Russ Pulliam: Obama's right on this reform | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Russ Pulliam: Obama's right on this reform IndyStar.com The Indianapolis Star:

"Democrats are engaged in an internal debate over education -- with unions on one side and reformers like Duncan on the other. The reformers have become better organized in recent years, with groups such as Democrats for Education Reform, a political action committee headed by Kevin Chavous, an Indianapolis native. Chavous practices law in Washington and has served on the City Council there. His group wants teacher performance and pay tied to student test results, along with more charter schools."

The Obama Lecture: Hey Kids, Don't Read This | theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL

The Obama Lecture: Hey Kids, Don't Read This theledger.com The Ledger Lakeland, FL:

"It was a speech clearly meant to be one that would draw youngsters in (How often does a president talk about an Xbox?). It made Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer statement last week - he was 'absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology' - seem even more clueless than it was at the time."

Parents flex muscles in Kent teacher strike | Local News | Seattle News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | KING5.com

Parents flex muscles in Kent teacher strike Local News Seattle News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather KING5.com:

"Parents are entering the fight to end the teacher strike that has canceled the first nine days of school in the Kent School District.

The Kent Parents Coalition has collected about 300 signatures and plans to file a petition to recall school board members if a contract isn't agreed on by Sunday night.

'The school board itself is elected by us. If they won't listen to our voice, then we need to make sure to replace them,' said grandparent Pam Buher.

'If they don't, then we're going to do what we can do to remove them from office,' added Charles Allen, group spokesperson."

The Associated Press: Teacher strike in Washington focused on class size

The Associated Press: Teacher strike in Washington focused on class size:

"The strike is not centered on wage and contract issues like most labor disputes. Kent teachers are instead fighting for smaller class sizes, arguing that the district should spend some of the $21 million it has in reserve to alleviate overcrowding.

The district maintains that it needs to hold on to the reserve funds during such poor economic times and that classes are not as crowded as teachers claim. Some teachers complain that they don't have enough desks for students, with more than 30 students in some elementary and middle school classes."

Hopper tries, hits wall in changing school teacher evaluations | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern

Hopper tries, hits wall in changing school teacher evaluations thenorthwestern.com Oshkosh Northwestern:

"Teachers' unions have long opposed linking test scores with evaluations and teacher pay because they believe it's unfair to judge a teacher's performance on a single test. They also note the tests can be flawed, don't test every subject, and that many students learn from more than one teacher.

But in a statement issued Friday, Wisconsin Education Association Council president Mary Bell said, 'In any legislative changes, we support the use of multiple measures when evaluating educators.'

She also said any reform must be carefully evaluated for fairness to teachers because changes in the law will be applied whether or not the money follows."

Go slow on charter schools, city asks : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Go slow on charter schools, city asks : City & Region : The Buffalo News:

"Buffalo School Superintendent James A. Williams has taken a favorable view of charter schools during the first several years, saying they spawn innovation and provide healthy competition for traditional public schools.

But now, after a series of run-ins with local charter schools, he is asking for a state moratorium on the creation of new charter schools in Buffalo and its adjoining suburbs.
Williams' request is driving the tense relationship between charter and traditional schools to new levels of acrimony."

Feds slap education officials with fine - Salt Lake Tribune

Feds slap education officials with fine - Salt Lake Tribune:

"The federal government imposed a $58,000 penalty on the Utah State Office of Education in August for defying testing rules in order to proceed with an experimental testing program.
Though Utah won't lose the money -- the state office must shift it to school districts instead of use it at the state level -- the U.S. Department of Education doesn't often financially punish states. The sanction came after the state failed to give a certain test in two Utah school districts that are piloting a new testing system for Utah, a system that an independent evaluation shows is yielding mixed results."

Plan would limit charter schools' independence | Philadelphia Daily News | 09/11/2009

Plan would limit charter schools' independence Philadelphia Daily News 09/11/2009:

"If a proposed amendment to the charter-school policy is approved by the School Reform Commission this fall, the city's charter schools will be one step closer to losing their independence, a charter-school official said yesterday at a public hearing."

Labor Union and Students Fight California State University Budget Cuts - Bulatlat

Labor Union and Students Fight California State University Budget Cuts - Bulatlat:

"California prisons have been garnering tax dollars at a vastly higher rate than higher education in the past quarter century. From 1984-1985 to 2009-2010, state spending on postsecondary schools has increased 159 percent versus an increase of 685 percent for incarceration in the same 25-year period, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office."

It's Politics: Sens. Bob Huff, Gloria Romero work together on educational reform bill - Whittier Daily News

It's Politics: Sens. Bob Huff, Gloria Romero work together on educational reform bill - Whittier Daily News:

"You don't usually see Democrats and Republicans working together in Sacramento.

But state Sens. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, and Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, have introduced legislation to help California's education system get $4.5 billion in federal grant money.

'Education is not a partisan issue,' Huff said. 'It's about helping our kids excel and compete. We're trying to get things done for the state in spite of the normal political skirmishing we see.'
SB 1-5X would allow the use of student test data to evaluate teacher performance. It also would eliminate a limitation on the number of charter schools in California."

Pattern of government influence in schools

Pattern of government influence in schools:

"There has been much discussion the last week about the President’s decision to speak directly to the students in US schools on September the 8th. Those on the right worried about the “indoctrination” of the youth. The uproar was so great that the U.S. Department of Education even changed the study guide that was made available for the teachers to use. Removed was the question where students were asked what they could do to help the president."

