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Ask a baseball fan how good his team's shortstop is, and he can point to more than two dozen statistics, from the number of double plays turned to how often the player strikes out with runners on base.

Ask about the performance of a public school in California, and you'll get one lonely number based solely on one set of end-of-the-year test results.

It was never meant to work this way. The state's school accountability system, adopted a dozen years ago, was supposed to adapt over time as needs changed and new tools developed. Call it one more piece of unfinished business in a state with a lot of work to do.

For students and schools, there are real consequences for allowing this system to limp forward unimproved.

First is what you might call testing tunnel vision. We ask too much of our current exams even while acknowledging they don't utilize the latest technology, cover all the subject matter students should master, or measure both academic knowledge and the real-world problem-solving skills students need.

No one would judge Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum's performance based on one inning. Why should parents and the public judge a school based on one set of tests?

But the even bigger problem is the important things we're ignoring while we focus exclusively on test results in limited subjects. Are students staying in school or dropping out? Are they ready to continue their education? Do they have the training and skills to start a career?

A test score alone won't answer those questions. In a difficult and rapidly changing economy, students and parents need those answers more than ever.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the majority of new jobs that will be created in the next decade will require at least two years of college. That will be especially true in California, where a great deal of future growth is likely to be concentrated in science and technology.

That means it will be just as important that students learn to think critically and solve complex problems as it is for them to fill in the right bubble on a multiple-choice test.

That makes it essential that California students leave schools not just with knowledge but also the know-how they need to succeed in college and the workplace - such as critical thinking skills, effective oral and communication skills, curiosity and imagination. They also need engaging courses connecting what they are learning in school to career paths that interest them. That's the relevance that keeps students on track to graduation, further education and productive lives.

So, how well are our schools doing in these critical areas?

No one knows. And we won't know with certainty until we bring our accountability system up to date.

Anecdotally, we know many students leave school unprepared to meet the demands of today's workplace. That's certainly true for the nearly 100,000 California middle and high school students who drop out each year. But even many graduates find themselves unprepared. More than half of first-year community college students and California State University students need remedial classes before they start college-level work.

We believe it's time to apply the lessons we've learned over the years to give students, teachers and parents a clearer, more complete picture of school performance. We've written Senate Bill 547 to take the first important steps in that direction.

Our proposal would connect the way we evaluate schools with a broader set of indicators that capture the skills and knowledge that make students successful for a lifetime. It requires the State Board of Education to implement a new accountability system - the Education Quality Index - that includes graduation and promotion rates, college preparedness and career readiness along with test scores in measuring school performance.

We do have something to show for 12 years of focusing solely on standardized tests in California - at least eight consecutive years of steadily improving test scores. That's quite an achievement in light of the deep cuts that have been made to school budgets in the last few years, and a testament to the dedication of teachers, parents, school employees and administrators.

Imagine what our students will achieve once we graduate from a system that amounts to academic batting practice and lets them swing for the fences in real life.

Every Californian who cares about education will want to take a close look at one of the statewide office elections on the November 2 general election ballot.

On that day, Californians will select a new State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Many believe this statewide office is the next most important one after Governor. Why? Because this non-partisan office is the top elected leader in education and head of the California Department of Education. The incumbent, Jack O’Connell, is termed out after eight years in office.

Assemblymember Tom Torlakson is running to succeed O’Connell as State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Torlakson’s journey has led him from the classrooms of Contra Costa County’s Mt. Diablo High School and Los Medanos Community College to the Antioch City Council, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, and the California State Senate and State Assembly.

“I’m running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction because I want to fight each day for our kids,” said Torlakson. “I want to take what I’ve learned as a science teacher, high school coach, and elected official and put that experience to work to restore our schools to the top ranks in the nation.”

“I believe in this time of crisis for our educational system that our education leader must use the platform a statewide office provides to highlight the problems—and their potential solutions. That’s why I have brought together the largest and most diverse group of supporters of any statewide candidate this year,” added Torlakson. “I know from my personal experience and direct conversations how important our educational system is to members of the API community—and how concerned its members are about the dramatic impact of the recent large funding cuts to our schools.”

Throughout his career in public office, Torlakson has demonstrated his support and friendship for the Asian Pacific Islander community. It’s not just his policy positions. You can see it in the people he trusts around him the most.

In 1981, when Tom was first elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, he hired Gloria Ramil Omania as his chief of staff. Omania was the first Filipina (and first minority) to serve in such a capacity in Contra Costa, a county in the East Bay region about 40 minutes east of San Francisco.

