Michael Kirst Retires as President of the California State Board of Education

Michael Kirst retired from his position as President of the State Board of Education last week. During the 1970s and early 80s, Kirst served as an Advisor to the then-Governor of California, Jerry Brown, and as a Member and then President of the California State Board of Education. After Brown became Governor again in 2011, he again appointed Kirst as President of the State Board of Education for another two terms. During those eight years, Kirst and Brown worked together to reshape K-12 education in California, including, but not limited to the implementation of new academic standards and assessments in math and English/Language Arts and the adoption of new science standards. Kirst was also instrumental to the implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula, developed in 2013 to create an equity-based system directing more money to low-income students, foster youth, and English learners. In an interview with Ed Source, Kirst talks about issues around school funding, agency for children, the new statewide system of support, and the importance of training local educators to implement the newer, more rigorous academic standards. A condensed transcript of the interview can be found here.