JOSE DE LA ISLA: The Hoover or Roosevelt of education » Standard-Times

JOSE DE LA ISLA: The Hoover or Roosevelt of education » Standard-Times:

"This is no small question. Marc Tucker, in the same publication, points out that the United States has one of the highest-cost, lowest-performing education systems in the industrial world. He focuses on better teachers being put in charge, in a similar way that doctors run hospitals. He champions a new system that is, mercifully, not called “reform” but “redesign.”
The old matrix of looking at how much money is to be spent is a deceptive measure because we allocate twice as much to secondary education.

Measuring high school graduates, we slide to 18th among the 36 industrialized nations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. But why expect anything different when our public education was intended for an industrial society that is passing from the scene? Tucker calls it a “dysfunctional design.”

Many Latino advocacy groups and individuals have been either on the wrong side of this debate or they are not up to speed with cutting-edge thinking. This matters because they will soon be invited to the policy casino and asked to turn their nearly 70 percent vote for Obama into chips to play administration poker."

Mogul: How public education changed - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News

Mogul: How public education changed - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News:

"Forty years ago this month, the Task Force on Children out of School held its first meeting to investigate the on-the-street evidence of many children not attending the Boston Public Schools. The Task Force was a citizen-driven body, led by Hubie Jones (then executive director of the Roxbury Multi-Service Center) but it also had the blessing and participation of key city and state officials.

One year later, on Oct. 14, 1970, headlines blared throughout the city of a newly uncovered scandal. Ten thousand or more children were either being systematically excluded from Boston's public education system or warehoused in classrooms or schools that provided inferior or custodial care. The bulk of these children were Spanish-speaking, mainly from Puerto Rico. Thousands were misclassified as mentally retarded. Others had behavior problems too difficult to handle or had been branded as 'unteachable' because of their physical handicaps or other disabilities. Some were girls who had been barred from school simply because they had become pregnant."

Suozzi wants control of schools, wins criticism

Suozzi wants control of schools, wins criticism:

"A proposal by Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi for the executive to control school districts was dismissed out of hand by superintendents and local politicians Saturday.

In an op-ed piece in Newsday Sunday, Suozzi argues Tuesday's election convinced him that the county executive should be in charge of public schools.

Democrat Suozzi, whose re-election race against Republican Edward Mangano will be decided by more than 6,000 absentee ballots, said he believes voters blame him for Nassau's high property taxes even though schools account for 65 percent of their bill.

He suggests using Mayor Michael Bloomberg's takeover of the New York City school system in 2002 as a model for Nassau to achieve savings, though he acknowledges the move needs state approval. 'I'm sure this will be the beginning of a long debate,' Suozzi said Saturday. 'I encourage others to present additional ideas on how to address our property tax problem.'"

A year after election, Obama focuses on schools - Political Intelligence - A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe - Boston.com

A year after election, Obama focuses on schools - Political Intelligence - A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe - Boston.com:

"Speaking one year to the day he was elected, President Obama this afternoon used the anniversary to call for 'a national mission' to improve public education and build it into a pillar -- along with an overhauled health care system and clean energy jobs -- of the new economy.

'One year ago, Americans all across this country went to the polls and cast ballots for the future they wanted to see. Election Day was a day of hope, it was a day of possibility, but it was also a sobering one because we knew even then that we faced an array of challenges that would test us as a country. We had a financial crisis that threatened to plunge our economy into a Great Depression, the worst we had seen in generations. We had record deficits, two wars, frayed alliances around the world,' Obama said at Wright Middle School in Madison, Wisc."

An immediate impact, a lifelong example | Delawareonline.com | The News Journal

An immediate impact, a lifelong example Delawareonline.com The News Journal:

"WILMINGTON -- Nine-year-old Abdullah Brown, wearing his Bancroft Elementary uniform, was munching on fries and chicken nuggets at McDonald's recently when two teenage boys in sagging pants and T-shirts slid into a nearby booth."

They recognized Abdullah from the neighborhood.

