Oregon's a slow starter in race to better schools - OregonLive.com

Oregon's a slow starter in race to better schools - OregonLive.com

Look, we're not yet completely sold on the claims that charter schools and performance pay are the end all, be all of school reform. And we still believe that the first step toward strengthening a school is to put a great principal in charge, surround her or him with teachers who are committed and work well together, and give kids -- every one of them -- the attention they need.

But what's going on with education here is not in the best Oregon tradition. This is a state that's been a bold, creative national trendsetter on everything from land-use planning to juvenile justice to protection of public beaches. And yet here we are, chugging along on schools, continually bickering over money and control, fighting most changes, and imagining all the while that we're actually in a race to the top.

Danny Weil: The Charter School Hype and How It's Managed

Danny Weil: The Charter School Hype and How It's Managed:

"As I worked on an investigation of charter schools my journey led me through a myriad of think tanks, front groups, advocacy organizations, and reform clubs and associations active in the controversy over charter schools. What I found particularly noticeable were literally hundreds of think tanks, many of which have been active in proposing charter school legislation for decades under the auspices of privatization. I was struck by how large these think tanks were and had become, how well-funded they seemed to be and how they have the ability to create multi-issue networks that can respond on a wide range of issues in a relatively short period of time, a plus in the 24/7 news cycle world within which we live. Many of the think tanks I visited in my research, though not all are also often the same think tanks that promote private vouchers, engage in anti-teacher rhetoric and encourage the privatization of education in general. It is important that as consumers of a great deal of think tank commentary and information about charter schools we take the time to analyze just what a think tank is, why they exist and whose interests they serve."

Judging teachers by test scores is wrong : Opinion : Ventura County Star

Judging teachers by test scores is wrong : Opinion : Ventura County Star:

"Children are the sum of their experiences and teachers are only a small part of the equation. Children arrive at school with various life experiences that hamper and hinder, or enhance their ability to learn. Teachers do not control these factors and, therefore, should not be penalized or rewarded because of them."

Teachers Without Contract Sound Off - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis

Teachers Without Contract Sound Off - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis:

"'We don't feel that we're respected, so that's the biggest thing for us,' said Carmel High School teacher Dawn Laumeyer.
Teachers' contracts expired in June 2008. Administrators and teachers haven't been able to come to an agreement on a new contract.
'With declining revenues, hard choices have to be made,' said Brian Lyday, president of the Carmel Clay Education Association. 'We're asking that the administration looks in other places besides just the teaching staff.'"

Teachers in school districts considering strikes | Top Stories | NWCN.com | Northwest News and Weather

Teachers in school districts considering strikes Top Stories NWCN.com Northwest News and Weather:


"'This is the worst time this state has seen in decades. I can't stress to you people how serious this is,' said one school administrator.
Shoreline teachers are meeting Thursday to get an update. They have already voted to authorize a strike but would have to take another vote to actually go on strike."

Sacramento Press / Mayor's education report praises charter schools

Sacramento Press / Mayor's education report praises charter schools:

"One of the recommendations states that the city could contact “educational management organizations that have seen success across the state and nation to open schools in Sacramento or partner in turning around low-performing schools.”"

for report go to:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10382430/Education-That-Works-Ideas-for-Sacramento

LAUSD takes on `school choice' plan - ContraCostaTimes.com

LAUSD takes on `school choice' plan - ContraCostaTimes.com:


Fiercely opposing the plan is organized labor and some community leaders, who see the reforms as divisive and polarizing.

Hundreds of protesters on both sides of the issue are expected to crowd today's board meeting downtown. Streets surrounding LAUSD's Beaudry headquarters will be blocked off by around 10 a.m."

Labor organizations have blasted the mayor's involvement with the proposal.
"After voters decided that they did not want the mayor involved in our schools, this is his alternate route to get his takeover," said Andrea Canty, a spokeswoman for the California School Employees Association.
The mayor was also sharply criticized this month for attending "invitation-only" town hall meetings about the school choice plan sponsored by the Parent Revolution, a parent group funded by the Green Dot Charter organization, that excluded several parents.
A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, has vocally opposed the school choice plan, calling it the "privatization" of public education.
Duffy cited recent studies, including a Stanford study released this spring that revealed that about 30 percent of all charters nationwide are performing worse than comparable noncharter schools.
"Is no one reading the data?" Duffy asked. "Charters are not doing any better. This is clearly an attempt to break up UTLA."

