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Fensterwald: Brown’s choice -California ignores annual survey on states’ use of ed data |
Education Headlines
Thursday, November 21, 2013
FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.
ABC Unified settles lawsuit, agrees to school board elections by district
Amid a lawsuit alleging violations of the California Voting Rights Act, the ABC Unified School District will change the way it holds school board elections, switching from an at-large model to a by-district model.Arab anti-discrimination group prefers original Arab mascot
A representative of a national anti-discrimination group said Wednesday that the original “Arab” mascot, first introduced in the 1920s, is preferable to the current logo, which the group considers offensive.O.C. schools receive energy efficiency funds
Orange County schools are among more than 2,000 campuses receiving more than $106 million to improve energy efficiency.State releases more than $106 million to schools under Proposition 39
The state is releasing more than $106 million in funding through Proposition 39 to help schools start planning energy efficient projects, state Superintendent of Public Schools Tom Torlakson said Wednesday.District denies retaliation against teacher who helped LGBT students
The High Desert’s largest school district sharply denies firing a teacher in retaliation for her helping LGBT students who complained about alleged administrator and teacher prejudice.Fensterwald: Brown’s choice - California ignores annual survey on states’ use of ed data
California for the first time declined this year to participate in Data Quality Campaign’s annual national survey, creating a hole in the 50-state map marking progress states have made in collecting and effectively using educational data. The results of the 9th annual report were released Tuesday.Fensterwald: LAO projects huge Prop. 98 increase for K-12, community colleges next year
A resurgent economy and recalculations of revenue from the past two years will leave the state budget with a multi-billion-dollar surplus next year and K-12 schools and community colleges with unexpected billions more to spend, according to a projection that the Legislative Analyst’s Office released on Wednesday.L.A. Unified committee votes to curtail expansion of iPad program
A bond oversight committee authorizes $45 million instead of the $135 million sought by district officials. The vote is advisory, but Supt. John Deasy has been unwilling to oppose the panel.Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Trustee has change of heart on plan
Lodi Unified has been looking for a way to relieve overcrowding at McAuliffe Middle School. A proposal on Nov. 5 to begin sending students from the socioeconomically disadvantaged Sutherland and Parklane elementary schools to the historically struggling Delta Sierra Middle School, instead of McAuliffe, more widely perceived as successful, ignited a debate over whether or not all schools are created equal.Monterey Peninsula USD prepares to make final settlement payment to teachers
The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is closing a long and painful chapter as officials gear up to liquidate a debt with its teachers that dates back more than a decade.CVUSD, ADC differ on financing Arab mascot changes
If the cost of changing the mascot, logo or murals becomes too expensive for Coachella Valley High School, the national anti-discrimination group that spurred the changes will help raise funds for the school.Westminster schools hire new district leader
A veteran educator from San Diego has been hired to lead the Westminster School District. Marian Kim-Phelps officially began working as district superintendent on Nov. 18 after her contract was unanimously approved by the district’s Board of Trustees on Nov. 14.Twin Rivers board votes 5-1 calling for trustee Quinn’s resignation
Trustee Cortez Quinn was not at the Twin Rivers Unified School Board meeting Tuesday night, but it didn’t stop the board and parents from calling for his resignation.Teachers association, district head toward impasse
Members of the Sweetwater Education Association came out in force Monday to the Sweetwater school board meeting to protest what they say are contract violations.San Jose council deadlocks on Rocketship charter school in Tamien neighborhood
After more than three hours of debate, a deadlocked San Jose City Council late Tuesday voted to defer action after falling a vote short of approving construction of a new charter school that has long divided a low-income San Jose neighborhood.Science, math, and at last parents’ common sense for Common Core
California’s science and math aficionados gathered in Sacramento this week to talk about grand plans to improve standards in these fields, starting in kindergarten, with the end goal of matching the state’s grads with high numbers of highly skilled and unfilled jobs in those fields.iPad software licenses expire in three years, L.A. Unified says
Renewing licenses could cost $50 to $100 per iPad, about $60 million annually, despite earlier statements that the district would own the software permanently.Teachers union members, parents protest $1-billion iPad plan
More than a dozen Los Angeles teachers on Tuesday staged their first protest of a $1-billion plan to provide iPads to every student and teacher, calling the effort misguided and unsustainable.Tuesday, November 19, 2013