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Thursday, October 24, 2013

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Fensterwald: API will soon lose its clout as shorthand for defining school success







Education Headlines

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Standard names Eureka administrator for superintendent opening

The Standard School District board of trustees has named Paul Meyers the lead candidate for its superintendent opening. Meyers is the superintendent of the South Bay Union School District, a district in Eureka, Calif., with about 850 students.

Moorpark school board approves raises for teachers

The Moorpark Unified School District board unanimously agreed this week to increase teacher salaries 2 percent to 3 percent.

Eureka teachers to picket today: Contract talks continue

Negotiations are continuing between the Eureka Teacher's Association and the Eureka City Schools district on a 2013-2014 contract that hinges on teachers' salary and benefits.

Union objects as Fresno Unified school board OK's new lesson plans

Fresno Unified students will be taught new and more real-world lessons starting this year, but Fresno teachers union officials say they weren't consulted about the revamped classroom materials.

Bus-pass program shrinks significantly

A plan to give free bus passes to some inner-city students has been scaled back significantly after the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System declined to offer discounted fares to the San Diego Unified School District.

District to consider taking step toward state takeover

Denair Unified trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday to vote on a procedural step toward a state takeover if the district cannot rein in salaries and cover its bills for the year.

Hayward school board names Stanley Dobbs as permanent superintendent

The school board appointed interim Superintendent Stanley Dobbs as permanent head of Hayward schools Wednesday night. The 4-0 vote came after overwhelming public comments in favor of Dobbs. Trustee Louis Reynoso walked out of the meeting before the vote.

West Contra Costa school district to poll voters on desire for new tax measures

Pointing to the need to carry out a new strategic plan and add more spending flexibility in its school construction program, West Contra Costa school district trustees approved a second voter poll in a year on a new parcel tax and school bond measure.

Baron: Former State Board president reportedly tapped as Duncan adviser

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has reportedly tapped former California State Board of Education president Ted Mitchell for a key post in his administration.

Fensterwald: API will soon lose its clout as shorthand for defining school success

The API’s power – some would call it tyranny – is waning. In the near term, the API will be a husk of its former self and may disappear for a couple of years. Longer term, it will become just one of many gauges of school performance – demoted from sheriff of accountability to the rank of sergeant.

LAUSD makes progress in meeting mandated special-education targets

Twenty years after a disabled student filed suit seeking access to an equal education, Los Angeles Unified has made “considerable” progress in making court-ordered improvements to its special-education programs, according to a report released Wednesday.

California schools' fitness tests: About one-third of students met the goals

Although California students made slight gains in physical fitness this year, a report released Wednesday adds more fuel to arguments that children need to ditch the TV and video games in favor of more athletic pursuits.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Fillmore school officials hope to stay the course with online offerings

Fillmore Unified School District officials said they are optimistic that newly offered online courses will provide current and prospective students with a unique education that includes classes not offered in traditional classrooms.

Low-income preschoolers hit by cuts

Preschoolers from low-income families in San Joaquin County will spend 32 fewer days in the classroom because of budget cuts enacted by Congress earlier this year that local officials think are here to stay.

Coachella Valley Unified to purchase new iPad Air tablets

Coachella Valley Unified schools will purchase 10,000-13,000 of the new iPad Air tablets that Apple unveiled Tuesday, but the high demand for the device is likely to extend the school district’s iPad roll-out into the second half of the school year.