California: DNA Tests Criticized
By TAMAR LEWIN
The Center for Genetics and Society is calling for the University of California, Berkeley, to suspend a project in which freshmen will be asked to provide samples of their DNA for analysis.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
First-grader suspended after crossing out yearbook photo | - Local News - Appeal-Democrat
First-grader suspended after crossing out yearbook photo | - Local News - Appeal-Democrat
First-grader suspended after crossing out yearbook photo
Comments 7 | Recommend 0Student said she was bullied
May 19, 2010 11:07:00 PM
It's the phone call every parent fears — and Crystal Ledger remembers receiving it Monday afternoon.
Angela Huerta, principal at April Lane Elementary School in Yuba City, told Ledger it wasn't a call she wanted to make but asked if Ledger could come to the school office, Ledger recounted.
"I thought there was going to be an ambulance," Ledger said. "It sounded like something tragic."
When the parent of 7-year-old Natalie Ledger walked into the principal office's, she saw her daughter safe in the room — and a copy of the school yearbook.
She heard Huerta say that the first-grader had a one-day suspension for scratching out the photograph of a classmate. Natalie, who said the youth has bullied her, also had written in her yearbook that the classmate was rude.
Crystal Ledger's first reaction was relief that no accident had happened — and then surprise at the one-day suspension of her daughter for "disruption."
She sat in the kitchen of her home Wednesday with neighbor Anna Kirkland. The two talked about how they believe April Lane school officials overreacted to Natalie's action — and underreacted when Kirkland's 7-year-old son Blake left school two weeks ago because of bullying by another student.
Schwarzenegger's Education Funding Plan as Expected, SMMUSD Official Says
Schwarzenegger's Education Funding Plan as Expected, SMMUSD Official Says
| Schwarzenegger’s Education Funding Plan as Expected, SMMUSD Official Says | ||
| By Jonathan Friedman Lookout News May 20, 2010 -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal for education funding in his updated 2010-11 state budget plan released on Friday, what is commonly known as the May Revise, fell within the expectations of local School District officials. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will need to make $8.9 million worth of cuts for next fiscal year based on the governor’s plan. The District receives most of its revenue from Sacramento. “The preliminary look at the May Revise in terms of schools was along the lines with what we had been projecting,” said Jan Maez, SMMUSD’s chief financial officer. “There weren’t significant changes for schools or the district itself.” Maez said there is “about a $10 million difference between what the State should pay us and what we will receive.” Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to early childhood services could have an effect on the SMMUSD’s preschool program. Maez said she is still looking into the matter, and has heard conflicting reports on what exactly his funding plan for that area is. The May Revise is not necessarily an indication of how the final State budget will look. It is merely a starting point to begin discussions for Schwarzenegger and legislators looking to overcome a $19 billion California deficit. With Sacramento’s budget negotiations tending to be multi-month battles that are not settled until the late summer or even after that, it is highly | ||
Notes from the news, May 20 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Notes from the news, May 20
Ackerman set to make top-level changes The Inquirer"Extremely big" changes to come to Ackerman's cabinet and regional superintendent leadership.
Charters and transparency: Comparing Hardy Williams School to MortonThe Notebook blog
It's very difficult to track how all of Hardy Williams Charter's nearly $8 million annual budget is spent, but a comparable neighborhood school has a much clearer money trail.
We need fed $$, stat! Daily News (opinion)
Union leader Cathy Scott calls for an extension of stimulus dollars to support schools and other essential services.
Fels High teen struck and killed The Inquirer
The teen was just about to graduate. She was struck by a car after getting off of the school bus.
Go to www. phillygoes2college.com UC Review
Thorough description of the program to help raise the number of Philadelphians with a college degree.
Mayor Nutter, Child Advocates Call Attention to Plight of Foster Children KYW
Summer jobs programs begin in Philadelphia WHYY
Please email us if we missed anything today or if you have any suggestions of publications, email lists, or other places for us to check for news.
Click here to get Notes from the news in your inbox every day.
Notes from the news
Education Secretary Steps Into a Minefield in Brooklyn Education News - The New York Times
Librado Romero/The New York Times
Maria Thompson, left, and Jeannine Clark go over an application system at Pelham Memorial High School in Pelham, N.Y. Ms. Clark, who is the school's principal, said the many qualified applicants had made hiring harder.
Teachers Facing Weakest Market in Years
By WINNIE HU
In a profession long seen as recession-proof, applications far outnumber the jobs available for educators.
New York State Voters Approve 92% of School Budgets
By WINNIE HU
Most of the defeated budgets could be found in districts that tried to pass large tax increases to offset cuts in state aid.
Campuses Ensnared by ‘Life of Deception’
By JACQUES STEINBERG and KATIE ZEZIMA
Adam Wheeler fabricated transcripts from Phillips Andover Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to gain admission to Harvard.
Education Secretary Steps Into a Minefield in Brooklyn
By JENNIFER MEDINA
Views about charter schools and federal money dominated the day as Secretary Arne Duncan visited New York.
College Bound, DNA Swab in Hand
By TAMAR LEWIN
Berkeley, aiming to encourage good health habits in its freshmen, is asking them to supply genetic samples.
Inspectors Find Fraud at Centers for Children
By SAM DILLON
In 8 of 15 tests, Head Start employees lied on federal forms about the applicants’ family income and other information to gain approval for ineligible children, a report said.
Education Official Departing
By TAMAR LEWIN
Robert Shireman, the deputy under secretary of the United States Department of Education, is leaving Washington in July.
The Children Are Bright; the Setting, Scruffy
By SHARON OTTERMAN
At TAG Young Scholars, a citywide school in East Harlem for the talented and gifted, what goes on inside the classroom is praised, but the aesthetics and facilities are, in a word, challenging.
Going Back to School: Fired Staff Is Rehired
By KATIE ZEZIMA
All the staff members of Central Falls High School, who were fired in February as part of a turnaround plan for the underperforming school, will be rehired.
A CONVERSATION WITH JEFFREY L. BADA
A Marine Chemist Studies How Life Began
By CLAUDIA DREIFUS
Jeffrey L. Bada, a professor in San Diego, says scientists are “closing in” on determining how amino acids became life.
Massachusetts: Student Accused of Faking His Way Into Harvard
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Delaware man has been charged with faking his way into Harvard and duping the university out of $45,000 in financial aid, grants and scholarships.
Current Events Slideshows | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...
Current Events Slideshows
I’ve just revised and updated The Best Online Slideshows About Current Events.
New suggestions are welcome.
“Using A Star Chart to Teach English Language Learners” (This Post Is Not About Astronomy!)
New suggestions are welcome.
“Using A Star Chart to Teach English Language Learners” (This Post Is Not About Astronomy!)
Education World has just published my short article title
Oil Spill Update
Oil Spill Update
Here are the newest additions to The Best Sites To Learn About The Gulf Oil Spill:
16 Philadelphia principals lack state credentials | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/19/2010
16 Philadelphia principals lack state credentials
Sixteen principals in the Philadelphia School District are working without proper state certification, officials said Tuesday, citing a failure to monitor staff credentials.
The disclosure cames days after LaGreta Brown, the former principal of South Philadelphia High, resigned after The Inquirer asked questions about her credentials.
The principals will face no discipline, and efforts are under way to get them emergency certification or submit proof of coursework needed to obtain full certification.
"There is simply no excuse why the district did not properly monitor the certification expirations and requirements," Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said in a statement. "Just as every employee in the district must pass an FBI background check, all teachers and principals require up-to-date certifications. We failed to do our job in these cases and will take immediate steps to repair the process."
Brown was hired last year even though she lacked an active Pennsylvania certificate. She was supposed to get an emergency certification but never followed through, officials said.
Her situation prompted the district to check the credentials of the approximately 400 principals and assistants in the system, officials said.
Of the 16 other principals and assistant principals who lack valid certificates, 10 had active Pennsylvania certification at one time that has since lapsed. Most had failed to take necessary continuing education classes.
Six came from out of state and never obtained emergency certification to work here.
All have been directed to fix their certification issues immediately, officials said.
There will be no sanctions against the 16, said Estelle Matthews, chief of human resources. A district
The disclosure cames days after LaGreta Brown, the former principal of South Philadelphia High, resigned after The Inquirer asked questions about her credentials.
The principals will face no discipline, and efforts are under way to get them emergency certification or submit proof of coursework needed to obtain full certification.
"There is simply no excuse why the district did not properly monitor the certification expirations and requirements," Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said in a statement. "Just as every employee in the district must pass an FBI background check, all teachers and principals require up-to-date certifications. We failed to do our job in these cases and will take immediate steps to repair the process."
Brown was hired last year even though she lacked an active Pennsylvania certificate. She was supposed to get an emergency certification but never followed through, officials said.
Her situation prompted the district to check the credentials of the approximately 400 principals and assistants in the system, officials said.
Of the 16 other principals and assistant principals who lack valid certificates, 10 had active Pennsylvania certification at one time that has since lapsed. Most had failed to take necessary continuing education classes.
Six came from out of state and never obtained emergency certification to work here.
All have been directed to fix their certification issues immediately, officials said.
There will be no sanctions against the 16, said Estelle Matthews, chief of human resources. A district
Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20100519_16_Philadelphia_principals_lack_state_credentials.html#ixzz0oTECGXIr
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Grand jury report urges concessions from Sacramento teachers union | News10.net | Sacramento, California | Education
Grand jury report urges concessions from Sacramento teachers union
SACRAMENTO, CA - A grand jury reportmade public Wednesday singled out the Sacramento City teachers union in Sacramento City Unified School District's budget woes.
The district is facing a $30 million deficit. The Sacramento County grand jury warned the district could fall into bankruptcy unless the Sacramento City Teachers Association makes significant concessions.
SCUSD owes $560 million to retiree health benefits. The district is trying to set aside $1 million toward its contractual liability but has not identified an on-going funding source.
SCTA maintains it is working with the district to determine savings.
"We feel like we've been working. We continue to work and we're willing to be partners in this," said SCTA President Linda Tuttle. "So we think it's easy to scapegoat teachers and you know we always speak out on behalf of all of our unit members because we represent more than teachers and they all feel under attack."
SCUSD Supertintendent Jonathan Raymond was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Sacramento City Unified is not the only Sacramento County school district with unfunded pension benefits. According to self-
The Education Report Hearing tonight on Oakland’s “persistently lowest-achieving schools”
Hearing tonight on Oakland’s “persistently lowest-achieving schools”
By Katy Murphy
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 1:53 pm in School board news, middle schools,school reform, small schools, students, teachers, test scores
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 1:53 pm in School board news, middle schools,school reform, small schools, students, teachers, test scores
Litigation alert: major funding suit to be filed today The Educated Guess
Litigation alert: major funding suit to be filed today
Posted in Adequacy suit, Student spending
The state PTA is joining the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators in what could become the biggest school funding case since Serrano v Priest in the ‘70s overturned the state’s system of funding schools. The suit comes one week after Gov. Schwarzenegger released a revised state budget that proposes spending 11 percent on K-12 schools than four years ago.
(Read more and comment on this post)
Massachusetts leads, California lags
Posted in Common Core standardsCalifornia likes to be linked with Massachusetts as states with the nation’s most rigorous academic standards. Call it bragging by association.
A big difference, though, is that the Bay State is also high-achieving – near the top of the National Assessment of Educational Progress state rankings, among other measures – while California bumps along year after year near the bottom.
The two states’ approaches to evaluating common-core standards, being developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, are revealing as well – and tell a lot about how seriously the two states go about deciding education policy.
(Read more and comment on this post)
A big difference, though, is that the Bay State is also high-achieving – near the top of the National Assessment of Educational Progress state rankings, among other measures – while California bumps along year after year near the bottom.
The two states’ approaches to evaluating common-core standards, being developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, are revealing as well – and tell a lot about how seriously the two states go about deciding education policy.
(Read more and comment on this post)
Eduflack: Is Education a National Job?
Eduflack: Is Education a National Job?
Is Education a National Job?
Following yesterday's election results in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Arkansas, and elsewhere, there is a great deal of buzz about what the latest collections of primary votes in an off-year election year truly mean. The talking heads immediately keyed in on the "power" of President Obama's support, the strength of the Tea Party movement, and other such harbingers of what is to come.
