California Flailin' - Forbes.com

California Flailin' - Forbes.com:

"America's largest state is broken and looking for fixes in the wrong places."

In my last column I tackled the not-so-secret implosion of state governments across the land. A question, however, still lingers: What ought to be done? On this score there are two, and only two, general approaches. The first is structural and concerns the division of political authority within the states. The second deals with the conception of individual rights and duties of state citizens. As Americans, we should stress the second and ditch the first. But true to form, California seems to be moving in theopposite direction.

Right now many groups are getting ready to put new measures in November's referendum process, which lets voters have the word on reform. These exercises in direct democracy consciously bypass the state legislature, in which public confidence has fallen to 14%--which is quite generous in light of its dismal performance.

Local programs may feel California's budget pain - Local - SanLuisObispo.com

Local programs may feel California's budget pain - Local - SanLuisObispo.com:

"The governor’s proposed budget would cut school funding by $270 for every elementary and high school student in San Luis Obispo County and would be devastating for the elderly and poor, local social services and education officials said Monday.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal is an attempt to close what is expected to be a $20 billion difference between costs and revenues in the next 18 months.

But what the governor proposes in January and what is finally adopted are often far different.

“Even in good years, the governor’s January budget proposal is like the first hand in a poker game,” county schools Superintendent Julian Crocker said. “Then, we have two or three, sometimes four months of committee hearings in the Legislature.”"

States Lower Test Standards for a High School Diploma - NYTimes.com

States Lower Test Standards for a High School Diploma - NYTimes.com:

"A law adopting statewide high school exams for graduation took effect in Pennsylvania on Saturday, with the goal of ensuring that students leaving high school are prepared for college and the workplace. But critics say the requirement has been so watered down that it is unlikely to have major impact."

The situation in Pennsylvania mirrors what has happened in many of the 26 states that have adopted high school exit exams. As deadlines approached for schools to start making passage of the exams a requirement for graduation, and practice tests indicated that large numbers of students would fail, many states softened standards, delayed the requirement or added alternative paths to a diploma.

People who have studied the exams, which affect two-thirds of the nation’s public school students, say they often fall short of officials’ ambitious goals.

Campus takeover applications begin flowing in to L.A. Unified - latimes.com

Campus takeover applications begin flowing in to L.A. Unified - latimes.com:

"Charter organizations, nonprofits and teachers groups have until midnight to submit applications to take over 30 new or struggling campuses. The superintendent will make recommendations next month."

The Los Angeles city school district on Monday began receiving applications from inside and outside groups seeking to take over 30 new or struggling campuses.

Groups that filed letters of intent to apply for the schools in the fall had to file their requests electronically before midnight tonight. The district is scheduled to announce how many applications they received today.

The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education voted in August to allow outside operators, including charter schools, to apply for control of 18 new and 12 low-performing campuses. Groups of teachers have prepared applications for some schools, and United Teachers Los Angeles has filed a from taking over the new campuses.

Several outside groups, including some charter organizations and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's nonprofit Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, had said they would submit applications. Supt. Ramon C. Cortines will review the applications before making recommendations to the school board in February.

Experts Debate California's Parental Trigger - GOOD Blog - GOOD

Experts Debate California's Parental Trigger - GOOD Blog - GOOD:

"We've mentioned California's idea to empower parents to take over schools if they feel as though their kids are getting a subpar education. We've also noted that charter school maven Steve Barr has spoken out about outlawing private schools, in part because he believes that parents will hold public schools accountable the same way that private school-parents currently keep an eye on their educational investment.

Well, California's parental trigger is the topic of the week over at the National Journal Online's 'Education Experts' blog. The view from the outside is that education wonks would be really excited by parental involvement in their children's schooling. But, the opinions on this trigger idea run the gambit from 'fabulous idea' to 'superficial solution.'"

Orlando Sentinel - Central Florida Political Pulse – Crist and the Terminator no longer seeing eye-to-eye

Orlando Sentinel - Central Florida Political Pulse – Crist and the Terminator no longer seeing eye-to-eye:

"TALLAHASSEE — Once Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger were political look-alikes.

But Crist and some fellow Republicans in the Legislature are distancing themselves from the latest proposal emerging from California’s chief executive.

In his final State of the State speech last week, Schwarzenegger proposed a constitutional amendment that would reduce state funding for prisons – while boosting the portion of the state budget going to higher education.

Schwarzenegger said financially-strapped California’s priorities have gone “out of whack” in recent years."

Most O.C. districts say no to Obama ed reforms | school, districts, top - News - The Orange County Register

Most O.C. districts say no to Obama ed reforms | school, districts, top - News - The Orange County Register:

"As few as nine Orange County school districts have committed to implement sweeping reforms championed under President Obama's federal Race to the Top grant program for schools, leaving up to 19 ineligible to receive the potentially millions of federal stimulus dollars that California is seeking.