Making Geeks Cool Could Reform Education

Making Geeks Cool Could Reform Education

"The driving force in the life of a child, starting much earlier than it used to be, is to be cool, to fit in," Grodd told the group. "And pretty universally, it's cool to rebel." In other words, prepare for you and your netbook to be jeered out of the room. "The best schools," Grodd told me later, "are able to make learning cool, so the cool kids are the ones who get As. That's an art."

It's an art that has, for the most part, been lost on educators. The notion itself seems incredibly daunting—until you look at one maligned subculture in which the smartest members are also the most popular: the geeks. If you want to reform schools, you've got to make them geekier.

"Geeks get things done. They're possessed. They can't help themselves," says Larry Rosenstock, founding principal of eight charter schools in San Diego County collectively called High Tech High. He has come up with a curriculum that forces kids to embrace their inner geek by pushing them to create.

Why school choice plan is a bad idea for our district - LA Daily News

Why school choice plan is a bad idea for our district - LA Daily News:

"HOW can you have an education 'town hall' where the townsfolk aren't invited?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Ben Austin staged two such events this month touting LAUSD Vice President Yolie Flores Aguilar's school choice resolution, which is up for vote on Tuesday.

Locking out those most concerned with the content of those meetings - parents, educators and the community - is a harbinger of how public education may look should the resolution pass. In fact, the closed meetings stand as metaphors for how the majority of charter management organizations work: undemocratic, top down, run by noneducators, and unaccountable to the communities where they operate.

Noting widespread public opposition to Flores Aguilar's resolution, particularly at town halls featuring LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines, the mayor and his Green Dot allies made sure their Boyle Heights and Venice meetings were town halls in name only.

The first was held midday Aug. 11. The Garfield Town Hall was hosted at Catholic Charities instead of Garfield High School, notably because Garfield's parents, teachers, and community have vehemently opposed Green Dot's ongoing hostile takeover attempts for over a year. The community was locked outside while parents bused in from other locations comprised the audience.

Those locked out were told they would have been admitted had they called to reserve a spot.
That's what many people did for the next day's town hall in Venice once they obtained a number for RSVPs. The number was voice mail for Green Dot's paid organizer and none of us were ever called back. The Aug. 12 town hall in Venice was another closed meeting. "

Stop the Power Grab at tomorrow night's City Council Meeting

Please show up to City Council tomorrow (Tuesday), August 25th after 6pm and urge the City Council to vote NO on using taxpayer resources to fix legal flaws with the "Strong Mayor" initiative.

By doing so, we could finally put an end to the power grab.According to a review by the City Attorney, there are legal flaws with the proposal. If these legal issues are not resolved before the election, there is a chance that even if passed by the voters, the initiative could not take effect.

Recognizing that its legal flaws may end up killing the initiative, proponents of the measure are now urging the Council to direct city staff to draft accompanying measures to fix the proposal's legal flaws.

Proponents drafted the "Strong Mayor" initiative in secret and without public input or oversight. Then they hired a firm to collect signatures and claimed that it was the "will of the voters" to put this measure on the ballot in its original form.

They dismissed the idea of a charter review committee that was established to do the job right. Now they want the city council to fix their mistakes and are asking for the taxpayers to foot the bill.We need to put an end to this nonsense.

Please show up to City Council in strong numbers tomorrow and urge them to VOTE NO on using city resources to fix this legally flawed initiative and let's finally put this power grab to rest!
If you can't attend the meeting please contact the City Council at

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/council/index.html or

the FAX number for all Council Members is 916-264-7680.

Patrick Kennedy

Patrick Kennedy for Council 2010

Patrick Kennedy

Former Sacramento Fire Chief Julius Cherry Endorses Patrick Kennedy for Sacramento City Council
Monday, August 24
Former Sacramento Fire Chief Julius Cherry endorsed Patrick Kennedy’s campaign for Sacramento City Council, District 5. “I am proud to support Patrick Kennedy for City Council because of his commitment to public safety and years of service to the neighborhoods of District 5,” said Chief Cherry.