"Where's your father?" one of the teenagers said to the boy, taunting him.

"I don't know, in jail," Abdullah said, staring down at his chicken nuggets. His father has been in and out of prison most of Abdullah's life.

As Abdullah tried to disappear into the seat, an arm slid around his shoulder, bringing a slight smile to his face.

The teens, failing to get a rise out of Abdullah, stood up and left the restaurant.

It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to Abdullah.

The arm did not belong to a relative or a neighbor, but to Maurice Pritchett, a retired educator who has been making a difference with Wilmington youth for 40 years, first as a teacher, then as the 30-year principal at Bancroft, where he now mentors Abdullah.

"I want him to know that just because his dad is in jail doesn't mean that he doesn't have anyone," Pritchett said later. "He has me."

Pritchett, 67, grew up on the city's east side without a father. When he wasn't in school, he spent his time playing basketball at the Walnut Street YMCA. As an adolescent, he had attitude problems.

South Bend Tribune: No Parent Left Behind: Federal money expanding efforts in South Bend schools

South Bend Tribune: No Parent Left Behind: Federal money expanding efforts in South Bend schools:

"It's part of a two-year effort at the South Bend Community School Corp. to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of students who fall behind: How do you get their parents more involved?

Henson is paid with federal stimulus money in the district's new Helping Hands program, which this fall began hiring parents of struggling students in various jobs at 11 of its Title I schools, which contain large numbers of poor kids. For $10 an hour, parents help up to 20 hours a week in the cafeteria, at recess, in the classroom, whatever is needed.

'By osmosis, they will learn how the school works,' says James Husband, program coordinator.

Deeper lessons, though, come from a partner program that's also fueled by stimulus money, Parent University, where parents at the same schools learn to help their children learn.

'We believe parents care; they just don't know how to help,' says Husband, who'd served as assistant principal at Jefferson and Marshall intermediate centers."

West Seattle Blog… » Drawing a line: West Seattle parents air school-boundary concerns

West Seattle Blog… » Drawing a line: West Seattle parents air school-boundary concerns:

"“You’re taking something that’s actually working and breaking it.”

That critique of the latest proposed Seattle Public Schools attendance-area maps came from one of the two dozen-plus people who attended School Board rep Steve Sundquist’s community meeting Saturday afternoon at High Point Library.

Sundquist has this type of meeting monthly, as do other members, with no agenda except Q/A with whomever shows up, but he’s made them more frequent as the board approaches a scheduled vote on the attendance maps (and in fact his next one is just hours before that vote).

Several in the room Saturday afternoon wanted to discuss the concern reported here Friday night - the observation that the newest revision to the West Seattle attendance-areas map seems to draw a sharp line largely following West Seattle’s north-south economic divide, with the feeder-school list for Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth High School dominated by those with more students from lower-income families, while the feeder-school list for Madison Middle School and West Seattle High School is dominated by those with more students from higher-income families."

Budget proposals an easier sell than constitutional convention? - ContraCostaTimes.com

Budget proposals an easier sell than constitutional convention? - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"SACRAMENTO — Bob Hertzberg, the former state Assembly speaker who now co-chairs the government-reform coalition California Forward, says he is convinced he has a pair of ballot measures on reform that voters can get behind.

And government fixes would happen at least a year sooner than anything that comes out of a proposed constitutional convention, he said.

A pair of ballot measures — being pushed by the Bay Area Council — would create a constitutional convention, but even if it's successful, it wouldn't be until 2012 that changes would begin to take effect.

'I have a lot of respect for what they're doing — I see the energy they're creating,' said Hertzberg from his Los Angeles law office. 'But I'm concerned about the speed of the market.'"

Parents call on state to revoke charter - The Boston Globe

Parents call on state to revoke charter - The Boston Globe:

"GLOUCESTER - Angry parents staged a boisterous protest in front of City Hall, where the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held a special meeting yesterday to discuss its approval of a new charter school during which a top education official apologized for sending an e-mail last February that ignited controversy."

