Latest News and Comment from Education

Show All

Monday, March 22, 2010

The OUSD deficit: Labor weighs in | The Education Report

The OUSD deficit: Labor weighs in | The Education Report

The OUSD deficit: Labor weighs in

By Katy Murphy
Monday, March 22nd, 2010 at 12:23 pm in OEA, OUSD central office, budget, union contract.
Seven unions and the Alameda Central Labor Council say they have the answer to the Oakland school district’s budget woes: The Oakland Schools Labor Coalition has identified $35 million to cut from the school district’s general purpose fund. Thepresentation is posted on Wednesday night’s Oakland school board agenda.
The unions propose the following cutbacks:
  • $10 million by cutting excess administrators (The state has a maximum administrator-to-teacher ratio, and OUSD was fined $1.3 million for having 78 too many administrators in 2006-07. The unions rounded that number up to 80 and multiplied by $125,000 to reach $10 million.)
  • $10 million in “unmandated testing”
  • $4.6 million by cutting the district’s reserves in half, down to 1 percent of the budget. This would require a waiver, as the state requires districts to have a 2 percent reserve.
  • $7 million by somehow getting the district’s loan repayments waived
Posted by at

"School is really, really boring. I hate coming here." - LeaderTalk - Education Week

"School is really, really boring. I hate coming here." - LeaderTalk - Education Week

"School is really, really boring. I hate coming here."

By LeaderTalk Contributor on March 22, 2010 4:31 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Civic Enterprises has released its latest study, Raising Their Voices, concerning America’s dropout crisis. What resonated with me the most was the voices of the students in the report. Here are some samples:
“To me, high school is like elementary and middle school. It’s all the same. We’ve been doing the same thing over and over again.”
“If you just fight your way through it now and get through school ... eventually it will be interesting when you get into your career field.”
“I’m going to be honest: school is really, really boring. I hate coming here.”
Issue 1: Student boredom
I hate coming here. If you just fight your way through it. The same thing over and over again. These are pretty damning words. They also are pretty common. As the report noted, many students view high school as something that must betolerated as a stepping-stone to [something] better (emphasis added).
Posted by at

More on School Advisory Councils | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

More on School Advisory Councils | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

More on School Advisory Councils

by Erika Owens on Mar 22 2010

Tags:

We just created a centralized place for you to discuss Renaissance Schools. Over the weekend there was a training for the 262 members of the School Advisory Councils. The District has released the list of members of those councils.
The list of School Advisory Council members is broken out per school below.
Posted by at

Who Shouldn't Bother Applying for i3? - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Who Shouldn't Bother Applying for i3? - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Who Shouldn't Bother Applying for i3?

By Michele McNeil on March 22, 2010 4:09 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Those who don't know what the terms "internal validity" and "external validity" mean.
That's the message that came through loud and clear at Friday's technical assistance planning seminar in Baltimore, which the U.S. Department of Education put on to help folks navigate the Investing in Innovation, or i3, grant application process.
This $650 million grant program is open to school districts, and nonprofits that partner with a school district or a consortium of public schools. Applications are due May 11, with awards announced in September. And if attendance at Friday's seminar was any indication, the department is going to need a ton of peer reviewers to handle all of the applications. More than 400 people attended, with 1,000 online, and a crowd of wait-listed people gathered outside the hotel ballroom just in case there were no-shows. My sense was the audience was


Houses Passes Loans Bill, Minus Early Ed.

By Alyson Klein on March 22, 2010 3:10 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Obviously, this is the biggest news out of Congress this weekend. But, as we've mentioned before, a major change to the student lending program is hitching a ride with the health care overhaul.
The most important details for K-12 folks are that a) the bill shores up and provides an increase for Pell Grants, which expand access to college for low-income students, and b) in shoring up the Pell program, this bill may indirectly help appropriations for other key K-12 programs, including new Obama priorities.
The bill's supporters told me that if it didn't pass, they would have to find the
Posted by at