City Employees Support Patrick Kennedy
Monday, August 24
The International Union of Operating Engineers, Stationary Engineers, Local 39 in Sacramento, has endorsed Patrick Kennedy for Sacramento City Council. Local 39 represents approximately 2,500 workers in the City of Sacramento and covers a wide variety of workers in the Public and Private sectors, such as engineers, water treatment plant operators, building inspectors, code enforcement officers, librarians, park maintenance workers, and sanitation workers, just to name a few.
“I welcome the support of working men and women at the City and I look forward to working side-by-side with them to make Sacramento great,” said Patrick.

Sacramento Builders Exchange Endorses Patrick
Monday, August 17
The Sacramento Builders Exchange, the largest development association in California, has endorsed Patrick Kennedy for Sacramento City Council. In doing so, the Builders Exchange has put its faith in Patrick's economic development message and the leadership he will bring to City Hall.
"Patrick Kennedy is far and away the most qualified candidate for the job. We don't often make endorsements this early, but when you get a candidate like Patrick, the decision is easy,” said Matt Hedges, Director of Public Affairs for the Sacramento Builders Exchange.

Patrick Reaches Early Fundraising Goal
Wednesday, August 05
I am proud of the broad range of support that I received from all across Sacramento. It shows the level of support this campaign is attracting from so many walks of life in every community of the City.
A big thank you for everyone who helped me reach my early fundraising goal!

School success requires parent involvement

School success requires parent involvement:

"Your children are learning the most from you – by watching you, talking to you and interacting with you. In many ways, parents are the most important teachers children will have and it’s important to support your children’s education both at school and at home."

Parents should be partners with their child’s teacher. Introduce yourself to the teacher and talk about goals, communication preferences, concerns you have about your child, etc. Talk with teachers even when things are going well with your child, not just when problems arise. If there are problems, it is easier to work them out if you already have a relationship with the teacher. You and the teacher can work together in your different roles to help your children succeed in school.

Taking Women's Rights Seriously

Gordon Brown: Taking Women's Rights Seriously

The sustained degradation and subjugation of girls and women remains the world's most pervasive human rights violation.

Today, well over 100 million are 'missing' because of increased mortality from inequality and neglect and the majority of the 2.4 million victims of human trafficking, which treats people as products, are female. In its numbers and scale, the systematic discrimination outstrips even the wholesale abuses of the 18th and 19th century slave trade, which we today deplore as an obscene example of inhumanity from another era.

Yet, in supposedly civilised and enlightened times, girls and women around the world suffer unimaginable atrocities: forced marriage, rape, mutilation and death in pregnancy and childbirth. In Sierra Leone, a woman has a one in six chance of dying in childbirth in her lifetime -- a grotesque transformation of what should be the happiest time in a family's life into one of the most dangerous. Discrimination also means girls and women are more likely to be in poverty, denied schooling, deprived of health care, excluded from political and economic decision-making and die young.

West Contra Costa teachers authorize strike - ContraCostaTimes.com

West Contra Costa teachers authorize strike - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"The vote came as a response to forced contract changes made by the district's board of education earlier this summer, after months of negotiations failed to produce a new agreement. The district made changes to seniority provisions, increased class sizes, placed caps on teachers' current and retirement health benefits and eliminated benefits for teachers' dependents.

District officials have said they can no longer afford the current health care benefits, with the cost about doubling since 2001. They say the district is spending more money than it is bringing in, and that painful cuts are necessary to avoid bankruptcy.

Schickele has said there are other ways to make cuts -- such as shortening the school year -- and that many of the imposed changes to the contract have nothing to do with cost-saving."

Hitting the school grounds running: New recruits offset shortage

Hitting the school grounds running: New recruits offset shortage:


"There are some unique issues, especially in middle school, a teacher has to deal with, she said. With class changes, teachers deal with about 130 students a day, and just as many personalities, Hubbard said.
'Maturity levels vary in the class, and they vary in the students from day to day,' she said. One day, students may act like they're 12, and the next like they're 2, she said.
On the first day of school, Purvis and her students found common ground over a story. Purvis read to her third-graders Wemberly Worried, a book about a mouse nervous about her first day of school.
When asked whether they were nervous about the first day of school last week, most of the students raised their hands. Purvis admitted to them that she was, too.
But 'they're not going to be judging you on the first day of school, just like you're not judging them, and we're going to work it out together,' Purvis said."

