California's Education System: Spending More, Gaining Less

California's education system is under scrutiny as it spends significantly, yet the results are underwhelming.

Governor Newsom's Claims

Governor Gavin Newsom recently discussed the state's education achievements, highlighting:

Spending: $27,418 per student, including federal funds.
Expansions: Pre-kindergarten, after-school programs, and community schools combining education with health and social services.

Newsom claimed these investments are paying off, citing improved test scores across various subjects, grades, and student groups. He particularly noted gains for Black and Latino students in Los Angeles.

The Reality

However, the reality paints a different picture:

National Ranking: California's fourth-grade reading skills ranked 37th in 2024.
Proficiency: Only 29% of students achieved proficient levels, a drop from 2022.
Disparities: Black and Latino fourth-graders struggled the most.

The Reading Wars

California's poor performance is not surprising. The state has been embroiled in a long-standing debate over reading instruction, known as the "reading wars." Education leaders have experimented with trendy theories like "whole language," ignoring advocates of phonics, a more traditional method.

Mississippi's Success

While California debated, other states took action. Mississippi, one of the poorest states, was 49th in fourth-grade reading proficiency in 2013. The state decided to change things:

Adopted the "science of reading": Essentially phonics, focusing on early grades.
Set tough academic standards: Made education a top priority.

The latest national assessments show that Mississippi now has the ninth-highest fourth-grade reading scores, a significant improvement.

California's Phonics Adoption

Interestingly, Governor Newsom did not mention California's recent adoption of phonics as the primary reading instruction method. This law had strong support, even from the governor, who struggles with dyslexia.

The Big Question

California spends a lot more money on education than Mississippi. Yet, Mississippi does a better job of teaching children to read. Over the next few years, we will see if California's educational establishment will fully embrace phonics and catch up with Mississippi.