Education | Seattle Children's rolls out a mobile lab to spread word: Science is cool | Seattle Times Newspaper

Education Seattle Children's rolls out a mobile lab to spread word: Science is cool Seattle Times Newspaper:

"The first science-lab-on-wheels on the West Coast rolled up to Seattle's Northgate Elementary Tuesday, and fourth- and fifth-graders, looking like miniature scientists in aprons, latex gloves and safety glasses, successfully isolated their DNA."

Erasures on D.C. Tests Apparently Concentrated in Six Schools - washingtonpost.com

Erasures on D.C. Tests Apparently Concentrated in Six Schools - washingtonpost.com:

"Forty-five of Washington's 150 public schools had at least one classroom with an elevated erasure level in 2008, according to the analysis, disclosed by District officials this month. A closer examination of the data shows that suspicious erasures were most heavily concentrated in third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms at a half-dozen schools: Aiton Elementary (seven classrooms); Marie Reed Elementary (six); Takoma Education Campus (five); Langdon Education Campus (four); J.O. Wilson Elementary (four); and Bowen. Five of the schools made gains that exceeded citywide averages. Langdon's scores held relatively steady."

William C. Thompson Jr. Promotes Changes in Schools in Run for Mayor - NYTimes.com

William C. Thompson Jr. Promotes Changes in Schools in Run for Mayor - NYTimes.com:

"Declaring that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s “corporate model” has failed students and parents alike, William C. Thompson Jr., the Democratic nominee for mayor, pledged on Tuesday night to hire educators to run the school system, shrink class sizes and get parents more involved in the education process."

The Answer Sheet - A Troubling Trend in D.C. Schools

The Answer Sheet - A Troubling Trend in D.C. Schools:

"Reporters like to declare a trend when they see at least three examples of the same phenomenon.
Based on the rules of trends, The Answer Sheet sees a troubling trend involving D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and what seems to be her difficulty in being forthcoming.

Example #1: Rhee and Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) announced last week that budget cuts in the District were suddenly forcing them to cut up to $40 million from D.C. schools and that teachers would have to be laid off just as the new year was starting."

District Dossier: Bloomberg's Education Record at Issue in NYC Mayoral Race

District Dossier: Bloomberg's Education Record at Issue in NYC Mayoral Race:

"In Thompson's major policy address on schools last night, Thompson said he would focus more attention on English-language learners, 'fix' the curriculum so teachers aren't 'teaching to the test' and work on reducing class size.

His first priority? Hiring an chancellor with 'a solid and extensive education background'—a jab at current chancellor Klein, who is a former Justice Department antitrust lawyer."

Education Week: New York Test Scores Raise Eyebrows

Education Week: New York Test Scores Raise Eyebrows:

"The recent news that 97 percent of New York City public schools got an A or B under the district’s grading system might be seen as reason for celebration, but critics suggest the grades hold little value and highlight the need to rethink the state assessment system.

The results, they say, reveal far more about flaws in the city’s so-called “progress reports” —and the state testing regime that largely drives them—than they do about the quality of education in the 1.1 million-student district."

Education department ignores superintendent-in-district law: Critics

Education department ignores superintendent-in-district law: Critics:

"One of the few changes to mayoral control passed in Albany this past summer hasn't been put into effect, advocates will charge at a City Council hearing on Wednesday.
After changes to the law, school superintendents were to be assigned duties only in their local district so they could focus more on parents' concerns.

But advocates said superintendents are still forced to oversee schools outside their geographic districts, making them less in control."

Mayor Bloomberg's boast on graduation rates is misleading, according to study

Mayor Bloomberg's boast on graduation rates is misleading, according to study:

"Mayor Bloomberg's claim that graduation rates are up at small schools he created after shuttering large dysfunctional ones is misleading, a new study asserts.

The study, done at Columbia University's Teachers College, questions a key vehicle Bloomberg hopes to ride to a third term as mayor.

A recent TV ad from the Fund for Public Schools, which Bloomberg founded to funnel private money into public schools, cites Evander Childs High School as an example of a 'turnaround school.'"

MinnPost - Minneapolis School Board drops The Big One

MinnPost - Minneapolis School Board drops The Big One:

"The Minneapolis School Board dropped the big one Tuesday night, finally voting through the plan that will close four schools and eliminate the transportation-heavy 'open choice' program. Those decisions are among several changes certain to throw wrenches in family school planning all over town. The Strib's Emily Johns reports: 'Gone is the citywide school choice system, a patchwork of magnet and community schools that developed over decades as a way to deal with federal and state integration laws. The Minneapolis school district currently transports 74 percent of its students to school, and spends $33 million on transportation every year as its buses criss-cross the city.' She says 200 people showed up for the decisive meeting."

