Honig Follows Bush Lead, Calls Schools Summit

Borrowing a page from the book of President Bush, state Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig called Tuesday for a California education summit aimed at maintaining “national momentum for improving our schools.”

The summit, scheduled for mid-December in Sacramento, would include about 150 educators, business leaders and legislators who would be invited to discuss how to improve California’s schools.

Honig’s call for a California meeting follows Bush’s education conference last week in Virginia at which the President and the nation’s governors pledged “to dramatically alter our system of education.”

Participants in the national summit discussed the need for more choice for parents and students, greater accountability for teachers and principals, and the establishment of performance standards for teachers and school programs.

Honig acknowledged that part of the motive for convening a California conference is to highlight some of the things the state already is doing to improve its schools, such as setting performance standards and assessing students’ progress.

“We want to do our part here in California,” the schools chief said. “We need to look at what we can do to implement the national agenda. Just as important, California has a lot to offer other states.”

For Honig, the summit would offer a chance to increase his visibility after a year in which he has kept a fairly low profile. He faces reelection to a third term as schools superintendent next year.

Honig said his idea for a summit, which would last up to two days, has received favorable marks from local educators. Among those who would be invited to the conference is Gov. George Deukmejian.

“The President has called for more accountability, raising curricular standards and improving school readiness of young children,” Honig said. “We have success stories here of which we’re extremely proud and which can be useful to other states in the nation.”