School Friction - washingtonpost.com

School Friction - washingtonpost.com:

"AFL-CIO PRESIDENT Richard L. Trumka took center stage Thursday at a well-orchestrated rally in downtown Washington to denounce the 'cold, hard' tactics of D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee. Washington Teachers' Union President George Parker wrote a letter that appeared on this page Friday saying that his organization has tried to collaborate with Ms. Rhee. There is the suggestion that Ms. Rhee's recent layoff of 229 teachers could dampen the chance of future cooperation.

Let's review the record to examine the plausibility of those charges."

Black Male Dropouts Lead Nation in Incarceration | Reuters

Black Male Dropouts Lead Nation in Incarceration Reuters:

"CHICAGO, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- On any given day, nearly 23 percent of all
young Black men ages 16 to 24 who have dropped out of high school are in jail,
prison, or a juvenile justice institution in America, according to a
disturbing new national report released today on the dire economic and social
consequences of not graduating from high school.

Dropouts become incarcerated at a shocking rate: 23 of every 100 young Black
male dropouts were in jail on any given day in 2006-07 compared to only 6 to 7
of every 100 Asian, Hispanic or White dropouts. While young Black men are
disproportionately affected, the report found that this crisis cuts across
racial and ethnic lines. Male dropouts of all races were 47 times more likely
to be incarcerated than their peers of a similar age who had graduated from a
four-year college or university."

Miracle of St. Anthony: Long Beach icon rebounds - Press-Telegram

Miracle of St. Anthony: Long Beach icon rebounds - Press-Telegram:

"Former Long Beach City Councilman Frank Colonna, who worked with Press-Telegram columnist Tom Hennessy on a successful campaign to bring back the St. Anthony marching band with donated instruments, credited his alma mater's high expectations, personal attention, strong faculty and intimate setting at 620 Olive Ave.

'Many people are looking toward the security of their youngsters getting an education through a private school with a bit of a religious bent,' Colonna says. 'People just feel, in general, that there is a discipline in the school, the responsibility that is imparted to the students, a certain type of camaraderie that is ingrained in the students and teachers who care a lot.'

When he joined St. Anthony in 2008, Principal Schabert recruited heavily in Catholic primary schools and churches. He touted a college-preparatory curriculum that meets University of California requirements, a 13 to 1 teacher ratio and opportunities to play sports.

'From the moment you apply, you are important to us,' he says.

Though many students come from Protestant, Buddhist and other religious backgrounds, the majority are Catholic."

Paul Krugman: If we stop educating our kids, we’ll suffer

Paul Krugman: If we stop educating our kids, we’ll suffer:

"If you had to explain America’s economic success with one word, that word would be “education.” In the 19th century, America led the way in universal basic education. Then, as other nations followed suit, the “high school revolution” of the early 20th century took us to a whole new level. And in the years after World War II, America established a commanding position in higher education.

But that was then. The rise of American education was, overwhelmingly, the rise of public education — and for the past 30 years our political scene has been dominated by the view that any and all government spending is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Education, as one of the largest components of public spending, has inevitably suffered."

Marie Reed Elementary Embraces Japanese 'Lesson Study' - washingtonpost.com

Marie Reed Elementary Embraces Japanese 'Lesson Study' - washingtonpost.com:

"It is a wholly different approach from the workshop-with-an-outside-expert model that dominates professional development for U.S. teachers, according to a February report by Stanford University researchers. And although its effect on student achievement has not been well-documented by researchers, there is some promising evidence: A 2006 study showed that the increase in test scores over four years at a California school where teachers engaged in lesson study was triple that of other schools in the same district. A broader study of 15 schools in California showed that at schools in which teachers met two or three times a month to address students' specific academic struggles, test scores rose relative to the district average."

School district, teachers must solve budget crisis together - The Reporter

School district, teachers must solve budget crisis together - The Reporter:

"Last year, the district was forced to acknowledge it has a structural deficit that makes it unable to guarantee financial solvency for the next three years.

Travis isn't alone in that fiscal pickle, of course. Eighteen other California school districts also filed 'negative' certifications at the end of the last school year, and another 89 were on the 'qualified' list, meaning they're not sure if they can meet their financial obligations.

Travis school board and district managers have been scrambling to reduce costs. Since the vast majority of school money goes toward salaries and benefits, the vast majority of cuts will have to come from those areas.

Elementary music and physical education specialists have been eliminated as the district has cut positions and programs, enlarged class sizes and reduced such things as janitorial services to the bare minimum.

The district also asked teachers to take a 2 percent pay cut. Last week, the teachers resoundingly said no."

Candidates owe voters straight talk about cutting school spending — and getting better results. -- dailypress.com

Candidates owe voters straight talk about cutting school spending — and getting better results. -- dailypress.com:

"Real solutions begin by acknowledging the problems. Many officials, from governors and legislators to school board members, don't face that reality. They'd rather brag on schools than face up to or try to fix their shortcomings. Too many concentrate on a few bits of campaign fluff. For example: 'I pledge to work to raise teacher salaries to the national average' — an educational red herring.