Omania continued with Torlakson when he was elected to the State Assembly in 1996, becoming the first Filipina to serve as chief of staff for a California State Legislator. Gloria has been working with Torlakson for over 29 years and is currently Tom’s campaign manager.

“Gloria has been a true leader, an inspiration, and my chief partner in my public service career since the day she began working in my office 29 years ago. She is my top trusted advisor and has helped to shape major policy issues impacting our community and California,” said Torlakson. “Gloria has helped so many people resolve problems they have had in the communities I’ve served. She is a great manager—extremely organized, hardworking, dedicated, and loyal.”

Earlier this year, Torlakson named Omania his 11th Assembly District “Woman of the Year” in recognition of all she has done and achieved for the people in Contra Costa County.

“Gloria is a highly respected leader of the Filipino-American community in Contra Costa and the East Bay. She has dedicated her time and talent to mentoring and promoting leadership in the Fil-Am community,” said Torlakson. “I was honored and pleased to have an opportunity to thank Gloria publicly, in front of my colleagues in the Legislature, for all she has done so far during our successful and active public service.”

Tom is married to Mae Cendaña Torlakson, a board member of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District. Cendaña Torlakson is the first Filipina elected to office in Contra Costa County. She is also seeking reelection to her position this November.

Mae and her husband are partners in education. She works as a program coordinator for University of California Office of the President for the MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) program. It is a job that connects well to Tom’s expressed priority to enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education in California schools.

Together, the three of them enjoy serving the community and participating in numerous local projects and events.

“Working with Tom, I have had the good fortune as an adult to have a position that allows me to empower others,” explained Omania, when she made a presentation on his behalf at a Filipino American Coalition event in September. “I just happened to luck out and find a good job, that became a better job, and grew into an incredible career because my boss is all about ‘creating opportunities.’”

As an Assemblyman for 6 years and State Senator for 8 years, Tom authored and supported legislation to recognize the valuable contributions of the API community. He has been steadfast in his support for the Filipino Veterans Equity Act to provide long overdue benefits to Filipino veterans. Tom has co-authored legislation to include the role of Filipino Americans in World War II in the high school social studies curriculum, as well as the resolution to declare October as Filipino Heritage Month.

“Improving public education has been my passion. As a teacher, it is a lifelong commitment,” Torlakson explained.

For more information on Torlakson’s campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, visit his web site at www.TomTorlakson.com or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Torlakson. You can learn more about Cendaña Torlakson’s reelection campaign at www.maeforparks.com.

Don't expect big, bold education reforms from the candidates running for superintendent of public instruction. Larry Aceves, a former district superintendent, and Tom Torlakson, a legislator, oppose President Barack Obama's "Race to the Top" initiative.

Both are against merit pay for teachers.

Both identify real problems in California's education system. The achievement gap and high school dropout rates top their lists. Both believe the state's school finance model is broken.

Torlakson's background as both a science teacher and a legislator gives him the edge in this race. Because of the relationships he has built in the Legislature and statewide, he could be an effective advocate in helping schools get the resources they need and deserve.

He would go to voters in 2012 for two measures:

• Allowing voters to raise local revenues for their public schools with a 55 percent majority vote.

• Raising funds to repair and modernize school facilities.

As a legislator, Torlakson was a key negotiator with former Senate Republican leader Jim Brulte in creating a framework and winning legislative votes for the Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities bond act of 1998. He believes the time is ripe for another school bond measure.

Torlakson has a passion for environmental education, hands-on training, literacy partnerships and making school facilities more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

There's no getting around the fact that Torlakson has been a reliable vote for the California Teachers Association in blocking key reforms, such as open enrollment. For that reason, many school reformers may choose to back Aceves. Yet Torlakson points to some areas in which he has bucked the teachers union – on requiring career education courses, creating the STAR standardized testing program, collapsing certain "categorical" funds to give local districts more flexibility in spending and extending the school day. He vows to act independently. If elected, we will hold him to that pledge.

As an experienced school administrator and Capitol outsider, Aceves could bring a fresh perspective to the superintendent's job. Unfortunately, in our meetings with Aceves, we didn't see him exhibit the kind of energy and vision that Torlakson offered.

This is a time when Democrats need to challenge their own party and union benefactors if they want to get California to the next stage of public school improvement. As a teacher, Torlakson is in a "Nixon goes to China" position to confront his allies about the teacher effectiveness issue, without coming off as a finger-pointer. Although teaching quality is just one of many hurdles California faces in improving public education, it is a serious one, and Torlakson will have to tackle it head-on if he is elected.

