RE: Question 1: School to work

I believe that a primary goal of public education is to prepare students to become productive citizens.  Therefore, assuming that this is a primary goal for public education, it would be appropriate to measure students' success in making the transition from formal education to gainful employment as one indicator, among many, of our success in this area.  That being said, it is an extremely difficult area to assess and to ensure that an indicator in this area would meet the criteria of being fairly applied, feasible, and reasonable in costs.  It is very difficult to quantify data in this area.  In addition, it becomes problematic to simply obtain data in this area.  

Currently there is no student data system that allows longitudinal information to be collected and analyzed within California.  This situation could certainly be remedied, as other states do collect student information which accommodates disaggregation  of data in order to analyze results on a number of indices.  However, it becomes more problematic when an indicator would require data on individuals who are no longer  students.  The challenges are compounded, when the mobility of the population in California is considered.  It may also be difficult to agree on what a "successful transition" includes.  For example, would minimum wage earnings for a college graduate with a degree in engineering, being employed in the fast food industry, constitute  "success."  

For these reasons, I would reluctant to automatically concur that students' successful transition into the world of work can be appropriately included in California's accountability system.