Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency:

"Kerrey's talk, which will be free and open to the public, will inaugurate an ongoing educational and cultural series of speeches, performances, and programs that ESRI and the University of Redlands Town & Gown organization will cosponsor. The events will be held in ESRI’s new state-of-the-art auditorium.

Kerrey, 66, was Nebraska's governor from 1983 to 1987 and later served as the state's U.S. senator from 1989 to 2001. He left the Senate to become president of the New School, a university in New York City that was founded on strong democratic ideals and daring educational practices. Throughout his career in public service, Kerrey has strongly advocated for increased education spending. He continues to do so today, recognizing that democratic life flourishes when all citizens are properly educated and given every chance to participate in the political process."

Support October 24, 2009 UCB Assembly To Save California Public Education : Indybay

Support October 24, 2009 UCB Assembly To Save California Public Education : Indybay:

"On October 24, 2009 at UCB Pauley Ballroom from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM there will be a state wide Assembly of education unions, students and community supporters. There will also be other public workers in the state attending this historic meeting that is a direct result of the successful UCB strike and rally of over 5,000 workers, students and community supporters. A key issue that came out again and again at this action was the need to fight privatization of the university. This of course is not just an issue in education for all public workers in California and nationally.

At the upcoming assembly there will be discussion on these issues as well as developing a program for a state wide strike action against the attacks on education and all public workers. The United Public Workers For Action http://www.upwa.info fully supports this assembly and urges all public workers in California to attend and work to organize conjunction action by their membership. The need for assemblies of workers at all work locations that link all union members and rank and file workers together is vital if we are going to mount an effective fightback. It has been supported by all unions on the UC campus, the CFA, CFT and many other union locals."

East Bay school remains open despite flu concerns - 10/23/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com

East Bay school remains open despite flu concerns - 10/23/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com:

"VACAVILLE, CA (KGO) -- The CDC is leaving the decision up to schools about whether to remain open or to shut down. No matter what they do, somebody is going to be unhappy.

Both the state and federal government have written volumes about how to deal with the H1N1 flu. One of the reports from the California Department of Education is 43 pages long.

Panetta: Debt threatens security, health care

Panetta: Debt threatens security, health care:

"CIA Director Leon Panetta warned Friday that the nation's ballooning federal debt threatens resources available for national security as well as education and health care, and that Americans should not expect 'that we can remain a powerful nation' if the trend continues.

'This country cannot continue to run trillion-dollar deficits,' Panetta, the former head of the nation's Office of Management and Budget, said at a gathering of the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco, where he addressed a wide range of national security and intelligence issues."

Duncan Scolds Hawaii on School Furloughs - WSJ.com

Duncan Scolds Hawaii on School Furloughs - WSJ.com:

"Hawaii schools drew a stern rebuke from Washington on Friday, the first of 17 furlough days planned for the school year, amid concerns that billions of dollars in federal aid won't be enough to prevent further classroom cuts across the U.S.

As the state awoke to 'furlough Friday,' Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote in an opinion piece in the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper that Hawaii had taken 'a step in the wrong direction.'
'All states are under financial pressure, but none are cutting this much learning time from their school year,' Mr. Duncan wrote. 'It's inconceivable to me that this is the best solution for Hawaii.'"

incredibly true story about how a bunch of right-wingers got taken in by some satiric blog post

incredibly true story about how a bunch of right-wingers got taken in by some satiric blog post

Okay, let's get you up to speed on the incredibly true story about how a bunch of right-wingers got taken in by some satiric blog post on Barack Obama's college thesis, written ages ago, and frantically presented it as real.

Months ago, some blogger crafted a fake news story about how Time Magazine's Joe Klein had obtained ten pages of a thesis written by Barack Obama, in which he wrote about how the Constitution was "inherently flawed."

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/23/fake-obama-thesis-story-g_n_332255.html

Strict Oklahoma abortion laws spark court battles - Yahoo! News

Strict Oklahoma abortion laws spark court battles - Yahoo! News:

"OKLAHOMA CITY – Two new laws being challenged in the Oklahoma courts would give the state some of the strictest abortion laws in the country by forcing women to answer questions about race and their relationships, and to listen to a doctor talk them through an ultrasound.

Legal challenges to the laws are in their early stages, but observers say the trajectory of cases could mirror that of the partial-birth abortion debate, which went through Nebraska courts and was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court before Congress made it a federal law that was upheld in 2007.

'That's an apt comparison,' said Joseph Thai, a professor at the University of Oklahoma who specializes in constitutional law and the Supreme Court. 'So, expect these Oklahoma laws and the ensuing court decisions to be the first rather than last word on how far a state may go with respect to compulsory procedures and reporting requirements.'"

The Education Report: A tax for Oakland teachers, too many empty seats in West Oakland - Inside Bay Area

The Education Report: A tax for Oakland teachers, too many empty seats in West Oakland - Inside Bay Area:

"Oct. 22: Ever since a parcel tax for Oakland teachers fell flat without the support of the local teachers union, a committee has been meeting to try again, this time with a broader support base. There's been talk of placing a tax measure on the June 2010 ballot.

