Sunday, May 30, 2010

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: Imagine Schools, Inc.

Imagine Schools, Inc.

by The Perimeter Primate

Imagine Schools is the nation's largest for-profit charter school management company operating 71 public charter schools, and enrolling more than 36,000 students nationwide. Imagine's Web site lists its schools operating in the following 14 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, DC.

The company was founded in 2004 by its current president Dennis Bakke and his wife, Eileen. Bakke is a leader

DA says Cal State Stanislaus didn't intentionally destroy Sarah Palin contract papers - ContraCostaTimes.com

Education - ContraCostaTimes.com

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Education

DA says Cal State Stanislaus didn't intentionally destroy Sarah Palin contract papers

A district attorney has cleared a California university of intentionally destroying documents about an upcoming speech by Sarah Palin.

Mt. Diablo school bond includes solar facilities, air conditioning -- and some discrepancies

SF teachers ratify contract that reduces layoffs

After 40 years, give or take a few, Chicano Commencement endures

Bay Area teachers are "All-Star" finalist

Richmond High girls get valuable lessons in self-defense

School Notes

Palin will reportedly get $75,000 for appearance at Cal State campus

Lamorinda school notes for May 28

No new cuts for most Lamorinda schools, for now

Renewed call for rail safety at vigil for San Pablo girl

Antioch school district to gauge backing for new parcel tax

School board turns down Berkeley charter schools plan, for now

Teachers at Portland French School considering union | OregonLive.com

Teachers at Portland French School considering union

By Joe Fitzgibbon, Special to The Oregonian

May 30, 2010, 5:35PM

Teachers at the Portland French School are adding a new word to their vocabulary lessons: impasse.

School administrators, the board of directors and a handful of anti-union parents have rebuffed efforts by the 35-member staff to form a collective bargaining unit and join the American Federation of Teachers.

Faculty leaders claim that they have little say in how the school is run and have been excluded from policy decisions -- including salary negotiations, so they have turned to the union for help.

About the school

* The Portland French School was founded in 1989 and accredited by the French Ministry of Education.

* Enrollment stands at 240 students, from 2 1/2-year-olds to middle schoolers.

* The school operating budget this year was $2.8 million.

* Tuition ranges from $7,350 for part-time students to $13,050 for full-time middle schoolers, with financial aid available.

"We've got no procedure to handle grievances, no consistent evaluation process, basically no input on what happens here," said Massene Mboup, a second-grade teacher with 11 years of experience at the private school. "We had to sign a 'non-complaining agreement,' and everyone's worried about losing their jobs just for talking about a union."

Board members counter that recent salary increases, a willingness to address teachers' concerns and the small size of the school make a union unnecessary.

And Elimane Mbengue, the head of the school, said he was surprised when staff presented him with a petition for a union. He also said union organizers did not represent the views of all of the staff.

"Last December, everyone received a 7 percent increase in pay -- some as much as 9 percent -- and during our anonymous survey, no one said that they had any concerns," he said. "I certainly wasn't expecting this."

Mbengue described the school as a happy family of staff, parents and students.

"I don't see any need for a union and think it would change the nature of the way we operate," he said. "But, we'll work with it, whatever shape it takes."

In January, a handful of staff from the Southwest Corbett Avenue school met with AFT-Oregon representatives to discuss organizing as a way to

Education-reform puts Colorado in strong spot for funds - The Denver Post

Education-reform puts Colorado in strong spot for funds05/30/2010Colorado may be in better shape to win a competitive Race to the Top education grant, even though it has lost the support of teachers unions and some school districts.

School's out, but should it be?05/28/2010 - As Colorado students wrap up another school year, a movement is underway to lengthen it, or at least provide students with year-round academic enrichment to prevent "the summer slide."

Students' cheating takes a high-tech turn05/27/2010 - Six Golden High School students were caught cheating on a chemistry final last week, forcing the school to make all 100 students enrolled in the course take the exam again before summer break begins next week.

Data may help DPS improve regional outcomes05/25/2010 - School officials are parsing data to try to figure out why educational outcomes for Denver Public Schools students are inconsistent from region to region.