Privacy concerns arise over student data - USATODAY.com

Privacy concerns arise over student data - USATODAY.com:


"Privacy concerns have touched off a debate this summer about whether schools should change the practice of sharing student contact information with outside sources.
School districts and colleges nationwide are allowed to sell or share student lists that contain information such as the names, ages, phone numbers and home addresses of students.
The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 lets schools decide how much student information they designate as public record for use in school directories, yearbooks and other school publications, says Jim Bradshaw, with the U.S. Department of Education. Outside groups have access to public record information.
'Once the data gets out, they have no real control over what happens,' says David Holtzman, a former security analyst and author of the book Privacy Lost."

Education lapses deflate economy

Education lapses deflate economy

The McKinsey report examined the economic dimensions of four distinct gaps in education: (1) between the United States and other nations, (2) between black and Latino students and white students, (3) between students of different income levels and (4) between similar students schooled in different states.

In each instance, the gap has come at an enormous cost, in the billions of dollars and even in the trillions of dollars, to the nation's economy and to its human capital. Just a narrowing of the gap in one of these four areas would mean hundreds of billion dollars to the U.S. economy.

So why aren't we paying attention? Is it because we have heard much of it before? Or is it that we are so caught up in the daily grind of this recession? Or are we hesitant because race and ethnicity are prominently figured in confronting this challenge?

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10324805/The-Economic-Impact-of-the-Achievement-Gap-in-Americas-Schools

Charter school owes N.J. $415,938 | CourierPostOnline.com | Courier-Post

Charter school owes N.J. $415,938 CourierPostOnline.com Courier-Post:

"In October 2008, the department's Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance began a review of the charter school's fiscal and governance practices from 2007 through the end of previous academic year.
The charter school, which has been on a state-issued probationary status since late last year for numerous administrative problems, needs more improvements. The state report cited inadequate board of education supervision, improper bonus and hiring practices, poor petty cash management and missing bid, travel and enrollment procedures
'The review disclosed numerous deficiencies and internal controls issues in the financial operations of the charter school,' according to the report. '. . . The charter school has received shut off notices, late notices, health insurance cancellation notices and late charges; eventually the phones were shut off.'
Freedom Academy Charter School Board President Dwight Moxie admits mistakes have been made, but many issues revealed in the report have already been corrected as part of the state's probationary demands. The board is preparing an appeal, specifically the amount of money requested"

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa To Urge LAUSD To Allow New Schools To Be Privately Operated - cbs2.com

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa To Urge LAUSD To Allow New Schools To Be Privately Operated - cbs2.com:


"New schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District could soon be privately operated if Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gets his way.

Villaraigosa is expected to urge LAUSD Board Members to approve a resolution to allow 50 new schools to be operated by charter operators and other institutions for 2010-11 school year.

Those schools are planned to be opened in the next three years.

Villaraigosa said the idea will allow those most qualified to better run the schools and ease some of the financial burden from the City of Los Angeles.

The school superintendent would make the decision based on the operation and instructional plans the bidders submit.

However, opponents of the resolution met Saturday and issued a statement that states the motion: 'fails to address key issues impacting students, parents, teachers and LAUSD employee bargaining units.'"

Take Arne Duncan’s phony school reform money and run--- fast!

Take Arne Duncan’s phony school reform money and run--- fast!:

"The coast is clear school superintendents. You can come out now; non-educator emeritus, Arne Duncan is in charge of your school district even though he has never taught a class or run a school in his life. Once again people outside of education are calling the shots school superintendents haven’t got the guts to make. Hire a good writer, cook up some irrelevant statistics, hook up with ACORN, submit your Race-to-the-Top grant, then take the money and run. Your financially scrapped district can’t afford to ignore the $5 billion-dollar man’s bribe to hand over control of your community schools to the Washington D.C. Politburo. But, after he hands you the money with all the strings attached, run as far and as fast as you can from quack school reform methods that could actually do more damage than good."

