SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement regarding the appointment of Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) as the next chair of the Assembly Education Committee:

"I would like to congratulate Assemblymember Brownley on her appointment to chair the Assembly Education Committee. Since her election to the State Assembly in 2006, she has provided invaluable leadership on education issues as the chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. I appreciate her support to improve California's education data system and to expand high-quality preschool options for the children in our state. Both of these are important elements in our ongoing work to close the achievement gap.

"I applaud Assembly Speaker Karen Bass' selection of Assemblymember Brownley to this important position, and I look forward to working with both Speaker Bass and Assemblymember Brownley to close the achievement gap and improve student achievement in California schools."