Schwarzenegger's budget plan puts unions in the cross-hairs - latimes.com

Schwarzenegger's budget plan puts unions in the cross-hairs - latimes.com

Widespread teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and increased economic hardship for children are among the impacts California's budget crisis and the recession have had on public schools, including those in Monterey County, according to a new report.

Researchers at UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education and Access interviewed 87 elementary, middle and high principals across California to gauge the impact of the recession and budget cuts on student welfare and school learning environments.

Before the recession began, California K-12 public schools, which were among the nation's best in the 1960s, already ranked near the bottom nationally in many measures of academic achievement and school quality.

The economic downturn and state budget crisis has undermined recent academic gains and widened the disparity between schools in rich and poor communities, said John Rogers, the institute's director.

"It's taken California several steps backward on the road to improvement," Rogers said. "It's also harmed the long-term prospects for California to rebuild a quality education system."

Report: California's public schools reeling from recession | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

Report: California's public schools reeling from recession | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

Widespread teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and increased economic hardship for children are among the impacts California's budget crisis and the recession have had on public schools, including those in Monterey County, according to a new report.

Researchers at UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education and Access interviewed 87 elementary, middle and high principals across California to gauge the impact of the recession and budget cuts on student welfare and school learning environments.

Before the recession began, California K-12 public schools, which were among the nation's best in the 1960s, already ranked near the bottom nationally in many measures of academic achievement and school quality.

The economic downturn and state budget crisis has undermined recent academic gains and widened the disparity between schools in rich and poor communities, said John Rogers, the institute's director.

"It's taken California several steps backward on the road to improvement," Rogers said. "It's also harmed the long-term prospects for California to rebuild a quality education system."

Education is Challenger's challenge - latimes.com

Education is Challenger's challenge - latimes.com

Challenger Memorial Youth Center in Lancaster is both Los Angeles County's largest juvenile detention camp and its greatest failure.

It costs as much as $50,000 a year to house a youth at Challenger -- about the same amount as tuition and room and board at an Ivy League university. But that's where the comparison ends. The facility's school is appalling, with 95% of its students scoring below proficiency on state exams.

Challenger is the target of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into mistreatment and poor supervision of the 650 students housed at the facility's six juvenile camps. It was cited in a 2009 county Probation Commission report as operating a "broken" school system. And this month, our coalition of nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit asking that the county be ordered to meet at least minimum standards in educating our community's most at-risk youth.

A young man we identify in court papers as Casey A. was kept in custody at Challenger during his high school years and given a high school diploma late last year, despite being unable to read or write. Rather than coming up with a strategy that would teach him to read, a teacher at Challenger appointed a "para-educator" to read assignments out loud to him. Knowing that Casey was illiterate, the staff fed him answers so that he could pass the required state exams. 

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- Alfredo A. Martinez-Morales has been named managing director of the Southern California Research Initiative for Solar Energy (SC-RISE), a new and innovative collaboration between researchers, industry and government based at UC Riverside's College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT).

(Media-Newswire.com) - RIVERSIDE, Calif. ( www.ucr.edu ) -- Alfredo A. Martinez-Morales has been named managing director of the Southern California Research Initiative for Solar Energy ( SC-RISE ), a new and innovative collaboration between researchers, industry and government based at UC Riverside's College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology ( CE-CERT ). “To fulfill its mission of being a catalyst for the adoption of affordable solar energy, SC-RISE must be about education, applied technology, research and especially connections with those in Southern California who are concerned with sustainable energy,” said Matthew Barth, faculty director for CE-CERT, who announced the appointment. “Alfredo brings us the expertise to move that diverse agenda forward.” As managing director, Martinez-Morales will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the initiative and moving forward its multiple goals. SC-RISE was created to advance solar energy technologies, train professionals for the industry, nurture new businesses and assist commercial and residential energy users in identifying appropriate applications for solar energy. Martinez-Morales received his Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. degrees in electrical engineering from UCR. He served as laboratory manager for Professor Mihrimah Ozkan’s Biomedical Science and Nanotechnology Laboratory, which focuses on silicon photovoltaics and low-cost, hybrid polymer-carbon nanotube solar devices that can be deposited on flexible or hard surfaces.

Despite problems, laptops boost student test scores

Despite problems, laptops boost student test scores

Despite problems, laptops boost student test scores

By John Timmer | Last updated January 25, 2010 6:30 AM

Flickr user billaday

The past several years have seen laptop prices plunge to commodity levels at the same time that the explosion in WiFi access has made getting them on the 'Net much easier. That's prompted an explosion of one-to-one student:laptop programs, implemented by everything from individual schools to entire states. Hard data on the effectiveness of these programs, however, has been hard to come by. The most recent issue ofThe Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessmentis devoted to looking at these programs, and it includes some hard data suggesting that they just might help students handle standardized tests.

