Education Headlines
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Tehachapi approves Abernathy charter school, with conditions
A petition to establish a charter school named for one of the most powerful Republican political operatives in Kern County has been given the green light by the Tehachapi Unified School District.District OKs $2.1 million for 15 buses
Lodi Unified School District trustees authorized a $2.1 million purchase of 15 new special-education school buses Tuesday night.California law requires schools to roll out new grade level, transitional kindergarten
Transitional kindergarten, a steppingstone between preschool and kindergarten, has been rolled out at school districts across the state as the result of a 2010 state law.Four Monterey County school districts seek some fiscal independence
Monterey Peninsula Unified, Salinas Union High, Salinas City Elementary and Alisal Union school districts have announced to the county their intention to become "fiscally accountable," which basically means they want to perform most of their financial operations — payroll, purchasing and the like — in house.Galt elementary school district saves local taxpayers $1.4 million
The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District recently completed the sale of $7.9 million in general obligation bonds to refinance bonds that voters approved in 2001. Near historically low interest rates enabled the district to lower interest rates on bonds from 4 to 5 percent to 1.95 percent.How Fresno Unified would spend $17.5 million if Prop. 30 passes
Fresno Unified's top administrators laid out a spending plan for the millions the district would get if voters approve Proposition 30 on the November ballot. The biggest winner: Preschool classes, where participation would almost double.San Diego area superintendent removed from post
A veteran San Diego school administrator who oversaw schools in southeastern San Diego was removed from her position Tuesday night by a 4-1 vote of the school board and will remain on paid administrative leave pending reassignment.Tax group to oppose San Diego school bonds
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association will oppose the San Diego Unified School District’s proposed $2.8 billion Proposition Z bond measure this fall, a departure given that the group endorsed the past two campaigns.Report: California teacher fund lax on anti-spiking efforts
A new report released Wednesday by the state controller's office found that the nation's largest teacher pension fund has been so lax about detecting pension spiking at California school districts that it is on pace to audit each district once every 48 years.SIA Cabinet Report: New accountability demands coming for charters – startups and renewal
Legislation pending before Gov. Jerry Brown seeks to resolve long-standing concerns of the U.S. Department of Education that not enough emphasis is placed on student achievement for all subgroups when it comes to charter school renewal in California.Assembly quietly kills school seismic reform measure
A proposal to study seismic safety improvements for public schools – which won initial legislative support – quietly died in an Assembly committee during the last weeks of the legislative session.Baron and Fensterwald: Prop 38 sponsor says ed initiative will upset polls
Confident that Californians will tax themselves to send more money to their local schools, Molly Munger is preparing for “a big air war” – extensive TV advertising to persuade voters to pass Proposition 38.SIA Cabinet Report: CA spending, outcome in special ed well below national averages
California spends substantially less than other states on special education services, and the academic outcomes for students in those programs is well below the national average, according to a new report unveiled Wednesday.Fensterwald: CalSTRS estimates $22.7 billion savings from pension reform
The pension reforms that the Legislature passed before skipping town on Friday will save the California State Teachers’ Retirement System $22.7 billion over 30 years, according to a preliminary analysis that CalSTRS released on Wednesday. But CalSTRS administrators cautioned that most of the savings won’t be achieved for decades, because reduced pension benefits will affect only employees hired after Jan. 1, 2013.Wednesday, September 5, 2012