Saturday, May 8, 2010

The State of Charter School Authorizing :: Frederick M. Hess

The State of Charter School Authorizing :: Frederick M. Hess

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How do we help students in Oregon's lowest performing schools? | OregonLive.com

How do we help students in Oregon's lowest performing schools? | OregonLive.com

How do we help students in Oregon's lowest performing schools?

By The Oregonian

May 08, 2010, 10:10AM
GS.00023613A_ED.SCHOOLS.jpgView full size“If Oregon could do one thing differently to help students in the state’s lowest performing schools, what would it be?”

Two weeks ago, we posed the above question to readers.

Today we share the dozens of responses that we received from educators, students, politicians, advocates and members of the public, with the hope that these suggestions provide a springboard for further conversation — and action — around the state.

Go to The Stump, our Opinion blog, to read what people had to say and take a reader poll. "Helping students at Oregon's lowest performing schools"

Pure Aveda Salonspa is Doing Their Part � Tangerine, Florida

Pure Aveda Salonspa is Doing Their Part � Tangerine, Florida

Pure Aveda Salonspa is Doing Their Part

Pure Aveda Salonspa's Hair Collection

Pictured above, Pure Aveda Salonspa is doing their part to help clean up the BP Oil Spill. Some of the tribe at Pure Aveda Salonspa shows what 70 pounds of hair really looks like. They shipped all this to the Gulf Coast to be made into oil absorbing hair mats and booms by “Matter of Trust,” a non-profit organization. Hair and pet salons wishing to join in the effort may contact Matter of Trust by clicking on the link.

Schools Matter: Just How Full of S**t are the Bakkes?

Schools Matter: Just How Full of S**t are the Bakkes?

Just How Full of S**t are the Bakkes?

Mrs. Bakke said her company “is operated as a not-for-profit.” But Imagine is not a nonprofit group, and it has so far failed to gain status as a charity from the I.R.S.
Imagine applied for federal tax exemption in 2005 and has repeatedly said approval is imminent. It typically takes four to six months for such approvals. “We’re not sure why it’s taking so long,” said Mrs. Bakke, who is 56. “We suspect it’s because we’re trailblazers in a sense, and they haven’t had an application quite like this.”
Imagine has registered both a non-profit and a for-profit company in Virginia. That's likely what makes their 

Besieged county school chief quits :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State

Besieged county school chief quits :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State

Besieged county school chief quits

May 8, 2010
Regional Schools Supt. Charles Flowers -- accused of stealing hundreds of thousands in public money -- resigned his post Friday, four months after he was charged with criminal wrongdoing and 10 months after he was sued for fraud by Cook County prosecutors.
The Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education, which he headed for nearly three years, was permanently closed by state lawmakers earlier in the week.
Flowers' resignation follows a long investigation by the SouthtownStar into the office's finances. The paper uncovered a bloated payroll and alleged gross misuse of public money, including taking out hefty cash advances on the office's credit card, using taxpayer money to dine at swanky restaurants and buying plane tickets to Mississippi for his children.
In January, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez charged Flowers with felony theft and official misconduct, alleging that in a span of about two years, Flowers skimmed close to $400,000 from the regional schools office.

Education - Everything you need to know about the world of education.

Education- Everything you need to know about the world of education.

Suzanne Maxey named principal of T.C. Williams


T. C. Williams was targeted by the federal government this spring as among the weakest in the nation, given a "persistently lowest achieving school" label. (Lois Raimondo/TWP)













VALERIE STRAUSS
A School Survival Guide for Parents (And Everyone Else)

Posted at 3:00 PM ET, 05/ 7/2010

Learning Stories: Tell your own

school systems: What do these actually look like. To find out, Rethink Learning Now asked people from various walks of life to talk about their most powerful learning experiences. You can share your own.
Posted by Valerie Strauss | Permalink | Comments (0)
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EducationNews.org - EducationNewsToday

