Bera for Congress - Dr. Ami Bera for California's District 3 in 2010

Bera for Congress - Dr. Ami Bera for California's District 3 in 2010:

"DR. AMI BERA, DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR CALIFORNIA'S 3RD DISTRICT
SUPPORTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Fifty years ago, my parents immigrated to the United States searching for a better life.They wanted to give their children—my two older brothers and me—the chance for equality and opportunity. Through hard work and higher education, my parents believed I could do anything.

I pursued a career in medicine because I wanted to help people. In my fifteen year medical career, I’ve worked in many different capacities to improve the availability, quality and affordability of healthcare in the greater Sacramento region. But, I believe I can still do more for our communities, our state and our country.

These days, too many families are facing challenging times—from losing their homes and medical coverage, to being unable to afford public education. As your representative in Congress, I will help our country return to the values my parents taught: hard work, access to public education, compassionate care, and family first.

But, I need your support to move our country forward. Please take a moment to learn more about me and how you can support my run for Congress. Together, we can turn hard times into a bright future."

http://www.beraforcongress.com/

Taking Note: Secretary Duncan: Keep Charters out of the Muck, Please

Taking Note: Secretary Duncan: Keep Charters out of the Muck, Please:

"Expecting charter schools to suddenly operate as turn-around specialists in the nation’s toughest schools is akin to asking the school nurse to perform a liver transplant.
To define the “bottom 5%,” I used the mean scale scores from the 2008 state assessment of 3rd grade language arts. The mean scale score provides a precise number for each of 781 NJ schools in which the 3rd grade test was given. I selected the 39 schools with lowest scale scores for review. Not surprisingly, most of them were near the bottom on the same test in 2004. The 3rd grade literacy test is the threshold test, since kids who do not read at grade level by then have only a 14% chance of ever reading at level. An elementary school that does not teach its students to read and write well is not meeting its primary responsibility."

Secretary Duncan calls for honesty in public education research

Secretary Duncan calls for honesty in public education research.

Secretary Duncan should have also demand state and local education leaders and elected officials to be honest in their public engagement. Merely because the public may be supporting the concept of public education reform does mean it supports certain specific proposals and how they are implemented. Secretary Duncan should also be wary of state education leaders and elected officials, particularly in the District of Columbia who are eager to do political mischief in the name of public education reform.

District of Columbia Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and DC Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee have been masterfully playing the media, cable talk show hosts, the Obama Administration, and members of Congress, such as Senator Joseph Lieberman as honest brokers for local public education reform. With the unwavering support of newspaper editorials from The Washington Post, Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee have been able to portray themselves as the only two people in the District who truly care about providing high quality public education for young people of the District. However, no two people or institution have done more to sully the legacy of District of Columbia public education and to harm District public education reform than Mayor Fenty, Chancellor Rhee, and the editorial board of The Washington Post.

District Dossier

Education Week District Dossier:

School Board approves "giveaway motion" 6-1

"Board member Steven Zimmer sought to include a provision that teachers, parents, students and bargaining units at any targeted school would be allowed to vote on any management plan that would be submitted for review by the superintendent. The United Teachers Los Angeles pushed hard for the provision's inclusion. You can read the reasons behind UTLA's staunch opposition here."

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10427829/REVISED-TO-UPDATE-PROPOSED-AMENDMENT-TO-TAB-22-–-PUBLIC-SCHOOLCHOICE-RESOLUTION

Education Week: Innovative Reforms Require Innovative Scorekeeping

Education Week: Innovative Reforms Require Innovative Scorekeeping:

"Unfortunately, no single, circumscribed program can turn things around in an entire community or for a whole population. Nor can complex social programs and policies be tested like new drugs. The interventions that turn around inner-city schools, strengthen families, and rebuild neighborhoods are not stable chemicals manufactured and administered in standardized doses. They are sprawling efforts with multiple components, some of which may be proven experimentally, but many that can’t be because they require midcourse corrections and adaptations to fit local circumstances."

Coalition for Community Schools

Coalition for Community Schools:


"What is a Community School?
A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends.

Using public schools as hubs, community schools bring together many partners to offer a range of supports and opportunities to children, youth, families and communities. Partners work to achieve these results:

Children are ready to learn when they enter school and every day thereafter. All students learn and achieve to high standards.

Young people are well prepared for adult roles in the workplace, as parents and as citizens.

Families and neighborhoods are safe, supportive and engaged.

Parents and community members are involved with the school and their own life-long learning.

