FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, November 26, 2013

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Fensterwald: Top legislators join critics of proposed regs for new funding formula

Education Headlines

Tuesday, November 26, 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.

How Common Core State Standards are changing education at Long Beach Unified

There are no one-word answers in Donna Robertson's fifth-grade classroom at Lafayette Elementary in central Long Beach.

Parent reaction to Common Core in Long Beach is mixed

Parent reaction has been varied to the new Common Core standards being rolled out by the Long Beach Unified School District.

San Ysidro contract headed to mediation

A contract standoff between the San Ysidro School District and teachers association is headed for state mediation.

Early testing reveals high toxic chemical levels at Malibu High School

The district plans to conduct more tests and clean up chemicals, but says there is 'no short-term risk' to being on campus.

From truant slacker to straight-A student, an LAUSD success story

Before Troy Clawson went from slacker to straight-A student, he used to ditch school for weeks at a time to skateboard, not knowing or caring that truancy is against the law.

Fensterwald: Rocketship charter schools singled out in California as Race to the Top finalist

Rocketship Education, with eight K-5 charter schools in San Jose, one in Milwaukee and invitations to expand into urban districts in other states, is the sole finalist from California competing for $120 million in the second district Race to the Top competition.

Fensterwald: Top legislators join critics of proposed regs for new funding formula

In a letter on Monday, leaders of the state Senate and Assembly criticized proposed regulations on state funding for the state’s neediest students as inconsistent with the intent of the new school finance law.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Sonora El fire could disrupt classes for weeks

A fire at Sonora Elementary School that burned Saturday night destroyed multiple classrooms and rendered more than a dozen unusable, which will disrupt classes and schedules for weeks.

San Luis Coastal district may spend $1.1M for Wi-Fi at elementary campuses

Elementary schools in San Luis Coastal Unified School District will be outfitted with the infrastructure needed to support Wi-Fi in classrooms - at a significant cost.

California switches testing plans, but may still risk losing $3.5 billion in federal funds

California, threatened with the loss of $3.5 billion in federal funds for suspending high-stakes testing next spring, has tweaked its exam plan. But it's not certain that the change, which was not cleared first with U.S. officials, will ease the threat to take away funds.

Public feedback sought as schools plan spending

Digital textbooks, a longer school day and year, smaller classes and preschool are early suggestions for how Inland schools should spend more money they will receive to help disadvantaged students.

Stanislaus schools weigh in as high school math curriculum gets makeover under Common Core

Algebra classes may disappear under Common Core, but nobody gets out of solving for X. Every grade gets a math makeover, focusing on learning the basics really well. But the most dramatic change will be in high school, where traditional algebra I, geometry, algebra II courses will phase out in most districts in favor of a I, II, III progression weaving all three topics together.

Vallejo mascot's end sparks mixed reaction

As word spread Thursday about Vallejo High School dropping its controversial Apache mascot, social media networks buzzed with students and alumni weighing in on the matter.