Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Expedited Recovery Act Funding for Schools : Thu, 17 Sep 2009 : California Newswire™

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Expedited Recovery Act Funding for Schools : Thu, 17 Sep 2009 : California Newswire™:

"SACRAMENTO /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced that $1.3 billion in expedited State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) will be available for California’s school districts, colleges and universities this year. In May, the U.S. Department of Education provided California $3.2 billion for the first phase of SFSF, 67 percent of California’s total $4.9 billion allocation, to help mitigate the effects of budget reductions to education"

Education debate takes divisive turn - Burlington, MA - Burlington Union

Education debate takes divisive turn - Burlington, MA - Burlington Union:

"“I view the readiness schools as a direct attack on teachers’ rights,” Ed Doherty, special assistant to the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, told members of the Education Committee, who moved in and out of the packed hearing as they were drawn to the House and Senate chambers for debate and votes on other issues.

Doherty said the Patrick administration’s proposals would strip teachers of collective bargaining rights and authorize “unprecedented state control” over schools, including the ability to replace staff and suspend policies. Doherty said the governor’s plans were “heavy-handed” and would stifle collaboration with teachers in education."

Robert Creamer: Time to Just Say No to Giant Corporate "Parasites" -- and Recognize Them for What They Are

Robert Creamer: Time to Just Say No to Giant Corporate "Parasites" -- and Recognize Them for What They Are:

"Sounds like a movie script. Giant parasites stalk the American landscape disguised as benign upstanding participants in the 'free market.'

The dictionary defines parasite as:

'An organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.'"

Feds drop charges against Hmong leader Vang Pao - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Feds drop charges against Hmong leader Vang Pao - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"The federal government has dropped its charges against Hmong leader Vang Pao, who was indicted along with 10 others more than two years ago for allegedly plotting the violent overthrow of the communist regime in Laos."

Teacher Beat: UPDATED: Unionized Boston Charter Will Decide New Pay Structure

Teacher Beat: UPDATED: Unionized Boston Charter Will Decide New Pay Structure:

"The details of the differential pay program will be hashed out during the 2009-10 school year by a committee of teachers and administrators formed to come up with the pay plan.

Teachers will get traditional raises that year, and the program will go into effect for the 2010-11 school year (though the contract will allow it to be tweaked after that).

The only stipulation in the contract about this pay program is that it can't be based on student test scores, said Thomas Gosnell, the president of AFT Massachusetts. Other measures of student performance would be allowable, he added."

Education Week: Not Too Adept at the Monkey Bars

Education Week: Not Too Adept at the Monkey Bars:

"Some children do well in such an environment. But many do not. School, to them, is little short of prison, with the days’ boredom interrupted periodically by criticism, disapproval, and reinforcement of failure. Three or four times a year, their inadequacy is recorded and released to parents and guardians, who then use those report cards to further demean them. Is it a wonder that so many young people dread school?"

Education Week: Early Education Issues Return to Spotlight

Education Week: Early Education Issues Return to Spotlight:

"“The poverty statistics, to me, highlight how enormous the needs are, the vulnerability of kids,” said Olivia Golden, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Urban Institute, who spoke at the conference, which brought together teams of state education, health, and human services officials. “And the states are mostly dealing with extremely difficult budgets.”"

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: California's Shattered Jewel

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: California's Shattered Jewel:

"I'm one of the millions whose life possibilities were greatly elevated by the California Master Plan for Higher Education, a masterpiece of forward-thinking public policy making established in 1960. Under the Master Plan, California dedicated itself to the availability of higher education for all of its citizens. In the nearly 50 years of its existence, California's research universities, state colleges and community colleges became the envy of the nation and the world."

Coaxing dropouts back in - The Boston Globe

Coaxing dropouts back in - The Boston Globe:

"Some get pregnant, become homeless, or end up in prison. Others prefer to get a job or just despise homework."

Students give many reasons for dropping out of high school.

Then there are those like Anthony Haskins Jr., who fall behind in their classes, stop showing up, and then months or years later can’t remember what it was exactly that made them quit.

“I didn’t have any reasons for it; I just stopped,’’ said Haskins, 17, who dropped out during his freshman year at Madison Park High School in Roxbury.

Previously, students such as Haskins - there were 2,036 of them last year in Boston - might have never heard from the school system again, with many of their names logged among the lost causes.

The Answer Sheet - The Same Story in D.C.

The Answer Sheet - The Same Story in D.C.:

"Here we go again: The D.C. school system starts the new year with high hopes, and in just a few weeks questions are raised about suspicious erasures on standardized test scores, and, now, there are budget problems that may force teacher layoffs.

Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee says the city’s financial troubles will force her to cut as much as $40 million in spending by the end of October.
My colleague Bill Turque also reported that Rhee said that she did not expect any disruptions to major academic programs or course offerings--but that some teachers will lose their jobs and some classes will get bigger."

