Peninsula school districts unsure of 'Race to the Top' proposal - San Jose Mercury News

Peninsula school districts unsure of 'Race to the Top' proposal - San Jose Mercury News:

"School districts are weighing their commitment to a federal program that could bring them millions of dollars but also plenty of uncertainty.


The state is asking districts to sign off on its proposed application for funding under the Obama administration's 'Race to the Top' initiative, in which California could earn up to $700 million for school reforms in a competition with other states.


Several local districts, including Jefferson Union High and Sequoia Union High, have told the state they intend to participate in that application although they remain wary of unintended consequences."


"The problem for many of us is it's unclear what the state's play is going to be," said Michael Crilly, superintendent of Jefferson Union in Daly City. "So it's almost signing up for something that you're not totally clear about." 


State lawmakers are hurriedly trying to piece together legislation that would make California eligible for the $4.4 billion program. The deadline for states to submit their application is Jan. 19.


Ahead of that, state education leaders want districts by Jan. 8 to send in a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, that confirms their participation.


"We're trying to get as many on board because it'll help bolster the application to the feds," said Tina Jung, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.


As of Tuesday morning, 385 educational agencies out of more than 1,000 sent the state a letter of intent, according to the department.


"A portion have already submitted MOUs," Education Department spokeswoman Hilary McLean added. "We expect more MOUs to come in before Jan. 8."

Removing obstacles for the disabled - LA Daily News

Removing obstacles for the disabled - LA Daily News:

"Hizella Martinez felt too wobbly to walk, too scared to join her mom at the market and too awkward in her blindness to have any friends.

But it was all smiles after the Van Nuys toddler discovered the Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind.

'Sing a song, Hizella,' urged TLC teacher Anne Bell as the beaming youngster two-stepped to a guitar. 'You have a beautiful voice, so beautiful.'

For nearly 35 years, the nonprofit centers in Reseda have been a pillar of support for disabled blind residents and their families."

J.H. Fischer, Educator in Turbulent Times, Is Dead at 99 - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com

J.H. Fischer, Educator in Turbulent Times, Is Dead at 99 - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com:

"John H. Fischer, whose cool, determined leadership as school superintendent made Baltimore the first large American city to integrate its public schools, and who brought reform and innovation to Teachers College of Columbia University as its dean and president in the 1960s and ’70s, died on Friday at his home in Westwood, Mass. He was 99."

Hispanic College Fund President Steps Down

Hispanic College Fund President Steps Down:

"The president of the Hispanic College Fund (HCF) announced Tuesday she will resign from the position she has held since 2007.

Idalia Fernandez joined the HCF as a volunteer 10 years ago and became a scholarship program manager. Since then she has helped the organization's revenue and programming grow. She moved up to vice president, then chief operating officer in 2001 and was named president two years ago.

'We have transformed this organization from a scholarship-granting entity to an organization that offers targeted, effective support to Hispanic students through all stages of their education,' Fernandez said."

Governor advises education cuts | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger

Governor advises education cuts | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger:

"Gov. Haley Barbour is recommending a 68 percent cut to gifted, special and vo-tech education programs - a move that would result in a loss of $176 million in federal funds"

State Superintendent of Education Tom Burnham said such a cut would take the special ed and vo-tech programs below the minimum funding amounts required for federal support.

The cut is among a recommended $430 million less than fiscal 2010. It is designed to help make up for an estimated $715 million shortfall - $370 million of which state officials plan to make up with stimulus money.

Barbour's proposed budget spells out a recommended cut of 12 percent across the board in K-12 education, but the cut actually would be about 15 percent, House Education Committee Chairman Cecil Brown said. In contrast, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, suggesting $310 million in cuts, is recommending a 5.9 percent cut for K-12 education and a 10 percent cut for most other agencies.

Barbour's budget is only a proposal; it's the job of lawmakers to craft a budget.

Ike Haynes, superintendent of the struggling Jefferson Davis County School District, said a double-digit cut "would put us in jeopardy of giving back all the progress we've made financially. We'd have to look at laying off teachers."

