RE: Question 1: Attracting and Retaining Teachers

As for college being too late to interest someone in a teaching career, that hasn't been the case for my daughters. One did a mission last summer with 3rd graders, and after spending years swearing she would never teach, she is hooked.  She passed the CBEST and is adding Spanish to her Russian language courses. I have to work hard to support her goals, when I see the mandates coming down from the state.  I don't want her passionate fire to burn out early. 

My other daughter plans to attend graduate school so she can eventually teach at the college level.  She, too, didn't think she would ever teach.  

Luckily for the kids of California, they will become wonderful, creative teachers. If they are allowed to, that is.