Thursday, March 8, 2012

Sacramento Press / Strategies for Tough Times: Serve Free Meals to Kids in your Community this Summer Webinar

Sacramento Press / Strategies for Tough Times: Serve Free Meals to Kids in your Community this Summer Webinar:

Strategies for Tough Times: Serve Free Meals to Kids in your Community this Summer Webinar

by Isaac Gonzalez

When school lets out for the summer, what happens to the growing number of children that rely on a free/reduced-price school lunch?

Roughly 80% of kids in California receiving a subsidized lunch during the school year did not participate in a subsidized food program during the summer. This dramatic gap puts low-income kids in every community at deeper risk of food insecurity and childhood obesity…and jeopardizes their academic future.

Summer meal programs present an untapped opportunity to serve nutritious (and reimbursable) meals to kids in need and help communities collaborate in new, cost-effective ways.

Join us in our quest to Stop California’s Summer Nutrition Gap by taking action in your community.

The California Summer Meal Coalition is a statewide network united to combat childhood hunger and obesity by increasing access to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s subsidized summer lunch programs. The Coalition is administered by California Center for Research on Women and Families. Learn more at www.ccrwf.org/summer-meal-coalition.

Click here for more information and to register.

Disclosure: Isaac Gonzalez is a social media consultant working of behalf of The California Endowment and their Building Healthy Communities campaign in South Sacramento

Summer Meal Coalition

Why summer meals? For many children in low-income neighborhoods, the stability and nutrition offered by the lunch they get at school all but ends when school lets out for summer vacation.

According to California Food Policy Advocates’ 2011School’s Out…Who Ate report, an estimated 80% of children in California receiving free/reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during the school year did not participate in one of the USDA’s summer feeding programs (Summer Food Service Program, National School Lunch Program/Seamless Summer Feeding Option). Many communities simply do not have enough summer meal providers, or have been forced to cut back existing summer meal programs due to cuts to summer school programs.

Summer Meal programs present an untapped opportunity to combat childhood hunger and obesity. The California Summer Meal Coalition’s mission is:

To encourage more school districts and community organizations to become summer meal providers.
To support summer meal program managers with information and tools to help them operate their program.
To assist summer meal program managers in building nutrition education and opportunities for physical activity into their programs.

Led by CCRWF, the Summer Meal Coalition partners with the Nutrition Services Division of the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California, and summer meal leaders from across the state to help new summer meal providers get started and existing providers succeed. Be sure to check out our past and upcoming webinars, our monthly newsletter and case studies and tools to learn how to develop a successful program in your community. We hope you find the resources provided on on our website useful. If there are specific resources you’d like to see, please let us know!

http://ccrwf.org/

Teachbad Survey Results and Contest | Mr. Teachbad

Teachbad Survey Results and Contest | Mr. Teachbad:

Teachbad Survey Results and Contest

by teachbad

Wow…it’s been quite a week. I’ve been dealing with some weird family stuff that has taken a surprising amount of my attention. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that everybody isn’t not crazy.

Anyway, we have business, you and I.

First Item: The Inaugural Mr. Teachbad’s Official Teachbad Book Club Eventacular Discussion Series (MTOTBCEDS) will kick off next Wednesday, March 14, 2012. The plan is for everybody in America to read the book Why Great Teachers Quit and How We Might Stop the Exodus by Katy Farber. Buy it. There is still time. The original post about MTOTBCEDS is here.

We will discuss the book in a civil fashion and hopefully the author will chime in.

Second Item: A while back I gave you a survey. I am now prepared to announce the results of the survey and sponsor a contest. The winner of the contest will receive one Teachbad Gift Basket to include one full set of teacher ther

Awarding the State Seal of Biliteracy - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Awarding the State Seal of Biliteracy - Letters (CA Dept of Education):

Dear County and District Superintendents and Direct-Funded Charter School Administrators:

PROCEDURES FOR AWARDING THE STATE SEAL OF BILITERACY

The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), established by Assembly Bill 815 (Brownley, Chapter 618, Statutes of 2011), became effective January 1, 2012, and provides recognition to high school students who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. Each school district or direct-funded charter school that confers the SSB is required to maintain appropriate records in order to identify students who have met the established criteria for the award and to affix the SSB insignia to the diploma or transcript of each qualifying student.