California Chronicle | SCHOOL EDUCATION DATA BILL ENSURES ACCESS TO FEDERAL FUNDS, INCREASES EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY

California Chronicle SCHOOL EDUCATION DATA BILL ENSURES ACCESS TO FEDERAL FUNDS, INCREASES EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY:


"SACRAMENTO- The State Legislature has passed SB 19 by State Senator Joe Simitian, (D-Palo Alto). The measure is designed to put to rest a controversy Simitian describes as 'a tempest in a teapot' over California´s eligibility for federal funds for schools.

SB 19 is necessary said Simitian, 'because of a misinterpretation by federal officials over the meaning of California state law; a misinterpretation that has the potential to preclude California access to $4.5 billion in federal education 'Race to the Top' funds.'

Although Simitian and others, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O´Connell, argued that the feds were misreading the state law, Simitian said he quickly concluded it was wiser to simply 'eliminate, rather than prolong the debate.'"

Fitch Downgrades Natomas USD, California's GOs to 'BBB'; Watch Negative

Fitch Downgrades Natomas USD, California's GOs to 'BBB'; Watch Negative

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings downgrades Natomas Unified School District (USD), California's (the district) $64.6 million of outstanding general obligation (GO) bonds to 'BBB' from 'A-' and places the bonds on Rating Watch Negative.

While the original rating was assigned July 29, 2004, the ratings on the 1999 refunding GO bond was not reflected on Fitch's web site. The full rating history is now available at 'http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fitchratings.com&esheet=6048430&lan=en_US&anchor=www.fitchratings.com&index=1'.

The downgrade reflects the district's deteriorating financial position, as evidenced by a significant structural imbalance and projected year end deficit balances for fiscals 2010-12. With the weakened financial position brought on largely by misestimates of student enrollment and reduced state funding without commensurate spending cuts, Fitch believes the district's ability to achieve balance and rebuild reserves will be hindered in the future by the area's significantly impacted housing market and a local moratorium on new home building. While the district is working with a consultant and the Sacramento County Office of Education to reduce the budgeted fiscal 2010 deficit, Fitch views the level of actions needed to return reserves to levels consistent with the prior 'A-' rating as unlikely in the near-term. Also, the district's debt amortization is very slow, further reducing financial flexibility.

John Burton: Governor's cuts to child services run deep - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

John Burton: Governor's cuts to child services run deep - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"A child goes to school too weak from hunger to cry, much less learn. A foster child is turned out on the street on her 18th birthday, with no shelter, no job, no health care and no one to turn to. Sound familiar?

These are stories too often reported on the pages of this newspaper and others across the state. They are stories I've spent my entire career trying to prevent."

Bill Maher: New Rule: Float Like Obama, Sting Like Ali

Bill Maher: New Rule: Float Like Obama, Sting Like Ali:

"Tomorrow Glenn Beck's army of zombie retirees are marching on Washington in protest of, well, everything. It's the Million Moron March, although they won't get a million of course, because many will be confused and drive to Washington state -- but they will make news. Because people who take to the streets always do. They're at the town hall screaming at the congressman, we're on the couch screaming at the TV. Especially in this age of electronics and Snuggies, it's a statement to just leave the house. But leave the house we must, because this is our last best shot for a long time to get the sort of serious health care reform that would make the United States the envy of several African nations."

SCUSD Observer: A Letter from the chair of the Black Parallel School Board

SCUSD Observer: A Letter from the chair of the Black Parallel School Board

A Letter from the chair of the Black Parallel School Board

The African American youth in Sacramento are at a state of heightened emergency in relation to their academic pursuit yet, we are not truly outraged about this. With education being one of the fundamental keys to success we must make every effort to ensure the academic key fits correctly once it's placed into the hands of our African American youth.

On Saturday, September 5, 2009, the Black Parallel School Board held its monthly meeting at the Oak Park United Methodist Church in Sacramento. The meeting started promptly at 10 am and adjourned at 12 pm. One of the key items we covered was standardized testing. Readers are you aware that within the Sacramento City Unified School District during the past school year of all the African American students they are serving only 8 children of African descent are in geometry and there are only 9 African Descent youth in Algebra II. African American students overall have made little to none standardized test improvements and the same is occurring with the high school exit exam test results. Our children's ability to articulate themselves in written form is declining astronomically too.

KJ loan flap: Teichert says Mayor is "inaccessible." Sacramento News & Review > Blogs > SNOG#BlogPost-1216789

Sacramento News & Review KJ loan flap: Teichert says Mayor is "inaccessible." :

"Just one more thing about Kevin Johnson‘s game of “hide the loan,” then I‘ll shut up about it, for now.

I have still have not heard, despite asking over and over again, a good explanation for why Johnson withheld key information from City Attorney Eileen Teichert and the City Council during a contentious August 25 council meeting."

The Charter School Paradox

The Charter School Paradox:

"' ... authorizers, charter school advocates and policymakers must be willing and able to fulfill their end of the original charter school bargain, which is accountability in exchange for flexibility.' ~CREDO report"

Commentary: Who says public schools need more money? - CNN.com

Commentary: Who says public schools need more money? - CNN.com:

"Teachers unions and politicians are constantly claiming that K-12 public schools need more money in order to produce good academic results. But does the data support the argument that our schools need more money to succeed?

The Oakland Unified School District had a budget of $602 million for the 2008-2009 school year, according to Katy Murphy, an education reporter with the Oakland Tribune. That budget, which includes $77 million spent on consultants, means that the district spends an average of $16,270 per student!"

Capitol Alert: Poll: Californians distrust politicos

Capitol Alert: Poll: Californians distrust politicos:

"Nearly three-fourths of those polled by the Public Policy Institute of California say that state government is run by a few big interests for their benefit, a new high in the 11-year history of PPIC polling. Just 20 percent say it's run for the common benefit.
Californians believe the state wastes too much money, and they are down on both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature, the PPIC also found."