Friday, June 28, 2013

by Kathryn Baron

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Catherine Lhamon, director of impact litigation at Public Counsel Law Firm, is President Obama’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Credit: Public Counsel Law Firm

President Barack Obama has tapped veteran California civil rights attorneyCatherine Lhamon to become the next Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education.

Lhamon has worked on groundbreaking educational equity cases during her 17-year career, including Williams v California, the class action lawsuit that resulted in the state being ordered to ensure that students in low-wealth schools had new textbooks, highly qualified teachers and safe and clean school buildings.

The Office for Civil Rights oversees and enforces implementation of laws prohibiting discrimination in education by sex, age, disability, race and ethnicity. The Office also investigates and resolves complaints and conducts its own investigations.

Lhamon is currently director of impact litigation at Public Counsel Law Center, a pro bono law firm based in Los Angeles that runs legal clinics and represents low-income clients in cases involving education, homelessness, children’s rights and immigrants’ rights.

Before joining Public Counsel in 2009, she worked for 10 years at the ACLU of Southern California

The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion and Contribution ~ Review « NewsTaco

The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion and Contribution ~ Review « NewsTaco:

The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion and Contribution ~ Review

by Melanie Mendez-Gonzales

Melanie Mendez-Gonzalez, Que Means What?

Disclosure: Que Means What did receive a complimentary book to review as reviewing this book as part of a Condor Book Tour. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Bestselling author Juana Bordas has written a new book entitled The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion and Contribution and it is utterly timely. With a rapidly growing Hispanic population, one critical component is to develop strong leaders within the community. One might say, to develop Latino leaders. Bordas’ book serves as a solid resource for today’s and tomorrow’s leaders. Its teachings will help to develop strong leaders of the Latino community who will not only move forward but move forward while keeping culture at the center and bringing others along.
Bordas reminds us about the importance of knowing where we (today’s Latino-Americans) came from with a brief history going all the way back to 200B.C. If you did not take any Latino studies classes in high school or college, you will be in for a pleasant history recap from a Latina leader as opposed to a standard history text book found in the American classroom. She quickly brings the reader from the Roman occupation of Spain to the

What Do We Have in Common Core? #StudentVoice

Student Voice:

What Do We Have in Common Core?

by Editor Admin

Designed to create commonality, Common Core State Standards are, ironically, not commonly understood. In an area of educational policy that aims to combat common predicaments, much energy is being squandered combatting one another — energy that could potentially be harnessed to formulate solutions. Having said that, misunderstanding Common Core is not akin to misvaluing Common Core. After all, Common Core, like the majority of past educational reforms, is aiming at a goal held by all of us: improve the standard of education across the nation.

Understanding Common Core State Standards

Essentially, the Common Core State Standards is the initiative to produce and implement a national set of standards designed as a uniform content guide for Mathematics and Literacy in grades K-12 across the United States, with supplementary Science, History, and Writing subsets. This set of standards was formed over the

Investing in our Future: The Impact of Federal Budget Decisions on Children | First Focus

Investing in our Future: The Impact of Federal Budget Decisions on Children | First Focus:

Investing in our Future: The Impact of Federal Budget Decisions on Children
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY

Search resources

June 26, 2013

By Jared Solomon

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First Focus President Bruce Lesley testified at a June 26, 2013, hearing of the Senate Budget Committee. This first-of-its-kind hearing, chaired by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) examined the impacts of federal budget decisions on America's children. The attached document includes his testimony as prepared for delivery, as well as appendices submitted to the committee. A complete witness list, all witnesses' prepared testimony, and Chairwoman Murray's opening statement are available on the committee's website. The committee has also prepared a hearing wrapup, offering helpful background and context.

More Photos

A full house in the Senate Budget Committee hearing room	Chairwoman Murray delivers her opening statement
First Focus President Bruce Lesley testifies	Committee Ranking Member Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) asks Bruce Lesley a question
From left: Shavon Collier, parent; Sakhia Whitehead, Head Start graduate; Bruce Lesley; and Margaret Nimmo Crowe of Voices for Virginia’s Children	Bruce Lesley's testimony o

Principals Shift Focus to Learning — Whole Child Education

Principals Shift Focus to Learning — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Principals Shift Focus to Learning

June 28, 2013 by Klea Scharberg

Principals are key in providing strong instructional leadership as a path to student achievement. This clip provides tips and focus questions for principals working with teachers to ensure good teaching is matched by student engagement, meaningful tasks, and, ultimately, student learning. Learn more with ASCD Express.

Source: From Leadership Strategies for Principals (DVD), 2007, Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

NYC Public School Parents: CNN story on inBloom and important update: NYS districts must choose dashboards populated with inBloom data by fall

NYC Public School Parents: CNN story on inBloom and important update: NYS districts must choose dashboards populated with inBloom data by fall:

CNN story on inBloom and important update: NYS districts must choose dashboards populated with inBloom data by fall

by Leonie Haimson

A CNN story about inBloom Inc. was posted this morning and will be aired at 3 PM tomorrow, Saturday June 29. I have also posted it below; please check it out. It contains an interview with Karen Sprowal, NYC parent activist, a short excerpt from ourBrooklyn town hall meeting, and comments from the CEO of inBloom Inc., Iwan Streichenberger.

