Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Reports More
Children Participate in School Breakfast Programs
Torlakson Urges Proper Nutrition to Aid in Student Achievement
SACRAMENTO—While an average of 1.3 million California children each day participate in the state's School Breakfast Program, about 63,000 more last year than in 2011, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson marked National School Breakfast Week by urging families to make sure all children get the nourishing food they need to succeed in school.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and California's School Breakfast Program helps make sure that no child starts the school day too hungry to think and learn," Torlakson said.
Studies show there's a clear connection between health, learning, and attendance. Healthy children are more successful in school, have lower rates of absenteeism and tardiness, are more attentive and well-behaved, and are more likely to graduate from high school and go to college.
That's why Torlakson encourages all children to be physically active, eat nutritious meals, and drink plenty of water as part of his Team California for Healthy Kids initiative. He is also the honorary chair of the BreakfastFirst Campaign, designed to promote breakfast outside of the cafeteria. Many schools have innovative programs like Classroom Breakfast, Grab-and-Go, and Second Chance Breakfast where students can get nutritious food whenever they are hungry.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports 14.9 percent or nearly 17.9 million American households were uncertain of having or acquiring enough food to feed their families in 2011. This food insecurity rate is worse in California, where 16.2 percent or about 2.1 million households did not have enough money or resources for food.
California's School Breakfast Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Program provides nutritious breakfasts at low or no cost to children. The children must be in public and private nonprofit schools; and public and private nonprofit licensed residential child care institutions, such as group homes, juvenile halls, and orphanages.
The School Breakfast Program is open to all enrolled children. If a child already qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches, then the child would also qualify for free or reduced-price breakfasts. The breakfast may include items such as whole-grain breads, eggs and yogurt, fruits and vegetable juices, and milk.
Sponsors submit reimbursement claims to the California Department of Education to receive funding for their breakfast programs. For more information on how to participate, guidance, and meal plans, please visit the California Department of Education's School Breakfast Program Web page.
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Confronting The "Educrats" NJEA Style ?
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| I sure hope there's a better NJEA Plan C because Plan A (a lot of whining with little action) didn't work too well and if this is Plan B (essentially cuddling up into a fetal position), it won't work either! |
ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS – WATCH OUT FOR THIS MAN
It looks like Bruce Rauner is considering making a run for Illinois governor on the Republican ticket. He is a wealthy Chicago businessman described as a “venture capitalist and a private equity specialist.” He is one of the people who has been promoting charter schools and has been outspoken in his opposition to public employee unions. Imagine that, a wealthy businessman opposed to public employee unions. That is so surprising.
Can you see him as the governor of Illinois ? Public employee unions would be in major trouble, teacher pensions would be slashed, charter schools would be expanded at the expense of public schools, and teachers would once again be told what’s best for them by someone who has no experience whatsoever in education.
How many wealthy businessmen have now joined the ranks of the critics of public education and teachers ?
Can you see him as the governor of Illinois ? Public employee unions would be in major trouble, teacher pensions would be slashed, charter schools would be expanded at the expense of public schools, and teachers would once again be told what’s best for them by someone who has no experience whatsoever in education.
How many wealthy businessmen have now joined the ranks of the critics of public education and teachers ?
Teachers union to vote on aggressive stand against Deasy policies
The Los Angeles teachers union has scheduled an April vote for an initiative that would, if passed, call for a more aggressive posture against the leadership of the L.A. Unified School District.
The goal is to get a majority of teachers to push back against policies adopted by Supt. John Deasy and the Board of Education, while also offering an alternative approach to improving academic achievement in the nation’s second-largest school district.
The effort comes in the wake of this month's school board elections, which left unsettled a joust over the path of future school-improvement efforts. Union-backed incumbent Steve Zimmer prevailed, as did incumbent Monica Garcia, a strong Deasy backer. Deasy likely emerged with a sometimes fragile, but workable majority on most
The goal is to get a majority of teachers to push back against policies adopted by Supt. John Deasy and the Board of Education, while also offering an alternative approach to improving academic achievement in the nation’s second-largest school district.
The effort comes in the wake of this month's school board elections, which left unsettled a joust over the path of future school-improvement efforts. Union-backed incumbent Steve Zimmer prevailed, as did incumbent Monica Garcia, a strong Deasy backer. Deasy likely emerged with a sometimes fragile, but workable majority on most
South Dakota Law Will Allow Guns in Classrooms
South Dakota is believed to be the first state to pass a law, signed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard on Friday, that specifically allows teachers to carry firearms.
Washington House OKs measure to require schooling by age 6
The current mandatory school age in Washington is 8, which it has been for more than a century.
Paul Hogan Battles DOE (and UFT/Unity) Over Paperwork
Exposing the Unity leadership's poor response on an issue affecting every teachers, Paul is a retiree running on the MORE slate and has been a stalwart attendee at MORE meetings. I knew of him through ICE mail where he consistently raised the paperwork issue and the lack of UFT willingness (or ability) to fight this. Here Paul exposes how he went through the "process" with the UFT and where it got him. Paul doesn't name names -- Now watch the Unity slugs claim he and I made it all up.
Paper(work)-thin: I Thought We Were Supposed to be *Teaching*
http://paulvhogan.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/paperwork-thin-i-thought-we-were-supposed-to-be-teaching/
Like death and taxes, certain things will be with us forever. Teaching will always involve
More senators call for Cuomo to increase, restore school aid
Democratic senators ratcheted up pressure on Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a letter today, asking him to restore state funds in New York City and increase school aid.
The letter was penned by Brooklyn Senator Kevin Parker, who recruited 19 other senators (and counting) to sign on. It asks Cuomo to increase basic aid for schools by $350 million and give more money to poorer districts.
Democrats also want Cuomo to restore up to $260 million in lost schools funds to New York City and other
The letter was penned by Brooklyn Senator Kevin Parker, who recruited 19 other senators (and counting) to sign on. It asks Cuomo to increase basic aid for schools by $350 million and give more money to poorer districts.
Democrats also want Cuomo to restore up to $260 million in lost schools funds to New York City and other
Diane in the Evening Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Corporate Reform in Idaho by dianerav A reader in Boise sends the following comment about the trial of Khan Academy videos, funded by the Albertson Foundation: From the article linked in Diane’s post: “The statewide pilot received $1.5 million for training, technology, technical assistance and assessment from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.” The Albertson Foundation has given over $500 million to Idaho schools over the years, but for the past few years its efforts have been devoted to promoting some... more »