Wednesday, February 29, 2012
ACLU Complaint to be Filed – Parents Please Read | United Opt Out National
ACLU Complaint to be Filed – Parents Please Read | United Opt Out National:
Missouri Education Watchdog: What To Do About the Bullies
Missouri Education Watchdog: What To Do About the Bullies:
The problem of bullying is age old. I believe the realists would say it is endemic to the human condition. So long as we are not conditioned to rein in our jealousy of others, there will be those who lash out over perceived slights, inequities or the desire to make others feel small so that they can feel bigger. Bullying often stems from fear and the belief that, if I get you first, then I will be safe. Bullying goes beyond the school yard scuffles or name calling. It is the systematic and relentless targeting of a particular child for abuse (physical or verbal). Schools will forever deal with the problem of bullies because the ability to control those drives comes with maturity which children, almost by definition, do not have. The question for the adults is: What can/should a school do about bullies? What would a realistic policy regarding bullies look like/contain?
We are developing a tool kit for school board candidates and one of the
What To Do About the Bullies
We are developing a tool kit for school board candidates and one of the
The in box: If Governor Quinn gets his way, retired teacher health insurance costs will double. Sign the petition. « Fred Klonsky
The in box: If Governor Quinn gets his way, retired teacher health insurance costs will double. Sign the petition. « Fred Klonsky:
The in box: If Governor Quinn gets his way, retired teacher health insurance costs will double. Sign the petition.
To be delivered to Governor Pat Quinn.
Governor Quinn, we urge you to restore the State’s contribution to the Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance Program (TRIP) that you slashed from the Illinois’ budget!
In his 2013 Budget, Illinois Governor Quinn proposes to “zero out” the State’s Contribution to Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance. Active Teachers and their districts contribute every pay check to this Insurance Program; Retired Teachers
Calif. Seeks its Own Version of an NCLB Waiver - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Calif. Seeks its Own Version of an NCLB Waiver - Politics K-12 - Education Week:
Calif. Seeks its Own Version of an NCLB Waiver
By Sean Cavanagh
California is continuing to hold out on pursuing a waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act, citing its objections to the Obama administration's requirements of states that want that flexibility.
Instead, the state is considering asking federal officials for its own brand of flexibility from the law—without having to meet the adminstration's standards.
Twenty-six states plus the District of Columbia have met the U.S. Department of Education's second deadline of this week for submitting waiver requests, but California was not one of them. Eleven states have already been granted waivers by the department.
Rather than follow that route, California's department of education is recommending that the state ask federal officials for a more direct form of relief from NCLB—without having to go through the official waiver application process and without meeting the requirements attache
Mother Crusader: How Many Districts Does It Take To Fill A Charter School?
Mother Crusader: How Many Districts Does It Take To Fill A Charter School?:
How Many Districts Does It Take To Fill A Charter School?
Amir Khan's Regis Academy was approved in September of 2011. He has had five months to reach out to parents and recruit students from the four sending districts for which he was approved, namely Cherry Hill, Lawnside, Somerdale and Voorhees. At his last public information session (where Khan threatened concerned citizens in attendance with calling the police before the meeting even started), he announced that the NJDOE had given him approval to open enrollment to other districts. I blogged about it an wondered why they had allowed him to open enrollment.
No need to wonder anymore. I filed an OPRA request for the initial enrollment data submitted by Regis Academy. Guess what I found out?
In the five months since gaining approval, Regis has enrolled a whopping 37 kids. That's right, 37. And here is
No need to wonder anymore. I filed an OPRA request for the initial enrollment data submitted by Regis Academy. Guess what I found out?
In the five months since gaining approval, Regis has enrolled a whopping 37 kids. That's right, 37. And here is
Davy Jones, actor and member of the Monkees, has died
Davy Jones, actor and member of the Monkees, has died
Davy Jones, the British Invasion-era singer who became a household heartthrob as a member of the Monkees, has died in Florida.
The Martin County Medical Examiner’s Office in Florida confirmed Wednesday morning that they had been notified of Jones’ death but would provide no other details. He was 66.
Before the Monkees, Jones earned acclaim as the Artful Dodger in the London production of "Oliver!"
PHOTOS: Davy Jones | 1945 - 2012
The band, which also featured Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, were formed in 1966 for an NBC television show during the peak of Beatlemania, and the quirky comedy became an American hit.
In 2011, the Monkees (minus Nesmith) reunited for a 45th anniversary tour that landed at the Greek Theatre in July. The band performed many of its string of hits, including "I'm a Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday."
