4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT
The Madness, unending: FIVE-YEAR-OLD KILLS TWO YEAR-OLD-SISTER WITH RIFLE MARKETED FOR KIDs
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago
Kentucky boy, 5, accidentally shoots to death 2-year-old sister By Michael Muskal, LA Times | http://lat.ms/157LCuu May 1, 2013, 9:25 a.m. :: A 2-year-old Kentucky girl was accidentally killed by her 5-year-old brother who fired a rifle he had been given as a gift, officials said Wednesday. Cumberland County Coroner Gary L. White said an autopsy of Caroline Starks showed the toddler had died
‘NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND’ GETS LEFT BEHIND: “Unlike the state-designed NCLB standards, the Common Core State Standards are a thinly veiled, unconstitutional effort to implement a national curriculum.”
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago
WSJ: Washington grants waivers to dozens of states, despite the law's clear benefits. smf: I hate it when I agree with the WSJ, especially when I disagree about the premise of their argument (ie: NCLB was good!) But this editorial– and the letters to the editor that follow - are basically-and-factually (if not philosophically) correct. Op-ED By ERIC SMITH in The Wall
LAUSD SUPT. JOHN DEASY FACES ‘PERFORMANCE EVALUATION’ BY TEACHER’S UNION
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/1038JyY John Deasy marked his second anniversary as LAUSD superintendent on Monday, April 15, 2013. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer) Updated: 04/30/2013 09:27:44 PM PDT :: Barely two weeks after delivering a stinging no-confidence vote on the leadership of Superintendent John Deasy, the teachers union announced it will do a
Open Meetings Laws, The Brown Act, etc.: SCHOOL BOARD TRANSPARENCY A CHALLENGE IN DIGITAL AGE
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
By Nora Fleming, Education Week http://bit.ly/ZUCHtF Santa Fe school board members turned over nearly 40 pounds of business correspondence from their personal email accounts.—Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican Published in Print: April 17, 2013, :: School board members are struggling to interpret laws that govern where and how they do business now that as many conversations take place
CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS OPPOSE NCLB WAIVER FOR LAUSD …or are they and do they?
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/10rfLwi 4/30/2013 08:23:00 PM PDT :: A coalition of civil rights groups is opposing efforts by Los Angeles Unified and eight other school districts to get a waiver from a federal law requiring that all students be proficient in English and math by 2014.In a letter sent Monday to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the groups say
Daily News’ Endorsement: VOTERS CAN’T LET LAUSD SEAT BE BOUGHT – ELECT MONICA RATLIFF
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
LA Daily News/Los Angeles News Group Editorial | http://bit.ly/13KFFiF 4/30/2013 05:35:08 PM PDT :: For a glimpse of what's wrong with politics in Los Angeles, look no further than the campaign to fill an open seat in the LAUSD's northeast San Fernando Valley district. On one side is Antonio Sanchez, a politically connected young man who despite having no particular knowledge of district
Parent Trigger + the Smoking Gun in Florida: PARENT TRIGGER BILL SPAWNS MYSTERY VIDEO FROM SUPPOSED SUPPORTERS
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Ben Austin’s Parent Revolution+Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst implicated – plus (see following) Jeb Bush! BY KATHLEEN McGRORY, Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau | http://hrld.us/15Yu0RA A video that features South Florida moms praising the parent-trigger bill was attributed to a mysterious group known as the Sunshine Parents. But it was actually produced by a California-based advocacy group.