Barbour recently lifted the state o

Florida schools up to feds' challenge - Other Views - MiamiHerald.com

Florida schools up to feds' challenge - Other Views - MiamiHerald.com:

"Florida is taking part in a high-stakes competition with the other 49 states to bring up to $700 million in national education funding to the state. The U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring a $4.35 billion competitive grant program called Race to the Top to reward states for addressing some of the most persistent challenges in public education. First round applications, to be submitted by the governors of each state, are due Jan. 19. Winners will be announced in the spring."

Mather Cottages Prepared to Welcome Homeless Women and ChildrenNews10.net | Sacramento, California | Community

Mather Cottages Prepared to Welcome Homeless Women and ChildrenNews10.net | Sacramento, California | Community:

"RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - Empty cottages on the Mather Community Campus will soon be a winter home for about 100 now homeless women and children.

The first five families now staying at St. John's Shelter for Women and Children will move into the cottages on Saturday.

'I was able to tell five families yesterday that they can move in Saturday,' St John's Kelly Dockendorf said. 'There were some tears. They were really happy. They said that's the best Christmas present they could ever get.'

The use of the cottages is part of a plan organized by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson to provide some 270 shelter beds for the homeless this winter."

Weekly Address: Celebrating Christmas and Honoring Those Who Serve | The White House

Weekly Address: Celebrating Christmas and Honoring Those Who Serve | The White House:

"Weekly Address: Celebrating Christmas and Honoring Those Who Serve

Posted by Jesse Lee on December 24, 2009 at 06:00 PM EST

For the first time in a weekly address, the President is joined by the First Lady as they celebrate Christmas. They both honor those serving overseas, those who have sacrificed for their country, and the families that stand by them. Find ways to lend our troops and their families a home through DOD’s Military Homefront, OurMilitary.mil, and of course the USO."

The Educated Guess

The Educated Guess

Time off for the holidays

Posted in Uncategorized

Rather than write merely for my own amusement and an audience of one, I’ll be writing only occasionally through the holidays. 2010 promises to be incredibly challenging for schools and the Legislature, so let’s all take a deep breath and enjoy time with friends and family.
I started The Educated Guess just two months ago. Thanks to all of you who have followed the blog; I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.
Early next year, you’ll be seeing changes to the site, as I turn what has been a one-way conversation into a dialogue with many voices. More on that in coming weeks.
Meanwhile, if anything exciting happens on the Race to the Top bill still lingering in the Legisalture (Keep working, Rick Simpson, and members of the Assembly Education Committee!), I may put up a post. Or you can sign up to follow me onTwitter for all the news in 140 characters or less.
Best wishes for the holidays,
John Fensterwald

Official NORAD Santa Tracker

Official NORAD Santa Tracker

Official NORAD Santa Tracker

Teachers Score Higher Than Other Professionals in Well-Being

Teachers Score Higher Than Other Professionals in Well-Being

Teachers rate their lives higher in four of six well-being indexes

by Shane Lopez and Sangeeta Agrawal

Page: 12

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A career in teaching might be good for your well-being. While the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index previously revealed that business owners were richer in well-being than other job types, further research isolating teachers from other professionals finds teachers fare as well as or better than business owners in overall well-being.

Gallup typically includes teachers in the "professional worker" occupation category, but asks an additional question --"Are you currently a teacher in a public or private school (at any level, secondary, elementary, college, pre-school)?" -- to distinguish teachers from non-teaching professionals.
An analysis of data collected between July 2008 and June 2009 finds that teachers score highest (or tied for highest) among all 12 job types on how they evaluate their lives, access to resources needed to lead a healthy life, emotional health, and their the likelihood of engaging in healthy behaviors. Overall, the findings reveal numerous benefits and some drawbacks related to the teaching profession.
(Page 2 includes details on how Gallup defines each occupational category.)