That average is a statistical fluke, driven up by a few states, such as California and New York, where the cost of living is high and unions are strong. Their circumstances aren't relevant to Virginia — which is in the middle of states in its teacher pay.

Yes, we should be talking about teacher pay. But we should be looking at how we can use it to accomplish the real need: attracting more high-quality teachers and getting the best out of them."

GOP shill game -- latimes.com

GOP shill game -- latimes.com:

"California's Republican state senators claim they act the way they do -- blocking budget votes, demanding health and education cuts, opening tax loopholes for downtrodden classes such as yacht owners -- because they want to protect their constituents from overbearing and ineffective government. They're becoming progressively less believable, especially after GOP senators last month held more than 20 mostly worthy bills hostage in order to try killing a program that old-school Republicans would have championed.

The senators refused to vote on Democrats' bills in an effort to eliminate ReadyReturn, a service of the Franchise Tax Board. Instead of just combing tax returns for mistakes, the board came up with the program to actually help some taxpayers, Tax officials complete returns for simple filers -- those whose income is mostly from wages -- allowing them to just sign it and send it in (with a check). Filers, if they prefer, can still figure their taxes themselves."

John Affeldt: Time for Schwarzenegger the Action Figure to Emerge on Education

John Affeldt: Time for Schwarzenegger the Action Figure to Emerge on Education:

"When the state that educates 1 in 8 American children is failing miserably at that task, America should care. When that state is also the 8th largest economy in the world, we should be up in arms. It's not just California's future that is tied to the quality of the state's education system; it's the nation's.

Unfortunately serious progress on the education front may be tossed overboard in the next few days if Governor Schwarzenegger, absent a water deal this weekend, follows through with his threat to veto all bills. In laying the foundation for a long overdue overhaul of California's archaic and highly dysfunctional school funding system, Assembly Bill 8 (AB 8) by Assembly Education Committee Chair Julia Brownley is among the most important of the threatened measures."

The Daily News Online - Batavia, NY > Entertainment > Kennedy Center enlists art groups for education

The Daily News Online - Batavia, NY > Entertainment > Kennedy Center enlists art groups for education:

"The pilot 'Any Given Child' project announced Friday for schools in Sacramento, Calif., could be expanded to as many as three cities each year, the center said. Under the strategy, the Kennedy Center will link local arts groups with schools to help teach students in grades K-8.

The groups will draft long-range plans specific to each city to ensure all students have access to music, theater and the visual arts. The Kennedy Center is devoting about $500,000 to begin the program and expects to keep costs low for local schools.

'A frustration I have is that every arts education program sounds good, but I'm not sure it's always contributing to a well-educated child,' said Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser, who developed a reputation in New York and Washington for turning around arts groups struggling with financial problems. 'We're trying to find an affordable approach to systematic arts education.'"

Editorial: Arts initiative will put Sacramento on the map - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Arts initiative will put Sacramento on the map - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"It all began in May. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation brought in Michael Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He told arts organizations how they could survive and thrive during a troubled economy.

Mayor Kevin Johnson spoke briefly to the standing-room-only group. Kaiser and Johnson later met and hit it off.

Then the mayor in June launched a major arts initiative, 'For Arts Sake.' That effort has attracted 400 volunteers, meeting once a month, to spark an arts-and-culture revival.
Now comes a giant boost."

Sacramento State event encourages girls to pursue math, science - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sacramento State event encourages girls to pursue math, science - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Two at a time, the tall bottles of soda blasted streams more than a dozen feet into the air over a courtyard at California State University, Sacramento, on Saturday.

Each time, the spectacular experiment led to the same conclusion: Mint Mentos and Diet Pepsi create a bigger explosion than if the candy is combined with root beer, orange soda, 7UP, regular Pepsi, Coke or even Diet Coke."

New Rule: Everyone deserves equal rights.

Bill Maher: New Rule: Everyone Deserves Equal Rights

New Rule: Everyone deserves equal rights. That's why they're called "equal" and "rights." Tomorrow night President Obama will speak before a gay rights group, and on Sunday there will be a massive gay rally in Washington, or as I call it, the Million Mo March. Which makes this weekend the perfect time for Obama to announce he's repealing "don't ask, don't tell" and committing to a full-throated endorsement of gay marriage. One, because it's the right thing to do and two, because it will throw the conservative base into such a frenzied, pants-shitting panic that they'll drop all that BS about death panels and socialism and let us all get some actual work done.

Education Week: Youth Push for Louder Conversation About Suicide

Education Week: Youth Push for Louder Conversation About Suicide:

"The topic of suicide makes many people squirm. It's something we've been told we're not supposed to talk about. If you speak it, someone might do it.

