Babs vs. Carly | California Progress Report

Babs vs. Carly California Progress Report:

"According to a recent LA Times poll, California's U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer is still nearly as popular as her counterpart, Dianne Feinstein.

Nevertheless, Boxer will face a tough battle to retain her senate seat next year against former Hewlett Packard executive Cara Carleton “Carly” Fiorina.

Political handicappers have underestimated Fiorina’s chances, due primarily to her choppy performance as an economic adviser to John McCain and her mixed record as HP’s CEO.

But there are reasons to believe that a Boxer/Fiorina matchup could be a blockbuster. Boxer, a three-term incumbent Democrat, may be vulnerable to the electorate’s sour mood and the traditional midterm election backlash against the incumbent president’s party. Undoubtedly, “Babs” (her nickname used by close friends) will face bruising attacks from Fiorina and her political brain Marty Wilson – a former adviser to Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Rising Protest Against Dismantling of Higher Ed | California Progress Report

Rising Protest Against Dismantling of Higher Ed California Progress Report:

"Students, faculty and staff at California’s public universities are mounting a new wave of protests against tuition hikes and enrollment cuts this week.

As public opinion of the governor and the legislature’s handling of higher education reaches a record low, concern grows that California is systematically dismantling a system of public higher education that was once the model for the nation.

Student organizations at the University of California plan a three day strike to begin on November 18 to coincide with the meeting of the UC Board of Regents at UCLA. UC student organizations and staff unions are descending on the Regents meeting to protest proposed 32 per cent tuition increases. On November 18 and 19, thousands of UC workers represented by University Professional and Technical Employees, CWA local 9119, plan a two day walkout at several campuses to protest unfair labor practices."

The Silent Unraveling of the CSU | California Progress Report

The Silent Unraveling of the CSU California Progress Report:

"Throughout the state, thousands of students are rushing to get their admissions applications into the California State University’s (CSU) 23 campuses before the November 31 priority deadline. Within the first two weeks of the submission period, applications had already exceeded the number of spots available.

Given the CSU decision to decrease enrollment by 40,000 students, compared to its 2008-09 enrollment, and since record numbers of students are applying, there will be tens of thousands of disappointed qualified students."

While many hope that this is only a temporary setback for the CSU in this time of budget shortfalls, the CSU administration is quietly working to overhaul the system so that it will continue to exclude qualified students.

Those students lucky enough to get in may very well find a CSU that is a mere shadow of its former self without basic departments and programs essential to a university. As administrators restructure the university without public knowledge and public debate, they may be creating a second-class institution that does not meet the social, economic, and educational needs of Californians.

Courts caught in state's budget mess - Capitol and California - Fresnobee.com

Courts caught in state's budget mess - Capitol and California - Fresnobee.com:

"When the state assumed full financial responsibility for the court system a decade ago, it was billed as a way of relieving pressure on county finances.

However, much like the state's shouldering the financial burden for schools, judicial centralization has created unintended consequences. In both cases, hitherto independent systems have found that shifting financial responsibility to Sacramento puts them in competition with other sectors of the state budget for increasingly limited dollars."

idsnews.com | Indiana Daily Student |

idsnews.com Indiana Daily Student :

"Lastly, an education plan would need to be created that every state must adopt, allowing for a massive charter school reform and giving every parent the right to choose the best education for their child. Gingrich said he wanted to make education the “first civil right of the 21st Century.”

As America losses its edge in the world, education must be the starting point for regaining its lost position.

Will a second “Contract with America” work? Most likely it will depend on the status of the economy and Afghanistan at the time of the election next year."

Schools In The Dark About Tainted Lunches | wltx.com

Schools In The Dark About Tainted Lunches wltx.com:

"Days would pass before local health officials determined that the tortillas served at Starbuck and four other schools in Racine were to blame for 101 illnesses. An Internet search showed them the stunning particulars: The company that supplied the tortillas had a long history of making children sick.

Before the illnesses in Racine, flour tortillas from Chicago's Del Rey Tortilleria caused similar outbreaks at more than a dozen schools in two other states - in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2006, Del Rey recalled tens of thousands of tortillas after health officials linked them to illnesses at schools in Massachusetts and Illinois. And in a 2006 study of prior outbreaks, a panel of top scientists with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration even offered this warning: 'Flour tortillas manufactured by Del Rey hold the potential to cause illness.'"

Don't save bad schools--terminate them - Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on Education

Don't save bad schools--terminate them - Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on Education:

"This year's hot education topic is fixing what is broken. The first sentence of U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan's July 22 speech was: 'Today, I want to focus on the challenge of turning around our chronically low-achieving schools.' It is a noble quest I have long supported. But I have come to wonder if it might be a big waste of time and money. Most efforts to save such places have been failures.

