Education Week: Blair, Duncan Push Schools as Community Hubs

Education Week: Blair, Duncan Push Schools as Community Hubs

The campaign to turn more schools into community hubs got an injection of star power Wednesday from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who headlined an event on the topic sponsored by the Center for American Progress.

The occasion was the release of a new report by the Washington-based think tank pointing to England as a model for the nationwide spread of community schools, which offer a venue for both academics and social services.

By next year, all of England’s 23,000 public schools will become “extended schools” open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the year—a key education priority of Mr. Blair’s administration, which aimed both to make schools a place of learning and to give them a central...

Digital Education: The 'Inconvenient Truth' of Educational Inequity

Digital Education: The 'Inconvenient Truth' of Educational Inequity:

"The director of the Academy Award-winning film 'An Inconvenient Truth' wants his new upcoming documentary to fuel the same sense of urgency for improving education that his earlier one did for raising awareness of global warming. A preview was shown here at the Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age forum at Google headquarters.

In the preview of the documentary, director Davis Guggenheim takes a dramatic and emotional look at how low-income students and families in the District of Columbia are desperately trying to navigate the public school options that will give them the best chance of achieving academic success and breaking the cycle of poverty."

SN&R > Columns > Bites > Overqualified, underfunded > 10.29.09

SN&R ; Columns; Bites; Overqualified, underfunded; 10.29.09

The election is still eight months away, but contestants in the 5th Sacramento City Council District are already facing off at a candidate forum in the Florin Road Bingo hall tonight, Thursday, October 29. The 5th includes Curtis Park, Hollywood Park, Oak Park and a lot of other parks besides. It’s a crowded field full of interesting and smart candidates—all vying to replace Councilwoman Lauren Hammond, who is giving up her seat to run for the state Assembly.

The field shows why Sacramento’s campaign finance laws are completely broken.

The race is being dominated early by two pretty well-connected guys—school board member Patrick Kennedy and former school board member Jay Schenirer. Each has a long list of endorsers and donors, and they’ve basically divvied up Sacramento’s political establishment. For example, Kennedy boasts endorsements from Councilwomen Bonnie Pannell and Sandy Sheedy, along with heavy labor support. Schenirer is getting the nod from Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and most observers expect him to win the endorsement of Mayor Kevin Johnson.

No TRO For WTU, Yet - D.C. Wire -

No TRO For WTU, Yet - D.C. Wire -:

"The Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) failed today in its bid to secure a court order barring the District from formally discharging the 266 public school instructors and staff it laid off Oct. 2. But a D.C. Superior Court judge left the door open to taking action next week.
The educators have been on administrative leave, collecting salary and benefits for the last month, but are scheduled to be dropped from the city payroll this coming Monday.
WTU has sued, arguing that the action was an illegal mass firing and not, as the District contends, a budget-driven reduction in force. The union wants a permanent injunction that reinstates the teachers and returns them to the classroom while the matter goes before an arbitrator."

Children4Change

Children4Change:

Represent a Child To President Obama

"For too long the American K-12 education system has deteriorated compared to our international peers. Every child deserves the opportunity to receive a world-class education so that they may become financially self-sufficient, productive and engaged Americans citizens.

That American children should academically lead the world - as measured by international benchmark exams - is in the best interests of the child and of American society.
Although there are powerful organizations representing the interests of all the adults in K-12 education, no organization stands up forcefully for the interests of children. Until now.

Children4Change.org is a grassroots organization of ordinary Americans willing to take the side of an American child in the struggle for a high quality education."

NAEP State Mapping - State Mapping

NAEP State Mapping - State Mapping:

"Mapping State Proficiency Standards Onto NAEP Scales 2005-2007: Since 2003, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has compared each state’s standard for proficient performance in reading and mathematics by placing the state standards onto the NAEP scale.

The procedure, “mapping,” allows the level of achievement required for proficient performance in one state to be compared with the level of achievement required in another state. The mapping procedure offers an approximate way to assess the relative rigor of the states’ standards for proficient performance."

State Mapping Publications

Browse the executive summary of the report.
Download the full 2007 report (2985K PDF) to find out more about your state.
Download earlier reports:
Mapping 2005 State Proficiency Standards Onto the NAEP Scales.
Comparison Between NAEP and State Reading Assessment Results: 2003.
Comparison Between NAEP and State Mathematics Assessment Results: 2003.

