Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, January 22, 2010

Surveys may help with Sacramento City schools budget woes | News10.net | Sacramento, California | News


Surveys may help with Sacramento City schools budget woes | News10.net | Sacramento, California | News:


"SACRAMENTO, CA - Sacramento school officials are asking for help to solve the district's budget crisis and close the achievement gap.

Parents, teachers, students, staff and anyone else who wants to can log on to the Sacramento City Unified School District's Web site and take two surveys on the issues.

Superintendent Jonathan Raymond called the surveys 'an historic effort to involve all people across this community in the critically important decision about the future of our schools.'

SCUSD had estimated its funding shortfall at $18 million but when the governor released his state budget proposal, the district' s red ink grew to $28 to $30 million."

The Educated Guess � Few low-income districts pass parcel taxes


The Educated Guess � Few low-income districts pass parcel taxes


Parcel taxes are one of the few ways that cash-strapped school districts can raise money for schools. Few districts try, in part because it takes a two-thirds majority of voters to pass one. And most often, it’s wealthy communities that succeed.
In its report, Educational Opportunities in Hard Times, UCLA’s Institute of Demcracy, Education and Access looked at the 29 districts that put a parcel tax on the ballot last year. In the 20 districts that passed a parcel tax, the average percentage of students receiving free or reduced price lunches — a measure of poverty — was 15 percent. In the nine districts in which the parcel tax lost, an average of 56 percent of students received free or reduced lunches. In not one of the districts that passed a parcel tax was the average percentage of students received free or reduced lunches above 40 percent.

State of Education 2010 - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

State of Education 2010 - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Details
Accomplishments, Challenges, and Opportunities
to Improve Public Schools in State of Education Address



SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today delivered his 7th annual State of Education Address. In his speech to educators, policymakers, students, and parents, O'Connell highlighted progress made over the past seven years in improving student achievement and applauded California's educators for doing the hard work to achieve these results even as schools were forced to absorb deep cuts in funding.
He outlined the promise of Race to the Top to improve student achievement and help close the achievement gap, even as schools face the challenge of absorbing billions in budget cuts.
"Race to the Top offers an opportunity to make systemic changes that could fundamentally improve our education system," O'Connell said. "Our success will rely on creating a new relationship between the state and the local education community – a relationship that allows educators to focus on the core business of school: student learning."
O'Connell said that the state's role must evolve from regulating inputs and monitoring processes, to maintaining world-class standards providing assistance, leveraging best practices, and monitoring results; while the role of local educational agencies will need to be one of leadership and innovation. The state will strengthen the local reform efforts by investing in a more comprehensive education data system that will support the effective use of data to focus all efforts on the needs of students. Researchers, county offices of education, and other support providers will collaborate by helping to identify what works, share expertise, and rapidly implement proven strategies.
"Our goal is to foster professional learning communities of teachers and leaders who will work together to innovate, examine data, and share effective practices," O'Connell continued.
O'Connell described how California can support professional learning communities by revising – but not weakening – California's standards, by streamlining and improving their sequencing.
O'Connell said that work to revise California's standards would be coupled with the development of aligned assessments that use multiple measures to evaluate student learning, an accountability system based on individual student growth, and a teacher evaluation system that measures effectiveness by using student achievement data as a key measure. In order to create such a system, the state will facilitate a collaborative process with teachers unions, management organizations, and local educational agencies to design model teacher and principal evaluations. The results could then be used appropriately for decisions such as promotion, compensation, professional development, and tenure and ensure the equitable distribution of effective teachers and school leaders in hard-to-staff schools, subjects, and specialty areas.
O'Connell also urged the adequate funding for California's public school system and called for passage of Senate Constitutional Amendment 6 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) that would allow Californians to pass parcel taxes to support local schools with a 55 percent vote of the people.
"People who choose to make education their life's work are our heroes," O'Connell said in conclusion. "They need better tools, more support, and, yes, more funding. But the vast majority of those in our system do incredible work transforming the lives of students. We have an opportunity – indeed, an obligation – to step up and help them. We cannot afford to wait any longer. We cannot let our challenges become obstacles to student success. We will find no better time than now."
For the full text of O'Connell's 2010 State of Education Address and a press packet, please visit State of Education Address, January 22, 2010 - State of Education.

Expulsion of Willows High student with shotguns near campus overturned - Latest News - sacbee.com


Expulsion of Willows High student with shotguns near campus overturned - Latest News - sacbee.com:

"A Willows High School student who was expelled for having firearms in his pickup that was parked near the school will be reinstated and have record of the disciplinary action expunged from his record.

That ruling was made this morning by Glenn County school trustees acting on an appeal filed by Gary Tudesko.


