SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today applauded the Schwarzenegger administration for following up on the Governor's commitment to build an education data system that will provide information teachers, parents, principals, and education policymakers need to better serve and educate California's 6.3 million students.

"The steps outlined in Secretary of Education Dave Long's op-ed [http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/980913.html] (Outside Source), printed in today's Sacramento Bee, would move California forward on this vitally important piece of education reform even in this tight fiscal year,"O'Connell said. "This will lay the groundwork for moving beyond the minimal information system California now has, and investing long-term in the kind of data system that voluminous research has clearly shown California needs. Such a system would not just hold schools accountable, it would help educators at every level to understand and meet the needs of students from preschool through college.

"I am pleased that the Governor clearly articulated his commitment to moving forward with work now underway to design such a system. I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature on development of a robust data system that will help us to close the achievement gap and continuously improve instruction for all students in California."