California Department of Education new website "closing the achievement gap"

If you like educationese and blather, this web site is for you. As for me, maybe I am tired at the moment but as I read it the words swam and I seemed to be reading lots and lots of words saying very little. Perhaps later I will see the gold hiding in this website.

Here is the URL:
http://www.closingtheachievementgap.org/cs/ctag/print/htdocs/home.htm

Here are some excerpts from the website:

This Web site is part of the statewide initiative to close the achievement gap. Aimed at supporting the work of policymakers, educators, and interested community members, it is the electronic hub for helpful information, research, and success stories about efforts to close the gap in California. The California Department of Education, its P-16 Council, and WestEd are partnering on this initiative with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Here is another one:

A MESSAGE FROM THE
CALIFORNIA P-16 COUNCIL
Barry Munitz, Ph.D., Chair

A year ago, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell directed his P-16 Council to undertake a most complicated and crucial responsibility for the benefi t of all California public school students and their families. The assemblage of education, business, and community leaders was asked to examine strategies for closing the achievement gap in California, and instructed to pay particular attention to socioeconomic and ethnic gaps that are so damaging and painful for all concerned.

All agreed it was to be a task of extraordinary complexity, especially the daunting challenge of reaching consensus — indeed unanimity — on a series of core recommendations. Having the members of this council, who have worked with and for every possible constituency in the educational and socioeconomic system, reach complete agreement on the underlying assumptions related to this topic, as well as the key strategies for addressing its resolution, speaks emphatically to the insight, the experience, and the courage of its membership.

The Council acknowledged the ongoing work of those throughout the country who are also addressing this issue — from their underlying research to their practical innovations — and has leaned upon and learned from them wherever relevant for California. Members had considerable respect for the work undertaken by the Governor’s Committee on Educational Excellence and look forward to a continuing alliance with the Governor. While California appears to be entering another period of serious fi nancial stringency, the report notes carefully that not all of the council recommendations require new money, many of them could be realized with reallocation, and some are not based upon financial issues.

We have been privileged to serve Jack O’Connell in this capacity. Superintendent O’Connell has shown both courage and leadership in taking on the critical issue of closing California’s pernicious achievement gap, and we as a council stand ready to assist and advise him and his superb staff in every way possible to continue this crucial work.

It is the goal and obligation of all involved to accomplish as much as possible, as rapidly as possible.

With continued focus and commitment, this problem, which is currently eroding the vital fabric of our social system, will be actively addressed and ultimately resolved.

Sincerely,
Barry Munitz
Chair, California P-16 Council
Trustee Professor, California State University, Los Angeles