4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT
KEEP FOX NEWS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM!: Rupert Murdoch, Common Core and the dangerous rise of for-profit public education
Rupert Murdoch and other moguls smell mega-riches in Common Core Standards. They can't be allowed to wreck schools by Erin Osborne | Salon.com | http://bit.ly/1n6Ahnv Monday, Dec 16, 2013 04:43 AM PST :: The Pearson Foundation has agreed to pay $7.7 million to settle allegations that the nonprofit broke New York state law while attempting to profit from Common Core-aligned products. An
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Jaime Aquino
By smf for 4LAKidsNews Saturday, March 8, 2014 :: Former LAUSD Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jaime Aquino, who ankled The District in the brouhaha over iPads and office politics back in September of 2013, has landed on his feet at The New Teacher Center, where he is the NTC’s Executive Vice President of Strategy and Innovation. Aquino, from LA School Report>> Aquino
KANSAS SUPREME COURT FINDS STATE SCHOOL FUNDING UNCONSTITUTIONAL: 2 stories +smf’s 2¢
Court Orders Kansas Legislature to Spend More on Schools By TREVOR GRAFF and JOHN ELIGON, NY Times | http://nyti.ms/1ikxVuR Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas, pictured at an elementary school in January, praised Friday’s ruling for not setting an exact dollar amount that must be spent to create equality among the districts. Credit Craig Hacker for The New York Times MARCH 7, 2014 ::
Arne blinks! FEDERAL OFFICIALS END STAND OFF, GREEN-LIGHT CALIFORNIA TESTING PLAN
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/1nqUNfr AP Photo | Education Secretary Arne Duncan talks about education reform during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, Friday, May 29, 2009. Duncan said this is a time of educational crisis, as well as economic crisis, and that we will have to educate our way to a
YESTERDAY
A “sham” perpetrated by “snake oil salesmen”: RESEARCH QUESTIONS COMMON-CORE CLAIMS BY PUBLISHERS
By Benjamin Herold and Michele Molnar- Education Week http://bit.ly/1n3CWyl William Schmidt, a professor of statistics and education at Michigan State University, said many claims by textbook publishers that their materials are aligned with the Common Core State Standards are a "sham." —Brian Widdis for Education Week Published Online: March 3, 2014 /in Print: March 5, 2014 ::
Sb 1174 - California Bill Would Repeal Bilingual Education Restrictions
Issue could surface on 2016 state ballot By Katie Ash - Education Week http://bit.ly/1kD9AF7 March 4, 2014 :: A new bill that seeks to repeal California's long-running restrictions on bilingual education may be only the most recent signal of a shifting political climate around English-language-learner instruction in that state. California drew national attention in 1998 when voters
Co-location: NYC MAYOR ENDS SPACE SHARING FOR SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS
News in Brief By Katie Ash, Education Week | http://bit.ly/1g6Luis March 4, 2014 :: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week he is rescinding several existing agreements that allow charter schools to share space—or "co-locate"—in buildings with regular public schools. Nearly 700 charter students are expected to be affected. During last year's election campaign, Mr. de Bla
Of Windmills ...And The Full Funding Of Idea
by Lee Funk, SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet http://bit.ly/1hUDvWx “What giants?” asked Sancho Panza. “The ones you can see over there,” answered his master, “with the huge arms, some of which are very nearly two leagues long.” “Now look, your grace,” said Sancho, “
SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS A DO-OVER, STATE PANEL TOLD - “Our kids aren’t disabled, our system is.”
By Jane Meredith Adams, EdSource Today http://bit.ly/1fLUISG March 6th, 2014 :: Eight minutes into a public meeting on how to reform the state’s vast special education system, the woman who ran special education in California for nine years came up to the microphone. Alice Parker was blunt. “I wish I could have a ‘do-over’ for the 45 years I worked in special education,” Parker, who retired
Do I Really Have To Buy Kleenex So My Kid Can Get A Better Grade?
“They have changed the way schools order from the District warehouse, and our computers don't support the ordering software.” What about the Smarter Balanced test? L.J. Williamson | Off-Ramp | kpcc 89.3 | http://is.gd/TC0hio Carol/tomylees/Flickr Creative Commons :: Writer L.J. Williamson was asked to buy five boxes of facial tissues for her son's class in exchange for 100 points
MAR 06
Former Superintendent Backs Tenure, Layoff Laws As Defense Opens In ‘Vergara’ Lawsuit
By John Fensterwald | EdSource Today http://bit.ly/1jWV9sJ March 5th, 2014 | A former superintendent of three school districts defended the current laws for granting teachers tenure, dismissing ineffective teachers and conducting layoffs based on seniority as the defense began in Vergara vs California, the lawsuit putting employment protections for teachers on trial. Robert Fraisse, a
Severely Disabled Students Face Double Testing Mandate This Spring
by Tom Chorneau | SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet http://bit.ly/1g3UTri March 04, 2014 (Calif.) :: Thousands of the state’s most severely disabled students face a double testing dilemma this spring as a result of the state’s complex transition to the Common Core curriculum – a problem lawmakers are scrambling to fix. Legislation curtailing
Police End Inglewood High School Walkout Over Spending
Students are upset over a report of a costly retreat for administrators. By Tony Barboza , LA Times | m http://lat.ms/1cyXQBg March 5, 2014, 7:45 p.m. [This post has been updated, as indicated below.] :: Police quashed a demonstration Wednesday at Inglewood High School after hundreds of students attempted to walk out of their classrooms in protest of school administrators, authorities said.
