FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, January 28, 2014

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Trial over California teacher protection laws opens

Education Headlines

Tuesday, January 28, 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.

Proposed changes at Salinas charter school have parents riled

Middle school age students have different developmental needs, says Principal Juanita Perea. It's one of the reasons she's proposing to eliminate seventh and eighth grades from Oasis starting next school year.

Transgender student law brings few changes to local school districts

Local school districts have not replaced gender-specific restroom signs or made any other outward changes since Jan. 1, when so-called transgender rights legislation became law in California.

Citrus School future focus of concerns

Concerns about everything from the historic significance of Citrus School, to bus transportation, to the fear that student and parent needs are not receiving adequate consideration were all voiced in a packed hearing to discuss the future of the oldest operating elementary school in Chico.

L.A. Unified unprepared for computerized state test

The nation's second-largest school district is woefully unprepared to administer new state standardized tests by computer, a survey of Los Angeles Unified schools has found.

A new way of funding schools – with strings attached

Gov. Jerry Brown’s school funding plan aims to provide money from a new voter-approved tax hike to support those who need it most – foster children, English-language learners and low-income students. But how will taxpayers know whether the extra money is improving education for California’s students?

California school-construction needs as high as $12 billion, subcommittee reports

California needs as much as $12 billion in additional school-building money and almost $5 billion in modernization money, according to estimates in a report to the state board that oversees school-construction dollars.

S.F. schools move away from suspensions

In San Francisco, the school board is considering a resolution that would restrict the use of suspension to more serious offenses, including fights or bringing weapons, drugs or alcohol to school.

Trial over California teacher protection laws opens

Attorneys seeking to overturn several of California's controversial teacher protection laws argued in court Monday that these statutes prevent the removal of "grossly ineffective" teachers from schools — contributing to an inadequate education for students assigned to them.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Teacher union gets 3.5 percent raise

The Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association has approved a Bakersfield City School District contract revision that gives the union its first raise since the 2007-08 school year.

Three Simi Valley schools are safe from closure, but fate of 4th is unclear

While the Simi Valley Unified School District board backed away from closing three elementary schools, a fourth school is still waiting to hear if it will get much-needed but expensive repairs.

API school test scores expected to vanish in California for 2 years — maybe forever

Academic Performance Index scores, the cornerstone of the state’s accountability system in K-12 education, are expected to take a two-year sabbatical beginning this year. And when the API scores return — assuming they do — they’ll be a markedly different beast.

Bond refinancing by Coachella Valley Unified School District reduces taxes

The Coachella Valley Unified School District has saved taxpayers about $2.55 million by refinancing bonds, reducing property taxes for most east valley property owners by a few dollars per year.

Despite cold classrooms, 140 HVAC units sat idle at Twin Rivers

As Twin Rivers Unified School District students shivered in cold classrooms, 140 brand-new HVAC units worth $3 million sat idle for years. Fifty-three heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units languished on a campus that never opened. Dozens of units purchased for aging Grant Union High School were never installed and remain in storage.

New school superintendent sees potential in Denair; feeling’s mutual

The Denair Unified School District’s next leader takes the helm with a budget still in the red and relationships frayed after 18 months of dismay and discord. But incoming Superintendent Aaron Rosander said the community will emerge stronger.

California teacher tenure, dismissal challenged in lawsuit

In a potentially landmark case, a Silicon Valley-based group, Students Matter, is challenging the state's tenure, dismissal and layoff laws for teachers.

Parents' campaign leads to reforms at Cudahy elementary school

City Council, teachers union and parents credit activist efforts with the Los Angeles Unified School District's decision to reassign the school principal.