There are six papers, all dedicated to looking at different attempts at 1:1 laptop programs at different levels of primary education in the US. A few of those are focused on self-reported surveys of how teachers and students view the programs, however; there are only two that focus on hard numbers obtained via statewide standardized tests.

Microsoft and the Corporation for National and Community Service Launch New Initiative to Promote Student Leadership... -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Microsoft and the Corporation for National and Community Service Launch New Initiative to Promote Student Leadership... -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Six schools highlight how others can connect service and technology to transform learning

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Microsoft Corp. and the Corporation for National and Community Service announced six schools -- from California,Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia -- have been selected to participate in the Service & Technology Academic Resource Team (START). The initiative recognizes the leadership shown by students and teachers in schools across America who are working together in meaningful ways to revitalize learning, schools and communities through the use of technology.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

START redefines the role of the student in the classroom and creates a new kind of collaboration between students and teachers through technology-focused service-learning. The goal is to utilize the technology skills of students to partner with teachers and determine where technology best fits into the learning environment. The selected schools will receive grants and serve as national laboratory sites and as examples of how schools can integrate service-learning and technology into the classroom. The schools will present their scalable best practices today for Karen Cator, director of Education Technology for the U.S. Department of Education.

Doyle should copy the Terminator on prisons

Doyle should copy the Terminator on prisons:

"State of the State addresses are, for the most part, desultory speeches that only serve to remind voters of what is not being done -- or, when governors are in promising mode, what will not be done.

It is even worse when the executives peddling the rhetoric are lame-duck governors who are counting down the days to the end of their terms.

That’s the circumstance Gov. Jim Doyle will find himself in this week as he delivers his final State of the State address to Wisconsinites, who polls suggest have soured on his plodding approach to governing.

Doyle does not have to go out as an uninspired manager, however. He has one last chance to be a visionary player in the affairs of a state that he has served for the better part of two decades as attorney general and governor."

Could California School Reforms Eventually Reach N.C.? - State - News : Lincoln Tribune : Instant, reliable and credible local news.

Could California School Reforms Eventually Reach N.C.? - State - News : Lincoln Tribune : Instant, reliable and credible local news.:

"RALEIGH — On Jan. 7, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed sweeping school reform legislation that many observers are heralding as historic and bold, providing parents a greater voice not only in choosing a school that best serves their children but also in petitioning school boards to fix persistently failing schools.

This legislation lets California compete for up to $700 million of the $4.3 billion in competitive grants available to states through the Obama administration’s Race to the Top program. State leaders filed the application in time for the Jan. 19 deadline.

The Race to the Top initiative, authorized by Congress in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is intended to provide states with incentives for future education improvements and to reward those that have demonstrated a history of improving student academic performance."

California schools angry over even more cuts - San Jose Mercury News

California schools angry over even more cuts - San Jose Mercury News:

"Despite Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaiming this month that his proposed budget 'protects education,' school administrators say they will actually lose about $200 per student under Sacramento's version of new math.

Already distraught about having to make significant cuts, largely because of the loss of one-time federal stimulus funds, school administrators are furious about what they see as the governor's false promise.

'His idea of no cuts to education is baloney,' said Superintendent Marc Liebman of the Berryessa Union School District. 'We're looking at deficits of almost $8 million.'

The numbers are similar for other districts dependent on Sacramento for the bulk of their revenue. The Cupertino Union School District faces cutting an estimated $8.8 million, Gilroy Unified $6.3 million and San Jose Unified $10.5 million."

Editorial: Sac City schools ripe for a new era - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Sac City schools ripe for a new era - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee:

"In just six months, Californians have seen a welcome shift in the public education landscape. President Barack Obama's Race to the Top challenge provided the impetus for California lawmakers, school superintendents and boards, parents, teachers and civic leaders to join forces in new ways to improve public education.

In coming months, a prime area for action at the local level will be getting the right teachers to the right schools and creating schedules that meet the needs of today's students."

That includes getting beyond 19th-century farm economy scheduling to a longer school day and year. It also means challenging everybody to think differently about the role of unions in public education.

As U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a speech last year, teachers unions are at a crossroads. Policies created over the past century, he said, "protect the rights of teachers, but they have produced an industrial factory model of education that treats all teachers like interchangeable widgets."

He's encouraging union-management partnerships "to develop better hiring, compensation, evaluation and turnaround strategies."

Some Foundations, Too, Are Quitting California | California Progress Report

Some Foundations, Too, Are Quitting California | California Progress Report

Gates and Hewlett, two leading foundations that have been generous supporters of major California programs and organizations in education and many other fields are said to be so frustrated by the state’s lack of leadership, its legislative gridlock and the power of public sector unions in blocking reforms that they’re sharply reducing their funding in California.

