Obama speech divides parents - The Denver Post

Obama speech divides parents - The Denver Post:

"President Barack Obama's plan to address the nation's students during the school day Tuesday has polarized parents over whether it's OK for their kids to listen to the speech.
On one side are parents who say the webcast speech to K-12 students is 'political recruiting' and 'spreading the liberal agenda.'

On the other are those who say listening to presidential speeches is an important part of American culture and the education process.

The White House officially announced the speech Wednesday morning, and the U.S. Department of Education followed up with a letter to school principals and a lesson plan for discussing the talk. The White House said the speech will address the importance of studying and staying in school."

Mayor Turns Political Loan Into Gift - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Mayor Turns Political Loan Into Gift - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Fending off allegations from the Sacramento City Attorney's office that he has a 'conflict of interest,' Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has decided to write off a $25,000 political contribution.

City Attorney Eileen Teichert raised the question during a City Council meeting last month when she requested that Johnson recuse himself from a discussion about whether his strong-mayor initiative is flawed.

Johnson refused, and the Council voted 9-0 to seek a non-binding opinion from the California Fair Political Practices Commission."

Poll disagrees with report | www.theacorn.com | The Acorn

Poll disagrees with report www.theacorn.com The Acorn:

"In its May report “School District Administration: Is the Cost Too High?” the grand jury recommended the 20 public school districts in the county be reduced to just six, which would save millions of dollars in administrative costs.

The school boards had until July 17 to respond.

School superintendents in the Simi, Moorpark, Oak Park and Conejo Valley districts disagreed with the grand jury’s report and said their schools operate efficiently as they are. Officials said the education community prefers smaller, local school districts over larger, consolidated ones.

In answer to the question “Should Conejo Valley and Oak Park unified school districts merge?” 56 percent of respondents said no and 44 percent said yes.
“Become another Los Angeles Unified School District? No thanks,” one blogger wrote."

A-mazing Progress Report for NYC Schools | NBC New York

A-mazing Progress Report for NYC Schools NBC New York:

"'Once again today's schools success story is based on the world according to Bloomberg, not the reality that our students are graduating unprepared,' said Thompson. 'Bloomberg would rather inflate these numbers and falsely claim success at the expense of kids being educated.'

Bloomberg's school's czar Joel Klein wisely attempted to put the numbers in their proper context.

'We want to make clear that that reflects that [schools] met their progress targets,' he said. 'It doesn't mean by any stretch of the imagination that those are schools that don't have a lot of improvement ahead of them.'"

West Contra Costa school workers reject tentative pact - ContraCostaTimes.com

West Contra Costa school workers reject tentative pact - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"Workers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District turned down a tentative labor pact Wednesday, a union leader said.

'We stand ready to resume negotiations,' said Richard Leung, supervising business agent of Public Employees Union Local 1, which represents about 1,500 maintenance and clerical workers, paraprofessionals and teachers' assistants in the school district.

The tentative, three-year pact had called for a wage freeze and for members to pay between $133 and $373 a month toward their and their families' medical benefits. The district currently absorbs the entire cost of the benefits, which the union said will be $533 to $1,323 a month in 2010."

Sound Politics: Strike by Kent teachers

Sound Politics: Strike by Kent teachers:
"Strike by Kent teachers

It is illegal for teachers to strike. The teachers of the Kent School District are on strike. Why are they willingly violating the law?

Every time a school district has taken the local teacher's union to court over a strike the district has won. But the Washington Education Association (WEA) retorts 'An appeals court has never upheld a school district to end a strike.' Technicality! Trick! No WEA local has every appealed. So the WEA's record in appeals court is 0 for 0; never lost.

What are they striking over in Kent? Meetings? Sure. Disrupt thousands of families over how many meetings you have to attend.

For a 10% pay raise? Ask you neighbors, teachers. They might find the district's offer of 4.5% too high.

For smaller class size? The system is providing funding for enough adults to lower the class size IF they would put more adults in their Kent classrooms.

The education system has found more and more things for people to do outside the classroom - counselors, planners, coordinators, etc. But they still work for the district and are being paid by the district. THE STATE PROVIDES ENOUGH MONEY. Get them back in the classroom.

The teachers and their well funded union are part of the establishment that maintains this situation. They have immense pull with the legislature, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, etc., if they want more people in the classroom.

THE STATE PROVIDES ENOUGH MONEY. Funding has grown far faster than the student population when adjusted for inflation. As I recall the numbers are over 70% funding increase during 25% student growth."

A School for the Fentys - washingtonpost.com

A School for the Fentys - washingtonpost.com:

"FOR YEARS, D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has been criticized for sending his sons to private school. Now, with the boys in a public school, Mr. Fenty is being chastised for not disclosing the circumstances of their enrollment in a choice elementary school.

We are sympathetic to Mr. Fenty's desire that his children's privacy be respected. Still, we understand the public's interest in whether rules were broken to allow the boys to enroll this year in a school outside their neighborhood. It would be a pity if suspicion about the mayor getting special treatment undermined support for the critical work Mr. Fenty is doing to reform education.

Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee told WTOP radio last week that no rules or policies were violated in assigning the boys to the highly regarded Lafayette Elementary School. How could this be? Ms. Rhee didn't explain, but there is an explanation. Mr. Fenty's neighborhood school, West Elementary, has only one fourth-grade class. Most studies show that twins, particularly if they are of the same gender, should be in separate classes for both learning and social development. That's apparently why Ms. Rhee -- using a process employed for other families in similar circumstances -- assigned the boys to Lafayette, where the existence of four fourth-grade classes made it easy to accommodate them. The school is also in Ward 4, where the Fentys live."

Homework for parents as kids go back to school – OregonLive.com

Homework for parents as kids go back to school – OregonLive.com:


"First up, in honor of educators everywhere, is a humorous audio clip making its way into people's e-mail boxes, as it has for several years. (Snopes.com, a Web site dedicated to urban legends, says the e-mail has been around since at least 2002). The clip is a fake answering machine message for a high school, that includes the following options for callers:

To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2
To complain about what we do - Press 3
To swear at staff members - Press 4


(And please ignore the answering machine message's last line, which takes a jab at people who don't speak English. Why someone felt the need to cheapen this valuable bit of satire is beyond me. Still, the sardonic clip is worth hearing.)"

Jews, Hindus: Treat religions equally in schoolbooks

Jews, Hindus: Treat religions equally in schoolbooks:

"JEWS AND Hindus have urged the Texas State Board of Education to treat all the major religions and denominations evenly in its Social Studies curriculum, which is currently under revision.

Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, a Jewish leader in Nevada and California and Rajan Zed, a Hindu statesman, in a joint statement in Nevada on Thursday (September 3), said that pening up the Texas schoolchildren to major world religions, native american spirituality and non-believers’ viewpoint would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow."

Letter: California once a model on education - Oroville Mercury Register

Letter: California once a model on education - Oroville Mercury Register: "Letter: California once a model on education
Chico Enterprise-Record
Posted: 09/03/2009 01:03:28 AM PDT


Your paper recently reported upon a visit to our city of a Republican candidate for governor. Your story related that she said California ranked 48th among the states in education. I was not in attendance at the meeting but I am aware that funding for education in California ranks 48th. I think that achievement levels are much higher.
In the mid-1960s, funding for California education ranked fifth in the United States. California's education system was recoginized as one of the best. Responsibility for the decline in funding is to be shared by politicians of both parties.

— Charles Hodel, Chico"

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES NATION'S LARGEST STATE-SPONSORED GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM - September 1, 2009 Tuesday 4:31 PM EST - Building Design & Construction

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES NATION'S LARGEST STATE-SPONSORED GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM - September 1, 2009 Tuesday 4:31 PM EST - Building Design & Construction:

"On behalf of the Los Angeles Trade Technical College I am very pleased to welcome all of you, obviously, to our college today as I said, this is the first day of the fall semester and to see firsthand why Trade-Tech is recognized as the community colleges' leader in clean and green workforce development. The tour today, in particular, was directed by our Dean of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development Leticia Barajas. Raise your hand there so we can you behind us. OK, and our Vice President for Workforce Development Marcy Drummond. So we want to thank them for that.

The tour was taken in one of our laboratories for the Alternative Fuels, Hybrid Technology and Low Emission Vehicle Technology Programs. In these programs students learn how to troubleshoot and repair new and emerging green or clean fuels technologies such as CNG, compressed gas, bio-diesel, LNG, ethanol and hybrids, where they learn the latest clean air technologies such as diesel, opacity testing and emission control devices."

California Chronicle | Budget Causes Unintended Losses for California's Lowest-Performing Schools

California Chronicle Budget Causes Unintended Losses for California's Lowest-Performing Schools:

"SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, announced she is prepared to introduce urgency legislation in order to correct a budget funding loss to the state´s lowest-performing schools. The funding loss, caused by a complicated funding swap in the recently enacted education budget, affects 139 school districts in California that receive Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) state funding.

'The budget has resulted in negative unintended financial consequences for our lowest-performing schools,' said Romero (D-East Los Angeles). 'We must work as expeditiously as possible to rectify the problem.'"

David B. Cohen and Alex Kajitani: Test scores poor tool for teacher evaluation - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

David B. Cohen and Alex Kajitani: Test scores poor tool for teacher evaluation - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"Education Secretary Arne Duncan is in Sacramento today to promote the new Race to the Top grant program, which offers a chunk of $4.5 billion in federal funds to states that meet federal guidelines, including a requirement to allow standardized test results to be used in individual teacher evaluations.

The link between test scores and teacher performance may seem obvious to the casual observer, but this is a case where appearances and intuition are misleading. As two of California's teachers – the 2009 California Teacher of the Year and a National Board-certified teacher – we urge Duncan and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to go back to school regarding the use of test scores for teacher evaluations."

