Announcing JoeSacramento.com format change | Joe Sacramento

Announcing JoeSacramento.com format change Joe Sacramento:

"Effective immediately I’m going to begin devoting my extra curricular time (time aside from family and work), to endeavors that are closer to my heart such as marriage ministry, music composition, screen writing, and book/music/movie reviews. I’ve also enrolled in multiple art classes in the next 6 months, and will need a lot of time to focus on them."

Schwarzenegger's plan would reshape education in California -- latimes.com

Schwarzenegger's plan would reshape education in California -- latimes.com:


"Schwarzenegger's reforms include:

* Adopting a merit pay system that would reward effective teachers and give them incentives to work at low-performing campuses;

* Abolishing the current cap on the number of charter schools that can open every year;

* Forcing school districts to shut down or reconstitute the lowest-performing schools or turn them over to charter schools' independent management;

* Allowing students at low-performing campuses to transfer to a school of their choosing;

* Requiring school districts to consider student test data when evaluating teachers, something the federal government believes is prohibited under state law."

Officials have more questions than answers about teacher pay for student performance -- GazetteXtra

Officials have more questions than answers about teacher pay for student performance -- GazetteXtra:

"Parr and Bill Sodemann, a member of the Janesville School Board, advocate using a system such as the Measures of Academic Progress program instead. Janesville uses the computer-based system to identify student weaknesses. The program tests students early in the year and again later on to see if they’ve made progress.
Milton Superintendent Bernie Nikolay said sometimes progress is more important than test scores.
“Some years you have some really tough kids, and just a small growth is a big achievement,” he said.
He would be in favor of tying teacher pay to student performance but in a subjective way, he said. Individual evaluators should take student progress into account along with factors such as leadership, use of best practices and participation in training activities."

What Teachers Have Learned - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com

What Teachers Have Learned - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com:

"In a Room for Debate forum this week, experts discussed the value of education degrees, which often drive pay and promotion in public school systems. Many readers, who are teachers, offered their views on whether teacher prep programs are necessary for the classroom, or if other factors, like subject-matter expertise and life experience, matter more. Here are excerpts from their comments."

Editorial: - San Jose Mercury News

Editorial: - San Jose Mercury News:

"California is facing financial ruin. Its schools are making devastating cuts that could put a whole generation of children at a competitive disadvantage — and at higher risk of turning to crime. Yet it spends 10 percent of its general fund on prisons, about the same amount as on higher education but still not nearly enough to adequately house its 167,000 prisoners. That would take billions more."

Education Week: Celebrities Lend Weight to Promote Civics Education

Education Week: Celebrities Lend Weight to Promote Civics Education:


"But Mr. Levine says the school climate for effectively teaching civics depends on whether the curriculum has room for discussion of current events. Finding that space in elementary and middle schools has become more challenging since the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which emphasizes school accountability for mathematics, reading, and science, but not for social studies, he said. The problem with civics education now, Mr. Levine contends, is that it isn’t usually taught in an interactive way. “What we’re interested in is kids’ developing reasoned opinions,” he said."

Education Week: Openness of Common-Standards Process at Issue

Education Week: Openness of Common-Standards Process at Issue:

"Complaints about lack of transparency are common during the crafting of standards, curricula, and education policy reports at all levels. The criticism of the new standards undertaking—a process in which 46 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, have agreed to participate—comes after a draft of the documents were leaked on the Web last month; that working version alternately drew praise and censure."

Teachers and public pensions myths | TheUnion.com

Teachers and public pensions myths TheUnion.com:


"The topic of public pensions seems interwoven into most newspapers these days. As a retired teacher, the “educator” in me feels the need to set the record straight on a few key points. Many people seem to think that teachers receive their pensions as a free benefit when, in fact, they pay into their own retirement account.

The average teacher paid into his/her retirement for more that 26 years and receives $2,700 per month in benefits. (Those who retired in the 70s or 80s receive a far smaller monthly benefit). Most do not receive medical benefits following retirement.

Although teachers are eligible to retire at 55, they lose a certain percentage of their benefit for each month between their retirement age and age 60. Unlike corporate workers, teachers are required to contribute to their pensions; most paid eight percent into the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) which is higher than the rate private workers pay for Social Security.

