Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com:

"Over the 12-year span, the report found 99 studies in which there were quantitative comparisons of online and classroom performance for the same courses."

Michelle Rhee - O Power List - Oprah.com

Michelle Rhee - O Power List - Oprah.com:

"In the two years since she took over the ailing Washington, D.C., school system, Rhee has made some very unpopular moves—she fired her own children's principal, closed underperforming schools, and quickly became known for her take-no-prisoners management style"

Clueless: The Dept. of Education Fails Again

Dennis Danziger: Clueless: The Dept. of Education Fails Again

I'm a public high school teacher, and when I voted for Barack Obama I thought I was voting for change. Turns out, as far as education goes, I voted for Bush Lite.

Proposal would make more aid available to Bay Area students - ContraCostaTimes.com

Proposal would make more aid available to Bay Area students - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"California students should receive more federal aid than those in Wyoming and other low-cost parts of the country, said Steve Dixon, president of the California State Student Association.
'I think it's a great idea,' said Dixon, a senior at Humboldt State University. 'It costs a lot more to live in California.'"

Duncan stresses importance of parental involvement

St. Maarten-St. Martin - Duncan stresses importance of parental involvement

EBENEZER--The importance of parental involvement in the education of children was one of the main messages stressed to St. Maarten Academy Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) students and a batch of about 75 parents who turned up with their children on the first day of school on Tuesday.

About 160 new students began the new academic year yesterday, about 20 per cent of whom are estimated to be undocumented. The school has always had the policy of accepting students irrespective of their legal status once space was available, Principal Solange Duncan said.

Only first Formers began school on Monday. Second Formers will start today, Wednesday.

Duncan said the school could not mould students into well rounded persons without the full involvement and support of parents. Parents had been asked to attend yesterday’s opening ceremony, but only about 75 parents from the batch of 160 new students turned out. “We were a bit disappointed about that,” Duncan said.

“We expect the cooperation of parents and we expect them to be very involved in their children’s education. We want to have an open door policy, where parents can come in anytime to check on their children’s progress. They don’t have to wait until there is a report card to check on their children’s progress.”

Inside City Hall: Twitter, Graswich, cars on K Street - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Inside City Hall: Twitter, Graswich, cars on K Street - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:


"That's because among the 2,454 Twitter users whom the mayor was following as of Tuesday morning was a local escort service using the handle 'sacramntoescort.' The account was among the first several hundred that Johnson followed."

FOX40 NEWS - Heather Fargo Sounds Off

Heather Fargo Sounds Off

http://www.fox40.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=31a11a38-c3fb-4ab5-96d0-1ab8a3225d45&src=front

Education Week: Studies Weigh NCLB's Broad Impact

Education Week: Studies Weigh NCLB's Broad Impact:

"State-level implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act has changed how education is delivered and to whom, researchers have found. Still, they say, it’s difficult in some cases to measure which changes can be attributed solely to the law."

Education Week: Heavy Lifting Ahead for 'Race to Top' Applications

Education Week: Heavy Lifting Ahead for 'Race to Top' Applications:

"Merely filling out the award application will take each state 642 hours, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which included that estimate in its 35-page draft guidelines for the Race to the Top competition, published late last month in the Federal Register."

The cost of flaws in Phila. schools' expulsion policy | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/19/2009

The cost of flaws in Phila. schools' expulsion policy Philadelphia Inquirer 08/19/2009:

"Sheila Simmons, education director of the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Public Citizens for Children and Youth, said processing 75 expulsions at once raises a red flag, and the cost of a move toward zero tolerance has been too high."