Kevin Johnson: For $5 billion in federal money, put children first - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Kevin Johnson: For $5 billion in federal money, put children first - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"It's easy to look at the current state of affairs and feel disheartened. However, at this time, I feel hope. The words that Rahm Emanuel delivered to the U.S. Conference of Mayors ring in my head, 'Never let a serious crisis go to waste.' In the midst of this crisis in our state, we also have a huge opportunity. Race to the Top is that opportunity. It's the chance to address the severe funding shortage and, more importantly, to use the leverage of unprecedented federal dollars to enact important reforms. These reforms are ones that challenge the status quo, but ones that are desperately needed to improve the learning outcomes for kids."

Area schools score big on exam - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Area schools score big on exam - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"The achievement gap doesn't seem to be much of a problem at the El Dorado Hills school. All racial subgroups passed the test at a rate of 92 percent and above. African American and Latino students passage rates were within five percentage points of white students on both tests. But not many are students of color. Of the 528 10th-graders who took the math test, for instance, only nine were African American and 31 were Latino."

Advice for Parents on Talking to Children About H1N1 Flu

Advice for Parents on Talking to Children About H1N1 Flu

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
Many experts have predicted that the H1N1 virus (swine flu) will hit schools and communities hard this fall. With a little prevention and awareness, parents can reduce the risk and severity of infection.

• Frequently Asked Questions About H1N1 Flu


• H1N1 Flu Overview


• Prevention & Treatment


• H1N1 Flu Vaccine


• H1N1 Flu & Schools


• H1N1 Flu Reported Cases


• La Influenza H1N1 ("el gripe porcina") es un virus que se propaga de persona a persona.

http://www.education.com/special-edition/swine-flu/

"Preventing the Spread of H1N1/Swine Flu in Your School

Thursday, September 24, 2009 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT

Webinar Registration

This free webinar, designed for families, educators and administrators, will offer tips, suggestions and information on how to prevent the spread of H1N1/swine flu in schools. Drs. Meg Fisher and Peter Wenger will provide expert advice. Dr. Fisher is a world renowned pediatric infectious disease consultant, and Dr. Wenger specializes in pediatric infectious diseases, immunizations and infection control. This is an opportunity that you do not want to miss! Get your friends to join too..."

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/866156699

SCUSD ONLINE FACILITY USE PERMIT SYSTEM New Web Site

Facility Permits

****** COMING SOON! - - SEPTEMBER 2009!! ******

The Facility Use Permits Office issues permits for use of our facilities. Facilities available for community use include auditoriums, multi-purpose rooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, playing fields and classrooms.
Priorities for facility use are given to the following groups in the following order:

1. School / District / PTA Use
2. Joint-Use Agreement with City of Sacramento Parks & Recreation Agencies
3. Non-Profit Youth Organizations
4. Religious and Commercial Organizations

Ø All groups and individuals using our facilities must provide Certificates of Insurance evidencing $1 million of public liability and $1 million property damage coverage.

Ø All non-profit groups must provide a copy of IRS Form 501c (Certificate of Exempt Status) and copies of the groups constitution and by-laws.
Requests for permits must be submitted at least 15 working days prior to requested date, along with required insurance certificate, evidence of non-profit status, and payment in full, if applicable.

THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.


If you have any questions, please contact the Facility Use Permits Office at (916) 643-9205.
Hours of operation: 8:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday

The Crush of Summer Homework

The Crush of Summer Homework - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com

For many young Americans, going back to school might seem like rest and relaxation. In the last week before Labor Day, how many students across the country were racing to finish their summer homework, from “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” to math refresher exercises?

The pile of books and other vacation assignments appears to grow every year. Is all this homework beneficial or should children be given a break? An article in The Times on Sunday described a debate over assigned reading throughout the year. Some educators argue that students should be given wide latitude in deciding what they want to read, while others defended the “Moby-Dick” model. How should this issue be treated in summer, when some schools insist that everyone finish “The Old Man and the Sea,” while other schools say that “Gossip Girl” helps satisfy the requirement?

We asked some experts for their perspective, now that the summer homework is due.

Yudof’s Message - California Progress Report

Maybe the governor and legislature, its tax-cutting fanatics most of all, never knew the value of that asset. If they did, they seem to have long forgotten it. Or maybe they just don’t care.

Worse, the people who profess to be the state’s business leaders – the state Chamber of Commerce, the California Business Roundtable, and all the rest-- men and women who are supposed to be concerned about California’s economic vitality -- seem to be ignorant of it as well. When you hear from them these days, all they seem to be concerned about is, as Kerr put it, “low taxes and cheap labor.”

What’s most in jeopardy, not only at UC but at the California State University and at California’s 100-plus community colleges, which educate far and away the largest number of our students, is the investment in people, the crucial skilled workers, the educated citizens, on which California’s future depends. Even now, for a variety of reasons, a smaller percentage of its high school graduates go directly to college than all but two of the nation’s 20 largest states. In New York, some 75 percent of high school grads go directly to college. In California it’s fewer than 60 percent. It’s a terrible time to make college access and quality even scarcer.

A couple of weeks ago, Mark Yudof, the president of the University of California, came to Sacramento to remind the Capitol press corps – what’s left of it -- of some of those forgotten things and to chastise them both for their ignorance and their indifference.

“I don’t understand,” he said, “how it is that I receive visitors from Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Korea, who tell me how their nations aspire to build research universities modeled on the University of California.