Schools Matter: Oligarchs and Hedge Fund Managers Trying to Save Radioactive Rhee

Schools Matter: Oligarchs and Hedge Fund Managers Trying to Save Radioactive Rhee

Oligarchs and Hedge Fund Managers Trying to Save Radioactive Rhee

by Jim Horn

The top 25 hedge fund managers took home an average of $1 billion each last year, according to Les Leopold. What would that buy in terms of education?

In 2009, the worst economic year for working people since the Great Depression, the top 25 hedge fund managers walked off with an average of $1 billion each. With the money those 25 people "earned," we could have hired 658,000 entry level teachers. (They make about $38,000 a year, including benefits.) Those educators could have brought along over 13 million young people, assuming a class size of 20. That's some value.

And so it is heartwarming to see the deep generosity of these grand thievers going to fund the pay-per-score plan that the Billionaire Boys Club has sold to DC teachers, who have not had a pay raise in 3 years. Of course, the IRS is paying them for their generosity. From Bill Turque:

A Houston foundation created by a billionaire hedge fund manager who began his career as a trader for Enron would finance part of the proposed contract between DCPS and the Washington Teachers' Union. The Laura and John Arnold Foundation would provide $10 million of the $64.5 million Rhee has assembled to pay for teacher raises and performance bonuses under the tentative agreement announced this week.
While a couple of the names in the private funding mix, Eli and Edythe Broad and the Walton Family Foundation, are highly recognizable brands in the world of educational philanthropy, the Arnolds are relatively new players. Their IRS Form 990 for 2008 lists a $5 million donation to Baylor 

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by Jim Horn

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The Stimulus Test and Title I � The Quick and the Ed

The Stimulus Test and Title I � The Quick and the Ed

The Stimulus Test and Title I

by Ben Miller

In the midst of an interesting memo defending President Obama’s decision to propose level funding Title I for next year, Raegan Miller of the Center for American Progress raises the point that many states and school districts don’t need increased Title I money because they are still receiving additional stimulus dollars. That’s a good point and makes a lot of sense–no need to spend more when there are already federal funds available.
But while the stimulus funds may be enough to justify flat-funding Title I for next year, it also hints at some important looming questions in all levels of federal education spending—what to do when the stimulus money expires.
As Miller notes, school districts and states still have some remaining funds from the $10 billion provided for Title I in the stimulus that would supplement the flat funded level of $14.49 billion for Title I. According to Jennifer Cohen, my former colleague at the New America Foundation, only about 24 percent of Title I stimulus funds had been disbursed by March 5. Coupled with the fact that up to 15 percent of the $10 billion can be reserved for the

Best Writing Sites | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Best Writing Sites | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Best Writing Sites

by Larry Ferlazzo

Here’s another review of some of my “The Best…” lists. Today, I’d like to share a recap of the ones related to writing. Again, I hope you find them helpful. Because of some technical issues that I’m too lazy to fix, these particular links might not work well if you’re subscribing to this blog via email, or viewing it on Facebook. RSS Readers feeds should be fine. If you go directly to my blog, though, they’ll all work fine.
They include:

“Slavery Museum”

by Larry Ferlazzo

The Slavery Museum is a pretty impressive multimedia site that appears to be designed by students.

“Pic Ghost”

by Larry Ferlazzo

1 person liked this

Pic Ghost is a new online photo editor that lets you upload up to twenty photos at a time. It’s editing functions

Cinco de Mayo

by Larry Ferlazzo

Cinco de Mayo, May 5th, commemorates the defeat of the French by the Mexican Army in 1862. It’s a national holiday in Mexico, and is celebrated by Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans in the United States

Intriguing New Reading Site For Beginners

by Larry Ferlazzo

Everyday Life is an extraordinary interactive site for ELL’s sponsored by a North Carolina-based organization called GCF Learn Free. It’s on several of my “The Best…” lists.

“On Music”

by Larry Ferlazzo

1 person liked this

“On Music” is a new simple application that lets you search for and play music online.

Environmental Resources

by Larry Ferlazzo

I’ve just revised and updated:

Weekly Address: Recovery Act Benefiting American Families During Tax Season | The White House

Weekly Address: Recovery Act Benefiting American Families During Tax Season | The White House

Weekly Address: Recovery Act Benefiting American Families During Tax Season

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama spoke to the American people about how to take advantage of Recovery Act tax benefits ahead of Tax Day – April 15, 2010. Largely due to the Recovery Act, the average tax refund is up nearly 10 percent this year. One-third of the Recovery Act was made up of tax cuts – tax cuts that have already provided more than $160 billion in relief for families and businesses, and nearly $100 billion of that directly into the pockets of working Americans. To help taxpayers see for themselves exactly how they can benefit from Recovery Act tax credits and collect every dollar owed when they file this tax season, the White House launched a new interactive Tax Savings Tool available at www.WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery.

A fact sheet about the tax benefits in the Recovery Act is below the text.