The Oct. 26 incident occurred a few days after the start of waterfowl hunting season in an area where duck hunting is a major pastime. Tudesko said he was returning from a morning hunt and did not have time to take the shotguns home without being late for school."

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence.


voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence.


Bright and Early: The Education Newsblitz

I'm officially ticked off about the weather. San Diego, this was definitely not in the orientation video. Try not to let the newsblitz get wet:

  • We blog about a bid for budget autonomy for Point Loma schools. It's a lesser degree of independence than splitting into a separate district or going charter, which the coastal schools have also mulled. But it's already inspiring parents across the district to try and start up their own local groups. 
  • After a whole lot of hullaballoo, Del Mar schools may not close any of their sites at all, the Union-Tribune reports. The board seems to be leaning away from the idea.
  • I accidentally overlooked these two opinion pieces yesterday in the UT: School board member John Lee Evans argues against the idea that the school board was "installed" by the teachers union and other "mythology." State Sen. Gloria Romero touts her Race to the Top bill.
  • Also in the UT: University of 

Redistricting CA: Our Once in a Decade Opportunity to Map California's Future


Redistricting CA: Our Once in a Decade Opportunity to Map California's Future


Schools Matter: Philanthrocapitalists Go Hollywood With Production of "Waiting for Superman"


Schools Matter: Philanthrocapitalists Go Hollywood With Production of "Waiting for Superman"


Philanthrocapitalists Go Hollywood With Production of "Waiting for Superman"


As a not-so-subtle, though unconscious?, reference to the good ole' days that led up to the rise of national socialism, the new documentary, Waiting for Superman, features a number of Superman wannabes, including Michelle Rhee, Bill Gates and Eli Broad's boy, Steve Barr. And how well the film's poster inadvertently captures the venture philanthropists' self-imposed blindness to America's urban devastation in favor of a more lucrative focus on producing white-like compliant children whose psychological bubbles are bathed in sweet incandescence rays from above that are worthy of a Microsoft ad. Nothing can stop you, boys and girls, if we can find the right superman to inspire you and to get your mind right. Onward, positive psychology soldiers!

The film is executive produced and financed by Participant Media, which was founded by venture philanthropist and former Ebayist, Jeffrey Skoll. Participant Media's current CEO is Jim Berk. Who is Jim Berk? Well, his recent job history, anyway:

Prior to Participant, Jim was Chairman and CEO of Gryphon Colleges Corporation, where he was responsible for the formation, platform acquisition and establishment of a private company operating for-profit post education schools.

Education Week: RTI Said to Pay Off in Gains for English-Learners

Education Week: RTI Said to Pay Off in Gains for English-Learners


Fernando Lujo and Hector Martinez are only in 1st grade, but already educators at Lillian J. Rice Elementary School have mapped out different instructional paths for them.

A few months ago, both of the English-language learners had limited awareness of how to sound out words, according to a screening test. Fernando was assigned to an hourlong intensive reading “clinic” four days a week and was soon reading on grade level, so he graduated from the extra lessons last month. Hector was put in the reading clinic as well, but made only limited progress, so the school’s reading expert now meets with him one-on-one for a half-hour four days a week.
Educators here in the Chula Vista Elementary School District determined what kind of instruction the boys needed through a “response to intervention” process, which provides extra help to struggling students with an aim of reducing the number of referrals to special education. As RTI catches on throughout the country, the district is on the cutting edge in its focus on how the approach applies to English-language learners, who make up 36 percent of the K-6 district’s 27,450 students.

Politics K-12 - Education Week Bureau of Indian Education Schools Want In On Race to the Top


Politics K-12 - Education Week


Bureau of Indian Education Schools Want In On Race to the Top



Bureau of Indian Education schools, which are run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, would automatically get a slice of the highly coveted $4 billion Race to the Top and $650 million Investing in Innovation funds under a bill introduced this week by Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., who sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
McCollum's release on the bill says essentially that it was an oversight on Congress' part to exclude BIE schools from the original funding. And it points out that RttT is supposed to help the neediest kids and that there are a lot of those in Indian Country.Under the measure, the BIE schools could get at least 1 percent, and up to 5 percent, of the overall funding.
But it's unclear from the bill whether the money would directly go to all BIE schools, or whether they would have to compete with one another for it, asstates are doing. If they just get the money free and clear though some type of formula, it's tough to imagine states who have spent months filling out lengthy grant applications for their piece of the pie being okay with that.

