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Friday, December 21, 2012

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Education Headlines

Friday, December 21, 2012

State dings Coast Unified School District over plan for English learners

The California Department of Education has upheld a parent’s claim that the Coast Unified School District hasn’t met all the legal requirements for providing a framework in which parents of English learner students can meet and confer.

Parents seek charter school in Orange Unified

The Orange Unified School District's Board of Education will hear the case for a new charter school next month from a group of parents who want their children to stay with a teacher for more than one year.

Cohen: A teacher’s advice to the Legislature in 2013

Looking ahead to the next legislative session, it appears likely we’ll have a replay of some of the education policy debates of 2012. Here are my recommendations for how the Legislature might avoid pitfalls and advance positive changes in education policy next year.

Frey: Districts use creative methods to counsel students

In an era of budget cutbacks and more pressure on students to perform, some districts and teachers are finding ways to stretch their dollars to provide mental health services for students.

Frey: California near bottom in number of school counselors

As a mourning nation focuses on the need for more mental health support for students, California has regularly ranked at or near the bottom among the states in the number of counselors per student.

Oakland school district mishandled federal money, state finds

The Oakland Unified School District failed to follow federal regulations in doling out taxpayer money to benefit local private schools and must pay some of it back, a state review has found.

Sacramento-area schools evaluate safety in wake of Connecticut shooting

The mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., shook parents to the core. Locally it has meant more police officers on and near schools and a review of safety procedures at nearly every campus in the Sacramento region.
Thursday, December 20, 2012

Marine calls himself to duty as guard of California elementary school

Marine Sgt. Craig Pusley was on duty Wednesday. Desert camo fatigues, knees slightly bent, the young father stood a self-imposed watch at Hughson Elementary School. One man. No rifle. No pay. No breaks.

California teachers fund reviewing firearm holdings

The nation's largest teachers' pension fund announced Tuesday that it was reviewing its firearms holdings after determining that its investment in a gun maker was linked to one of the weapons used in last week's Connecticut school massacre.

Oakland school board election dispute remains unresolved

Two weeks after he is sworn in as an Oakland school board member, James Harris goes to court to defend his right to the seat. Harris defeated Oakland school board incumbent Alice Spearman by a 14-point margin in November, but the contest isn't over. Spearman has filed a legal challenge, arguing Harris isn't eligible to serve on the board because he lives in a part of Oakland that belongs to the San Leandro school district.