The Educated Guess Duncan wants California to resubmit

The Educated Guess

Duncan wants California to resubmit

Posted in Race to the Top, Uncategorized

A week ago, state officials were all set to abandon thoughts of re-applying to the Race to the Top. They’d been discouraged by California’s 27^th place, out of 40 states, in the first round competition for federal dollars, and there’s not much time before the June 1 submission deadline.
But then, over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan personally called Gov. Schwarzenegger to ask California to stay in the running, according to two individuals in the know. And so top state officials – Education Secretary Bonnie Reiss, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and members of the state Board of Education – are once again thinking it through.
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By John Fensterwald on April 29th, 2010

Cuts to schools worry Californians

Posted in Revenue and taxes, State Budget

The budget cuts to California’s schools are hitting home.
Many more parents of public school children than a year ago say that their local schools are being greatly harmed by spending reductions. And significantly more Californians now say funding for public schools is inadequate.
What they haven’t agreed on is whether they’re willing to pay higher taxes to help schools.
These are the highlights of the annual survey of 2,504 adult Californians on education by the Public Policy Institute of California. It reveals growing concern about the state of education, along with variations by age, race and ethnicity.
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By John Fensterwald on April 28th, 2010

Charter leader receives big award

Posted in Charters

A former Los Angeles Unified District B superintendent who has gone on to found and lead one of the state’s most successful group of charter schools will be one six Californians to receive this year’s James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award tomorrow in Sacramento.
Judy Burton, president and CEO of the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools,will receive the $125,000 award, and her charter organization will get additional support from the Irvine Foundation. Burton is the only public school educator among the recipients this year.
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By John Fensterwald on April 27th, 2010