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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

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Freedburg: More than half of suspensions are for “willful defiance” of school authorities




Education Headlines

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Desert Sands Unified District to refinance bonds

The Desert Sands Unified school board unanimously voted Tuesday to refinance a portion of a school construction bond, saving taxpayers an estimated $4.8 million over the next two decades.

Temecula, Perris school districts considering layoffs

Two Southwest County school districts will consider eliminating a total of 22 positions this week, including 13 jobs connected to the Parents As Teachers and Preschool for All programs in the Temecula Valley Unified School District.

Oakland's American Indian Model Schools board members face ouster under pressure from AIMS teachers, parents to save charter

An emergency meeting of the embattled American Indian Model Schools board ended Sunday night with no resolution despite looming threats to the institution's survival.

Budget cuts may harm California program aimed at getting kids into college

Getting kids onto a college track is not rocket science. But it is a social science, one that takes deliberate engineering and investment and can be honed to a fine art -- as one long-standing program, known as AVID, has proven. But with Gov. Jerry Brown's veto last year of $8.1 million in funding, some fear that AVID for middle and high schools in California could veer off track.

Questions surface over Alisal school district credit card use

The head of the Alisal Union School District in Salinas refused Tuesday to explain numerous purchases made the past seven months using his two district credit cards.

Audrie Pott case: Saratoga High's handling of student suicide leaves many questions unanswered

As educators across the country grapple with how to punish bullies, the parents of Audrie Pott on Tuesday filed a claim against her school district, accusing Saratoga High administrators of denying the problem, even after she killed herself.

Byron Union schools superintendent Ken Jacopetti to step down

After leading the Byron Union district the past three years, Superintendent Ken Jacopetti is resigning to fill the same position in Vacaville. Vacaville Unified trustees unanimously approved Jacopetti's hiring as superintendent last week, starting July 1. His resignation from Byron will be formally accepted Thursday.

Mt. Diablo trustees continue discussions about employee or dismissal

The Mt. Diablo School District met in closed session for the third time Tuesday night to consider the dismissal of two contract employees but did not take any action.

Vargo: Under Common Core, leaders face big challenge of designing change

Building the skills of our leaders is just as important as building teachers’ skills in designing instruction. Let’s make sure we remember to do both.

Freedburg: More than half of suspensions are for “willful defiance” of school authorities

More than half of all suspensions and a quarter of expulsions in California schools are for “willful defiance” of school authorities, according to a new database that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is scheduled to release this Friday.

Hiltzik: State's budget fakery takes a toll on charter schools

Because state funding is often deferred for months, charter schools must take out bridge loans to pay the bills. The interest costs come at the expense of pupils.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013

RIVERSIDE: Schools to get more counselors

Riverside Unified School District will need to hire counselors to fill 3.2 full-time positions for 2013-14 under a tentative agreement with the Riverside City Teachers Association, Deputy Superintendent Mike Fine said Monday, April 15.

L.A. school board to consider faster investigation of teachers

Sexual misconduct allegations at Miramonte Elementary School sparked a surge of investigations of Los Angeles teachers, pushing the ranks of those in "teacher jail" to more than 300 — and prompting officials this week to consider the rights of accused employees.

Budget cuts may harm California program aimed at getting kids into college

With Gov. Jerry Brown's veto last year of $8.1 million in funding, some fear that AVID for middle and high schools in California could veer off track.