Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, March 19, 2014

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:









Education Headlines

Wednesday, March 19, 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.

Concerns about Brown Act raised in Tamalpais teachers' dismissal

A closed-door decision by the Tamalpais Union High School District Board of Trustees to dismiss three Tamalpais High School math teachers came on a 4-1 vote, with newly elected board member Chuck Ford dissenting.

Long Beach school board revises non-discrimination policies to include transgender youth

The Long Beach Unified school board voted unanimously Tuesday to enact policies to protect transgender youth from discrimination.

Bellflower Unified finalizes agreement with teachers, will reduce class sizes

The Bellflower school board approved a new contract with the teachers union, agreeing to raises and to reduce class sizes for students in primary grades.

Alleged lunch money embezzler Judith Oakes will wait on bail reduction

Former Rialto Unified accountant Judith Oakes will sit in jail 11 more weeks before her next chance to ask a judge to lower her bail from $1.8 million — the same amount she’s accused of embezzling from her former school district.

Superintendent hands over Rialto Unified audit to DA

Citing possible “fraud, misappropriation of funds or other illegal activities,” San Bernardino County’s top educator has sent a copy of an audit of Rialto Unified’s purchasing services to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.

Twin Rivers approves adult charter school after years of cuts

Twin Rivers Unified trustees unanimously voted this month to approve Highlands Community Charter School in an attempt to resuscitate their district’s once-expansive adult education program.

Sacramento area school budgets on firmer ground as California finances improve

Increased state funding has brought relief to most California schools, with 76 districts reporting they are no longer in financial peril, the California Department of Education announced this month.

Fensterwald: Los Angeles charter schools record among the biggest learning gains in nation

Students in independent charter schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District significantly outperform similar students in traditional schools in the district, according to a report released last week by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University.

Mongeau: Lawmakers call for more computer science in California schools

Half a dozen bills before the state Legislature address the growing concern that California students don’t have the computer science skills necessary to thrive in the modern workforce.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Hacienda La Puente school district considers selling land to pay for new school

The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District listened to three consultants Monday morning at a special school board meeting. The local district wants to build a new school at Wedgeworth Elementary in Hacienda Heights to replace the portable classrooms that have housed the school for more than 40 years.

Adams: Electric school buses roll out in effort to reduce emissions

An all-electric school bus quietly began transporting students in the Escondido Union High School District on Thursday, part of a state-funded pilot program meant to introduce districts to the merits of bus fleets that are electric-powered, emissions-free and silent.

Lawsuit: Clovis North staffer asked 2 students to do campus drug sting

Two Clovis North High School students have sued the Clovis Unified School District, saying a school employee asked them to participate in a drug sting on campus without the consent of their parents or police.

School district seeks $29M bond

The Coronado Unified School District’s governing board has voted to place a $29 million bond proposal on the June ballot. If the measure passes, funds would be used on facilities, equipment and technology in the five-campus district.

Encinitas suggests joint-use arts center for Pacific View site

Encinitas school district officials said Monday they’ll give the city of Encinitas until Friday to submit an offer of at least $9.5 million for the former Pacific View School site or an auction planned for next week will go forward.

Antioch Unified files counter charter petition for Dozier-Libbey

In yet another twist in the petition effort by teachers at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School to turn the health care-themed public school into a charter, Antioch Unified officials announced they have filed their own petition.

EdTracker: EdSource’s guide to education legislation

EdSource will focus on a number of key bills through our EdTracker, reporting their status as they go through the legislative process. Our list will likely expand in coming weeks.

New school funds should go to needy students first, group says

A citywide coalition of community groups is demanding that 80% of $1 billion in new school funding headed to L.A. Unified be spent on needy students according to decisions made by local schools rather than district bureaucrats.

Stanford study highlights gains at Los Angeles charter schools

A new Stanford University study finds that Los Angeles charter school students are making significant gains in learning compared with their district school peers.