To qualify for the SSB, high school graduates must meet all of the following criteria:

Completion of all English–language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above in those classes.
Passing the California Standards Test in English–language arts administered in grade eleven at the “proficient” level.
Proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English, demonstrated through one of the following methods:
1. Passing a foreign language Advanced Placement examination with a score of 3 or higher or an International Baccalaureate examination with a score of 4 or higher.
2. Successful completion of a four-year high school course of study in a foreign (world) language and attainment of an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above in that course of study.
3. If no Advanced Placement examination or off-the-shelf language test exists and the school district can certify to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) that the test meets the rigor of a four-year high school course of study in that foreign (world) language, passing a school district language examination that, at a minimum, assesses speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the “proficient” level or higher. If a school district offers a language examination in a language in which an Advanced Placement examination or off-the-shelf language test does exist, the school district language examination shall be approved by the SSPI for the purpose of determining proficiency in a language other than English.
4. Passing the Scholastic Assessment Test II foreign language examination with a score of 600 or higher.

If the primary language of a pupil in any of grades nine to twelve, inclusive, is other than English, he or she shall do both of the following in order to qualify for the SSB:

Attain the Early Advanced proficiency level on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). For purposes of this paragraph, a participating school district may administer the CELDT test an additional time as necessary.
Meet all the criteria listed above in 1, 2, and 3.

It is recommended that all people involved in collecting data and implementing the SSB in their district read AB 815 in its entirety. AB 815 can be accessed on the Official California Legislative Information AB 815 Web page athttp://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0801-0850/ab_815_bill_20111008_chaptered.pdf (PDF; Outside Source).

The California Department of Education (CDE) provides the following documents to assist in the identification of graduating seniors who qualify for the SSB to request the insignia:

State Seal of Biliteracy Requirements Checklist. (This checklist is for district use only.) School district and direct-funded charter school staff may use this spreadsheet to identify graduating students who meet the SSB criteria. Please do not submit this checklist to the CDE. This document is on the CDE State Seal of Biliteracy Web page athttp://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/sealofbiliteracy.asp.
Insignia Request Form. (Submit this form to the CDE.) School district and charter school staff are to complete this form and submit it to the CDE English Learner Support Division to request the diploma insignias for eligible students. This document is on the CDE State Seal of Biliteracy Web page athttp://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/sealofbiliteracy.asp.

Frequently Asked Questions and language resources are available on the CDE State Seal of Biliteracy Web page athttp://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/sealofbiliteracy.asp.

After identifying graduating high school students who qualify for the SSB, complete and submit one Insignia Request Form per district or direct-funded charter school. The district superintendent or direct-funded charter school administrator must sign the form. The completed and signed form may be mailed to the CDE at any time. The CDE will begin mailing the self-adhesive gold insignias during the first week of April 2012. Note that while there is no deadline for submitting the form, school districts and direct-funded charter schools should send their requests far enough in advance of the date of the first graduation ceremony to allow time for the CDE to process the requests and for district and direct-funded charter school staff to affix the insignias to the diplomas. Generally, insignias can be expected within three to six weeks from the date the CDE receives a request.

Please share this information with high school principals, administrators, world language department chairs, and English learner program directors. If you have questions about the SSB, contact the Language Policy and Leadership Office by phone at 916-319-0845 or by e-mail at SEAL@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tom Torlakson

TT:nz
Enclosure 1 - http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/documents/ssbchecklist.doc (DOC; 73KB; 2pp.)
Enclosure 2 - http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/documents/ssbinsigniareq.doc (DOC; 58KB; 2pp.)

State Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy, per Assembly Bill 815 (Brownley, Chapter 618, Statutes of 2011), became effective January 1, 2012. This program recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English. The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB) will be awarded by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in accordance with specified criteria set forth in the legislation (Outside Source).

