George Washington Carver School of Arts and Science

Exciting News!

Carver High School made the greatest improvement of any school in Sacramento City Unified School District for the 2009-2010 school year. The gains were made in every group of students as measured by NCLB. This is fantastic news to show the success of our students in our very first year. We look forward to continued success and achievement for all our students.

Summer Arts Academy

The Sam Mazza Summer Arts Academy 2009 offered performing arts to students interested in drama, music, and poetry. Carver's after-school program director, Shannah Dieckmann, worked with teachers Scott Embrey-Stine and Mme Jennifer Fain to bring several special events to the students. Dahlak Brathwaite offered students a chance to work in the spoken word, in dramatic recitations of original poetry. A few of his students competed for honors in a national competition in Chicago. We were honored to have Nate Hall and Charday Adams perform their competition piece at our showcase for the parents and the community. In cooperation with the Music Circus and their arts education outreach, students were able to go to a performance of Altar Boyz and hear from a performer about his work. Another opportunity came from the Harlem Dance Company, and students were able to hear from two of the principal ballet dancers in the country after seeing a video of their work.

Another innovation for this summer was the help of our Sacramento Waldorf graduates, who worked as recreation assistants, Elise Ali, Sean Embrey-Stine, and Kevin Langham. These young adults worked with students in dramatic exercises, script writing, and acting, as well as music. The assistants led the morning warm-up activities, daily singing, and directed the students in the original play, "Rumplestiltzkin". Working with the gifted song-writer, Ariel Heim, Sean helped Ariel and Brianna Price refine and rehearse Ariel's song, "Teardrops and the Rain", which was performed at the showcase event.

Mme Fain, for many years the drama teacher at the Sacramento Waldorf School trained several students in the art of acting, and they performed A.A. Milne's The Ugly Duckling, a one-act play about a prince and a princess. All of the students worked on other arts as well-- form-drawing and perspective drawing, as well as the work on the set for the two plays. Students new to George Washington Carver School of Arts and Science had an extraordinary opportunity to meet other students, experience the joys and stress of performing, as well as get an introduction to Waldorf methods for the school year to come.We continue the work of the Arts Academy in the Waldorf Core classes for ninth and tenth grades. Plan to attend the summer program next year.

Ruling in Richardson ISD case alters standards for reimbursement when services unavailable to disabled students | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Ruling in Richardson ISD case alters standards for reimbursement when services unavailable to disabled students News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News Latest News:

"A recent federal appeals court decision is the latest attempt by judges to define the level of public education that disabled students are entitled to receive.

The ruling, in a case involving a girl from Richardson, imposes new standards for parents in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi who seek reimbursement from school districts for some special education services not available from public schools."

The case focused on the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires public schools to offer "free and appropriate public education" for disabled children.
More than 450,000 students in Texas receive services under IDEA.

If a local public school cannot supply that education, the district is obligated to pay for some services considered necessary for a legally appropriate education.
But court cases in several federal districts have struggled to define exactly what that obligation means. The Richardson decision, handed down Aug. 21, is the latest.

Bold risk for teachers union - The Boston Globe

Bold risk for teachers union - The Boston Globe:


"THE BOSTON Teachers Union is trying to turn the tables on its critics by opening a pilot school that removes layers of bureaucracy between students and their teachers. Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, warned that “naysayers will be rooting for it to fail.’’ Not likely. If anything, Bostonians and education advocates across the political spectrum are longing for more successful schools, regardless of who runs them."

The Associated Press: WA official: Only US teacher strike nears end

The Associated Press: WA official: Only US teacher strike nears end:


"It is the only teacher strike in the nation taking place this week, and experts said they are becoming rarer across the nation. But that's not necessarily the case in Washington; teachers in a city east of Seattle staged a two-week strike last fall.

Rich Wood, a spokesman for the state's largest teacher's union, said strikes are not that common because most states do not allow them and and some ban collective bargaining.
Longer contracts and accommodating teachers who understand the budget pressures school districts are experiencing are two other reasons strikes are becoming rarer, said Janet Bass, spokeswoman for the American Federation of Teachers, the nation's second-largest teachers union."

