The Signal - Santa Clarita Valley News - Hart district Hebrew school is a good idea

The Signal - Santa Clarita Valley News - Hart district Hebrew school is a good idea:

"Regarding 'Hebrew school put on hold' (The Signal, Jan. 21):

The William S. Hart Union High School District board should not have postponed the vote on a new Hebrew-language charter school because of claims that the school would teach religion.

I don't know why former board member Dennis King is convinced it is a religious school - the academy's Web site clearly states it will be non-sectarian in its admissions, programs, employment and all other operations.

My children received an excellent education in the Hart district, with the exception of its foreign language program which, like most California public schools, offers only Spanish and French."

Farr: Obama's budget invests heavily in California | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

Farr: Obama's budget invests heavily in California | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian:

"U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, released the following statement regarding today’s release of the president’s budget:

The president’s budget invests in a wide range of programs to spur job creation and help families who are suffering through this recession. I’m pleased that the president’s budget invests heavily in California. Our state may be suffering now, but it will be our businesses that drive the recovery. This budget points us in the right direction.

proposed budget extends tax cuts that were enacted last year, putting much-needed dollars back into Central Coast wallets. The budget also calls for $4 billion for housing assistance, $6 billion for California schools, $6 billion for infrastructure modernization and $4 billion for higher education grants."

KCBS - California Could Face Teacher Shortage

KCBS - California Could Face Teacher Shortage

For the first time in many years, California has a surplus of teachers but an expert on education says the state will be facing another teacher shortage in the next few years.
KCBS' Bob Butler reports
Former state schools chief Delaine Eastin says many teachers are retiring and finding their replacements will be hard.
"Right now the real challenge is that the University of California and CSU have gotten so expensive and the privates are out of this world," she said. "There are people looking around saying, 'I can't afford to borrow $120,000 to be a teacher."
Eastin says some districts may have to lower their standards in order to staff the schools.

THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | The Dallas Morning News

THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | The Dallas Morning News:

"(Editor's Note: Charles Miller, the Houston businessman who once headed the University of Texas board of regents, put out an email last week to a list of contacts around the nation about the effort by the Obama administration and numerous governors to create a common core of national standards for schools. The Education Front received his comments, which we are posting today. The email provoked an exchange among some of the nation's leading education experts.)

Recent events have put a spotlight on a national debate and movement about setting curriculum standards for our K-12 public schools, that is, determining what it is we want our children to learn and who should decide that. Historically that has been a state function but recently there has been more than a lot of chatter about 'national curriculum standards'. An Obama administration challenge grant program---Race to The Top--- has elevated the issue and the Texas position has been especially noticeable and unique."

Distance education for parents of children with autism found effective

Distance education for parents of children with autism found effective



Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC (February 1, 2010) — Through the use of instructional DVDs, parents of children with autism can learn how to teach their child to communicate and improve their behavior, according to research published in the January 2010 issue of The Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions (published by the Hammill Institute on Disabilities and SAGE).


Family members play a central role in the education and treatment of children with autism. However, training parents in appropriate techniques can provide unique challenges.

Often, mothers and fathers are not available at the same time to participate in training. Contemporary work schedules no longer conform to a traditional 9 to 5 schedule, further complicating efforts to help parents with their child. And, many families are simply too far away from training opportunities to participate on a regular basis. Providing family members with the type of flexibility they need to participate in training is often beyond the capability of most of these programs.


Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (Nicolette Nefdt, Robert Koegel, George Singer and Michael Gerber) explored whether providing training to parents through DVDs could help bridge this gap. The good news is that parents did improve their skills through watching the training videos, and there were improvements in child behavior as well.
"Many parents of children with ASD are motivated and able to implement evidenced based intervention with minimal support," said researcher Nicolette Nefdt. "Once provided with a rationale, step by step instructions and video examples, parents were able to change their behavior and begin teaching their child to communicate. Parents who completed the program commented mostly on the ease and flexibility of use of a program such as this one, the value of the video examples and the enjoyment of working with their child".


"This is very exciting to us, as we are now able to help many more people more quickly than we could otherwise," said co-author Robert Koegel.

Indian-Americans rising in political clout - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com

Indian-Americans rising in political clout - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com:

"WASHINGTON — There are no Indian-Americans in Congress, but Ami Bera hopes to change that.