Christmas at the White House 2009 | The White House

Christmas at the White House 2009 | The White House

Christmas at the White House 2009

A glimpse of this year's holiday decorations at the White House. December 17, 2009 (Public Domain)

Sacramento Press / "The reality of the Christmas Assistance program"

Sacramento Press / "The reality of the Christmas Assistance program":

"Most of us have heard about the Salvation Army’s toy drive for local needy families. Through the media we see a family that is very happy to receive several presents given to children that otherwise would go without. All of this generous charity work begins with expensive marketing, fundraising events, donations, and of course volunteers. The most important part of this charity process is the families with children in need.

When a family signs up for Christmas assistance from the Salvation Army they must provide certain documents, such as a proof of income, proof of residency, ID, etc. When a family signs up they must go to the Salvation Army sign-up location. The location for this year was on the far side of north Sacramento. Families had to spend the day on a bus in order to reach the sign-up location or, as with most families, have vehicle transportation. That means a family spent at least $6 for an all-day bus pass or they spent approximately $6 for gas depending upon how far they lived from the sign-up location."

Teachers Defy Gravity to Gain Students’ Interest - NYTimes.com

Teachers Defy Gravity to Gain Students’ Interest - NYTimes.com:

"NORWALK, Conn. — Before showing a video to the 11th and 12th graders in his physics class, Glenn Coutoure, a teacher at Norwalk High School, warned them that his mouth would be hanging open, in childlike wonderment, almost the whole time."

Mr. Coutoure then started the DVD, showing him and other science teachers floating in an airplane during a flight in September. By flying up and down like a giant roller coaster along parabolic paths, the plane simulated the reduced gravity of the Moon and Mars and then weightlessness in 30-second chunks.

The teachers performed a series of experiments and playful stunts, like doing push-ups with others sitting on their backs and catching in their mouths M & M’s that flew in straight lines, that they hoped would help them better explain to their students the laws of motion that Sir Isaac Newton deduced centuries ago.
“You see the ball just hangs there,” Mr. Coutoure said.
“That’s hot,” a student interjected.

Education Week: 'Race to Top' Driving Policy Action Across States

Education Week: 'Race to Top' Driving Policy Action Across States:

"As governors and state legislators gear up for a new year of budget action and policymaking, the federal Race to the Top competition is helping to drive a flurry of measures nationwide aimed, at least in part, at making states stronger candidates for a slice of the $4 billion in education grants.
Those efforts emerge as a priority in the 2010 legislative season, even as many cash-strapped states face the prospect of tough spending decisions—including school budget cuts—on top of the midyear cuts they enacted in recent months."

Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee earlier this month called on his legislature to hold a special session in January to consider a package of education measures, including a requirement that student-achievement data be used in teacher evaluations, and a proposal he said would strengthen provisions allowing the state to intervene in chronically low-performing schools.

“The whole Race to the Top just provided a focal point for a whole range of things that might have been difficult to do in other times,” Gov. Bredesen, a Democrat, said of the discretionary grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money is intended to encourage states’ efforts to improve education.

Editorial: Tortoises stall 'Race to the Top' - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Tortoises stall 'Race to the Top' - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee:

"ALL SIDES NEED TO COMPROMISE AND GET DEAL DONE NOW – NOT IN 2010

It's looking increasingly likely the California Legislature will get an 'incomplete' grade in completing 'Race to the Top' education legislation before the new year.

That's unfortunate. States face a Jan. 19 deadline to submit applications in a competition for $4.35 billion in federal funds. Three-quarters of the states have said they will apply, but only from six to 12 will get funding.

The Michigan Legislature on Saturday was the latest to pass an overhaul package. California cannot afford to stall now."

Schwarzenegger to seek federal help for California budget -- latimes.com

Schwarzenegger to seek federal help for California budget -- latimes.com:

"Reporting from Sacramento - Facing a budget deficit of more than $20 billion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to call for deep reductions in already suffering local mass transit programs, renew his push to expand oil drilling off the Santa Barbara coast and appeal to Washington for billions of dollars in federal help, according to state officials and lobbyists familiar with the plan.

