Volunteers Counter Military Recruiting in High Schools | The Uptowner

Volunteers Counter Military Recruiting in High Schools The Uptowner:

"Ann Smith couldn’t walk more than 50-feet to the front door of her son’s high school before counter-recruiting volunteers approached her.

With yellow and white fliers in hand, a volunteer walked backwards and quizzed Smith on new mandates restricting military recruiters while she headed to the school.

“Are you a parent of a student?” asked Mary Ann Preston, a volunteer with United for Peace’s counter-recruiting efforts. Smith nodded yes and mentioned her son, who attends the school for a law program."

25 Chicago Students Arrested for a Middle-School Food Fight - NYTimes.com

25 Chicago Students Arrested for a Middle-School Food Fight - NYTimes.com:

"CHICAGO — The food fight here started the way such bouts do in school lunchrooms most anywhere: an apple was tossed, a cookie turned into a torpedo, and an orange plunked someone in the head. Within minutes, dozens of middle-school students had joined in the ruckus, and spattered adults were ducking for cover.

By the end of the day, 25 of the students, ages 11 to 15, had been rounded up, arrested, taken from school and put in jail. A spokesman for the Chicago police said the charges were reckless conduct, a misdemeanor."

States Compete for Federal School Dollars - NYTimes.com

States Compete for Federal School Dollars - NYTimes.com:

"DENVER — Colorado’s lieutenant governor, Barbara O’Brien, has been parsing every public statement by Education Secretary Arne Duncan for nuances that could help her position the state as a winner in the $4 billion competition for federal school dollars known as Race to the Top."

And officials in dozens of other states have been doing the same, said Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, a nonpartisan association of state superintendents of education.

“Whenever we have a conversation about any issue these days, Race to the Top is the gorilla in the room,” Mr. Wilhoit said.

The last time education officials were reading tea leaves so obsessively was after the 2001 No Child Left Behind law reshaped America’s public school landscape. Now Race to the Top is again redefining what Washington calls reform, setting in motion a new cycle of federal school

Schools lose 500 aides at end of week despite tough fight from union

Schools lose 500 aides at end of week despite tough fight from union:

"Friday will be the last day for more than 500 low-paid public school aides.

Despite a tough fight from their union, the city told principals on Tuesday that the aides, who make an average of $20,000 a year, were losing their jobs.

The leader of District Council 37 said the layoffs are devastating, not only for the workers, but students as well.

'Thousands of children in the city's poorest communities have lost the support staff they need to make the most of their educational experience,' said District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts."

Valley Star - Rally Against the Machine: Students Protest Budget Cuts

Valley Star - Rally Against the Machine: Students Protest Budget Cuts:

"Students gathered in Valley’s main entrance Wednesday to rally against rising fees, expensive textbooks, the cutting of numerous classes, and other consequences caused by cuts to education.
The Political Action Coalition organized students and teachers to speak at the rally while collecting signatures on petition cards that are to be sent to Sacramento.

“When they say cut back, we say fight back!” students chanted. Others held up banners reading, “Don’t budget our education.”

Budget cuts affect every sector, not just colleges and universities. Students cannot transfer on time because of cuts to classes, increased fees and overcrowded classes."

Chicago changes criteria for admission to magnet, selective schools -- chicagotribune.com

Chicago changes criteria for admission to magnet, selective schools -- chicagotribune.com:

"In the wake of a federal order placing race off-limits as a key admissions criterion to the city's most competitive schools, the Chicago Public Schools will use a battery of socioeconomic factors to distribute the coveted spots -- a strategy officials hope will maintain racial integration while enhancing economic integration.

It is unclear what the impact of the new policy will be. The district is only putting it in place for a year, after which officials will assess the results.

Skeptics long have been cynical about moves from racial to socioeconomic integration, pointing to other districts where schools became more segregated after the lifting of a federal order to racially integrate, such as in San Francisco, Denver and Norfolk, Va. They think Chicago's plan will be no different."