Why not just close them down and start fresh? Why kill ourselves trying to root out the bad habits of failing schools?"

ACLU sues Cheatham County schools over religious activity | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

ACLU sues Cheatham County schools over religious activity tennessean.com The Tennessean:

"Cheatham County school officials have promoted their own religious beliefs and allowed and encouraged public prayers at school events, according to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU.

Civil rights attorney George Barrett and the Tennessee chapter of the ACLU filed the suit against the Cheatham County School Board in federal court Monday on behalf of four students, listed under aliases.The lawsuit alleges: a planned prayer took place at graduation last spring; the Gideons International were allowed to speak to classes and distribute Bibles; a cross hangs in a classroom; and a history teacher taught that the United States is a 'Christian nation' and decried the separation of church and state.The suit asks the court to stop the activities."

Fairfax schools debate language instruction and its costs - washingtonpost.com

Fairfax schools debate language instruction and its costs - washingtonpost.com:

"The Fairfax County School Board took a sharp detour from America's aversion to learning foreign languages when it adopted an ambitious goal in 2006 that language instruction should start early and graduates should be able to speak two languages.

In an increasingly interconnected world, school leaders reasoned, English is insufficient to succeed at international business or diplomacy. Fairfax County, a cosmopolitan suburb near a seat of world power, where 40 percent of students hear or speak another language at home, seemed a natural place to make foreign language instruction a top priority."

Judge tells Chicago to let students transfer - Yahoo! News

Judge tells Chicago to let students transfer - Yahoo! News:

"CHICAGO – A federal judge says Chicago Public Schools must arrange for the immediate transfer of students who want to leave a South Side high school after an honor student's brutal beating death.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman's ruling Monday came in a lawsuit filed last week against the district by 11 students who say they don't feel safe at Christian Fenger Academy High School. Along with the transfers, the students want a judge to order the district to make Fenger safer.

Derrion Albert, a 16-year-old Fenger honor student, was beaten to death in September during a sprawling fight that was caught by a cell phone video camera.
Messages left for a district spokeswoman and lawyer weren't immediately returned."

China fuels US foreign student boom - Yahoo! News

China fuels US foreign student boom - Yahoo! News:

"WASHINGTON (AFP) – Soaring interest by Chinese students has led to record foreign enrollment at US universities, offering a potential boon to the United States both economically and politically, a study said.

Indians remained the biggest group of foreign students in the United States in the last academic year but their numbers appeared to be leveling off, while strong growth came from China, Vietnam and several other emerging economies.

The United States hosts far more foreign students than any other country, owing to their universities' reputation, flexibility and concerted recruitment drives, said the Institute of International Education, an educators' group."

High Schools Struggle When Gender Bends the Dress Code - NYTimes.com

High Schools Struggle When Gender Bends the Dress Code - NYTimes.com:

"BY now, most high school dress codes have just about done away with the guesswork."

Girls: no midriff-baring blouses, stiletto heels, miniskirts.

Boys: no sagging pants, muscle shirts.

But do the math.

“Rules” + “teenager” = “challenges.”

If the skirt is an acceptable length, can a boy wear it?

Can a girl attend her prom in a tuxedo?

In recent years, a growing number of teenagers have been dressing to articulate — or confound — gender identity and sexual orientation. Certainly they have been confounding school officials, whose responses have ranged from indifference to applause to bans.

Last week, a cross-dressing Houston senior was sent home because his wig violated the school’s dress code rule that a boy’s hair may not be “longer than the bottom of a regular shirt collar.” In October, officials at a high school in Cobb County, Ga., sent home a boy who favored wigs, makeup and skinny jeans. In August, a Mississippi student’s senior portrait was barred from her yearbook because she had posed in a tuxedo.

For more information:
Think before you speak. Don't say "That's So Gay.":

Ford Gives Money to Teachers Unions - WSJ.com

Ford Gives Money to Teachers Unions - WSJ.com:

"We hate to say it, but don't be misled by headlines. The biggest headline in education circles last week was that the Ford Foundation is making a whopping $100 million grant 'to transform secondary education in the nation's most disadvantaged schools.'

Our eyes raced to see which piece of the vibrant school-reform movement Ford was going to support. Would it be America's 4,600 charters schools, many outperforming their traditional school peers and some even closing the race gap? Maybe it would be Teach for America, busting at the seams and turning down Ivy League applicants by the hundreds. Or, who knows, maybe Ford's really on the leading edge, and would want to support voucher programs in cities like Washington.

Would you believe the recipients of Ford's largesse are the teachers unions? Yup. The folks at Ford are giving new meaning to the word 'retro.'"

