Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, June 12, 2012

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Education Headlines

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Students lament loss of electives

Much of the news surrounding education funding involves teacher layoffs, but cuts at the state level are also being felt by students, who stand to lose electives and extracurricular activities that, some say, keep them interested in education.

District could put 16 classrooms at Magnolia up for lease

Up to 16 classrooms at Magnolia Elementary School should be put up for lease as a way to boost revenue for the Carlsbad Unified School District, according to a recommendation from a school advisory group.

Lack of money delays opening of alternative high school in Salinas

A financial shortfall has set back the opening of Millennium Charter High School, a college preparatory academy with an emphasis on arts and technology that was originally slated to open this fall.

Sacramento city schools official to be superintendent in Danville

Mary Shelton, chief accountability officer at Sacramento City Unified School District, has been named the new superintendent of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

As Twin Rivers legal fees mount, board agenda stirs contention by newly elected

Legal fees continue to mount in the Twin Rivers Unified School District and are likely to rise as new lawsuits are filed and the district's outside legal counsel catches up on its billings.

IT boss says she was told to delete emails

The former technology director is suing the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District for nearly $1 million, alleging she was wrongfully terminated for erasing emails from the district’s email system.

LAUSD superintendent to ask board to pull proposed $298 parcel tax off November ballot

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy will ask the Board of Education today to pull a proposed $298 parcel tax off the November ballot, arguing that he doesn't want the issue to compete with Gov. Jerry Brown's budget-balancing tax proposals.

Audit: Seismic regulator must improve building plan oversight

The office that oversees the seismic safety of California's public schools can't show that it has approved all building plan changes, heightening the risk that some schools don't meet standards and are unsafe, according to a state auditor's report.

Vargo: Consider a new equity meter to measure closing the achievement gap

So here’s a question: If the No Child Left Behind law really does go away, and if we really do adopt a whole new set of tests, are we still “closing the achievement gap”?

Fensterwald: Student scores must be factored in evaluations

In a decision with statewide implications, a Superior Court judge ruled that Los Angeles Unified must include measures of student progress, including scores on state standardized tests, when evaluating teachers and principals.

Judge orders LAUSD to use student test scores in teacher evaluations

Los Angeles Unified must begin using student test scores as a factor in evaluating teacher performance in order to bring the school district into compliance with state law, a judge said Monday in a tentative ruling.
Monday, June 11, 2012

School builders back bonds most generously

Companies that design, build and consult on school construction projects contributed almost all of the money raised to help pass two local bond measures in Tuesday's election.

Adult ed falls to flexibility

Since [2009], local school boards have closed 32 adult education programs and cut at least half the funding for more than 40 others, according to a survey conducted a few months ago by the adult education administrators in Montebello Unified School District.

Taking stimulants not for a high, but for a higher SAT score

At high schools across the United States, pressure over grades and competition for college admissions are encouraging students to abuse prescription stimulants, according to interviews with students, parents and doctors.

Claremont Unified board members deny charter school petition

Claremont Unified school board members have denied a charter school application. Board members unanimously voted Thursday against the petition submitted by Embracing the Whole Child Arts and Technology Academy despite pleas from the school's executive director.

Upland district still needs to cut $4 million in next year's budget

The Upland Unified School District needs to cut $4 million from its 2012-13 fiscal year budget.

San Diego Unified teachers' union agrees to negotiate with district

San Diego teachers are poised to give up raises to curb a massive round of layoffs and keep class sizes manageable next year.

Incoming San Bernardino superintendent highly praised

Those who've worked with Marsden during his time as superintendent of the Victor Elementary School District say what he did worked, and they expect the same style will lead the San Bernardino City Unified School District to success when he becomes its top administrator July 1.