Do we need a longer school day? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Do we need a longer school day? Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

"Proponents of a longer school day point to other countries that have longer school days and/or school years that appear to correlate with greater academic achievement. The experience of some charter schools, notably KIPP, that have incorporated a longer days is also frequently cited. These schools, which have boosted student achievement as measured by standardized tests, argue that a longer day is necessary to make up the deficit so many urban students have in reading and math."

WKMS: Possible Education Expansion in Kentucky (2009-09-23)

WKMS: Possible Education Expansion in Kentucky (2009-09-23):

"According to the National Education Association, charter schools are publicly funded schools that have been freed from some of the rules and regulations that apply to public schools. These schools have been most successful in urban areas, but U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan believes the rural areas of America are ready for charter schools. With the new Race to the Top fund, the possibility of these schools reaching rural areas in Kentucky is greater each day. Caleb Campbell has more."

'No Child Left Behind' needs another look - NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA

'No Child Left Behind' needs another look - NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA:

"When some of the top-rated public schools in the nation have a hard time achieving the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind act, should we be concerned that the American education system is incapable of keeping pace?

Or should we be more concerned that bureaucrats and lawmakers have set goals that are unrealistically high?

Certainly there are elements of both in the debate over No Child Left Behind. As Newburyport's middle school enters the growing ranks of schools considered in need of 'restructuring' due to its test scores, we should consider that the rigid and punitive standards don't necessarily reflect reality."

altmuslimah.com - Community: Muslim Americans answer Obama’s call to service

altmuslimah.com - Community: Muslim Americans answer Obama’s call to service:

"By Halima Samad, September 23, 2009

President Barack Obama's national call to service was heard and answered by many Muslim organizations and communities to re-capture the American spirit in the post 9/11 era, to stimulate interfaith activities to be more action-based, and to help re-build local economic landscapes in the wake of the recession. Although these are signs of charitable maturity within the Muslim community, it is still essential that all Muslims catapult these issues to the forefront of their human service agendas."

Salinas High board OKs classified pay cut | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

Salinas High board OKs classified pay cut thecalifornian.com The Salinas Californian:

"The Salinas Union High School District Board of Trustees approved a 2.7 percent pay cut Tuesday night for members of the California School Employees Association."

Strike set to shutdown UC system Thursday

Central Valley Business Times:

"Thursday is supposed to be the first day of classes at most University of California campuses, but students may find their instructors walking picket lines instead.

More than 1,100 UC faculty, including some faculty members at the two Central Valley campuses in Davis and Merced, vow to strike for a day to protest tuition hikes, enrollment cuts, layoffs, furloughs, and increased class sizes."

Teacher sues LA school dist. over gay agenda

Teacher sues LA school dist. over gay agenda:

"Fernandez also drew fire for voicing the requests of his predominantly Hispanic Catholic students that a pro-gay poster be moved inside to a classroom bulletin board so they would not have to walk under it several times a day. Fernandez was then shunned by fellow teachers and administrators, given larger, more unruly classes, moved to a less desirable location, and ordered not to send any problem students to the principal’s office. Fernandez eventually sought medical treatment for stress and related medical problems and finally placed on medical leave by his physician after more than a year of harassment. Fernandez’ lawsuit, filed in state court and removed by LAUSD to federal court, alleges First Amendment violations and discrimination, harassment and retaliation under state employment laws."

Notes from the Institution: Education politics

Notes from the Institution: Education politics:

"Yet somehow I found the speech delivered by President Obama on Sept. 8 to be incredibly interesting. This highly publicized disquisition has become a center of controversy as many citizens construed his speech as an attempt to push socialist ideas on the youth of America. Parents in states such as Texas, California, and even Connecticut had requested that schools refrain from showing Obama’s oration to the students. As a member of the student population addressed, I feel compelled to argue that listening to the commander-in-chief advocate the benefits of hard work in school is extremely valuable."

California chef takes school lunch campaign to D.C. - San Jose Mercury News

California chef takes school lunch campaign to D.C. - San Jose Mercury News:

"Congress is rolling up its sleeves to debate new rules involving the Child Nutrition Act, which sets standards for 30 million school lunches a day and is scheduled to expire later this year.

