Campaign for High School Equity

Campaign for High School Equity:

"With Focus on Lowest-Performing Schools, Graduation for All Act Will Help All Students Obtain the High-Quality Education that is their Right, says Campaign for High School Equity

WASHINGTON — The Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE), a coalition of civil rights organizations focused on high school education reform, applauds the introduction of The Graduation for All Act of 2009 (H.R. 4122), a bill aimed at improving failing middle and high schools. The legislation, cosponsored by Representatives Miller (D-CA), Davis (D-IL), Grijalva (D-AZ), Kildee (D-MI), Scott (D-VA), Fattah (D-PA), Hinojosa (D-TX), and Loebsack (D-IA), puts action into the assertion that all American students have the right to receive a high-quality education."

Sacramento Press / Fargo: Will she run again?

Community Journalism at its Very Best

Sacramento Press / Fargo: Will she run again?:

"Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo said she has been considering running for re-election.

In news that would be welcome to many who still call her by her honorary title, Fargo said Friday she has thought about running for the seat she lost a year ago to former NBA star Kevin Johnson.

'I have,' she said. 'Mainly because I'm asked all the time.

'It was clearly a great honor to be elected mayor. It was very painful, very challenging and incredibly rewarding at the same time,' she said during one of her first media interviews since leaving office."

Sac Mayor: Fiancee Wasn't 'Fixer' - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Sac Mayor: Fiancee Wasn't 'Fixer' - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Sac Mayor: Fiancee Wasn't 'Fixer'
Congressional Report Released On Former IG's Firing

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson denied Tuesday that his future fiancee played the role of "fixer" during last year's investigation of his St. HOPE organization.

"She was on the [St. HOPE] board at the time," Johnson said Tuesday during his weekly news conference at Sacramento City Hall. "The Inspector General's Office called her in as a board member and she weighed in on it. It was not as a 'fixer.'"

Johnson recently announced his engagement to Michelle Rhee, who is currently the superintendent of schools in Washington, D.C. Rhee's role in the St. HOPE investigation was raised in a report issued last week by two members of Congress.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California, have called into question why Inspector General Gerald Walpin was forced to resign earlier this year. Walpin said he had found evidence that St. HOPE had misused federal AmeriCorps funding while Johnson was serving as CEO of the organization.

"It seems a lot of people might have been interested in protecting the AmeriCorps program and the Mayor of Sacramento from an IG who was discovering some unpleasant facts," Sen. Grassley said in a written statement issued with the report.

Spoiled: California Food Safety Legislation Dies On The Vine | California Progress Report

Spoiled: California Food Safety Legislation Dies On The Vine California Progress Report:

"Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez started the year with high hopes that he could transform California’s system of ensuring food safety .

The issue had drawn national attention. “Omnivore’s Dilemma” was atop the best seller lists, while authorities announced they had detected salmonella in hundreds of tainted peanut butter, paste and other products produced by Peanut Corporation of America, prompting a massive recall and a bankruptcy.

Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Calif., voluntarily pulled from the shelves scores of its products after federal authorities discovered they too were fouled by salmonella. Beef producers had recalled hundreds of thousands of pounds of hamburger containing e-coli."

Fast Tracking My Bill to Increase Higher Education Funding | California Progress Report

Fast Tracking My Bill to Increase Higher Education Funding California Progress Report:

"While California is preparing to go into special session next month to consider legislation to help it receive millions in federal Race to the Top Kindergarten-12 education funds, I'm asking the state to also fast track my bill to provide the community colleges and public universities with more than $1.3 billion.

As we have witnessed from the thousands of students, faculty and staff who marched and protested last week, higher education funding is an urgent matter that demands our action. The Race to the Top will lead to a dead end if we deny California’s high school graduates a chance to pursue a higher education in our own state universities and community colleges."

California's New Deal | California Progress Report

California's New Deal

California's New Deal California Progress Report:

"California never had a New Deal. While California voted for FDR in 1932 (and for each of his three reelection bids), state politics were dominated by right-wing factions in both the Republican and Democratic parties for much of the era.