L.A. County Supervisors Approve Deploying Crossing Guards At Certain Middle Schools After Mother Killed Walking Her Daughter To School
By Christina Villacorte, Los Angeles Daily News | http://bit.ly/P5BFIl 3/05/14, 3:56 PM PST | Weeks after a mother was killed walking her daughter to school, the county Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to deploy crossing guards at certain middle schools in unincorporated areas. While its previous policy covered only elementary schools, now the county’s Department of Public Works and Office
3 stories+an editorial: THE NEW SAT ...from the same wonderful purveyors of ®eform who brought you the Common Core Standards
Gone are the essay, the SAT “vocab words” and a focus on literature and writing. Science remains untested. The College Board President admits that high school grades are a better predictor of college success than standardized test scores. NY Times: A New SAT Aims to Realign With Schoolwork By TAMAR LEWIN, New York Times | http://nyti.ms/1fblqhE The overall scoring will return to
MAR 05
La Unified Board Votes To Pay Deasy Up To $30,000 For Unused Vacation
…plus he gets to keep the contribution that would be paid into the retirement system … but “it’s not a salary increase!”* * smf: I doubt if the IRS will see converting a pension payment and vacation time into cash as anything but income! …and what if every teacher in the District preferred to work through their summer vacation and be paid for it? by Vanessa Romo, LA School Report | http://
L.A. Times Reporter Tweets from the UTLA Candidates Forum Last Night:
@HowardBlume tweets: 4 Mar 2014 | 6:59PM :: About 50 people tonight at forum for UTLA prez elex. Some are non-UTLA members. Typical of poor attendance, lack of wide interest. although this forum is being recorded for any1 w/a surge of interest. Hosted by group Educators4Excellence, ●●smf chimes in: In order to RSVP for the event –
VERGARA v. CALIFORNIA TRIAL TO CONTINUE
By Howard Blume, L.A. Times | http://lat.ms/MNvF4W Student Beatriz Vergara, 15, testifies in Los Angeles County Superior Court in February that bad teachers have harmed her education. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) March 4, 2014, 4:45 p.m. :: A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to limit teacher job protections in California.
California, U.S. Needs To Add To Student Online Privacy Rules
SB 1177, The Student Online Personal Information Protection Act - a bill by state Sen. Darrell Steinberg would ban private firms contracting with public schools from selling California student's records. Editorial By The LA Times editorial board| http://lat.ms/1gaaRfQ State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) has introduced a bill that would help close a loophole in federal
MAR 04
In Survey, Utla President Vows To File Complaints Over ‘Teacher Jails’
By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/1n6UwOs Los Angeles teachers union president Warren Fletcher lashed out at the school district Monday for its handling of teachers accused of misconduct, vowing to file federal and state age-discrimination complaints. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times / February 9, 2012) March 3, 2014, 6:55 p.m. :: Los Angeles teachers union president
MAR 03
Vergara Litigants Await Judge’S Decision As To Whether The Case Will Proceed
by Mark Harris, LA SCHOOL REPORT | http://bit.ly/1jMT5Dq Posted on March 3, 2014 :: After a one-week recess, the court resumes tomorrow, Tuesday, in the case of Vergara vs. California. Attorneys for both the defense and the nine student plaintiffs are gearing up for what could turn out to be a critical juncture in this landmark case. Before Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu is whether to throw
Zimmer Introducing Plan To Give Students A Role With Lausd School Board
by Michael Janofsky LA School report | http://bit.ly/1fCOVZL March 3, 2014 :: Fresh off his (unsuccessful) effort to get a District 1 voice onto the LA Unified school board right away, trustee Steve Zimmer is returning to the monthly board meeting tomorrow with a plan that would lead to another voice with influence on the board: Students. Zimmer is introducing a measure — the Student
Meet the ®eformers: ELI BROAD APPOINTS BRUCE REED AS HEAD OF BROAD FOUNDATION EDUCATION EFFORT
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/1krBUua [3 min 37 sec] Lauren Cioffi/KPCC | Eli Broad, left, has appointed Bruce Reed, former CEO of the influential Democratic Leadership Council, to lead his foundation. March 3rd, 2014, 6:00am :: After more than a decade of directly overseeing $1
L.A. School Board To Consider Expansion Of Computer Science Offerings
