THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Thursday, March 17, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️

 Big Education Ape

THE TOP BANANA
TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES

Deconstructing "Scaffolding" - Alfie Kohn - https://www.alfiekohn.org/?p=4227

Diane Ravitch's Blog: Jennifer Berkshire: Who Is Driving Teachers Out of Their Profession? | National Education Policy Center - https://nepc.colorado.edu/node/11321 on @NEPCtweet

Moving retirees to Medicare Advantage programs instead of existing retiree health plans and traditional Medicare coverage is privatization. - https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/moving-retirees-to-medicare-advantage?s=r

Sacramento City Teachers Association, local union votes to strike | abc10.com - https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-teachers-strike-rally/103-545ced68-6ced-440b-9e4e-8db756364a4a?fbclid=IwAR377pVa6jM3b40Y2JYzHf3Y5SYxFvtsXTGcTh3bgu-fILhbwgm7dPt_IBE on ABC10

CURMUDGUCATION: Do Students Know When They're Learning? - https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2022/03/do-students-know-when-theyre-learning.html

As long as we're talking war crimes... - by Michael Klonsky - https://michaelklonsky.substack.com/p/as-long-as-were-talking-war-crimes?s=r

THANK YOU to A Reader - https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2022/03/thank-you-to-reader.html

Universal Meals Listening Session April 19, 2022 - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) - https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/universalmeallist41922.asp

Another School District Closes Public Schools in Response to the Long Damage of Corporate School Reform and Privatization | janresseger - https://wp.me/p3JgEc-8KS via @janresseger

Kathryn Joyce: The Tiny Christian College That Is Leading the War Against Public Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vIa via @dianeravitch

Good News! World Bank Withdraws Support from For-Profit Bridge International Academies | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vHX via @dianeravitch

Teacher Tom: "I'll Be An Evil Unicorn" - http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2022/03/ill-be-evil-unicorn.html

CURMUDGUCATION: "Don't Say Gay," shame, and the Law of Unintended Consequences - https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-say-gay-shame-and-law-of.html

Blog | Schott Foundation for Public Education - http://schottfoundation.org/blog

The far right’s national plan for schools: Plant charters, defund public education | Salon.com - https://www.salon.com/2022/03/17/the-far-rights-national-plan-for-schools-plant-charters-defund-public-education/

A ‘Diverse’ Community Needs to Hear the Truth | Teacher in a strange land - https://wp.me/p1Wvaa-hf via @nancyflanagan

Dear Legislators: Your Job Is Funding, Not Dictating, Education – academic freedom isn't free - https://wp.me/p2GmBR-aqx via @plthomasEdD

Nancy Bailey’s Education Website: The Murky World of i-Ready, Grading, and Online Data | National Education Policy Center - https://nepc.colorado.edu/node/11322 on @NEPCtweet

Jan Resseger: Federal Education Budget Is Disappointing | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vHb via @dianeravitch

The Companies That Are Still Doing Business in Russia | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vIr via @dianeravitch

Ed Notes Online: Fred Klonsky on MulgrewCare- Moving retirees to Medicare Advantage programs instead of existing retiree health plans and traditional Medicare coverage is privatization. - https://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/2022/03/fred-klonsky-on-mulgrewcare-moving.html

Seattle Schools Superintendent's State of the District - https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2022/03/seattle-schools-superintendents-state.html

Diane Ravitch 🇺🇸🇺🇦🌈

@DianeRavitch Please join me in supporting @chefjoseandres and @WCKitchen efforts to feed those in need after disasters:

Donate to World Central Kitchen - https://donate.wck.org/give/396273/#!/donation/checkout

Opinion | ‘I Need a New Butt!’ belongs in schools. Toby Price shouldn’t have been fired for reading it to second-graders. - The Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/16/mississippi-butt-book-assistant-principal-defense/