More About State Mapping

View profiles of state assessment standards that provide detailed information on each state's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards, assessments, and exclusion rates. Profiles are available for 2007 or 2005.
View a table summarizing the percentage of students at or above NAEP Proficient and the percentage of students meeting state proficiency standards for 2007 or 2005.
More information to help you understand the report is available in the State Mapping FAQs.
Learn more about how NAEP relates to federal law.
View the State Mapping Presentation, a narrated PowerPoint presentation about state proficiency standards and the report.

Read Full Report: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/14142200/Mapping-State-Proficiency-Standards-Onto-NAEP-Scales-2005-2007

Obama nomination of donor as envoy put on hold - Washington Times

Obama nomination of donor as envoy put on hold - Washington Times:

"President Obama's nomination of a major campaign fundraiser as ambassador to Spain has been delayed in the Senate over questions about whether the White House is withholding information from lawmakers about the abrupt firing of a government watchdog official.

The nominee, Alan Solomont, served from April until recently as chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service, whose former inspector general, Gerald Walpin, was fired by the White House on June 10. Mr. Solomont, a Massachusetts health industry entrepreneur, helped raise at least $500,000 for Mr. Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and was among a group of top fundraisers, elected officials and others invited to a St. Patrick's Day party at the White House."

Pocket Online | superintendent

Pocket Online superintendent:

"Superintendent is firm as he tells the 60-70 adults and students gathered Monday night in the Kennedy High School cafeteria “we have a lot of change to make.” Raymond met with the group to introduce himself personally to those of us who live in the Greenhaven and Pocket neighborhoods. The session lasted almost two hours and while questions ranged from difficulty volunteering in schools to concerns that campuses aren’t good neighbors, Raymond returns often to the theme of change across the entire district. (I admit up-front that I did not include every topic for this article for reasons of brevity and cohesion.)"

The visit is part of the “listening to the community” the new superintendent said he wanted to accomplish during his first 100 days on the job. Raymond tells the crowd about three priorities he has already set … all of which deal with staff accountability. “We’re going to have certain achievement goals for each school. We’re going to have customer service goals and give teachers some leadership principles,” Raymond explains. “I’m not satisfied until everyone of our schools has a principal that we all feel like we want to send our children to. I know these are hard, lofty goals but why have anything lower?”

Raymond says parents must be a part of the equation for successful schools and asks adults to volunteer at campuses or participate in the school site council. Several parents tell the superintendent how the cost of fingerprinting is prohibitive or the massive amounts of paperwork discourage their volunteer effort. “There are so many opportunities even if it’s just making sure you child gets to school on time.” The superintendent then admits the system can also do better, “We need to be reaching out too. That’s what our teacher-parent home visits are for.”

Enrollment showcase provides answers for Sac City Unified parents - Latest News - sacbee.com

Enrollment showcase provides answers for Sac City Unified parents - Latest News - sacbee.com

Parents are invited to learn about schools and enrollment options in the Sacramento City Unified School District at an upcoming gathering.

The Open Enrollment - Showcase of Schools is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 7 at the district's Serna Center, 5735 47th Ave.

Parents can learn about the January 2010 open-enrollment application process that allows students to apply to schools not in their neighborhood attendance area. They also can meet principals, students and teachers from schools in the district.

The event is open to families living inside or out of the district. Out-of-district residents can apply for a permit to enroll at a Sacramento Unified campus.

Representatives from Sacramento-area colleges also will be on hand to help students and parents understand the college application process.

More information about the enrollment fair is at http://www.scusd.edu/ or by calling Mike Crosby in the district open enrollment office at 643-2348.

Report Questions Duncan’s Policy of Closing Failing Schools - NYTimes.com

Report Questions Duncan’s Policy of Closing Failing Schools - NYTimes.com:

"Secretary of Education Arne Duncan presided over the closing of dozens of failing schools when he was chief executive of the Chicago public schools from 2001 until last December. In his new post, he has drawn on those experiences, putting school turnaround efforts at the center of the nation’s education reform agenda."

Now a study by researchers at the University of Chicago concludes that most students in schools that closed in the first five years of Mr. Duncan’s tenure in Chicago saw little benefit.
“Most students who transferred out of closing schools re-enrolled in schools that were academically weak,” says the report, which was done by the university’s Consortium on Chicago School Research.