Children chanted “CSO Said No Go,’’ a call to the state’s Charter School Office not to recommend approval of the new Gloucester Community Arts Charter School, a recommendation that was disregarded by the board that approved it last winter.

Parents held signs that read, “Do The Right Thing Revoke,’’ and “Charter Group Tells Tall Tales,’’ in a spirited protest that prompted state Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester to briefly address the crowd of about 30 people, who believe the charter approval process was politically motivated.

“All I can tell you is that for me . . . my calculus was based on one thing, the merits of the application,’’ Chester said, speaking calmly surrounded by protesters.


The meeting was scheduled to review the process the board used to approve the charter for the school, which proponents said is needed to provide an alternative form of public education for Gloucester families. The elementary school would provide an arts-based curriculum and would be located downtown, where many of the city’s economically disadvantaged students live.

“Gloucester suffers, just as much as other [communities] with an achievement gap,’’ said Amy Ballin, a charter school organizer. ’’ A significant population of our children is being underserved.’’

The gathering also provided a forum for state Education Secretary Paul Reveille to address the contents of an e-mail he sent Feb. 5 to Chester, which opponents say shows the charter was approved to further Governor Deval Patrick’s education reform agenda, rather than for sound education reasons. Patrick has since twice called on the board to review its decision.
During the meeting, Reveille apologized to anyone in Gloucester who may have been offended by the e-mail.

School sabotage | detnews.com | The Detroit News

School sabotage detnews.com The Detroit News:

"With Michigan schools facing an enormous funding gap, the Michigan Education Association is attempting to sabotage an effort that could bring in more than $600 million in federal education money.

State policymakers are working to put together one of the essential pieces of legislation required to win federal 'Race to the Top' grant money. President Barack Obama is using the money to give states an incentive to enact long-overdue education reforms.

Next month state school Superintendent Mike Flanagan must turn in the application for the competition, now being watched by U.S. foundations for signals about which states are serious about education reform and merit even more funding."

Haley: Denver's school board needs to lead - The Denver Post

Haley: Denver's school board needs to lead - The Denver Post:

"Was that giant sucking sound you heard last week Denver voters flushing half a billion dollars down the toilet?

By handing control of Denver's school board to candidates backed by the teachers union, voters may have unwittingly ended Colorado's bid for Race to the Top money.
But more importantly, did they also upend the district's promising reform efforts?

The easy answer is yes. But the easy answer isn't always the correct one. No one knows for sure what direction the new Denver Public Schools board will take."

Virginia poses challenges for charter school advocates - washingtonpost.com

Virginia poses challenges for charter school advocates - washingtonpost.com:

"Tuesday's elections in Virginia swept a staunch supporter of charter schools into the governor's mansion, raising hopes for advocates in a state that has been skeptical of the publicly funded, privately run alternatives to regular public schools.

But despite Republican victories in the governor's race and some key legislative contests, significant hurdles stand in the way of any quick moves to ease approval of charter schools, education activists say."

Parental involvement still the best teacher of all | Delawareonline.com | The News Journal

Parental involvement still the best teacher of all Delawareonline.com The News Journal:

"Budget-strapped lawmakers and educators say increasing parental involvement is the best way to improve Delaware public schools."

Rep. Darryl Scott, D-Dover, wants to give working parents up to 16 hours of unpaid leave each school year so they can participate in parent-teacher conferences, volunteer in their child's school and attend after-school activities.

"More and more families have both parents working, and they aren't able to get away from work to attend school conferences and be directly involved in their kids' education," said Scott, who served on the Capital School Board from 2005 to 2008.

Longtime educator Maurice Pritchett hopes the bill will become law.

"Increasing parent involvement is a critical component to improving inner-city public schools," said Pritchett, who was the 30-year principal at Christina's Bancroft Elementary before taking a district community engagement post in 2005. He retired last year. "They're more inclined to look in their child's backpack and check to see what they have for homework or help them prepare for a quiz or test."

