{"id":135272,"date":"2023-10-12T00:05:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T04:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=135272"},"modified":"2023-10-11T13:41:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T17:41:17","slug":"stanford-scholars-can-testify-on-lockdown-learning-loss-after-california-drops-gag-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/stanford-scholars-can-testify-on-lockdown-learning-loss-after-california-drops-gag-order\/","title":{"rendered":"Stanford scholars can testify on lockdown learning loss after California drops gag order"},"content":{"rendered":"

California’s governor has criticized Governor Ron DeSantis for limiting faculty speech<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Stanford University academics can now testify in a November trial<\/a> relating to COVID remote learning loss, particularly for racial minorities and low-income families, after California officials dropped their sanctions.<\/p>\n

The California Department of Education originally told<\/a> Professor Thomas Dee that his planned testimony would be a breach of his contract as it related to data sharing and access to a state system. Professor Sean Reardon was also going to testify but the CDE threatened him with a similar breach of contract charge and withdrew his testimony.<\/p>\n

However, the state has since dropped its efforts. \u201cThe reason they pulled back wasn\u2019t that they suddenly read the First Amendment,\u201d attorney Mark Rosenbaum told the media. He is representing plaintiffs in the learning loss lawsuit, called Cayla J. v. California<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s because they knew they were gonna lose,\u201d Rosenbaum said.<\/p>\n

The state had \u201cthreatened to fine Thomas Dee, a prominent education researcher, up to $50,000 and to seek other sanctions against him,\u201d according to media reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The California Department of Education has not responded to two College Fix<\/em> inquiries in the past week that asked if Governor Gavin Newsom\u2019s office had intervened one way or another on the case and if there would be any long-term changes to data sharing contracts to ensure academic freedom is protected.<\/p>\n

The College Fix<\/em> reached out to Professor Reardon and Professor Dee prior to the block being lifted, for further comment on their research and the language in their contracts. Neither responded to the inquiries.<\/p>\n

According to a judicial summary<\/a> of Dee\u2019s research, the professor found a \u201c\u2018dramatic\u2019 decline in enrollment following the pandemic, which cannot be explained through traditional factors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The court wrote that the declines found by Dee were \u201cparticularly large\u201d for certain groups, including \u201cvulnerable students (i.e., homeless, socioeconomically disadvantaged) and among certain racial-ethnic groups (i.e., African-American, American Indian\/Alaskan Native, White).\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE:<\/strong> Stanford docs justify abortion because some kids will have problems<\/a><\/p>\n

One reason, as detailed in the findings, is 800,000 to 1 million students may have lacked the ability to access remote learning, due to obstacles such as quality Internet or a laptop to use. The state, according to the lawsuit, did not provide the funds to address these obstacles.<\/p>\n

Professor Reardon \u201cwould have been asked to testify about the Education Recovery Scorecard<\/a>, the learning loss research that he co-authored,\u201d according to EdSource<\/em>. \u201cIt too relies on publicly available data from California and 39 other states, and, Reardon said, does not use any data provided to the [Learning Partnership Institute for its research project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Governor Gavin Newsom’s office has not responded to a media request for comment on the case. Prior to the end of the gag orders,\u00a0The Fix<\/em> asked if he planned to intervene in the case and how these restrictions related to the criticism he has levied against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his efforts to place limits<\/a> on certain race and sexuality teaching in the classroom.<\/p>\n

In April, Newsom visited<\/a> the New College of Florida, where Gov. DeSantis has appointed conservative trustees in a bid to reshape<\/a> the classical liberal arts school into a top-notch institution.<\/p>\n

\u201cBooks are banned. Speech is limited. Faculty are scared. Students are bullied,\u201d he wrote on X at the time. \u201cThis is just a small dose of what’s to come,\u201d he wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have plenty of challenges in the state and I own every single one of them,\u201d Newsom said during his visit, as reported<\/a> by the Tampa Bay Times<\/em>. \u201cThe last guy \u2014 truly the last guy \u2014 I\u2019m interested in the lecture from is Ron DeSantis when it comes to foundational principles that he claims to champion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

We\u2019re about to celebrate Independence Day — but Freedom is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida.<\/p>\n

Banning books.
\nRestricting speech.
\nMaking it harder to vote.
\nCriminalizing women and doctors.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to stand up. Don\u2019t let them take your freedom. pic.twitter.com\/cFI5UzgZzX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 3, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n