Midyear layoffs, funding cuts hit metro schools | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Midyear layoffs, funding cuts hit metro schools | freep.com | Detroit Free Press:

"Dearborn Public Schools axed nearly 200 employees last week, and about 100 more layoffs are to come."

Utica Community Schools laid off 40 last week and is asking employees to take three-day furloughs.

Employees in Walled Lake Consolidated Schools are forgoing pay raises for the first half of 2010, part of a union initiative to save jobs.

It was a tough week across the board in metro Detroit school districts, as the ramifications of the middle-of-the-school-year state funding cuts began to become clearer. The midyear cuts mean some students may lose their favorite teachers, staff won't be able to travel to hear the latest education methods and parents may find themselves doing more to keep extracurricular activities afloat.

In October, the state cut school funding by $165 per student, and soon after, 39 school districts -- including 26 in metro Detroit -- had additional funding cut.

Presumably good news came two weeks ago when Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced that yet another cut in funding -- of $127 per student -- would not happen in December. But

City Schools’ New Criteria for Diversity Raise Fears - NYTimes.com

City Schools’ New Criteria for Diversity Raise Fears - NYTimes.com:

"The Chicago public schools’ response to a recent court desegregation ruling — a plan to use students’ social and economic profiles instead of race to achieve classroom diversity — is raising fears that it will undermine the district’s slow and incremental progress on racial diversity."


Chicago schools, like the city itself, are hardly a model of racial integration. But a Chicago News Cooperative analysis of school data shows the district has made modest gains in the magnet, gifted, classical and selective-enrollment schools, where, for nearly 30 years, race has been used as an admission criterion. Those advances may be imperiled in the wake of court rulings that have prompted Chicago Public Schools to look for factors other than race when assigning students to such schools.

Nationwide, court rulings have prompted school districts to seek creative ways to diversify classrooms without using a student’s race as a factor. In Chicago, school officials last week moved ahead with their own experiment.

Instead of race as an admissions factor, they now will use socioeconomic data from the student’s neighborhood — income, education levels, single-parent households, owner-occupied homes and the use of language other than English as the primary tongue — in placing children in selective-enrollment schools

Bar set low for lifetime job in L.A. schools -- latimes.com

Bar set low for lifetime job in L.A. schools -- latimes.com

Altair Maine said he was so little supervised in his first few years of teaching at North Hollywood High School that he could "easily have shown a movie in class every day and earned tenure nonetheless."

Before second-grade teacher Kimberly Patterson received tenure and the ironclad job protections it provides, she said, "my principal never set foot in my classroom while I was teaching."

And when Virgil Middle School teacher Roberto Gonzalez came up for tenure, he discovered there was no evaluation for him on file. When he inquired about it, his school hastily faxed one to district headquarters.

"I'm pretty sure it was just made up on the spot," Gonzalez said.

There is nothing to suggest these teachers didn't deserve tenure, but the district did little to ensure they were worthy.

A Times investigation found that the Los Angeles Unified School District routinely grants tenure to new teachers after 

Arizona teacher on leave after taking choral students to Hooters - USATODAY.com

Arizona teacher on leave after taking choral students to Hooters - USATODAY.com:

"A music teacher whose students performed at one of President Obama's inauguration events has been put on administrative leave after taking 40 students to eat at a Hooters in downtown Phoenix.

Mary Segall, a choir director at Paradise Valley High School in northeast Phoenix, accompanied choral students at a performance at Arizona Center last week. While there, the students ate lunch at the Hooters restaurant, said Judi Willis, spokeswoman for the district.

Segall told her principal that the restaurant, known for its busty waitresses in tight shirts and orange shorts, was the only place that could accommodate a group of that size. She could not be reached for comment.

'We believe that there are many venues for lunch for a large group of people in the downtown Phoenix"

NYC Educator: Vice President Klein Closes New Jersey

NYC Educator: Vice President Klein Closes New Jersey

This morning, there was yet another toxic waste cloud emanating from Linden, New Jersey. Vice President Joel Klein declared that he’d had enough and announced plans to phase out the entire state. Jersey residents pointed to many areas that were improving, but the Vice President called Jersey an eyesore and an abomination, declaring that it needed to be closed once and for all. Bruce Springsteen wrote a protest song, but President Michael Bloomberg once again pointed out Springsteen was a parent and therefore ineligible to have any inputwhatsoever in matters of state.