If Washington does not provide roughly $8 billion in new aid for the state, the governor threatens to severely cut back -- if not eliminate -- CalWORKS, the state's main welfare program; the In-Home Health Care Services program for the disabled and elderly poor, and two tax breaks for large corporations recently approved by the Legislature, the officials said."

Year in Review: Edutopia's Staff Picks | Edutopia

Year in Review: Edutopia's Staff Picks | Edutopia

It was a year filled with historical events (the election of Barack Obama) and miraculous moments (the heroism of Captain Sullenberger) and celebrity shockers (the death of Michael Jackson). But for us at Edutopia, 2009 was another year of inspiration and awe as we went around the country to meet and tell the stories of amazing students, teachers, administrators, and parents trying to improve our public schools. You never cease to surprise us with your dedication and passion and ingenuity!
And so we asked our staff to tell us which stories made the biggest impressions on them. Here are some of our favorites from 2009:
Betty Ray, community manager:
Edutopia Welcome Lounge: Thank-a-Teacher Discussion
"The Edutopia community expresses gratitude for the teachers who inspired us the most."
Cindy Johanson, chief operating officer:
"The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom"
"I love this column, because it's so practical, but especially for the response from readers -- more than 135 tips and comments!"
David Markus, editorial director:
"A Louisiana School Leader Answers the Call of Duty" (magazine title: "Call of Duty")
This profile packaged a slew of Edutopia core values and virtues (social and emotional learning, project learning, technology in the classroom, professional development) and illuminated them through the compelling story of one heroic New Orleans prinicipal, who overcame enormous odds and enabled all those around her -- especially her students -- to achieve as they had never before. To me, that is the definition of inspiration.
Amy Erin Borovoy, video coordinating producer:
Opening Minds Through The Arts
"I love watching the faces of the kids light up as they experience the connections between their core academic subjects and performing arts. Nothing beats second graders singing opera!"
YES Prep Boasts a College-Bound Culture
"The passion of these teachers is so clear -- this story puts a face on the goals of every great educator. It's very moving to see how the hard work of everyone at this school in Houston pays off."
Milton Chen, executive director:
Opening Minds Through The Arts
"Shows how reading and writing skills depend on surrounding children with a rich linguistic environment and how opera singers can work with teachers to create it."

Read More:Year in Review: Edutopia's Staff Picks | Edutopia

Rancho Cordova Installs New Mayor and Vice Mayor — The Rancho Cordova Post

Rancho Cordova Installs New Mayor and Vice Mayor — The Rancho Cordova Post:

"Ken Cooley, a member of the Rancho Cordova City Council since the City incorporated in 2003, was sworn in as Mayor at the Rancho Cordova City Council meeting on December 21st. Robert McGarvey, also a Council Member from the City’s beginning, was sworn in as Vice Mayor.

California State Assembly Member Alyson Huber performed the swearing-in ceremony for the new Mayor and Pastor Mike Mitchum from the Rancho Cordova Neighborhood Church swore in the Vice Mayor.

The new Mayor is the California State Senate’s top advisor on insurance matters as principal consultant to the Senate Banking, Finance, and Insurance Committee. Before that, Cooley was a long-time counsel to State Farm Insurance and a top advisor on banking and insurance for the California Assembly. He has been very active in the League of California Cities and was appointed by the Governor to the California Seismic Safety Commission."

Parents To Protect School Over Holidays - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Parents To Protect School Over Holidays - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento: "SACRAMENTO, Calif. --

More than two dozen parents are working a night job at their child's school over the holiday break.

Parents of students at Westlake Charter Elementary volunteered to patrol the campus during the holiday break after a rash of school break-ins.

School leaders said since the school year began they have been targeted by vandals six times and have had more than $20,000 in damage and stolen equipment."

Parents, like Phil Nanni, said he feels parents have to make sure the school is well protected.