Furthermore, the disruptions of routines in schools scheduled to be closed appeared to hurt student learning in the months after the closing was announced, the researchers found.
The reading scores of students in schools designated for closing “showed a loss of about six weeks of learning” on standardized tests in the months after the closing announcement, the report said. Math scores declined somewhat less, it said.

Read the full report: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/14004229/When-Schools-Close-Effects-on-Displaced-Students-in-Chicago-Public-Schools

Doyle announces bill to let mayor take over MPS - JSOnline

Doyle announces bill to let mayor take over MPS - JSOnline:

"Milwaukee's mayor would have the power to not only appoint the city school system's superintendent but also set its annual tax levy under a legislative proposal Gov. Jim Doyle detailed Tuesday.

Flanked by five Milwaukee-area legislators, Doyle released more components of what he said would be within a bill introduced in the Legislature giving the mayor a strong hand in governance of Milwaukee Public Schools.

With little time left in the legislative session and the bill still in the drafting stage, Doyle said he may call a special session this year to consider mayoral takeover of MPS.
'I think we all feel this incredible sense of urgency that this has to be done,' Doyle said."

Michelle Obama makes room for classical music at the White House | Culture Monster | Los Angeles Times

Michelle Obama makes room for classical music at the White House Culture Monster Los Angeles Times:

"Classical music education will get some welcome attention next week when Michelle Obama opens the White House for a special concert.

Next Wednesday, the first lady will host a Classical Music Student Workshop Concert, which will feature an appearance by superstar violinist Joshua Bell, guitarist Sharon Isbin, cellist Alisa Weilerstein and pianist Awadagin Pratt. The afternoon concert, which will be held in the East Room, is part of the White House's ongoing Music Series, which was created by the first lady to celebrate the arts and demonstrate the importance of arts education.

The White House said that the concert will include two young performers: cellist Sujari Britt and marimba player Jason Yoder, who will perform with Weilerstein. On the same day, the White House will hold music workshops for 120 middle and high school students from around the country."

Education Week: L.A. Gives Parents 'Trigger' to Restructure Schools

Education Week: L.A. Gives Parents 'Trigger' to Restructure Schools:

"Who should decide when it’s time to overhaul a chronically underperforming school?

Soon, in Los Angeles, parents can.

Under new rules released this week by the Los Angeles Unified School District, parents whose children attend some of the lowest-performing schools in the city will have the ability to force the district to launch new reform initiatives at troubled campuses. The rules—written by Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines and his team—are part of a series of regulations being crafted to govern the district’s new school choice policy, which will allow outside groups, such as charter school organizations, to operate schools where student achievement has not..."

Parents and community leaders voice opinions on Renaissance 2010 program - WGN

Parents and community leaders voice opinions on Renaissance 2010 program - WGN:

"CHICAGO - Chicago Public School parents and community leaders voicing their opinions on the Renaissance 2010 program at the CPS board meeting today.

Some parents alleging that Renaissance 2010 is endangering students lives, disrupting communities and wasting public dollars. Parents also saying there is a connection between recent school violence and the Renaissance 2010 program.

CPS parent Julie Woesterhoff says that it's irresponsible for the CPS school officials to not make that connection.

'If there is any possibility that a policy your putting in place is killing children and escalating violence, you need to put the breaks on it,' Woesterhoff said.

Some parents at the meeting were in favor of Renaissance 2010. Adrienne Leonard saying it is not the reason for escalating violence blaming the parents instead.

'It's parental involvement, if parents were involved our schools wouldn't be in the shape that they are in,' Leonard said, 'We are all responsible for what's going on.

CPS Board president Michael Scott has promised to meet with parents regarding the program. But right now they have no plans to rescind Renaissance 2010.

As defined by CPS, Renaissance 2010 was started back in 2005 as an effort to create 100 high-performing public schools in designated communities of need by 2010. Mayor Daley has long been a supporter of Renaissance 2010."