'Kids don't try' at Bx. bummer

'Kids don't try' at Bx. bummer:

"Last year, Peace and Diversity Academy in The Bronx had a respectable 68 percent graduation rate and a B on its first-ever report card.

Seemingly overnight, the school tumbled to an F grade and a preliminary 2009 graduation rate of 38 percent -- a whopping 30 percentage point drop.

'I'm not surprised,' said Shaneeka Bromfield, a 16-year-old junior, who blamed low expectations. 'We'll be in class and say something so simple or answer a simple question and the teacher will act so amazed, like they're surprised that we know something.'

Ariana Gooden, a 15-year-old sophomore who transferred to the school this year from a Catholic school, added, 'Kids don't try here.'

School officials said the academy has faced many obstacles, including massive student turnover, after two location changes since 2004."

About 75% of city high schools receive an A or B; only one receives an F

About 75% of city high schools receive an A or B; only one receives an F:

"Only one school got hit with the dreaded F this year on this year's high school report cards - and some students say the place is so bad they want out.

'I've been making complaints to my mom and my father,' said Shameeka Bromfield, a 10th-grader at Peace and Diversity Academy in the Bronx, which fell to the flunking grade from last year's B. 'I want to transfer.'

Shameeka, 16, said the work at the Morrisania school isn't rigorous enough. Other students complained about the lack of extracurricular programs and said the school has been moved several times, including to buildings where it wasn't wanted."

UC Davis News & Information :: UC Davis Dedicates Historic Native American Garden

UC Davis News & Information :: UC Davis Dedicates Historic Native American Garden:

"California Indian song, bustling tours and quiet, personal moments were all part of the dedication on Nov. 14 of a new outdoor reflective space honoring the Patwin who once lived on the land that would become the University of California, Davis.

The Native American Contemplative Garden is part of a larger UC Davis project -- believed to be the first at any public university in the nation -- to honor the land's original inhabitants and to educate the campus and its visitors about them.

Among those attending the ceremony were Patwin Elder Bill Wright; Charlie Wright, tribal chair of the Cortina Rancheria; Larry Myers, executive secretary of the California Native American Heritage Commission; Martha Macri, professor in the UC Davis Department of Native American Studies and holder of the Rumsey (Yocha Dehe) Endowed Chair in California Indian Studies; and UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi."

'A work of spirit'

Inés Hernández-Avila, a professor of Native American studies and person of Nez Perce and Chicana heritage who collaborated on the garden, calls it "a work of spirit." Under the guidance of Patwin Elder Wright, she said, work on the garden is fostering healing after campus construction projects disturbed native remains.

"The land that UC Davis sits on is ancestrally Patwin land," said Hernández-Avila. "This contemplative garden is a reminder that the connection still exists for the Patwin people who themselves are a living presence in California."

"This recognition is a gift to the campus, to the native community and to everyone," she added. "It's a gift that a lot of people had a part in."
Garden features

The garden sits on the bank of the historic Putah Creek channel and within the UC Davis Arboretum, a living museum with 100 acres of gardens and plant collections known internationally as scientific and horticultural resources.

The garden features naturally shaped basalt columns representing the Patwin people and their strength and resilience; trees and other plants used by the Patwin people; a curving path representing the flow of the creek and the flow of time; and a spiral seating area designed after the coiled start of a Patwin basket.

Going Green in Madrid: When Was the Last Time YOU Rollerbladed? >>

Going Green in Madrid: When Was the Last Time YOU Rollerbladed? :

"Irvine is in the heart of one of the most environmentally friendly areas in California. During the last few months of my stay in Madrid, Spain as a student on the Education Abroad Program, I have found more ways of implanting a sustainable lifestyle.

First and foremost, I am extremely lucky to have access to Madrid’s state-of-the-art Metro system. The metro is one of the things I love most about this city. It allows you to get anywhere around the center of the city within 10 minutes.

Besides public transport, Madrilenos love to use their own methods as well. On a random day in Madrid, I can find a number of people rollerblading or walking. The city is very pedestrian friendly and “paseos” — walks around the open courtyards and terraces — are a way of life."

FORUM: NCT ignored The Classical Academy's success

FORUM: NCT ignored The Classical Academy's success:

"I am perplexed. Where is the reporting when it comes to success being printed in the North County Times?

On Oct. 19, the California Department of Education issued a press release from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell regarding three schools receiving the award for being 'exemplary.'

The Classical Academy in Escondido is the only charter school to receive this recognition this year, and only the second charter school in the state to hold this prestigious award. This information has been printed in other newspapers outside of San Diego County, but not here, where one of the award-winning schools is located.

