A poor prison plan for California - latimes.com

A poor prison plan for California - latimes.com:

"When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed shifting female inmates out of prisons to community detention centers in 2006, the Legislature said no. When he asked lawmakers the following year to approve $10.9 billion in bonds to build new prisons while also reforming sentencing laws and parole rules, they reduced the bond package and jettisoned the reforms. Last year, when he asked them to cut the prison budget by $1.2 billion, they fell about $200 million short. We don't blame the governor for being frustrated, but we do fault him for apparently giving up.

Schwarzenegger's latest prison plan, unveiled in his State of the State address earlier this month, is less a serious policy proposal than a hunk of red meat tossed out at voters who are understandably furious about cuts in education spending. It combines a deeply destructive budgeting formula with an untested theory about prison privatization. Yet, if there ever was a time when California needed its leaders to get serious about the prisons, it's now. The skyrocketing cost of administering the corrections system is helping to drive the state to the brink of financial collapse, even as the system's overcrowded conditions and abysmal medical care are violating federal law -- and forcing the courts to demand expensive fixes that exacerbate the budget problem."

Schwarzenegger budget projects less spending for class-size reduction - San Jose Mercury News

Schwarzenegger budget projects less spending for class-size reduction - San Jose Mercury News:

"For the first time since the program began 14 years ago, a California governor is planning on spending significantly less on California's popular, but expensive, class-size reduction program than in previous years.

In his budget released Jan. 8, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger projected spending $340 million less than anticipated during the current school year, and $550 million less in the school year beginning in September. Together, the reductions would save the state nearly $900 million.

This would mark a huge rollback of the program that now costs the state about $1.8 billion a year. Since 1996, California has spent about $22 billion on the program, making it the most expensive education reform program in California's history.

Schwarzenegger administration officials say they are just responding to decisions made by local districts that have already increased K-3 class sizes this year, or plan to next year, and therefore qualify for a reduced subsidy from the state."

Viewpoints: Running schools as businesses is wrong course - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Viewpoints: Running schools as businesses is wrong course - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Faced with abysmal test scores and plummeting enrollment, the St. Louis school district in desperation hired a marquee-name New York bankruptcy firm in 2003 to turn things around. The firm sent William V. Roberti to handle the job. During his 13 months as superintendent, Roberti closed 21 schools, fired more than 1,000 employees, privatized many school services and pared $79 million from the school budget.

But after he stepped down declaring that the district had made "tremendous strides" toward putting its house in order, the corporate model for running schools in St. Louis has done little to improve educational quality. Nevertheless, the campaign to operate schools like businesses is finding an increasingly receptive audience among taxpayers across the country.

Stephen Wilmarth: Five Socio-Technological Trends That Change Everything in Learning and Teaching � Chalkdust101

Stephen Wilmarth: Five Socio-Technological Trends That Change Everything in Learning and Teaching  Chalkdust101

In his chapter of Curriculum 21, Stephen Wilmarth puts forth an argument that we are in the throes of a revolution that will upend what we assume to be true about learning and teaching. The trends are as follows:

• Social Production: the creation of content through various digital tools
• Social Networks: the connection of individuals into like-minded groups at the digital level.
• The Semantic Web: the transformation of the web into patterned information based on the coding of individual “pieces” of information
• Media Grids: three-dimensional representations of space using computing power and the internet (Wilmarth, 91)
• The New Zoo of non-linear learning: the mastery of biology through technology.

I can’t recall exactly how he said it, but on Thursday, Chris Dede from Harvard University, described our visions of the future as never being fully realized, but it still matters that we have them. When reading through Wilmarth’s chapter, I got just that feeling–as if I was reading about what our best selves as educators and leaders might look like. In reality, I am not so sure about his vision, but I like that he expressed it in terms of the types of learning that will need to occur for his vision to become reality.

The Perimeter Primate

The Perimeter Primate:

"The petition for a new charter school in Oakland's San Antonio District (possibly located at 12th St. and 8th Ave.) has been submitted to OUSD. It will go for final approval before the board on January 27th. The petition for the COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION (CSCE) can be viewed here.

