Thursday, April 3, 2014

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, April 3, 2014

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Solutions sought to reduce food waste at schools


Education Headlines

Thursday, April 3, 2014
FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.

Districts report few kinks with new testing method

Some local schools resolved what were minor communication hiccups and computer glitches in early rounds of the testing they administered last week. Others will begin the testing in assessment windows that start Monday and later this month.

Sweetwater-inspired reform bill advances

A bill that seeks to ban school and community college administrators from soliciting or accepting campaign donations for their elected officials cleared its first hurdle Tuesday, passing the state Assembly’s Elections and Redistricting Committee.

Tracking Prop. 30 school money

Californians can now see where their Proposition 30 education tax dollars are going and how the money is being spent thanks to a new online tool launched by the state Controller’s Office Wednesday.

Salinas-area charter schools grind through Common Core testing

Not everyone in the public schools is in a rush to use the technology of the new millennium. Monterey Bay Charter School, for example, does not introduce students to computerized learning until sixth grade. As a result, the first- through eighth-grade school in Pacific Grove has encountered a philosophical clash at the computer as field testing for the Common Core State Standards begins next week.

EpiPen legislation for California schools advances

Senate Bill 1266, by Senate Republican leader Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, would require school districts to give EpiPens to trained personnel to provide emergency medical aid to anyone suffering from a severe allergic reaction.

Twin Rivers unveils plan to put heaters, air conditioners in classrooms

Twin Rivers Unified unfurled a five-month plan Wednesday to correct heating and air-conditioning problems at Grant Union High School and Harmon Johnson Elementary School.

Solutions sought to reduce food waste at schools

Federal rules require students to take at least three items each day, but an L.A. Unified manager wants to change the policy to reduce the $100,000 in food thrown away daily.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014

EdSource: How budget cuts and PTA fundraising undermined equity in San Francisco public schools

In an era of shrinking public investment in schools, parents have struggled to hold the line one school at a time. Since the pre-recession year 2007, elementary school PTAs in San Francisco collectively managed to more than quadruple their spending on schools. But school district finance data, PTA tax records and demographic profiles reveal an unintended byproduct.

District oversight group discusses bond status

A citizens committee that oversees bond money for the Sweetwater Union High School District said Tuesday during a special meeting that the school board has some improvements to make with regard to funding priorities.

Carlsbad school aids Vista students in service learning project

What started last year with an affluent elementary school in Carlsbad helping a Vista school in a poorer neighborhood has grown into series of projects in which students from both campuses learn from each other and grow.

Solutions sought to reduce food waste at schools

Federal rules require students to take at least three items each day, but a Los Angeles Unified School District manager wants to change the policy to reduce the $100,000 in food thrown away daily.

LAUSD investigates as Sunny Brae Elementary principal Jeff Hum is removed in Winnetka amid misconduct allegation

A principal at a Winnetka elementary school has been removed and an investigation launched, a Los Angeles Unified School District spokesman said Tuesday.

San Jose Unified backs down on placing charter middle school on elementary campus

Despite interest and compromises by San Jose Unified School District, the charter school and residents, the effort fell victim to volatile charter-school politics. The agreement to create Downtown College Prep Middle was cemented in September, but the school remains homeless for 2014-15.