In a time of increased scrutiny on test scores, student performance measures, and accountability on individual schools, having this accolade aligns with our success as a charter school. Having a high-quality school in our community that provides excellent options for students, dynamic programming that complements core academics, and high test scores where parents are the primary educators sounds like a story worth telling"

Villaraigosa, teacher groups vie for 4 schools -- latimes.com

Villaraigosa, teacher groups vie for 4 schools -- latimes.com:

"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and groups of teachers backed by the Los Angeles teachers union will compete for control of four campuses, including Jefferson High School, as part of a groundbreaking reform initiative.

The impending face-off emerged Monday as groups inside and outside the Los Angeles Unified School District scrambled to meet a 5 p.m. deadline for applications to run 30 district schools. In separate news conferences, the union and the mayor lauded their own education records as they marked a milestone in the widely watched reform effort.

After filing 'letters of intent' for their targeted schools, the bidders, including charter school operators, now have until Jan. 11 to develop full-fledged proposals."

Educational Policy Expert Receives Urban School Improvement Research Grant : University of Rochester News

Educational Policy Expert Receives Urban School Improvement Research Grant : University of Rochester News:

"Educational policy expert Kara Finnigan, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Rochester's Warner School of Education, has been awarded a grant from the William T. Grant Foundation with her colleague Alan Daly, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, for a study of how low-performing schools use research evidence in an effort to improve outcomes for youth.

Finnigan and Daly will use the funding—$342,246—to research how urban systems and high schools in need of improvement diagnose problems; identify strategies; and define, acquire, use, and diffuse research evidence to improve under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). This study will be the first attempt to provide an in-depth longitudinal examination of schools under sanctions in two regions of the U.S. representing two distinct types of urban districts. The study will employ mixed methodologies and will take place in secondary schools in San Diego, Calif. and Rochester, N.Y."

Schools to compete for state Distinguished School Awards - DailyBulletin.com

Schools to compete for state Distinguished School Awards - DailyBulletin.com:

"Sixteen Inland Valley elementary schools have been invited to apply for the California School Recognition Program 2010 Distinguished School Awards.

The program identifies and honors schools that have students who demonstrated educational excellence and have shown progress in narrowing the achievement gap.

The school had to meet several qualifications, which include being an elementary school, not having previously been a distinguished school or a state monitored school; and must have been open since 2007-08."

With Texas moving toward online material, is this the final chapter for textbooks? | Top Storie...

With Texas moving toward online material, is this the final chapter for textbooks? Top Storie...:

"Textbooks could be going the way of slide rules and Big Chief tablets within a few years in Texas classrooms.

State legislation passed in the spring could put up-to-the-minute instructional content at students’ fingertips — either online or in customized printed form — eliminating the mass-market hardback textbook.

The sea change could happen sooner rather than later, beginning as early as the 2010-11 school year.

'This is one of the few times we can do things cheaper, faster and better all at the same time,' said the measure’s author, state Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston."

Education's 5 Big Lies | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/17/2009

Education's 5 Big Lies Philadelphia Daily News 11/17/2009:

"AFTER 30 years of teaching, and 20 of talk radio and participating in dozens of education forums, I've heard 'theories' of education from all over the spectrum - from the innovative to the idiotic. I've concluded that there are five big lies about schools and education that are widespread and damaging.

THE MONEY LIE

The grandaddy of the big lies says our schools are woefully underfunded. If only other interests in society that get adequate funding could be stopped, our schools could get the resources to perform magnificently. This position is summarized by the famous bumper sticker, 'It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.'

In practical terms, this lie comes down to if only each kid had a laptop, each school an Olympic-size swimming pool and each cafeteria a five-star menu, then students would all be headed off to Princeton."

EDUCATION: Foreign Students Flock Back to U.S - IPS ipsnews.net

EDUCATION: Foreign Students Flock Back to U.S - IPS ipsnews.net:

"WASHINGTON, Nov 16 (IPS) - The number of international students attending colleges and universities in the United States has reached an all-time high of 671,616, largely bolstered by an increasing number of undergraduate students from China, while U.S. students are also studying abroad in higher numbers.

The 2008/2009 academic year marked the largest increase - eight percent – in the number of international students attending U.S. colleges and universities since the 1980/1981 academic year, according to a report released Monday by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

While the ranks of international students in the U.S. are increasing, so to are the numbers of U.S. students choosing to study abroad."

Unite Behind the Strike for UC Workers, Students and Staff - The Daily Californian

Unite Behind the Strike for UC Workers, Students and Staff - The Daily Californian:

"We are currently engaged in a great struggle that will define what the University of California will be in the 21st century. There have been myriad questions about the details of furlough programs, UC reserves, program closures, the number of layoffs and how to challenge them, what temporary layoffs might mean and so on.

