Summary:California's economy is as strong as ever, but unless the state dramatically improves its schools, its promise as a global leader in the 21st century could suffer, Governor Gray Davis said Friday morning.
"Our economic strength depends on the promise of a quality education for every child," Davis said. "I have said that my first, second and third priority is restoring our public schools to greatness."
Davis cited recent results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests that showed California students almost dead last in every category. "This is unacceptable."
Davis has proposed a four-part package of education reform initiatives that he calls READ -- Raising Expectations, Achievement, and Development in Schools. Its points are:
- A comprehensive program designed to achieve the goal of full literacy by the third grade.
- Peer review for teachers and intensive training in reading instruction.
- Hold schools accountable by encouraging them to improve performance by 5 percent over the previous year.
- A rigorous high school exit exam that students must pass as a condition of graduation.
"It's high time that a diploma from this state means something to parents, students and prospective employers," Davis said. "I believe to my core that if we have the courage to challenge our youngsters, our youngsters will rise to meet the challenge."
Aside from the problems with education, the state's outlook is very positive, the governor said. Unemployment has dropped to 5.7 percent -- down from 6 percent a year ago. The number of employed Californians increased by almost 300,000 from January 1998.
"We remain the world's standard-bearer for job growth in the New Economy, and hopefully will stay there," he said.
To do that, in addition to improving education, the state must also improve its infrastructure, strengthen its international trading relationships and promote entrepreneurial activity and research and development, he said.
He mentioned the recent decision of TelMex, the Mexican telecommunications company, to open a plant in San Diego -- bringing 500 jobs to the area -- as an example of what improved relations with Mexico can accomplish.
"When you put all these pieces together, I think you have a package for a very exciting future for California," Davis said. "If we work hard and work together, California will be the global leader."
