Teacher absences: Are they excessive and do they hurt students? | Get Schooled

Teacher absences: Are they excessive and do they hurt students? Get Schooled:

"Most discussions about school attendance focus on students. Now, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan wants to talk about teachers.

Duncan has made teacher attendance one of the measures to determine which low-achieving schools receive federal improvement funds. So, for the first time, the federal government will collect data on how many days teachers miss classes each year.

The reason is simple: Research shows that students suffer a small, but significant decline in academic performance as a result of teacher absences."

Kids should get moving to avoid obesity | Health | Reuters

Kids should get moving to avoid obesity Health Reuters:

"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Vigorous exercise may be an especially good way to keep kids lean, but sitting around, in and of itself, doesn't appear to have a major role in making them fat, new research shows.

Nevertheless, there are still plenty of reasons to avoid too much sedentary 'screen time,' Dr. Ulf Ekelund of the MRC Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge, UK and colleagues say, given potential negatives including 'violence and aggressive behavior, poor academic performance, and poor body image.'"

Why Parent-Driven Schools - Parent Driven Schools

Why Parent-Driven Schools - Parent Driven Schools


Why Parent Driven Schools

As parents, it can be difficult to obtain information about your children’s education options or to evaluate that information once you have it. Deciphering “education-speak” isn’t easy. But, every parent wants their children to be grounded in an education that opens doors to future opportunity and success.

Nothing will change in schools today if parents do not take control of their children’s education. If your child is in a district or system that is parent-driven, that means you should be driving.

Where does Parent Driven Schools Come in?

We understand that parents are busy people.

That’s why we exist to give you the information, tools and resources you need to become the solution to the education crisis in this country. If you don’t know how to “drive” your school, we do! If you’re not sure what a “market-based education system” is, have no fear. We can get you there.

The Educated Guess » UC students need a teach-in on California’s budget mess

The Educated Guess » UC students need a teach-in on California’s budget mess:

"(The Mercury News published this column on Sunday’s editorial page.)

Two voices called out when I heard that dozens of students on University of California campuses had been arrested for occupying college buildings in protest of the 32 percent fee increase that UC regents had passed.

One was that of the indignant college sophomore who was hauled off to the city jail in Boston in 1970 after refusing to leave the plaza at Government Center during a Vietnam War protest. The other was that of my disbelieving father who asked, “You were taken where for doing what?”"

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled...

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled...:

"Bright and Early

I return to you filled with turkey, cranberry sauce and renewed thankfulness that I get to start my day by combing education news. Now for your newsblitz!

The Union-Tribune reports on two good things going on in North County schools: A Carlsbad private school is building one of the greenest campuses in the country -- and no, we're not talking like Kermit. And Escondido high schools are cooking lunches from scratch.

The Los Angeles Times zeroes in on the city's only single-sex middle school. The hope is that girls and boys both get more attention. But critics question whether it fosters stereotyping.

Critics See Problems in New York City Charter Study

Critics See Problems in New York City Charter Study:

"A report issued by the New York City Charter Schools Evaluation Project in September, and since been held up as clear evidence that charter schools are doing a better job than traditional schools, is now facing criticism that its claim of being an “apples to apples” study just isn’t true.

The report, How New York City’s Charter Schools Affect Achievement, examines the performance of students who applied for openings in New York’s charter schools, which are 94 percent filled through random lotteries. When researchers compared the academic performance of those who were “lotteried in” with those who were “lotteried out,” they discovered a higher rate of achievement in the charter group."

Pricey preschools: Nobody's, everybody's fault

Pricey preschools: Nobody's, everybody's fault:

"It costs $12,000 to $20,000 to send one child to a preschool in San Francisco, a little less if you join a co-op. That's insane."

I'm sure it's not the schools' fault. Schools have to pay San Francisco prices, rent San Francisco space and follow San Francisco regulations. And why shouldn't they reap the benefits of the intense competition that keeps prices high?

I'm sure it's not the regulators' fault. They need to set and enforce the rules that keep our kids safe.

I'm sure it's not the parents' fault. They - we - just want the best for our kids, and we're willing to pay for it if possible.
It's nobody's fault. Which makes it everybody's fault.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/29/INSS1AGHA0.DTL&type=education#ixzz0YM90BnNH

'FOX News Reporting: Do You Know What Textbooks Your Children Are Really Reading?' - Specials - FOXNews.com

'FOX News Reporting: Do You Know What Textbooks Your Children Are Really Reading?' - Specials - FOXNews.com:

"FOX News Reporting investigated the $10 billion dollar-a-year textbook industry and how the drive to be politically correct might be taking over American schools.
Host Tucker Carlson, asked experts, teachers, publishers and parents the same question: 'Do you know what is inside your children's textbooks?' From kindergarten through college, we found staggering errors and omissions which may be pushing agendas, hidden and otherwise."