Sequoia district gives Everest charter school a raw deal - San Jose Mercury News

Sequoia district gives Everest charter school a raw deal - San Jose Mercury News:

"Back in 2002, when I began with The Daily News as a freelance reporter, one of my first assignments was covering a fledgling charter school in Redwood City. It was Aurora High School, and I wrote that parents who were attracted to it were most interested in academic excellence and student safety. I also wrote that despite the school being located in a windowless business space, the school glowed with enthusiasm and a family-like spirit.

Unfortunately, among charter schools within the Sequoia Union High School District, Aurora struggled and finally closed, as did another noble charter experiment, High Tech High. Current charter high schools within the district include two in the East Palo Alto area. The most successful appears to be Summit Preparatory Charter High School in Redwood City, which opened its doors in 2002."

Top universities are now posting lectures online - Oct. 29, 2009

Top universities are now posting lectures online - Oct. 29, 2009:

"(Money Magazine) -- Last autumn I took time off to go back to school. The timing turned out to be just right: My American economic history course at the University of California at Berkeley got to the Great Depression in early October, around the time everyone became convinced we were about to have another one.

The professor, a former Treasury official named Brad DeLong, had no shortage of opinions on what needed to be done about the current crisis. Hearing those arguments in the context of the Depression's grim history made the stakes especially vivid."

Yudof Seeks More Federal Aid for Public Universities - The Daily Californian

Yudof Seeks More Federal Aid for Public Universities - The Daily Californian:

"Amid dwindling state funds and proposed student fee increases, UC President Mark Yudof is calling for an increase in federal support for public higher education.

In a proposal released last week, Yudof outlined ideas for an 'integrated national strategy' that would increase federal funding for public universities across the nation, suggesting a $2.5 billion federal investment in universities' operations and an additional $3 billion for graduate programs."

San Mateo Daily Journal

San Mateo Daily Journal: "One year ago, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell anticipated having $18 billion more to spend on students in the state than his department has today.

That dollar amount was hoped for before the state found itself in its current financial quagmire. The loss of revenue has prevented class-size reduction, diminishing the achievement gap and funding more career technical programs, O’Connell said at a town hall meeting last night hosted by state Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo.

“The budget is ugly. No matter how bad I say it is — it’s worse,” O’Connell said."

Schwarzenegger sends hidden retort » Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Schwarzenegger sends hidden retort » Corpus Christi Caller-Times:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger typically attaches a message to bills he signs or vetoes telling lawmakers why he took the action.

A Democratic assemblyman who heckled the governor during a recent event in San Francisco actually received two messages: the veto letter itself and a not-so-subtle rebuke creatively hidden within it.

Like a find-the-word puzzle, the second message was visible by stringing together the first letter of each line down the left-handed margin. It consisted of a common four-letter vulgarity followed by the letters “y-o-u.”

“My goodness. What a coincidence,” said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. “I suppose when you do so many vetoes, something like this is bound to happen.”"

PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

PE.com Southern California News News for Inland Southern California:

"More than a quarter of English learners don't make it into mainstream classes by the eighth grade in Los Angeles and most of those who don't were born in the United States, according to a study released Wednesday.

The study by Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at the University of Southern California showed 29 percent of English learners in the Los Angeles Unified School District were still in these classes in the eighth grade. More than half of these students were born in the United States and were in classes for English learners for more than eight years.

'They're staying too long' in these classes, Institute President Harry Pachon told reporters.

'It's much easier to be shunted into the ELL (English language learner) classes than it is to be shunted out,' he said."

Daily 49er - Calif. oil, gas tax bill in Assembly

Daily 49er - Calif. oil, gas tax bill in Assembly:

"A bill that could give higher education funding in California a shot in the arm is currently in committee in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 656, authored by majority leader Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, would place a 9.9 percent severance tax on oil and gas extracted in California. According to a statement released by Torrico, the bill would raise approximately $1 billion for the University of California, California State University and California Community College systems.

The California Faculty Association has been collecting pledges in support of the bill since Oct. 12. Roughly 5,000 signatures were collected in the first week alone, according to CFA Communications Director Alice Sunshine.

CFA members spoke and collected pledges at Cal State Long Beach on Tuesday. Sunshine said the events have been successful in raising awareness and collecting signatures."

Gazettes Town-News > Opinion > Editorials

Gazettes Town-News > Opinion > Editorials:

"What? They want money again?

They do. And we need to give it to them.