In general, teachers aren't eligible for Social Security so their CalSTRS pension is their only guaranteed income in retirement. Just as private sector retirees rely on Social Security, retired teachers rely on CalSTRS.

Teachers don't enter the profession to get rich. They made contributions in good faith, were promised a pension in return, and should be able to depend on this modest retirement income."

Texas takes another stab at teacher merit pay | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Texas Regional News

Texas takes another stab at teacher merit pay News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News Texas Regional News:


"'A good teacher is a good teacher, and all merit pay does is divide and separate us, and create a negative atmosphere on campus where teachers compete for what I consider insignificant amounts of money,' Brothers said."

YouTube - Parents, Schools Make Plans for Swine Flu

YouTube - Parents, Schools Make Plans for Swine Flu:

"Hundreds of schools are heeding the government's call to set up flu-shot clinics this fall, preparing for what could be the most widespread school vaccinations since the days of polio. (Aug. 18)"

Report Says Texas Students Should Study Only Conservatives

Report Says Texas Students Should Study Only Conservatives:

"The first draft of proposed standards for the state’s high school history books says Texas public school students should learn about former Republican U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and other conservative politicians, but not about liberals."

Some California teachers oppose stimulus aid - 8/21/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com

Some California teachers oppose stimulus aid - 8/21/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com:

"SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- California could lose hundreds of millions of federal stimulus dollars, if the state fails to make changes in education. Now Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for a special legislative session to make sure the state gets that much-needed cash."

Nation Digest: Teachers Union Criticizes Obama's Schools Initiative - washingtonpost.com

Nation Digest: Teachers Union Criticizes Obama's Schools Initiative - washingtonpost.com:


"'Despite growing evidence to the contrary, it appears that the administration has decided that charter schools are the only answer to what ails America's public schools -- urban, suburban, exurban and rural -- and all must comply with that silver bullet.'"

Rocklin schools sue state board over academy's charter - Roseville/Placer County News - sacbee.com

Rocklin schools sue state board over academy's charter - Roseville/Placer County News - sacbee.com:

"The Rocklin district says the state Board of Education approved the public charter school without putting the issue on a meeting agenda. The district also accuses state board members of discussing the matter outside of the meeting, a violation of open meeting laws, and other procedural mistakes."

Imperial Valley News - Governor Schwarzenegger Discusses Education Reform in Weekly Radio Address

Imperial Valley News - Governor Schwarzenegger Discusses Education Reform in Weekly Radio Address:


"Now, let me give you a few highlights of this reform package.

Number 1: Current California law caps the number of charter schools allowed in the state. Not only does this stifle innovation but it’s prohibited under the President’s plan. So I am asking the legislature to lift that cap.

Number 2: The key to excellence in any area, including education, is competition and consumer choice. Yet current law tempers competition and limits choice. Our reforms change that. We will empower students, especially those suffering in our lowest-performing schools, to transfer to a school and a district of their choosing.

Number 3: We must increase accountability and transparency, by collecting and using data more effectively. How can we improve if we don’t know what’s working and what’s not?"

Children and media: Involved parents make informed choices

Children and media: Involved parents make informed choices:

"The media that children are exposed to affects their moods, their ability to get along with other people, their self-image, and how they participate in society."

Connect at Home: School success requires parent involvement

Connect at Home: School success requires parent involvement:

"Parents should be partners with their child's teacher. Introduce yourself to the teacher and talk about goals, communication preferences, concerns you have about your child, etc. Talk with teachers even when things are going well with your child, not just when problems arise. If there are problems, it is easier to work them out if you already have a relationship with the teacher."

Sac City's brand new boss - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sac City's brand new boss - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:


"The new Sacramento City Unified schools superintendent, Jonathan Raymond, stops by the Matriculation & Orientation Center on Florin Road and chats with supervisor Luda Hedger, left, parent Elvia Patino and translator Leticia Magallan.
The former Charlotte, N.C., schools chief spent his first day on the job Friday visiting schools and centers in the district."