We spoke to the author of “The Language Police,” education historian Diane Ravitch, who said textbook publishers censor images or words they deem to be controversial in children’s textbooks. She told us that publishers pander to special interest groups, and assemble bias and sensitivity review committees. These committees decide what words to ban or redefine, and even what images are deemed offensive.

And we examined some college textbooks both in print and in digital forms. We found a glaring mistake in an expensive history book written by Alan Brinkley, Provost at New York’s Columbia University.

And in Fairfax County Virginia, questions remain about what textbooks are used in the private Islamic Saudi Academy. The ISA teaches about 1000 students each year pre-K — 12. Questions have been raised about its textbooks at least since 2006.

City clears self in bizarre test spike - NYPOST.com

City clears self in bizarre test spike - NYPOST.com:

"The probe of a Bronx elementary school's sudden, unprecedented, one-year gain in reading scores found no evidence of cheating -- but critics are blasting the drawn-out investigation as a 'sham.'

The three-year probe by the city's Department of Education looked at the roller-coasterlike passing rate for fourth-graders at PS 33 in Fordham, which catapulted from 34 percent in 2004 to 83 percent in 2005 before plunging back down to 42 percent in 2006.

The school was heralded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the time as a model of the city's dramatic test gains."

Budget cuts cause classroom sizes to grow, kindergartners suffer the most

Budget cuts cause classroom sizes to grow, kindergartners suffer the most:

"Class sizes in city schools jumped by the most in more than a decade this year - and youngest children are getting hit hardest.

The average elementary school class ballooned by about 4% to more than 23 students. Middle and high school classes grew by 1% to 2% to almost 27 students.

'It's a really sad story,' said Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters. 'The kids with the highest educational needs tend to fall the furthest back. They benefit most from the individual attention.'"

City’s Schools Share Their Space, and Bitterness - NYTimes.com

City’s Schools Share Their Space, and Bitterness - NYTimes.com:

"Suzanne Tecza had spent a year redesigning the library at Middle School 126 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, including colorful new furniture and elaborate murals of leafy trees. So when her principal decided this year to give the space to the charter high schools that share the building, Ms. Tecza was furious."

Jay Mathews - Jay Mathews: Five strikes against an education writer - washingtonpost.com

Jay Mathews - Jay Mathews: Five strikes against an education writer - washingtonpost.com:

"It's almost December, time to sum up and see whether I added value to life on the planet this year. Others can assess my successes, if any. I prefer to dwell on my failures. Here are five I consider important.

-- I spent too much time covering political and ideological battles. Exhibit A is, of course, the controversy over Michelle A. Rhee's tenure as D.C. schools chancellor, particularly the firing of hundreds of teachers. My colleague Bill Turque has done a terrific job following that story, but I could not resist butting in, both in this column and in my washingtonpost.com/class-struggle blog. The distractions hurt everybody in the short run, something worth noting, but in the long run, such disputes rarely yield policies that raise achievement."

N.Y. lags nationally in virtual education | LoHud.com | The Journal News

N.Y. lags nationally in virtual education LoHud.com The Journal News:

"New York trails most of the country when it comes to one of the hottest trends in education — online classes — a nationwide survey found."

A state-by-state ranking by the Center for Digital Education put New York at 47 at providing access to courses on the Web. Only Connecticut, California and Maine lag behind.

But fears about the swine flu pandemic could prod New York to catch up. Online learning, already taking off across the country, is getting an extra push by alarm about the pandemic.

The Lower Hudson Regional Information Center in Elmsford has gotten scores of questions about online courses since swine flu closed schools last year, said Sarah Martabano, a regional coordinator. Classes on the Web would enable students who are sick at home to keep up.

”It gets people thinking: ‘What would we do?' “ Martabano said.

Mike's war for the kids: Albany must pass the mayor's bold program of school reforms

Mike's war for the kids: Albany must pass the mayor's bold program of school reforms:

"Mayor Bloomberg is taking the fight for education reform right to the teachers union and its allies in the state Legislature - and all the more power to him for picking up the cudgels.

Stunningly, in an speech attended by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Bloomberg said he had ordered Chancellor Joel Klein to start using student performance data in tenure decisions."

