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Thursday, October 3, 2013

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STAR test dumped: Brown ignores federal threats, signs bill allowing new exams





Education Headlines

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Critics blast Sonora High School pool project

Concerned community members attending the Sonora Union High School District’s board meeting Tuesday questioned whether the district is legally allowed to spend bond money on building a new aquatics center.

State won't hear appeal of Cayucos student transfer decision

The California Department of Education won’t even consider ruling on a petition to transfer Cayucos high school students to the San Luis Coastal Unified School District from Coast Unified School District in Cambria, effectively killing that transfer movement by parents.

Santa Ana Unified reveals contract for new superintendent

Santa Ana Unified School District officials were reluctant last week to share their new superintendent's salary contract, one that makes Rick Miller one of the highest-salaried school district superintendents in California, based on the latest figures from the state Department of Education.

Brown signs bill to restrict costly school borrowing deals

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Wednesday to prevent school districts from entering costly bond deals such as a 2009 Folsom Cordova Unified agreement that requires about $18 in payments for every $1 borrowed.

Rialto school board president defends superintendent: “He fell into a web”

Embattled schools Superintendent Harold Cebrun remains on administrative leave, but has at least one key defender: school board president Joe Ayala.

Backers of proposed El Cerrito charter school ask panel to revive plan

Supporters and opponents of a proposed charter school to be located in El Cerrito argued their cases passionately Wednesday evening before the Contra Costa County school board that is considering the charter's petition after the West Contra Costa school district denied it.

UTLA nixes LAUSD bid for $30M federal grant

For the second straight year, the Los Angeles Unified teachers’ union refused to endorse the district’s application for a prestigious federal grant, which officials said would have brought in $30 million to fund counselors and instructional coaches at high-needs middle schools.

Brown signs law prevents schools from incurring huge bond debt

A law signed Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown will prevent school districts from issuing ultra-long-term bonds that saddle taxpayers with huge repayment debt.

STAR test dumped: Brown ignores federal threats, signs bill allowing new exams

A bill ending the standardized tests that California public school students have taken in reading, math and social science since 1999 received Gov. Jerry Brown's signature on Wednesday, despite a threat by the U.S. secretary of education to withhold federal funds if the state moved forward with the plan.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Frey: Los Angeles Unified discussing 200-day school year

Los Angeles Unified, the state’s largest school district, is discussing extending its academic year by 20 days, a $300 million proposal that would give Los Angeles the longest school year, at 200 days, of any large urban district in the nation.

Impact on local school districts minimal

One Salinas school district will have to buy produce locally and pay out of pocket. Others will have to live with the “check’s in the mail” excuse for meal reimbursements. Other than that, the jolt of the government shutdown will not be felt in the classroom, officials said Tuesday.

Capo to vote on agreement with classified workers union

The 1,298 non-teaching staffers at Capistrano Unified School District have agreed to furloughs and step freezes in a labor agreement up for a vote by district trustees on Wednesday evening.