Analysis: EXPERIENCE IN FLORIDA SUGGESTS CAUTION WITH TEACHER EVALUATIONS NOT A BAD IDEA
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
By Tom Chorneau | SI&A Cabinet Report | http://bit.ly/17wosvI [SEE PUBLIC COMMENT BELOW] Monday, April 29, 2013 :: Last week California lawmakers failed for a second consecutive year to find agreement on a new system for evaluating classroom educators – shooting down in the state Senate what the author called a modest proposal requiring districts to use multiple measurements in
WASHINGTON & SACRAMENTO’S COLD WAR OVER EDUCATION
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Washington and Sacramento must end Cold War on education By Louis Freedberg | EdSource Today http://bit.ly/15Y7dpg Advocacy groups urge rejection of NCLB waiver for California districts By John Fensterwald | EdSource Today http://bit.ly/14R682n April 29th, 2013 :: Some high level diplomacy
The State of Preschool 2012: CALIFORNIA GETS A MEDIOCRE GRADE FOR PRESCHOOL ACCESS AND QUALITY
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Deepa Fernandes | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/101BdsM Mae Ryan/KPCC | Elisabeth Romero watches over children at Jardín de Niños in Lincoln Heights. April 29th, 2013, 8:00am :: California got a mediocre grade in both access to preschool and the quality of the programs in a new study released today by the National Institute for Early Education Research. The state meets only four of
LA UNIFIED BOARD MEMBER WANTS IMPROVEMENTS IN ‘BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM’ PROGRAM
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/158flnv April 29th, 2013, 7:10pm :: On Monday LA Unified board member Bennet Kayser called for improvements to the school district’s one-year old Breakfast in the Classroom program, not its elimination. The statement was prompted by a move by Superintendent John Deasy to put to a vote of the school board the future of a program
Letters: L.A. SCHOOLS ARE #1 …AND #2 IN THE NATION
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Where was the governor? …the “education mayor?” …the superintendent of LAUSD? letter to the editor of the LA Times Re "2 L.A. schools show their smarts," April 28 | http://lat.ms/158dOO8 Senior Hamidah Mahmud, a member of Granada Hills Charter High School's national champion Academic Decathlon team, shows off her medals after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport. El Camino Real
PARENTS RALLY TO PROTEST POSSIBLE END TO CLASSROOM BREAKFAST PROGRAM
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Hundreds of parents and school workers are kicking off a week of rallies Tuesday in support of "Breakfast in the Classroom." By Teresa Watanabe, LA Times | http://lat.ms/ZRNLHU April 30, 2013, 12:18 p.m. :: Union officials representing school cafeteria workers led a noisy rally of parents Tuesday to save a Los Angeles Unified classroom breakfast program that feeds nearly 200,000 children
PARENTS, SCHOOL WORKERS LAUNCH EFFORT TO KEEP LAUSD BREAKFASTS
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Superintendent Deasy has not funded Breakfast in the Classroom in his budget proposal for next year, blaming teachers union for the opposition. CBS Los Angeles http://cbsloc.al/12YeKRV April 30, 2013 9:28 AM - LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Hundreds of school cafeteria workers and other LAUSD employees Tuesday protested the district’s decision to end a program that provides breakfast to students
WALTON FOUNDATION GIVES $8 MILLION TO STUDENTS FIRST
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Michelle ®hee’s pro-charter group gets WalMart largesse Former D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee's education advocacy efforts got a boost Tuesday with an $8-million grant from the Walton Family Foundation. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / January 31, 2013) By Howard Blume, latimes.com http://lat.ms/18b9jBh April 30, 2013, 3:00 a.m. :: A foundation associated with the
L.A. TIMES & DIANE RAVITCH ENDORSE MONICA RATLIFF FOR SCHOOL BOARD
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago
Mayor Bloomberg …Mayor Tony? Not so much! Monica Ratliff in L.A. Unified District 6 As a high-performing teacher at a high-achieving elementary school, she has a real-life perspective on what happens in the classroom and on how to best help disadvantaged students. LA Times Editorial | http://lat.ms/10qCxnZ Los Angeles Unified school board candidate Monica Ratliff. (Halstan Williams /
LAUSD FIGHT FOCUSES ON BREAKFAST PROGRAM
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