This morning, the article accompanying the CNN video had a major error. It quoted Streichenberger as saying that “the school districts themselves are the only ones with access to the data -- schools are forbidden from sharing the information, and third parties can't tap in.”

Actually, the whole point of inBloom Inc. is to gather as much personal student data as possible

Brown’s line-item vetoes eliminate equalization money for special ed SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Brown’s line-item vetoes eliminate equalization money for special ed

Among the line-item vetoes imposed on the final state budget by Gov. Jerry Brown is one that will eliminate what was hoped to be a first step in equalizing funding among special education programs statewide.

Just as the new budget seeks to streamline a complex funding system for schools overall, the 2013-14 spending plan also calls for consolidation of a number of programs and the elimination of restrictions on the use of that money.

But because of long-standing provisions that resulted in uneven funding, allocation of state and federal funds to Special Education Local Planning Areas varies greatly – from $570 per average daily attendance to about $1,090, according to the non-partisan Legislative Analyst.

As part of the effort to distribute money more equitably,the Legislature has set aside $30 million to begin addressing the funding variance between SELPAs. The LAO estimates that if the state were to adopt funding rates to ensure that 90 percent of the state’s students with disabilities were supported the same, it would cost about $300 million.

And that’s exactly what Brown took out of the final budget with his blue pencil.

In his veto message, Brown said the additional funding created cost pressures to meet other demands including

This Week In Education: Thompson: What's New in the Latest CREDO Charter School Study?

This Week In Education: Thompson: What's New in the Latest CREDO Charter School Study?:

Thompson: What's New in the Latest CREDO Charter School Study?

by john thompson

The new CREDO study, National Charter School Study, 2013, shows that charter schools perform about the same as traditional public schools. This prompts the question of why "reformers" use charters as the default in improving urban schools.
As Diane Ravitch asks in New Charter Study Shows Improvement, Raises Questions, given all the advantages they've been granted, why are charters not doing better?
Charter advocates counter that charters are doing a relatively better job than 2009 when CREDO studied charters in 16 states. CREDO claims that its methodology of Virtual Control Record (VCR) allows the comparison of virtual demographic twins, so it is making an apples-to-apples comparison of effectiveness.
In Charter Schools Offer Scant Edge Over Neighborhood Schools: Study, Reuters' Stephanie Simon explains

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, June 28, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Antonio Villaraigosa Leaves His Mark On L.A. Schools

Education Headlines

Friday, June 28, 2013

CVUSD adopts 'placeholder' budget, $14.7 million deficit could decrease

The Coachella Valley Unified school board on Thursday adopted a budget with a $14.7 million deficit, which would nearly exhaust the district’s cash reserves.

Oxnard School District introduces new superintendent

Cesar Morales will be the new Oxnard School District superintendent effective July 1, succeeding Jeff Chancer, who is retiring after leading the elementary district for two years.

Linden, Gonzales make deal

Linden Unified and former Superintendent Michael Gonzales have reached a separation agreement that will pay the administrator up to $84,400 as he leaves the district.

Saddleback cuts teacher furlough days

Saddleback Valley Unified School District teachers will have four fewer furlough days next year under a new labor deal approved Tuesday by the board of education.

Galt elementary school district Superintendent Karen Schauer's contract renewed

Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Superintendent Karen Schauer will earn an annual salary of $145,000 under a new three-year contract approved by the school board Wednesday. She did not receive a raise.

School board approves more optimistic budget, reducing student-teacher ratios

The Bonita Unified School District Board of Education approved a 2013-14 budget of $76.9 million during a special session on Wednesday night.

Popularity of charter schools keeps waitlists long

A report released Thursday by the National Alliance for Public Schools estimates that 520,000 students nationwide are on a charter school waiting list, including 50,000 kids in California hoping for a spot.

Feds to dictate what snacks can be sold in schools for first time

High-calorie sports drinks and candy bars will be removed from school vending machines and cafeteria lines as soon as next year, replaced with diet drinks, granola bars and other healthier items.

Upland school board adopts budget with $7 million deficit

The Upland Unified School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday adopted the 2013-14 fiscal year budget with a $7 million spending deficit.

West Contra Costa schools approve bolstered budget

Flush with the promise of additional state funds, West Contra Costa schools trustees added more spending before approving a $186 million 2013-14 budget Wednesday evening.

Fensterwald: Amended bill to rein in high-cost construction bonds moves on

A bill that would rein in the type of build-now, pay-later school bonds that saddle a future generation of taxpayers with costly balloon payments passed another hurdle after the author, Assembly Education Committee Chair Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, accepted changes easing a few of the restrictions she had proposed.

Pomona Unified school board adopts increased budget, with boost from Prop. 30 funds

The school board adopted a $330.1 million budget this week that will be amended once school district administrators learn how much it they receive in state funding meant to assist districts with disadvantaged students.