Bera, a 44-year-old physician from suburban Sacramento, Calif., is one of six Indian-Americans who are running for Congress this year, a record high. Hauling in half of his contributions from Indian-Americans, Bera has raised $871,000, even more than Republican Rep. Dan Lungren, the eight-term incumbent he's trying to replace in California's 3rd Congressional District.

While Bera's parents and many other Indian-Americans of their generation focused mainly on getting good jobs and a good education for their children, today's generation is working its way into politics and public service.

'Politics is the natural transition,' Bera said. 'We actually have a chance to give back to the county that benefited us.'"

Earnings Gap Between College and High School Grads Small - WSJ.com

Earnings Gap Between College and High School Grads Small - WSJ.com:

"A college education may not be worth as much as you think.

For years, higher education was touted as a safe path to professional and financial success. Easy money, in the form of student loans, flowed to help parents and students finance degrees, with the implication that in the long run, a bachelor's degree was a good bet. Graduates, it has long been argued, would be able to build solid careers that would earn them far more than their high-school educated counterparts."

The numbers appeared to back it up. In recent years, the nonprofit College Board touted the difference in lifetime earnings of college grads over high-school graduates at $800,000, a widely circulated figure. Other estimates topped $1 million.

But now, as tuition continues to skyrocket and many seeking to change careers are heading back to school, some researchers are questioning the methodology behind the high projections.

Most researchers agree that college graduates, even in rough economies, generally fare better than individuals with only high-school diplomas. But just how much better is where the math gets fuzzy.

Two moms uncover plot to deny mental health services to children

Two moms uncover plot to deny mental health services to children:

"Mary Peitso and Ilene Allinger Candreva of Monterey County California, are both Moms of sons that need mental health services. Mary and Ilene joined forces with the non profit agency, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) lawyer, Maggie Roberts in a compliance complaint against Monterey County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). The California Department of Education investigated and found multiple violations where children who needed mental health help were systematically denied the services they were entitled to.

Mary's story began two years ago when her son was having a horrible time in school. So much so, that it created a lot of anxiety in him. Her son has Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD, he has always been mainstreamed with extra support (accommodations and social skills training)."

William McGurn: Down But Not Out in Catholic Suburbia - WSJ.com

William McGurn: Down But Not Out in Catholic Suburbia - WSJ.com:

"Tim Busch has an answer to the epidemic of closing Catholic schools. And it has nothing to do with vouchers.

It couldn't come at a more critical moment. Over the next few days, nearly 2.2 million students and their families will celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Though the Catholic school system remains America's largest alternative to public education, the number of both schools and students is roughly half what they were at their peak in the mid-1960s. According to the National Catholic Education Association, the trend continued last year, with 162 Catholic schools consolidating or closing against only 31 new openings.

Amid the gloom Mr. Busch offers a prescription for revival: End the financial dependence on parish or diocese. Build attractive facilities. And compete for students."

FAFSA: Taming the college financial aid form | Kelly Heyboer - NJ.com

FAFSA: Taming the college financial aid form | Kelly Heyboer - NJ.com

It’s been compared to a nightmare, a torture session and a root canal.

Around this time of year, families around the country face the daunting task of filling out the dreaded FAFSA form.

The FAFSA— or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid— is the document all college students and their parents must fill out annually to be eligible for student loans and grants.

But the application, with its complex questions about family finances and assets, has a reputation for being so wickedly confusing that many students and their parents bail on it long before it’s done. An estimated 1.5 million low-income students don’t receive financial aid because they fail to file.

At President Obama’s request, the U.S. Department of Education is trying to overhaul the FAFSA. This month, federal officials debuted a shorter form and simplified website that eliminates dozens of questions for the average applicant.

Reporter Kelly Heyboer spoke to Robert Shireman, the deputy under secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, about the changes. Before joining the Obama Administration, Shireman was founder and president of the Institute for College Access and Success, a California-based advocacy group that pushed for FAFSA reform.

Q: Why has the FAFSA been so complicated in the past?

There are a lot of rules around who can and can not get which types of 

Funding for state falls far short of request

Funding for state falls far short of request:

"California's leaders have been looking to Washington, D.C., for budget money they say is owed as a matter of law and fairness, but President Obama's spending proposal released Monday shows he largely disagrees with those assertions."