Although no one will speak on the record, it’s no secret among state education officials and leaders of at least some of the organizations that have been beneficiaries of those foundations that they will probably lose major chunks of their funding. Both foundations, said a Sacramento-based education consultant, “Have in many ways given up on California.”

The two foundations’ current beneficiaries include, among many others, the Public Policy Institute of California, the Bay Area Council, the California Budget Project, the University of California, Stanford, the California Counties Educational Services Association, the Los Angeles Unified School District, EdSource, the Community College Foundation, the City and County of San Francisco, the Butte Community College Foundation, and the New Teacher Center.  How many of them will be affected is anyone’s guess.

The Washington Teacher: Does Michelle Rhee Deserve To Be Named Person Of The Year ?

The Washington Teacher: Does Michelle Rhee Deserve To Be Named Person Of The Year ?

Does Michelle Rhee Deserve To Be Named Person Of The Year ?

You Gotta Be Kidding Me

I received this email alert today which is worth reading and was also posted on The WaPo online site by Efavorite. (click on Efavorite to see the comment). The suggestion that Chancellor Michelle Rhee should even be considered for Person of the year is unbelievable in light of her recent statements to Fast Company magazine in which she stated that she fired DC's laid off teachers because they had sex with students, abused students as well as their leave. This email alert reads:

ALERT: "In today’s print edition of the Post on page B2 (Outlook) there is a big paid advertisement from the Federal City Council that starts out saying, "Michelle Rhee deserves to be named DC Person of the Year.” It goes on to list all the usual lies (Baltimore miracle, DCs academic achievement attributed to her, etc.). It’s signed by Frank Keating, President of the organization and former Republican governor of Oklahoma. The piece doesn’t come up on the Post website, I suppose because it is an advertisement and not an article. I also couldn’t find the ad poking around a bit on the Federal City Council website, but perhaps others here could take a stab at it @ http://www.federalcitycouncil.org/

WHY WE NEED ROLE MODELS IN SCHOOL & WORK MORE THAN EVER - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.

WHY WE NEED ROLE MODELS IN SCHOOL & WORK MORE THAN EVER - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.

"The young entrepreneurs who are starting companies for the first time are best served by seeking out and getting experienced serial entrepreneurs
 as angel investors, board members, and mentors.
We encourage all of the first time entrepreneurs we work with to do this."

                                                     - Fred Wilson, Principal, Union Square Ventures
                         (link to Wilson's post below)

By C.J. Westerberg

One of my big obsessions in the school arena is the importance of role models and mentors for students.  I've been known to beat the drum incessantly about this subject in school board meetings, parent conversations, and frankly, to anyone who will listen. 

In our schools, we often think about teachers, school and extra-curricular activities separate from role-modeling.  For example, my daughter went to a school which touted its mentoring program when it really was nothing more than an occasional presenting of a rose or some other token by an older student after a school play or award ceremony.  There was no real meaningful interaction.

The school my daughter now attends happens to have a great Head who believes very strongly in how the everyday behavior of teachers and coaches IS one of the best opportunities for role-modeling.   There are also real initiatives such as having students read to the younger, less accomplished kids or the many collaborative opportunities where the bar gets raised with the collective input of all . . .students as role models for others.  (We know parents are key role models and is worthy of its own separate conversation).

When I came across this post by Fred Wilson, principal of Union Square Ventures, from his popular blog AVC, it was just too good to pass up.  He parallels role-modeling in school with role-modeling in the business world.  I personally think with the state of ourunemployment and economy, we need collaboration and mentoring more than ever. Here's Fred's take:

"Both of my girls played in this league in their middle school years and then assistant coached in it during their high school years. The skills and experience they developed playing in this league allowed them to be leaders and top players on their

Sunnyside, TUSD work to counter charters' lure

Sunnyside, TUSD work to counter charters' lure

Nearly 900 eighth-graders have left the Sunnyside Unified School District since 2006 to attend private or charter schools - costing the district about $3 million in state funding.

And the Tucson Unified School District - the largest in the city - has lost about 8,300 students to charters over five years - some 3 percent of its enrollment. Such losses would have cost the district an estimated $36 million in state funding, although officials say some of the students have returned.

TUSD has tried for years to find ways to stop the hemorrhaging - bulking up its niche programs, studying who's leaving for where, and advertising its extracurriculars to parents and students. Last year, the district budgeted almost $420,000 for school-choice exploration. The initiative encourages schools to transform, offering a special focus or learning model that would draw in and retain students.

SAC CHARTERGATE: DC School Chancellor Under Fire

SAC CHARTERGATE: DC School Chancellor Under Fire

Fox 5 on the Story

DC Schools Chancellor Comes Under Fire

The Washington Teachers Union is outraged by soon-to-be published comments by DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. In the February issues of the business magazine "Fast Company", Rhee says some of the 266 teachers she laid off last October had had sex with students, had hit students and had missed 78 days of school.

