In The News : Milwaukee Area Labor Council AFL-CIO

In The News : Milwaukee Area Labor Council AFL-CIO:

"In a rambling but revealing interview with Wisconsin’s largest newspaper, the new mayor for the city of Milwaukee, Scott Walker, discussed in greater detail his mayoral takeover of public education.

First, Walker said, he would sell 40 public school properties to condominium developers from Waukesha and Burnett counties he has worked with before. Included was the valuable Riverside High School building and its nearby environmental center."

Threatening School Reform - washingtonpost.com

Threatening School Reform - washingtonpost.com:

"The council, returning from summer break next week, will try to override Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's Aug. 26 veto of budget language appropriating nearly $1 million to the State Board of Education. It was the second time the mayor vetoed the measure because of fears that increased autonomy could lead to the board meddling in school operations. Five votes are needed to sustain the mayor's veto, and unfortunately, it appears that some council members are buying the notion that this is a minor matter that won't threaten Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee's reforms. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D), proponent of the change who is also mulling a challenge to Mr. Fenty next year, argues that the board's role in setting citywide educational standards and policy is not being enlarged."

School test results bring confusion

School test results bring confusion:

"State and local education officials are calling for revisions to the No Child Left Behind law in the next few years to help address what they say are untenable benchmarks in the federal system. Schools that receive federal Title I funding and fail to reach those benchmarks for two years are put on a watch list called Program Improvement. Nearly 2,800 schools are now on the list statewide, 1,558 new to it this year.

Five years on that list means local education officials are expected to take drastic steps to turn the school around, which could include a reconstituted staff, new principal, conversion to a charter school or closure. A decision not to participate in the federal program could result in the loss of Title I funding for low-income students, which pays for a range of programs including staff and materials."

Test score conundrum - SignOnSanDiego.com

Test score conundrum - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"State and federal report cards released simultaneously yesterday tell two tales: More than 80 percent of the county's public schools did better on standardized tests last spring than they did in 2008, but an alarming number of campuses are facing federal sanctions for low test scores. That double standard underscores the differences in how the state and federal governments measure success, and it is adding to concerns local educators have about the seven-year-old federal No Child Left Behind Act. The law demands that schools do more for low-scoring students but orders reforms even for schools that already are improving."

Education director speaks out against No Child Left Behind | San Francisco Examiner

Education director speaks out against No Child Left Behind San Francisco Examiner:

"What’s wrong with No Child Left Behind? Nearly everything. No Child Left Behind is an inside-the-Beltway, political mandate that has no relationships with the realities of classrooms. It uses arbitrary gains on low-quality multiple-choice tests as the sole factor for determining educational quality."

Parents involved in curriculum, policy discussions | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

Parents involved in curriculum, policy discussions DesMoinesRegister.com The Des Moines Register:

"School officials began to work with those at Harris and discovered Harris’ teachers visited families in the afternoon and on weekends and held classes for parents. Similar efforts were replicated at Bernard Long, along with the creation of a team of parents who worked with teachers to brainstorm ways to increase parental involvement and then find ways to make it happen."

Involvement plans pay off in test scores | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

Involvement plans pay off in test scores DesMoinesRegister.com The Des Moines Register:

"Many times parents fell through the cracks of the educational system themselves, and didn't understand what their responsibilities were when it came to education, she said.

'The problems that we're dealing with didn't happen overnight,' Anderson said. 'You have a demographic that statistics say the majority is just not going to make it, and trying to convince parents of the value of the effort we're trying to make is quite challenging.'"

Marcos Breton: New schools chief may find Sac City a contact sport - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Marcos Breton: New schools chief may find Sac City a contact sport - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"But how would he look in a football helmet?

My man could need one, because presiding over the Sacramento City Unified School District has been a bruising assignment for seasoned educators.
In Raymond we have a rookie superintendent not long removed from a career in labor law and politics.

His past is fascinating. He unsuccessfully ran as a Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District of Massachusetts against noted liberal Barney Frank. Now he's here, in one of the bluest cities around."

The Latino education challenge - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

The Latino education challenge - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"Another fact to remember: There's a serious gap between Latinos' successes in school, including their high school graduation and college-going rates, compared to their white peers. The difference is what educators call the 'achievement gap,' and closing it is the second-greatest challenge facing the country (behind getting the international religion-and-politics equation right so we don't blow each other up).

If we don't close that gap, America's workforce will lack the high-order skills the economy demands. There's no upside to allowing such a fast-growing demographic group trail behind, unless we prefer second-tier nation status."

Inside City Hall: Strong-mayor foes relaunch campaign - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com

Inside City Hall: Strong-mayor foes relaunch campaign - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com:

"After months of near- silence, a campaign against Mayor Kevin Johnson's strong-mayor initiative is back at it.

A group called Support Accountability, Voice and Ethics in Sacramento – or SAVE Sacramento – has taken shape, led by the county Democratic Party and a handful of labor groups. They have a Web site: bossmayor.com."

Sacramento-area schools improve scores but not enough - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sacramento-area schools improve scores but not enough - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"The achievement gap between white and Asian students and their black and Latino classmates narrowed slightly. The average API score for Asians was 878, 828 for whites, 698 for Latinos and 674 for blacks.