And once again, talks about ways to boost teacher salaries in the midst of ongoing state budget cuts — and tense contract negotiations — have run right into a teachers union sticking point: whether any of the money raised by local property taxes should go to the city's 30-some independently run, non-unionized, public charter schools."

California School for the Deaf celebrates 150 years - Inside Bay Area

California School for the Deaf celebrates 150 years - Inside Bay Area:

"MORE THAN 4,000 PEOPLE are expected to descend upon California School for the Deaf this homecoming weekend to celebrate the institution's 150th anniversary.

Scheduled activities today include a school pep rally with former 49er star Ronnie Lott and an athletic hall of fame ceremony and dinner.

On Saturday, the public is invited to watch a 150th anniversary parade at noon, plus the cross-country, volleyball and football homecoming games. There also will be a banquet and dance that evening for those with tickets.

On Sunday, alumni will gather for class reunions.

What started as a three-pupil school in San Francisco in May 1860 has grown into an institution annually serving about 480 students from preschool through grade 12 on its Fremont campus. It also offers early intervention through its infant program."

Obama and Education Reform | The Wide Angle | Jewish Journal

Obama and Education Reform The Wide Angle Jewish Journal:

"The first nine months of the Obama administration have been intriguing; a model of what happens when a politician tries to hew to a fairly moderate line in his policies. He gets battered from the right for his “socialism” and he gets battered from the left for his “failure to do what has to be done and damn the compromises.”

Whether the issue is healthcare reform or Wall Street bailouts, he just can seem to quiet the critics. He is neither moderate enough for the right nor radical enough for the left. I can’t tell you many dinners I have had with friends (mainly on the left of the political spectrum) who express exasperation that Obama hasn’t yet transformed the world to their liking. The dialogue usually ends with our guests uttering an exasperated “he’s really no different than Bush.”

I understand the Republicans’ antipathy, that’s politics. With regard to the liberal critics, I am reminded of Lyndon Johnson’s witty quip regarding the difference between liberals and cannibals, “cannibals don’t eat their friends.”"

Report: Cuts to youth sports contribute to obesity, violence - washingtonpost.com

Report: Cuts to youth sports contribute to obesity, violence - washingtonpost.com:

"A new report says that $2 billion in cuts to school-based sports and physical education programs are contributing to a range of problems afflicting the nation's youth, including obesity, violence and academic failure.

The report by Up2Us, a New York City-based coalition of groups that are lobbying to save such programs, was released this week as more than 150 researchers, coaches and leaders of non-profit groups gathered in Washington for a conference on the fate of youth sports in an age of budget cutbacks.

'Youth sports is in serious decline in this country,' said Brian Greenwood, an assistant professor at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, who helped author the study. 'We can't afford that potential negative impact. If a kid doesn't have somewhere to go, something to do to occupy their time, unfortunately what they do more often than not is they end up in trouble.'"

CALPERS (California Pension Plan) - Too Big to Fail, and Acting Like It | Benzinga.com

CALPERS (California Pension Plan) - Too Big to Fail, and Acting Like It Benzinga.com:

"A great read on Reuters about America's largest pension fund, CALPERS. Talk about 'too big to fail' - the Californian taxpayer is on the hook if CALPERS cannot pay out the avalanche of promises to California's state workers... and we know what that means. We're all on the hook for it... see 'stimulus' plans passed as de facto 'state budget gap fillers'... shhhhhh, it's a secret (wink wink).
There are so many long term issues in America I sometimes get lost in the morass. We don't even have time to really focus on the pension issues but we've mentioned it a few times. [Apr 5, 2009: AP: $1 Trillion Hit to Pension Funds Could cost Taxpayers, Workers] [Oct 24, 2009: WSJ - Pensions Funds Taking Serious Hits]"

California specialty crop grants – $16.3 million

California specialty crop grants – $16.3 million:

"California leads the nation with $16.3 million in specialty crop grants awarded recently by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As established by the 2008 farm bill, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) grant projects were funded in seven categories -- Agriculture Education and Outreach; International Trade; Market Enhancement and Promotions; Nutrition; Plant Health and Pest Challenges; Food Safety; Environmental Concerns and Conservation; and Food Security. Projects were selected through a competitive review process.

“California grows, exports and consumes more specialty crops than any other state in the nation,” said A.G. Kawamura. “Farmers are the original innovators, and these grant projects represent the kind of creativity and advancement that will help California agriculture remain the nation’s primary source of specialty crops.”"

The federal block grant program was designed to provide grants to states to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”

Abstracts of California’s 55 grant projects are available online at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Specialty_Crop_Competitiveness_Grants/docs/SCBGP_Project.pdf.

In the area of nutrition, projects included linking ethnic specialty crop producers and low income consumers through marketing and nutrition education as well as a cooperative effort with the California Department of Education to increase preschoolers’ acceptance of fresh fruits and vegetables. In the area of international trade, a project was funded to conduct market research to determine India’s potential as a new market for California canned peaches. In the area of agriculture education and outreach, funding will support training to assist beekeepers in adopting best management practices for honey bee pollination of California’s specialty crops.