It is important that these details do not engross our attention so profoundly that we lose sight of the big picture: that UC President Mark Yudof and the UC Board of Regents are striving to downsize and privatize the university. If they succeed, thousands of jobs will vanish, protections for workers will and access to the university will shift away from the middle classes of California to wealthier people from other parts of the country and indeed the world. Programs that serve the people will be replaced by programs that serve the same corporate interests who back this shift"

Milken Educator Awards take two California teachers by surprise | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

Milken Educator Awards take two California teachers by surprise L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times:

"Even as she heard cheers explode from students assembled at Richardson Prep Hi Middle School in San Bernardino, the fourth and final California recipient of this year’s Milken Educator Award couldn’t believe she was the winner.

“I really thought it was going to go to a coworker,” said 7th grade English teacher Marisa Rivas, still recovering. “There are people who have worked here since 1987, so I feel like I’m unworthy.”

Complete with a giant, no-strings-attached $25,000 check, the award is not a lifetime achievement award, said Lowell Milken, chair of the Milken Family Foundation. The prize, which will go to 54 educators across the nation this year, is meant to encourage early- and mid-career teaching professionals -- and alleviate some of the financial issues that come with the calling.

The other California winners were Roberto Gonzalez of Virgil Middle School, Ana Higuera of Lynwood High School and San Diego teacher Jaime Enochs."

California's education and economic problem; Chevron's aide

California's education and economic problem; Chevron's aide:

"Aside from jobs, education funding is the most important problem in California. I was surprised to learn that Chevron Oil Company - the company commonly associated for bad things and unfairly so in my view - was behind a $7 million initiative to fund education non-profit organizations in Northern California.

It's called The California Partnership and was developed to help those organizations that were focusing on, and making a difference in, disadvantages neighborhoods, primarily in Northern California.

I was invited to join other media at the San Francisco City Club and frankly learned something shocking. I learned that while other media outlets were invited, at least one organization said they only covered a story involving non-profits if their was something negative, like a staff member stealing funds, for example."

Steve Kang: UC Merced: A catalyst for Valley's prosperity | visaliatimesdelta.com | Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

Steve Kang: UC Merced: A catalyst for Valley's prosperity visaliatimesdelta.com Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register:

"Earlier this fall, the University of California, Merced marked a major milestone as we welcomed our fifth — and by far our largest — incoming class of students. Of the 3,400 students enrolled this fall, compared with just 875 in our inaugural year, nearly 100 are from Kings and Tulare counties. These results should make everyone in the Greater Visalia area very proud."

We all benefit when the doors of higher education are opened to the future leaders of our region, our state and our nation.

While enrollment growth may be the best single measure of year-to-year progress, economic investment may be the best measure of potential long-term impact. Solid growth continues on this front as well. Since UC Merced began administrative operations in 2001, the value of construction contracts awarded to San Joaquin Valley businesses and goods and services purchased within the Valley has reached more than $450 million. In Kings and Tulare counties alone, that number is about $3.3 million, while the statewide total is approaching $1 billion.

Although this growing level of investment hasn't been enough to offset the most difficult financial climate our region has seen in decades, it is clearly helping to stabilize the regional economy, create new jobs and position us well for future financial progress when the underlying state economy rebounds.

Commercial Property Tax-Hike Initiatives Afoot

Commercial Property Tax-Hike Initiatives Afoot:

"SACRAMENTO-Two new potential ballot initiatives are afoot that would drastically change how commercial properties in California are assessed and how much they are taxed. One calls for a 55% increase in the current property tax rate for commercial properties while the other wants commercial properties’ fair market value appraised more frequently. Currently, under Prop. 13, properties are taxed annually at 1% of their appraised value when purchased and may only have its fair market value adjusted after a majority stake is sold.

Attorneys from the San Leandro-based law firm Remcho, Johansen & Purcell LLP filed title and summary language for the proposed 2010 ballot initiatives earlier this month. They are the 'Protect Homeowners and Close Corporate Tax Loopholes Act' and the 'Education and Taxpayer Fairness Act.” In order to qualify as a potential constitutional amendment for the November 2010 ballot, each initiative would have to garner 700,000 signatures by the spring."

Koreans 3rd Largest Group in US Colleges

Koreans 3rd Largest Group in US Colleges

The number of Korean college students in the U.S. has reached a record high of 75,065, while Korea has a total of 50,591 foreigners studying at colleges.

The Institute of International Education (IIE), a U.S.-based education and training organization, announced Tuesday that Koreans formed the third largest group of international students in the 2008-2009 academic year at American colleges after Indians and Chinese.

The number of Korean students rose 8.6 percent from the previous year, accounting for 11.2 percent of the total.