The number of California elementary schools that met the federal standard increased from 58 percent to 61 percent. But the number fell from 33 percent to 29 percent for middle schools. It fell most sharply for high schools, from 49 percent to 37 percent."

Making the grade - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Making the grade - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Academic Performance Index (API): This report is required by the state's Public Schools Accountability act of 1999. It shows how much a school is improving from year to year. A school's API is a number ranging from 200 to 1,000, calculated from statewide test results. The state wants all schools to reach 800. Those that fall short must reach annual growth targets, which vary by school."

Sacramento Press / Mayor plans to address "safe ground" ideas in October

Sacramento Press / Mayor plans to address "safe ground" ideas in October:

"Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday that he plans to deliver a proposal to the City Council in October that would lay out ideas for a “safe ground” site for homeless people.

Johnson told reporters at his weekly press conference on Tuesday that he wants to suggest to the City Council three to five sites as possible locations for a future campground. The campground would be exempt from the city’s rules against outdoor camping. In recent weeks, advocates for the homeless have called for city officials to create a safe ground site."

SCUSD Observer: Strong mayor initiative dissected

SCUSD Observer: Strong mayor initiative dissected

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Strong mayor initiative dissected
At tonight's city council meeting, City Attorney Eileen Teichert will present her report titled, "Strong Mayor Initiative Legal Issues and Options."Read it here.

Boss Mayor

Boss Mayor:

"On June 8, 2010, Sacramento will vote to reject or support Sacramentans for Accountable Government’s 'Boss Mayor' Initiative, which SAG has cleverly disguised as a strong mayor proposal. Don’t let SAG fool you.

The Boss Mayor Initiative is an irresponsible and risky attempt to concentrate virtually all of our city’s power into the hands of a single man. Do not be fooled, this is not the same “Strong Mayor” system in numerous other California cities. The Boss Mayor Initiative gives the Mayor unprecedented power over our city – with no accountability."

Mayor: No Money For Winter Shelters - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Mayor: No Money For Winter Shelters - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday there is no county money available for winter homeless shelters this year.

Johnson said Sacramento County's general fund is down, and additional cuts have been made to services that affect the homeless shelters.

The mayor said he hopes by the next month to have three or five locations to discuss as possible 'safe grounds.'"

Sebelius: Govt Approves New Swine Flu Vaccine - Health News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Sebelius: Govt Approves New Swine Flu Vaccine - Health News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the vaccine's approval to Congress -- and said she hopes to get the first limited supplies distributed early in October.

The bulk of vaccine will start arriving Oct. 15, and Sebelius said it should be available at 90,000 sites around the country.

'We will have enough vaccine available for everyone' eventually, Sebelius said -- everyone who wants it, that is."

Dear School-Based Health Care Supporter:

An urgent situation has been brought to our attention by one of our good friends on Capitol Hill. Apparently, some right-wing organizations are conducting a write-in campaign regarding school-based health centers in health care reform legislation. Our Hill contact shared some of the text that is making its way around:

“There are many reasons I urge you to oppose the Health Care Bill (HR3200), but among the most important is that it will put Planned Parenthoodclinics inside the nation's public schools.“Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest abortion provider and the mostdangerous purveyor of the mythical "safe sex" message which has deprivedso many American teens of their sexual innocence and left them withdiseases and unwanted pregnancies.“I am fundamentally opposed to the Health Care Bill (HR 3200) and anyattempt at government take- over of the health care industry. I urge youto oppose the Health Care Bill (HR 3200) or any health care plan thatinvites Planned Parenthood onto our public school campuses.”


This attack on SBHCs demands a strong response – and we are responding with a coordinated sign-on letter intended to demonstrate the breadth and depth of support for SBHCs. The letter is attached. Please consider signing your organization on! And please circulate this email and letter to your networks.

DEADLINE FOR SIGNING ON: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, NOON (Eastern). Please contact Alicia Newell (anewell@nasbhc.org) with sign-ons or questions.

Click this Link to get a copy of the letter: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/11328913/SUPPORT-SCHOOL-BASED-HEALTH-CARE-URGENT-SIGN-ON-LETTER‏

Thomas B. Fordham Institute - The Education Gadfly

Thomas B. Fordham Institute - The Education Gadfly:

"What private dollars can do uniquely and best is stand apart from government: Fund activities that are politically or constitutionally beyond government's reach; underwrite critics, evaluators, and analysts of public policies and programs; pay for inquiry, research, and advocacy that would be inappropriate for the public sector to undertake; and generally distinguish its work from that of government in a truly 'independent sector.' In a Wall Street Journal interview the other day, Eli Broad made clear that his foundation, for one, believes in 'venture philanthropy' to jump-start worthy change, not in waiting for the government to sign on."

Education Week: Growth Model

Education Week: Growth Model:

"“If you build the strongest possible induction model for people that come with this background, and equip them with the technology of teaching, will that help individuals improve? Yes, and I think TFA shows evidence of that,” said Ms. Hirsh, whose group promotes school-based learning teams for professional development. “But is the process one that could be replicated to all teachers in a school and produce schoolwide change? I don’t think so, because it has [teachers]working on isolated instances of practice.”"

Ms. Kopp agrees that creating communities of practice for school improvement is vital to reform, but for TFA, views the issue of as one of limited resources. “Ultimately, our schools and districts should be taking that on,” she said. “It’s simply a question of what we have the bandwidth to do.”