Popularity of charter schools keeps waitlists long

Antonio Villaraigosa Leaves His Mark On L.A. Schools

The mayor vowed to turn the district into an incubator of education reform. In his two terms, during which his nonprofit took over more than a dozen campuses, he's had mixed results.

Ruling in yoga trial expected on Monday

A ruling is expected at 9 a.m. Monday in the closely-watched trial challenging an Encinitas school yoga program, attorneys said last week.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Elk Grove school district tables planned administration reorganization

A planned reorganization of Elk Grove Unified School District's administration that would have raised salaries of top employees was postponed Wednesday night after most of the school board and audience spoke out against it.

San Ysidro recall moves forward

Proponents of an effort to recall three San Ysidro School District trustees can start circulating petitions, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

Yoga trial extended another day

Lengthy closing arguments in the trial challenging an Encinitas school yoga program pushed back a ruling in the case to Thursday at the earliest, a judge said on Tuesday.

Tony Bennett’s “Assessment Regimen for Common Core” Evasion | Scathing Purple Musings

Tony Bennett’s “Assessment Regimen for Common Core” Evasion | Scathing Purple Musings:

Tony Bennett’s “Assessment Regimen for Common Core” Evasion

by Bob Sikes

Both Rick Scott and Tony Bennett have learned not to take on a room full of teachers by themselves. So when time came for yesterday’s roundtable discussion both were there to respond to 40 state teachers of the year. James Call of the Florida Current provides this comment from Bennett:

“The implication of Common Core will be one of the largest policy implications lifts the states have engaged in the history of education,” Bennett said during the talk with about 40 teachers. “In the very near short-term we’re going to have to make some decisions about what will be the assessment regimen for Common Core — if you were going to ask me what is item No. 1 for the next 30 to 60 days, that’s item No. 1.”

Bennett can’t bring himself to say “tests” and weaseled out with a wonkish “assessment regimen.” You can be

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center:

Jersey Jazzman

June 25, 2013

Jersey Jazzman: Will Anyone Ask Chris Christie Some Real Questions?

Jersey Jazzman: Will Anyone Ask Chris Christie Some Real Questions?:

Will Anyone Ask Chris Christie Some Real Questions?

by Duke

I don't need to answer anyone's questions! Just report my insults to teachers and go away!

So here we are, well into the summer campaign for New Jersey governor, and Chris Christie is already spouting utter nonsense:

[NJ Governor Chris] Christie said parents must stand up to organizations who he said care more about pensions, wage increases, generous benefits packages and summers off than about extending quality education to all students. [emphasis mine]

Ah, yes: "summers off," one of the great myths about teachers. Christie loves to bring it up:

The governor told a friendly Bergenfield crowd Tuesday that Garden State students are in need of more hours in the classroom and longer school years in order to stay competitive. Christie blamed special interests with blocking those changes for purely their own personal interests.
“They don’t want a longer school year, they like having the summer off,” said

Going to Bed Hungry | Q&A | BillMoyers.com

Going to Bed Hungry | Q&A | BillMoyers.com:

Going to Bed Hungry

April 5, 2013

by Theresa Riley

The United States is the world’s wealthiest nation, yet we still have families and children who don’t have enough to eat. We caught up with Joel Berg of NYC’s Coalition Against Hunger to learn what it means to be food insecure and what we can do to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry.

Theresa Riley: What does it mean to be “food insecure”? How many American children now live in “food insecure” households?

Joel Berg

Joel Berg: Food insecure means families don’t have enough money to regularly obtain all the food they need. It means they are rationing food and skipping meals. It means parents are going without food to feed their children. It means kids are missing breakfasts. And, ironically, because healthy food is usually more expensive than junk food, and because healthier options often don’t even exist in low-income neighborhoods, it means that food insecurity and obesity are flip sides of the same malnutrition coin, so food insecurity may actually increase a family’s chance of facing obesity and diabetes. Fifty million Americans, including nearly 17 million children, now live in food insecure homes.

Riley: What are some of the consequences for children who go to bed hungry and malnourished?

A student serves up desert to classmates during lunch at the People for People Charter School, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in Philadelphia.

Berg: In general, because America does have a federal safety net of SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps) and the National School Lunch Program

Student Loan Rates to Double on Monday as Congress Heads Home | NEA Today

Student Loan Rates to Double on Monday as Congress Heads Home | NEA Today:

Student Loan Rates to Double on Monday as Congress Heads Home

by twalker

By Tim Walker and Miguel Gonzalez
With student loan rates scheduled to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1, Congress is getting ready to leave town for the July 4 recess without taking action. Senators have introduced a one-year extension of the current interest rates in order to allow enough time to work out long-term solution.
““We urge Congress to put students before politics and put aside partisan bickering. Our students are our country’s future, and we should not bankrupt them,” said National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel.
Some 60 percent of students must borrow to attend college. Total student debt passed the $1 trillion mark last year—already, 35 percent of our nation’s 37 million students are behind on their loan payments, a number that will only grow if interest rates and the cost of borrowing rise. The ripple effects of a heavier debt burden will be felt throughout the U.S. economy, which isn’t yet strong enough to withstand additional reductions in consumer

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