Supt. John Deasy is leaving key funding decisions up to the board, the most controversial being the fate of morning meals in the classroom. By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/18atcp6 L.A. Unified Supt. John Deasy chats with Luisa Garcia, 8, at Figueroa Street Elementary School as they share breakfast. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times / March 29, 2012) April 26,
LAUSD REASSIGNS VALLEY SUPERINTENDENT, 3 OTHER ADMINISTRATORS IN “PERSONNEL INVESTGATION” + smf’s 2¢
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/12EriwG <<David Kooper, principal at Gulf Elementary School in Wilmington, has been removed from his job. Documents: ESC North Principals Letter | ESC North Staff Letter | Michael Romero Letter | Lawsuit filed against LAUSD by attorney Luis Carrillo | Attorney Luis Carrillo's Public Records Act request sent to LAUSD | LAUSD's
Commentary: A DANGEROUS GAME FOR UTLA
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
by Jamie Alter Lynton in LA School Report | http://bit.ly/Y6MFWD Lynton is the publisher of LA School Report and sits on the Board Los Angeles Fund for Public Education, the John Deasy/Megan Chernin/Mayor Tony school philanthropy that helps schools by putting up billboards and bus ads – and funds Breakfast in the Classroom. She has donated $100,000 to the Coalition for School ®eform. (As
EFFORTS TO SPLIT SANTA MONICA-MALIBU SCHOOL DISTRICT GAINS NEW TRACTION AS SCHOOL BOARD ATTEMPTS TO REDISTRIBUTE PTA FUNDS
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
School board's decision to redistribute PTA funds to less wealthy schools is a turnoff for many in Malibu. Some in Santa Monica also see potential pluses in a breakup. By Matt Stevens, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/14D0jWg Steven Bard, whose son Bronson goes to Malibu High, has contributed to fundraising efforts. He called the money redistribution scheme “ludicrous.” (Irfan Khan, Los
CROONER TAKES NOTE OF EAST L.A. HIGH SCHOOL
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto, check out Esteban E. Torres High School as they expand their New York-based student arts nonprofit to Los Angeles. By Dalina Castellanos, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/12Sf8kE Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto, watch a rehearsal of the dance company of the East Los Angeles Performing Arts Academy. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times /
SENATE SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN INCLUDES BOOST FOR LINKED LEARNING
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
By Tom Chorneau, SI&A Cabinet Report. http://bit.ly/10M96UN Friday, April 26, 2013 :: The Senate version of Gov. Jerry Brown’s school finance restructuring proposal would require district and county administrators to hold public hearings and develop plans detailing how they will use additional state support to improve the performance of educationally disadvantaged students. SB 69, released
DEMOCRATS SPLIT ON TIMING, SPECIFICS OF BROWN’S FUNDING FORMULA
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
By John Fensterwald, EdSource Today | http://bit.ly/11PPF9d April 26th, 2013 :: Joan Buchanan, the Democratic chair of the Assembly Education Committee, grilled administration officials at length Wednesday on Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to reform school funding. She wanted, without success, to get them to concede there are flaws and inconsistencies in the plan. Assembly Education Chair Joan
AALA explains it all for you: THE PARENT TRIGGER LAW, PARTS I & II
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 5 days ago
From the AALA Update, Weeks of April 22, 2013 http://bit.ly/1292EBl and April 29, 2013 http://bit.ly/1528rjI PARENT TRIGGER LAW, PART I On January 7, 2010, Governor Brown signed into law SBX4, Public Schools: Race to the Top, authored by then Senator Gloria Romero, with assistance from Senators Elaine Alquist (Santa Clara County), Bob Huff (LA, Orange, San Bernardino counties) and Mark Wyland
STUDY WARNS THAT GRAD RATES WILL DIP WITH A-thru-G COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
By Tom Chorneau, SI&A Cabinet Report | http://bit.ly/17Zsr53 Thursday, April 25, 2013 :: Requirements that high school students complete college prep courses as a condition of graduation may upgrade the value of the diploma and make some quick inroads on federal goals to produce college and career ready students. But new research released Thursday suggests the benchmark might prove too
BILLS PROMOTED BY LAUSD TO IMPOSE NEW TEACHER EVALUATIONS, LAYOFF RULES DIE IN COMMITTEE
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