Naturally the measure will have to clear Congress. However, since President Bloomberg reorganized Congress during his third term, it has never voted against any of his proposals. Vice President Klein’s new streamlined 8-page Constitution specifically allows the President to select a two-thirds majority of representatives, and to fire any appointed member of Congress who votes against any of his proposals, even before the vote takes place. New York Senator Patrick J. Sullivan spoke up against the measure, giving reasoned arguments that were roundly ignored by all.

“If Sullivan had a clear vision for the future of our country,” mused President Bloomberg, “why would he need 

Editorial: Michigan Legislature endangers state's chances for Race to Top funding | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Editorial: Michigan Legislature endangers state's chances for Race to Top funding | detnews.com | The Detroit News:

"The dysfunction of Michigan's political structure is on full display this week. State lawmakers have bickered and gone down to the wire on working out comprehensive education reforms that would position Michigan to compete for $400 million to $500 million in federal grants.

Senate Republican negotiators have been wrangling with their Democratic House colleagues, who have balked at allowing the opening of more charter schools in the state.

The federal Race to the Top program, which will distribute the money Michigan wants, demands that states allow for the easier establishment of charter schools, particularly in districts where the traditional public schools are failing students."

Attacking immigrant students not new, say those involved | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/18/2009

Attacking immigrant students not new, say those involved | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/18/2009:

"Soon after Superintendent Arlene Ackerman arrived in Philadelphia in 2008, officials set up what was to be a friendly meeting with parents and representatives from immigrant groups.

The meeting lasted two hours and focused on one issue, according to people present: Immigrants were being beaten and harassed in city classrooms. What would the district do?

Then, in October last year, five Asian students from South Philadelphia High School were attacked near the subway station outside the school.

Leaders of the Asian community quietly met with district officials, who promised better security. A Chinese student group formed"

The Chalkboard: The Perpetual Question - What To Do With New Covenant Charter School?

The Chalkboard: The Perpetual Question - What To Do With New Covenant Charter School?

New Covenant Charter School in Albany is on the grill -- again.

Now in its eleventh year, the charter school is up for renewal since its one-year extension from the SUNY Board, granted last year, expires in June.

It's not looking good for New Covenant Charter School.

To be clear, I have not seen the preliminary renewal findings from SUNY's Charter Schools Institute (CSI) containing its recommendation for renewal (or non-renewal). The SUNY Board will have to make a final determination at its meeting in January. The New York Charter Schools Association has taken no position on the school's renewal question.

What I have read is the not-so-subtle statement from the SUNY Charter Institutes's Director, Jonas Chartock, quoted in today's Albany Times Union: "While the school has made some progress, it has not met the goals of its accountability plan or the academic conditions of its renewal." He went on to say: "Specific areas of concern include student performance in math, English and science. In addition, the school's financial condition continues to deteriorate."

Like I said, it doesn't look good for New Covenant.

The Brooklyn Paper: Big money could ‘PAVE’ the way for new Red Hook school

The Brooklyn Paper: Big money could ‘PAVE’ the way for new Red Hook school:

"A controversial charter school sought to diffuse mounting tensions inside the Red Hook building it shares with a public school by dropping the bombshell news that has almost all the money it needs to build its own permanent facility.

The news from the PAVE Academy came in a call to The Brooklyn Paper on Thursday — one day after PS 15 parents held an emergency meeting to plot their next move against a charter school that the parents feel was plotting to push out the long-standing public school from the Wolcott Street building.

That fear reached a fever pitch last week when the Department of Education released an “educational impact statement” that declared the school building capabl"

Florida Union Opposes State RTTT Plan - Teacher Beat - Education Week

Florida Union Opposes State RTTT Plan - Teacher Beat - Education Week:

It looks like the question I asked the other day—whether unions will agree to sign off on state Race to the Top plans—is a resounding "no," at least for the Sunshine State, says this Associated Press story.