Union bid to block lifting of Chicago schools mask mandate rejected by labor board https://chicago.chalkbeat.org/2022/3/16/22981327/chicago-public-schools-illinois-educational-labor-relations-board-chicago-teachers-union via @ChalkbeatCHI

Blog Posts Archive - Network For Public Education - https://networkforpubliceducation.org/best-posts/ on @Network4pubEd

Education Research Report: High school graduates’ academic performance and coursetaking patterns - http://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2022/03/high-school-graduates-academic.html

Texas’ Anti-Trans Crusade Is Spreading https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/03/alabama-transgender-medical-care-ban-texas-abbott-arkansas-idaho-teenagers-puberty-blockers-hormone-therapy/

Child care providers struggle to survive https://edsource.org/podcast/child-care-providers-struggle-to-survive

“We Will Win”: For the First Time in 50 Years, Minneapolis Teachers Are Out on Strike https://inthesetimes.com/article/minneapolis-teachers-strike-union-labor-mft

NewBlackMan (in Exile) - https://www.newblackmaninexile.net/ via @NewBlackMan

How the Book "White Philanthropy" Challenges the Carnegie Corporation’s "An American Dilemma"

by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h

'At more than 1,500 pages in length Gunnar Myrdal ’s An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy , remains a foundational text on issues of race, politics, and power in the US. Published in 1944 by Swedish economist, Gunnar Myrdal, the study was commissioned and supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York who believed that the European outsider could produce a more “unbiased

Shaquille O'Neal helps resurrect the legacy of Lusia Harris, 'The Queen of Basketball'

by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h

' Lusia "Lucy" Harris won three straight college basketball championships with her team in the 1970s. She represented the U.S. at the 1976 Olympics and was drafted by a team in the NBA. But many don’t know of Harris and her outstanding achievements. She narrates her own story — like how at one time she was the greatest woman basketball player in the U.S. — in the Oscar-nominated documentary The Q

An American Injustice: The Story of Darryl Hunt

by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h

'At 19 years old, Hunt was charged and convicted of a 1984 North Carolina murder he didn't commit. He spent nearly 20 years in jail, although DNA results proved his innocence in 1994. After Hunt was finally exonerated in 2004, he started a nonprofit called the Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice which helped provide resources to individuals recently released from prison and advocated for

Institutional Racism on the College Campus in 'Master'

by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h

'A new film uses elements of horror to shed light on the insidious nature of institutional racism on elite college campuses. Writer and director Mariama Diallo joins us to discuss her debut feature, " Master ," which premieres in select theaters and on Prime Video on Friday. She is joined by actor Zoe Renee , who stars as a Black freshman on campus named Jasmine who worries she is being haunted b

Death, Sex & Money: Why Lynn Nottage Cashed Out Her 401(k)

by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h

'At the start of this year, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage achieved a feat. Three of her works— Clyde's , the musical MJ , and an opera adaptation of her play Intimate Apparel —were playing on New York City stages simultaneously. But three decades ago, during the height of the AIDS and crack epidemics, Lynn almost stopped writing plays for good. "I was watching many of my

Eric Roberson: 21 Years of Music

by Mark Anthony Neal / 1d

Veteran R&B vocalist Eric Roberson reflects on the challenges and triumphs of his two decade career as an independent artist

Facing football hazing lawsuit, Kingfisher School Board rejects $1.5 million settlement offer https://nondoc.com/2022/03/16/facing-football-hazing-lawsuit-kingfisher-school-board-rejects-1-5-million-settlement-offer/ via @nondocmedia

Lesson in bigotry: Conservatives take over the classroom to pull us closer to a gender-less dystopia https://www.salon.com/2022/03/16/lesson-in-bigotry-conservatives-take-over-the-classroom-to-pull-us-closer-to-a-gender-less-dystopia/

VP Kamala Harris Announces HBCU Security Grants After Persistent Bomb Threats https://www.theroot.com/vp-kamala-harris-announces-hbcu-security-grants-after-p-1848665914