Chef Ann Cooper, who transformed Berkeley school lunches over four years, headed to Capitol Hill this month to lobby for better food. But she also wants to share her secrets — recipes, food-buying tips and strategies to get kids to eat well — with the rest of the nation.

With Whole Foods, Cooper has launched the Boulder, Colo.-based Lunch Box (www.thelunchbox.org), a site with resources for parents, schools and cooks on how to make lunch healthier. We talked to her about the project:"

Editorial: Veto of teacher data bill would send terrible message - San Jose Mercury News

Editorial: Veto of teacher data bill would send terrible message - San Jose Mercury News:

"The highest barrier to California's getting its fair share of $4 billion in federal 'Race to the Top' education grants is a 2006 law that prohibits linking teacher evaluations to student test scores. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has made California's ban a national laughing stock. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed that it must go.

A bill eliminating the barrier, SB19, authored by state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), is on the governor's desk. But amazingly, he may not sign it. Schwarzenegger wants additional reforms as well, and some Republicans feel eliminating the data problem will leave less incentive for lawmakers to deal with the rest of the package."

Spring admissions open for 150 students - News

Spring admissions open for 150 students - News:

"A small group of 150 Sacramento State students will be admitted into the teacher credential programs this spring despite the California State University system's closure of all spring 2010 admissions.

Sac State's teacher credential program is known for preparing California's teachers, and with thousands of teachers expected to retire in the next five years, Sac State is credentialing more and more teachers.

'As an institution that's primarily been charged with educating future teachers, we were given special permission to continue admitting and enrolling students into teacher preparation programs,' said Vanessa Sheared, dean of the College of Education"

Teachers make house calls in new school program | rgj.com | Reno Gazette-Journal

Teachers make house calls in new school program rgj.com Reno Gazette-Journal:

"The project started in 1998 in Sacramento and has been used in school systems across the country.
Contrary to some students' concerns, the visits won't be focused on problems a child has, said Carrie Rose, executive director of the Parent/Teacher Home Visit Project.
Rose was among those who traveled from the Sacramento area last week to speak with teachers at Hug.
She said home visits are a way to show families that schools care."

In Which the Hope Embedded in the Cal Expo Arena is Sapped, If Not Destroyed - Sactown Royalty

In Which the Hope Embedded in the Cal Expo Arena is Sapped, If Not Destroyed - Sactown Royalty:

"Mayor Kevin Johnson obviously touched a nerve Tuesday in his blog post bemoaning Sacramento's loss of hosting privileges for the NCAA Tournament and questioning the pace of the Cal Expo arena plan development. Bee reporters Tony Bizjak and Ryan Lillis found NBA rep John Moag, the leader of the Cal Expo effort, and synced him up to the mayor's concerns.
The result is not particularly ebullient."

My View: UC Davis strike: We must stand up now for the long-term good of the UC system - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

My View: UC Davis strike: We must stand up now for the long-term good of the UC system - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"We need to renew the social contract that binds the University of California with the people of the state. We need California residents to reconnect with the university as their own, and for the UC leadership to make more convincing cases as to why increased public support is warranted.

The University of California belongs to all of us. Let's come together to make it, and the rest of the state's education system, as great as the public it serves."

My View: UC Davis strike: Teaching is more than just about being paid - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

My View: UC Davis strike: Teaching is more than just about being paid - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"While the proposed walkout has now expanded to include student groups, unions and others protesting a variety of issues, all this chatter has spurred the two of us to think about a couple of very basic questions that drove us to do what we do today:

Where would we be today as professors without students? And, just as important, where would those students be without us?"

Bravo, Braziel, on dropout piece- Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Letters to the Editor - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

Bravo, Braziel, on dropout piece

"Re 'The time to act is before the dropout gets arrested' (Viewpoints, Sept. 20): I want to thank The Bee for printing Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel's perspective on the dropout crisis. His testimony before the Select Committee on Lowering California's High School Dropout Rate was very insightful and I appreciate his dedication to raising awareness about the issue and offering solutions."

Dozen UC Davis students flash flesh to protest fee hikes - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Dozen UC Davis students flash flesh to protest fee hikes - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"About a dozen UC Davis students flashed a bit of flesh today to protest University of California President Mark Yudof's proposal to raise fees 30 percent over the next year.
The scantily clad student protesters said their lack of attire was to symbolize that students are 'being stripped' of their right to accessible, quality public education."

'Naked rally' at UC Davis sets stage for Thursday walkout - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

'Naked rally' at UC Davis sets stage for Thursday walkout - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Now the walkout has grown to include students who are upset about a proposal to increase fees by more than 30 percent and non-teaching staff who are locked in labor negotiations. Across UC campuses on Thursday, union workers will picket, students will rally and professors will walk out."