A school district that participates in this program must maintain appropriate records in order to identify qualifying students, and submit the number of eligible students to the California Department of Education (CDE) on the Insignia Request Form. The Insignia Request Forms may be submitted at any time however, it is recommended that requests be submitted far enough in advance of the first graduation ceremony to allow time for the CDE to process the requests and school staff to affix the insignias. Participation is voluntary and no fee may be charged to the student.

The CDE will mail to the district one seal per eligible student to be affixed by the district, to the diploma or transcript. See the attached letter to the field, which lists the criteria and other essential information.

SSB Informational Letter to the Field

SSB Requirements Checklist (DOC; 73KB; 2pp.)

SSB Insignia Request Form (DOC; 58KB; 2pp.)

SSB Frequently Asked Questions

Language Resources

Jersey Jazzman: What does this tell us about Bob "Hoover" Ingle?

Jersey Jazzman: What does this tell us about Bob "Hoover" Ingle?:

What does this tell us about Bob "Hoover" Ingle?

by Duke

I haven't checked in with Chris Christie's favorite suck-up in a while:

Guess who spent the most money lobbying in 2011. The New Jersey Education Association, according to the New Jersey Election law Enforcement Commission. It spent $11.3 million, mostly on communications. The union represents 195,501 active and retired school employees in New Jersey. In 2010 it spent $6.6 million on communications. The NJEA’s 2011 spending is more than $10 million more than the number-two on the list, Verizon New Jersey at $1.2 million.
[...]
If the point were to get Christie to stop they wasted their money. This extraordinary

Children in the President’s Budget | First Focus

Home | First Focus:

	Children in the President’s Budget President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget requestincreases children’s share of the federal discretionary budget by 6%. While the President’s budget trims overall discretionary spending, it proposes an increase of $1.4 billion for children. First Focus’s policy team has looked behind the numbers, analyzed the proposals, and read the fine print to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the President’s budget from a children’s perspective. The fact sheet series includes an overall budget snapshot, as well as detailed analyses for key children’s issues: Children's Health Child Welfare Early Childhood Child Nutrition Children's Housing Education Income Support KIDS COUNT^® Data Shows Why the U.S. Should Take a Lesson from the U.K. on Child Poverty The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released a Data Snapshot, highlighting the alarming increase in child poverty since 2000. According to the Foundation’s analysis, the number of children living in high-poverty communities has increase 25% since 2000. State-by-state figures are also available. The United Kingdon has made impressive strides in reducing child poverty, by making child poverty eradication a national goal. The UK set measurable benchmarks, developed and deployed policy reforms, and carefully measured progress toward its goal. Read more about how the U.S. can implement this very good idea. Stay In Focus: Validate Your Email Address We’re getting ready to update our mailing list, and it’s important to us that you get the information you want. To ensure that you continue to receive news and information from First Focus Children, please validate your email address before April 1st. It takes just a moment, and it will guarantee that you’re always in the know on federal priorities for children.
www.firstfocus.net • • • (202) 657-0670

Improvements to Testing Agreement - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

Improvements to Testing Agreement - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Torlakson and School Board President
Kirst Applaud Improvements to Testing Agreement

CSTs and CMA Results Available in 10-12 Days Rather than Three Months

SACRAMENTO—Following approval of changes to the state's agreement with Educational Testing Service regarding the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and State Board of Education President Michael Kirst issued the following statements:

"In keeping with the Governor's State of the State address, the steps we are taking today will significantly reduce the time it takes to provide test scores to districts and schools. Beginning with the next school year, we expect both the California Standards Tests and the California Modified Assessment results to be reported in a matter of days rather than months, making them both more timely and more useful to our schools," Torlakson said. "I commend President Kirst for his work with the Department of Education on this project."

"Getting test results back quickly is a key priority of both the State Board and Governor Brown," added Kirst. "This change will make our system more useful and responsive to teachers, parents, and students."