School districts across the state were required to commit to the president's education reform agenda by Friday, ahead of a Jan. 19 deadline for California to apply for a federal Race to the Top grant. Twenty-one of O.C.'s 28 school districts initially committed to the plan, but many have since pulled out."

L.A. school board will weigh new policy to both help and rein in charters | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

L.A. school board will weigh new policy to both help and rein in charters | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times:

"The Los Angeles Board of Education Tuesday will consider new policies aimed at both assisting charters and holding them more accountable for their performance. The regulations, about a year in the making, include key provisions on conflicts of interest and services for disabled students that are opposed by the association that represents charter schools.

There are now more charter schools — enrolling more students — in Los Angeles than in any other city in the country. Their effect and performance were the subject of a Los Angeles Times special report on Sunday."

Sacramento Press / Higher Education Bill Suspended

Sacramento Press / Higher Education Bill Suspended

Assembly Bill 656, authored by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, was suspended after a second hearing at the Assembly Committee of Revenue and Taxation on Monday.

 AB 656, proposing an oil and gas severance tax with revenue going to California's higher education system, was introduced last February and went through the first hearing in May, but the hearing was canceled by Torrico.

 During the second hearing, Chairman Charles Calderon and the Revenue and Taxation Committee said they believed the bill needed further discussion and a possible decrease of the 12.5 percent tax rate originally proposed to a more reasonable 6 to 7 percent. 

"The real truth here is the bill is going nowhere--it's not getting off the floor," Calderon said during the hearing.  "Until we can function properly at the proper as constitutional form of government without these initiatives tying our hands in terms of what we can do and what we can't do, we are not going to solve that here today." 

Vote may shake up 90210 school attendance - 1/11/10 - Los Angeles-Southern California-LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports - abc7.com

Vote may shake up 90210 school attendance - 1/11/10 - Los Angeles-Southern California-LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports - abc7.com

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- The Beverly Hills school board will vote on whether to end the program allowing out-of-district students to enroll there.

The name and the zip code of Beverly Hills 90210 conjure up images of the rich and famous. Students from outside the city were attracted to the quality schools in this city. It's part of a permit program that allowed them to do that, but maybe not for much longer.
"This is an issue that's dividing our community and we need to get beyond it. Our goal is to try to be as fair as we can with our parents, both the permit parents and the regular parents," said Jerry Gross, superintendent of the Beverly Hills Unified School District.
This school district, like others, gets money from the state per student based on enrollment, but with big cuts from Sacramento, that will change. The district is now expected to get most of its money from property taxes. Some say resources need to be focused on resident students.

Top 5 Ways to Get Smart without Reading � The Class Struggle

Top 5 Ways to Get Smart without Reading � The Class Struggle:

"The Oxford Dictionary says that if you are illiterate you are two things:

1 unable to read or write

2 ignorant in a particular subject or activity

It is no accident that the English language uses the same word to describe these two things. The inability to read or write automatically ensures one’s ignorance of information. Traditionally, anyone without access to books or school had little hope of thriving in our world. That is what we have always been told, because until now that has always been true."

The Education Report: Tony Smith on federal school reform

The Education Report:

Tony Smith on federal school reform

"“In a lot of ways, we are leading the race.” — Oakland Superintendent Tony Smith to Phil Matier in reference to the competitive Race to the Top grants.

Yes, OUSD applied for the federal funds (which it only stands to receive if California gets any money in the first place), though teachers union President Betty Olson-Jones says"

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Application - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Application - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education):

"State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces

Submission of Application for $324 Million

in Federal State Fiscal Stabilization Funds"

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced California has submitted its application for the last 10 percent of funding from the federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) that would be allocated to the state totaling $324 million for kindergarten through grade twelve public education.

"My gratitude goes to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and President Barack Obama for making these funds available that have helped our financially struggling schools get through these tough economic times," said O'Connell. "I will continue to work closely with Governor Schwarzenegger to secure these much-needed funds for California schools. With this federal support we can further our efforts to improve student achievement by ensuring that all students have access to effective teachers, enhancing our longitudinal data system, maintaining our high standards, and focusing on data-driven reforms to help struggling schools."

SFSF is part of the federal stimulus package called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Funding comes in two phases. In the first phase, California received a grant of $2.6 billion in the spring of 2009, and an additional $355 million in the fall of 2009, making up 90 percent of the total amount available for K-12 public education. Of these amounts, $2.5 billion has already been disbursed to the public school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education. The funds are designed to help schools avert cuts in services and personnel, repair schools, and advance early learning to help students and their families.

The California Department of Education worked closely with the Schwarzenegger administration to prepare the application for the second and final phase of these SFSF funds totaling $324 million for K-12 education. To secure the funding, California assured the federal government that the state is making progress in four areas of reform. These include achieving equity in teacher distribution, improving collection and use of data, improving standards and assessments, and supporting struggling schools. How the second phase of funding will be disbursed has not been finalized yet.