California finances plummet less than three months after budget passage

California finances plummet less than three months after budget passage:

"California finance officials have announced that the state has a current budget deficit of $1.1 billion. News of the shortfall comes less than 10 weeks after a balanced budget deal was reached by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the State Legislature.

An October report released by State Controller John Chiang announced that the latest budget deficit was mainly due to a large drop in third quarter income tax collection; revenues were 11 percent lower than initially projected.

The California Department of Finance is also expecting a deficit of $7.4 billion at the start of fiscal year 2010-2011, which begins next July. This could climb to as high as $20 billion by the start of fiscal year 2011-2012."

School closures capture attention from across globe - Hawaii News - Starbulletin.com

School closures capture attention from across globe - Hawaii News - Starbulletin.com:

"It is not the kind of publicity Hawaii wants, but the state's decision to shut public schools for 17 Furlough Fridays has made a big media splash."

"Hawaii's Children, Left Behind," declared the headline of a New York Times editorial. At the Washington Post, education columnist Jay Mathews wrote a piece with the scathing title "Idiocy in Paradise: Hawaii Handles School Budget Cuts Badly."

National television networks have spotlighted the story, along with TIME, the Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio. And the news has gone global. The Guardian of London and the BBC both covered it. A Chinese-language Web site highlighted "Hawaii's Budget Cut: No School Fridays." And Radio Australia recently interviewed the head of the state Board of Education.

Board Chairman Garrett Toguchi said the news coverage tends to sensationalize the issue, but "if the negative press encourages our leaders to put education at the top of our priority list, I'm more than happy to accept it.

"Nobody's happy with having to furlough teachers and have less instructional days," Toguchi said. "But that ignores the economic reality. The economy is not getting any better. So instead of worrying about what we don't have, we need to figure out how we're going to mitigate the continuing negative impacts on the budget next year."

Schwarzenegger creates preschool panel - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

Schwarzenegger creates preschool panel - Sacramento Politics - California Politics Sacramento Bee:

"California now has a California State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and a better chance at a share of $100 million in Head Start stimulus funds.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order Monday that established the council to make the state eligible for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money.

The program is offering grants of at least $500,000 to support states establishing these councils and developing early childhood education plans, according to a news release from the Governor's Office. California is expected to receive as much as $10.7 million over three years through the program, according to state officials."

Editorial: Assembly must work quickly to pass Race to the Top education reforms - San Jose Mercury News

Editorial: Assembly must work quickly to pass Race to the Top education reforms - San Jose Mercury News:

"The California Senate last week passed a bill paving the way for the state to get its share of $4.35 billion in education grants from the Obama administration — the largest pool of money ever created for education reform.

The Assembly must quickly follow suit. Speaker Karen Bass needs to call members back into session by next month to act — not wait until January, as she's suggested.

The Senate bill, SBX5 1, was proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to ensure that the state meets qualifications for a federal Race to the Top grant. Passing easily on a bipartisan vote, it would eliminate a cap on the number of new charter schools; make it easier for students to transfer out of failing schools; allow the state to tie student test scores to teacher reviews, and lay out specific ways to fix failing schools."

CSU to ask state for $884 million more

CSU to ask state for $884 million more:

"As California State University prepares to close its doors to tens of thousands of qualified students next year, Chancellor Charles Reed said Tuesday he will ask Sacramento for $884 million to meet CSU's budget needs - a long-shot request from the cash-strapped state."

At the same time, a dozen popular CSU campuses - including San Francisco, Sonoma and San Jose in the Bay Area - will limit enrollment by making it harder for certain applicants to qualify, and by setting the application deadline for fall 2010 weeks early, at midnight Nov. 30.

"The California dream is access to higher education," Reed told reporters who asked how he would make his case for a 2010-11 budget that is two-thirds new money, and one-third restoration of funds cut out of the last state budget.

