BILL NUMBER:  AB 400
  VETOED	DATE: 10/14/2007




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 400 without my signature.

While I agree with the author that what the state measures in its accountability system
sends a powerful message to schools and to the public about the outcomes we value, this
bill still needs refinement. I respect the intention to provide schools the incentive to
expand access to A-G college admission required courses, and expand course offering in
Career Technical Education program. I am open to opportunities to accomplish that goal.
However, I must maintain that the Academic Performance Index (API) should continue
to be based on objective, reliable, valid and consistent statistical measurements.

Currently, a school�s API is based solely on its students� performance on academic
achievement tests. This bill, however, would require that, by no later than June 30, 2014,
the weight given such tests be reduced to 50 percent with the remaining 50 percent based
on high school graduation rates, the percentage of students fulfilling the requirements for
admission to public postsecondary institutions, and the percentage of students who
graduate prepared for entry-level employment in business or industry.

For these reasons, at this time I am unable to sign this measure.


Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger