Teachers Spend $1.3 Billion Out of Pocket on Classroom Materials -- THE Journal #education

Teachers Spend $1.3 Billion Out of Pocket on Classroom Materials -- THE Journal

Teachers Spend $1.3 Billion Out of Pocket on Classroom Materials

Total teacher expenditures on classroom supplies and instructional materials reached $3.5 billion in the 2009-2010 school year, including support from parents and PTAs.

• By David Nagel
• 07/08/10

Public school teachers in the United States spent more than $1.33 billion out of pocket on school supplies and instructional materials in the 2009-2010 school year, according to new research released by the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA), a trade association for educational product companies.

The report, "The 2010 NSSEA Retail Market Awareness Study," was based on a survey of 308 K-12 teachers in May 2010 conducted by Perry Research Professionals. It revealed that teachers spent on average $356 of their own money on supplies and resources, including an average of $170 on supplies and $186 on instructional materials. (Instructional materials were defined as software and games, as well as paper-based teaching aids and other non-equipment teaching materials; supplies were defined as printer paper, arts and crafts supplies, pencils, glue, and other similar supplies.)

Despite the total $1.33 billion out of pocket price tag for classroom materials, average individual teacher expenditures were actually down this year compared with previous studies: $395 in a 2007-2008 NSSEA study and $552 in a 2005-2006 NSSEA study.

Why the recent decline?

"Teachers are feeling the pinch just like others affected by the downturn in the economy," Adrienne Watts

NorthJersey.com: N.J. tax cap could be years from taking hold

NorthJersey.com: N.J. tax cap could be years from taking hold

N.J. tax cap could be years from taking hold

Sunday, July 18, 2010
LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY JULY 18, 2010, 11:07 AM

BY JOHN REITMEYER

STATE HOUSE BUREAU

STATE HOUSE BUREAU

display story on 1 pagePage 1 2 >>

A new law limits local property tax increases to 2 percent annually, but taxpayers shouldn't expect their bills to start coming in under the cap any time soon — possibly for several years.

AMANDA BROWN/THE STAR-LEDGER

Governor Christie signing the 2 percent property tax cap law last week.

The 2 percent property tax cap rushed into law this month by Governor Christie and state Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, won't apply at all to this year's property tax bills, and many questions remain admittedly unanswered when it comes to figuring how the new cap will work when it does go into effect for next year's budgets.
"I think I have to straight-out tell people there's going to be a transition period," Christie told The Record's editorial board on Thursday.
And Sweeney, at Tuesday's bill-signing ceremony for the tax-cap measure in Hamilton, reminded reporters "the work is not done."
For that reason, Christie and Sweeney are linking the cap to a series of proposed reforms designed to help the local governments deal with the major expenses that

America’s Dilemma: Teachers or Food | Emptywheel

America’s Dilemma: Teachers or Food | Emptywheel

America’s Dilemma: Teachers or Food
By: emptywheel Saturday July 17, 2010 9:55 am	Tweet10 Share14

Remember that important NYT story from early this year describing the growing number of Americans whose sole income consists of food stamps?

About six million Americans receiving food stamps report they have no other income, according to an analysis of state data collected by The New York Times. In declarations that states verify and the federal government audits, they described themselves as unemployed and receiving no cash aid — no welfare, no unemployment insurance, and no pensions, child support or disability pay.

Their numbers were rising before the recession as tougher welfare laws made it harder for poor people to get cash aid, but they have soared by about 50 percent over the past two years. About one in 50 Americans now lives in a household with a reported income that consists of nothing but a food-stamp card.

Well, months after that report came out, some genius in the Obama Administration, according to a very shrill David Obey, proposed offsetting funds to keep teachers in the schools by cutting food stamps. Said genius wanted to cut these people’s only safety net so Arne Duncan could go on privatizing our schools.

The secretary of Education is whining about the fact he only got 85 percent of the money he wanted .… So, when we needed money, we

PR-CANADA.net - Online School Options for Georgia Parents, Students Face Major Setback

PR-CANADA.net - Online School Options for Georgia Parents, Students Face Major Setback

ONLINE SCHOOL OPTIONS FOR GEORGIA PARENTS, STUDENTS FACE MAJOR SETBACK

Posted by marin2008

Sunday, 18 July 2010

Georgia Families for Public Virtual Education raises strong concerns that two approved online high schools were forced to withdrawal due to low and unfair funding from the state. This week both Kaplan Academy of Georgia and Provost Academy Georgia will no longer provide virtual high school curriculum to students. In 2008, Georgia passed landmark legislation HB881, requiring the Georgia Charter School Commission to provide fair and equitable funding for online public charter schools. The typical student in Georgia receives over $8,000, yet virtual charter schools only receive around $3,500 --among the lowest of any state. Thousands of public school children are being denied funding despite a law mandating equal treatment. According to the International Association for K12 Online Learning (iNACOL), the national average of funding provided to online public schools is $6,500 per pupil. Still significantly less than the average child receives in brick and mortar schools. "It is concerning that two new online schools set to provide high-level education to Georgia students are forced to close because the state refuses to uphold a law providing equal funding for virtual schools," said Rene Lord, Chairman of the Georgia Families for Public Virtual Education. "Experts and national studies all say funding for virtual schools should be at or near the national average. The Commission has failed the children by its disregard for their education and future." The unenforced law creates a serious lack of options for parents and children. Currently, Odyssey School operated by Georgia Cyber

YourNabe.com > Archives > Queens Village Times > News > Charter schools must not win out over public institutions

YourNabe.com & Archives; Queens Village Times News Charter schools must not win out over public institutions

Charter schools must not win out over public institutions

Thursday, July 15, 2010 11:11 AM EDT

Comment (No comments posted.)

Email To a Friend

An open letter to parents of students in New York City:

You may or may not be aware of what has been occurring within our public education system across the nation, particularly here in the city. Public education is under attack by forces that wish to privatize our public schools for profit. The cap for charter schools has now been lifted with the number of charters likely to double soon.

City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, along with some major foundations and Wall Street hedge fund managers, are lined up to “reform” public education. They want to see the teachers unions broken, senior teachers removed and teacher’s jobs as temporary ones. These forces are spending a lot of money to buy support from politicians to publicly support charter school expansion.

They also control the media, which has launched an all-out attack on educators in order to turn public opinion against them. On any given day you can read anti-teacher or pro-charter articles in any of the major papers.

Making it all happen is a network of reformers dedicated to overhauling public education in the United States. They are working in key positions in school districts and charter school networks, legislating in state capitals, staffing city halls and statehouses with reform-minded mayors and governors, writing papers for policy groups and dispensing grants from billion-dollar philanthropists like Bill and Melinda Gates.

Gates; U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, founder of Teach for America, a recruiter of business people and college graduates who sign contracts to teach for two years in inner-city schools; Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp; and Klein could be considered the patron saints of the network.

The original premise of charter schools was to help children who need extra assistance. What has happened under the leadership of Klein is that charters are now competing with public schools. Charters cherry-pick their students, thereby ensuring their success. Charters are given more resources than local public schools. Local public schools are becoming overwhelmed with more overcrowding, higher numbers of poor-performing students and educators, parents and students whose concerns continue to be ignored.

Charters should be allowed to co-exist with public schools, but not to the detriment of public schools. Charters should exist in their own

Charter school's lagging FCAT scores worry Flagler officials - News

Charter school's lagging FCAT scores worry Flagler officials - News

Charter school's lagging FCAT scores worry Flagler officials

By KENYA WOODARD, Staff Writer

July 17, 2010 12:05 AM

Posted in:

• Flagler

Jackson

More information:
• 2010 FCAT reading, mathematics, science and writing scores

BUNNELL -- Third-graders enrolled in Flagler County's charter schools performed well in reading and math on this year's FCAT test, while other grade levels produced mixed results.

But the scores of the county's oldest charter, Heritage Academy, have Flagler officials worried.

Some of Heritage's FCAT passing rates this year are lower than when the school began operating in 2004 as three separate schools under Academies of Excellence, a school management company owned by Doug Jackson.

The number of Heritage fourth-graders passing the test dropped from 75 percent last year to 25 percent. District officials are "definitely" concerned about Heritage's performance, said Jim Devine, Flagler's testing coordinator.

"For the most part, I would say student achievement at Heritage is struggling," said Devine, who oversees charter schools for the district.

Heritage Academy replaced Cornerstone Elementary, Summit Academy Middle and Heritage High School in 2009. School Management Solutions -- Jackson's company -- oversees the new school.

Passing rates at Jackson's Volusia County school, Boston Avenue Charter, also slipped

Veritas Academy principal removed | WSBT - News, Weather, Sports South Bend | Local News

Veritas Academy principal removed | WSBT - News, Weather, Sports South Bend | Local News

Veritas Academy Principal Removed By KIM KILBRIDE Tribune Staff Writer Tools EMAIL THIS ARTICLE PRINT THIS ARTICLE YOUNEWS™ DIGG THIS! SAVE TO DELICIOUS POST TO FACEBOOK SHARE ON TWITTER Veritas Academy, a charter school in South Bend, recently fired its principal. (Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES) Story Created: Jul 18, 2010 at 4:58 AM EDT Story Updated: Jul 18, 2010 at 4:58 AM EDT SOUTH BEND — Veritas Academy's board of directors fired the school's leader this summer, and an official from Ball State University — the public charter school's sponsor — says he's concerned about the personal connections between two board and staff members. RELATED CONTENT New virtual public school enrolling students 100 percent of Chicago school's first class college-bound Daniels wants law to help charters get buildings South Bend school reform plans moving ahead One board member's wife is currently serving as interim director of education and another's is a teacher at the school. When asked whether he is uneasy about staff/board member ties at Veritas, Bob Marra, interim director of the Office of Charter Schools at Ball State, said, "Absolutely. I want to look into this more." Of the issue of potential nepotism in general, Marra said, "It has to pass the public smell test." Barrett Berry, president of Veritas' board, said Angela Piazza, the school's director of education for more than four years, was put on administrative

State sets its course with Moyer response | delawareonline.com | The News Journal

State sets its course with Moyer response | delawareonline.com | The News Journal

State sets its course with Moyer response

JULY 18, 2010

• Comments (2)
• Recommend
• Print this page
• E-mail this article
• Share
• Type Size A A A

Reopening Moyer Academy Charter School this fall has implications beyond the greater potential for quality education for students whose repeated academic failure led to the school's closure.

The federal government has vested much confidence in Delaware as the lead winner in the first round of the Race to the Top education grants and its approach to education reform.

The Department of Education's evidenced-based proposal won a surprising buy-in from the state's teachers union.

And just two months ago, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appointed Gov. Jack Markell to the National Assessment Governing Board. This is the panel responsible for deciding the structure of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the nation's report card given to students.

Indeed, Delaware is center stage as this country decides how to restructure reading, writing and math in and outside traditional classrooms. And with an eye on global competitiveness.

So it's important that DOE attack the challenges the state's other public schools face as zealously as it tackled the problems at Moyer Academy.

As News Journal education reporter Nichole Dobo points out, Moyer Academy was closed for more than

Charter school serves behavioral, academic needs | htrnews.com | Herald Times Reporter

Charter school serves behavioral, academic needs | htrnews.com | Herald Times Reporter

Charter school serves behavioral, academic needs

Editor's note: This is part one of a two-part series looking in-depth at the Manitowoc County Comprehensive Charter School. Part two, which will be published next Sunday in print and online, will address students' behavioral and academic results after attending the school, and administrators' hopes for the school's future.

MANITOWOC - If Angela Beeman realized one thing as her son went through his first years of school, it was that the traditional school setting just wasn’t working for him.

Dawson Beeman started displaying behavioral problems in kindergarten - running back to the car when she dropped him off at school, for example. By the time he got to second grade, he threw tantrums and would run away from school.

At school, Dawson was "more or less just a body in a room," his mom said. "He shut down completely."

He wasn’t able to grow academically or socially, she said. Other kids at school didn’t want to be his friend.

For a while, he was in a mental institution in Wauwatosa, she said, and then went to a group home.

Then, Manitowoc public schools staff told her about the Manitowoc County Comprehensive Charter School, a countywide program scheduled to start in fall 2007.

Dawson became one of the school’s first students as a third-grader that fall, and as a fifth-grader

Free Technology for Teachers: Create Augmented Reality Layers Without Coding

Free Technology for Teachers: Create Augmented Reality Layers Without Coding

FREE RESOURCES AND LESSON PLANS FOR TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY

Create Augmented Reality Layers Without Coding

by noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Byrne)

I've only covered augmented reality a couple of times on this blog (most notably here) because creating augmented reality content requires a level of coding skill well beyond that which I and most teachers and students possess. That could change with the launch of Hoppala. Hoppala is a new augmented reality layer creation service that launched late last week. Creating an augmented reality layer is a essentially a drag and drop process when using Hoppala. Watch the video below to learned more about creating augmented reality content usingHoppala.

Can West Virginia learn from states with charter schools? � - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

Can West Virginia learn from states with charter schools? � - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

Can West Virginia learn from states with charter schools?

By Davin White

Advertiser

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Walk into a Colorado charter school and you might see a student painting a picture while a few classmates explore a concept using the Socratic method.

Mark Hyatt, executive director of the Charter School Institute of Colorado, described a Montessori charter school as very "child-centric," where students learn at their own pace. Teachers also integrate activities like hiking or mountain biking into the lessons.

Hyatt describes a charter school as a place with its own niche that offers something different from a traditional public school.

As West Virginia lawmakers prepare to consider several education issues, including charter schools, advocates on both sides of the issue are making their points.

Research shows that students at some U.S. charter schools outperform traditional public schoolchildren, but other charters fail their students. Still, some advocates say West Virginia has 20 years worth of research allowing state lawmakers to craft a law that lets them monitor and sustain high-performing charter schools.

U. California Regents Bar Filmmaker, Drawing Protests - The Ticker - The Chronicle of Higher Education

U. California Regents Bar Filmmaker, Drawing Protests - The Ticker - The Chronicle of Higher Education

U. California Regents Bar Filmmaker, Drawing Protests

A documentary filmmaker was barred from bringing his camera into a public meeting of the University of California's regents, and a state senator wants to know why.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the filmmaker, Ric Chavez, did not know that state law allows anyone to film public meetings of state bodies. He e-mailed UC's public information office for permission to film Thursday's meeting and was shut out because he had no press credential.

Sen. Leland Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco who chairs the Senate's committee on Public Records and Open Meetings Laws, wrote to UC President Mark Yudof asking why university policy "is in complete contradiction to state law." Liz Enochs, president of the Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California chapter, also wrote--in her