By Tom Chorneau, SI&A Cabinet Report. http://bit.ly/11Hay6n Thursday, April 25, 2013 :: Efforts to rewrite longstanding rules surrounding teacher evaluations and educator staffing laws fell badly short of success Wednesday before a key Senate panel. First, lawmakers killed a bill that would have given school districts the ability to make teacher staffing decisions based on performance
‘The Battle of Their Lives’ over LCFF: GOV. BROWN PROMISES FIGHT OVER EDUATION OVERHAUL
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
Jerry Brown says lawmakers will get 'the battle of their lives' if they balk at his plan to give more funds to poor districts and more spending flexibility to all school districts. By Anthony York and Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/15JQaHm Gov. Jerry Brown walks to a news conference on proposed education spending reforms with Mary Jane Burke, from the Marin County
U P D A T E: LAPD ARRESTS 3 IN CLEVELAND HIGH STABBING
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
By Eric Hartley Staff Writer, LA Daily News | - LA Daily News http://bit.ly/12nt4ls 4/25/2013 07:29:46 AM PDT :: Online chatter about a fatal stabbing Wednesday afternoon outside a Reseda high school helped police find three suspects, who were arrested Thursday morning. Kevin Orellano, 18, of Reseda was playing handball at Cleveland High School just before 4 p.m. when two young men, whom Los
Shenanigans in School Board Race: BLOOMBERG DONATES $350K TO ®EFORM CANDIDATE, RUMOR OF DEAL WITH ®EFORMER ROILS UTLA
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
Michael Bloomberg donates $350,000 to L.A. school board race The New York City mayor's contribution to a political action committee led by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will benefit board candidate Antonio Sanchez. ALSO SEE: The best LA school board the NYC mayor’s money can buy: NEW YORK MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG DONATES ANOTHER $350K http://bit.ly/ZsLl2c By Howard Blume, Los Angeles
TOM BARTMAN 1946- 2013, FORMER LAUSD BOARD PRESIDENT WHO HELPED END MANDATORY BUSING
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
Article by: Associated Press from Minneapolis StarTribune.com http://bit.ly/15QugBN Newly elected Los Angeles Board of Education member Tom Bartman is sworn in. In 1981, a majority of board members, including Bartman, voted to end mandatory busing in the school district. (Los Angeles Times / February 25, 1980) April 25, 2013 - 8:42 AM - LOS ANGELES - A man who helped end forced busing for
STUDENT AT CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL IN RESEDA FATALLY STABBED DURING ARGUMENT
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
City News Service from LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/10CAYuA Updated: 4/25/2013 6:07:52 AM PDT - RESEDA - An 18-year-old adult education student was fatally stabbed at Cleveland High School in Reseda by two males during an argument on the campus Wednesday, authorities said. The victim was approached in the area of the school's handball courts by two males believed to be between 18 and 20
CALIFORNIA SUED ON BEHALF OF FAILING ENGLISH LEARNERS
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
ACLU Sues California On Behalf of 20,000 Students, Says Schools Are Failing English Learners Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/10CtBDh Adolfo Guzman-Lopez - Civil Rights lawyers at a press conference Wednesday announcing a lawsuit against California for allegedly failing to provide mandated help for students who aren't fluent in English. April 24th, 2013, 4:
Expurgated: TWO EXCELLENT STORIES ON THE PARENT TRIGGER: Who ‘they’ are …stuff they don’t want you to know …and how they work to make sure you don’t find it out.
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
THESE ARTICLES HAVE BEEN REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF THE AUTHOR Yasha Levine Writes: Thu, Apr 25, 2013 10:23 am :: I'm the author of the the two articles you published on your blog. I'm glad you liked them, but we're a paid subscription publication that relies on people reading the site (and hopefully subscribing) in order to be able to
SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH BILL FALLS VICTIM TO GUN BILL DEFEAT
smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 week ago
Capitol Connection Newsletter - ASCD Public Policy http://bit.ly/15NsYaH smf/4AKids: The NRA and their bought-and-paid-for fellow travelers argued that “Guns don’t kill people, people with mental illness kill people”. But now that they’ve defeated meaningful gun regulation they couldn’t care less about improving mental health services for children. Apr 24,