Early Learning Key Part of Race to the Top Education Reform Conversation | California Progress Report


Early Learning Key Part of Race to the Top Education Reform Conversation | California Progress Report



Earlier this week, California joined the competition for federal Race to the Top education reform funds, and early childhood education advocates were pleased to see that early learning is a key component of the state education reform agenda that is laid out in the application.
In vying for its share of the $4.35 billion in federal funds, California mentions early learning repeatedly throughout its 129-page application – a recognition that early learning programs play an important role in making the state competitive for a share of the funds.
Advocates were also happy to see that among the 800 local educational agencies that signed agreements to address each of the Race to the Top reform areas, nearly a third also committed to improving the quality of early childhood education by helping students make better transitions between preschool and kindergarten, a voluntary element of the agreements.

Central Valley Business Times

Central Valley Business Times:


"• Donna Cherry, 54, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Before and After School Advisory Committee. Since 2009, she has served as associate superintendent for the Elk Grove Unified School District.
Previously, Ms. Cherry was director of learning support services for the Elk Grove Unified School District from 2005 to 2009 and principal for John Reith Elementary School from 2001 to 2005.
This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Ms. Cherry is a Democrat."

Sacramento Press / A road map to the strong mayor debate


Sacramento Press / A road map to the strong mayor debate


Developments affecting Mayor Kevin Johnson’s strong mayor initiative have been highly controversial and complex.
Several entities have weighed in on the initiative, including the Sacramento City Council, the Sacramento County Superior Court and the Sacramento Charter Review Committee. Government officials, attorneys and citizens have interpreted the initiative in a variety of ways.

Here’s a road map to make sense of some of the key events in the strong mayor debate:
Johnson’s Day One Plan: Before taking office, Johnson promotes a strong mayor form of government in his “Day One” plan. An executive mayor system would mean that one leader would be accountable, Johnson says.
“Explore a change to the city charter moving to a strong mayor structure,” the plan states. “We need a single point of accountability in our city and to know where the buck stops. We should engage in a dialogue to determine if we can improve our city government through a different governance structure.”
February 2009: The City Council unanimously forms the charter review

Notes from the news, Jan. 22 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, Jan. 22 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook



Teachers accept new contract The Notebook blog
The contract includes two three percent raises, ties some compensation to student performance, and introduces a new mentoring and evaluation system.
Former city schools chief disputes criticism The Inquirer
Former CEO Paul Vallas said the federal government encouraged schools to use grant money in "more flexible ways."
Editorial: Getting rid of bad apples The Inquirer
Calls for improved evaluation systems for teachers.

Schools Matter: "Fight Now or Kiss Your Country Goodbye"


Schools Matter: "Fight Now or Kiss Your Country Goodbye"


"Fight Now or Kiss Your Country Goodbye"

Sign the petition at SaveDemocracy.net. From Raw Story:


WASHINGTON -- Responding to the Supreme Court's ruling Thursday to overturn corporate spending limits in federal elections, progressive firebrand Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) immediately highlighted a series of moves to "avoid the terrible consequences of the decision."
"If we do nothing then I think you can kiss your country goodbye," Grayson told Raw Story in an interview just hours after the decision was announced.
"You won't have any more senators from Kansas or Oregon, you'll have senators from Cheekies and Exxon. Maybe we'll have to wear corporate logos like Nascar drivers."
Grayson said the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling -- which removes decades of campaign spending limits on corporations -- "opens the floodgates for the purchases and sale of the law."
"It allows corporations to spend all the money they want to buy and sell elected officials through the campaign process," he said. "It allows them to reward political sellouts, and it allows them to punish elected officials who actually try to do what's right for the people."

Principal no stranger to cheating scandals | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Principal no stranger to cheating scandals | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle


The Houston school district is investigating the former Key Middle School principal and several other employees accused of helping students cheat on state exams, misusing funds and abusing federal lunch rules.
HISD Superintendent Terry Grier announced on Thursday that he has asked the Texas Education Agency to conduct its own investigation into possible cheating at Key last school year. He also plans to share evidence with the Harris County District Attorney's Office about the alleged misuse of district money.
Grier said the school district's probe centers on six to eight former and current Key employees and could expand. Mable Caleb, the former principal of Key who now runs Kashmere High School, is one of those under investigation, her attorney, Chris Tritico, confirmed.
Caleb was embroiled in a cheating scandal at Key five years ago and nearly lost her job. In June, she was promoted to Kashmere and given a $15,000 raise.
“We've already been through this once,” Tritico said. “The district knows good and well that Mable has other people that are involved in testing. She delegates that duty. Mable Caleb did not cheat on the TAKS test.”
In 2005, HISD's investigation yielded no proof that Caleb actively participated in cheating on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, but then-Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra determined she should have known about wrongdoing. Several students who had previously struggled on the high-stakes