Change looms for schools

Change looms for schools:

"First, it was the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Later it became No Child Left Behind in 2002.

But with the Obama administration now in the White House, talk of a new rewrite of the law has already begun. Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the issue publicly in September, calling for changes to the landmark law during a speech to education leaders.

Just don't expect to call the next version No Child Left Behind."

A Note From The Chancellor >>

A Note From The Chancellor;:

"Dear Students:

This has been an intense week for our university. Protests against fee hikes have occurred on our campus and throughout the system. The reasons for the protests are clear: the promise of an affordable UC education for all is under siege, victim of a state and nation reeling in the midst of a historic recession.

This is a low point for public higher education in California. Spending for prisons now outpaces that for higher education. UC faculty and staff have already absorbed significant pay cuts and layoffs. Funding is diminishing at every level as we struggle to ensure that you continue to enjoy academic opportunities and experiences commensurate with our world-class reputation.

I understand your frustration. I share it."

Big advantages in schoolbooks going digital» Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Big advantages in schoolbooks going digital» Corpus Christi Caller-Times:

"Digital textbooks are on the way to Texas public schools, perhaps as soon as next fall. As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in our Nov. 23 edition, the state Legislature has already passed two bills allowing the Texas Education Agency to create a repository of online textbook content. The agency is seeking bids from both online and traditional publishers and planning to have the first open-source textbooks available to students in the fall of 2010.

With California, Virginia and now Texas in the process of going digital, it’s unlikely that the rest of the nation will be far behind. The advantages of digital textbooks are, after all, numerous. For legislators and taxpayers, the chief one is the likely cost savings. In 2007, Texas schools spent $375 million on textbooks. During the 2008-2009 school year, thousands of books were replaced, costing $264 million. By using online, open-source material, like California, Texas plans to develop its own curriculum, and cheaply at that. The open-source material would be purchased — presumably at a reasonable cost — by the state, which could then edit and copy it online to fit its own uses. School districts could then buy from a state-approved list, if they choose to do so."

Daily 49er - Unified student front necessary to salvage Cal higher education

Daily 49er - Unified student front necessary to salvage Cal higher education:

"As students, we stand on the steps of our university and look out at this world with uncertainty. We think times are hard now, but they will only get worse if we do not take action before we suffer the consequences of our indecision.

Students at UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley protested their board of regents’ recent decision to raise tuition fees by 32 percent. The California State University board of trustees has not made any comments about raising tuition fees, yet. Instead, the trustees are “hopeful” that Schwarzenegger will invest a total of $884 million into the CSUs.

The CSU budget proposal for 2010-11 originally requested $625 million, but on Wednesday, Nov. 18 they decided to ask for more. The board of trustees knows California will have a larger deficit next year."

Mike's challenge - NYPOST.com

Mike's challenge - NYPOST.com:

"New York state will have a better chance of winning federal Race to the Top dollars for its schools if it embraces the seven recommendations Mayor Bloomberg made last week.

Under the final guidelines for the federal Department of Education's $4 billion competition, New York (along with California, Texas and Florida) can apply for $350 million to $700 million in funds -- money that a state in serious fiscal crisis can't afford to lose out on.

Bloomberg's seven-point plan addresses key areas where New York needs to change its policies to be competitive in the race:"

Charter schools hold promise, but they're no magic bullet -- latimes.com

Charter schools hold promise, but they're no magic bullet -- latimes.com:

"The Obama administration may be over-relying on them as a means of remedying the nation's educational mediocrity."

Charter schools are on the cusp of national stardom. After gaining increased acceptance in the last decade, they now are central to school reform under the Obama administration, which wants states to remove any limits on their growth.

Charter schools are publicly funded but operate free of many state and school district regulations. The idea behind their creation was to empower schools to make their own hiring and curriculum decisions in exchange for guarantees in their contracts -- or charters -- to deliver high scholastic achievement in a certain amount of time or risk closure. The schools were intended to model innovations that might be replicated on a grand scale and to eliminate cumbersome labor contracts that work against better education. They would give disadvantaged students their first real alternative to violence-prone, low-performing public schools and create pressure for those schools to bring about quicker, more dramatic reform lest they lose enrollment.

After a decade of rapid growth, charters have begun delivering on some of these promises. They were among the first smaller, more personal schools; "smaller" has become a rallying cry among urban school districts. Families in low-income areas flocked to the new schools, where expectations were higher and children felt safer. Some have delivered impressive test scores.