Sacramento diocese sees big drop in Catholic school enrollment - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sacramento diocese sees big drop in Catholic school enrollment - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Diocesan leaders are responding quickly to the recent drop by trying to increase awareness of Catholic schools. Over the next month, they will educate principals on public relations, talk to parents of students in faith formation classes about sending the children to parochial schools, and reach out to the Latino community – the fastest growing segment of the church.
Tuition at a Catholic K-8 school in the Sacramento diocese averages $3,800 annually. Financial assistance is available to needy students."

Education News & Comment

Education News & Comment:

"Sacramento City Council Member Bonnie Pannell and Council Member Sandy Sheedy have endorsed Patrick Kennedy’s campaign for Sacramento City Council, District 5.

“I am proud to have the support of Council Members Pannell and Sheedy. I have had the great privilege of working with them over the years and look forward to continuing that relationship when I am on the City Council,” said Patrick upon the announcement.

Pannell represents District 8 in South Sacramento and Sheedy represents District 2 in North Sacramento. They join their colleagues, Council Members Ray Tretheway (District 1) and Steve Cohn (District 3) in endorsing Patrick Kennedy for Sacramento City Council."

SCUSD Observer: No child left behind races to the top?

SCUSD Observer: No child left behind races to the top?

No child left behind races to the top?
Last week's release of the AYP Progress report for SCUSD shows that many of the schools in our district are failing to adequately educate Sacramento children according to No Child Left Behind standards.SCUSD schools in year 1 of program improvement status jumped from 3 in 2008-09 to 15 to 2009-10.

Circumference, Radius, Diameter, Oh My! | Activities | Education.com

Circumference, Radius, Diameter, Oh My! Activities Education.com:

"Even though middle school geometry can be tough, there's no reason to fear the friendly circle. Big words like 'circumference,' 'radius,' and 'diameter' may sound intimidating, but they're just fancy words for different measurements of a circle. Here's a quick, kid-friendly intro to those geometry terms, and a fail-safe way to calculate circumference, no matter what!"

Buying Educational Software? Start by Asking the Right Questions - Educational games and software

Buying Educational Software? Start by Asking the Right Questions - Educational games and software:

"But how do you know which program to pick? The array of educational software programs available can be both tantalizing and confusing. Before you start shopping, you should understand how educational software works, what your child's specific needs and interests are, and how to find a reliable program tailor-made to your child's needs and learning style."

A Wise Latina Woman: Reflections on Sonia Sotomayor | Teaching Tolerance

A Wise Latina Woman: Reflections on Sonia Sotomayor Teaching Tolerance:

"As schools open this month, I hope that teachers take the opportunity to begin a conversation about the Sotomayor confirmation and hearings, and that they invite their students to share their thoughts and feelings about this momentous event. I hope too that teachers frame this conversation as part of the larger American story of struggle and achievement on the part of the dispossessed. It is a noble story, one that is not yet over. And that is why it is important, and necessary, that we now have a wise Latina on the Supreme Court.
Sonia Nieto is a noted education scholar and co-chair of Teaching Tolerance’s Teaching Diverse Students Initiative (TDSi) Advisory Committee."

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... Bringing Teaching for the Gifted to All Kids

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... Bringing Teaching for the Gifted to All Kids:

"His mother Sadie said it was '100 percent different' than the way she was taught as a child, and she liked what she saw. Dominic relished getting into debates with other children about the ethics of playground squabbles. He is a pint-sized philosopher with a karate T-shirt and a frank and surprisingly adult manner, who readily picks out what his teachers call the 'Big Ideas' -- one of the buzzwords that mark the new strategies -- in classic stories such as the Tortoise and the Hare."

"The turtle was slow. The hare judged him. No one really thought that the hare wouldn't win -- he's the fastest living creature in the universe," Dominic, now in 2nd grade, explained after school. "So the big idea is, 'Don't judge a person.'"

Strong Mayor Initiative Reviewed - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Strong Mayor Initiative Reviewed - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Committee member Jo Ann Fuller said so far they see no major changes needed in the way Sacramento's government is run.
'At no time has anyone come before us and said this is not working to where we need some big changes,' Fuller said.

Committee chair William Edgar said there are some changes they would like to see such as allowing the mayor to have appointment power, allowing him to select a city manager, but he said they believe it should be up to the city council excluding the mayor to approve the selection.