Missouri budget shortfall could prompt school cuts - Yahoo! News

Missouri budget shortfall could prompt school cuts - Yahoo! News:


"JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri's public schools may be forced to freeze salaries, expand classes, cut extracurricular activities or seek local tax increases to cope with a funding shortfall, education advocates warned Thursday.
K-12 schools — though spared from cuts in their basic state aid — still might have to scale back because of Gov. Jay Nixon's plan to provide barely one-sixth of the funding increase needed to meet the state's financing formula, said Brent Ghan, a spokesman for the Missouri School Boards' Association.
'This is a pretty dramatic shortfall,' said Ghan. 'The funding situation from the state is going to have an impact on schools statewide — there's no doubt about it.'"

Bill would require high school mascots to get Colorado OK - The Denver Post

Bill would require high school mascots to get Colorado OK - The Denver Post




A state lawmaker wants high schools with American Indian mascots to get approval to continue using them from a state board.
Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, who is one-quarter Comanche, said she doesn't want to ban team names. But she said she's concerned with American Indian mascots that are caricatures — "with a funny nose or something" — and wants communities to have a "healthy dialogue about their heritage."
Williams introduced a bill this week that would require all public and charter high schools with Indian mascots to "either cease using the American Indian mascot or obtain approval for the continued use of the American Indian mascot or another American Indian mascot from the Colorado Commission of


Read more:http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14243392#ixzz0dLhIPNWs

Ellington arts school staying put for now, Rhee says - washingtonpost.com


Ellington arts school staying put for now, Rhee says - washingtonpost.com:

"Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, moving Thursday to quell a storm of protest, said that the District has no immediate plans to move the Duke Ellington School of the Arts out of Georgetown but that it hopes to eventually build a new facility to replace the school's century-old home.

'Ellington will stay in Georgetown for the foreseeable future,' said Rhee, who is scheduled to meet with members of the school's governing board Friday.

Rhee has been inundated with calls and e-mails from the school community since The Washington Post reported Sunday that the District had studied the cost of moving Ellington to the former Logan Elementary School building on G Street NE, near Union Station."

DPS receives $10 million grant from Gates Foundation - The Denver Post

DPS receives $10 million grant from Gates Foundation - The Denver Post:

"Denver schools on Thursday received the largest grant in district history — $10 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will help develop a new teacher evaluation system.

The money is, in effect, a lucrative consolation prize for Denver Public Schools, which in November lost out on a share of $290 million in Gates money being offered to help schools develop systems to improve teaching.

Those grants went to districts in Pittsburgh; Hillsborough County, Fla.; Memphis, Tenn.; and a group of Los Angeles charter schools.

DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg said that $10 million will help drive 'our work around recognizing, developing and rewarding excellent teaching, which is the single most important factor in improving our students' achievement.'

Now, Colorado school districts give teachers either 'satisfactory' or 'unsatisfactory' ratings on their evaluations, with an overwhelming number of teachers receiving the 'satisfactory' grade."

EducationNews.org - Robert Holland: Obama is bribing states to accept national curriculum


EducationNews.org - Robert Holland: Obama is bribing states to accept national curriculum


1.22.10 - Alongside the attempted federalization of health care in Washington, with details being hashed out behind closed doors, a parallel bid to nationalize K-12 education is going forward more subtly but just as surely.
Robert Holland: Obama is bribing states to accept national curriculum

Alongside the attempted federalization of health care in Washington, with details being hashed out behind closed doors, a parallel bid to nationalize K-12 education is going forward more subtly but just as surely.

“Sight unseen” is the mode of operation in both cases.
Members of Congress have had to vote on complex health-care-overhaul details they have not studied and sometimes not even seen. Similarly, states seeking to win juicy shares of the $4.35 billion in one-time education grants dangled before them by the Obama administration must agree to adopt a set of national education standards and a national test.
State and local school systems had until this past Tuesday to have their so-called Race to the Top (RttT) applications filed with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. His office has stated clearly, in writing, that states will have no real shot at this slush fund unless they have agreed to adopt “common standards” and “common assessments.”

Philadelphia teachers approve new contract | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/22/2010

Philadelphia teachers approve new contract | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/22/2010:

"The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' rank and file last night approved a contract that includes pay raises and the district's most significant foray into the controversial issue of performance bonuses.

The vote, 1,831 to 885, came after a spirited closed-door meeting at the Liacouras Center, where some union members called for a postponement of balloting and expressed frustration about Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and working conditions in their schools.

At a news conference after the vote, PFT president Jerry Jordan said the contract 'goes a long way toward professionalizing the profession.'"