State of the State: K-12 Education - The Daily Californian

State of the State: K-12 Education - The Daily Californian:

"Two years ago, California spent significantly less on schools than most other states. Now we are making deep cuts in educational spending. Two years ago, California ranked nearly last in the nation in the number of adults per student in our schools. Now we are laying off teachers. Two years ago, California faced a severe shortage of college graduates in the coming decade. Now the UC and CSU systems are eliminating classes and restricting enrollments."

No more retreating at CCSF | SocialistWorker.org

No more retreating at CCSF SocialistWorker.org:

"Most of all, the current cuts in funding for all California higher education are not a one-time, temporary loss. Even California Community College Chancellor Jack Scott has warned that further mid-year budget cuts are 'quite likely' as state tax revenues continue to drop in the recession.

Moreover, annual budget deficits will rise unless the state's legislators move beyond 'borrowing and gimmicks.' And City College's current budget plans for more cuts in programs and classes in 2010-11. This means layoffs, sooner or later."

Cal State students, it's time to stand up -- latimes.com

Cal State students, it's time to stand up -- latimes.com:

"These days, the big budget shortfalls in Sacramento have left our Cal State brothers and sisters unprotected. All Californians should fight to protect them. But the students also need a few lessons in standing up for themselves -- or else they'll always be on the losing end of those Capitol funding brawls.

Five faculty members and students made this point on the first day of classes, as part of a day of protest at college campuses all over the state. They held up a series of five words on signs outside the main parking lot:

'When Will You Fight Back?'"

Manteca Bulletin - Longer school days? Where’s the money?

Manteca Bulletin - Longer school days? Where’s the money?:

"With that the Commander-in-Chief believes that students today spend too little time in the classroom. Coming this week, those involved in education at the local level who have had to deal with the crippling economic blow that is still digging into coffers, aren’t quite sure that the concept of longer school days and shorter vacations – while maybe a good theoretical idea – is currently feasible."

“Who Asked Us?” Dear Arnold: Sign onto Education Funding Fairness - NAM

“Who Asked Us?” Dear Arnold: Sign onto Education Funding Fairness - NAM:

"Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

When is the last time you talked to a public school student?

And I don’t mean one of those meet-and-greet, dog-and-pony shows. I mean, you know, really talked to one of us, like inviting us over to your office in Sacramento or going to lunch at a McDonald’s. To find out what’s really going on in our schools and in our lives."

2 teachers unions take on districts - SignOnSanDiego.com

2 teachers unions take on districts - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"The two largest teachers unions in the county are filing unfair-labor-practice complaints against school districts that increased class sizes this year to deal with unprecedented budget cuts. The Sweetwater Union High School District's union claims the school board failed to negotiate with educators as required before changing last year's 28-to-1 student-teacher ratio to 30-to-1 this year."

Mr. Jackson Told Me I Would Go Places - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Mr. Jackson Told Me I Would Go Places - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos:

"“While parents and politicians worry about crumbling facilities and decimated budgets, students know that the heart of education beats inside the individual teacher. More than spacious playgrounds or sparkling cafeterias; more, even, than top-notch textbooks and state-of-the art computers, it’s the teacher who makes the difference. When NAM asked young people in our youth communications programs to write about the one teacher who’d really made a difference, they barely had to think before the keys were flying. This collection of pieces was underwritten by a project funded through the California Teachers Association.”)"

Sacramento Press / Whole lot of love

Sacramento Press / Whole lot of love:

"The fifth annual Mustard Seed Spin was held yesterday on the American River Trail with guest speaker Mayor Kevin Johnson showing his support for the need to take care of our children and keep what safety nets we do have in place from disappearing."

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Blogger for a Day: Teachers Matter, But How Do You Measure It?

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Blogger for a Day: Teachers Matter, But How Do You Measure It?:

"Guest blogger Rick Beach, president of the San Diego Science Alliance, is taking on the topic of how to measure teacher performance. You might remember that a few bloggers debated this issue last month. We're continuing this conversation with Beach, who questions whether test scores are the right way to gauge teaching."

Series Introduction: Helping Our Teachers : NPR

Series Introduction: Helping Our Teachers : NPR:

"Everyone from President Obama on down seems to agree that a good teacher can make a huge difference in a child's life. American schools have been trying for decades to improve teacher quality. The results are mixed. Over the next year, NPR will explore those efforts and take a look at the latest crop of teachers entering the profession."