The full audio of the address is HERE. The video can be viewed online at www.whitehouse.gov.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
April 10, 2010

All across America are good, decent folks who meet their obligations each and every day. They work hard. They support their families. They try to make an honest living the best they can. And this weekend, many are sitting down to pay the taxes they owe – not because it’s fun, but because it’s a fundamental responsibility of our citizenship.

But in tough times, when many families are having trouble just making it all work, Tax Day can seem even more daunting. This year, however, many Americans are seeing some welcome relief.

So far, Americans who have filed their taxes have discovered that the average refund is up nearly ten percent this year – to an all-time high of about $3,000. This is due in large part to the Recovery Act. In fact, one-third of the Recovery Act was made up of tax cuts – tax cuts that have already provided more than $160 billion in relief for

Eight Hillsboro School District schools will background check all volunteers under test program | OregonLive.com

Eight Hillsboro School District schools will background check all volunteers under test program | OregonLive.com

Eight Hillsboro School District schools will background check all volunteers under test program

By Wendy Owen, The Oregonian

April 10, 2010, 4:00AM

View full sizeBENJAMIN BRINK/The OregonianParent Robin Olafson is among the roughly dozen volunteers who help out daily Indian Hills Elementary in Hillsboro. Starting in mid-April, Hillsboro School District is testing a program that requires parent volunteers to have statewide criminal records checks. Olafson helps kindergartners Kylee Green (right) and Parker Kelson.HILLSBORO -- By the end of this school year, more volunteers will have passed through Hillsboro schools than employees.

The 2,400 teachers, secretaries, custodians and administrators have had their fingerprints taken and names checked for arrests and criminal convictions; most of the thousands of classroom volunteers and event chaperones have not.

They simply sign in at the main office, get a badge and visit a classroom to assist a teacher. Or they stop by after school to help load band instruments or hop on a bus to chaperone the drill team.

But that will change in mid-April at eight district schools, as they test a program to background check all volunteers -- from grandmas to Intel engineers.

The basic records check will not require fingerprints, but it will require a date of birth and either a Social Security number or an identification number. If it works, the district plans to expand the program to all 33 schools in the fall.

Schools are joining a growing number of organizations that check the backgrounds of their volunteers. Beaverton and Tigard-Tualatin school districts have had districtwide programs in place for at least two years.

Charter-school report puts blame on School District | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/09/2010

Charter-school report puts blame on School District | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/09/2010

Charter-school report puts blame on School District

By Martha Woodall

Inquirer Staff Writer

City Controller Alan Butkovitz said Thursday that the Philadelphia School District had failed to monitor 67 charter schools, leaving both it and the taxpayers "extremely vulnerable to fraud, waste, and abuse."
Releasing a long-awaited report that looks in depth at 13 charter schools and at the district's charter oversight office, Butkovitz also proposed amending state law to reduce opportunities for fraud.
"In spite of the numerous problems uncovered at individual charter schools, the biggest problem lay clearly with the school district's Charter Office," he said at a news conference. "There was a complete and total failure on the part of the Charter Office to monitor charter schools and hold them accountable for how they spend taxpayers' dollars. . . ."
Butkovitz said the report, based on a 14-month fraud investigation, disclosed "questionable practices, suspect relationships, and potential vulnerabilities." He called on the district to exercise the oversight called for by the 1997 state law that created charter schools.
As The Inquirer reported this week, investigators in Butkovitz's office found financial and ethical problems at all 13 schools they examined, including excessive salaries for chief executives, compliant boards whose members were handpicked by school chiefs, inflated rents, and rampant conflicts of interest.
Butkovitz said that except for when schools' operating charters were up for renewal every five years, the district provided only "minimal oversight" of ongoing school operations, which cost city taxpayers $300 million a year.
Benjamin W. Rayer, chief of the district's Charter Office, responded that Butkovitz's review began prior to his arrival

Christie seeks cap on N.J. public college tuition

TRENTON - Gov. Christie wants to cap tuition and fee increases at the state's four-year public colleges and universities at 4 percent, after proposing to cut the schools' state aid by nearly 18 percent.

L. Merion official acknowledges race factored in plan

Lower Merion's top school official on Thursday acknowledged instances in which racial factors figured in the sifting and ultimate selection of a controversial redistricting plan.

Annette John-Hall: Not a shortcut, 2 students find

As students at Widener University's School of Nursing, Barbara Prosser and Sabrina Whitaker were already on their way to fulfilling their dream of becoming registered nurses.