The “they” is the Long Beach Unified School District, and the “they” is us. We need to keep our schools functioning at their current level, and the only way to insure that is to pass Measure T at the special election Tuesday.

Measure T would impose a $92 parcel tax in Long Beach for the next five years. The only property owners to be exempted would be seniors older than 65 who apply for that exemption.

That means we all would share the burden — homeowners, shop owners and factory owners. And you can bet home and business renters will foot part of the bill in the form of increased rent, just as they do every time a property tax comes along."

Classwish

Classwish:

"Our schools simply don’t have the resources our children need to explore their potential and excel.

ClassWish.org, an exciting new nonprofit, offers a simple solution.

Teachers and school leaders create Wish Lists of the items they need, as easily as shopping online. Parents, alumni, local businesses and others see exactly what is needed and how their tax-deductible contribution can help. ClassWish sends the materials to the school at no cost.

The result? Teachers get the support they need. Communities are engaged in supporting classrooms and funding the things they care about. And everyone is united in helping our children learn, grow and perform at their best.

Get Involved: Teachers Parents & Supporters PTA & PTO"

PunjabNewsline.com - Student kicked out from school for wearing traditional nose stud

PunjabNewsline.com - Student kicked out from school for wearing traditional nose stud:

"NEVADA(USA): Indo-Americans have urged Bountiful Junior High School in Utah (USA) to immediately reinstate its student who was reportedly kicked out of school for nose piercing, alleging violation of school dress code.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this student was apparently honoring the tradition of her father, who was reportedly from India, by putting a stud in her pierced nose. Nose piercing and nose ornaments had been a tradition of women of India for centuries and the Hindu goddesses had been depicted wearing nose ornaments."

The DC VOICE Ostrich: Moving the Discussion to Teacher Quality

The DC VOICE Ostrich: Moving the Discussion to Teacher Quality

Teacher quality and effectiveness have long been topics of debate among DC VOICE members and constituents. One positive aspect of the recent RIF (Reduction In Force), school equalization, and DCPS budget discrepancies is that teacher quality has once again been positioned at the forefront of discussion. Chancellor Rhee has stated that this RIF was necessitated by school budget cuts at the City Council level, while many others believed that it was an internal strategy aimed at improving teacher quality beyond the strict confines of the existing, yet outdated, Washington Teacher’s Union Contract. While the RIF will long be argued, DC VOICE believes this is an opportunity to refocus the conversation on overall teacher quality. Budget shortfalls and tenure aside, DCPS students deserve quality, experienced teachers who are continually offered enhanced development and instruction techniques.

Texas Education Agency Launches New Brand and Website for Texas 21st CCLC Program | Business Wire

Texas Education Agency Launches New Brand and Website for Texas 21st CCLC Program Business Wire:

"SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced today a new dynamic brand for the Texas 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program. The new brand, Afterschool Centers on Education™, referred to as ACE™, communicates the focus of academics through extended learning with the incorporation of “Education” in the program name.

ACE provides extended learning opportunities for students and their families in over 630 Centers across the state that offer innovative, hands-on activities based on research and best practices. A main goal of ACE is to provide engaging out-of-school-time activities to ensure that all students graduate prepared for college and the work place."

http://www.texas21afterschool.org/08/

Education Week: STEM Defection Seen to Occur After High School

Education Week: STEM Defection Seen to Occur After High School:


"Despite popular opinion, the flow of qualified math and science students through the American education pipeline is strong—except among high-achievers, who appear to be defecting to other college majors and fields.
That is the provocative conclusion of a study, released today, which disputes the idea that students are leaving the mathematics and science fields because they lack preparation or ability.

A chorus of elected officials and policymakers have suggested that U.S. schools are not producing students with the talent necessary to make it academically or professionally in the “STEM” fields of science, technology, engineering, and math."

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Talks Begin Quietly on Fixing Schools

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Talks Begin Quietly on Fixing Schools

Education, business and community leaders who earlier aired their concerns about the exit of Superintendent Terry Grier are meeting at the University of San Diego today to go over a new study of test scores, finances and employment in San Diego Unified.

They also plan to talk about improving what happens for kids in the massive school district.

It is the first such gathering after Grier departed, signaling that the alarm about the status quo at the school district hasn't disappeared along with the last superintendent. It could be a reawakening for business leaders, who have shied from school matters in the years since Alan Bersin led the schools, though members stress that the coalition also includes educators, community members and parents outside the business sphere.