The president has proposed giving California $1.5 billion of the $6.9 billion that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders had sought during a highly publicized trip to the nation's capital two weeks ago, according to the state Department of Finance.
The governor has warned of the wholesale elimination of social programs for the poor, sick and elderly if Washington isn't forthcoming with the money.
"This represents a down payment on what California is owed, and the governor will continue to work with the state's congressional delegation and federal officials to secure the balance," said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the Finance Department.
Administration officials had counted on the money as a significant part of the solution to the state's $20 billion budget shortfall.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/02/02/MNML1BR1TO.DTL#ixzz0eNv5fVtd

Abstinence-only classes may be effective for young teens - latimes.com

Abstinence-only classes may be effective for young teens - latimes.com:

"Other forms of sex education may work too, though experts call for more studies."

A new study shows for the first time that a sex education class emphasizing abstinence only -- ignoring moral implications of sexual activity -- can reduce sexual activity by nearly a third in 12- and 13-year-olds compared with students who received no sex education.

Other forms of sex education also worked, however, reducing sexual activity by about 20% and reducing multiple sexual partners by about 40%, according to the study reported Monday in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

None of the classes appeared to influence the use of condoms or other birth control when the students did have sex. The children thus remained at risk of pregnancy and disease.

"This study, in our view, is game-changing science," said Bill Albert, chief program officer at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group based in Washington. "It provides, for the first time, evidence that abstinence-only intervention helped young teens delay sexual activity."

The George W. Bush administration poured tens of millions of dollars into federal funding for abstinence-only programs, most of them religious-oriented, with little or no evidence that they worked. And new data released last week showed that sexual activity, pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are increasing among teens.

Study finds 'No Child' has low teacher support - Redlands Daily Facts

Study finds 'No Child' has low teacher support - Redlands Daily Facts:

"Many teachers oppose the testing and instructional requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, a new study has found.

The legislation, which became law in 2001, fundamentally changed teaching and education in U.S. schools by requiring annual testing of school children and 'adequate yearly progress' for every subgroup of students.

The act also requires schools to provide after-school tutoring and other services for poor- performing students and mandates that schools hire only 'highly qualified' teachers.

Authors of a study published last week by UC Riverside surveyed 740 board-certified teachers in California to assess the effectiveness and unintended consequences of No Child Left Behind.

The study found that 84 percent reported overall unfavorable attitudes about the act."

Lynda Resnick: Why Art Education Matters

Lynda Resnick: Why Art Education Matters

Whenever education budgets get tightened, art programs are the first to get cut. Like the enduring popularity of reality TV, this never ceases to amaze me. So much evidence points to art's importance in a child's development - and not just in the development of abstract thought. Art is a critical component in a well-rounded education. Art is the level playing field - no matter how rich or poor, tall or short, pretty or ugly to the bone, if you can draw, you can find personal fulfillment and build self-confidence.  Art is the highest achievement of mankind. And, when art is suppressed, so is the civilization that suppresses it.  Remember the monumental Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban in the months leading up to 9/11.  Remember the suppression of art in Nazi Germany.

Golden Gate [X]press : Higher education funding halted

Golden Gate [X]press : Higher education funding halted

A bill aimed at creating revenue for higher education in California was abruptly halted and revised by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations before reaching the Senate on Jan. 28, 2010.

AB 656, written by Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont), originally proposed the imposition of a 9.9 percent severance tax on California's oil and natural gas, as well as the creation of the California Higher Education Fund and the California Higher Education Endowment Corporation. All of the revenue raised from the tax was to go directly into the fund and be administered by the corporation to the state's three higher education systems in an effort to alleviate the current budget crisis.

According to a fact sheet produced by Torrico's office, California is the only oil producing state without such a tax.

Rather than actually imposing the tax, the committee amended AB 656 to require the State Board of Equalization to report on or before Nov. 1 of each year the estimated amount of revenue a severance tax would raise for the fund. Previous amendments increased the amount of the tax to 12.5 percent and upped the allotment of funds to community colleges from 10 to 25 percent.

"The bill's alive," said Ramón Castellblanch, assistant professor of health education at SF State and president of the local chapter of the California Faculty Association. "With the amendments, it got out of Appropriations."

AB 656 is currently awaiting committee assignment in the Senate.