Johnson said he was disappointed with the committee's findings so far, saying the committee hasn't taken significant steps to change the way the city is run."

Amato's job may be on line | Recordnet.com#STS=fzww1i4f.1qun

Amato's job may be on line Recordnet.com#STS=fzww1i4f.1qun:

"STOCKTON - The long-running leadership drama in the Stockton Unified School District may reach a decisive final act tonight when trustees meet in closed session to discuss suspending or dismissing Superintendent Tony Amato.

Anti-Amato forces have organized what they say will be a heavily attended rally outside the district office before the meeting. As pressure from union leaders mounted Monday, Amato defended his 14-month tenure, saying the opposition he has faced is the natural result of the arrival of a superintendent working to bring sweeping change. He also acknowledged that his future in Stockton Unified is murky."

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Poll: New York governor not getting job done « - Blogs from CNN.com

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Poll: New York governor not getting job done « - Blogs from CNN.com:

"'Voters say Gov. Paterson is well intentioned but ineffective. They say he lacks leadership skills and is off the mark on handling the state's fiscal situation. Voters say he's not too liberal but is not fighting for people like me,' says Siena New York pollster Steven Greenberg. 'While voters overwhelmingly don't believe that Paterson's blindness hinders his ability, they believe his actions – or lack of actions – as Governor define him as ineffective.'

Paterson has even lost his own party, says Greenberg: Democrats, 'by a significant margin,' believe he is well-intentioned but ineffective, bad on fiscal issues and lacking leadership skills."

Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook: The Changing Landscape of Teacher Learning

Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook: The Changing Landscape of Teacher Learning:

"One of the big challenges is just making time for teachers to participate in any type of quality professional development, whether online or face-to-face. That’s especially true if it’s something that requires thought and effort outside the experience itself. It’s one thing to go to a make-and-take session, like a traditional workshop. In that case, you just go to the session and get something that maybe enhances what you are already doing and then hopefully take it back to the classrooms and do it. It’s another thing if you’re part of a professional development experience that essentially challenges you to rethink your pedagogy, your content, and your assessments, and that expects you to go try some things in your classroom and reflect on how well they went, and then come back and discuss them with a community of other teachers doing similar things. That’s a much more substantial commitment."

Chico teachers agree to lesser insurance package - Chico Enterprise Record

Chico teachers agree to lesser insurance package - Chico Enterprise Record:

"In a telephone interview from her office, Combes said the district will continue to pay the full premium for full-time employees for the insurance package until June 30, 2012.
The biggest change in the insurance package has to do with the deductible.

Under the previous contract, the CUTA-covered employees had the 'Silver Plan' offered by the Butte Schools Self Funded Programs. Under the new contract, starting Nov. 1 and continuing through the end of this contract, the employees will have the so-called 'Red Plan.'

According to Christy Patterson, executive director of the Butte Schools Self Funded Programs, the maximum deductible in one year for an employee with two or more dependents under the old plan would have been $300. Under the new plan, the deductible for that same family of three or more will be $1,000 a year."

Bridging Differences: The NCLB Paradox Enters the Twilight Zone

Bridging Differences: The NCLB Paradox Enters the Twilight Zone:

"Behind these promises and threats lies a simple theory: scores are not high enough, because teachers are either lazy, don't work hard, or aren't motivated enough to do a good job. So teachers will work harder and be more successful if they can get more money, and they will work harder and be more successful if their livelihoods and reputations are on the line.

The problem with the incentives and sanctions approach is that it works. It does produce higher scores. We see scores going up in many states, sometimes at rates that defy belief. Some states may actually reach that dreamy goal of 100 percent 'proficiency' by 2014."

At New York City Teachers’ Union Helm, Michael Mulgrew - NYTimes.com

At New York City Teachers’ Union Helm, Michael Mulgrew - NYTimes.com:

"Mr. Mulgrew also differs from his predecessors in one key way: he is the longest-serving classroom teacher ever to head the union, something that could help him earn the respect of veteran members who are often the most active members. (He also happens to be the first non-Jewish leader in the 49-year history of the union.)

Mr. Mulgrew needs to win a unionwide election next spring to secure the presidency. While he is expected to have broad support, the union, which has 228,000 members, also has its share of internal dissent."

