Education Headlines
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Study: Most O.C. districts haven't defined student defiance
Only a quarter of Orange County school districts report in a new survey that they have a clear definition of what constitutes a willfully defiant and disruptive student, even as this behavior classification constitutes the No. 1 reason students are suspended in California.Schools mark 9/11 with lessons, memorials
Schools across the nation will mark the 11th anniversary of the attacks with memorials, moments of silence and guest speakers, along with special lessons that are evolving as the years pass and the immediacy of the event fades.A gift of time; new transitional kindergarten program provides 2-year prep for younger students
The new grade, courtesy of the 2010 Kindergarten Readiness Act authored by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, is aimed at preparing those children who would have been the youngest in their class for the rigors of kindergarten.San Leandro schools put parcel tax on ballot
San Leandro schools, which receive less state money per student than any other district in Alameda County, are asking city residents to approve Measure L, a $39-per-year parcel tax, with the money to be spent in the classroom.Federal civil rights investigation could bring change in Oakland's school discipline policies
A federal investigation into whether the Oakland school district disciplines its African-American students more harshly than its white students might prompt the Oakland school board to tackle the issue voluntarily.New test measures local kindergartners' abilities
Can the student spell their name? How high can he or she count? Did the student attend preschool? These are just a few of the questions on a new computerized kindergarten screening tool the Humboldt County Office of Education is rolling out this year.Administrators focus on counselors, not security, to fix discipline problems
A survey by the Oakland-based education resource and research group EdSource last spring queried school districts with an enrollment of more than 1,000 students. The 315 responding school districts have enrollment totalling 4.1 million students, or two-thirds of California public-school students. Among the questions, the survey asked how schools would spend additional funds, if available, to solve discipline problems. Sixty-eight percent said their top priority would be school counselors and support staff.California budget cuts affecting school discipline, educators say
If they had more money to improve discipline in their schools, administrators would spend it on counselors, staff training, conflict-resolution programs, support services and rehabilitation services, rather than security, a study released Monday reported.Suspensions skyrocket at SF school struggling with violence
While every school has its problems, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Middle School in San Francisco stands out. Known for high suspension rates and low test scores, the school also has garnered unwanted headlines related to student safety.School libraries hit hard by budget cuts
The loss of library access is just one example of what shrinking education budgets have done to public schools. Class sizes have gone up - Colburn's four English classes each have about 40 students. Teachers also saw their preparatory days eliminated this year.State education report calls for sweeping reforms in teacher evaluation
The California Department of Education on Monday released a comprehensive new report calling for sweeping reforms in the way teachers are recruited, trained, mentored and evaluated.Fensterwald: Far-reaching plan to strengthen teaching in California
To reinvigorate its force of teachers and principals, California doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. It could start by fixing the one that’s bent and broken because of years of neglect.Monday, September 10, 2012