Tuesday, January 7, 2014

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EdWatch 2014: Top 12 education issues in the new year





Education Headlines

Tuesday, January 7, 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.

District withholds details on whistleblower lawsuit settlement terms

The Kern High School District has finally reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by two former employees who alleged they were wrongfully terminated more than two years ago for calling attention to the way maintenance contracts were awarded.

Smooth day at Stockton USD

If you're part of Stockton Unified's vast after-school program - 4,000 children at 39 elementary schools - staying late has its advantages.

Arcohe Union School District seeks principal

Arcohe Union School District is looking for a new principal to head its sole school, the first time in several years there has been a division between that position and the superintendent's.

Transgender student rights law goes into effect

As classes resumed in many Southern California districts on Monday, a new law is in effect that gives new legal rights to transgender public school students.

Anaheim High School violated AP exam rules

Officials at the 3,200-student Anaheim High School risked losing their ability to administer critical Advanced Placement exams after testing policies were violated, according to a recently-released letter.

School district finances improving

Fewer O.C. school districts are facing financial uncertainty this year than any year since 2008-09, after the state’s new school funding formula gave districts a bump in cash – the first step in a planned multi-year effort to restore school budgets to pre-recession levels.

Transgender law referendum chugs slowly ahead

The statewide referendum campaign to block a new law extending protections to transgender students has not picked up much of a cushion in San Diego County as the random count of signatures approaches Wednesday’s deadline.

$4K fine for former Carlsbad trustee

A former Carlsbad Unified School District board member who voted to award a $100,000 contract to a law firm she then went to work for will pay $4,000 to settle a state conflict-of-interest investigation.

Lawyer: West Covina student told ‘Jesus not allowed in school’

A religious freedom organization is threatening legal action against the West Covina Unified School District after a first-grade student was allegedly prohibited from distributing a story about Jesus to his fellow students before Christmas.

Freedburg: Now for the hard part - implementing school reform

The past year witnessed the passage of legislation presaging historic changes in California’s struggling public school system that could place the state in a leadership position nationally on education reform. The focus will now be on be on implementation, which will be far more challenging.

EdWatch 2014: Top 12 education issues in the new year

The new year is ushering in some big changes in public education, from a revamp of school funding to uncharted territory in student testing and new educational standards. Here’s a glance at issues to watch this year that will define California education in 2014.

In Twin Rivers schools, some wear blankets for warmth

Hundreds of students in the Twin Rivers Unified School District returned to their classrooms Monday with only portable space heaters for warmth.
Monday, January 6, 2014

Palm Desert elementary principal apologizes for not calling 911

A Palm Desert elementary school principal apologized Friday for not authorizing her staff to dial 911 after a student injured himself on campus in November.

Bill takes on officials’ fundraising

School and college district administrators would be banned from raising campaign cash for the board members that they serve under a bill to be introduced this week by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.

Common Core, funding rules usher in change for 2014

Inland schools are grappling with major changes in 2014 both in the classroom and the way they create budgets. They are moving to Common Core State Standards and setting up Local Control Accountability Plans to guide new spending priorities.

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