Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, February 4, 2013

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, February 4, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:


ุงู„ุดุฑูƒุงุช ุงุณุชูŠู„ุงุก ุงู„ุชุนู„ูŠู… ุงู„ุนุงู…
Just Like Michelle Rhee's
 Students first Astroturf lobbying (only Better) 



Education Headlines

Monday, February 4, 2013

Fontana Unified School District board to mull rifles, counseling

The school counselor issue and the school police department's recent purchase of 14 military-style rifles were moved to the special meeting to allow more time for deliberations and comments, Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks said.

Charter schools leader filling in at Sac City post

Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond hired a local charter schools leader as his interim chief of staff at a higher pay rate than appears in the position's salary schedule.

Alvord superintendent to retire

Alvord Unified School District Superintendent Nick Ferguson will retire when his contract expires at the end of June, he said Friday, Feb. 1.

Paperwork mistake became Alvord’s $1.8 million error

In 1998, an Alvord schools clerk made a mistake on a new form required by the state. But no one caught the goof, which was repeated for the next eight years. Then last month, the state officials told a state board that Alvord owed it about $18 million – an amount that could have bankrupted the Riverside-based school district.

Smaller classes in Lodi Unified School District too expensive for now

Creating smaller class sizes is a much talked about idea among teachers in Lodi Unified School District, but district officials say it is too expensive at this time.

California abandons algebra requirement for eighth-graders

By falling in line with other states, California is abandoning its push for all eighth-graders to take algebra. Last month, the State Board of Education unanimously shifted away from a 15-year policy of expecting eighth-graders to take Algebra I.

L.A.'s first Hebrew-language charter school raises questions

Lashon Academy is to teach modern Hebrew, have no religious component and aim for a diverse student body. But some worry that dual-language charters blur the line between public and private schools.

L.A. parent group applies lessons from Compton, Adelanto efforts to take over school

Amabilia Villeda had no idea her daughter couldn't read. It wasn't until the girl had moved on from the 24th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles that the Spanish-speaking mother of three was told her sixth-grader was reading at below the first-grade level.

School turnarounds prompt community backlash

The federal government's push for drastic reforms at chronically low achieving schools has led to takeovers by charter operators, overhauls of staff and curriculum, and even school shutdowns across the country.

Suspected child molester left L.A. archdiocese for L.A. schools

A former priest and suspected child molester left employment with the Los Angeles archdiocese to work for the L.A. Unified School District, officials confirmed Sunday.
Friday, February 1, 2013

Outgoing Monterey schools chief Shepherd granted paid leave

The retiring superintendent of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District was honored by her peers on Thursday, a day after the district's board of trustees unanimously approved a paid leave of absence for the remainder of her term.

School police armed with AR-15s

The president of the San Diego school board questioned why the district’s police department authorized the use of assault weapons by its officers after he learned about the weaponry in a newspaper article.

Rocketship Education founder John Danner leaves charter school to start online-learning company

Rocketship Education founder John Danner is stepping aside to return to his roots as a software entrepreneur and develop programs for online learning.

San Leandro, West Contra Costa schools and others sued over parcel taxes

A Walnut Creek attorney who won a court ruling invalidating an Alameda school parcel tax has sued eight other school districts, alleging their similar parcel taxes also are illegal because they tax property owners at different rates.

Frey: Poll indicates counselors are more important for school safety than police officers

To improve school safety, Californians overwhelmingly believe that having guidance counselors in every school would be more effective than deploying armed police officers.
Thursday, January 31, 2013

Security boosted at Lincoln Unified campuses

Lincoln Unified's board voted unanimously Tuesday night to bolster campus safety, adding six new positions that will enable the district to provide full-time security coverage at all of its elementary schools.

Lodi Unified School District gains some school days

The Lodi Education Association has reached an understanding with Lodi Unified School District to restore five instructional days, with pay, to the 2013-14 calendar.

Natomas board OKs settlement over school site

A bad land deal that has plagued three Natomas Unified school boards and five superintendents has finally been resolved. But the district still took a big hit.cpy