The Perimeter Primate: More interpersonal nastiness than usual

The Perimeter Primate: More interpersonal nastiness than usual

More interpersonal nastiness than usual

More interpersonal nastiness than usual, and the increased burden of expensive and time-consuming marketing tasks, are the human costs that school choice and competition have brought to real people in communities. This business-model practice helps to disintegrate intact, positive, community relationships which have been built up over time. I have yet to see how the milieu of increased competition between parents and schools is helping any children.
For families and their kids who have been in elementary school together and have established themselves as a community, the looming decision about middle school pits them against one another and breaks them up into factions. This happens in as early as the fourth and fifth grades, and again a few years later when middle-school families are under pressure to make their high school decision.
During the process, an unspoken-about tension builds up between parents and kids. People who once were collaborators on the same “team” increasingly find themselves judging each other. They repeatedly justify and emotionally defend their decisions, to both themselves and to each other. Parents and kids start to break their ties and actually become opponents who start sniffing each other out.
Posted by at

Survey of superintendents shows state could lose 15,000 teachers | GothamSchools

Survey of superintendents shows state could lose 15,000 teachers | GothamSchools

Survey of superintendents shows state could lose 15,000 teachers

by Anna Phillips
A survey sent out to school superintendents across New York State shows that proposed budget cuts could force the state to shed 15,000 teaching positions next year.
Distributed by the association representing school superintendents and the New York State School Boards Association, the survey went out to about 700 superintendents and roughly half returned it. Those who did reported a grim year ahead in which the state would have to lay off four percent of its teachers, increase class sizes, and reduce electives.
The bulk of those lost teaching positions would come from New York City’s schools, which Mayor Bloomberg has said could lose about 8,500 teachers if the state budget cuts go through unchanged. Though 16 Democratic state senators have written to Governor David Paterson saying they won’t approve any cuts to education, the Senate is now prepared to pass Paterson’s budget as is.
School employees who don’t have teaching positions are at an even greater risk of losing their jobs, the
Posted by at

One Step Closer on Student Loan Reform � The Quick and the Ed

One Step Closer on Student Loan Reform � The Quick and the Ed


One Step Closer on Student Loan Reform

March 22nd, 2010 | Category: Undergraduate Education



Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 219 to 212 to pass a bill that would make significant changes to the country’s health care system. The legislation represents the biggest victory to date in a process that’s been ongoing since 1993. Later this week, the Senate is expected to have another opportunity to end a policy process that also started that same year: federal student loan reform.
The same year that President Bill Clinton first began working on health care reform, Congress created the Direct Loan Program—an initiative that allowed the Department of Education to use U.S. Treasury funds to issue student loans directly to individuals instead of the existing and costlier model of guaranteeing and providing subsidies for identical loans issued by banks.
In September, the House passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) a bill that ended the bank-based system for good. Last night, it voted to end those payments again by passing the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (PDF). In


Matching Preferences

from The Quick and the Ed by Chad Aldeman
Since the creation of the concept of a medical residency in the early 1900’s, hospitals faced challenges allocating their seats efficiently. In a never-ending race to sign residents before peer hospitals could beat them to it, residency programs began issuing offers to candidates earlier and earlier to the extent that by 1944 some students were applying in their sophomore year. Almost all the spots were filled by juniors, two full years in advance of actually beginning the residency program. Worse, these students had little incentive to work hard in their last two years of school, and hospitals were losing out from this competition because they were competing over prized students and were losing two years of potential academic records to assess candidates.
In 1945, schools decided to band together and agreed not to release student records until their senior year. This alleviated the problem of early placement offers, but created a new one. Some students received offers from their lower choices but were informed they were on waiting lists at their more preferred options. Imagine the student’s displeasure when they were forced into a decision on their second choice before coming off the waiting list for their first. Hospitals, too, were displeased with students who initially accepted their offers only to renege and turn it down later for one of their more preferred placements.
Posted by at

The Educated Reporter: Gist suggests why Central Falls made a splash.

The Educated Reporter: Gist suggests why Central Falls made a splash.


MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2010


Gist suggests why Central Falls made a splash.

I went to a reporters’ roundtable this morning with Deborah Gist, the schools superintendent for Rhode Island. Someone asked her the question that struck me from the start: Why did this turnaround get so much media attention? As I mentioned before, many schools have gone through reconstitution that involved teachers having to reapply for their jobs.