Grant to help Oakland's Fremont and Castlemont campuses - Inside Bay Area

Grant to help Oakland's Fremont and Castlemont campuses - Inside Bay Area

Grant to help Oakland's Fremont and Castlemont campuses By Kelly Rayburn and Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 04/09/2010 06:34:41 PM PDT Updated: 04/10/2010 05:34:15 AM PDT OAKLAND — A $382,639 state grant recently awarded to the city will be used to tackle gang violence and boost graduation rates on two Oakland high school campuses, Mayor Ron Dellums' office said this week. The grant, which comes from the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Program, is designed to help students on the Fremont and Castlemont campuses by putting them on a path to become teachers or social workers. "Too many of our young people are dying as a result of gang violence," Dellums said in a statement, adding that the effort "will allow us to wrap our arms around youth" by providing support and career opportunities and creating a caring environment at the two campuses. Specifically, the money will be used to create 70 part-time jobs for Oakland youths who will be placed in jobs in after-school programs or social service agencies as a possible first step toward becoming teachers or social workers, Dellums' office said. It also will establish facilities at the Fremont and Castlemont campuses to offer career advice to students and adults. And it will provide participating students the opportunity to enroll in a Summer Bridge program aimed at building math and literacy skills. Officials hope to reduce gang involvement by 75 percent among participating students and increase graduation rates so that 85 percent of those taking part go onto higher education. Paul Seave, director of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy, said in a statement: "This project has the refreshingly high but reasonable

California Revises Rules on Paid Internships - NYTimes.com

California Revises Rules on Paid Internships - NYTimes.com

California Labor Dept. Revises Guidelines on When Interns Must Be Paid

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Published: April 9, 2010

RelatedCalifornia’s labor department has issued updated guidelines on whether internships should be paid or unpaid, with the new rules giving employers slightly more latitude not to pay them.

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  The Unpaid Intern, Legal or Not(April 3, 2010)

In an advisory letter to a program that teaches information technology, the department’s top lawyer reinterpreted the criteria on compensation for internships, and, in a nod to employers, said interns need not always be paid when they do some of the same work as regular employees.

Many wage and hour regulators maintain that interns must be paid if their work is of “immediate advantage” to the employer, but the California agency’s top lawyer advised that such an advantage can be offset — and the intern not be paid — if the employer provides close supervision and lays out money for training.

Over all, the guidance from the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement was emphatic that for internships to be unpaid, they must be educational and predominantly

Your Money: Working Financial Literacy Into the Classroom

by By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD

While more states are beginning to require personal finance instruction, there aren’t enough that do, experts say, and the quality is inconsistent.

News10.net | Legislative analyst: State community college fees should rise

News10.net | Sacramento, California | Education Home

Education News

Legislative analyst: State community college fees should rise

• Comments

The California Legislative Analyst's Office is recommending state community colleges can help resolve their budget woes by increasing some student fees by 60 percent.

Megan Fox slams Schwarzenegger, California education

• Comments

Megan Fox and her sometime boyfriend, actor Brian Austin Green, took aim at Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, protesting California school budget cuts in a new video online.

Folsom Lake College SIFE prepares for San Francisco competition

• Comments

The Folsom Lake College SIFE will showcase 13 community-based business projects on April 6 in a competition in San Francisco.

Officials hope UC Merced expansion will spur jobs

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Merced officials are hoping expansion plans at UC Merced will help brighten the city's employment picture.

Humboldt State may cut entire programs

• Comments

Among the programs that could be eliminated at Humboldt State University are chemistry, computer science, fisheries biology, nursing, philosophy and physics.

California Administrators Take Aim At Activists’ Wallets � Student Activism

California Administrators Take Aim At Activists’ Wallets � Student Activism

California Administrators Take Aim At Activists’ Wallets

April 9, 2010 in Students

When students at San Francisco State University took over that campus’s business school building in December, the university responded with force. Administrators brought police from campuses across the state to the scene, broke a window to gain access, and arrested eleven student activists.

In the weeks after the arrests, administrators and students worked out a deal to resolve the charges. Ten of the eleven students signed on to the agreement — admitting their participation in the occupation, accepting a semester’s academic probation, and promising to pay the university restitution for damage.

No exact figure for the restitution was agreed upon, but students were promised that the amount would be minimal. Students say they were told they would be charged for minor physical damage like scratches to walls, and that the total assessment would be no more than $50 per student.

But when the university finally billed the group not long ago, the figure was nearly fifteen times that high — $744.25 per student, $8,186.71 in total. The fee included not just cleanup from the damage done by the students themselves, but also the replacement of the window the cops chose to break and even the lodging costs for housing non-local police.

Reached for comment this week, university spokesperson Ellen Griffin acknowledged that the university had promised the students that charges

Local News | Superintendent Dorn asks forgiveness from students, state | Seattle Times Newspaper

Local News | Superintendent Dorn asks forgiveness from students, state | Seattle Times Newspaper

Superintendent Dorn asks forgiveness from students, state

In his first interviews since his arrest March 21 for drunken driving, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said he hopes his mistake will prevent others from making the same one, especially students.

By Linda Shaw

Seattle Times education reporter

Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said he met with a group of high-school students Thursday and told them about his recent drunken-driving conviction as a cautionary tale.

At the end, he said he asked for their forgiveness.

On Friday, in one of his first interviews since his arrest March 21, Dorn essentially asked the state to forgive him, too.

"I don't want this to define who I am," he said.

Dorn has pleaded guilty to one count of drunken driving, even though his attorney told him he probably