California Poll: More Accountability - Post All School Data Online

Robert Sallady:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who says parents should be able to scrutinize schools on the Internet like they are "shopping for a car," received a political boost Thursday with a new poll showing widespread support for opening the financial books at public schools.

With the Legislature beginning its new session Monday, the survey, sponsored by the nonprofit group Children Now, was designed to give Schwarzenegger and lawmakers ammunition next year as they attempt to put more information about the state's 9,500 public schools on the Web.

Schwarzenegger wants large amounts of data — from enrollment numbers and school test scores to reports on the quality of textbooks and individual school budgets — to be posted online in a user-friendly way.

"Let the sun shine in on everything," the governor said recently at a news briefing, describing how the state should "make it easier for parents to shop for the best schools," as he put it, and shame poor-performing schools so "they'll be getting their act together."

Posted by Jim Zellmer at December 1, 2006 4:51 PM
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