Palin issues "wake-up" call at DU05/22/2010 - With her trademark plain talk and pitch that bring roomfuls of loyalists to their feet, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin implored 3,500 people at the University of Denver on Saturday to "wake up" because, she said, "I can see November from my house."

Palin's message is more diffuse, but her star power's undiminished – 05/23

Colorado gets $17.4 million grant for data system to track student progress – 05/22

Chancellor of CU's Denver, Aurora campuses resigns – 05/22

DPS, teachers agree on contract – 05/21

State gets millions for education data system – 05/21

At Denver school, four square is quadruply hip – 05/21

Tenure bill signed into law after roller-coaster legislative journey – 05/21

"Innovation" DPS schools not getting autonomy required by law, attorney says – 05/20

2 Pueblo charter schools have interim CFO – 05/20

Lockheed Martin pledges support for Denver School of Science and Technology – 05/19

Douglas County votes to charge fees for school-bus rides – 05/19

Bruce Randolph School caps turnaround with first graduating class – 05/19

Bleak reading performance stats spur push to teach early – 05/19

Norton brings the fight to GOP primary contest – 05/19

Cheating cases up at CU-Boulder; increased detection credited – 05/18

Colorado congressman wants healthier school meals – 05/17

"Positive model" for states weighing teacher reforms – 05/13

Broomfield High wrestling coach accused of sex with student – 05/13

Black professor at CU dental school alleges longtime racial bias – 05/13

East High students will step on sage advice – 05/13

Salazar to deliver commencement address at Denver school – 05/12

Brain bank at CU aims to help find cause, cure of MS – 05/12

Colorado House ready to vote on controversial teacher reform bill – 05/11

Colorado education bill narrowly clears committee – 05/10

CU confers 5,825 degrees in Boulder – 05/08

COLORADO CLASSROOM EDUCATION BLOG

COLORADO CSAP TEST SCORE LOOKUP

Click here to look up Colorado's CSAP, ACT and SAR results by district, school, city, county or ZIP code.

HIGHER EDUCATION
	School's out, but should it be? Students' cheating takes a high-tech turn $17.5 million gift to DU will fund study of aging Cheating cases up at CU-Boulder; increased detection credited Black professor at CU dental school alleges longtime racial bias

NorthJersey.com: N.J. may expand program giving diplomas to war vets

N.J. may expand program giving diplomas to war vets

Sunday, May 30, 2010

WIRE SERVICE

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRENTON — New Jersey lawmakers want to expand a program that allows war veterans to get their diplomas if they left high school early to fight for their country.
The Assembly approved the measure by a 78-0 vote Thursday and sent it to the Senate, where it has been referred to the education committee. That panel has not yet scheduled a hearing on the bill, which would expand the "Operation Recognition" program.
Enacted in 2002, the program awards state-endorsed high school diplomas to World War I and II veterans who attended high school in the Garden State but enlisted in the military before graduating.
If the new measure becomes law, it would allow honorably discharged veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars to take part in the program.
To be eligible, Korean War veterans would have had to serve between June 23, 1950 and Jan. 31, 1955, while Vietnam veterans would have had to serve between Dec. 31, 1960 and May 7, 1975. And in cases where a deceased service member

ACT on Leadership � InterACT

ACT on Leadership

by David B. Cohen

On May 8, 2010, the National Board Resource Center (NBRC) at Stanford University hosted an event to celebrate teacher leadership. (The NBRC is the umbrella program under which Accomplished California Teachers operates). The occasion was the final support meeting for current National Board candidates, and ACT helped to bring in some speakers to talk about the National Board certification, and about teacher leadership more broadly. Our guests included: Kay Garcia, one of the state directors for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; Larry Aceves, a local candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Chris Thomsen, a local school board trustee; and Anthony Cody, a leading member of ACT, also known for hisTeacher Magazine blog and his activism efforts through Teachers’ Letters to Obama (on Facebook). (Another somewhat local candidate for Superintendent, Tom Torlakson, was invited but could not attend).
In this clip, one of the 2010 California Teachers of the Year, Valerie Ziegler, of San Francisco, talks about her