Newsom plans college 'savings bond'

Newsom plans college 'savings bond':

"Mayor and new daddy Gavin Newsom will unveil a plan to provide every San Francisco kindergartener with a $50 'savings bond' for college - just as soon as he can figure out how to make sure illegal immigrants can qualify."

The idea behind the Kindergarten to College program would be for San Francisco to seed an account for each of the 4,500 children who enter kindergarten in the city's public schools each year. The students and their families would take it from there.Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/28/BA4019SSEV.DTL&feed=rss.matierandross#ixzz0SSDcBhQZ

Cash for the classrooms -- latimes.com

Cash for the classrooms -- latimes.com:

"The teachers are still mostly young -- well, one tough year older -- and passionate about the mission of teaching disadvantaged students. The big difference: There are 43 more of them than last year, a 25% increase. And a tour of classrooms -- English, math, chemistry -- shows fewer students in each. Average class sizes, which had hovered in the low 30s last year, are now in the mid-20s.

This isn't just a change from the year before; it stands in marked contrast to the Los Angeles Unified School District and many other public school systems that have laid off teachers and increased class sizes because of miserable education funding. At the same time, Green Dot maintains order on what was a traditionally unruly campus by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more on security than most schools."

Bridge to college | bridge, college - Local News - Victorville Daily Press

Bridge to college bridge, college - Local News - Victorville Daily Press:

"It’s a feat that’s brought tears to the eyes of Sacramento bureaucrats, local educators and proud parents: A whopping 100 percent of Serrano High School’s roughly 500 graduating seniors have accepted their diplomas with plans to go on to post-secondary education or the military for the past two years."

Bottled Water Giant Nestle Coming to Most Threatened River Delta in America? : TreeHugger

Bottled Water Giant Nestle Coming to Most Threatened River Delta in America? : TreeHugger:

"That's right, reports the Sacramento News & Review, - Nestle Waters North America has pulled out of its bid to get water from McCloud, near Mt. Shasta and instead is setting up shop in Sacramento. We reported just this year that this area is the #1 most threatened river basin, so why would a water bottling company come here of all places? Is there anything you can do? Click through the jump to find out more."

Sacramento News & Review,

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1263766

ACLU Opposes Surveillance Camera Plan - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

ACLU Opposes Surveillance Camera Plan - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"'We didn't have $615,000 in our budget for security cameras, but there was Homeland Security money available. I fought for the money and got it. Public safety is a top priority for my administration, and I will use every tool to help reduce crime in our city,' Johnson said in a statement. 'Cameras alone won't solve crime, but they can be part of the solution. If technology helps keep our residents and visitors safe, we'd be foolish not to use it.'"

The School Issue - College - When Your Dorm Goes Green and Local - NYTimes.com

The School Issue - College - When Your Dorm Goes Green and Local - NYTimes.com:

"Thoreau said education often made straight-cut ditches out of meandering brooks. But not at the EcoDorm, which houses 36 undergraduates and is the spiritual heart of Warren Wilson College, a liberal-arts school of fewer than 1,000 students in Swannanoa, N.C."

Up for Debate: Should Kids Be Taught How to Argue? - The Juggle - WSJ

Up for Debate: Should Kids Be Taught How to Argue? - The Juggle - WSJ:

"Studies of high school and college students show they are able to identify the main claims and reasons in an argument only 30% of the time, says M. Anne Britt, a researcher at Northern Illinois University. Much of the time, they wrongly identified the counterclaim as the main argument. Students have an even harder time thinking up logical arguments to weaken an opposing argument. Instead, a Columbia University researcher says, “they tend to … give all the reasons supporting their side, and absolutely ignore the alternative. They say what they have to say, and then say it louder, and hope the other side will go away.” The federal government has funded 13 studies since 2002 on how teachers can instruct students on improving their arguing skills."

Woodson High, South County Secondary Leave National PTA - washingtonpost.com

Woodson High, South County Secondary Leave National PTA - washingtonpost.com:

"The growing number of splinter parent groups, which typically focus on an individual school's needs, is a continuing challenge for the 'Every child/one voice' mission of the national PTA.