W. Sac principal sidelined by injuries he suffered in breaking up fight - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

W. Sac principal sidelined by injuries he suffered in breaking up fight - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"The principal of West Sacramento's River City High School is recovering at home from serious injuries he suffered while trying to break up a fight involving a number of students outside the cafeteria Oct. 28.

Stuart MacKay, who had a concussion and neck injuries, said Monday he doesn't remember everything that occurred that Wednesday.

'A couple of kids said I may have been kicked during the incident,' he said. 'They indicated it was on purpose.'"

Crowd packs Sacramento County's first public flu clinic - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Crowd packs Sacramento County's first public flu clinic - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Some people staked out places at Hiram Johnson High School as early as 7:45 a.m. Many brought books to read, toys for the kids, and home-cooked lunches. And most of the 5,000 people who showed up Monday for Sacramento County's first public H1N1 vaccine clinic carried the hope they might shield themselves from what's becoming an aggressive flu season.

Right on cue, the large crowd began filling the school's cafeteria, a makeshift clinic staffed by Sacramento County public health officials, at 3:30 p.m. Monday."

Strategy & Technology Consulting for Education by SourcePOV Cary, NC

Strategy & Technology Consulting for Education by SourcePOV Cary, NC


Innovation: the Path to Ecosystem Change

Paradigms create models that define the way things work.

Do you know the prevailing paradigms for EDUCATION?

How are the core forces going to shift? What are we doing to shift them?

We are bringing focus to opportunities for innovation at the National and State level, to better frame the challenges and pathways ahead. We advocate transparency and an open agenda for change. See samples of our work, below.

OUR INSIGHTS:

RESEARCH: Framing Issues in Public Education (Nationally).

RESEARCH: A Framework for Change in SOCIAL ECOSYSTEMS (Blog).

RESEARCH: A Framework for Change in SOCIAL ECOSYSTEMS (PDF).

RESEARCH: Process Model for Problem Solving in COMPLEX ADAPTIVE ECOSYSTEMS.

RESEARCH: Paradigm Basics.

BLOG: Reflections on Twitter as New Communications Paradigm.

NEA - American Education Week

NEA - American Education Week:

"NEA's American Education Week (AEW) spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education from kindergarten through college, and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great.

Our annual tagline, Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility, reflects the Association's calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21st century."

In 2009, the 88th annual American Education Week will take place November 15–21. Each day during the week spotlights a different aspect of school life:

Monday, November 16Open House Day From national commemorations to local community events, millions of Americans celebrate public education.

Tuesday, November 17Parents DaySchools invite parents into the classroom for a hands-on experience of what the day is like for their child. (En español)

Wednesday, November 18Education Support Professionals Day Individuals who provide invaluable services to schools are recognized for their outstanding work. (En español)

Thursday, November 19Educator for a Day Community leaders are invited to serve as educators to get a glimpse at a day in the life of a school employee. (En español)

Friday, November 20Substitute Educators DayThis day honors the educators who are called upon to replace regularly employed teachers. (En español)

Use Our Toolkit to Plan Your AEW EventUse our online tools to plan your celebration. Download our 2009 artwork here.

The materials presented here reflect NEA's mission as an advocate for the nation's public schools, school employees, and the communities they serve.

Other organizations are free to use this material or create their own. If you use this material (art, theme, articles, resources), please credit NEA as the creator of content.

Chickashanews.com - Parent involvement + attendance = success

Chickashanews.com - Parent involvement + attendance = success:

"Many parents are not aware of how important they are in their child’s education. The family is the young child’s earliest educator, and parents have a lasting influence on children’s attitudes, values, learning, concepts, emotions, and ideas.

They have the right and the responsibility to influence their children’s education. There is extensive and convincing evidence regarding the benefit of parent involvement in the development and education of their children.

Educators believe parents make the difference between a mediocre school and a great school. Everyone benefits when parents are involved in children’s education, and all parents have the ability, when fully supported, to help their children succeed in school."

For the teaching of young children to be effective, a positive link must be made between the school and the home; they must be partners, since the two are vital parts of the child’s life and education. Involving parents in children’s education improves the children’s achievements and the overall level of achievement in our schools.

The overall level of achievement in our school can only come from the understanding of the importance of attendance. Bill Wallace is committed to the success of all its students. A critical component of academic success is coming to school on a regular, consistent basis.

Students who are in school each day, all day learn in a consistent manner. They apply the knowledge they have gained one day to the new insights and understanding they will gain in the next day. A disruptive attendance pattern interferes with the continuity of instruction that is essential to the learning process. There is simply no substitute for being in class: to listen, to participate, to question, to experiment, to challenge. The stimulation of being in a classroom with other learners, guided by a highly qualified teacher, is the core of a sound education.

Learning builds day by day, and consistent attendance is vital to make learning meaningful. Parents should help children understand that coming to school on time and everyday is a family priority that will help them as they become contributing citizens of their world. Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.