"The thing will be to see what committee assignment it gets and contact that committee chair," said Castellblanch of what 

Governor Schwarzenegger: Prison Reform to help California balance higher education-prison costs

Governor Schwarzenegger: Prison Reform to help California balance higher education-prison costs:

"Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal reported in the San Francisco Chronicle last week is not as out of this world as it has been perceived by some. Saving a billion dollars on the prison costs that are breaking California's back financially with overcrowded prisons which cost the taxpayer $102,730 for each prisoner incarcerated is a serious problem. His plan: we pay Mexico to build the prisons for undocumented prisoners currently being paid for by the state of California, which represents 1/2 the cost of installing a new facility in California, and then once operational in Mexico, it costs 1/2 the amount to run the prison. Tittering and knee slaps were heard when this was first reported, but looking at it more seriously, there are good reasons to investigate this proposal."

Thousands jump rope for a record

Thousands jump rope for a record:

"The secret to world-class jump-roping, it turns out, comes from Mom's handbook of general advice:"



Wear sturdy shoes.
Try not to fall down.
Smile a lot.


Nearly 200 schoolkids at the San Francisco School proved that Monday as they clomped and hopped their way into what they feel pretty sure will be a spot in the Guinness World Records for jumping rope.
The record they hope to claim is the greatest number of people simultaneously jumping rope at multiple venues in a 10-minute span. It wasn't just the San Francisco School going for it - 85,000 people at 2,000 other schools and businesses across the city, Bay Area and California were also bouncing up and down with the aim of collectively beating the record of 43,772 jumpers, set in Britain in June.
But at the little private school just west of where Interstate 280 and Highway 101 meet,

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/02/BAAI1BQTSI.DTL#ixzz0eNr8EyGe

NorthJersey.com: Nationwide college tuition on the rise

NorthJersey.com: Nationwide college tuition on the rise

The University of Illinois in Urbana expects to increase tuition by 9 percent this summer.

What it means: New Jersey students leaving the Garden State for tuition bargains elsewhere, even as out-of-state students, might find the pickings a bit slimmer.
The biggest hikes: Florida college students could face annual 15 percent tuition increases for years, and students at the University of Illinois and University of Wisconsin are paying at least 9 percent more. The University of Washington will charge 14 percent more at its flagship campus in Seattle. And in California, tuition increases of more than 30 percent have sparked protests reminiscent of the 1960s.
Modest increases: Some students are relieved at modest tuition increases this year, including 3.5 percent in Ohio, less than 5 percent in Pennsylvania and 3.9 percent at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Holding the line: So far a few states, such as Oklahoma and Missouri, have avoided tuition increases

Sacramento Press / IT’S A CELEBRATION

Sacramento Press / IT’S A CELEBRATION

IT’S A CELEBRATION

Sacramento, CA.…The Black Parallel School Board (BPSB) invites you to attend our “Second (2) Year Anniversary Celebration”, Saturday, February 6, 2010 ,10:00am to 12:00pm. The celebration will be held at our regularly scheduled meeting-place, Oak Park United Methodist Church, 3600 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95817. Please check-in and arrive by 10:00 am. 

Our guest speaker is the distinguished Amina R. Merritt, Esquire, a native of Hartford, CT. Ms. Merritt is the founding Attorney at the Merritt Law Clinic, Sacramento, California. The first class of women to graduate from Amherst College in 1980, Amina received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, magna cum laude. After a one-year fellowship in the Masters’ Program for Public Administration at Fordham University, NY, Ms. Merritt attended the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, where she earned her Jurist Doctorate (J.D.) degree in 1984.

visit:  www.blackparallelschoolboard.com

Protesters Reflect on Success of Student Sit-ins

Protesters Reflect on Success of Student Sit-ins

GREENSBORO N.C. – The four college freshmen walked quietly into a Greensboro dime store on a breezy Monday afternoon, bought a few items, then sat down at the "Whites only" lunch counter and sparked a wave of civil rights protest that changed America.

Violating a social custom as rigid as law, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr. and David Richmond sat near an older White woman on the silver-backed stools at the F.W. Woolworth. The Black students had no need to talk; theirs was no spontaneous act. Their actions on Feb. 1, 1960, were meticulously planned, down to buying a few school supplies and toiletries and keeping their receipts as proof that the lunch counter was the only part of the store where racial segregation still ruled.

“The best feeling of my life,” McCain said, was “sitting on that dumb stool.”

“I felt so relieved,” he added. “I felt so at peace and so self-accepted at that very moment. Nothing has ever happened to me since then that topped that good feeling of being clean and fully accepted and feeling proud of me.”

They weren't afraid, even though they had no way of knowing how the sit-ins would