In 1934, when Upton Sinclair won the Democratic nomination on a socialist platform called End Poverty In California, or EPIC, he was unable to overcome a sophisticated campaign machine built by conservative Republican Frank Merriam, which included political ads created by movie studios and shown in cinemas statewide before the election. (A centrist Democrat, Raymond Haight, also ran in the 3-way contest, costing Sinclair anti-conservative votes.)"

In 1938 progressive Democrat Culbert Olson finally broke through. An atheist and friend of labor unions, his term in office was marked by battles with conservative Democrats and Republicans in the legislature, frustrating his plans to bring the New Deal to California, beyond the few dams and bridges that had been initiated earlier in the decade. Moderate Republican Earl Warren beat Olson in the 1942 election, and a true New Deal for California would have to wait until 1958, when Pat Brown got elected governor.

As California sinks deeper into a similar economic crisis some 75 years later, we risk making the same mistake - being unable to overcome a legacy of Hooverism and provide the state with the government-led economic recovery program we so desperately need. So argue California scholars Richard Walker and Gray Brechin in a SF Chronicle op-ed today:

FCUSD Approves Closure of Cordova Lane and Riverview Elementaries — The Rancho Cordova Post#comment-4316#comment-4316

FCUSD Approves Closure of Cordova Lane and Riverview Elementaries — The Rancho Cordova Post#comment-4316#comment-4316:

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"In a decision Board President Ed Short said was “heart-wrenching,” the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Education approved the closure of Cordova Lane and Riverview Elementaries at a meeting held Thursday night.

“I know for me personally, combining schools is not something I want to do,” Short said to the packed audience in the Cordova High School gymnasium."

Council Member Linda Budge expressed her dissatisfaction with the process and the reasoning the district used to come to the decision. “Everyone in government is struggling to do more with less,” she said in reference to the district’s assertion that the state budget has forced the school closures. She also noted that the reports issued by the district about the schools contained conflicting data.

Budge also admonished the district’s ultimate decision to close the schools. “It will hurt the future of our kids, it will hurt the future of our city,” she said, and she urged board members to stall the decision for two to three months and come up alternative cost-saving measures.

6 Reasons Why Every Student Should Take Shop Class

6 Reasons Why Every Student Should Take Shop Class:

"Shop class, once a staple of American high schools, has been nearly decimated by the digital age. High school students have little time for electives, and when they do, they often choose technology classes. Schools are selling off their circular saws to buy computer labs, and trading in their welding tools for web-cams. After all, why do our kids need to know how to build a birdhouse when they can buy one at Home Depot for $9.99?"

But new voices are calling for the return of shop class. In his 2009 book, Shop Class as Soulcraft, Mathew Crawford praises the benefits of learning how to do manual work. In a time where most of our work is intangible, working with our hands can bring a sense of satisfaction that is lacking in our virtual lives. Even if one doesn’t go into a manual trade, the ability to make and fix the utilities we need can help us “live concretely in an abstract world.”

Mark Leeper was a Civil Engineer before deciding to become a math teacher at Menlo-Atherton High School. Once he got there, he found more personal reward in the hands-on nature of teaching woodshop. After two decades of helping kids learn woodworking, he has seen every type of student benefit from the lessons of practical experience. Here is a list of reasons why every student should consider taking shop class:

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Teachers Union Wins Workload Rules

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Teachers Union Wins Workload Rules

Nearly a year and a half after its last contract expired, the teachers union has reached an agreement with San Diego Unified that will limit their workloads.Union leaders say it will prevent teachers from being overburdened with new responsibilities and push schools to plan for teacher time. Workload rules were one of the most controversial questions for the school district during the protracted negotiations with teachers.

Principals have questioned whether the new rules would hamstring schools from making necessary changes in teachers' duties at all. To address those worries, the union added a section saying that the rule "does not prohibit the District from implementing programs, initiatives or curricular reforms."

Duncan Endorses Efforts to Improve STEM Education

Duncan Endorses Efforts to Improve STEM Education:

"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today praised corporate and philanthropic leaders for stepping up to support improvements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

“The president and I believe that ensuring our nation's children are excelling in the STEM fields is essential for our nation's prosperity, security, health and quality of life,” Secretary Duncan said. “All of us need to be engaged in task of improving STEM education. Business leaders and major donors are leading the way, and leaders from other sectors need to join them.”"

