Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/776907
Compiled by Mike Myslinski Quotes & Numbers 46th Ranking nationally of California in per-pupil spending in a newly released Education Week annual "Quality Counts" study, based on 2014 data. It's identical to last year 's ranking. $3,462 Amount California is below the national average in per-pupil fund- ing, according to the same Education Week study. 50,000 Approximate number of California educators who have received pro- fessional development trainings in the past two years from teachers who are part of CTA's Instructional Learning Corps. Learn more about the ILC project at cta.org/ilc. 41% Decline in the amount California spends, when adjusted for inflation, on a California State University student today compared to 1985, according to a new California Faculty Association study released Jan. 12. See calfac.org. 60% Percentage of Americans who feel President Trump should release his tax returns, according to a Pew Research Center poll released a day before Trump's Jan. 11 news confer- ence, where he claimed the public doesn't "care at all" if he releases his returns — only the reporters do. "In this time of uncer tainty, anxiety and fear, I strongly encourage you to join me in declaring our public schools 'safe havens' for students and their parents, and to remind families about existing laws that protect them and their students' records from questions about immigration status." — State Superintendent of Public Instruction TOM TORL AKSON, in a Dec. 21 letter to administrators and superintendents of California's 10,500 public schools. "This completes the final pieces of a groundbreaking system to help the public better understand what is going on in our schools. I look forward to the launch of the California School Dashboard later this year, but this is just the beginning. We plan to make significant improvements in future years." — State Board of Education President MIKE KIRST, in a Jan. 11 statement after the SBE approved final elements of the nuanced public school accountability system that will replace the old Academic Performance Index. "As they hear about a school, drive past a school, see a school in the news, I hope people can make some positive assumptions and figure that in any school you go to, there are going to be some fantastic people doing some excellent work." — Palo Alto High School teacher DAVID B. COHEN, in a Dec. 22 EdSource article about his new book on innovative California teachers, Capturing the Spark: Inspired Teaching, Thriving Schools. "DeVos' lack of experience in any public school in any capacity and of a degree in education is a slap in the face to millions of educators across the countr y. For the first time, our secretar y of education could be someone whose sole 'qualification' for the job is the two decades she has spent attempting to dismantle and privatize the American public school system." — CTA President ERIC HEINS, in his Jan. 11 letter urging California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris to oppose Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. education secretary. "If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you're disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Stay at it." — President BAR ACK OBAMA, in his Jan. 10 farewell address in Chicago. 14 cta.org in the know THE NUMBERS