Los Angeles - At a cost of 34-million-dollars the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CalPADS), was designed to track over six million students in 1000 plus school districts.

CalPADS was supposed to be the biggest and best system for tracking student performance. The information collected from CalPADS was supposed to aid teachers, but at Gigi Graciette reports, so far it's CalPADS that's needed help.

Assemblyman Tom Torlakson and former School District Superintendent Larry Aceves are candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction. They both joined us live for a discussion on CalPADS.

Watch their discussion and Gigi Graciette's video report in the media player.

In a highly charged November election dominated by partisan politics, the nonpartisan office of state Superintendent of Public Instruction has drawn less attention than many other hotly contested races.

The race is important because the winner could help dig California schools out of their severe slump by spearheading new initiatives and leading the charge for reform. With continued state school funding cuts and California's failure to earn federal Race to the Top money, the public is looking for a leader who can restore quality education to local classrooms.

Voters will choose between two former teachers who both say they have the in-depth knowledge of schools and classrooms necessary to understand the nuances of education, as well as the ability to build consensus and get things done.

Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, turned to politics after his stint as a science teacher in the Mt. Diablo school district, working his way up from an Antioch city councilman to a Contra Costa County supervisor, to a state assemblyman and state senator. He has continued to teach part-time at Los Medanos College and will lecture Oct. 24 about state politics.

"I think I'm the one most suited to have the communication that was absent in the top-down push to have California in the Race to the Top," he said. "A lot of administrators, school board members and teachers were wary of the strings attached to the federal legislation. Ultimately, I find that teachers are anxious to have accountability with the right measuring tools and they're very big on using data."

Larry Aceves, a retired school superintendent, turned to school district administration in Southern California, Watsonville and San Jose after launching his career in education as a kindergarten teacher in San Diego County. With no political experience, he touts himself as the candidate who is steeped in education and is not beholden to the California Teachers Association, which has endorsed Torlakson.

"There has to be system accountability," he said. "Districts, what are you doing to get students ready (to graduate)?"

The pair finished neck-in-neck in the June primary, with Aceves getting 19.2 percent of votes compared to 18.6 percent for Torlakson, in a field of 12 candidates. This surprised many election observers, who were betting that state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, would likely end up duking it out with Torlakson in November.

"That was a shock," said Michael Kirst, professor emeritus of education and business administration at Stanford University. "The last holders of that office after Bill Honig have been legislators. Delaine Eastin was an assemblywoman, and Jack O'Connell had been in the Assembly. It will be very interesting to see whether somebody who's not a seasoned politician can do this."

Through Sept. 30, Aceves had raised $122,438 for his campaign, while Torlakson had raised $915,323 in contributions. Aceves has $39,348 in cash on hand, and Torlakson has $318,981.

With the public largely blaming the Legislature for the ongoing state budget crisis, Kirst said Torlakson's occupation listed on the ballot as a "teacher/legislator" could turn voters off. A Torlakson supporter challenged Aceves' designation as a "retired school superintendent" in a last-minute legal skirmish before the ballots were finalized, asserting that his post-retirement work as a consultant for a school superintendent search firm should be listed. A judge denied that petition.

The candidates agree on many issues, such as the need to bring more money to California schools and to provide the best education possible to every student. They urge better training for school employees; collaboration between teachers, administrators and higher education officials; and want to see more high-tech classes to prepare students for 21st-century jobs.

Aceves, however, wants the Legislature to grant the Superintendent of Public Instruction the authority to suspend provisions of union labor contracts that could "interfere with learning." This might help overcome gridlock and force reforms where unions are butting heads with administrators.

"It's so political now," Aceves said. "Sometimes, what sounds best for kids is not."

Torlakson opposes Aceves' plan to interfere with labor agreements, saying it's not workable. Instead, he said all parties should try to reach agreement about possible changes to the Education Code.

"The tradition is that teachers work with the school board," Torlakson said. "To usurp local authority in designing issues around student success seems to be micromanaging in a way that just wouldn't go anywhere."

To help voters better understand the candidates and their positions, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group is hosting a debate between the two Friday that will be streamed live online, rebroadcast on ABC-TV and local radio stations and covered by the Bay Area News Group.

"These candidates have a really hard time (getting their messages out), especially with Meg (Whitman) and Jerry (Brown) dominating the airwaves," said Carl Guardino, CEO and president of Silicon Valley Leadership Group. "For Silicon Valley, the innovation economy, education is the foundation of our success."