Annie Gilbertson | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/1luH8p3 Berkley Lab/ Flickr March 3rd, 2014, 6:00am :: Offering computer science classes at California high schools is a challenge because of a shortage of qualified teachers. An initiative to address the shortage of computer science offerings in the L.A. Unified School District will go before the school board Tuesday. Only
Time Running Out For Boyle Heights High School / Se Termina El Tiempo Papra Una Preparatoria De Boyle Heights
By Jacqueline García, EGP Staff Writer/Reportera de EGP | Eastside Sun / Northeast Sun / Mexican American Sun / Bell Gardens Sun / City Terrace Comet / Commerce Comet / Montebello Comet / Monterey Park Comet / ELA Brooklyn Belvedere Comet / Wyvernwood Chronicle / Vernon Sun http://bit.ly/1hCnyUR Students, parents and advocates protest in front of LAUSD headquarters to keep the doors of
BOYLE HEIGHTS SCHOOL PROTESTS DISTRICT’S DECISION TO MOVE CAMPUS + smf’s 2¢
With fewer than 300 students enrolled, the high school is too small to be financially sustainable, schools chief John Deasy says. "He hasn't even visited our school or given us a chance," a student claims. By Teresa Watanabe, L.A. Times, http://lat.ms/1luMQra In front of L.A. Unified headquarters last week, students protest the possible closure of the Academy of Environmental and Social
MAR 02
Meet the ®eformers: TED MITCHELL + DAVID WELCH
THE EDUCATION OF TED MITCHELL | Written by Gary Cohn/CAPITAL & MAIN | INVESTIGATING POWER & POLITICS | http://bit.ly/1oiNdlI 28 Feb 2014-CALIFORNIA EXCLUSIVE :: The nomination of Californian Ted Mitchell to the number two position at the U.S. Department of Education is the latest indication that proponents of school privatization are continuing to gain influence over the Obama
LAUSD KICKING OFF DISTRICT-WIDE ARTS FESTIVAL + smf’s 2¢
By Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Daily News | http://bit.ly/1lnupo3 Jennifer Elrod sings with the Verdugo Hills High School Chorus after school on Tuesday, February 26, 2014. The group will be one of the LAUSD groups to perform at the Arts Fest at Grand Park in Los Angeles on March 15th. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News) Posted: 02/26/14, 6:10 PM PST :: Dozens of Los
The (Woeful) Status Of Adult Education In Lausd
from the associated administrators of LA weekly update | http://is.gd/s1BvkS 27 February 2014 :: There are currently more than 14,000 adults and concurrent students on waiting lists for classes in the Division of Adult and Career Education. However, there are only ten Adult Education Service Areas presently open to serve the LAUSD of 710 square miles and 27 cities. Not long ago, there were 39
MAR 01
All testing/All the time: THE LAUSD TIMELINE FOR TESTING – Spring 2014
from Overview of Student Assessments in LAUSD presented to Curriculum and Instruction Committee – February 25, 2014 | http://bit.ly/1ckl1is 02-25-14StudentAssessmentsinLAUSD
Tablets in Education: FORMER L.A. SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT SAYS USING BONDS TO BUY IPADS ILLEGAL – Supt Johnston’s letter, BOC Chairman English’s reply + smf’s 2¢
by D.B. Hebbard Talking New Media | The digital publishing industry website http://bit.ly/1cumkWu February 28, 2014 | 8:05 am :: More school districts are bringing tablets to the classroom. It is a good goal to bring technology into schools, the question many school districts are facing is how to pay for it, and how to implement it. On the vendor side of things, selling tablets to schools is
Utla Race Gets National Attention
Posted by LA School Report | February 28, 2014 While LA School Report has been paying close attention to the elections taking place at UTLA, the nations second largest teachers union, the competition hasn’t attracted much outside attention – that is until recently. Now, education blogger, Anthony Cody at Edweek-Teacher, has launched a series of Question-and-Answers with the 10 candidates vying
DESPITE GROWING iPAD PROGRAM, LA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SEEKS TO EXPAND COMPUTER LABB
Two-thirds of all bond funds spent on computers outside the iPad/CCTP program is spent in one board district. Annie Gilbertson | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/1jIw4Se February 27th, 2014, 2:21pm :: Los Angeles Unified school board member Tamar Galatzan wants to spend $290,000 in bond money for computer labs for five of her San Fernando district's elementary schools. The new
Mad Libs Education Reform
Retweeted by @the Chalk Face | http://bit.ly/1mS6trk See Also: By the numbers: HOW TO TELL IF YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS INFECTED BY THE BROAD VIRUS | http://bit.ly/jqDocs #17: A (self-anointed, politically connected) group called NCTQ comes to town a few months before your teachers’ contract is up for negotiation and writes a Mad Libs evaluation of your districts’ teachers (for about $