In the red, US school districts cut yellow buses - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

In the red, US school districts cut yellow buses - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:


"About 23 percent of school districts surveyed by the American Association of School Administrators say they are reducing or eliminating school transportation for the coming school year as part of cost-cutting measures. That's up from the 14 percent who considered such measures during the 2008-2009 year.
'I've seen it happening in Massachusetts, in Ohio, in Indiana. A lot of school districts are looking at in varying degrees,' said Robin Leeds, industry specialist with the National School Transportation Association.
Parents and transportation advocates say the proposed cuts will have wide-ranging repercussions - affecting everything from parents' work schedules to student attendance. Many also worry that the cuts will jeopardize the safety of students who may have to cross busy highways or dangerous roads to get to class. Deadly school bus crashes are rare, while past studies have shown riding to school in a car, walking and bicycling account for hundreds of student deaths a year."

Reform ABCs | Editorials | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Reform ABCs Editorials PE.com Southern California News News for Inland Southern California:

Reform ABCs

"The issues are clear. The various studies portray a school system that is overly regulated and irrationally financed, with muddled lines of authority and conflicting incentives that discourage improvement.
Changing that status quo, however, would require the state to give local districts and schools more power to make decisions, rather than dictating policy from Sacramento. The state would also have to streamline an overgrown education code that puts a higher premium on administrative paperwork than good education practice. And any reform should restructure the state's complex and inefficient financing system, tying funding more closely to need and giving local districts greater budgeting flexibility.
Districts also need to be able to offer differential pay and incentives to good teachers, so that the schools with the biggest challenges do not end up with the worst instructors. And the near impossibility of firing ineffective teachers only obstructs educational improvement.
Given the state's budget mess, focusing reform on hauling down more money is understandable, if misguided. Money will not fix California schools, and it is no substitute for systemic change."

Open Letter to Kenneth Roth

Neoliberalism, Charter Schools and the Chicago ModelObama and Duncan's Education Policy:Like Bush's, Only Worse


Neoliberalism, Charter Schools and the Chicago Model

Obama and Duncan's Education Policy:Like Bush's, Only Worse


"This is deeply troubling, for many states which do not want charter schools or have found the experiment to be less than adequate and in fact damaging to kids and funding, for traditional public schools will now be forced to choose stimulus money over policy, a form of economic extortion and increased federal and corporate control over decision making, especially at a time when many of these states are literally financial insolvent. This is another example of how disaster politics operates, only this time the disaster is not a natural disaster but an economic disaster that threatens public policies."

A $5 Billion Bet on Better Education

Letter From Washington - A $5 Billion Bet on Better Education - NYTimes.com

A recent study by Stanford University found mixed results on charter schools, which began in the 1990s and now number 4,600. In 17 percent of cases, especially in high-poverty areas, charters provided clearly superior education to the traditional public schools. But more than a third of the schools were actually inferior to the public schools, Stanford researchers found.

Teachers and their unions are skeptical about linking instructor evaluations and rewards to student test scores, arguing that it only would encourage teaching to tests, not creating richer learning experiences for children.

The largest teachers’ organization, the National Education Association, finds particular resistance in a number of its state affiliates.

Even Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which has an urban focus and a history of working with school reformers, says: “By doing this through regulation and not legislation, I worry that Arne will get some short-term results, but he’s not creating long-term educational reform,” she said.

Board Meeting Video

Board Meeting Video:

"Heidi McLean
Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education
Asks the Tough Questions"

A Tribute to
L'eo Bennett Cauchon- Parent
Yearning to be Engaged

Louis Yanez
PTA VP of Thedore Judah Elementary
Honored by SCUSD Board for Outstanding Service

SCUSD Out of the Loop at John Morse

Editorial: Detroit schools, teachers union should follow N.Y.'s lead | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Editorial: Detroit schools, teachers union should follow N.Y.'s lead detnews.com The Detroit News:

"Early this summer, Detroit Federation of Teachers union President Keith Johnson told The Detroit News 'seniority is sacred.' Johnson added that he would do everything possible to protect that clause in the current contract.
But as Weingarten herself pointed out, tenure should never be mistaken for 'lifetime job security.'"


UFT, Green Dot reach tentative contract agreement for Bronx charter - United Federation of Teachers:
"Green Dot salary and benefits at a glance

Runs from Aug. 25, 2008, through Aug. 31, 2011.DUE PROCESS

A just cause standard for discipline and dismissal, which begins for teachers and guidance counselors on the first day of employment [no probationary period].

A four-step grievance procedure which ends in binding arbitration.A professional mediation process for any school-based disagreement or issue.