Jones was scheduled to perform Monkees songs at a March 31 concert at the La Mirada Theatre in La Mirada.
Student Walk-Outs Planned at City College, SDSU, and UCSD for March 1st
Student Walk-Outs Planned at City College, SDSU, and UCSD for March 1st:
Student Walk-Outs Planned at City College, SDSU, and UCSD for March 1st
A Call to Action at UCSD – March 1st
Student Walk-Outs Planned at City College, SDSU, and UCSD for March 1st
Student Walk-Outs Planned at City College, SDSU, and UCSD for March 1st
As part of the March 1st National Day of Action for Education, three area college campuses are planning student and faculty walk-outs tomorrow, the first day of March.Students at City College, San Diego State University, and University of California at San Diego have all joined in this national day of demonstrations, and each campus has plans for walk-outs, rallies and other protests of budget cuts and the on-going stampede towards the privatization of public schools and colleges.Here in more detail are the plans for each campus:
City College
At City College, the Walkout is set to start at 11:00 am at Curran Plaza. A rally will be held from 11:00am until 3:00pm.SDSU
There will be a student walk-out at 12:oo noon, followed by a rally at Scripps Cottage Patio, where speakers will discuss a education from a variety of perspectives. Potential solutions and opportunities for students to stay involved will be offered.UCSD
At 11:30 am, students will stage the walk-out. At 12 noon, instructors will hold a rally / teach-out at the Silent Tree in front of Geisel Library. There will also be performance art at the Silent Tree. Then at 1:30 pm, there will be a march!
A Call to Action at UCSD – March 1st
Editor: The following "Call to Action" is from ReclaimUCSD and involves a campus protest against student fees for March 1st, and although student walk-outs are also being planned for City College and SDSU, this "Call" is detailed in its reasons and history (see footnotes at end).By Reclaim UCSDStudents, instructors and staff you have a stake in the future of the UC. The public nature of the UC is under threat, but on March 1st we are coming together to defend it.Students, mandatory fees set by the regents have more than doubled since 2001 adjusted for inflation.[1] At the same time, UCSD’s average debt at graduation increased 20%.[2] In 2009, 48% of UCSD students graduated with debt at an average of $18,757.[3] Since 1990 expenditure per student has fallen over 19%.[4] At the same time state support per student fell 60% while tuition support more than tripled.[5] The UC shifted from public funding toward personal, private funding. This shift was not and is not inevitable. Students: the ability of many of your qualified colleagues to attend a UC is threatened by this shift,[6] but you can help.
Support PURE! » Hoosier legislators giving in to vouchers?
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Hoosier legislators giving in to vouchers?:
Hoosier legislators giving in to vouchers?
Some of our members live in Indiana or have friends/relatives there – it’s time to help them out!!!
A voucher bill similar to the one described below has been in effect in Arizona for several years, and the result has been that middle- and upper-middle-class families get the money to pay for private schools their children were already attending. People are also able to designate who receives their donation, which has led to credit “swapping.”
****
From colleagues in Indiana:
Vic’s Statehouse Notes #97– February 26, 2012
Dear Friends,
Senate Bill 296 is up for a final vote tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 27) in the House of Representatives. I hope you will
Governor’s Budget for 2012-13 - Letters (CA Dept of Education)
Governor’s Budget for 2012-13 - Letters (CA Dept of Education):
Figure 1
Dear County and District Superintendents, Direct-Funded Charter School Administrators, and County Chief Business Officers:
GOVERNOR’S BUDGET FOR 2012–13
On January 5, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown released his proposed budget for the 2012–13 fiscal year. The budget provides a plan to close a $9.2 billion deficit for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 fiscal years through a combination of program reductions and reforms and revenue increases. The budget proposal assumes voter approval in November 2012 of the Governor’s proposed initiative to temporarily increase income and sales taxes.
The proposed initiative would increase tax revenues by $6.9 billion over a two-year period, with $2.5 billion going to kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12) education (including preschool) and community colleges (K–14 education) under Proposition 98 in 2012–13. Most of the increased Proposition 98 funding would be used to pay down deferrals. However, if the Governor’s initiative fails, there would be trigger reductions of $4.8 billion to Proposition 98 appropriations.
This letter, prepared by the California Department of Education (CDE) fiscal policy staff, provides information on the Governor’s proposals that affect K–12 education and child development programs. Copies of this document, as well as other budget-related documents, are available through the CDE Education Budget Web page athttp://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fr/eb/. Official state budget documents are available through the Department of Finance (DOF) Web site at http://www.dof.ca.gov/ (Outside Source).