•Thomas Jeffries in principal at Chickasha’s Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center.

Sacramento schools superintendent continues tour of schools - Latest News - sacbee.com

Sacramento schools superintendent continues tour of schools - Latest News - sacbee.com:

"Since his appointment in late August, Sacramento City Unified School District Supt. Jonathan P. Raymond has traveled to more than 60 schools on a 'listening and learning' tour.

Tonight he visits Leonardo da Vinci School, a kindergarten through eighth-grade campus in South Sacramento's Hollywood Park neighborhood. Da Vinci, 4701 Joaquin Way, is an ethnically diverse school of nearly 600 students with thematic instruction at its core, according to a district Web site."

The meet-and-greet for parents, community members and students occurs from 6 to 8 p.m. Board of Education Vice President Patrick Kennedy and Sacramento City Vice Mayor Lauren Hammond are sponsoring the gathering.

Children taught not to stamp on insects and to respect worms - Telegraph

Children taught not to stamp on insects and to respect worms - Telegraph:

"New curriculum guidance says the well-being of 'mini-beasts', including bees, ants and worms, should be taught in classes as part of primary school's 'animals and us' section of the citizenship curriculum.

By the age of seven, pupils will have learnt that 'not stamping on insects' is appropriate behaviour 'in areas where animals live'.

The guidance, drawn up by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, says children can learn good citizenship skills by learning about the wellfare of insects because 'other living things have needs and they have responsibilities to meet them'.

Rhiannon Pursall, a beetle expert at the Royal Entomological Society, welcomed the move, which is not compulsory."

Soldiers of the Soil – United States School Garden Army — City Farmer News

Soldiers of the Soil – United States School Garden Army — City Farmer News:

"“Every boy and every girl should be a producer. Production is the first principle in education. The growing of plants and animals should therefore become an integral part of the school program. Such is the aim of the U.S. School Garden Army.”

With these words, the federal Bureau of Education (BOE) launched the United States School Garden Army (USSGA) during World War I. The USSGA represented an unprecedented governmental effort to make agricultural education a formal part of the public school curriculum throughout the United States."

All Learning is Personalized

All Learning is Personalized:

"Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. — Oscar Wilde

Let’s imagine a conversation at the close of the 19th century. You and a team of designers are considering elements of the internal combustion engine that will, if successful, trigger a revolution in personal transportation and change the course of history. In a conversation with team members, you are presented with a series of challenging questions regarding the use of a sparkplug.

“How do we know that’s the right design? Where has this worked before?”"

Resources for Districts and Charter Management Organizations - The Broad Foundation - Education

Resources for Districts and Charter Management Organizations - The Broad Foundation - Education:

"The guides and toolkits described below were created by and for school districts and charter management organizations with support from The Broad Foundation to help with some of the most pressing and complicated issues facing school systems.

For more information, please email tools@broadfoundation.org."

SCHOOL CLOSURE GUIDE

EMPLOYEE EVALUATION GUIDE

SCHOOL SATISFACTION SURVEYS

CPS board chairman had gunshot wound to head :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime

CPS board chairman had gunshot wound to head :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime:

"Chicago School Board President Michael Scott had a gunshot wound to the left temple when authorities found his body in the Chicago River near the Merchandise Mart early this morning, sources said.

An autopsy will be performed later today to rule how Scott, 60, died. He was reported missing from his home in the Monroe police district on the Near West Side in Chicago Sunday, sources said."

His car -- a blue Cadillac -- was found parked near the river where the body was found, police said. It was towed from the scene.

Fire crews arrived about 3:20 a.m. to recover the body just west of the Apparel Center at 350 N. Orleans St., home of the Chicago Sun-Times.

A Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman did not return calls for comment.

Belmont Area detectives are conducting a death investigation.

A stunned Rev. Jesse Jackson showed up at the scene Monday morning after hearing about Scott's death on the news. He said he spoke with him last week -- and Scott sounded normal to him.

"Everyone thought Michael was their guy," Jackson said. "People are so very sad. .. . The suddenness of it all -- midday has become midnight. The sun has been eclipsed."

Education Department raises the bar on city high school grading system

Education Department raises the bar on city high school grading system:

"The Education Department has made it harder for high schools to get top marks on the report cards the city is releasing Monday.

The move follows widespread criticism last year when a whopping 82% of secondary schools earned A's and B's under the city's controversial grading system.

'We absolutely raised the bar,' said Education Department spokeswoman Ann Forte. 'Our goal is to continue to create stretch targets for schools.'

This year, 97% of elementary and middle schools scored A's and B's, raising even more eyebrows."