This K-8 school will be based on a Waldorf model and is projected to enroll 256 neighborhood children by 2014, 206 elementary with an additional 50 middle school students. The middle school enrollment will continue to expand for several years. The lead petitioner is a strong figure in the Waldorf community, and many additional Waldorf leaders are on the school’s board, as well as a rep from OCO, a person from the Contra Costa County Office of Education, a lawyer/start-up businessman, a digital"

Schools Matter: Victory, Inc. Vote Delayed

Schools Matter: Victory, Inc. Vote Delayed:

"On Friday, the SUNY Trustees postponed voting on renewing or closing the New Covenant Charter School, which is operated by the for-profit Victory Schools, Inc. Here's a clip from the Times Union:

Committee chairman Pedro Noguera said trustees will push off the decision until the board's February meeting. He said questions still remain about the school's financial solvency and that its improvement could not be ignored. In a tense meeting attended by a group of New Covenant parents, students and staff, it was revealed that the school owes $2.4 million more on its building than it is worth, or $15.8 million on a property estimated to be worth $13.4 million."

Duffy suggests state action on schools by month's end | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle

Duffy suggests state action on schools by month's end | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle:

"Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy said today that he expected Gov. David Paterson to introduce a bill before the end of the month that would give the mayor control of the Rochester public school system.

Duffy spoke at a City Hall news conference flanked by Assemblymen Joseph Morelle and David Gantt, who said that if the governor did not come through with a bill he would introduce legislation to change the governance structure of the public schools.

The new briefing took place about an hour after a group of 20 parents of city students and education advocates gathered on the steps of City Hall to pledge their opposition to abolishing an elected school board, charging that such a move would stifle public input and diminish parental involvement."

SAN MARCOS: National Geographic focuses on San Marcos class for education project

SAN MARCOS: National Geographic focuses on San Marcos class for education project:

"Teachers across the nation next year may be following the lead of a San Marcos Middle School class when looking for lessons about climate change.

A crew from the National Geographic Society has filmed teacher Debra Brice's eighth-grade class at the school this week with plans to create a professional development course that will include printed material, a DVD and online lessons -- all due for release in about a year.

'I was excited and overwhelmed, but I always figure it's not about my teaching, but sharing enthusiasm with other teachers,' Brice said.

The crew focused on five students and asked about their thoughts on climate change before and after the lessons.
'I told them that I think it's important that we learn"

City schools, teachers continuing contract talks | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/16/2010

City schools, teachers continuing contract talks | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/16/2010:

"The Philadelphia School District will negotiate with its teachers union through the long holiday weekend in hope of reaching agreement on a new contract, district officials said yesterday.
They are optimistic a settlement will be reached before teachers return to work on Tuesday after Martin Luther King's Birthday, said district spokeswoman Evelyn Sample-Oates.

The contract was to expire at 12:01 a.m. today.

While the union's contract has been extended five times since Aug. 31, 2008, when the previous four-year pact expired, union and district officials said they were determined to reach an agreement as another deadline approached.

Union officials said yesterday that they were pressing for a settlement by the midnight expiration.

'We are continuing our negotiations with the goal of reaching an agreement by midnight,' Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said in a statement."

EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - Student fights create teacher hazards

EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - Student fights create teacher hazards:

"This week's fight involving a teacher and student at Martin Middle School illustrates a growing concern for teachers: Faculty caught up in student violence can face physical danger and accusations of going too far.

This week's fight involving a teacher and student at Martin Middle School illustrates a growing concern for teachers: Faculty caught up in student violence can face physical danger and accusations of going too far.

Police decided today to charge the 14-year-old female student with assault, and concluded the 39-year-old teacher was defending herself, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools police Chief Bud Cesena said. After Tuesday's fight, each accused the other of throwing punches and pulling hair. The teacher is suspended with pay until administrators finish their review.

“It's become increasingly unsafe for teachers to get into the midst of what's going on,” said Mary McCray, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators."