School reform is next - Press-Telegram

School reform is next - Press-Telegram:

"Legislators have ended their regular session, but they've got some urgent unfinished business. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special session on education reform — and wants action by Oct. 5, less than three weeks away.

California has had pressing education issues for a long time. Reforms have been discussed and discussed and discussed.

But the dynamic changed with President Barack Obama's challenge to the states — backed by $10 billion in new funds — to move aggressively in improving the nation's public schools. The first round of applications for $4 billion in Race to the Top funds is due in December."

stjoenews.net | Improving schools requires different approach

stjoenews.net Improving schools requires different approach:

"Many educators agree that former President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind program sounds nice but causes harmful results. In St. Joseph, three elementary schools didn’t make adequate yearly progress and, thus, parents were able to transfer their kids to other schools.

This complicated an already emotional issue after the St. Joseph School District redrew boundary lines and toughened its transfer policies earlier in the summer."

English-only test leaves some Oregon children behind OregonLive.com

English-only test leaves some Oregon children behind OregonLive.com:

"Forest Grove teacher Lourdes Medina watched two of her third-grade students break into tears of frustration as they tried to complete the state assessment test in reading last spring.
They were excellent readers, but they couldn't comprehend the test, which for the first time in three years was offered only in English."

Schools brace for No Child scores | San Francisco Examiner

Schools brace for No Child scores San Francisco Examiner:

"As part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the state will release Adequate Yearly Progress reports for all schools and districts Tuesday.
The data will outline which schools and districts have met required benchmarks for English and math proficiency."

High school newspaper censored | Daily Titan

High school newspaper censored Daily Titan:

"An Orange County principal violated a state education code that provides First Amendment rights to high school journalists when she halted the printing of the school’s newspaper, Evolution, last week, experts say.

“In this case, technically, the principal was out of line,” said Jay Seidel, an instructor and journalism adviser at Fullerton College. “It was illegal what she did according to the California education code. She violated the student (writers’) rights.”"

John Rosemond: Rules for back to school : Don't Miss : The Buffalo News

John Rosemond: Rules for back to school : Don't Miss : The Buffalo News:

"As this school year began, several teachers asked if I would reprint a column that first appeared about 10 years ago.

The subject is my five top back-to- school tips for parents. Before you read, be informed that when I use the term “best students,” I am not necessarily referring to those children who make the best grades. Rather, I mean those students who come to school prepared to pay attention, accept assignment and do their best, whatever their best may be."

The UNICEF report titled ‘Happy Learning’ says

Assessment should be used as a tool for good education: Report:

The UNICEF report titled ‘Happy Learning’ says that students’ assessment should be used as a tool to improve education quality and systems. In other words, assessment of student performance should be used to provide teachers with the information they need to improve student learning.

"The purpose of assessment includes the following aspects.

· To improve the quality of teaching learning inside the classroom;

· To help children to set targets for future learning;

· To report on children’s progress and provide summative information on their achievements to parents, researchers and decision makers; and

· To enable teachers to evaluate their own practice and performance"

Full Report: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/11241763/HAPPY-LEARNING!-A-GUIDE-TO-BEST-PRACTISES-FOR-ACHIEVINGTHE-POTENTIAL-OF-CHILDREN

Education Report: A long view of public education in Oakland - Inside Bay Area

Education Report: A long view of public education in Oakland - Inside Bay Area:

"When I began teaching in 1969, there were students in my regular eighth-grade English classes who could not read 10 words. These were students who entered school before President Johnson's War on Poverty had set up the Head Start Preschool program and Title I funding for schools in low-income areas. Although we still have many students who read far below grade level, the complete nonreader has disappeared from regular classes at the schools where I have worked."

