This is an excerpt of On Assignment, education writer Theresa Harrington's blog on Contra Costa County schools. Read more and post comments at IBABuzz.com/onassignment. Follow her at Twitter.com/tunedtotheresa.

July 15

The state Board of Education meeting on Wednesday showed that when it comes to failing schools, there's a lot of blame to go around, but seemingly less accountability.

BLAME: As the board considered handing out about $500 million in federal School Improvement Grants, discussion included blaming the U.S. Department of Education for failing to communicate clear and consistent guidelines; blaming California Department of Education staff for lax administration and oversight of the grants; blaming the