Fresh hope for city kids | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

Fresh hope for city kids APP.com Asbury Park Press:

"We were delighted, though hardly surprised, by Gov.-elect Chris Christie's pledge during an appearance in Newark the day after his election victory that improving urban education would rank behind only reducing taxes and government spending as a priority."

During his most recent editorial board appearance at the Press, there was no topic he spoke more passionately about than providing children in the state's cities with a chance to succeed. As a former prosecutor, he fully understands the social and economic consequences of a failed educational system.

Unlike Gov. Jon Corzine and the New Jersey Education Association, who have insisted that schools in New Jersey and its cities are the envy of the nation, Christie argues improvements in test scores in urban districts aren't coming fast enough, and certainly not commensurate with the billions of dollars that have been poured into city schools — a view shared by growing numbers of community leaders and parents in Newark, Camden and elsewhere.

Christie, like President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, wants to expand the number of charter schools.

Native American students seek recognition and test-score reporting - Vallejo Times Herald

Native American students seek recognition and test-score reporting - Vallejo Times Herald:

"Reports about Native American students' test scores, good or bad, typically include no mention of their performance, said Melissa Mendoza, parent advisory chairwoman for the Vallejo school district's Native American Studies Program.

Schools can be light on their history but heavy with what some consider offensive representations of her people, she said.
Vallejo's Native American students, parents and families need more, Mendoza said.

'This is a culture that has donated so much to society as it is,' she said. 'It's not about casinos. It's about knowing who you are and being a part of the American culture and American tapestry.'"

California libraries - where the action is

California libraries - where the action is:

"Libraries are 'one of the last great civic spaces in our society,' as Berkeley librarian Jack Baur aptly puts it - a place where anyone can read the newspaper, check e-mails, do homework or just sit and enjoy a safe and quiet space."


The traditional role of libraries as repositories and purveyors of print materials is shrinking in this digitalizing age. Like newspapers, libraries are trying to figure out how to reinvent themselves beyond the world of hard-copy print. One way they're doing that is to enhance their role as community gathering places. In libraries throughout the state, there's an increased emphasis on providing stimulating programs for people of all ages.

The new library is a kind of community living room, a welcome oasis in an era of social isolation.

The Lafayette Public Library is taking a bold step in that direction on Saturday when it officially opens its sprawling new quarters, a $46 million facility that's a combination library and learning center. The Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium will feature programs from a dozen Bay Area organizations, including the Oakland Zoo, St. Mary's College and the Lawrence Hall of Science. On opening day, the Chabot Space & Science Center will help kids build rockets they can launch into a simulated version of outer space. On Dec. 1, the Commonwealth Club will bring in political satirist Will Durst.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/08/INJK1ACL2S.DTL#ixzz0WHGm2EXy

Power to maintain educational excellence belongs to voters - Pasadena Star-News

Power to maintain educational excellence belongs to voters - Pasadena Star-News:

"For decades, California has been on the cutting edge of America's social and economic evolution. We are the state that has launched new technologies, a green business climate, personal fitness and entertainment. Californians led the nation in breaking down outdated social mores and advancing equity and social responsibility.

This success story is rooted in education. We built the world's premier multi-tiered public education system, designed to create affordable opportunities for everyone to advance themselves and their families.

The system works when it is a universal priority. An educated workforce gives back by creating jobs that support public funding. But we are now facing a cataclysmic change in priorities, putting California's future at risk."

Sac Schools Open Their Doors - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Sac Schools Open Their Doors - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Sacramento public high schools opened their doors to parents and students Saturday so they could get the opportunity to learn more about what curriculum they have to offer.
At Sacramento's Serna Center, 13-year-old Megan Mengell is shopping for a new high school.

'I'm kind of nervous to go to high school because my school, we are like a family, and so I'm looking around. I have no idea about any of the high schools,' Megan said.
With so many schools and so little time, parents like Mark Mengell said they feel overwhelmed.

'Actually it is pretty challenging. You have a lot of different choices. The philosophies behind some of these schools are extremely different,' Mengell said."