My thanks to Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy for his support of our transition to the common core and to a new generation of assessments. Click here to read his Sacramento Bee letter to the editor.

The arts are always important to have in our classrooms! Like Create California on Facebook to learn about what we are doing to put more arts in our classrooms.

As a teacher, it's heartening to finally see new resources directed to California's schools after so many years of painful cuts. Californians want our schools back on solid financial ground, and Governor Brown's proposal represents another important step in the right direction.

Click here to read more of Tom's comments about the Governor's May Budget Revision.

Dreamers and their families contribute to California every day. Are you a student with an immigration story to tell? Join the film competition Short & Strong to share your experience and earn a chance to win prizes.

Dear Friend:

Today is election day, and if you haven't already voted by mail, I hope you will make sure to get out and vote today. (If you have a vote-by-mail ballot, you can't mail it, you must drop it off at a ballot box in your county if you want your vote to count.)

This is a vital election for our schools. Every vote is extremely important!

I have been traveling the state over the past three months talking about how our schools have continued to provide great programs despite over $20 billion in cuts. We are still helping our students prepare for college or career. But make no mistake, the fiscal emergency facing our schools continues to worsen -- and the prospect of more cuts is an outcome we must avoid.

That's why I am supporting on today's ballot three measures that could provide much-needed revenue for our schools. As a teacher, coach, and superintendent, I urge you to vote for Proposition 30, Proposition 38, and Proposition 39 to support public education.

Voting Yes for Education is the best strategy to ensure our schools receive resources they urgently need.

Props 30, 38, and 39 each provide revenue for our schools, but they work in different ways. The election, however, appears so close that I encourage you not to pick and choose.

I believe the best choice for supporters of our public schools is to vote Yes-Yes-Yes on 30, 38, and 39 for education and our students.

My other strong suggestion for today's election is for a No vote on Proposition 32. This is a misleading proposition. It's not a real campaign finance reform measure, and that's why I've joined leading newspapers across the state in urging a No vote on 32.

If you need help finding your local polling place, you can check your county's elections office web site (click here to see a list from the Secretary of State's office). Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Please vote Yes on 30, 38, and 39 and No on 32. I appreciate your support and look forward to continuing the progress we've made fighting for California's students.

Best regards,

Please join me on October 14 in Martinez for my 16th Annual BBQ and Chili Cook-Off!

This family-friendly event is one of my favorites each year! This event will feature a Healthy Chili Cook-off between local high school culinary arts programs. Help us demonstrate how making healthy choices can be easy choices! Entertainment will be provided by Vocal-ese & the Boogey Men.

Tickets are $50, with students/seniors invited for $25, and families for $75. Sponsorships are also available! You can click here to purchase your tickets on-line.

For additional information, or to RSVP, please contact Gloria Omania at 925-682-9998 or gloria@tomtorlakson.com. Click here to download an event flyer!

I am pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Secretary of State Debra Bowen to promote the 2012 MYVOTE California Student Mock Election.

Schools are encouraged to register for the mock election, which will be held on Tuesday, October 30. Please take a moment to register your school today, on the Student Mock Election page at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/studentmockelection.htm.

Schools that register by September 21 will receive printed ballots, posters, stickers and other materials by mail. Those that register later will print materials from the Student Mock Election website. There, you will also find a collection of standards-based lesson plans and activities designed to stir your students' interest in voting.

The California Department of Education today released information about the 2013 United States Senate Youth Program application procedures.

Each high school may nominate up to two juniors or seniors for the 51st annual competition. For more information about the application process, and how to meet the September 28, 2012, application deadline, please click here.

Nearly 95 percent of students from the Class of 2012 met the California High School Exit Examination graduation requirement.

When this many students are hitting the mark--despite the tremendous challenges we face and the work we still have to do--that's a sign an awful lot is going right in our public schools.

I congratulate the students who succeeded on this test, the teachers who provided invaluable instruction, and the parents who gave their support and encouragement. 

The Education Technology Task Force released his memorandum of recommendations today. I believe technology can be a powerful tool for preparing kids for the 21st century global economy.

Click here to learn more about the Education Technology Task Force. You can also download a pdf of the task force's memorandum by clicking here.

A statewide listening tour and more public participation opportunities will be announced soon.