Impactful Principal ‘Dr. Raja’ Removed From Oakdale Elementary https://sacobserver.com/2022/03/impactful-principal-dr-raja-removed-from-oakdale-elementary/

New Report Reveals that Black and Latinx Youth are 50 Percent More Likely to Face Juvenile Incarceration than their White Peers https://sacobserver.com/2022/03/new-report-reveals-that-black-and-latinx-youth-are-50-percent-more-likely-to-face-juvenile-incarceration-than-their-white-peers/

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all - https://wp.me/2odLa via @dianeravitch

Russia Lies

by dianeravitch / 3min

The large theater in the center of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol sheltered large numbers of women and children. Huge signs marked it with the Russian word “CHILDREN” to protect it. The theater was demolished by a bomb. Yesterday President Biden called Putin a “war criminal.” Putin was outraged. He said this insult was “unforgivable.” The New York Times described the aftermath of the bom

The Companies That Are Still Doing Business in Russia

by dianeravitch / 1h

Dana Milbank wrote about the companies that have stopped making money in Russia to protest its invasion of Ukraine and its ruthless attacks on civilian targets. And those who didn’t. Milbank said that all of us can help Ukraine by refusing to patronize the businesses still operating in Russia. Zelensky asked this of us when he spoke to Congress yesterday. Milbank writes: Zelensky made another ask

Jan Resseger: Federal Education Budget Is Disappointing

by dianeravitch / 2h

Jan Resseger reviewed the federal education budget for next year and found it disappointing. Although schools received large grants to get them through the COVID crisis, the other big budget promises evaporated. With private school choice programs draining money away from the public schools that educate the vast majority of our children, this is bad news indeed. The scandal-scarred federal Charte

Good News! World Bank Withdraws Support from For-Profit Bridge International Academies

by dianeravitch / 3h

In a blow to privatization of education, the World bank has withdrawn its support for Bridge International Academies. BIA has been opening for-profit schools in African nations, which discourages public support for public schools. Civil society organizations and teachers’ unions in Africa have warned of the dangers of allowing a for-profit company to take over education in impoverished nations. V

Kathryn Joyce: The Tiny Christian College That Is Leading the War Against Public Schools

by dianeravitch / 4h

Kathryn Joyce, an investigative reporter for Salon, has written a three-part series for Salon about Hillsdale College, the ultra-conservative Christian college that has entered the charter industry. This is first in the series. Hillsdale was originally founded to preserve the classical tradition in education, but it evolved into a far-right incubator of ideas and officials for the Trump administ

Russia Lies | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://wp.me/p2odLa-vIz via @dianeravitch

Bowser proposes money for stand-alone middle school for Shaw students https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/16/bowser-proposes-money-stand-alone-middle-school-shaw-students/

Youngkin says superintendents back him but offers little evidence https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/16/youngkin-school-superintendent-letter-criticism/?

Overdue tuition and fees — as little as $41 — derail hundreds of thousands of California college students https://hechingerreport.org/overdue-tuition-and-fees-as-little-as-40-keep-hundreds-of-thousands-of-california-students-from-enrolling-in-classes/

Translating a quarter of a million text messages for families https://hechingerreport.org/headline-translating-a-quarter-of-a-million-text-messages-for-families/

A school created a homeless shelter in the gym and it paid off in the classroom https://hechingerreport.org/a-shelter-in-a-school-gym-for-students-experiencing-homelessness-paid-off-in-classrooms/

L.A. school board election field is set, includes pivotal race to replace Monica Garcia https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-17/los-angeles-school-board-race-candidates-finalized

California lawmaker proposes protections for transgender kids traveling from other states https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-17/california-democrats-propose-protections-transgender-kids-other-states

Amid student housing crisis, UCLA becomes first UC campus with four-year room guarantee https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-17/amid-student-housing-crisis-ucla-becomes-first-uc-campus-to-guarantee-beds