The AP story talks a lot about the performance-pay elements of Florida's plan, and certainly the state has had its fair share of problems with performance pay. But let's not forget that this isn't just about performance pay. Student achievement must be factored into teacher evaluations as well. The union also seems to have problems with the school-turnaround language.

Having the union backing isn't an absolute requirement for the state to receive Race to the Top funding, but it will be weighed as part of the application. The state's aggressive MOU agreement also says that districts and unions that don't bargain the relevant sections of the state plan will forfeit

Race to the Top Hopefuls: Clear the Week of March 15 - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Race to the Top Hopefuls: Clear the Week of March 15 - Politics K-12 - Education Week:

If you're a finalist for a Race to the Top grant in Round 1 of the competition, then the week of March 15 is when your state team will have to come to Washington, D.C. and make your in-person pitch to the peer reviewers.

This nugget of information, plus more on the Race to the Top timeline, is contained in a new FAQs document released by the U.S. Department of Education today.

Those who are finalists will be notified around March 1, which leaves about two weeks for states to prepare their Olympic-sized sales pitches. It's unclear if those who do not make it to the interview round of this education reform pageant will be informed then as well.

Round 1 winners are expected to be announced in early April. (And losers will have until June 1 to get their Round 2 applications in.)

Some notes on the PEP in the Bronx � JD2718

Some notes on the PEP in the Bronx � JD2718:

"Went to the Panel for Educational Policy meeting in the Bronx last night. Noticed a few things:

1. “Mismanagement” may be a good description of how the DoE operates, but it makes a lousy chant.


I think mismanagement is far too weak to describe much of what they do… but listening to the smaller stuff at the PEP, mismanagement seems present in all the little stuff. School closings? Intentionally destructive policy, meant to harm kids, hurt teachers, disrupt neighborhoods. They are not closing schools out of mismanagement, but mismanagement pervades the entire process all the same."

I bet some linguist or speech person could explain how the stress pattern (short-long-short-short) makes a lousy chant. Bad rhythm. Hard to understand. Just not punchy.

2. Closing schools is on the agenda. Even if the PEP pretends it is not.

The audience was loaded with kids, faculty, parents from closing schools. Columbus had the most. But Monroe Academy of Business and Law was there. SCRL. New Day. A bunch of kids and a few faculty from Global Enterprise. FDA. And school closings were a major part of public comments. They seeped in during the middle of the meeting. And they were all that came up at the end. School after school, student, teacher, parent, principal got up to challenge the DoE. A few challenged “school closing as policy” – most made the case for keeping their own school open.

Two UFT VPs spoke,

Dyslexia defined: ‘Uncoupling’ between IQ and reading (re-issue)

Dyslexia defined: ‘Uncoupling’ between IQ and reading (re-issue):

"Washington, Dec 20 (ANI): A new study has provided a validated definition of dyslexia by showing how otherwise bright and intelligent people struggle to read.

Contrary to popular belief, some very smart, accomplished people cannot read well. This unexpected difficulty in reading in relation to intelligence, education and professional status is called dyslexia.

And now researchers at Yale School of Medicine and University of California Davis have presented new data to explain this learning disorder.

“For the first time, we’ve found empirical evidence that shows the relationship between IQ and reading over time differs for typical compared to dyslexic readers,” said Sally E. Shaywitz from Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Paediatrics, and co-director of the newly formed Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity."

University World News - US: Universities should prepare for postdoc unions

University World News - US: Universities should prepare for postdoc unions:

"Research universities should prepare for the possibility that postdoctoral researchers will work to form unions by developing consistent policies on how postdocs are treated and establishing student support groups as alternatives to unions, a panel of deans said on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Council of Graduate Schools, writes Josh Keller for The Chronicle of Higher Education's Wired Campus blog.

Postdocs have only recently started to organise into unions at American public universities, starting in Connecticut, California and New Jersey. The push for postdoctoral unions may extend elsewhere, forcing universities to deal with a variety of academic and workplace issues at the bargaining table, the panelists said."