UC launches $1B fundraising drive for students - San Jose Mercury News

UC launches $1B fundraising drive for students - San Jose Mercury News:

"FRESNO — Chong Xiong was on the edge of her seat when University of California President Mark Yudof announced an ambitious plan today that would guarantee students who are accepted into the system would have the money to pay for their education.

'Now my parents won't have to worry,' said the junior who wants to study science at the Irvine campus.

Yudof chose an assembly at Sunnyside High School in the heart of the rural San Joaquin Valley to unveil the $1 billion fundraising effort that would ensure students with annual family incomes of $70,000 or less would pay no fees.

At the school on Fresno's impoverished east side, the families of all but 30 of the 3,000 students would meet that income threshold. The region has been hard hit by unemployment and foreclosures."

California's adult education system in jeopardy - ContraCostaTimes.com

California's adult education system in jeopardy - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"RICHMOND — Miguel Agil dropped out of Kennedy High School at 18, but he found his second chance in a welding class at Serra Adult School.
Maria Cabrera, an Oakland resident and mother of two, saw her job prospects rise from dishwasher to server after her English improved, thanks to literacy classes in Oakland's adult-education program.

'Now I have a big goal: to have a career,' Cabrera said. 'I want to be a nurse.'

In their brief remarks at a Friday-morning legislative forum, Agil and Cabrera put human faces on adult education in California, a 150-year-old system that helps immigrants, refugees, school dropouts, parents, disabled and older adults, ex-convicts and struggling high school students find their way — in many cases, by helping them build literacy and other critical job skills."

CTA History 3DTimeline

CaliforniaTeachers
October 21, 2009http://www.youtube.com/user/CaliforniaTeachers

Majority Rules - Public Option Please!

Public Option Please!

How to become an “Askable Parent”

How to become an “Askable Parent”:

"When Planned Parenthood offers workshops on talking to teens about sexuality, parents tell us that broaching this sensitive topic is one of the toughest parts of raising children. Let’s face it, it can be a little uncomfortable talking to your kids about sex.

Parents ask us about the best time to have “the talk.” They wonder what to do if their child asks a question they can’t (or don’t want to) answer. And parents worry that having an open dialogue might send the message that they’re okay with teens having sex."

Planned Parenthood has the answers to these questions. First, talking to your children does not green light sexual activity. In fact, the opposite is true. In a recent poll, 88% of youth said it would be easier to postpone sexual activity and pregnancy if they were more able to have open, honest conversations about these topics with their parents.

Read more: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-10-23/lifestyle/how-to-become-an-%E2%80%9Caskable-parent#ixzz0Uo48gPUp

DFER

Earlier this week, we celebrated New York Assemblyman Sam Hoyt's groundbreaking "Race To The Top" legislation, designed to give New York a shot at even competing for boatloads of federal education cash. Then, we celebrated Michigan Senator Buzz Thomas' "smart cap" legislation, which would unleash the power of successful public charter schools in the Wolverine State (and help them get their hands on boatloads of federal education cash.)

But today, our edu-political crush is fixated on Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, who rocked the Ocean State by declaring an end to all seniority-based teacher assignments.
Yes, you read that correctly. (And yes, we're thinking the same thing as you right now, namely, "Holy crap!" And "It's about time sanity is prevailing.")

Stunning. Or at least stunningly commonsensical.

Still wondering whether the "Race To The Top" is on or not? (Even the great state of Colorado should be worried about the competition this one, ladies and gentleman...)

According to her office's press release, Gist notified superintendents last night that seniority-based teacher assignments are totally out of line with the state's new "Basic Education Program."
"The new BEP requires that the system of management, professional training, evaluation, and assignment of instructional staff ensures that highly effective educators work with classrooms of students who have significant achievement gaps," Gist wrote. "In my view, no system that bases teacher assignments solely on seniority can comply with this regulation."

This is obviously good news for Rhode Island students (and even better news for the the law firms that will be paid handsomely to fight this out to protect existing seniority-based teacher assignments?)

Congrats to Commissioner Gist and her team for jumping so strongly into the race!
Have a great weekend. This train is moving fast...

Joe

Read Press release: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/13625681/Commissioner-Gist-Ends-Seniority-Based-Teacher-Assignments-N-E-W-S-R-E-L-E-A-S-E

The CEO educator - Oct. 1, 2009

The CEO educator - Oct. 1, 2009:

"(Fortune Magazine) -- Joel Klein's title is New York City school chancellor, but he's really a CEO. He oversees America's largest public school system -- 1.1 million students -- with more authority than his counterparts in most other major cities, thanks to a landmark 2002 law that was just renewed for another five years.

With power comes accountability, and Klein has delivered impressively: Test scores have improved, graduation rates have risen, and the racial and ethnic achievement gap has narrowed.
Klein's progress in a chronically poor system has been so remarkable that two years ago his department won the Broad Prize for Urban Education, America's top education award. When Arne Duncan was confirmed as the new U.S. education secretary earlier this year, his first visit was to Klein."