Overview
Once again, the state is facing a difficult budget situation. The 2011–12 budget package included triggers for mid-year cuts if the revenues in the 2011–12 budget package did not materialize at the level anticipated. On December 13, 2011, Governor Brown announced that the triggers would go into effect. At the same time, the DOF implemented the triggers by reducing appropriations. The trigger provisions included cuts of $23 million from child development programs, $79.6 million from revenue limits, and $248 million from Home-to-School Transportation. (Since release of the budget, the Legislature and the Governor have acted to reverse the transportation cut and, instead, imposed an additional cut of $248 million to revenue limits.)
In his budget proposal for 2012–13, the Governor identified a two-year deficit of $9.2 billion. This two-year deficit consists of a current-year shortfall of $5.1 billion and a budget-year shortfall of $4.1 billion. Although the economic downturn has played a part in the state’s fiscal condition, reliance on temporary remedies, savings proposals that did not materialize, and other actions have worsened the problem.
The Governor’s Budget proposes to close the deficit primarily by increasing revenues ($7.2 billion) and reducing expenditures ($4 billion), leaving the state with a reserve of $1.1 billion at the end of the 2012–13 fiscal year.
Tax Proposals
The viability of the Governor’s Budget primarily hinges on voters passing his proposed initiative in November 2012. The Governor’s initiative would make the following tax changes:
- Impose a temporary (five-year) 0.5 percent increase in the state sales tax. The sales tax increase would go into effect on January 1, 2013.
- Impose a temporary (four-year) increase in income tax on individuals earning at least $250,000 and joint filers earning at least $500,000. The income tax hike would be retroactive to January 1, 2012.
The tax revenues generated from this initiative would increase the overall state revenues used to calculate the Proposition 98 guarantee, thus increasing the amount of the guarantee in certain situations. Under the initiative, the new tax revenues would be placed in a new fund, the Education Protection Account, dedicated to education, with 11 percent allocated to community colleges and 89 percent allocated to K–12 education. While the revenues from this initiative are entirely dedicated to education, the net additional funding to K–14 education for 2012–13 is proposed to equal the amount required under Proposition 98—$2.5 billion.
Redevelopment Agencies
The 2011 budget package included two pieces of legislation that made significant changes to redevelopment agencies (RDAs). Assembly Bill 26 of the 2011–12 First Extraordinary Session (ABX1 26, Chapter 5) eliminated RDAs. ABX1 27 (Chapter 6) allowed cities and counties to elect to participate in an Alternative Voluntary Redevelopment Program (AVRP), provided that they make payments to fund local services including schools. The 2011 budget package assumed that AVRP payments to schools would total $1.7 billion in 2011–12 and would offset General Fund obligations under Proposition 98. In later years, however, ABX1 27 specified that payments to K–12 education estimated at $340 million annually would not offset General Fund obligations under Proposition 98.
Since the enactment of the 2011 budget package, the California Supreme Court upheld ABX1 26 but deemed ABX1 27 invalid. As a result of this decision, RDAs were eliminated but there was no mechanism for a city or county to elect to participate in an AVRP. As a consequence, only $1 billion of the assumed $1.7 billion in General Fund savings are projected to materialize in 2011–12.
The invalidation of ABX1 27 also means that a portion of the property taxes previously allocated to RDAs will be available to offset Proposition 98 General Fund obligations. The Governor’s Budget proposes to rebench the Proposition 98 guarantee to account for the increase in local property taxes.
2011–12 Proposition 98 Changes
At the time the 2011–12 budget was enacted, the minimum funding level for K–14 education required by Proposition 98 was projected to be $48.7 billion. The 2012–13 Governor’s Budget projects that the Proposition 98 minimum funding level will be $48.3 billion in 2011–12.
The difference between the minimum funding guarantee as projected in the 2011–12 enacted budget and the new projected level is due to (1) revenues from the proposed initiative that are attributable to the current year and (2) the following proposed technical changes:
- Rebenching the minimum guarantee to account for the shift in property tax revenues from redevelopment agencies to school districts and community colleges
- Eliminating the policy requiring the state to rebench for the “gas tax swap”
- Recalculating last year’s rebenching using a methodology that is consistent with previous rebenchings
The revised appropriation level for 2011–12 is projected to be $47.6 billion, or $1.1 billion less than the enacted level. The reduction in spending is due to the trigger cuts outlined above and reductions in average daily attendance (ADA) below the level anticipated.