TEACHER VOICE AND PROFESSIONALISM

School-based policy committees, with UFT member majorities democratically selected by the UFT chapter, for leadership, professional development, budget, calendar and programming, and pay stipends.A professional evaluation system based on the principles of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

COMPENSATION

A 14 percent premium on the New York City Department of Education salary scale, with a maximum teacher salary of over $114,000.Participation in a GHI-HIP Health Plan modeled after those available to New York City municipal employees, in the UFT Welfare Fund and in the pension and Tax-Deferred Annuity program of the Teachers’ Retirement System.

WORK CONDITIONS

An “untimed” professional workday which includes the student day, staff meetings, professional development and preparation time, and the New York City Department of Education school calendar, with eight additional professional development days.Smart boards in every classroom and laptops for all educators.

For links to the entire contract, go to www.edwize.org/uft-green-dot-sign-pioneering-contract-for-nyc-charter-school."
draft

Steiny: Schools shouldn’t use data only as a way to beat up on teachers | Julia Steiny | projo.com | The Providence Journal

Steiny: Schools shouldn’t use data only as a way to beat up on teachers Julia Steiny projo.com The Providence Journal

"By far the best thing No Child Left Behind (NCLB) did was to force states to build robust data systems. The worst thing it did was use a subset of that data, mainly test scores, to jump to ugly conclusions, like schools weren’t “meeting expectations,” a euphemism for failure. NCLB measures everything in the negative. In five years, when all kids in all schools MUST be 100 percent proficient, even the rich kids’ schools will be failures. By then, NCLB will have created equal opportunities for all teachers to resent data."

Rhee Spells Out Teaching Expectations With 200-Page 'Learning Framework' - washingtonpost.com

Rhee Spells Out Teaching Expectations With 200-Page 'Learning Framework' - washingtonpost.com:

"Teachers will be subject to revamped evaluations based in part on the new teaching and learning framework, which will deploy a corps of 'master teachers' to join principals in assessing instructors. The changes are an attempt to make performance reviews more objective and less vulnerable to school politics or personal issues. The new evaluations also are expected to include improvement in student test scores as part of the criteria by which some instructors will be judged.
Students will face a revised disciplinary code, with an emphasis on defusing conflicts before they start and minimizing the use of suspensions that keep students home or on the streets instead of in class."

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10294037/DC-Public-Schools--Teaching-and-Learning-Framework

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency: "(Media-Newswire.com) -

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued the following statement today in response to news that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for a special legislative session to address education reform:

When I visited California in May, I challenged the education leaders -- I asked them if their state was going to lead the Race to the Top or if they were going to lead the retreat. I am encouraged by the governor's proposal which appears to be consistent with the reforms the President and I have outlined. I am hopeful the education package the governor has proposed will garner the support it needs to pass ultimately removing a legislative barrier that prohibits the state from distinguishing good teachers from bad teachers. These are tough decisions that will not only require the political will of the governor but also that of the elected officials, unions, legislators and community leaders. California may indeed serve as an example to other states that are facing similar challenges -- this is a step in the right direction."

GOP donors wait as out-of-staters lift Bennet - The Denver Post

GOP donors wait as out-of-staters lift Bennet - The Denver Post:

"A California fundraiser for Bennet attracted Hollywood and education interests. It was hosted by philanthropist Eli Broad, who knows Bennet, the former superintendent of Denver Public Schools, from education-reform efforts, said Bennet's campaign manager Craig Hughes.
Donors included actress Jami Gertz and several Hollywood producers. Bennet also got donations from National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star."

Charter teaches lesson in stonewalling » Redding Record Searchlight

Charter teaches lesson in stonewalling » Redding Record Searchlight:

"After a recent investigation of the school, the California Financial Crisis and Management Assistance Team stopped short of direct accusations of financial wrongdoing. But it did report conflicts of interest by the superintendent, Henry Bietz, that appear to violate state law, and investigators noted lax financial controls that, as the report delicately put it, 'increase the probability that fraud and/or abuse can occur.'"

Failing California Charter Schools
California Charters Closed by Category (103 Schools)

The Press Republican - Article: Educators endorse community schools

The Press Republican - Article: Educators endorse community schools:

"It's said it takes a community to raise a child.

Educators agree.