California bill would let parents sue social media companies for addicting kids https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2022-03-16/california-bill-would-let-parents-sue-social-media-companies-for-addicting-kids

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ on @Larryferlazzo

A Look Back: 13 Tools For Creating Word Clouds

by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h

I’m continuing my “A Look Back” series by looking at past “Best” lists and updating them. KevinKing / Pixabay I originally published The Best Resources For Learning About “Word Clouds” in 2010, and have been revising and updating it since that time. It includes tools like Tagxedo , The Answer Garden , Make A Word Cloud , and at least ten more, plus you’ll find a ton of ideas and resources for usi

Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL

by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h

BiljaST / Pixabay Six years ago I began this regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attention. You might also be interested in THE BEST RESOURCES, ARTICLES & BLOG POSTS FOR TEACHERS OF ELLS IN 2021. Also, check out A Collection Of My Best Resources On Teaching English Language Learners. In additi

Google Gets Into The Math Adaptive Learning Business With “Practice Sets”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h

I’ve previously shared some important research that has highlighted the importance of “adaptive learning” (see WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE PUBLISHES ONLINE LEARNING RESEARCH REVIEW – POINTS TO ADAPTIVE LEARNING & GAMES ). Adaptive learning basically means if one of our students is using a tech tool for learning, let’s say math or grammar, the program will automatically identify what they are doing w

Google Classroom Now Lets You Schedule The Same Assignment For Multiple Classes! (With Screenshots)

by Larry Ferlazzo / 15h

On mobile: On laptop/desktop: I’m adding it to A Beginning List Of The Best Resources For Learning About Google Classroom .

Education : NPR - https://www.npr.org/sections/education/ on @NPR

News brief: weapons For Ukraine, Germany's military, school violence research

by A Martínez / 6h

President Biden approves another huge weapons package for Ukraine. Germany is building what's expected to become Europe's largest military. New research examines school violence.

Research from the American Psychological Association examined school violence

50by A Martínez / 8h

A new survey of teachers, administrators, school social workers, school psychologists and school staff looks at incidents of violence and harassment toward school personnel.

Winners of the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search are announced

8h

Two high school winners in the Society for Science and Regeneron's annual STEM competition talk about their winning projects.

US government reaches $127.5 million settlement with high school shooting victims https://www.rawstory.com/us-government-reaches-127-5-million-settlement-with-high-school-shooting-victims/

Coming to a school near you: Stealth religion and a Trumped-up version of American history https://www.rawstory.com/hillsdale-college-2656972249/

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Our Neo-Guernica Moment - http://www.sacramentoprogressivealliance.org/2022/03/our-neo-guernica-moment.html

What most worries 2022 Superintendent of the Year - The Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/16/what-most-worries-top-schools-superintendent/

Analysis | Russia’s fake ‘fact-checking’ Ukraine videos and other news literacy lessons https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/17/russias-fake-fact-checking-ukraine-videos/?tid=ss_tw

In union poll, 58% of L.A. Unified teachers want to keep mandatory masking https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-17/in-union-poll-58-of-l-a-unified-teachers-want-to-keep-mandatory-masking

CPS mask-optional policy upheld, for now, by labor board in blow to teachers union https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2022/3/16/22981124/cps-mask-optional-policy-ctu-teachers-union-illinois-labor-relations-board

How did two years of chaotic schooling in a pandemic impact Texas students? - https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2022/03/17/its-been-two-years-since-covid-19-upended-schools-what-happened-since/#new_tab via @dallasnews

Minneapolis school board members face intense pressure - StarTribune.com - https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-school-board-members-under-intense-pressure-board-member-resigns-citing-broken-trust/600156678/#new_tab on @StarTribune

Personal finance education is gaining momentum across the U.S. - https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/17/personal-finance-education-is-gaining-momentum-across-the-us.html#new_tab by csreinicke on @CNBC