Nestle Waters gets partial OK to resume plant construction - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Nestle Waters gets partial OK to resume plant construction - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Nestlé Waters can resume building its water bottling plant in south Sacramento after City Attorney Eileen Teichert ruled Tuesday the project was exempt from special permits the City Council might pass regulating similar facilities.

City building officials said the company could resume electrical and utilities work at its plant in the Florin Fruitridge Industrial Park today, after part of a stop work order issued Friday was removed. The work stoppage had been ordered while the council considered placing special permits on beverage bottling plants and building officials researched permits issued to Nestlé."

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

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

"(Media-Newswire.com) - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today called for America’s colleges of education to dramatically change how they prepare the next generation of teachers so that they are ready to prepare their future students for success in college and careers.

Noting that America’s schools will need to hire up to 200,000 first-time teachers annually for the next five years, Duncan said that those new teachers need the knowledge and skill to prepare students for success in the global economy.

“By almost any standard, many if not most of the nation’s 1,450 schools, colleges, and departments of education are doing a mediocre job of preparing teachers for the realities of the 21st century classroom,” Duncan said in a major speech at Teachers College, Columbia University. “America’s university-based teacher preparation programs need revolutionary change--not evolutionary tinkering.”"

State Board of Education members accused of not disclosing gifts | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Texas Politics | The Dallas Morning News

State Board of Education members accused of not disclosing gifts News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News Texas Politics The Dallas Morning News:

"AUSTIN – A nonprofit watchdog group filed complaints Monday with the Texas Ethics Commission against two State Board of Education members, saying they failed to disclose gifts they received from a company seeking an investment contract with the board.

Texans for Public Justice said board members Rick Agosto and Rene Nunez, both Democrats, did not disclose gifts they received last year from AEW Capital Management of Boston in their personal financial disclosure statements filed with the ethics commission.

Public officials in Texas are required to disclose gifts they receive valued at more than $250."

After Complaints, Gates Foundation Opens Education Aid Offer to All States - NYTimes.com

After Complaints, Gates Foundation Opens Education Aid Offer to All States - NYTimes.com:

"Last July, Bill Gates sat down with lawmakers from 15 states in a conference room in Philadelphia, and he had good news. His foundation would give their states up to $250,000 each, he said, to help them prepare the kind of sparkling grant proposals that could help their states win hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money.

“He said he’d identified 15 states he’d like to work with, and if you’re in this room, you’re one of the 15 states,” said Senator Nancy C. Detert, chairwoman of the Education Committee in the Florida Senate, one of the lawmakers who attended."

Naturally, the 15 states were delighted. But the other 35, not so much. Some officials complained that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was trying to handpick the winners of the Department of Education’s $4 billion grant competition, known as Race to the Top. The National Conference of State Legislatures was one of several groups that relayed objections.

“We expressed concerns that it appeared that Gates people were involved in helping the department pick winners and losers,” said David Shreve, federal affairs counsel at the national conference.

Editorial: New approach needed for funding education | Kalamazoo Opinion - - MLive.com

Editorial: New approach needed for funding education Kalamazoo Opinion - - MLive.com:

"It’s ironic that at a time when schools are showing gains in test scores and other areas, they are also under increasing pressure to cut everywhere.

On the positive side, the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores have been on the increase.

The Kalamazoo Public Schools are making great strides in better preparing students, including minorities, for college. A major example is the explosion of numbers of KPS students taking AP classes.

Advanced Placement courses follow a national curriculum and offer college-level academics to high school students who then get college credit for passing a national AP test.

Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Michael Rice recently reported that enrollment in the AP program in his district has increased 71 percent during the two years he has been at the helm. Especially encouraging is that the percentage of minority AP students has tripled. Rice also reported that the goal of doubling the AP enrollment within six years will happen much sooner."

Albert Lea Tribune | Special education services start shortly after boy’s birth

Albert Lea Tribune Special education services start shortly after boy’s birth

At the age of 5 months, Jesus Sifonte became a student of Albert Lea Area Schools. He has been receiving service year-round since Feb. 12, 2007. Jesus was born with Down syndrome, a condition known to hinder development.

