Overview

"Ready-for-college and ready-for-work" is the driving theme for the California Chamber of Commerce emphasis on education policy. The importance of well-qualified high school graduates to California business executives and to the California economy was reiterated by two studies from the California Foundation for Commerce and Education.

An opinion survey of California business leaders found that the quality of public schools was among the top issues of concern, primarily because one of the top challenges to doing business in California is attracting and maintaining a qualified workforce. A second study by the Foundation found that student academic achievement is the single best public policy predictor of a successful state economy.

Goals

• Foster greater business involvement to improve both teacher and student performance and administrative accountability in schools throughout California.

Major Victories

• Supporting Rigorous Education Standards. Joined the Governor and other business organizations in arguing in favor of the Algebra I test requirement for eighth graders, the highest mathematics education standard in the nation. Adoption of the standard by the state education board in 2008 will maintain the state’s competitiveness and appeal to world-class businesses with high-wage jobs.
• Protected hard-won measures to ensure schools are held accountable for student achievement in a court case upholding the high school exit exam and by securing the veto of legislation that would have undermined the effectiveness of the exam by lowering state student proficiency standards (AB 2975).

Position

The California Chamber of Commerce acknowledges education reform is an urgent priority for California business that should be undertaken no matter the state's fiscal situation.

• Defend the current accountability system.
• Extend current accountability measures.
• Improve assessment systems.
• Align workforce and college readiness.
• Define "teacher quality" as the ability to improve and maintain student academic achievement.
• Improve fiscal transparency and effectiveness.
• Ensure career technical education is high quality and aligned with academic standards.
• Maintain a long-term financial and policy commitment to higher education.
• Promote state and private investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. 
  Education
  

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