KIPP, union disagree on Baltimore teachers' pay | 89.3 KPCC

KIPP, union disagree on Baltimore teachers' pay 89.3 KPCC:

"In his speech to school children today, President Obama will tell them to study more. Many educators say low income kids, in particular, need to spend more hours per day and more days per week in school. Still, a dispute involving teachers in Baltimore is raising questions about whether the country can afford to pay for extra time. NPR's Larry Abramson reports."

Old School in Virginia - washingtonpost.com

Old School in Virginia - washingtonpost.com:

"Low salaries discourage people from entering, and staying, in teaching. But across-the-board increases to an artificial average are a discredited relic -- the education equivalent of building a gas guzzler when the market has turned to hybrids. For one, systems don't compete nationally for teachers; the ability to be competitive with nearby districts is far more important."

Marcos Breton: Our mayor looks sharp -- but what has he done, really? - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Marcos Breton: Our mayor looks sharp -- but what has he done, really? - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"You can't say the Lord Mayor has no clothes because he's quite a dapper man.

It's the suit that sometimes seems empty.

Months into his tenure as mayor, we know what we've always known about KJ: He has connections; he can raise big money; he has adoring followers; and he's often on national television.
If the mayor's job were about mojo, he'd be the Austin Powers of municipal leaders."

Kent teachers' strike pits parent against parent | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional

Kent teachers' strike pits parent against parent KOMO News - Seattle, Washington Local & Regional:

"COVINGTON, Wash. - With no breakthrough in the Kent teachers' strike and a deadline looming, battle lines are forming between parents in the sprawling district.

Some parents are backing the teachers, while other parents are ready to push them back to school.

The two duelling camps faced off across the street from one another Saturday morning, waving signs and shouting slogans."

District must demand details on concessions | livingstondaily.com | Livingston Daily

District must demand details on concessions livingstondaily.com Livingston Daily:

"Teachers were voting last week on a plan in which they would pay from $1,300 to $1,800 a year for insurance, or about $100 to $150 a month. While that might not seem like a lot to some, the fact is the teachers don't have to make that concession at all, because they have a contract through the end of this school year.

The problem, though, is that this deal extends the contract another year through the summer of 2011. That means that all raises and step increases are still in place. Even with the health-care contribution, the district will still be increasing its compensation package for teachers."

Charter schools: They're not better for our kids - The Denver Post

Charter schools: They're not better for our kids - The Denver Post:

"The claim of privatized school 'innovation' also has not been validated. Both Green Dot and KIPP charter programs have gained notoriety by simply employing well-known academic achievement variables in a highly structured environment, such as requiring parental support; requiring regular attendance; teaching a rigorous curriculum aligned to the requisite tests; and establishing an achievement-oriented school culture. Students failing to meet these expectations drop out or are disenrolled, thus improving the appearance of class post-test performance by the persistent."

Let’s continue to reform alternative teacher licensing | thestarpress.com | The Star Press

Let’s continue to reform alternative teacher licensing thestarpress.com The Star Press:

"• Anyone with a bachelor’s degree could pass a test from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence.

• Administrators could be hired from outside the education field.

• No more than 30 credit hours in teaching methods would be required for elementary education majors.

• Elementary education majors would have to minor in a content area.

• Elementary teachers could move to high school and vice versa by passing a test.

These proposed reforms are in response to “Race to the Top, a federal grant program that will divide $5 billion among schools in states that qualify. But to be considered, states must raise standards and show they’re trying new methods to improve.”"

Writing Your Own Destiny: Obama's Universal Message for Youth - JamaicaObserver.com

Writing Your Own Destiny: Obama's Universal Message for Youth - JamaicaObserver.com:

"In the Caribbean, waking up with the sun's rise to study was a norm for many students in rural areas whose homes had no electricity and whose parents could not afford private schools or extra lessons. In some cases, study in the light of the early-morning sun preceded work in the field before setting off for school.

Many of the professionals in Caribbean life today reached the pinnacles they have by recognising then what Obama, from his own similar experience, could say today: 'Each of you has a responsibility for your education, (It is) a responsibility you have to yourself.'"