Canadian Simon Fraser University introduces grade worse than F to address cheaters

Canadian Simon Fraser University introduces grade worse than F to address cheaters:

"Canadian Simon Fraser University introduces grade worse than F to address cheaters
F is the universal mark of failure, whether by cheating or by not studying or both.
However one university in Canada is trying to change that.
Simon Fraser University in Burnaby has introduced a grade known as ‘FD’ or “failure with academic"

Fewer male teachers are in K-12 classrooms in Illinois -- chicagotribune.com

Fewer male teachers are in K-12 classrooms in Illinois -- chicagotribune.com:

"'You're talking about something that has had a devastating impact on the academic success of young black men in their formative years,' said Phillip Jackson, president of the Black Star Project, a Chicago-based organization that promotes children's education. 'Unfortunately, the males that become important in the lives of so many African-American and Latino boys are the gang leaders, the drug dealers, the hustlers -- and if that's all they see, that's what they'll become.'"

Gates Foundation offers Memphis City Schools chance at millions to help teachers : Local News : Memphis Commercial Appeal

Gates Foundation offers Memphis City Schools chance at millions to help teachers : Local News : Memphis Commercial Appeal:

"The proposal includes strategies to support teachers, including more effective evaluations and encouragement to move into the highest echelons of the profession, where Cash says annual pay will range from $75,000 to $100,000."

Big lag in test scores for blacks, Hispanics

Big lag in test scores for blacks, Hispanics:

"State Superintendent Jack O'Connell called the gap a civil rights issue that cannot be blamed on economics alone."

Teachers union warns members of changes district seeks | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/19/2009

Teachers union warns members of changes district seeks Philadelphia Inquirer 08/19/2009:

"Among the proposals on the list sent to PFT members: increasing the teacher workday by 41 minutes, and by one hour 10 days a year; tying teacher pay to student test scores; eliminating all traditional teacher transfer rights; and cutting extra pay for teachers who teach a sixth class daily.
Teachers would be required to arrive 10 minutes before students do, and stay 10 minutes later. Middle school teachers would have less prep time, and the administration would get to direct all teachers' prep time for part of the week.
The district also wants to bring big changes to the 95 lowest-performing schools, with principals setting the 'terms and benefits' for teachers."

Low-income Kids Report First Sexual Intercourse At 12 Years Of Age In New National Study

Low-income Kids Report First Sexual Intercourse At 12 Years Of Age In New National Study:

"It analyzes data from the 'Welfare, Children and Families: A Three-City Study' -- a six-year longitudinal investigation of low-income families living in Boston, Chicago and San Antonio. Their paper, titled 'A biological analysis of risk and protective factors associated with early sexual intercourse of young adolescents,'"

Sacramento Press / Wells Fargo and Maloof Sports and Entertainment Donate Sixth Youth Center to the Sacramento Community

Sacramento Press / Wells Fargo and Maloof Sports and Entertainment Donate Sixth Youth Center to the Sacramento Community:

"On Tuesday, August 18th the Sacramento Monarchs, along with volunteers from Wells Fargo/Maloof Sports and Entertainment and world renowned local artist, David Garibaldi presented the Do It Yourself (DIY) Teen Center to the River Oak Center for Children."

Gates Foundation seeks education's magic pill - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Gates Foundation seeks education's magic pill - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Ever since Americans sent their children to one-room schoolhouses, parents have known what makes a good school: an inspiring, organized, creative teacher."

Season on the road to put Titans on path to new stadium - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports | Sacramento Bee

Season on the road to put Titans on path to new stadium - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports Sacramento Bee:

"'We're going to go from having one of the worst facilities in Sacramento to one of the best,' said Heffernan, whose team likely will begin playing in the stadium next season. 'It's going to be really good for our kids and our community.'"

Lisa Kaplan (Candidate, Sacramento City Council) - Google Profile

Lisa Kaplan (Candidate, Sacramento City Council) - Google Profile:

for Sacramento City Council, District 1

"She currently serves as an elected trustee to the Natomas Unified School District in Sacramento. As a school board member for the past 6 years, Lisa institutes systems and processes to ensure accountability to the community, including fiscal, programmatic, staff, student testing, and collective bargaining for the school district. As a result of her years on the school board, she has provided leadership for strategic planning, as it pertains to both policy decisions and special projects with a solid understanding of community, public relations and crisis management. Lisa continues to maintain professional relationships with the state’s policy makers and regulatory agencies at the local and state level."