which are currently missing in the US.

The study examines the Partnership Academies in California, which are designed to reduce high school dropout rates among at-risk students. Academies combine high school curriculum, technical courses, and support from local businesses, with funding based on student outcomes. Survey results indicate that Academy students had a lower dropout rate than comparison group students, were more likely to attend college, and earned higher wages while working and studying. Graduates from both groups reported being fairly satisfied with their high school preparation and achievements since graduation.

This report examines the pervasive racial disparities in California's school discipline system, with a focus on the disproportionate suspension and expulsion of Black students, particularly Black males. Drawing from 1980s statewide data and court cases such as Larry P. and Watson v. Stockton, it documents patterns of overrepresentation in both special education placements and disciplinary actions. The report highlights how systemic bias—embedded in subjective referral categories like "willful defiance"—has led to significant exclusion of Black students from mainstream classrooms, perpetuating...