"Decline to sign" campaign kicks off to fight private school scholarship ballot initiative - https://www.michiganradio.org/education/2022-03-16/decline-to-sign-campaign-kicks-off-to-fight-private-school-scholarship-ballot-initiative#new_tab on @michiganradio

Teachers, other school personnel, experience violence, threats, harassment during pandemic https://phys.org/news/2022-03-teachers-school-personnel-violence-threats.html via @physorg_com

Lawsuit: School district ‘stonewalled’ parent request for info on racial, gender studies class  https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2022/03/15/lawsuit-school-district-stonewalled-parent-request-for-info-on-racial-gender-studies-class/

Seattle teachers rally to be included in district decisions | The Seattle Times - https://www.seattletimes.com/?p=14787816 by @monicavelez21 on @seattletimes

Alabama GOP claims school counselors ‘indoctrinate’ students, lawmakers file bill to ban standards https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/alabama-legislators-file-bill-aimed-at-school-counselor-standards.html

Texas has seen a surge in requests to pull books from schools. Here are Houston's numbers so far - https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Houston-schools-book-ban-requests-surge-2022-17004900.php#new_tab on @houstonchron

Wake may be spying on your child’s school computer to look for dangerous behavior https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article259436694.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Wednesday, March 16, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️ - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_16.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Tuesday, March 15, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️ - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_15.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Monday, March 14, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️ - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_14.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Sunday, March 13, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #StandWithUkraine️ - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_13.html

Big Education Ape: CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: Lost Hour Edition (3/13) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/catch-up-with-curmudgucation-icymi-lost.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, March 12, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_12.html

Big Education Ape: TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, March 12, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/top-posts-this-week-saturday-march-12.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, March 11, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_11.html

Big Education Ape: KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/keep-up-catch-up-with-diane-ravitchs_12.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_12.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK Education Research Report - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-week-education-research-report_12.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_12.html

Big Education Ape: SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/sspi-tony-thurmond-stuff-this-week-from_12.html

Big Education Ape: TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/teacher-tom-this-week-in-early_12.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-weeks-wildness-dad-gone-wild_12.html

Big Education Ape: Network for Public Education Blog Post of the Day This Week #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/network-for-public-education-blog-post_12.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK'S TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-weeks-tennessee-education-report_12.html

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK NEWS FROM DR. MIGUEL CARDONA AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/this-week-news-from-dr-miguel-cardona_12.html

Big Education Ape: THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Saturday, March 5, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-top-banana-todays-education_5.html

Big Education Ape: TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, March 5, 2022 #REDFORED #tbats #edchat #K12 #learning #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform #TEACHtheTRUTH #CRT - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2022/03/top-posts-this-week-saturday-march-5.html

Big Education Ape

WAR SPECIAL: THE WAR IS GOING BADLY: NOT IN UKRAINE....IN CALIFORMIA

WAR SPECIAL:THE WAR IS GOING BADLY 

NOT IN UKRAINE....IN CALIFORMIA 

FCMAT, State Fiscal Austerity Agency, Says 11 School Districts Face “Lack of Going Concern” Determination

West Contra Costa Unified School Board Defies FCMAT demand to lay off teachers.

By Ken Epstein

The State of California’s financial austerity arm overseeing public education, the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT), has functioned in a behind-the-scenes-role determining budgets, repeated cutbacks, layoffs and the closures of 21 schools since they moved into Oakland along with the state receiver in 2003.

One district, West Contra Costa Unified, recently defied pressure from a FCMAT spokesman to lay off school staff, voting against the layoff recommendation proposed by the district administration.

It is now becoming clear to many local education advocates that FCMAT, working as the state’s enforcer – the whip hand of education austerity – plays a similar role as it does in Oakland in K-12 school districts and community colleges statewide, which are threatened with cuts, layoffs and the possibility of loss of local control , even while the state is awash in an almost $50 billion surplus.