Such talk also has direct impact on current education improvement efforts. Last fall's gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia have had real edu-implications. Just look at New Jersey, where Gov. Chris Christie has sought to revolutionize school finance efforts, freeze teacher pay, expand charter schools, single-handedly take down the New Jersey Education Association, one of the strongest state teachers' unions in the nation. As his reward? The NJ legislature provides lukewarm, at best, support for his Phase II Race to the Top application, an
Around the Edu-Horn, May 19, 2010
RT @TeacherBeat Hot performance-pay action: ED will announce the opening of the Teacher Incentive Fund grant program tomorrow.
RT @edReformer A call for teachers and tech savvy superintendents to share their stories with edreformer http://twaud.io/Xm7
RT @hechingerreport Worst job market for teachers since Great Depression? http://nyti.ms/aelh90
Spellings: NCLB still good policy - http://bit.ly/dsNZAz
An EdSec goes to Brooklyn - http://tinyurl.com/25j2ety
Sacramento grand jury throws the gauntlet at city teachers' union | California Watch
Sacramento grand jury throws the gauntlet at city teachers' union
Sacramento City Unified School District must present to county education officials in less than two weeks a viable budget that addresses an estimated $30.6 million shortfall for 2010-11.
The budget woes set the stage for contentious negotiations between the district and the Sacramento Teachers Association over possible furloughs, salary reductions and layoffs. Whatever happens, the district knows that at least it has one ally in its corner: the county's civil grand jury.
In a report released Wednesday called, "Last Chance to Put Children First," the civil grand jury challenged the teachers' union to set aside "self-interest" and make concessions on salaries and benefits if asked to by Sacramento City Superintendent Jonathan Raymond.
Departure of LA community college chief still a mystery
The budget woes set the stage for contentious negotiations between the district and the Sacramento Teachers Association over possible furloughs, salary reductions and layoffs. Whatever happens, the district knows that at least it has one ally in its corner: the county's civil grand jury.
In a report released Wednesday called, "Last Chance to Put Children First," the civil grand jury challenged the teachers' union to set aside "self-interest" and make concessions on salaries and benefits if asked to by Sacramento City Superintendent Jonathan Raymond.
Departure of LA community college chief still a mystery
Last summer, the Los Angeles Community College District paid former Chancellor Marshall Drummond nearlyhalf a million dollars to step down – even though he still had two years on his contract.
Nine months later, the public still doesn't know the reason for Drummond's departure.
After the community-funded journalism organization Spot.us helped two reporters dig deeper, the district still refused to answer questions and requests for information about the precise reason Drummond left, citing an employee’s right to privacy.
Sit-in marks new tactic for immigration reform protestors
Nine months later, the public still doesn't know the reason for Drummond's departure.
After the community-funded journalism organization Spot.us helped two reporters dig deeper, the district still refused to answer questions and requests for information about the precise reason Drummond left, citing an employee’s right to privacy.
Sit-in marks new tactic for immigration reform protestors
One day Lizbeth Mateo might be viewed as the Rosa Parks of the immigrant rights movement.
The mass marches on behalf of immigrant rights that swept the country in 2006 led many observers – includingmyself – to compare the immigrant rights movement to the civil rights movement in the United States.
But one big difference from the civil right era of the 1960s is that the pro-immigrant marches have been largely devoid of the acts of nonviolent civil disobedience advocated by Martin Luther King Jr. and others.
The reason: If immigrants without authorization to be in the United States draw too much attention to themselves – which getting arrested definitely will – they run the risk of being deported from the United States.
The mass marches on behalf of immigrant rights that swept the country in 2006 led many observers – includingmyself – to compare the immigrant rights movement to the civil rights movement in the United States.
But one big difference from the civil right era of the 1960s is that the pro-immigrant marches have been largely devoid of the acts of nonviolent civil disobedience advocated by Martin Luther King Jr. and others.
The reason: If immigrants without authorization to be in the United States draw too much attention to themselves – which getting arrested definitely will – they run the risk of being deported from the United States.
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