Larger classes may mean more dropouts | Oregon Education - OregonLive.com

Larger classes may mean more dropouts Oregon Education - OregonLive.com:

"High school reform research shows that students begin to get lost and left behind when teachers have too many students. The Coalition for Essential Schools, an organization that has successfully reformed some high schools, says teachers must know who they teach and recommends that 'no teacher have direct responsibility for more than 80 students in the high school and middle school and no more than 20 in the elementary school.' Many Oregon high school teachers this year are responsible for more than 200 students, which makes it impossible for them to know and serve all their students well. As the Gate Foundation has discovered, simply making schools small is not sufficient to make them excel, but it is necessary high schools find ways to make personal connections with every student or they will lose some of them."

Phila. schools prepare for cuts as they face budget shortfall | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/22/2009

Phila. schools prepare for cuts as they face budget shortfall Philadelphia Inquirer 09/22/2009:

"Masch said that it was too early to speculate where cuts might be made, but that the district would 'move heaven and earth' to keep in place reforms put forward by Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.

This school year, the district lowered class size in kindergarten through third grade and hired more counselors, particularly in the city's troubled neighborhood high schools.
Will the district commit to keeping those reforms in place, no matter what?

'I can't say that,' Masch said. 'We don't have a plan yet. But we're not going to turn away from making reform. I do not think that Dr. Ackerman will let us rest until we have figured out a way to do everything in our power to make the dollars we do have go as far as possible in helping us enable more students to succeed academically.'"

Patrick Kennedy

Patrick Kennedy:

"Sacramento City Council Member Bonnie Pannell and Council Member Sandy Sheedy have endorsed Patrick Kennedy’s campaign for Sacramento City Council, District 5.

“I am proud to have the support of Council Members Pannell and Sheedy. I have had the great privilege of working with them over the years and look forward to continuing that relationship when I am on the City Council,” said Patrick upon the announcement.

Pannell represents District 8 in South Sacramento and Sheedy represents District 2 in North Sacramento. They join their colleagues, Council Members Ray Tretheway (District 1) and Steve Cohn (District 3) in endorsing Patrick Kennedy for Sacramento City Council."

Failing in many ways | The State Press - An independent daily serving Arizona State University

Failing in many ways The State Press - An independent daily serving Arizona State University:

"I’d like to think that both President Barack Obama and Perry are correct. We’re certainly failing to teach our children the things they need to know, as the No Child Left Behind Act (considered by many pundits to be a colossal failure) narrowly stresses math and reading comprehension and fails to provide a benchmark for students’ broad education. Kids need to get off Facebook and care once again about becoming informed and educated citizens of the world.

And that doesn’t mean passing a test."

Schools miss goals, add to list - MassLive.com

Schools miss goals, add to list - MassLive.com:

"They have plenty of company. When results of the 2009 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems exam were released last week, officials announced that 937 schools, or 54 percent of all schools in the commonwealth, failed to meet the goals."

'Barack and Michelle' tells story behind domestic tension that nearly ruined the Obamas' marriage

'Barack and Michelle' tells story behind domestic tension that nearly ruined the Obamas' marriage:

"It was a look he had grown accustomed to since the birth of their first daughter, Malia, in 1998. Michelle, like so many other working mothers, was the one expected to bear most of the parenting burden that only intensified with the birth of Sasha.

A nagging concern she wasn't afraid to share with him directly - and repeatedly - was that he seemed willing to put politics ahead of the family."

Colorado Independent » Move toward national education standards goes forward

Colorado Independent » Move toward national education standards goes forward:

"Monday, the Common Core Standards Initiative, a project of the National Council of Governors and the Council of Chief State School Officers, released the first official draft of standards in English language arts and math, standards that it hopes will one day be adopted by every state in the nation. Currently, 48 states have signed on to the project, expressing interest in voluntarily adopting the standards once they are written. (The not-surprising exceptions are Texas and Alaska.)

Colorado appears significantly on board with the project by virtue of the fact that it was one of six states asked to review the standards before they were made public—this, despite the fact that it is currently in the process of revising its own standards."

AdaEveningNews.com - Ada, Oklahoma - No Child Left Behind Act explained

AdaEveningNews.com - Ada, Oklahoma - No Child Left Behind Act explained:

"“A State’s definition of AYP is based on expectations for growth in student achievement that is continuous and substantial, such that all students are proficient in reading and math no later than 2013-2014,” a letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige to the schools said. “Accountability systems must establish proficiency goals statewide, based on assessment data from the 2001-02 school year, that progressively increase to reflect 100 percent proficiency for all students by 2013-14.”

While definitions were set by each state, the letter said definitions of AYP were to be, “based primarily on the State’s academic assessments.” After a fourth year of failing to achieve AYP, the school would have to plan for restructuring. This could include replacing staff and state governments taking over the school."