Poor Schools or Poor Kids? : Education Next

Poor Schools or Poor Kids? : Education Next:

"Since the run-up to the 2008 election, the Democratic Party has been home to two prominent and very different reform wings. One, spearheaded by the group Democrats for Education Reform and notable school-district chiefs like New York’s Joel Klein and Washington, D.C.’s Michelle Rhee, is the Education Equality Project (EEP). The other, A Broader, Bolder Approach to Education (BBA), is a coalition of education scholars and Democratic thinkers, including Duke University’s Helen Ladd, former president of Columbia University’s Teachers College Arthur Levine, and New York University professor Pedro Noguera."

Top-10 educational toys - Curiosity Cube | GreatSchools

Top-10 educational toys - Curiosity Cube GreatSchools:

"Over 3 billion toys are sold in the United States annually. We'll refrain from guessing how many end up in the back of the closet for years on end and instead recommend a few we think stand a decent chance of grabbing your child's attention. Needless to say, this list isn't the be-all, end-all. Instead, think of these picks as representative of the kind of toy we're especially fond of: educational, fun, and inventive. When new toys make a beeline for the back for the closet, we believe it's because they lack that trio of qualities. So here's to 10 that strive for, and deliver, something more."

Obama Welcomes India Prime Minister - WSJ.com

Obama Welcomes India Prime Minister - WSJ.com:

"WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama showered praise on India and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an elaborate welcoming ceremony Tuesday, declaring it was only fitting the Indian leader should be the first state visitor of his administration.

Mr. Obama said the U.S. and India share the 'bold experiments' of becoming democracies after breaking from rule by a colonial power, and in modern times both have known the pain of international terrorism.

'Our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations but to build a future of security and prosperity for all nations,' Mr. Obama said"

Blacks hit hard by economy's punch - washingtonpost.com

Blacks hit hard by economy's punch - washingtonpost.com:

"These days, 24-year-old Delonta Spriggs spends much of his time cooped up in his mother's one-bedroom apartment in Southwest Washington, the TV blaring soap operas hour after hour, trying to stay out of the streets and out of trouble, held captive by the economy. As a young black man, Spriggs belongs to a group that has been hit much harder than any other by unemployment."

Joblessness for 16-to-24-year-old black men has reached Great Depression proportions -- 34.5 percent in October, more than three times the rate for the general U.S. population. And last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment in the District, home to many young black men, rose to 11.9 percent from 11.4 percent, even as it stayed relatively stable in Virginia and Maryland.

His work history, Spriggs says, has consisted of dead-end jobs. About a year ago, he lost his job moving office furniture, and he hasn't been able to find steady work since. This summer he completed a construction apprenticeship program, he says, seeking a career so he could avoid repeating the mistake of selling drugs to support his 3-year-old daughter. So far the most the training program has yielded was a temporary flagger job that lasted a few days.

Education Uber Alles | The Advocate

Education Uber Alles The Advocate:

"The recent round of stu­dent protests and build­ing take-overs at cam­puses across the Uni­ver­sity of Cal­i­for­nia sys­tem this week have been both inspir­ing and heart-breaking. The dev­as­tat­ing and unprece­dented 32 per­cent increase in stu­dent “fees” (the UC system’s way of get­ting around using the word “tuition”) approved by the UC regents on Novem­ber 19 reminds us of just how short-sighted, stu­pid, and cal­lous most uni­ver­sity admin­is­tra­tions have been in their response to state bud­get cuts across the coun­try.

Instead of stand­ing up to Sacra­mento and demand­ing restora­tion of cuts, UC Pres­i­dent Mark Yudof told reporters after the vote: “Our hand has been forced. When you don’t have any money, you don’t have any money.” This is, of course, easy for Mr. Yudof to say whose first year salary was $828,000 and whose $10,000 a month house in Oak­land, the New York Times reports, is entirely paid for by the Uni­ver­sity."