For more information on the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, please visit State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

DOE to unveil a “common application” for charter schools | GothamSchools

DOE to unveil a “common application” for charter schools | GothamSchools

DOE to unveil a “common application” for charter schools

by Maura Walz

Charter schools could soon have one single “common application,” under a deal hatched today by the three bodies that oversee the state’s charter schools, a Department of Education official confirmed.

Right now, families apply by filling out separate forms for each charter school that enter their children into separate lotteries. Under the new process, the city will create one common application, accepted by all schools, but keep lotteries separate.

The change will answer critics’ charge that the current process, with its overwhelming paperwork, is so complicated that it discourages all but the most motivated parents and effectively screens out needy students. The introduction of a common application does not address a second demand from critics,including the teachers union — that the lotteries also be streamlined.

Michael Duffy, the head of the city’s charter schools, said the city’s goal was “to widen the access for families” to charter schools. Duffy previously spearheaded a push to increase recruitment by charter schools, and said that the new common application should help charters reach out to groups of students, including 

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HISD may fire teachers over test scores | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

HISD may fire teachers over test scores | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"Teachers in Houston ISD could lose their jobs for failing to improve student test scores under a controversial proposal slated for a school board vote Thursday.

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier's plan to tie teachers' job evaluations to their students' progress on standardized tests would put Houston among a small but growing number of school districts pushing to make it easier to oust ineffective teachers.

The more aggressive approach coincides with President Barack Obama's call for increased teacher accountability. His administration's $4.35 billion education grant competition, Race to the Top, excludes states that prohibit linking student test data to teachers' evaluations."

'Cadillac' Plans an Issue in Health Care Conference - Politics K-12 - Education Week

'Cadillac' Plans an Issue in Health Care Conference - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Congress is back this week. And while we've got a ways to go before lawmakers get down to work on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Act, or even the fiscal year 2011 budget bills, there's one piece of legislation folks in the K-12 community should watch very closely: the health care bill. While there isn't much in the bill that relates to schools specifically, at least one debate over how to help fund a health care overhaul could have a lasting impact on teacher recruitment and retention.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have approved their versions of the legislation. Now, lawmakers and the administration are wrestling with a compromise measure that they hope to send to President Barack Obama's desk before the state of the union, slated for late this month or early next.

One of the thorniest issues on the table, right behind that public option you've been hearing so much about, is the question of how to pay for the expanded coverage. The House bill includes a tax on high-income folks, while the Senate bill would place an excise tax on so-called Cadillac health plans, those that cost more than $23,000 a year.

Charter school sets course for the future ajc.com

Charter school sets course for the future | ajc.com:

"In about seven months, he intends to open a new charter school from scratch, recruit students, build a campus, find energetic teachers and secure the financing to pay for it all.

The Atlanta Heights Charter School, backed by a national brand in the education entrepreneur industry, is poised to make a multi-million dollar investment in educating Atlanta Public Schools students with no guarantee that its charter authorizer will withstand a court challenge.

On Tuesday, Madati will join the heads of six other new commission charter campuses racing against the school calendar and an uncertain future to apply for seed money to get their doors open. The Georgia Charter Schools Commission, which is facing two lawsuits challenging its authority to approve and fund new schools, has $5.5 million in federal grant money to share. And until a Fulton County Superior Court judge tells them otherwise, the commission is conducting business as usual."

Doing What Works - Practice Summary

Doing What Works - Practice Summary:

"Assign adult advocates to students at risk of dropping out.

Research has shown that sustained personal relationships between trained adults and at-risk students can help address students' personal and academic needs. Advocates can address the academic and social needs of students by building trust and helping students overcome obstacles such as low academic performance, poor attendance, or poor relationships with teachers. Advocates also can communicate and work cooperatively with families. The adult should be committed to advocating for the student and should believe that all students can succeed. The adult and student should have time to meet regularly, and the adult advocate should be prepared to be persistent. Training for adult advocates is essential."

Education Week's Digital Directions: Schools Fuel Demand for High-Tech Language Labs

Education Week's Digital Directions: Schools Fuel Demand for High-Tech Language Labs:

"When students of Spanish teacher Sean M. Boettinger put on their headsets in his Maryland high school’s language lab, their concentration heightens, he says. The up-to-date digital equipment, says the teacher, keeps them engaged with teenage-friendly electronics, allows them to get more practice listening and speaking Spanish, and, most important, blocks out distractions.
“Particularly in classes that have a hard time paying attention, having those headphones on, and me being able to speak through that microphone directly into their ears with no outside noises, is a great focusing tool,” says Boettinger, who teaches at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in the 134,000-student Prince George’s County district."