So a resurgence in the concept of community schooling is under way as school districts across the country transform academic buildings into one-stop centers for health and dental care, mental-health counseling, social services and family resources — on top of academic offerings."

Get The Community Agenda

New law boosts parental involvement in school activities - Living - ReviewJournal.com

New Nevada law boosts parental involvement in school activities - Living - ReviewJournal.com:

"A new Nevada state law that went into effect Aug. 15 gives parents, guardians and custodians of public and private school students the right to take off four hours of unpaid time per child per school year to participate in school activities.

Parent-teacher conferences. Pitching in as a room mother or father. Such activities likely will be covered under the law, which prohibits employers from firing, demoting, suspending or otherwise discriminating against parents who choose to take advantage of it"

What is the California Family-School Partnership Act law?

The Family-School Partnership Act is a California law that allows parents, grandparents, and guardians to take time off from work to participate in their children's school or child care activities. The law (Labor Code Section 230.8) first took effect in 1995. Its provisions were expanded in 1997 to add licensed child day care facilities to the kindergarten-through-grade-twelve levels included in the original legislation.
What opportunities am I offered under this law?
If the following criteria are met, you may take off up to 40 hours each year (up to eight hours in any calendar month) to participate in activities at your child's school or day care facility:
You are a parent, guardian, or grandparent who has custody of a child enrolled in a California public or private school, kindergarten through grade twelve, or licensed child day care facility.
You work for a business that has 25 or more employees at the same location.
How should I account for my time off work?
The law allows you to use existing vacation time, personal leave, or compensatory time off to account for the time you use participating in your child's school or child care activities. You may also use time off without pay if permitted by your employer. The employee, not the employer, chooses from the options that are available.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/pf/fampartact.asp

Change agent: HISD trustees have put a forceful career educator at the helm | Editorial | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Change agent: HISD trustees have put a forceful career educator at the helm Editorial Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"As a career superintendent graduating to ever-larger systems, Grier has led eight different public school districts in the past quarter century and been forced out of several by contentious boards. He was fired without explanation by the board of the Sacramento City Unified School District in the mid-'90s."

Announcing JoeSacramento.com format change | Joe Sacramento

Announcing JoeSacramento.com format change Joe Sacramento:

"Effective immediately I’m going to begin devoting my extra curricular time (time aside from family and work), to endeavors that are closer to my heart such as marriage ministry, music composition, screen writing, and book/music/movie reviews. I’ve also enrolled in multiple art classes in the next 6 months, and will need a lot of time to focus on them."

Schwarzenegger's plan would reshape education in California -- latimes.com

Schwarzenegger's plan would reshape education in California -- latimes.com:


"Schwarzenegger's reforms include:

* Adopting a merit pay system that would reward effective teachers and give them incentives to work at low-performing campuses;

* Abolishing the current cap on the number of charter schools that can open every year;

* Forcing school districts to shut down or reconstitute the lowest-performing schools or turn them over to charter schools' independent management;

* Allowing students at low-performing campuses to transfer to a school of their choosing;

* Requiring school districts to consider student test data when evaluating teachers, something the federal government believes is prohibited under state law."

Officials have more questions than answers about teacher pay for student performance -- GazetteXtra

Officials have more questions than answers about teacher pay for student performance -- GazetteXtra:

"Parr and Bill Sodemann, a member of the Janesville School Board, advocate using a system such as the Measures of Academic Progress program instead. Janesville uses the computer-based system to identify student weaknesses. The program tests students early in the year and again later on to see if they’ve made progress.
Milton Superintendent Bernie Nikolay said sometimes progress is more important than test scores.
“Some years you have some really tough kids, and just a small growth is a big achievement,” he said.
He would be in favor of tying teacher pay to student performance but in a subjective way, he said. Individual evaluators should take student progress into account along with factors such as leadership, use of best practices and participation in training activities."

What Teachers Have Learned - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com

What Teachers Have Learned - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com:

"In a Room for Debate forum this week, experts discussed the value of education degrees, which often drive pay and promotion in public school systems. Many readers, who are teachers, offered their views on whether teacher prep programs are necessary for the classroom, or if other factors, like subject-matter expertise and life experience, matter more. Here are excerpts from their comments."