Torlakson continued by saying, "I'm also pleased that we are moving forward with the transition to new assessments aligned to the new Common Core State Standards, including the creation of an advisory committee that will examine the wide range of tests now given to students," Torlakson added. "This work will allow me to prepare my recommendations to the Legislature later this year about how to achieve a shared, long-standing goal to reduce both the number of tests that are given and the time it takes to receive them—and most importantly, give students, parents, and teachers the best possible information about their progress."

For more information on the reauthorization, please visit the State Board of Education agenda Item 4 at SBE Meeting for March 2012 - State Board of Education.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

The Global Whole Child — Whole Child Education

The Global Whole Child — Whole Child Education:

The Global Whole Child

by Sean Slade

A whole child approach to education is not something that is unique to the United States, or even to North America. It is an approach to education that has been taken up by many communities, regions, and countries. It is an approach that understands that education is more than just academic achievement and that ensuring that each child is healthy, safe, and engaged is a necessity if we want to support student growth and provide meaningful challenges to those same students. The five Whole Child Tenets—healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged—are the prerequisites for an effective education that allows students to grow, learn, and develop their full potential.
For a number of years now, ASCD has been advocating globally for a whole child approach to education. Now we have Whole Child Partners from outside the United States to further our shared work. These partner

Education Week: 'Parent Unions' Seek to Join Policy Debates

Education Week: 'Parent Unions' Seek to Join Policy Debates:

'Parent Unions' Seek to Join Policy Debates

Gwendolyn Samuel, 46, at laptop, founder of Connecticut Parents Union, works with student volunteers at her Meriden, Conn., home, in preparation for an education rally on March 14.

—Christopher Capozziello for Education Week

By Sean Cavanagh

Premium article access courtesy of Edweek.org.

School Tech Connect: Take Five For Abdolreza Ghanbari

School Tech Connect: Take Five For Abdolreza Ghanbari:

Take Five For Abdolreza Ghanbari

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

Do you have five minutes to call/write your representative in Washington?

Iran is going to execute another teacher. Please help. This is my urgent email to my congresswoman, Jan Schakowsky.

Dear Jan,

I am writing to ask if there is anything you can do to assist in a life or death situation in Iran.

As you may know, the regime leading Iran has shown zero tolerance for dissent, including activities sponsored by trade and professional unions. In this case, Mr. Abdolreza Ghanbari, a teacher and former unionist, has been sentenced to death and is facing imminent execution.

Iran has shown absolutely no tolerance for organized labor or professional groups. I'm sure you remember that last year, a number of your supporters held a vigil for Farzad Kamanger, another Iranian teacher, who was executed by the Iranian regime last year.

I hope you can take a moment to request a strong message of protest from the State Department before Mr. Ghandbari is executed.

Around the world and indeed here in our own country, unions and their members are scapegoated for every societal ill. There is no group more singled out than teachers. It would mean a great deal to teachers around the world if our nation would stand up for the right of teachers to organize by protesting and possibly preventing the execution of Mr. Ghanbari.

Please help.

Best,

Tim Furman

KONY 2012

KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.

HOW TO HELP:
Visit: http://kony2012.com
Donate to Invisible Children: https://stayclassy.org/checkout/set-donation?eid=14711
For info on Invisible Children: http://invisiblechildren.com

For official MEDIA and artist REPRESENTATION ONLY: Christina Cattarini cattarini@sunshinesachs.com

DIRECTOR: Jason Russell LEAD EDITOR: Kathryn Lang EDITORS: Kevin Trout, Jay Salbert, Jesse Eslinger LEAD ANIMATOR: Chad Clendinen ANIMATOR: Jesse Eslinger 3-D MODELING: Victor Soto VISUAL EFFECTS: Chris Hop WRITERS: Jason Russell, Jedidiah Jenkins, Kathryn Lang, Danica Russell, Ben Keesey, Azy Groth PRODUCERS: Kimmy Vandivort, Heather Longerbeam, Chad Clendinen, Noelle Jouglet ORIGINAL SCORES: Joel P. West SOUND MIX: Stephen Grubbs, Mark Friedgen, Smart Post Sound COLOR: Damian Pelphrey, Company 3 CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, Laren Poole, Gavin Kelly, Chad Clendinen, Kevin Trout, Jay Salbert, Shannon Lynch PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Jaime Landsverk LEAD DESIGNER: Tyler Fordham DESIGNERS: Chadwick Gantes, Stephen Witmer