Presidents of UNT, UTA and UT-Dallas to push for Tier One status | News | Star-Telegram.com

Presidents of UNT, UTA and UT-Dallas to push for Tier One status News Star-Telegram.com:

"The presidents of North Texas’ three largest public universities say their schools will push toward Tier One status now that voters have approved Proposition 4.

Though the presidents say it could take five to 10 years for their schools to become major research institutions, they also say residents and students will see improvements along the way.
Expectations include erecting new buildings, hiring more professors, offering more scholarships and raising more money for endowments."

Interviews: Educators Speak Out on Pay for Performance

Interviews: Educators Speak Out on Pay for Performance:

CAP Interviews Teachers and School Leaders Implementing Compensation Reform

"Researchers, policymakers, and the general public agree that skilled teachers are valuable, but there is also a growing understanding that states and districts do not have adequate systems for attracting, developing, and retaining effective teachers. Improving these human capital systems would yield long-term dividends for both teachers and students."

The Teacher Incentive Fund, or TIF, is one of the few federal investments that can incentivize significant changes in human capital systems in participating states and districts. TIF supports performance-based teacher and principal compensation systems in high-needs schools. It also supports providing additional compensation for teachers who take on increased roles and responsibilities or teach in subject shortage areas, such as mathematics, science, and special education. Many of the TIF programs also upgrade their evaluation systems and professional development programs to help teachers become more effective. This is federal funding that goes directly to support effective teachers and those taking on challenging assignments.

The Obama administration and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan understand the importance of smart, forward-looking investments in education. That’s why the administration has proposed a dramatic increase in funding for the Teacher Incentive Fund from $97 million this year to $487.3 million in fiscal year 2010. And it provided additional support for the program with $200 million in funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The House has approved $446 million in funding for the program (H.R. 3293), and policymakers should support this funding level as they complete work on the final 2010 Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill.

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Bright and Early

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Bright and Early:

"It's better than coffee, I've heard it argued. Launch into your week with the school newsblitz!

Sweetwater school board members will discuss behind closed doors whether Superintendent Jesus Gandara violated his contract by quietly interviewing for a job in Austin, the Union-Tribune reports. If you missed the exacting reporting on this from the Chula Vista Star News, you should check it out.

We blog that the long and winding case of a former San Diego County Office of Education employee takes another twist.

Also in the UT: University of California students protest upped fees due to the schools' budget crisis. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that some of the increased fees break the universities' own rules.

A Healthy Constitution

A Healthy Constitution:

"I was moved by the way Morgan Spurlock framed a narrow long-distance shot down the corridor of a Beckley, West Virginia, middle school in his outstanding 2004 film, Super Size Me. The film is about the toll that fast and processed food takes on all of us. Clearly visible in the background of this particular shot were dozens of students, many of whom were overweight."

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that Beckley's cafeteria offers only processed food, which is high in fat, sodium and sugar and of very little nutritional value.

Contrast this with the Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin. The school serves troubled youth, but teachers, parents and administrators found a way to turn things around; and when they did, discipline problems dropped sharply. Their secret? Instead of the usual processed meals, the school cafeteria offers fresh, locally grown, low-fat, low-sugar alternatives. The healthier meals are delicious. The students love them. They perform better in class and don't get sick as often.

We are learning that when schools serve healthier meals, they solve serious educational and health-related problems. But what's missing from the national conversation about school lunch reform is the opportunity to use food to teach values that are central to democracy. Better food isn't just about test scores, health and discipline. It is about preparing students for the responsibilities of citizenship.

UTLA spotlights Teacher-Parent-Administrator Collaboration | United Teachers Los Angeles

UTLA spotlights Teacher-Parent-Administrator Collaboration United Teachers Los Angeles:

"UTLA invited the media to get a glimpse of constructive collaboration in action on November 10, when representatives from focus schools and new schools gathered at UTLA headquarters to finalize their letters of intent as part of the Public School Choice motion.

More than 15 media outlets took UTLA up on the offer and filmed parents, teachers, and administrators as they worked with each other and, in some cases, with UTLA‐provided grant writers. Reporters also interviewed participants about the Public School Choice motion and the customized reform plans they are developing for their schools. The letters of intent are due on November 16.

The positive nature of the UTLA press event contrasted sharply with a negative, hastily organized press conference in front of the UTLA building earlier that day by Alliance for a Better Community, Families in Schools, and LAUSD School Board members Yolie Flores Aguilar and Monica Garcia. During that event, the groups displayed a copy of a crudely laid‐out flyer reportedly distributed to parents that says they could be deported for signing a charter school petition. The groups also made other vague, unsubstantiated claims of parent intimidation, with no particulars shared."

Download at : http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16501685/UTLA-spotlights-teacher-parent-administrator-collaboration