Instead of throw­ing up his hands and say­ing there is noth­ing he can do, why did Yudof not threaten to resign? Why not encour­age the regents, all of them who voted for this dis­as­trous increase, to do the same and resign unless the state restores the cuts? Why not work with his stu­dents to oppose these cuts rather than kow­tow­ing to the whims of the state?
The answers to these ques­tions are clear: because the gov­er­nance of the UC sys­tem, like so many uni­ver­sity sys­tems across the nation, is such that admin­is­tra­tors and regents and pres­i­dents and trustees see them­selves as some­how at odds with the fac­ulty and stu­dents whom they are sup­posed to serve.

The trend of corporate-structured over­sight of pub­lic uni­ver­si­ties has brought those insti­tu­tions to their knees and until this is changed there is lit­tle hope that these kinds of cuts will not con­tinue.Equally heart­break­ing was the rel­a­tively low turnout in response to these increases.

Instead of thou­sands, even tens of thou­sands of stu­dents protest­ing at every cam­pus across the UC, the biggest protests never reached more than 1,500 peo­ple and although some cam­pus build­ings were taken over and strikes called, they seem to be hav­ing lit­tle impact on the actual func­tion­ing of the schools, which con­tin­ued with their busi­ness as usual, despite the noise of protest all around.

Arizona Union Challenges Law Changes on Teachers - ABC News

Arizona Union Challenges Law Changes on Teachers - ABC News:

"The state's largest teachers union is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to rule that recently enacted legislation affecting public school employees is unconstitutional.

A special-action lawsuit filed Monday by the Arizona Education Association challenges legislation dealing with such topics as teachers' seniority rights in layoffs and deadlines for school districts to decide whether to renew contracts."

The AEA contends the legislation approved last summer was illegal on several grounds. The union says it wasn't included as a topic for a special legislative session called on budget matters.

House Speaker Kirk Adams defends the legislation as valid. He says policy determinations are a long-standing part of budget-making.

Albertson Foundation funds $20 million strategy to get kids in college | Eyepiece | Idaho Statesman

Albertson Foundation funds $20 million strategy to get kids in college Eyepiece Idaho Statesman:

"The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation unveiled its program Monday for raising the state's dismal performance in college completion. Idaho ranks 43rd in the nation in the number of ninth-graders who go on to complete post-high school education.

Executive Director Jamie MacMillan said the foundation will make the money available to each of the colleges for scholarships to retain Idaho students in post-secondary schools and see that they complete their programs.

It is not yet known how many students would get scholarships or how much money individual students would receive. The scholarships would go only to Idaho residents. The money must be committed by January 2011."

Making Science Cool: “Educate to Innovate” | GeekDad | Wired.com

Making Science Cool: “Educate to Innovate” GeekDad Wired.com:

"“We’re going to show young people how cool science can be.”

Those were some of the inspiring words by President Barack Obama at the launching of the new “Educate to Innovate” campaign on Monday this week. This initiative aims to increase science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) literacy amongst students to improve our national standing from average (or in some cases, below average) to the top. $4.35 billion in Federal grants will be offered to schools who can innovate in STEM education and the private sector is stepping up with an additional $260 million in related funding and programs."

Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center | About Us

Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center About Us:

"The Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) is a non-profit social and educational services organization committed to the holistic growth and development of American Indian women and their families. Founded in 1984, MIWRC provides a broad range of programs designed to educate and empower American Indian women and their families, and to inform and assist those who work providing services to the community."

MIWRC is located in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, which has the third largest urban American Indian population in the United States. MIWRC is the only organization addressing the gender and culturally specific needs of our community.

Programs are developed to reflect the needs of our families, and are tailored to address issues that significantly affect their well being; such as family services, child advocacy, child care services, legal services, affordable housing, parenting skills, chemical dependency, mental health care, cultural resilience, historical trauma and many other family and community issues.

Our Mission

"To assist American Indian women so they can enjoy a better quality of life for themselves and their families."

ChipIn: Trout's TED Global Fund 2010

ChipIn: Trout's TED Global Fund 2010:

"I have been accepted as 1 of only 700 to attend TED Global 2010 in Oxford. Help me present a doable, achievable solution for global education and bring about eSingularity -- the point all learning is free and accessible to all."

Trout talks about why he feels he should talk at Ted and why people should nominate him to talk at Ted. See http://bit.ly/troutted. Want to help him cover out of pocket expenses? Check out http://bit.ly/TEDfund