Revised Rx for Middle Schools

Middle school can be a perilous time for students whose test scores are down from elementary school: The stage can too easily be set for failure. In response, Gov. Gray Davis proposed in January to spend $1.45 billion over three years to extend the middle-school year. But many legislators balked at the cost of the governor’s proposed six-week extension, saying they would rather provide more money for failing schools. Davis proposed a reasonable compromise this week, cutting the extension to four weeks and promising to use the savings to aid students at the lowest-performing schools.

The changes were incorporated Wednesday in legislation sponsored by state Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Whittier). The earlier version had faced stiff opposition because it called for the six-week extension.

California should certainly pay greater attention to the middle grades, generally sixth through eighth, which have often been left out of reading and math reforms and class-size reduction focused on primary grades.

Davis’ proposal drew support from Los Angeles School Supt. Roy Romer and some others who said students would benefit from more classroom time, especially if the quality of teaching improved. But Romer sought additional flexibility to allow help for crowded schools on a year-round calendar. He got that Wednesday.

The cost of Davis’ plan had raised legitimate concerns. The state government’s respected independent analyst, Elizabeth Hill, initially said the proposal lacked data justifying it, along with details of implementation. She recommended redirecting the money to disadvantaged schools. In the state Senate, John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara), chairman of the Education Committee, and his counterpart in the Assembly, Virginia Strom-Martin (D-Duncans Mills), also saw other priorities.

Many teachers oppose the longer year, and superintendents from Long Beach, Compton, Santa Ana, Sacramento, San Diego, Riverside and elsewhere insist on higher priority for the lowest-performing schools.

The Senate Education Committee is scheduled today to consider SB 1020. All legislators who want to push school reform forward at every level of public education should support the amended measure.