The revised appropriation level for 2011–12 is $661 million less than the revised minimum funding level; this difference is acknowledged as “settle up” and will be funded in a later year.
2012–13 Proposition 98 Changes
The Governor’s Budget proposes a Proposition 98 funding level of $52.5 billion for 2012–13. This amount is a $4.9 billion increase over the 2011–12 revised funding level of $47.6 billion and assumes the Governor’s tax initiative is passed.
Of the proposed $4.9 billion in new funding for K–14 education, $4.4 billion is allocated to K–12. Approximately half of this funding replaces one-time solutions in the current year; most of the remaining funding is proposed to be used to pay down inter-year deferrals.
The Governor’s Budget proposes trigger cuts of $4.8 billion for K–14 education if the Governor’s tax initiative does not pass. If the initiative does not pass, the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee will drop by $2.4 billion in 2012–13. To accommodate this drop in the minimum funding level, the budget proposes to undo the deferral paydown. In addition, the Governor proposes rebenching the Proposition 98 guarantee to shift K–14 general obligation bond debt service costs into Proposition 98. In order to make room for this new function under Proposition 98 while not exceeding the minimum guarantee, an additional $2.4 billion in program cuts would be necessary. The details of the reduction have not been developed. The Governor equates the reduction to shortening the school year by more than three weeks.
Cost-of-Living and Growth Adjustments
The Governor’s Budget does not provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for K–12 education. The statutory COLA is 3.17 percent, which would have resulted in an increase of $1.6 billion. A deficit factor will be established for school district and county office of education revenue limit apportionments to reflect the lack of a COLA.
The Governor’s Budget projects a 0.35 percent increase in ADA. The Governor’s Budget provides growth funding only for the following programs:
- Charter school categorical block grants
- County office of education revenue limits
- School district revenue limits
- Special education—state portion only
Child Care and Development
The Governor’s Budget proposes to shift the child care and development program, excluding part-day state preschool, to a work-based child care system administered by county welfare departments. Beginning in 2013–14, county welfare departments would administer child care and all eligible families would receive a voucher for payment to a provider of their choice.
The Governor’s Budget proposes in 2012–13 to align eligibility requirements with California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) eligibility so that families, except for those in the part-day state preschool program, would be required to meet federal work participation requirements. In addition, income eligibility for all programs, including state preschool, would be capped at 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Under the proposed budget, CalWORKs Stage 2 and Stage 3 child care would be combined with the alternative payment program to form one voucher-based program. In addition, Regional Market Rate ceilings would be reduced to the 50th percentile of the 2009 Regional Market Rate survey for licensed providers. On average, this change would result in a reduction in reimbursement rates ranging from 12 percent to 14 percent. Reimbursement for license-exempt providers would remain comparable to current levels. License-exempt providers would be required to meet certain health and safety requirements as a condition of receiving reimbursement. Finally, the Standard Reimbursement Rate would be reduced by 10 percent.
The Administration estimates that these changes would eliminate 62,000 child care slots and generate Proposition 98 General Fund savings of $69.9 million and non- Proposition 98 General Fund savings of $446.9 million as compared to the 2011–12 Budget Act appropriation.
Transitional Kindergarten
The Governor’s Budget proposes to eliminate the requirement for local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide transitional kindergarten instruction, generating a Proposition 98 General Fund savings of $223.7 million. LEAs would be permitted to enroll children not meeting kindergarten age requirements on a case-by-case basis.
Special Education
The Governor’s Budget provides an increase of $190 million in Proposition 98 General Fund for special education. The majority of this increase is the result of the addition of $98.6 million for mental health services for students with exceptional needs supported with Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) funds in the current year. The remaining $91.4 million increase is the result of backfilling one-time solutions in the current year and growth funding of $12.3 million.
Charter Schools
The Governor’s Budget increases funding for nonclassroom-based charter schools from 70 percent to 100 percent of funds provided to classroom-based charter schools and provides growth funding of $50.3 million for the charter school categorical block grant. Additionally, the budget (1) provides additional borrowing opportunities to charter schools by specifying that LEAs may include charter schools in their issues of Treasury Revenue Anticipation Notes and (2) stabilizes the Charter School Revolving Loan Fund by providing access to the Charter School Security Fund. The budget also proposes to allow nonclassroom-based charter schools to participate in the Charter School Facility Grant Program.
School Facilities
The Governor’s Budget proposes to shift existing School Facilities Program bond authority from the Overcrowding Relief Grant Program to the New Construction Program to extend the life of the current fund. This action will prevent the triggering of local authority to impose third-level fees on new construction. Nonclassroom-based charter schools would be eligible to receive funds.
