Thursday, July 25, 2013

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, July 25, 2013

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State education officials: We’re sticking with Common Core






Education Headlines

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Columbia Elementary School board answers grand jury

Columbia Union School District trustees and Superintendent John Pendley approved a response to the 2013 Tuolumne County Grand Jury report Tuesday that indicated they agree with most of the report's findings.

Lucia Mar's end to some adult courses shocks some

Lucia Mar officials have eliminated all of the fee-based courses offered through its adult education program — forcing South County residents who had taken classes such as yoga and cooking to search for them elsewhere.

Arcadia district reaches settlement in transgender rights case

The Arcadia Unified School District unanimously approved a settlement agreement with the U.S. government after the Department of Justice launched an investigation into allegations the district discriminated against a transgender student.

West Covina Unified superintendent receives contract extension, $10,000

West Covina Unified School District's board has extended Superintendent Deborah Kaplan's contract to 2017 and awarded her with a one-time $10,000 tax sheltered annuity for her performance during the 2012-13 school year.

The first day of school in July? Yes - for Lodi Unified School District students

Once upon a time, school started the day after Labor Day. But in recent years, classes have been moved up to late August, then mid-August. And in Lodi Unified School District, classes will begin on Friday - and July isn't over yet.

Eureka High to launch hybrid auto program next fall

Eureka City Schools Superintendent Fred Van Vleck announced on Wednesday that Eureka High School will put the brakes on a plan to do away with the school's traditional auto mechanics program.

Fresno Unified gets $5 million Gates Foundation

Fresno Unified School District has won a $5 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help implement the new Common Core standards and pay for teachers' professional development training.

Orange Unified again considers furloughs

The Orange Unified School Board will consider tonight a plan to shorten by one day the 2013-14 school year. The proposal would leave 179 instruction days for the upcoming school year. Additionally, the school board will consider four teacher furlough days, and up to five furlough days for administrators, principals and other management staff.

Saddleback Valley Unified rolling out Chromebooks

Chromebooks – Google's laptop computers that run Chrome OS – will replace more notepads, pens and possibly even smartphones and tablets next year at schools in Saddleback Valley Unified School District, which is gearing up to spend millions of dollars on the devices.

State education officials: We’re sticking with Common Core

As the political debate swirls in some statehouses over the Common Core math and reading standards, most state education officials responsible for implementing the new K-12 standards are confident that their states will stick with the program, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Jordan High's staff shakeup puts students on better track

New, motivated teachers have helped improve test scores. The school's turnaround is a key to redeveloping the housing project.

Fensterwald: Start spending new money now on high-needs students, advocates say

Two dozen organizations advocating for disadvantaged students wrote county and school district superintendents and charter school administrators Wednesday, reminding them that the new funding formula directing more money to low-income kids and English learners is now the law even though the initial regulations for the system are months away. The message: Start spending money on your high-needs children this year; don’t make commitments that might encroach on future obligations to these students.

LAUSD parents, teachers fight mainstreaming of disabled kids

Waving signs and chanting "Our kids, our choice," scores of Los Angeles Unified parents and teachers protested the looming transfer of hundreds of disabled students from special-education centers to traditional schools, as the district complies with laws to integrate students who have physical and developmental challenges.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Belleview Elementary School answers grand jury

Belleview School District will review its hiring and job assignment policies at the recommendation of the Tuolumne County Grand Jury, the school board promised Monday in its formal response to the 2013 jury report.

Twin Rivers school board lays off top human resources managers

Twin Rivers Unified School District trustees Tuesday night voted to lay off the top three managers in the district's Human Resources Department.

Hayward mayor to swear in interim superintendent

Mayor Michael Sweeney will swear in Stanley Dobbs as interim superintendent at Wednesday's school board meeting. Dobbs was hired by trustees to replace Donald Evans, who took over as Berkeley superintendent at the beginning of July.