Gary K. Hart

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Gary K. Hart served in the California State Legislature for 20 years and chaired the Senate Education Committee from 1983 until his retirement in 1994. His Senate district included portions of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. A former high school teacher and a Democrat, Hart authored a wide range of legislation on education topics, including performance-based student testing, school restructuring, charter schools, and latch key child care programs. He was voted most ethical California legislator by his peers and as such appeared on the cover of California Journal.

After his retirement from the Legislature, he founded the California State University Institute for Education Reform, located on the CSU Sacramento campus. The Institute promotes education reform efforts aimed at improving pupil academic achievement. Hart also served as the California Secretary for Education for Governor Gray Davis from January 1999 through March 2000. His principal responsibility as Secretary for Education was helping craft and pass the Governor's 1999 education reform program. Most recently, he has created and taught in the Program in America and California Explorations (PACE), an innovative core humanities initiative at Kennedy High School in Sacramento.

Mr. Hart earned a B.A. degree in history from Stanford University and an M.A. in education from Harvard University.

Political offices
Preceded by John Briggs	California State Assemblyman, 35th District 1974-1982	Succeeded by Jack O'Connell