New Study Challenges Education Money Pit: Accountability, Not Money, is Answer to State's Education Woes 8/5/2003
From: Susan Martin of the Pacific Research Institute, 415-955-6120 SAN FRANCISCO, August 5 -- A new study released by the Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a San Francisco-based think tank, challenges the assumption that money will somehow catapult California's K-12 students from near the bottom of the performance charts to the top. Accountability at all levels -- from students and teachers to parents and administration -- will be more effective than money at producing results. This assertion is supported extensively in the California Report Card: Index of Leading Education Indicators, Third Edition, authored by PRI's Lance Izumi, director of education studies, and Matt Cox, policy fellow. "California schools chief Jack O'Connell and others are looking for ways to raise taxes to finance more spending on education," said Izumi. "It's simply the wrong approach. Student achievement in California can be lifted from its current state of mediocrity and failure with the help of policymakers who are willing to focus on what works and eliminate what does not." Izumi and Cox's research indicates that key accountability systems, including standardized tests, are now in place, and that students are already showing slight improvement. "In this time of fiscal crisis, it makes more sense to redirect existing funds to effective programs rather than simply throwing money at the problem," said Izumi. The Report Card seeks to answer critical questions about the effectiveness of California education policies, the efficiency of the school finance system, and the potential for real reform. In addition to education spending, the Report Card focuses on 19 key education indicators including school accountability, standardized test scores, teacher-student performance, and school facilities. It concludes with a blueprint for policy reform. "Inflation-adjusted total education spending per pupil has gone up significantly over the past decade," said Izumi. "Too many education dollars are wasted on state programs that have no record of success." ------ To receive a copy of California Education Report Card: Index of Leading Education Indicators, Third Edition, visit http://www.pacificresearch.org. To schedule an interview with Lance Izumi, contact Susan Martin at 415-955-6120 or smartin@pacificresearch.org. About PRI For more than two decades, the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy (PRI) has championed individual liberty through free markets. PRI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the principles of limited government, individual freedom and personal responsibility. |