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Thursday, October 11, 2012

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Education Headlines

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Ballot filled with school bond propositions

It's a sign of the fiscal times: There are 106 public school bond propositions in 33 counties on California's November ballot.

Fensterwald: The grit factor - hard to measure, hard to succeed without

Much of the debate over how to reform public schools has fixated on improving student achievement by focusing almost exclusively on strengthening academics and students’ cognitive skills. In his important new book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character, New York Times Magazine contributing writer Paul Tough examines the largely neglected side that hasn’t been given enough weight: character.

Al Mijares sworn in as county schools chief

Al Mijares was administered the oath of office as county superintendent of schools Thursday during a ceremony at the county Department of Education. Mijares has been serving as superintendent since July. The oath was given by Marian Bergeson, a retired California legislator and former California Secretary of Education.

Traffic saga at Irvine K-8 school escalates

A month-long struggle between school administrators trying to keep students safe and parents exasperated with 30-minute drop-off and pick-up traffic has escalated with Irvine police ticketing drivers and towing a father's $130,000 car.

Yvonne Chan's charter school empire flourishes in Pacoima

It's been nearly 20 years since Yvonne Chan transformed LAUSD's failing Vaughn Elementary into the nation's first independent conversion charter, a move she parlayed into a thriving network of charter campuses serving 2,400 students in preschool through 12th grade.

Oakland school board incumbent drops pre-election legal challenge against her opponent

Alice Spearman, the incumbent for the District 7 seat on the Oakland school board, has dropped a pre-election legal challenge against her opponent, James Harris. But not necessarily for good.

LAUSD approves one-year contract for Superintendent John Deasy

The Los Angeles Unified school board voted 6-0 late Tuesday to grant a one-year contract extension to Superintendent John Deasy. The board vote took place about 7:30 p.m. in executive session, which came after a lengthy board meeting. Board member Richard Vladovic had been called away for a personal emergency and was not present for the vote.

California teachers' union donations surpass $20 million to fight Prop. 32

The California Teachers' Association has given another $2 million to the No on Proposition 32 campaign over the last 10 days, bringing the union's total spending to fight the measure to more than $20 million.

Long Beach education officials offer doomsday scenarios if Prop. 30 fails

In the Long Beach Unified School District, students could see fewer programs and shorter school years. Long Beach City College could turn away up to 1,300 qualified students. At Cal State Long Beach, students could see higher tuition and deep cuts to courses. These are some of the potential cuts that local education leaders say could be enacted if Gov. Jerry Brown's tax initiative, known as Proposition 30, fails to pass in the Nov. 6 elections.

Schools chief urges Molly Munger to drop negative ads

Backers of Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax hike plan are turning up the pressure on proponents of a rival measure to change their political advertising.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Parents seek answers in gun case

The cafeteria at Van Buren Elementary was packed Tuesday night, more than 200 parents turning out for a community meeting the day after a 12-year-old boy fired a gun into the floor of a seventh-grade classroom.

Baldwin Park Unified puts state-mandated nutrition plan into action

Students here are finally reaping the benefits of more than $6 million in federal dollars intended to feed needy children that state regulators say the school district misspent and illegally accumulated for years.

Long Beach education officials offer doomsday scenarios if Prop. 30 fails

In the Long Beach Unified School District, students could see fewer programs and shorter school years. Long Beach City College could turn away up to 1,300 qualified students.