But there's a growing conversation about suicide that's happening on college campuses, in high school auditoriums and online — even among youth some might think are too young to consider suicide. The hope is that a public discussion between young people and the teachers and counselors who work with them could inspire peers in distress to get help."

High School Connections: Who's at the Leading Edge of Career-Tech Ed Policy?

High School Connections: Who's at the Leading Edge of Career-Tech Ed Policy?:

"Who's at the Leading Edge of Career-Tech Ed Policy?

As more people talk about the importance of college and workplace readiness, the evolution of career and technical education is worth keeping an eye on. In a recent brief, the Education Commission of the States describes state-level efforts that it considers 'ahead of the curve' in developing top-notch CTE programs.

It ain't voc-ed anymore, folks. Take a look here. States are infusing career and tech ed work into high school curricula and giving it core course credit. They're incorporating it into their accountability systems to ensure it's rigorous. They're creating what they say are new-age career tracks that will produce young people with enviable, practical skills, not just an impressive command of English literature (okay, there has been a tiny controversy about Louisiana's career diploma. But I digress...)."

Education Week: Sen. Boxer Plans Hearing on Toxic School Drinking Water

Education Week: Sen. Boxer Plans Hearing on Toxic School Drinking Water:

"The head of the U.S. Senate Environment Committee said Wednesday that legislators will hold hearings to address toxic drinking water in the nation's schools following an Associated Press probe into the widespread problem.

California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer called for the hearings to be held in Washington this year after an AP investigation revealed unsafe levels of lead, bacteria and pesticides have surfaced in the water supplies at thousands of schools. ('Nation's School Drinking Water Contains Toxins,' Sept. 25, 2009.)"

Education Week: Standards Aren't Enough

Education Week: Standards Aren't Enough:

"While Americans spent the summer watching shouting matches over health care, quiet but historic progress was being made on another of President Barack Obama’s domestic-policy priorities: getting schools to ask more of their students so that they graduate better prepared for life and work.

In late September, a new draft of national end-of-high-school standards intended to demand of students a greater depth of understanding of math, reading, and writing was unveiled. A philosophically diverse validation committee of senior scholars and practitioners has been appointed to examine the evidence supporting the standards and to recommend revisions. The next step will be to write standards for each grade, starting in kindergarten. ('New Standards Draft Offers More Details,' Sept. 30, 2009.)"

CPR: News Story | Kennedy Center Names Sacramento Inaugural City for Arts Education Initiative

CPR: News Story Kennedy Center Names Sacramento Inaugural City for Arts Education Initiative:

"It’s intended to offer an arts curriculum to every Sacramento student from kindergarten through eighth grade. For example, the Sacramento ballet might work with one grade level and the symphony with another.

Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser says the goal is make an arts education more constant and systematic – instead of the haphazard way it’s taught now.

Kaiser: “If a third grade teacher loves the arts, he or she might bring the class to many different arts experiences. Then those same children go to the fourth grade. And if the fourth grade teacher doesn’t love the arts or doesn’t know about the arts, then the children get no arts exposures. We don’t teach any other subject that way.”

All of the city’s school districts are participating in the program, as are the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, local organizations and Mayor Kevin Johnson’s new arts initiative.

Under the program, Kennedy Center staff will audit Sacramento’s schools over the next six months, then work with arts organizations to craft a curriculum that would start next fall.

The center wants other cities to join the program once it gets started."

Johnson Favors Railyards As New Kings Arena Site - cbs13.com

Johnson Favors Railyards As New Kings Arena Site - cbs13.com:

"Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is speaking out about plans for a new arena.

Mayor Johnson says he prefers the downtown railyards as a site. Johnson says he recently spoke to NBA commissioner David Stern who had this warning:

'Sacramento's a great market and we want to be here and we're committed to keeping the Kings in Sacramento, but know that there has to be an entertainment complex that is consistent with competition around the country.'

Mayor Johnson says building an arena is a top priority and says he's trying find a way to pay for it."

Watch video: http://www.cbs13.com/video/?id=61499@kovr.dayport.com

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Schools Still Not Gauging What Works

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Schools Still Not Gauging What Works:

"San Diego Unified still needs a way to evaluate whether programs have worked, according to an internal report on instruction slated to go to the school board Tuesday.

Employees noticed the same problem earlier this year, in a similar report. The school district has introduced more innovative programs this year, such as a program to boost attendance and a mentoring program that is being expanded with stimulus money, but there is no systematic way to measure whether each program met its stated goals, the report found."

But fixing that could be a problem: "There are staffing resource needs in the area of Research and Evaluation associated with the development and consistent implementation of this process that would need to be addressed before undertaking a project of this magnitude," the report says. Translation: It would take more people to do that than San Diego Unified now has.This finding was especially interesting to me after writing about the extinct High School Readiness Program, which suffered a lot of logistical problems and hasn't had a clear verdict of whether it worked. Another example might be the City Heights Educational Collaborative, which is an outside effort that didn't set clear goals.