EducationNews.org - EducationNewsToday

EducationNewsToday

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Minority teachers' importance emphasized by U.S. education secretary

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Ackerman freezes hiring of teachers

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Klein ISD on the defensive after Mexican flag flap

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Charters ruled constitutional

A Fulton County Superior Court judge came down on the side of choice on Friday, ruling that charter schools in Georgia can be legally approved and funded by a state commission in addition to local systems. ...
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Rhee bolstering central office

Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee is more than doubling the number of senior managers who oversee the city's 123 public schools, a move intended to put more muscle behind her efforts to raise teacher quality and student achievement. ...
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Recess coaches help kids play, and that helps them to learn

Fourth-graders at the William Dick School, in North Philly, listened intently yesterday as they learned the rules of dodgeball. "If someone taps you with the ball, you're out," said "recess coach" Joe Cokes, demonstrating by touching a ball to a student's chest. "If you don't catch the ball, you're out." ...
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Big banks making a bundle on new school construction

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Teachers union OKs one-year freeze on pay increases

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Education - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Education - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

6W7GREENSKL.JPG
It's the latest twist in American college ratings: How green is your campus?
After several swastikas and anti-gay graffiti appeared on the UC Davis campus earlier this year, Chancellor Linda Katehi vowed to make her campus safe.
Following several acts of racist vandalism on campus earlier this year, UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi has committed $230,000 annually "to combat hate and intolerance on our campus."
Sacramento County and California State University, Sacramento are teaming up to smooth the transition for foster youth heading to college.

Wheatland High officials at odds about discipline | high, - Local News - Appeal-Democrat

Wheatland High officials at odds about discipline | high, - Local News - Appeal-Democrat

Wheatland High officials at odds about discipline

Comments 7 | Recommend 1

An assistant principal who wrote a three-page letter detailing what he sees as a lackadaisical approach to student discipline at Wheatland High School has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Helmut Skujins said Vic Ramos, superintendent and principal of the Wheatland Union High School District, told him he was on leave Wednesday morning — after Skujins' discussion the previous day with district trustees about student discipline issues.
"It does seem vindictive," said Skujins, 67, who turned over his school keys and district cell phone.
"I'm willing to go back to work," Skujins said. "It doesn't make sense for me to be sitting home getting paid."
Skujins said Friday that Ramos, 55, who began as principal in July, hasn't supported him on policies that include a ban on student use of cell phones and iPods during school hours.
In his letter, Skujins cited increasing attempts by some students to start fights so they can make cell-phone videos for websites.
Skujins said students have filmed a dozen videos of brief fights,

Court clears way for state to take funds from California cities | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun

Court clears way for state to take funds from California cities | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun

Court clears way for state to take funds from California cities

Valley cities losing total $95 million in redevelopment dollars, due Monday

K KAUFMANN • THE DESERT SUN • MAY 8, 2010

Cities across the Coachella Valley will be writing checks to the state for millions of dollars Monday after an appeals court turned back a last-minute effort to delay the grab of redevelopment funds.

The Third District Court of Appeals on Friday denied a request from the California Redevelopment Association for a temporary stay on the transfer of $2.05 billion in redevelopment funds from cities to the state over the next two years.

The California Legislature authorized the raid on redevelopment funds in a law, Assembly Bill X4-26, passed last year as part of its efforts to close an $18.6 billion hole in the state budget.

The total bite on valley cities will be about $95 million this year — the money due Monday, and another $19.5 million due May 10, 2011 — according to figures from the association.

Palm Desert will take the biggest hit this year, turning over $25 million to the state, followed by La Quinta, which will send $23.5 million.

In Desert Hot Springs, City Manager Rick Daniels said the $3.4 million his city will send to the state means “rehabilitation of dilapidated and blighted housing will now be delayed. It's embarrassing, and I'm just angry about the whole thing.”

The association had sued to overturn the law, but lost its case Tuesday when Sacramento Superior Court