Republicans blast low test scores + Prop 31 goes on tour + Ashby drops another ad
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
REPUBLICANS SLAM CALIFORNIA TEST SCORE RESULTS
After a lengthy delay, the California Department of Education has finally released the latest K-12 student test score data, and the results aren’t good.
The percentage of students meeting or exceeding the 2022 Smarter Balanced assessment declined by 4 percentage points (from 51% to 47%) for English language arts, and 7 percentage points (from 40% to 33%) for mathematics, when compared to students who took the test in 2018-19.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement that, “These baseline data underscore what many of us know: that the road to recovery is long and our students will need sustained support over many years.”
Thurmond added that California has worked to provide additional resources to help students beyond 2024, when federal relief funding expires. That includes $7.9 billion for a learning recovery block grant, $4 billion for the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, and $250 million for literacy coaches, he said.
“The CDE will continue to work with schools so they identify the right tools and resources to address academic, behavioral, and mental health needs,” Thurmond said.
Republicans were unsurprisingly critical.
Thurmond’s opponent in the November midterm election, Lance Christensen, said that the superintendent “has failed students, parents and teachers on every measure.”
“These test scores indicate what we knew all along; school lockdowns have resulted in decades of learning loss, robbing students of their constitutional right of an education,” Christensen said.
Republican Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, one of the most outspoken critics of the decision to lock down California schools in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, tweeted that “prolonged school shutdowns were the most disastrous public policy in recent history. Many of the corrupt politicians responsible are on the ballot right now.”
Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk took the opportunity to spread blame to the entire California Democratic Party.
“Democrat policies get an F. It is no wonder these scores were kept under lock and key. They are a clear referendum on the failed policies advocated by the governor, legislative leaders, and the state superintendent of public instruction for years — not just during the pandemic,” Wilk said in a statement.
Wilk added that very few Californians can send their children to private school like Gov. Gavin Newsom does. Republican State Sen. Brian Dahle also sends his daughter to private school, though he said that his two sons went to public school.
“Last year, 100,000 students left the state’s public school system. With scores like these, it is no wonder parents are pulling up stakes,” Wilk said.
PROP 31 BUS TOUR PLANNED
With just two weeks to go until Election Day, the Yes on 31 campaign is hitting the road, with a two-day, six-city bus tour of California to drum up support for Proposition 31, which would ban the sale of most flavored tobacco products in the state.
The tour is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, Parents Against Vaping e-Cigarettes and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
“The traveling bus will be completely wrapped with YES on Prop 31 logo, campaign hashtags, and candy-related imagery. The colorfully-wrapped bus will serve as the backdrop for press conferences in every location, joined by community volunteers and advocates who will speak to the urgency of passing Prop 31 this year,” according to a statement announcing the tour.
Stops include San Diego, Los Angeles and Bakersfield on Tuesday and Fresno, Oakland and Sacramento on Wednesday, with the last stop being 4:30 p.m. on the west steps of the Capitol building.
ASHBY LAUNCHES ANOTHER AD
The race between Angelique Ashby and Dave Jones, both Democrats, for State Senate Seat 8, is heating up yet again, as Ashby on Monday announced the release of a new television ad.
Titled “My Story,” it gives a brief biography of the Sacramento City Councilwoman.
“As a young, single mom, I worked hard to put myself through college and law school. I know what it takes to fight your way up,” Ashby says in the ad.
The spot goes on to tout her record, including helping victims of abuse escape violent situations. She reminded viewers that, if elected, she would be the first woman in 20 years to hold that Senate seat.
You can watch the ad for yourself by visiting here.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Words have consequences. Kanye threatened to start killing Jews. Now the Nazis have mobilized & are asking people to honk if they want to kill Jews. This is so dangerous. Any company — including @adidas — that continues to do business with Kanye is party to this attack on Jews.”
- California Legislative Jewish Caucus, via Twitter.
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