Wednesday, May 1, 2013

UPDATE: FCMAT » CALI Education Headlines Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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Duncan admits flaws in current standardized testing | EdSource Today





Education Headlines

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Five local schools could face closure

Siskiyou County Superintendent of Schools Kermith Walters has jumped into the fray to save five local small school districts from becoming defunct as a result of the language in a trailer bill attached to Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed 2013-14 budget.

Linden principal files complaint

A Linden Unified School District principal filed a Complaint of Discrimination and Retaliation with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing against Superintendent Michael Gonzales on Monday.

New classrooms and swimming pool taking shape at Diamond Bar High

While everything looks peaceful at the front of Diamond Bar High School, the back is abuzz as construction workers rush to complete the new aquatics center and math wing.

Family files claim against school district over drug sting

The family of a special education student has filed a claim with the Temecula Valley Unified School District for unspecified damages after district officials knowingly exposed their son to "difficult social interactions with an undercover police officer, placing him in harm's way" during an on-campus drug sting that led to his arrest in December.

Denair schools supe wins praise for openness

Some straight talk from Denair Interim Superintendent Walt Hanline won praise from community members Tuesday night, who said they want better communication from board members, too

L.A. County rejects Santa Clarita districts' elections proposal

Los Angeles County supervisors rejected a bid Tuesday from several Santa Clarita Valley school districts and a water district hoping to consolidate elections in a bid to avoid the kind of voting rights lawsuits that other local governments have been hit with.

Civil rights groups oppose No Child Left Behind waiver for LAUSD

A coalition of civil rights groups is opposing efforts by Los Angeles Unified and eight other school districts to get a waiver from a federal law requiring that all students be proficient in English and math by 2014.

Report: Local school suspension rates surpass California average

In Lodi Unified School District, students were suspended in 2011-12 at a rate of 8.5 percent, compared to the state's suspension rate of 5.7 percent.

EdSource: Walton Foundation increases donation to StudentsFirst

The Walton Family Foundation announced Tuesday that it is “significantly increasing its support” in the Sacramento-based national lobbying and policy organization StudentsFirst, with an $8 million investment.

Parents rally to protest possible end of classroom breakfast program

Union officials representing school cafeteria workers led a noisy rally of parents Tuesday to save a Los Angeles Unified classroom breakfast program that feeds nearly 200,000 children but was in danger of being axed after sharp criticism by teachers.

Lawsuit targets union fees collected from nonmember teachers

A conservative organization has joined with a group of California teachers in an effort to overturn laws that allow teacher unions to collect fees from those who don't want to be members.

EdSource: Bonds would fund business investment in schools under Steinberg proposal

The leader of the California State Senate says the way to encourage more and stronger bonds between industry and education is through, well, bonds.

Fensterwald: Rocketship Education’s next phase: technology in a blended classroom

As other districts and charter schools are starting to emulate the Rocketship Education model, which relies on computer-guided instruction as a key component, the K-5 charter school organization is considering leaving it behind, like a first-stage booster, and moving toward a different a 21st century classroom.

LAUSD Supt. John Deasy faces 'performance evaluation' by teachers union

Barely two weeks after delivering a stinging no-confidence vote on the leadership of Superintendent John Deasy, the teachers union announced it will do a first-ever "performance evaluation" of the Los Angeles Unified chief.

EdSource: Duncan admits flaws in current standardized testing

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan acknowledged serious flaws in the standardized tests that currently drive American schools, telling an audience of education researchers on Tuesday that the tests are an inadequate gauge of student and teacher performance.

Most of Alisal official's credit card use appears legitimate

Credit cards issued to Alisal Union School District Superintendent John Ramirez Jr. were used primarily for official business, according to a review of bank statements. But the school chief did reimburse the district for some credit card purchases, the documents show.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013

New middle school to open in Carmel Valley in 2015

In about two years, San Dieguito Union High School District officials plan to have a new middle school in Carmel Valley that will help reduce the number of students at another nearly campus.

Employees thank Monterey school board

Monterey Peninsula Unified School District trustees will take at least another week to decide how to proceed in the search for a new superintendent.

Johnson: Oakland charter school a cautionary tale

The pending closure of three Oakland charter schools that operate as part of American Indian Model Schools is a bona fide disaster for the institution's 1,200 students but a necessary evil for Oakland school board members who voted 4-3 last month to shut them down because of fiscal mismanagement.