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Monday, January 13, 2014

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L.A. Unified surveys prices others pay for iPads, similar devices





Education Headlines

Monday, January 13, 2014
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.

California Democrats push for transitional kindergarten for all students

If the head of the state Senate has his way, every 4-year-old in California will have the chance to attend a year of school before starting kindergarten.

School district settles sex abuse case

Pajaro Valley Unified School District will pay $3 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a child molested by a former teacher at Aptos Junior High School.

San Juan Unified trustees to consider censure of member who ignored complaints about superintendent

San Juan school trustees Tuesday night will consider censuring board member Larry Masuoka as a result of findings that he had acted improperly by failing to take action after learning of allegations involving the superintendent's treatment of some employees.

Denair Unified at a pivot point

Denair Unified has called a special meeting of its board for Wednesday to consider a next step with its teachers. A formal bargaining session is slated for Thursday.

Marin educators question state proposal for universal preschool

California lawmakers are proposing a plan to create a universal free preschool for 4-year-olds in an attempt to enroll more children from immigrant and low-income families, but some Marin County education officials aren't in unanimous support of the proposal.

Education funds raise concerns in Fresno-Clovis area

After months of waiting for directions from the state, California school districts soon will get guidance on how to use millions of new state dollars for low-income kids and English learners. But concerned civil rights groups say that while the state's proposed rules are well-intentioned, they may be too little, too late.

Feds issue guidelines against bias in school discipline

Federal officials kicked up their campaign against discriminatory school discipline policies last week, issuing first-ever guidelines for school districts on how to avoid racial disparities in student punishment.

L.A. Unified surveys prices others pay for iPads, similar devices

The Los Angeles Unified School District is conducting a survey to determine what other districts pay for technology just as the Board of Education is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the next phase of a $1-billion program to provide computers to every student.

Gov. Brown vows to start debate over teacher pensions

The unfunded liability for teachers' pensions stands at more than $80 billion, a gap so large that the fund is projected to deplete all its assets in about 30 years.
Friday, January 10, 2014

Atascadero Unified eyes new vote on 2010 bond measure

Taxpayers in the Atascadero Unified School District may be asked to pay more money now - but over a shorter time period than previously envisioned - to ensure that school improvement projects go forward as planned.

New Monterey Peninsula USD trustees don't want to keep status quo

If there were any doubts the new trustees would make a difference in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, they dissipated when the board rejected a school renovation plan that had massive cost overruns.

Monterey Peninsula USD bond projects put in hands of contractors from start to finish

When Monterey Peninsula Unified School District trustees put the brakes on a construction project scheduled to cost twice what was originally proposed, they also turned the spotlight on the construction method they had chosen to build all their bond projects.

Activists want voting data in Anaheim School District

With Anaheim Union High School District officials prepared tonight to issue a formal request to state officials for a waiver to institute new maps designed to create more racially balanced district board elections, activists are calling for a delay and demanding more information about polarized voting.

Fresno Unified board hires former PR head as a contractor

A contract with a New York-based communications group owned by Fresno Unified's former public information head stirred the district's school board Wednesday night, with three trustees vocally assailing the move that ultimately passed.