Residents give MPS takeover plan an F at hearing - JSOnline

Residents give MPS takeover plan an F at hearing - JSOnline:

"After one hour, only one person among about 60 in attendance told the board it was a good idea. Many others lamented the city's unemployment, poverty and racial disparities.

'The mayor, who hasn't been able to solve the city's social problems, wants to take over the city's schools,' Milwaukee Area Technical College instructor Charlie Dee said.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett say a mayoral takeover is necessary to close the state's racial achievement gap and to compete for federal Race to the Top school funding."

SN&R > Columns > Bites > On the racks > 09.17.09

SN&R > Columns > Bites > On the racks > 09.17.09:

"What followed was two weeks of political theater that didn’t need to happen (see “Recuse me!” SN&R Bites, September 10, and various Snog posts). But maybe theater is exactly what Johnson was going for. There’s a certain nasty flourish to his politics. Attacking Teichert, or yanking Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy off of the powerful Law and Legislation Committee (because she didn’t tow the strong-mayor line), what he lacks in policy he makes up for in aggression. It can be exciting to watch, but it’s not exactly good government.

Bites asked mayoral spokesman Steve Maviglio, over and over and over again, what possible reason the mayor had for refusing to disclose this important information for two weeks. But Maviglio wouldn’t bite, instead placing all the blame on Teichert."

Sacramento Press / Committee supports current council/manager system

Sacramento Press / Committee supports current council/manager system:

"The city’s Charter Review Committee has released its draft recommendations on the “strong mayor” issue. It suggests that the city maintain its current council/manager form of government.

Read the committee’s draft recommendations here.

The committee’s draft recommends that the mayor should continue to serve as a voting member of the City Council. The mayor would not have the ability to veto the City Council’s decisions, according to the draft report. “The separation of an executive mayor tends to diminish the authority that is very clear in the City Council and the unified accountability in a parliamentary system (unified executive and legislative branches) is highly desirable,” the committee’s report states."

Hot topics show party's division - JSOnline

Hot topics show party's division - JSOnline:

"In the debate over mayoral takeover of MPS, so far, it's Gov. Jim Doyle and Mayor Tom Barrett against an array of Milwaukee political and community figures. Almost all of the people on both sides are Democrats.

Use of student performance data in evaluating teachers is almost sure to be a hot issue in the fall session of the Legislature. It's a good bet Doyle will be on one side and the teachers unions on the other. Again, all Democrats."

Report: Hispanic Achievement Gap Persists

Report: Hispanic Achievement Gap Persists:

"The 2009 Tomás Rivera Lecture, 'Hispanicity and Educational Inequality: Risks, Opportunities and the Nations' Future,' documents Hispanic demographics, growth trends, educational attainment and various road blocks leading to Hispanic underrepresentation in higher education. The report was authored by Marta Tienda, Ph.D., a professor of sociology at Princeton University, and reproduces the keynote address she delivered at the annual AAHHE conference in March 2009, in Texas.

'AAHHE is delighted that ETS's Policy Information Center decided to publish and distribute Professor Tienda's Tomás Rivera Lecture,' Loui Olivas, AAHHE president says. 'The data she has amassed must be understood by educators, administrators and policymakers if together we are going to address Hispanic educational attainment systematically.'"

click here for full report: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/11517906/Hispanicity-and-Educational-Inequality-Risks-Opportunities-and-the-Nations’-Future

Maplewood Patch - New Teacher Evaluations for 2009-2010

Maplewood Patch - New Teacher Evaluations for 2009-2010:

"The framework being adopted was developed by Charlotte Danielson, a Princeton-based educational consultant and former classroom teacher who created a schema for evaluations in four domains: planning and preparation; classroom environment, which includes discipline and organizing space; instruction; and professional responsibilities, which includes maintaining records and communicating with families. (Different rubrics have been developed for school nurses, guidance counselors, and other staff.)

Teachers will be evaluated on items in each domain on a scale from unsatisfactory to basic to proficient to distinguished—a high mark to reach."

NYC schools are overcrowded: City classrooms overflowing with students

NYC schools are overcrowded: City classrooms overflowing with students:

"More than 7,200 classes are over the limit set in the teachers union contract, the union says.

'In my science research class, there are some kids sitting behind the blackboard,' said Renzo Meza, a freshman at Forest Hills High School, which has 384 classes with more than the 34-student limit for high schools."

Teachers union head fails to sign participation agreement | Los Angeles Wave - Community News, Sports & Entertainment | Lynwood Press

Teachers union head fails to sign participation agreement Los Angeles Wave - Community News, Sports & Entertainment Lynwood Press:

"A handful of teachers have been challenging the results of the July 15 election. A majority of teachers who voted approved a 3 percent pay cut for the entire union, one furlough day and a change in their healthcare benefits.

The disgruntled teachers are angry because less than 400 of the nearly 900 members of the LTA cast ballots. They were on record as planning to file a duty of fair representation charge against their own union had Zolfaghari signed the contract agreement with South Counties Employer Employee Trust."

