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Monday, September 16, 2013

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, September 16, 2013

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Deputy Supt. Aquino departs L.A. Unified with warning





Education Headlines

Monday, September 16, 2013

Fewer Galt students starting school with recommended vaccinations

Less than 90 percent of Galt’s River Oaks Elementary School 76 students who entered kindergarten last year were up-to-date on their childhood vaccinations, putting them at higher risk of contracting preventable diseases, health professionals claim.

$848M Chaffey district bond buys a lot of classroom tech

Last year, voters wrote the Chaffey Joint Union High School District a check for almost a billion dollars. Chaffey officials have already begun investing that money in the classroom.

Free iPad apps to save CVUSD about $430K

The Coachella Valley Unified School District will save about $430,000 after Apple’s announcement Tuesday that some of its most popular productivity and creativity apps will now be available for free.

Coachella Valley School District rethinks farm pact

The Coachella Valley Unified School District has delayed a plan to partner with a farm in Redlands after concerns were raised that schools might be able get the same produce from a local farm.

San Jose's Evergreen District and teachers outline tentative agreement

The Evergreen School District and its teachers union have reached a conceptual tentative agreement that could resolve an acrimonious 18-month dispute over their labor contract.

Bay Area schools scale back suspensions

Pressed by law enforcement, civil-rights advocates and the realization that the way they disciplined students was failing, schools are keeping on campus more kids who talk back, throw tantrums or even threaten teachers.

Local Tea Party activists oppose Common Core standards

They’re promoted as making American students more competitive with their international peers, but some local conservatives say new educational standards set to be fully implemented next school year amount to a federal takeover of local education.

Bill to streamline teacher dismissals heads to governor; critics call it flawed

A controversial union-backed bill aimed at streamlining the teacher dismissal process -- in the wake of a number of high-profile abuse cases -- passed the Legislature late Thursday and is headed to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.

Deputy Supt. Aquino departs L.A. Unified with warning

Calling the Los Angeles Board of Education dysfunctional and warning that academic progress is at stake, a senior school district administrator confirmed Friday that he is resigning.

Glendale district says social media monitoring is for student safety

Glendale Unified is using the firm Geo Listening in a bid against cyberbullying, suicides, drugs and other ills. Critics say it infringes on privacy and steps beyond schools' jurisdiction.

L.A. Unified seeks to end confusion and fights over parent trigger law

It was billed as a bold attempt to give parents the power to transform their failing schools. But more than two years after California legislators passed the parent-trigger law, it has sparked so much controversy that even the measure's author supports revisions.

Education secretary tones down criticism of California

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan toned down his recent criticism of California in an interview with The Times, calling his previous threat to withhold federal funding from the state over a new plan to test students a "last resort."
Friday, September 13, 2013

Truancy sweep targets parents/guardians as well as students

San Joaquin County educators, counselors and probation officers teamed up Thursday morning for a truancy sweep of children who are not enrolled in school but should be.

Coast Unified district to get $1.2 million over school's leaky tanks

Coast Unified School District will receive at least $1.2 million to settle a years-old legal dispute involving leaking underground water storage tanks at Cambria Grammar School.

Report outlines problems with foreign student recruitment at Hacienda La Puente schools

An investigation into the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s international students program lays out serious problems, including host homes with no heat and inadequate food, students subject to verbal abuse, as well as a board member’s potential conflict of interest.