Every year, the California Legislature appropriates funding for FCMAT’s operation, providing most of the nonprofit agency’s financial support. Over the years, FCMAT’s scope has expanded, but it remains an extra-governmental agency, not subject to typical governmental oversight. Formed by the state in 1991, FCMAT’s authority has evolved as new state laws were passed.

Oakland Unified is not the only public school system labeled by FCMAT to be a “lack of going concern,” which FCMAT defines as a “message that a district is in jeopardy of not being able to continue on its own.”

At present, FCMAT says that there 11 school districts in California “that have been designated as a lack of going concern in 2021 for a variety of budget and non-budget concerns.”

These districts are” Bellflower USD, Curtis Creek ESD, East San Gabriel Valley ROP, Loleta Union SD, Montebello USD, Oakland USD, Sacramento City USD, San Bruno Park USD, San Francisco COE, San Francisco USD and Sonora ESD, according to a report published Feb. 2 by FCMAT to the State Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee.

Looking at “solvency trends,” FCMAT report cities a number of financial difficulties, which many see as connected to the pandemic crisis or ongoing insufficient state funding. FCMAT says the most common reason for less-than-satisfactory certifications of fiscal health “is declining enrollment.”

Other negative conditions:

Decreased attendance rates

Expiring one-time funds.

Inflationary cost increases

Increasing staff pension contribution rates

However, the report admits that Governor Newsom’s Jan. 10 budget proposal could eliminate the “lack of going concern designation” for 50% of the districts on the list.

In addition, five Community College system are on FCMAT’s “Distress or Watch List.”

Districts considered in distress are Gavilan in San Benito, Napa Valley in Napa and Peralta in Alameda. City College of San Francisco is on the watch list, and Compton in Los Angeles is categorized as in borderline state of “Transition Planning.”

Although Richmond schools were not on FCMAT’s list, the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) is experiencing FCMAT’s heavy hand. FCMAT CEO Michael Fine showed up at the school board meeting March 9 to support the administration’s proposal to lay off teachers and other school staff this year. Fine told the board the district has a choice to accept the cuts, or the Contra Costa County Supt. of Schools will first declare a “Lack of Going Concern” and appoint an “advisor” to review the district’s budget and suggest changes. If the board persists in not making cuts, an overseer would be appointed with the right to veto WCCUSD financial decisions. If the board still ignores the ‘recommendations,” the state could take over and give the WCCUSD a loan.

“A state loan is disastrous – It’s not good for the community, and it’s not good for the school district,” Fine told the board, explaining that along with the loan, the superintendent would be dismissed, and the board would lose its ability to govern. A state-imposed administrator would act as both the board and superintendent.

.

Despite the threats, the board voted 3-2 not to issue the layoffs, responding to pressure from employee unions. View the WCCUSD board meeting at www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kNZpHPM3yE

WCCUSD has a long history of dealing with FCMAT and state intervention. Formerly known as Richmond Unified, the district was under state control from April 1990 to June 2012. According to officials, the takeover was the “salvation” of the district, keeping it from going bankrupt at that time. “But state control … was the polar opposite of salvation,” according to school board President Charles Ramsey, who was on the board during those years.

During the takeover, the district enforced pay cuts, mid-year elimination of enrichment courses and athletic programs and closed libraries and paying $2 million in annual loan payments at 6% interest. The community responded with a 75-mile protest march on Sacramento in 2004, with some participants holding a hunger strike.

“You have this shadow overlooking you,” Ramsey said in an interview in 2012 with the California School Board Association blog. “We barely survived, but we’re pleased that we’re now through it.”

Future articles will examine FCMAT’s impact on schools in Inglewood and San Francisco, as well as on San Francisco City College, which faces layoffs of 50 full-time faculty members.

Ali Tadayon

@EdsourceAli

H/T Voices Against Privatizing Public Education

@CitizensForEducationRestoration 
Voices Against Privatizing Public Education | Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CitizensForEducationRestoration/