Living Cities` Distinguished Urban Fellows Release Two Key Papers Addressing Education Reform & Homeless in America | Reuters

Living Cities` Distinguished Urban Fellows Release Two Key Papers Addressing Education Reform & Homeless in America Reuters:

"In his paper, Peterson makes a strong case that the source of change in U.S. public education must be America`s mayors in partnership with philanthropists
and education entrepreneurs. He lauds the record of charter schools, plus the achievement of organizations such as Teach For America, which has brought
well-educated younger people eager to teach in today`s classrooms, especially in underachieving urban schools. The ultimate goal of entrepreneurs like Peterson
is to bring the innovation, urgency, flexibility and focus on educational outcomes that characterize charter schools and their allies to traditional
public schools."

The Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree

The Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree:

"“Long before it became fashionable to be concerned about the homeless, ACORN was fighting for homes for low- and moderate-income people. Noting that economic upheaval had forced many people to default on mortgages, ACORN sought to place needy people in the resulting vacant homes. This required the forceful and illegal (though logical and moral) seizing of the properties - squatting. …The squatting campaign required a personal commitment to move into a vacant, usually poorly kept house and refit it for comfortable living. It also involved the risk of arrest if local authorities refused them the legal occupation of the home.'"

MCAS success a moving target - Massachusetts Opinion Articles & News Blogs – MassLive.com

MCAS success a moving target - Massachusetts Opinion Articles & News Blogs – MassLive.com:

"Now for the bad news. Despite the improvement, the state appears to be losing ground as measured by the federal Adequate Yearly Progress report. According to the federal report released on Wednesday - the same day the MCAS scores were announced - 54 percent of Massachusetts schools failed to meet federal goals set by the No Child Left Behind law. That's an increase from 50 percent last year - one that has led some educators to ask whether the federal standard is too high."

PTA drive targets parental involvement - SignOnSanDiego.com

PTA drive targets parental involvement - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"SAN DIEGO — When the California PTA asked parents what one thing they would change about schools, the answer included a wish list of art and music education, additional books and an infusion of cash. All great suggestions. But none are as effective — or affordable — as parent involvement. So says the PTA in its new public service campaign, launched yesterday at Kearny High School in"

A Private University System of The Future? - The Daily Californian

A Private University System of The Future? - The Daily Californian:

"With foreseeable student fee hikes of 30 percent as well as a turn to out-of-state admissions and online courses to generate revenue-all on top of ill-timed raises for top-earning executives-the university is hardly recognizable as a non-profit educational system. Under UC President Mark Yudof's leadership, the university continues careening off-course, public in name only. Having overseen repeated tuition increases as University of Minnesota president, Yudof was surely hired to bring similar know-how to the university. Yet if California students are priced out of a UC education, what will Yudof's legacy be? On the one hand, Yudof protests he cannot redistribute funds to cover the shortfall in general academic needs. On the other, having gained unprecedented emergency powers from the UC Regents, a move befitting an imperial president, he wields discretionary control over the UC budget. In a system housing the likes of John Yoo, Yudof's contravention of the university's democratic principle of shared governance might come as little surprise. Outraged, even so, 96 percent of UC workers-staff, faculty, students-delivered a resounding vote of no confidence in his leadership last month."

Walkout: The Steps that Led Us to Here - The Daily Californian

Walkout: The Steps that Led Us to Here - The Daily Californian:

"Students have won seemingly impossible victories before. In the 1980s, we organized together to make UC Berkeley the first U.S. university to divest from South Africa. CalSERVE is a student political coalition that has a long history of challenging the administration's abuses and fighting for a public education for the students of California. We have fought against fee increases for years and have shown that students can win victories for an accessible education. However, the urgency of our current situation requires mobilizing students like never before."

The Big Fix: California reform means major change - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

The Big Fix: California reform means major change - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal::

"The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal asked Fred Silva, Chris Block, Russell Hancock, Carl Guardino and Jim Wunderman — all key players focused on state reform — to talk about the potential third rails that could booby trap their organizations’ efforts toward placing a number of initiatives on the November 2010 ballot. Toward the end of the roundtable discussion we asked each of the men to tell us what reform measures rise to the top of their wish list."

Getting Schooled: Chegg.com Offers Cheap, Green Textbook Rentals | Triple Pundit

Getting Schooled: Chegg.com Offers Cheap, Green Textbook Rentals Triple Pundit:

"Thousands of excited students headed off to college this fall and as any college student (and parent) knows, in addition to tuition there are many other associated costs of college. Entertainment expenses, parking permits, computers and new clothes all put a strain on the finances. Then, there is the nightmare that is finding and purchasing textbooks"

Natomas school district sues over land deal - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Natomas school district sues over land deal - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"'We would like to reclaim the $10.4 million we overpaid for the land and, with that, all of the expenses,' school board President Teri Burns said Thursday. 'That would be the base (we seek), and anything else the judge and jury find appropriate to make us whole.'"