To learn more about the Coalition’s vision of a community school, read the section An Enduring Vision in the Coalition’s report, Making the Difference: Research and Practice in Community Schools."

SAT scores dip for high school class of 2009

SAT scores dip for high school class of 2009:

"That's good news in that more students aspire to college, but it also weighs down the overall scores because, on average, students from most minority groups score lower. The exception is Asian-Americans, whose average combined score surged 13 points to a combined 1623, while scores for whites fell 2 points to 1581. For black students, average scores dropped 4 points to 1276. Average scores for two of the three categories the College Board uses for identifying Hispanics also declined, and overall ranged from 1345 to 1364. Men also widened their advantage over women by 3 points; men scored 1523 on average compared to 1496 for women. The difference comes mostly from math scores. Students reporting their families earned over $200,000 scored 1702, up 26 points from a year ago. That group is comparatively small, but the sharp increase could fuel further criticism the exam favors students who can afford expensive test-prep tutoring."

AASA How America’s Public School Districts Are Using ARRA Funds

AASA How America’s Public School Districts Are Using ARRA Funds:

"American Association of School Administrators How America’s Public School Districts Are Using ARRA Funds
Visit the AASA website at (http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=142) to view all of the surveys in the
AASA 2009 Summer Survey Series."

Education Week: Poll Finds Support for Obama School Agenda

Education Week: Poll Finds Support for Obama School Agenda:

"Despite record amounts of federal money flowing to America’s schools, the recession has heightened concern about school funding. Lack of money for schools was listed as the biggest problem affecting public schools, with a record 32 percent of pollrespondents giving it top priority.
Despite all the debate and concern among policymakers about teacher quality and effectiveness—the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for example, is set to spend $500 million in an attempt to improve teacher effectiveness—Americans don’t seem quite as concerned. Just 3 percent of poll respondents said a lack of good teachers is the biggest problem for schools in their communities."

As it has grown in importance, the PDK/Gallup Poll has fueled debate regarding K-12 schooling, and charges of bias are routine. With that in mind, we have gradually reshaped the poll report to make it user-friendly and to draw the reader into the analysis of the data. We report the data, state what we believe they say, and leave it to the reader to reach his or her own conclusions.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10425651/Phi-Delta-KappaGallup-Poll-of-the-Public’s-Attitudes-Toward-the-Public-Schools

Budget reform group California Forward prepares for 2010 ballot measure - San Jose Mercury News

Budget reform group California Forward prepares for 2010 ballot measure - San Jose Mercury News:

"This summer, Republicans seized on the two-thirds requirement to keep Democrats from voting new taxes into the budget, something they argued would hurt Californians.

Democrats, though, said the threshold had allowed Republicans to hijack the budget process and ultimately force the draconian cuts that are now hitting residents.

Keeley said getting rid of the two-thirds requirement would have made a difference for the better.

'The majority vote budget would have cut less deeply into education, health and human services,' he said."

Senate Education Committee hearing agenda Wednesday August 26, 2009 9:00 AM

Senate Education Committee hearing agenda Wednesday August 26, 2009 9:00 AM:

"Senate Education Committee hearing agenda Wednesday August 26, 2009 9:00 AM
'Race to the Top' stimulus funds for education and proposed changes to California's school system
AM Alert: Tapping the Twitterverse
'Race to the Top' stimulus funds for education and proposed changes to California's school system will be the subject of a 9 a.m. Senate Education Committee hearing.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, Secretary for Education Glen Thomas, State Board of Education President Ted Mitchell, and representatives from the California Federation of Teachers, the California Teachers Association, United Teachers of Los Angeles, the Legislative Analyst's Office and the Department of Finance are among those scheduled to testify.

Click here to read the hearing agenda.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/024965.html"

These school board members have given up their responsibility to fix public education

LAUSD vote welcomes outsiders - ContraCostaTimes.com

"These school board members have given up their responsibility to fix public education," said A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers Los Angeles.

"Because they can't control their own bureaucrats they are giving the shop away ... it makes no sense."

Duffy said the teachers union would be looking at legal action against the district if new schools, under the plan, failed to adhere to existing commitments with union teachers.

Duffy also said the union would be looking at whether it was legal for the school district to allow new schools, which have been paid for by voter-approved bond measures to relieve overcrowding, to be taken over by private operators.

Jackie Goldberg, a former school board member and local politician who helped author three of the four LAUSD construction bonds, echoed the sentiments of the teachers union.

