At one time, California was at the forefront of education reform and topped the nation in student academic performance. This is no longer the case; the world’s seventh largest economy now brings up the rear in both categories.   To boost student achievement in California – and across the nation -- President Barack Obama is proposing legislation that will grant states $4.35 billion dollars. That’s the largest amount of federal discretionary education stimulus in the history of our nation.   Some 46 of the 50 states are eligible to receive funding based on rigorous standards, strong data systems linking student and teacher performance, performance and merit pay, and intervention for failin