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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

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Schools don't need licensed nurses to give medications, court rules



Education Headlines

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Parents, advocacy groups push back against independent study at home

Following inquiries that led to the Center for Public Integrity's July publication of "Throwaway kids" -- documenting how disciplined California children are forced to study alone at home -- education officials inquired how a Lost Hills teen was doing, but provided him no assistance other than a few books.

Transit buses ready as schools open doors

Despite concerns last week that a labor dispute could affect bus service in Stockton, officials said service Monday came off without a hitch and that everything should be running as scheduled today as hundreds of students take a San Joaquin Regional Transit District bus to the first day of school.

S.J. schools chief won't seek re-election after all

Less than two months after announcing his re-election bid, San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Mick Founts made an about-face and said he would be retiring from the San Joaquin County Office of Education at the end of his term.

Law firm threatens to sue Lodi Unified School District over social media policy

Attorney Thomas R. Burke, from the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, sent a letter to Lodi Unified Superintendent Dr. Cathy Nichols-Washer and the seven school board members on Monday, claiming that the social media policy violates the First Amendment.

Back to school means big changes, challenges at LAUSD

The start of classes Tuesday will launch a watershed year for Los Angeles Unified as it rolls out a new curriculum, toughens its graduation requirements and launches an innovative system for dealing with disruptive students.

Rialto board VP calls for special meeting after accountant's arrest

The Rialto Unified School Board won't be holding a special meeting to discuss the issues surrounding the arrest of accountant Judy Oakes on suspicion of embezzlement - but it won't be due to a lack of trying by one board member.

Deadline looming in Madera Unified's contract talks with teachers

Madera Unified officials have 10 days to negotiate with the local teachers union over a contract agreement that's held both sides at an impasse for months.

Fensterwald: State Board must find balance between rules and flexibility

There was an abundance of thoughtful advice Monday at a public hearing in Sacramento on the state’s new school funding and accountability system. But that good advice also was rife with conflicting views, underscoring the challenge the State Board of Education will face in writing rules for the Local Control Funding Formula that took effect  in June.

Schools don't need licensed nurses to give medications, court rules

Schools may provide trained employees instead of licensed nurses to administer insulin injections and other medications to students, the California Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday.

California transgender students given access to opposite-sex programs

Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed legislation allowing students in California schools to compete on sports teams and use facilities, including restrooms, based on their gender identity, regardless of whether they are listed as male or female in official campus records.

Beverly Hills principal's on-campus camp is for-profit business

Many parents say they were encouraged to enroll their children to get a leg up in making sports teams during the school year. Now they question where their money went and contend it is a conflict of interest for public school officials to profit off the athletic aspirations of students.
Monday, August 12, 2013

S.J. school warned over cellphone pic of STAR test

An East Union High student in Manteca put the school on a short list of 16 statewide threatened with sanctions for snapping a cellphone picture of a standardized test question and then posting it on social media.

California Supreme Court to rule on insulin shots to diabetic students

The case pits parents who want voluntarily trained, non-nursing staff and faculty to give the shots to their children against a nurses' union claiming inappropriately administered shots could lead to harm and even tragedy.

After Sandy Hook, schools start the year with heightened security

As schools across Southern California prepare to open, teachers, parents and students will find increased security on their campuses, including surveillance cameras, more safety patrols, revised lockdown measures and fewer open gates.

Fewer local high-schoolers prepped for university

Mother Lode high schoolers are still taking fewer college preparatory classes than their peers in other regions, but many forge their own path to four-year universities.