Goldberg also blasted the plan, calling it the latest attempt at ending public education in Los Angeles.

CNSNews.com - U.S. Education Secretary Dodges Question on Whether Martin Luther King's Views on God's Law Should be Taught in Public School

CNSNews.com - U.S. Education Secretary Dodges Question on Whether Martin Luther King's Views on God's Law Should be Taught in Public School:

"National Education Association President Dennis van Roekel disagreed, however, lamenting the “narrowing” of public curricula.

“I think rich history in schools is absolutely essential,” he told CNSNews.com. “It’s kind of sad right now how they’re narrowing the curriculum.”

“I think that we ought to expose people to ideas--that’s what was done for us. We heard those ideas. I think it’s just part of a good education,” he continued. “You can’t be taught one side; you have to hear all sides. That’s how you get a good education.”"

Dispute delays discussion of strong-mayor plan - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Dispute delays discussion of strong-mayor plan - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"At issue was a staff report by City Attorney Eileen Teichert that said the strong-mayor proposal could be overturned in court because it does not outline the election cycle for a ninth City Council seat that would be created if the proposal passes.

The city attorney said the issue could be rectified only by putting an initiative before the voters. The council could place that measure on the ballot, or the committee behind the strong-mayor proposal – Sacramentans for Accountable Government – would have to gather enough signatures to place an initiative before voters, a move that would cost thousands of dollars."

Survey Finds Stimulus Funds Going to Help Schools Stay Afloat, Not Innovate - washingtonpost.com

Survey Finds Stimulus Funds Going to Help Schools Stay Afloat, Not Innovate - washingtonpost.com:

"Even with the extra cash, the survey found, many schools are focused on survival. Two-thirds of those surveyed reported that stimulus dollars filled budget gaps or only slightly increased funding levels. Many school systems reported that they lost teachers and librarians, counselors or support staff this year because of declining state or local revenue.
'The administration may be building up too much expectation for reform when schools need money just to keep the doors open,' said Jack Jennings, president of the District-based Center on Education Policy."

Forest Lake Times - Making good use of public charter school audit

Forest Lake Times - Making good use of public charter school audit:


"On the “needs improvement side,” OLA recommended among other things, that the legislature:

a. Establish clearer expectations and increase accountability for groups that are monitoring charters

b. Clarify the role of the Minnesota Department of Education

c. Clarify the circumstances under which groups could be established to purchase buildings and lease them to charters

d. Eliminate the requirement that charter boards must contain a majority of teachers who work in the building, unless a special waiver was given

e. Clarify conflict of interest requirements

The legislature listened carefully to the legislative auditor, representatives of the Minnesota charter public schools, and the Minnesota Department of Education.

Each of these groups agreed with the proposed changes."

SAT scores show disparities by race, gender, family income - USATODAY.com

SAT scores show disparities by race, gender, family income - USATODAY.com:

"Average national SAT scores for the high school class of 2009 dropped two points compared with last year, a report out today says. And while the population of test takers was the most diverse ever, average scores vary widely by race and ethnicity."

Editorial: Students better in English, math - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Students better in English, math - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"One of the state's great unappreciated stories of the past 10 years is how much progress California students have made in mastering academic standards that are generally considered the toughest in the nation.
Test scores released this month were only the latest confirmation of that progress, and they are a testament to a decade of bipartisan support for a system that first makes it clear what Californians want their children to learn and then determines how well they are doing in that quest."

School libraries could close if Folsom Cordova-union impasse not settled - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

School libraries could close if Folsom Cordova-union impasse not settled - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"I was an English teacher, and it breaks my heart not to have someone in the library at all times,' Godwin said.
He said some individual schools are trying to save their libraries through fundraising efforts. At Sutter Middle School, the staff is attempting to raise $15,000 for a part-time or $55,000 for a full-time library clerk to keep the library open.
The problem could be solved if the district and union come to terms.
'We had expected the classified union would step up and work with something like three furlough days and we anticipated they will do that and are still hopeful they will,' Godwin said."

Dan Walters: Using student test scores to grade California teachers has pitfalls - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Dan Walters: Using student test scores to grade California teachers has pitfalls - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Testing data seemingly introduce dispassionate objectivity into the evaluation process. Each kid's abilities are as individual as fingerprints, however. Learning is also affected by many other factors, most of which are beyond the control of the teacher, such as cultural influences, parental involvement, taxpayer financing, administrative support and availability of textbooks."