Jesus is eligible to receive special education services according to both federal and state statutes. In Minnesota, these services are mandated for school districts to provide.
Services provided included home-based visits by an early childhood special education teacher, occupational therapist, and physical therapist serving him in his home. He also received indirect service from one of the district’s speech/language pathologists. Before Jesus was 2 years old, he had gained enough skills so the services of the occupational therapist and physical therapist have become less direct and more consultative.

http://idea.ed.gov/

Vampire Lit Lures Students at VCU | Articles/Archives | Style Weekly Richmond's alternative for news, arts, culture and opinion

Vampire Lit Lures Students at VCU Articles/Archives Style Weekly Richmond's alternative for news, arts, culture and opinion:

"It’s an old story: Boy meets girl, boy sneaks into girl’s room and gnaws on her neck, girl joins ranks of the undead, boy turns into a large bat and flits out a window.

With one foot in eastern European lore and the other straddling 21st-century popular culture, vampire legends are now the topic of a Virginia Commonwealth University literature course, Vampires from Dracula to Twilight, which explores the birth of the original undead bloodsucker and his seemingly eternal life in pop culture.

The class charts his bizarre evolution from ghastly ghoul to lisping breakfast cereal pitchman to irresistible teen heartthrob."

Obama to visit Madison

Obama to visit Madison:

visit will be about education

"On the anniversary of his historic election November 4, President Obama will visit the Madison area. The White House says Wednesday’s visit will be about education. There’s speculation the event meant to drum up support for a potential gubernatorial run by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Rumors have circulated that the Obama team is secretly encouraging Barrett to run for the seat

The event also coincides with a bill supported by Governor Doyle and Barrett to have the Milwaukee mayor’s office take control of city schools. Barrett argues such education reforms are looked favorably upon by the US Education Department and would put Wisconsin in better standing for federal stimulus funds.
The scheduled stop will be Obama’s first to the Madison area since November of 2008 while campaigning prior to the Democratic primary."

Ex-member of DPS reform board testifies | Detroit Free Press | Freep.com

Ex-member of DPS reform board testifies Detroit Free Press Freep.com:

"A former member of the city's reform school board testified today that the body had a few reports about the progress of the $1.5-billion bond program but no authority over the spending."

Reginald Turner, who left the Detroit Public Schools reform board in 2003 to join the state school board, also told school officials that he had concerns about the district's move from its former headquarters that it owned outright to the Fisher Building.

The transaction cost the district $24 million for five floors of the Fisher in addition to $17 million in construction costs and $2 million a year in leasing costs.

Turner testified this morning at the third investigative hearing into real estate transactions that occurred during the state takeover using funds from the $1.5-billion bond voters approved in 1994.

Turner said a school official assured him at the time of the transaction - 2002 - that the move to the Fisher Building would result in "significant savings."

Fenty Gets the Royal Treatment: Loose Lips Daily - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Fenty Gets the Royal Treatment: Loose Lips Daily - City Desk - Washington City Paper:

"AFTER THE JUMP—WaPo editorial calls for investigation of parks contracts; TV reporters dig in; closed-door council meeting gets testy; key senator refuses to allow D.C. vote on defense approps bill; principal neglects to proofread court filing; judge stalking trial begins

The WaPo opinion page is starting to realize that, with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, good intentions do not necessarily make good government. Editorialists say that his parks contract maneuverings demand further investigation: ‘Fenty boasts that his administration represents a break from the old ways of doing business in the District, when whom you knew mattered more than what you could do for the city. What, then, to make of reports that the administration bypassed the D.C. Council to award tens of millions of dollars in contracts and that some of the firms may have ties to Mr. Fenty?

…It’s important that the D.C. Council, which plans a roundtable on the issue on Friday, get all the information about the projects in question, determine whether proper procurement steps were indeed followed and then decide how to proceed in protecting the best interests of the city.’ The piece also describes as ‘apt’ Mary Cheh’s comment that the process seems ’sneaky.’"

Power to the principals -- baltimoresun.com

Power to the principals -- baltimoresun.com:

"Most school districts find something that works for one particular teacher for one particular group of kids and then try to force everyone to apply it, as if teachers were robots and kids were interchangeable. It doesn't often result in high-quality education, but it sure makes life easier for central office bureaucrats.

