What is the real story here?

U.S. threatens to take $3.52 billion from California schools in testing dispute

Reinforcing its threat to punish California for dumping its old standardized state tests next spring, the U.S. Department of Education said that decision could cost the state at least $3.5 billion.

The state could lose $15 million it receives to administer a federal program for poor children, known as Title I. More critically, a letter sent Tuesday by Deborah S. Delisle, an assistant secretary of education, hinted California risks significantly more money from other federal initiatives, for the lowest-performing schools, English-language learners, disabled students, rural schools, migrant children and teacher training. Those totaled about $3.5 billion last school year.

The dispute between state and federal education officials boils down to whether students need to take standardized tests in English and math every year, and whether the public should be able to see those results. Federal officials say the law requires that, but California believes that’s unreasonable.

It sounds like state officials are trying to skirt around a federal requirement that kids be regularly tested for English and math because so many would be flunking and failing. Seriously fucked.

Beyond that, what appeal is there to bright people to move to Silicon Valley to work in the tech industry and have their children go to schools where probably half the budget is devoted to language translation and remedial, flunkie courses?

What the hell is happening in California?


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