He said he'll ask lawmakers to readjust their priorities.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/11/BAQL1AI2AH.DTL#ixzz0WYVOAmLW

Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act | Alliance for Excellent Education

Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act Alliance for Excellent Education:

"Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act

Senate Bill Number: S. 2740
Date of Introduction: November 5, 2009
Sponsor(s): Murray (D-WA)
Co-Sponsor(s): Franken (D-MN), Brown (D-OH)

House Bill Number: H.R. 4037
Date of Introduction: November 6, 2009
Sponsor(s): Yarmuth (D-KY)
Co-Sponsor(s): Miller (D-CA), Polis (D-CO)"

The Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act is a comprehensive literacy bill that would authorize $2.35 billion to support state and local programs to ensure that children from birth through grade twelve have the reading and writing skills necessary for success in school and beyond.

More information on the LEARN Act is available in the two-page summary.

Read a letter of support for the LEARN Act signed by the Alliance for Excellent Education, the International Reading Association, the National Association of State Boards of Education, the National PTA, the National School Boards Association, and others.

Read a statement from Senator Patty Murray and Representatives John Yarmuth, Jared Polis, and George Miller on the LEARN Act.

Read a statement on the LEARN Act from Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia.

'Hmong Voices' film festival premiers today in Sacramento - Latest News - sacbee.com

'Hmong Voices' film festival premiers today in Sacramento - Latest News - sacbee.com:

"Sacramento's first ever 'Hmong Voices' film festival -- produced by 25 Hmong teens -- premieres at 5:30 p.m. today in the Florin Creek Recreation Center, 7460 Persimmon Avenue.

The public is invited to the event hosted by the Center for Multicultural Cooperation and supported by the Sacramento City Unified School District and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.

The free event features seven short films made this summer by students at Hiram Johnson and Luther Burbank high schools, said program coordinator Stephanie Xiong."

Contact your Senator tell them to pass Health Care Reform

Urgent: Take Action for Health Care Reform with no retreat on Women's health

We made history on November 7th when the House of Representatives passed sweeping health care reform legislation.

The health insurance industry is fighting back hard. The Senate will soon vote for its own version of the bill, and we need you to contact your Senator and ask to keep the Senate version as strong as the version just passed by the House.

Contact your U.S. Senator NOW

Search for your senators by name, state, or congressional class; and visit their websites.

Sizing up school safety - Find a school | GreatSchools

Sizing up school safety - Find a school GreatSchools:

"How do you know if a school is safe? Pretty paint jobs won't tell you! Let these six steps help you research the most fundamental issue for every school."

“We’re thrilled,” declared my friend when I called to find out what school they’d chosen for their 5-year-old daughter. “There’s this beautiful garden, and the teachers seem brilliant. There are science and art projects everywhere you look.”

My friend was one of those übermoms — she’d toured a bazillion private and public schools. She thought carefully about what would be right for her little learning sponge.

From dream to nightmare

But within a few weeks of school starting, she left me a message: “We’ve been in kindergarten hell!” Her daughter loved the new school and was learning like gangbusters, but something wasn’t working. “We’re switching schools."

What could justify a parent summarily yanking her child out of a school she loves?

How unsafe schools affect student learning

In a word: safety. For most parents, school security is the place where the rubber meets the rule book. If your child isn’t safe from violence, bullying, sexual harassment, and fear — even if everything else is perfect — brilliant teachers and gorgeous gardens just can’t balance it out. After all, studies suggest that when children feel threatened, both their academic performance and emotional health suffer. Stress hormones impair kids’ neurological development, and they are literally unable to learn in the same way.

Education News & Comment

Education News & Comment:

"Hello DAC Members & Interested Parties:

This is your friendly reminder that today is the District Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting, November 10, 2009 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Serna Center.

Dinner and childcare will be provided. Dinner will begin at 6:15pm.

Wanda Yañez Chairperson
District Advisory Committee (DAC)
Sacramento City Unified School District
Work: (916) 654-7729"

Parent Involvement 2009

Parent Involvement 2009

What happens … begins in the council chamber, the school board meeting room, the state house, the U.S. Capitol, and the White House. "Every decision is a political decision," says NEA President Reg Weaver (speaking of teachers but applies even more for parents). "We should no longer accept people making decisions for us, about us, and without us."How Can Schools, Families and Community Groups Put these Goals into Action?