Claudia Grossi: Adult Education program deserves a better fate - Santa Cruz Sentinel

Claudia Grossi: Adult Education program deserves a better fate - Santa Cruz Sentinel:

"For a number of years, adult education funds have been kept separate from the regular K-12 funding sources, and adult education has 'paid it own way.' Traditionally the adult school has been funded by an ADA average daily attendance formula by the state and has also received federal grant monies based on goal attainment and special programs. In a sense, Adult Education has been a form of the original 'charter school' design that is now being so loudly acclaimed by our governor and president.

The charter of adult education dates back into the 19th century when in a land of immigrants it became obvious that the best way to unite this country was to have all people speaking the English language and understanding the principles and opportunities of citizenship. Over the years, the opportunities surrounding upgrading vocational skills and job readiness have been assumed by adult educators, as has been enrichment for the older population all at no cost to the student and reimbursed by the state and remediation and second chances for the many young adults who have dropped out/kicked out of high school."

Students seek clout beyond campuses

Students seek clout beyond campuses:

"An earlier generation of college students took on the Vietnam War. Now a new generation is poised to take on the mess in Sacramento."

This Christmas break, students from University of California and state and community college campuses will fan out across the state to collect signatures in support of an initiative that would free the Legislature from its two-thirds vote requirement on budget and revenue matters. Their goal is to collect enough signatures by April 15 to qualify for the November 2010 ballot.
Amid a welter of sit-ins, teach-ins and building takeovers, this is a bold effort to reach beyond the campuses and address the chronic problems of a dysfunctional Legislature and the state's fiscal crisis. If it passes, the California Democracy Act will allow a simple majority in the Legislature to pass a budget and balance it if necessary with new revenue sources.
The effort no doubt will be greeted with a great deal of cynicism. But, really, who better than a bunch of raw, politically inexperienced students to tackle the mess in Sacramento? Who else has the sense of urgency, the bulletproof optimism, needed for such an undertaking?
The initiative was written by Berkeley linguistics Professor George Lakoff, and its frontline troops are those directly affected by the state's budget mess: students whose futures and careers are being compromised by a 32 percent fee increase over the next


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/20/IND51B4RBI.DTL#ixzz0aEdNJMWz

UC regents president betray California students

UC regents president betray California students:

"When I served as director of undergraduate admission at UC Berkeley from 1993 through 1999, I viewed the admission process at Berkeley as a public trust. The principal satisfaction I got was from helping ensure that as wide a range of California students as possible got access to the world-class education that Berkeley offered."

ow, however, the UC Board of Regents and UC President Mark Yudof have made disastrous changes in fee and enrollment policies that will sharply limit opportunities for California residents and severely damage the already meager enrollment levels of African American, Latino and Native American students, and the enrollment of low-income students in general.

Fee increases

The widely publicized 32 percent undergraduate fee increase passed by the UC regents Nov. 19 will severely damage opportunity for large numbers of California students and their families.
To begin with, Yudof implies that UC fees are the only financial problem UC students and their parents confront. The real issue, as the table at right


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/20/INFQ1ATDSL.DTL#ixzz0aEcriXNb

Editorial: Mayor's first year a work in progress - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Mayor's first year a work in progress - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee:

"Triumph and tumult tend to follow Mayor Kevin Johnson around like cabooses on a train.

In 2009, there were moments of both for the new mayor. It started after Johnson scored a sizable victory over incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo. He then moved on an agenda of increasing the power of his office, protecting public safety from cuts, exploring options for the homeless and building coalitions around issues such as the arts, volunteerism and education.

During his campaign, and now, Johnson has been dogged by allegations of past personal misconduct. Then, as now, he has charged ahead on multiple fronts, sometimes spreading himself too thin."

California Education Reform: School Choice

California Education Reform: School Choice

EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - One percent of U.S. children have autism: study

EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - One percent of U.S. children have autism: study:

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Autism, a brain disorder that interferes with communication and social skills, affected an estimated one in 110 American 8-year-olds in 2006, according to a federal study released Friday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the medical diagnoses of 307,790 children who were age 8 in 2006. They found 2,757, or 0.9 percent, had been diagnosed with autism.

The CDC team found that autism cases were four to five times higher among boys than girls, with 1 in 70 boys and 1 in 315 girls identified.

The overall ratio is far higher than previous estimates that the incurable family of conditions affected 1 in 150 U.S. children. A few decades ago autism was thought to be rare."