Mandates
The Governor’s Budget proposes several changes to the K–14 mandate reimbursement system. Among the changes are the suspensions of more than half of the existing education mandates, as listed in Figure 1. The suspended mandates would be eliminated (or made permissive) beginning in 2013–14. The remaining mandates would be rolled up in a block grant. LEAs could choose to receive block grant funding for all mandates in the block grant or could claim reimbursement separately for each individual program. The budget provides ongoing funding of $178 million to fund this block grant.
Figure 1
Governor’s Budget Proposal for K–12 Mandates
| Mandates Suspended | Mandates Funded in the Mandates Block Grant |
|---|---|
| Agency Fee Arrangements | California State Teachers Retirement System Services Credit |
| Behavioral Intervention Plans | California High School Exit Exam |
| Consolidation of Law Enforcement Agency Notifications and Missing Children Reports | Collective Bargaining |
| Consolidation of Notification to Teachers: Pupils Subject to Suspension or Expulsion I and II and Pupil Discipline Records | Comprehensive School Safety Plans |
| County Treasury Withdrawals | Consolidation of Annual Parent Notification/School Site Discipline Rules/Alternative Schools |
| Financial and Compliance Audits | County Office of Education Fiscal Accountability Reporting |
| Graduation Requirements | Criminal Background Checks |
| Grand Jury Proceedings | Criminal Background Checks II |
| Habitual Truants | Differential Pay and Reemployment |
| Health Benefits for Survivors of Peace Officers and Firefighters | Immunization Records |
| Mandate Reimbursement Process | Intradistrict Attendance |
| Notification of Truancy | Juvenile Court Notices II |
| Physical Education Reports | Open Meetings/Brown Act |
| Physical Performance Tests | Prevailing Wage |
| Pupil Residency Verification | Pupil Health Screenings |
| Pupil Suspensions, Expulsions, and Expulsion Appeals | Pupil Promotion and Retention |
| Removal of Chemicals | Pupil Safety Notices |
| School Bus Safety I and II | School Accountability Report Cards II and III |
| Scoliosis Screening | School District Fiscal Accountability Reporting |
| Student Records | School District Reorganization |
| Threats Against Peace Officers | The Stull Act |
Weighted Student Formula
The Governor’s Budget proposes to consolidate funding for most categorical programs with revenue limit apportionments and distribute the funds based on a weighted formula to be phased in over six years, with implementation beginning in 2012–13. Under the formula, pupils that are economically disadvantaged or English learners would receive greater funding than other pupils. The programs that are excluded from the proposal are special education, child care, child nutrition, the After School Education and Safety Program, and several smaller programs. During the phase-in period, funding associated with all affected categorical programs would be flexible.
What’s Next?
The Governor’s Budget proposal will be the subject of debate and discussions throughout the spring. The deadline for final legislative action on the budget is June 15. The budget takes effect on July 1, 2012.
If you have any questions regarding the 2012–13 budget, please contact the Government Affairs Division by phone at 916-324-4728. You may also contact Carol Bingham, Senior Fiscal Policy Advisor, Fiscal Policy Office, by e-mail atcbingham@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Tom Torlakson
TT:atp
NOTICE: The guidance in this letter is not binding on local educational agencies or other entities. Except for the statutes, regulations, and court decisions that are referenced herein, this letter is exemplary, and compliance with it is not mandatory. (See Education Code Section 33308.5.)
Dear President Obama: Dump Pritzker. « Fred Klonsky
Dear President Obama: Dump Pritzker. « Fred Klonsky:
Dear President Obama: Dump Pritzker.
Dear President Obama,
On February 21st your campaign announced the naming of six national co-chairs from Illinois.
The list included Bill Daley, Sen. Dick Durbin, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Penny Pritzker, Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Alan Solow.
Yesterday Unite Here, which represents hotel employees at Penny Pritzker’s Hyatt Hotels, revealed that Penny Pritzker underpays the property taxes on her Chicago 7-bathroom mansion.
This is the same Penny Pritzker who advocates ending public employee pensions in Illinois. As a member of the Chicago school board, she recently voted to shut down over a dozen public schools, upending the lives of thousands of Chicago students and their families and impacting the jobs and lives of hundred of Chicago teachers.
Is this the face of the Obama campaign you want?
A tax scammer? Someone who is goes after public service employee pensions. A union buster? A one percenter who makes Mitt Romney look like the salt of the earth?
Dump Penny Pritzker as your election co-chair.
-Fred Klonsky
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