Gist suggested maybe it was because in a larger district, teachers removed from
Posted by at

John King USA: Blog Archive - Vicki Kennedy visits husband's grave on day of historic vote � - Blogs from CNN.com

John King USA: Blog Archive - Vicki Kennedy visits husband's grave on day of historic vote � - Blogs from CNN.com

Vicki Kennedy visits husband's grave on day of historic vote
Posted: 01:29 PM ET
Vicki Kennedy talks with John King Monday about her late husband’s legacy and the passage of health care reform—a goal Sen. Edward Kennedy worked towards for nine terms in the U.S. Senate.
Vicki Kennedy talks with John King Monday about her late husband’s legacy and the passage of health care reform—a goal Sen. Edward Kennedy worked towards for nine terms in the U.S. Senate.
Washington (CNN) – As the House was debating the controversial health care bill Sunday, Vicki Kennedy visited Arlington National Cemetery where she said she "spent some time" with her husband. Arlington is the final resting place for Sen. Edward Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who made health care reform his passion and lifelong goal.
"I thought yesterday was an important day to be there, because I had hope and confidence and certainly, you know, wish that the bill would pass," she said in an exclusive interview with CNN's John King.
The full interview appears on CNN's new political program "John King, USA," which debuts Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
Kennedy talked about a letter her husband wrote in his final days to the President Obama. It said, in part, "When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the president to at long last sign into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society." Sen. Kennedy added, "It was the cause of my life."
Vicki Kennedy told John King her husband was not sad when he wrote those words, because he "wasn't a man who had self pity, ever."
Posted by at

Blogs: Feds Ask Schools For More Civil Rights Data This Week In Education

This Week In Education

Blogs: Feds Ask Schools For More Civil Rights Data

SchoolrelationshipsSizing Up The New Blueprint National Journal: Could Duncan's catchphrase "tight on goals, loose on means" translate into a loss of accountability under the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act? What does the blueprint get right? What does it get wrong? Obama on Education Lead From The Start: I thought Obama was going to be an early education president. Turns out he isn't even an education president. 'Education Does Not Begin Or End At The Schoolhouse Door' Liam Goldrick: A lot of us in education policy get lost within our own locus of control [image]. Feds Add New Categories for Civil Rights Reporting Mary Ann Zehr: The U.S. Department of Education has announced that for the 2009-10 school year, school districts will have to collect data in a number of new categories that relate to students' civil rights. Claims of Resegregation in North Carolina Newsweek: Previously a model of desegregation, the state's classrooms have begun to divide again along racial lines. Democrats miss an obvious lesson plan for deprived children George Will: Duncan seems
Posted by at

Fiscal Early Warning List - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

Fiscal Early Warning List - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

Budget Crisis Leads to Dramatic Rise
in School Districts on Fiscal Early Warning List

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced a 17 percent increase in the number of school districts that may be unable to meet future financial obligations because of the continuing state budget crisis and cuts to public education. The list of school districts is at First Interim Status Report, FY 2009-10 - Fiscal Status.
"Massive state budget cuts are crippling our public school system's ability to operate," O'Connell said. "Public education in California received $17 billion less in state funding than anticipated over the last two budget years. School districts already have made draconian cuts to programs and services, eliminated summer school, increased class sizes, and cut art, music, libraries, school nurses, and sports. The Governor has proposed cutting another $2.4 billion this year. Districts now are forced to lay off even more teachers and make deep cuts to educational programs to address projected budget shortfalls or face possible bankruptcy and state receivership. In the first interim status report of the 2009-10 fiscal year, 126 local educational agencies are now on the watch list, which is up an alarming 17 percent from the 108 school districts on the watch list we reported last June.
"I urge the Governor to reconsider the cuts proposed for public schools, and I also continue to call on the Governor and the Legislature to approve SCA 6 so that local communities can have more control over the financial destiny of their school districts."
California has an early warning system designed to detect which districts are in danger of failing to meet their financial obligations. Interim status reports on the fiscal health of school districts and county offices of education are prepared semi-annually. The certifications are classified as positive, qualified, or negative.
A positive certification is assigned when the district will meet its financial obligations for the current and two subsequent fiscal years. A qualified certification is assigned when the district may not meet its financial obligations for the current or two subsequent fiscal years. A negative certification is assigned when a district will be unable to meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the current year or for the subsequent fiscal year. In 2006-07, there were only three districts on the negative certification list and 19 on the qualified list. Today, there are 12 districts on the negative certification list and 114 districts in California with a qualified certification status.
At least 23,518 teachers and other certificated school staff in California have now received preliminary layoff notices for the coming school year. More than 16,000 teachers lost their jobs last year, and roughly 10,000 classified school employees were also laid off over the last couple years as a direct result of state budget cuts.
In light of the increased numbers of local educational agencies on the interim status lists, O'Connell is renewing his call to give local communities the ability to try to raise funds for schools locally by urging the Governor and Legislature to approve SCA 6 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto). This measure would allow voters to elect to lower the approval threshold for parcel taxes to 55 percent, which is the approval threshold for local school bond elections.
For more information on SCA 6, please visit sca_6_bill_20090608_amended_sen_v97 (Outside Source). For more information on the interim status list, please visit Interim Status - Fiscal Status. For the latest totals of educational personnel receiving pink slips, please visit Home - California Teachers Association (Outside Source).
# # # #
Jack O'Connell — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Posted by at

Guilty: Teenage Cyberbullies NOT Protected By Free Speech - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.