Education is supposed to involve professionals building relationships with kids. Good teachers in good schools get to know their students and then figure out what works for those kids. Good principals are the same. The best ones are empowered leaders who allocate resources based on what their students need - not what the central office wants.

That is the theme of this year's must-read education book, 'The Secret of TSL' by William G. Ouchi, a professor at UCLA and arguably the nation's best management writer. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Ouchi explained Japanese management to U.S. business. Now, after observing 665 schools across the U.S. and Canada, Mr. Ouchi concludes that, as in business, management matters in schools."

Immigrant Children Lost in Education Reform - NAM

Immigrant Children Lost in Education Reform - NAM:

"Ruby Takanishi, president and chief executive officer of Foundation for Child Development, recently co-edited a new book titled, Immigration, Diversity and Education, with Elena L. Grigorenko. She spoke with New America Media Education Editor Carolyn Ji Jong Goossen about the current challenges facing immigrant children in the United States and the reforms needed to support their future health, wellbeing, and academic success.

Do you feel like the new administration has adequately addressed immigrant children’s issues thus far?

No. The fact of the matter is that immigrant children are not on anybody’s agenda, except in a negative way. First of all, there has already been a decision to exclude many immigrant children and their families from public health insurance access. There is also very little discussion in the education initiatives being presented, including the “Race To The Top” funds, the stimulus funds, and even the No Child Left Behind policy. The opportunities for doing positive social policy is not evident.

I would say that in terms of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics, it does seem to be that the shift from going after employees to going after employers would be less traumatic to children.That’s not to say that undocumented workers won’t still lose their jobs, but at least their parents won’t disappear. I understand that they are trying to change some of their practices of detaining families in detention facilities, so that’s certainly encouraging. But overall, I personally have been very disappointed that the administration had opportunities to do positive things for children of immigrants, but hasn’t done anything so far."

A Look at Community Schools

A Look at Community Schools:

"Children living in poverty face many obstacles outside the classroom that can hinder their success in the classroom. Unaddressed health care needs interfere with learning and cause low attendance. Inadequate and inconsistent housing may deprive students of a safe and quiet place to study. A lack of affordable and accessible child care forces many young adults to sacrifice learning opportunities to care for younger family members. And poverty’s economic stress may cause students to be less engaged and parents to be less involved in their children’s education.

The advent of accountability-based school reform has pushed many high-poverty schools to focus on providing effective instruction and meeting high academic standards. Numerous schools have made progress in these areas but few have been adequately equipped with the tools needed to confront external learning obstacles related to poverty."

Education Week: Chicago School Closings Show Little Academic Gain

Education Week: Chicago School Closings Show Little Academic Gain:

"A majority of Chicago students affected by school closings were sent to schools that were low-performing, just like those they left behind—moves that had no significant impact on performance for most students, a study released today finds.

The study, by the University of Chicago’s Consortium on Chicago School Research , examines the academic effects of the closings on students at 18 elementary schools shut down between 2001 and 2006. To measure the impact, the researchers compared students age 8 and older with their counterparts in schools that had similar characteristics but continued to operate. The schools had a combined enrollment of 5,445 students at the time of their closing."

L.A. Unified to allow parents to initiate school reforms -- latimes.com

L.A. Unified to allow parents to initiate school reforms -- latimes.com:

"For the first time in Los Angeles, parents will be able to initiate major reforms at low-performing individual schools, rather than waiting for the school district to make changes, under a plan unveiled Tuesday.

This new parental power has emerged as part of a school-control resolution that allows for groups inside and outside the Los Angeles Unified School District to take over campuses. Supt. Ramon C. Cortines has included 12 underachieving schools and 18 new campuses in the process, but the parent option could add others to the list, especially in future years."

American Thinker: What Bill Ayers Saw in Barack Obama

American Thinker: What Bill Ayers Saw in Barack Obama:

"In 1994, while Barack Obama's memoir Dreams From My Father was being polished off, Bill Ayers co-authored an essay whose title befits a former merchant seaman: 'Navigating a restless sea: The continuing struggle to achieve a decent education for African American youngsters in Chicago.'

In 'Navigating,' Ayers and his nominal co-author, former New Communist Movement leader Michael Klonsky, offer a detailed analysis of the Chicago school system and a discussion of potential reforms. Curiously, so too does Obama in Dreams."