Documentary 'Ten9Eight' Shows US Inner City Kids Dreaming Big | Education | English

Documentary 'Ten9Eight' Shows US Inner City Kids Dreaming Big | Education | English

Documentary 'Ten9Eight' Shows US Inner City Kids Dreaming Big

In Mary Mazzio's film, underprivileged high school students chart their business futures

Mary Mazzio's documentary, "Ten9Eight Shoot for the Moon" opens with this idea:  "Every nine seconds a teenager in the U.S. drops out of high school. Imagine if they didn't." It's the inspiring story of underprivileged high school students who turn their lives around by learning business skills and competing for a $10,000 prize.  

The competition is fierce.  Out of 24,000 contestants in the United States that enter, only 34 advance to the finals in New York City. 

The test monitor is serious and to the point: "You have 8.5 minutes to present and judges will have three minutes for questions."  

D.C. Schools Insider - Rhee: Wedding to Johnson doesn't change plans

D.C. Schools Insider- Rhee: Wedding to Johnson doesn't change plans

Rhee: Wedding to Johnson doesn't change plans

Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee says she’s in D.C. for the long haul, despite her impending marriage to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

“Yes, I’m fully ready for the commuter marriage!” she e-mailed Friday, after The Reliable Source broke the word that she and Johnson will wed on Sept. 4, location TBD.

Rhee has often said that she intended to remain in her post through a second Fenty term--assuming there is one.

“I’m a serial monogamist, not a job hopper,” she said in a 2008 interview. Rhee cited her ten years at New Teacher Project, the non-profit she founded. She has also spoken admiringly of Atlanta School Superintendent Beverly L. Hall, who is in her eleventh year at the head of that system.

Such a pledge would take her to early 2015. That’s a lot of plane rides to and from Sacramento. But there may be other considerations as well. Her ex-husband Kevin Huffman, with whom she is raising two daughters, lives in the District.

New York May Double Number of Charter Schools Allowed - NYTimes.com

New York May Double Number of Charter Schools Allowed - NYTimes.com:

"New York legislators are poised to at least double the number of charter schools allowed in the state in an attempt to win as much as $700 million in federal education grants.

But they are also contemplating changes that some charter school advocates, including the New York City schools chancellor, Joel I. Klein, oppose. Among the changes is a proposal to withdraw Mr. Klein’s ability to approve new charter schools.

The Obama administration is offering a total of $4 billion in federal grants to states that show the most progress in overhauling education, including easing restrictions on the growth of charter schools."

History teaching standards tilt to right for Texas high schoolers | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

History teaching standards tilt to right for Texas high schoolers | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News| Latest News

History teaching standards tilt to right for Texas high schoolers

08:57 AM CST on Saturday, January 16, 2010

By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News
tstutz@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – Texas high school students will have to learn about leading conservative groups from the 1980s and 1990s – but not about liberal or minority-rights groups – under U.S. history standards tentatively adopted by a politically divided State Board of Education on Friday.

The Republican majority on the board also gave a thumbs down to requiring history teachers and textbooks to provide coverage on the late Sen. Edward Kennedy and new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, as well as leading Hispanic civil-rights groups such as LULAC and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Led by the board's social-conservative bloc, Republicans left DemocratHillary Rodham Clinton and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the nation's first black justice, on the list of important figures that will have to be covered in history classes.

But they also added, on a 7-6 vote, Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly, the National Rifle Association, Moral Majority and the Heritage Foundation to the list of persons and groups that students will learn about.

Board member Don McLeroy, R-College Station, offered the amendment requiring coverage of "key organizations and individuals of the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s." McLeroy said he offered the proposal because the history standards were already "rife with leftist political periods and events – the populists, the progressives, the New Deal and the Great Society."

A disturbing picture of life for middle school students - Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 | 2 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun

A disturbing picture of life for middle school students - Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 | 2 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun:

"When it came time for the biennial statewide survey of middle school students, the Clark County School District added questions to dig deeper into students’ overall health and welfare.

The findings are tantamount to a cry for help.