• Recognize that all parents, regardless of income, education or cultural background, are involved in their children's learning and want their children to do well.

• Design programs that will support families to guide their children's learning, from preschool through high school.

• Develop the capacity of school staff and families to work together.

• Link activities and programs for families to improving student learning.

• Focus on developing trusting and respectful relationships among staff and families.

• Build families' social and political connections.

• Embrace a philosophy of partnership and be willing to share power.

• Make sure that parents, school staff, and community members understand that the responsibility for children's educational development is a collaborative enterprise.

• Build strong connections between schools and community organizations.

• Include families in all strategies to reduce the achievement gap between white, middle-class students and low-income students and students of color.

When parents talk to their children about school, expect them to do well, help them plan for college, and make sure that out-of-school activities are constructive, their children do better in school. When schools engage families in ways that are linked to improving learning, and support parent involvement at home and school, students make greater gains. When schools build partnerships with families that respond to their concerns, honor their contributions, and share power, they are able to sustain connections that are aimed at improving student achievement. And when families and communities organize to hold poorly performing schools accountable, school districts make positive changes in policy, practice, and resources.


"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~~ Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978)

Come And Play: 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 40 Years : NPR

Come And Play: 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 40 Years : NPR:

"When first lady Michelle Obama popped in on Sesame Street to hang out with Elmo, Big Bird and some kids, she came to demonstrate one of her pet projects: how to plant your own vegetable garden. Her point was that from very small seeds, some delicious and wonderful things can grow. And in TV terms, Sesame Street 40 years ago was one of those seeds — and it has ended up feeding many generations of young viewers."

On Nov. 10, 1969, when we first heard the theme to Sesame Street, public television itself was a new and largely unproven entity. There was no cable TV then, no Fox — by and large, just three commercial networks and, in each TV market, a local station or two. Children's television wasn't very regulated, and certainly, by the end of the 1960s, wasn't very good. Sesame Street, with its simple mandate of educating children as it entertained them, changed all that.

We live in such a different technological world now that one of the basic principles of Sesame Street has been, quite recently, overthrown. Sesame Street was available to any family, no matter how poor, so long as it had electricity and a TV set. Tune in, and even the most disadvantaged preschooler could learn his or her ABCs and count to 10 and begin attending school without feeling left behind.

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... My Day as Principal

EMILY ALPERT

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... My Day as Principal:

"Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 I hoofed it up the sidewalk to Bell Middle School in my heels, alongside preteens in maroon and navy polos. 'Plenty of time. Plenty of time,' the vice principal reassured us as we poured into the school, a vast spread of tile and stucco atop a hill that faces a dark, distant wash of mountains.

There are more than 1,100 students at Bell, a diverse school in the southeastern corner of San Diego Unified where roughly two-thirds of students are poor enough to eat lunch for free.

And I was in charge for a day.

I had been tapped for Principal for a Day, an event that aims to bring business and community leaders into schools to better understand the work of principals. I was hoping I might actually make decisions in that day -- not just tag along."

Outrage over new SDSU admissions rules

Outrage over new SDSU admissions rules:

"SAN DIEGO — Kevin Yabes couldn’t help but get excited when he received confirmation this week that SDSU received his college application. But he’s not so sure he’ll ever get the letter that really counts.

With a 3.53 grade-point average, the Mira Mesa High School senior would have been a guaranteed a spot at San Diego State University under a 10-year-old local admissions policy. But the agreement was abruptly rescinded last month, sending many students into a panic and angering community members.

“I was really hoping to avoid community college,” Kevin said. “But now I’m not sure what I’m going to do next year.”

Kevin was among dozens of students, parents, teachers and community members who spoke out against the policy change Monday night at a hearing by the San Diego Unified School District. Angry and emotional speakers lashed out at SDSU for the decision they called everything from racist to irresponsible."