MUSIC CREDIT:
"02 Ghosts I"
Performed by Nine Inch Nails
Written by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor
Produced by Alan Moulder, Atticus Ross, and Trent Reznor
Nine Inch Nails appear courtesy of The Null Corporation

"Punching in a Dream"
Performed by The Naked and Famous
Written by Aaron Short, Alisa Xayalith, and Thom Powers
Produced by Thom Powers
The Naked and Famous appear courtesy of Somewhat Damaged and Universal Republic

"Arrival of the Birds"
Performed by The Cinematic Orchestra
Written by The Cinematic Orchestra
Produced by The Cinematic Orchestra
The Cinematic Orchestra appears courtesy of Disney Records

"Roll Away Your Stone"
Performed by Mumford and Sons
Written by Benjamin Lovett, Edward Dwane, Marcus Mumford, and Winston Marshall
Produced by Markus Dravs
Mumford and Sons appear courtesy of Glassnote Entertainment Group LLC

"On (Instrumental)"
Performed by Bloc Party
Written by Bloc Party
Produced by Jacknife Lee
Bloc Party appears courtesy of Vice Records

"A Dream within a Dream"
Performed by The Glitch Mob
The Glitch Mob appears courtesy of Glass Air

"I Can't Stop"
Performed by Flux Pavilion
Flux Pavilion appears courtesy of Circus Records Limited

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

This Budget Blows - Educate Our State

This Budget Blows - Educate Our State:

This Budget Blows

The Message:
Don’t Blow It! Pass a budget that fully funds education NOW.

Our California leaders are on the verge of blowing it, and our children are going to pay the price. The current budget proposal depends on revenue generated from a not-yet-passed November initiative -- but even Kindergartners know the school year starts months before that. Our schools can’t pay for teachers and programs with money they don’t have and might never get. Parents demand that the legislature do their job and create a balanced budget with no cuts to education. To read about how California education spending compares to other states (hint - we are at or near bottom), please click here.

The Launch:

Thursday, March 15, 2012, all across California

On March 15^th, the notorious “Pink Slip” day, thousands of teachers will get lay-off notices. In protest of these and other devastating cuts, parents and students will be blowing bubbles to tell our state leaders, “Don’t blow it! You have the power to fully fund education now!” These launch events will publicize the need for parents to take action by sending letters to state legislators through Educate Our State’s website.

The Action:
What Can You Do?

1. Organize a Bubble Blowing Event - click here to register or RSVP for an event! Click here to download a toolkit which includes flyers to distribute, a check list and general instructions, a press release, a media advisory, outreach information, information on how to get personalized bubbles, and more!
2. Send letters to state legislators by clicking here.
3. Upload photos of your kids blowing bubbles so we can deliver them to Sacramento (like the saying goes - a picture is worth a thousand signatures!) And don’t forget to change your Facebook profile picture to one of you blowing bubbles!
4. Write a Letter to the Editor - VERY simple, just click here!
5. Email 10 friends and ask them to take action too!

From the PAA Store: I test under duress « Parents Across America

From the PAA Store: I test under duress « Parents Across America:

From the PAA Store: I test under duress

by andreamerida

I test under duress: say no to standardized testin shirt

I test under duress: say no to standardized testin by ParentsAcrossAmerica
Browse other t-shirt designs made on zazzle.com

With great thanks to Colorado opt-out activist, Conny J., here’s a great t-shirt for your kid, and maybe yourself, to express your opposition to the high-stakes decisions made with standardized test scores.

We know that schools are teaching to the test, and it’s time to make your voice heard. Kids are standing up too. Get one for both of you or for anyone on your education activist gift list.

A portion of the sales go to support Parents Across America and their efforts to educate and organize parent activists like you all over America. Thank you for your activism and for your support of Parents Across America!