Determinants of Student Achievement: New Evidence from San Diego.

Determinants of Student Achievement: New Evidence from San Diego. Julian R. Betts, Andrew C. Zau, and Lorien A. Rice (Public Policy Institute of California).

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California's new secretary of education, Alan Bersin, handpicked for the job by Arnold Schwarzenegger, had, as San Diego's superintendent for almost seven years (1998-2005), initiated an aggressive set of school reforms. Under Bersin's bold leadership, the district mounted a multifaceted effort to raise student literacy and numeric competence. San Diego's math and reading scores climbed significantly, showing gains that outstripped those made elsewhere in California. The improvement in the scores of disadvantaged students was especially large report the authors of this careful, objective study. As successful as Bersin was, however, the story is ultimately discouraging. In 2005 he was pushed out of office after teacher unions led a drive against the reform-minded board members who had recruited him. Determinants of Student Achievement is technical, but the political tale surrounding the study has large implications.