Editorial: - San Jose Mercury News

Editorial: - San Jose Mercury News:

"California is facing financial ruin. Its schools are making devastating cuts that could put a whole generation of children at a competitive disadvantage — and at higher risk of turning to crime. Yet it spends 10 percent of its general fund on prisons, about the same amount as on higher education but still not nearly enough to adequately house its 167,000 prisoners. That would take billions more."

Education Week: Celebrities Lend Weight to Promote Civics Education

Education Week: Celebrities Lend Weight to Promote Civics Education:


"But Mr. Levine says the school climate for effectively teaching civics depends on whether the curriculum has room for discussion of current events. Finding that space in elementary and middle schools has become more challenging since the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which emphasizes school accountability for mathematics, reading, and science, but not for social studies, he said. The problem with civics education now, Mr. Levine contends, is that it isn’t usually taught in an interactive way. “What we’re interested in is kids’ developing reasoned opinions,” he said."

Education Week: Openness of Common-Standards Process at Issue

Education Week: Openness of Common-Standards Process at Issue:

"Complaints about lack of transparency are common during the crafting of standards, curricula, and education policy reports at all levels. The criticism of the new standards undertaking—a process in which 46 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, have agreed to participate—comes after a draft of the documents were leaked on the Web last month; that working version alternately drew praise and censure."

Teachers and public pensions myths | TheUnion.com

Teachers and public pensions myths TheUnion.com:


"The topic of public pensions seems interwoven into most newspapers these days. As a retired teacher, the “educator” in me feels the need to set the record straight on a few key points. Many people seem to think that teachers receive their pensions as a free benefit when, in fact, they pay into their own retirement account.

The average teacher paid into his/her retirement for more that 26 years and receives $2,700 per month in benefits. (Those who retired in the 70s or 80s receive a far smaller monthly benefit). Most do not receive medical benefits following retirement.

Although teachers are eligible to retire at 55, they lose a certain percentage of their benefit for each month between their retirement age and age 60. Unlike corporate workers, teachers are required to contribute to their pensions; most paid eight percent into the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) which is higher than the rate private workers pay for Social Security.

In general, teachers aren't eligible for Social Security so their CalSTRS pension is their only guaranteed income in retirement. Just as private sector retirees rely on Social Security, retired teachers rely on CalSTRS.

Teachers don't enter the profession to get rich. They made contributions in good faith, were promised a pension in return, and should be able to depend on this modest retirement income."

Texas takes another stab at teacher merit pay | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Texas Regional News

Texas takes another stab at teacher merit pay News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News Texas Regional News:


"'A good teacher is a good teacher, and all merit pay does is divide and separate us, and create a negative atmosphere on campus where teachers compete for what I consider insignificant amounts of money,' Brothers said."

YouTube - Parents, Schools Make Plans for Swine Flu

YouTube - Parents, Schools Make Plans for Swine Flu:

"Hundreds of schools are heeding the government's call to set up flu-shot clinics this fall, preparing for what could be the most widespread school vaccinations since the days of polio. (Aug. 18)"

Report Says Texas Students Should Study Only Conservatives

Report Says Texas Students Should Study Only Conservatives:

"The first draft of proposed standards for the state’s high school history books says Texas public school students should learn about former Republican U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and other conservative politicians, but not about liberals."

Some California teachers oppose stimulus aid - 8/21/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com

Some California teachers oppose stimulus aid - 8/21/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com:

"SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- California could lose hundreds of millions of federal stimulus dollars, if the state fails to make changes in education. Now Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for a special legislative session to make sure the state gets that much-needed cash."

Nation Digest: Teachers Union Criticizes Obama's Schools Initiative - washingtonpost.com

Nation Digest: Teachers Union Criticizes Obama's Schools Initiative - washingtonpost.com:


"'Despite growing evidence to the contrary, it appears that the administration has decided that charter schools are the only answer to what ails America's public schools -- urban, suburban, exurban and rural -- and all must comply with that silver bullet.'"

Rocklin schools sue state board over academy's charter - Roseville/Placer County News - sacbee.com

Rocklin schools sue state board over academy's charter - Roseville/Placer County News - sacbee.com:

"The Rocklin district says the state Board of Education approved the public charter school without putting the issue on a meeting agenda. The district also accuses state board members of discussing the matter outside of the meeting, a violation of open meeting laws, and other procedural mistakes."