The Educated Guess � Hour of decision for low-performing schools

The Educated Guess � Hour of decision for low-performing schools

Hour of decision for low-performing schools

Posted in Turning around failing schools

With the June 1 deadline looming for school districts to apply for dollars for chronically poor-performing schools, the state hasn’t heard from the U.S. Department of Education whether it’s getting any money to actually pass around. That unanswered question has added uncertainty to what’s already a been tense process for districts.
California’s share of the $3.5 billion one-time stimulus money for School Improvement Grants is supposed to be $414 million – a hunk of change for districts to help turn around schools. And there’s no saying an amount nearly this large will be available for that purpose in coming years, given the federal deficit and growing criticism in Congress over the prescriptive methods that President Obama has chosen as remedies for failing schools.
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By John Fensterwald on May 26th, 2010

An unsatisfying half-hour with Duncan

Posted in Uncategorized

“I want to find positive things to take from what unfolded, but it is challenging,” was Anthony Cody’s overall assessment of the 30-minute teleconference that he and 11 other teachers had with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Monday (see preview of the meeting). Cody, who sought the session as an outgrowth of his 2,000 member Facebook page Teachers’ Letters to Obama, reported that half of the time was spent with introductions and remarks by Duncan. That left 15 minutes for compressed presentations by the teachers – and no time for Cody to give his thoughts on restructured schools.
Cody reported on the meeting in his column “Living in Dialogue” at edweek.org. It’s uncertain whether there will be a followup meeting or further discussions.

By John Fensterwald on May 25th, 2010