Nearly one in five students surveyed in 2009 admits to using methods such as cutting and burning to intentionally harm themselves. Nearly that many of the surveyed students — in grades 6-8 — said they had gone hungry in the prior month because there wasn’t enough food at home. And close to a third of the students said they had been bullied at school in the prior year, with half of those attacks launched through digital means such as e-mail, text messaging or Web sites.

“We don’t want to just tell people we think this is happening,” said Mary Pike, the School District administrator overseeing the survey. “Now we can say we know this is happening.”"

MAYORAL CONTROL: Full-steam ahead, Gantt says, 'whether people like it or not' - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper

MAYORAL CONTROL: Full-steam ahead, Gantt says, 'whether people like it or not' - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper:

"Flanked at a press conference by Assembly members David Gantt and Joe Morelle, Mayor Bob Duffy again stated his desire to take control of the Rochester school district.

He did say he was willing to debate the issue.

'For those who say the mayor doesn't want to debate, that's not true,' Duffy said; he's willing to debate the issue in numerous forums, he said. For example, he would like to have panels with New York City schools chief Joel Klein, Washington DC's Michelle Rhee, and others who have experience with mayoral control, he said, and he would welcome having opponents bring their own experts.

Duffy charged that opponents are trying to confuse the public and said that 'a substantial amount of money is being put together to stop this.'"

School Bake Sales Are Back On, but Only for Haiti - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

School Bake Sales Are Back On, but Only for Haiti - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com:

"The city has taken a number of steps to help Haiti, gathering donations from the public, offering to send rescue workers and city engineers and giving city employees the option to have contributions deducted from their paychecks.

And it is allowing bake sales in schools.

In the fall, the schools chancellor, Joel I. Klein, severely restricted bake sales in schools as part of the city’s effort to limit students’ consumption of junk food. Students raising money for trips and clubs could sell only from a list of specifically approved snacks, like baked chips and granola bars. Parents and students complained that the new regulations stifled their ability to raise money for extracurricular activities."

Pissed Off: Message To The Accountable Education Mayor

Pissed Off: Message To The Accountable Education Mayor:

"Message To The Accountable Education Mayor
Hey Mayor Money Bags,

When the glare bothers, can you close a blind or a shade? How about when it bothers any of your staff? do you order new window coverings or fix the ones you have? The custodians at Packemin have no chord to fix the problem and there are no extra shades around. When the kids in our classrooms can't see the board we have to stick part of a broken shade in a window and then slam the window to hold it down. Some kids still can't see the board. But hey, that is what you want anyway. If they can't see the board, they won't be able to do the work, they will fail, lower graduation rates and then you will have another school to close down. (Part of your master plan, right?)"

Head Start study shows no lasting gains � Joanne Jacobs

Head Start study shows no lasting gains Joanne Jacobs:

"Head Start’s benefits fade by first grade, concludes a major study on the $7 billion-a-year program’s impact. While Head Start participants have a social, emotional and cognitive edge over similar kids who didn’t participate in pre-K, according to a 2005 study, the advantages don’t last long.

“The next few weeks are probably going to be rocky ones for the Head Start community,” writes Early Ed Watch, which suggested K-3 teachers aren’t trained to help Head Start grads move forward."

Class Struggle - Charters raising less

Class Struggle- Charters raising less:

"I was drawn to an 11:30 a.m. post by Philissa Cramer at GothamSchools, revealing that someone in New York associated with a GothamSchools funder has calculated how much charter schools in New York are raising beyond the money they get from the school district. Apparently the private money has declined because of the recession.

I wish we had that kind of data in D.C. It would lead to many interesting discussions of how much the charters need to keep quality up, and whether or not regular schools could do the same."

Teachers, students and sex

A 29-year-old female teacher and track team coach in Maryland's Anne Arundel County has been charged with three counts of fourth degree sex offense--a misdemeanor--for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student. But if that had happened in Georgia, the teacher wouldn’t have broken any laws.

Student-teacher sexual relations are disturbing in all cases, but they are not necessarily illegal.

Continue reading this post »