Many of those employees let go in a mass reduction in force are still looking for work. Washington Teachers Union President George Parker tells FOX-5, Rhee has done reckless damage to the reputation of innocent teachers. He wants an investigation and says the union is looking at legal options. Union Vice President Nathan Saunders says Rhee should have reported such abuse to the police, as required under federal and state law. He says she could face criminal charges.

A spokesman for the US Attorney's office says the matter was never referred to them for prosecution.

The office of DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier says they are researching the accusations and cannot comment at this time.

Sacramento Press / Kings Size High School Challenge to benefit local schools

Sacramento Press / Kings Size High School Challenge to benefit local schools

The Sacramento Kings introduced an exciting new program to benefit high schools in the greater Sacramento area Friday, January 22. Participating high schools will compete in the “Kings Size High School Challenge” to raise funds for their school.

“The Kings Size High School Challenge is a great vehicle for local high schools to raise funds for their school programs,” said Danette Leighton, vice president of marketing for Maloof Sports & Entertainment. “This program is the first of its kind for this community, and we hope to grow it to include even more schools next season.”

All participating schools attended a draft lottery event yesterday at the Kings Practice Facility, similar to the NBA’s draft lottery, where they drafted their Kings player “sponsor” and game date. The Kings player they draft will make a visit to their school in late January or early February to officially tip-off the program. For every ticket the school sells for its selected game, a percentage of the sale will benefit its desired high school programs.

Gates Foundation's new home halfway finished

Gates Foundation's new home halfway finished:

"SEATTLE -- In designing the futuristic headquarters of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the lead architect says, the wife of the Microsoft co-founder wanted it to be a bold reflection of the organization's mission to improve the lives of the poor around the world and inspire visitors to give back to their communities.

The foundation is planning to welcome passers-by to step into an interactive museum featuring the Gates' vision and the organizations and projects the foundation supports. The center will be similar to the efforts of other nonprofits to feature their work, such as Mercy Corps' Hunger Action Center in Portland, Ore., and Heifer International's Global Village in Little Rock, Ark.

'There a real effort here to say: 'We have a bold vision. There's courage and there's determination behind it',' says Steve McConnell, managing partner of NBBJ, referring to both the Gates campus and the Gates Foundation."

Teachers learn to make handwriting less of a drag

Teachers learn to make handwriting less of a drag:

"When it comes to teaching handwriting to wary elementary students, Paula Heinricher said yesterday, teachers might want to incorporate foot-tapping, scuba diving and ditties into the lesson.

'Capital 'C' is tall, tall, tall. Lowercase 'c' is small, small, small,' Ms. Heinricher sang cheerily as about 20 teachers and occupational therapists waved their pencils aloft.

The group gathered in an Uptown hotel on National Handwriting Day to learn how to teach handwriting more effectively and creatively. As Ms. Heinricher tells it, the two go together like the intersecting lines on a lowercase 't.'

Take the song about letters, for example.

'When we put things to music, we remember them better,' said Ms. Heinricher, an occupational therapist"

S.D. teachers asked to take pay reduction - SignOnSanDiego.com

S.D. teachers asked to take pay reduction - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"Teachers and other San Diego school employees could take pay cuts next year of up to 8 percent to help offset a projected $93 million deficit, under a proposal presented to labor groups this week.

The San Diego Unified School District — the state’s second-largest — avoided cuts to its permanent teaching force last year through an early-retirement incentive and other budget trims.

“We realize how difficult it is for our teachers, who are the lowest-paid in the county, and our bus drivers and cafeteria workers, who are really on the edge of poverty, to take a pay cut during these uncertain times,” said school board President Richard Barrera. “If we can achieve savings through salary cuts, we can avoid layoffs and we can fully fund our priorities and do what is best for children.”

Any dock in pay could be reversed, and possibly reimbursed, when the district’s revenues increase, Barrera said."

2theadvocate.com | News | La. schools being hit by squeeze on funding — Baton Rouge, LA

2theadvocate.com | News | La. schools being hit by squeeze on funding — Baton Rouge, LA:

"As state officials seek to funnel more students into the two-year schools, Louisiana’s community and technical colleges are simultaneously dealing with growing numbers and declining budgets.

“We’re still looking at very healthy enrollments,” said Kay McDaniel, the Louisiana Technical College regional director in Baton Rouge.

“That’s our frustration,” she said, noting that some students have been turned away from their first-choice career paths because of adjustments required by budget cuts.

“There’s so many students to train, but we have limitations,” McDaniel said.

Community and technical colleges are currently implementing $8.2 million in budget cuts, or 4.5 percent of their state funds."