Guilty: Teenage Cyberbullies NOT Protected By Free Speech - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.

Listen Up Parents & Schools:
Your Kids Can Be Guilty Of Slander & Hate Crimes
Decrees California Court

"Beat Bullying" Video By UK Celebs Below


Schools and parents beware. The freedom of the press does not apply to Johnny or Jane's "defamatory" remarks on the Internet to one of his or her friends. That is, if California courts have anything to do with it.

So the next time you think your son or daughter is free from any charges against them, think twice. School administration and officials, if you think turning your head the other way in matters of cyberbullying, may find your institution with a lawsuit. And, private school entry fees are no protection, either.

What's more, this recent ruling raises multiple questions about constitutes private and public information. According to Wired magazine:
Posted by at

Intense talks on furloughs, give-backs The Educated Guess

The Educated Guess

Intense talks on furloughs, give-backs

Tags: , ,
Posted in State Budget, pay
The fate of the 23,000-plus teachers statewide who got pink slips by March 15 will be determined not only in Sacramento but also behind closed doors in each local school district office.
Pay cuts, give-backs and furlough days are quietly being negotiated between teachers and administrators in nearly district. The Education Coalition – the state school boards association, the California Teachers Assn. and the state school administrators association – isn’t saying much about that at this point, for good reason. After absorbing $16 billion in education cuts over the past two years, the coalition wants to keep pressure on the Legislature to restore some of the $2 billion in additional budget cuts that Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed for next year. With state revenues projected to be perhaps a couple billion dollars higher than originally estimated, most unions and districts want to wait closer to the new fiscal year on July 1 to seal a deal.
(Read more and comment on this post)
Posted by at

Education Week: L.A. Unified to Halt Out-of-District Transfers

Education Week: L.A. Unified to Halt Out-of-District Transfers

L.A. Unified to Halt Out-of-District Transfers

By The Associated Press
Los Angeles
The superintendents of three Los Angeles County school districts are planning a joint appeal to their Los Angeles Unified counterpart in a bid to keep some 3,000 city students who collectively bring in millions of dollars in state funding to their districts.
Culver City, Santa Monica-Malibu and Las Virgenes are three of the districts that will be hardest hit by LAUSD's decision this week to rein in its liberal inter-district permit policy, which this school year released more than 12,200 city students to surrounding districts at a loss of $51 million in state funding.
"We're working almost as a consortium," said Culver City Unified Superintendent Myrna Rivera Cote. "We're planning to send an appeal to LAUSD. We'll see what we can do."
LAUSD's decision comes as the district faces a $640 million budget deficit and the possibility of several thousand teacher layoffs in the fall.
Because of the bleak financial picture, LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said his district can no longer afford to lose the $4,900 per pupil the state pays the district by releasing students to other school systems.
Cortines said that although he recognizes all school districts are suffering massive cutbacks in state funding, LAUSD's budget deficit is the largest. He added that the district has made huge strides in its academic offerings, including magnet schools, small learning community campuses and several California Distinguished Schools, as well as 87 new schools.
Posted by at

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence. - Love Library at SDSU an Earthquake Hazard

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence. - Love Library at SDSU an Earthquake Hazard

Love Library at SDSU an Earthquake Hazard

Print
Font Size:
Default font size
Larger font size

  • Sam Hodgson
    Although SDSU's iconic library dome is safe in a major seismic event, state records show the older, large, white rectangular section of the library is at risk of collapse.

    Related Links

    Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 5:18 pm | Updated: 8:25 pm, Sun Mar 21, 2010.
    By ERICA PEREZ | California Watch
    Love Library, the main library at San Diego State University, could collapse in the event of a major earthquake and threaten life, according to state records.
    Despite that level of risk, people continue to flow through the building every day. University officials say it's safe to use, but are now studying how to reduce the risk of collapse.
    Posted by at
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)