'People today look more for: 'What's in it for me? How will this help my child?' ' said Melissa Nehrbass, president of the Virginia PTA. Declining PTA membership, she said, means fewer people who will fight for children who don't have a parent speaking out for them."

District Dossier: Tackling Bullying Based on Sexual Identity

District Dossier: Tackling Bullying Based on Sexual Identity:

"School bullying is a serious issue almost everywhere. But there's a growing concern about bullying targeting a particular population of students.

Students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (or who other students assume are) experience not only taunting and ridicule, but physical violence from some of their peers.

A new research brief, published by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, found many 'GLBT-identifying' middle school students were reporting harassment and hearing homophobic epithets at school on a regular basis."

Read Brief here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12223279/THE-EXPERIENCES-OF-LESBIAN-GAY-BISEXUAL-AND-TRANSGENDER-MIDDLE-SCHOOLSTUDENTS-FINDINGS-FROM-THE-2007-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-CLIMATE-SURVEY

Read the full report here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/11567105/2007-National-School-Climate-Survey-GLSEN-the-Gay-Lesbian-and-Straight-Education-Network

Inside School Research: Post Editorial Says Study 'Demolishes' Anti-Charter Debates

Inside School Research: Post Editorial Says Study 'Demolishes' Anti-Charter Debates:

"That kind of enthusiam might be a little premature. New York is just one city—and one that charter school experts tell me is known for the quality of its authorizing system for charter schools. What's more, the promising practices that the report identifies were merely linked to higher student achievement. Even study author Caroline M. Hoxby points out that her findings don't suggest that things like longer school days, performance pay, or strict classroom management caused the charter school students to outperform their peers in traditional schools."

Education Week: Management Guru Says 'Student Load' Key to Achievement

Education Week: Management Guru Says 'Student Load' Key to Achievement:

"Mr. Ouchi lays out that message in a new book, The Secret of TSL, published this month by Simon & Schuster of New York City. The letters stand for “total student load,” which Mr. Ouchi defines as the number of students that teachers come in contact with each academic term and the number of papers they grade.

In a not-yet-published study of 442 schools in eight large urban districts that have devolved power to local principals, Mr. Ouchi finds that schools that have reduced TSL in measurable ways also tend to have higher passing rates on state exams."

Schools becoming more 'tolerant' as 'zero tolerance' rules end | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | News: Education

Schools becoming more 'tolerant' as 'zero tolerance' rules end News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News News: Education:

"That's welcome news for Robert Hess, whose son Taylor was briefly expelled from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst after a bread knife fell out of a 20-year-old cutlery set bound for Goodwill, and was found in his truck bed on campus.

'That certainly would have saved us an awful lot of trouble,' said Hess, who holds no ill will toward school administrators over the 2002 incident. 'They were bound by their own rules that they had written to dole out this ridiculous punishment, which was one year in alternative education.'"

Despite Test Scores, Shaw Is on the Right Track - Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on Education

Despite Test Scores, Shaw Is on the Right Track - Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on Education:

"Now her poster boy for reform appears to be in trouble, bringing I-told-you-so blog posts from many people who don’t like Rhee, her ideas or her brash style.

How bad was Shaw’s first year? It depends a bit on how you read the data. According to the State Superintendent of Education’s web site, Shaw dropped from 38.7 to 30.5 in the percent of students scoring at least proficient in reading, and from 32.7 to 29.2 in math.
But those were not the numbers Rhee read to Betts over the phone."

Religion remains sticky in social studies debate | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Religion remains sticky in social studies debate Houston & Texas News Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"“It is absolutely right to suggest that Puritans who settled New England came here with a vision for a Christian commonwealth,” Hughes said. “It is absolutely wrong to suggest that America's founders had that same vision. They simply didn't.”

Many of the Founding Fathers were connected with churches and many were not, he said. Letters written by Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, indicated he held the Christian church in utter contempt, the religion professor said. Jefferson viewed Jesus as a moral teacher, but believed that churches had corrupted those teachings, Hughes said."

The Perimeter Primate: Introducing "The Broad Report"

The Perimeter Primate: Introducing "The Broad Report"

I’m not the only one who is bothered by what Eli Broad has been up to over the last several years. Since I started this blog in February 2008, I’ve been contacted by other people via private emails and blog comments. As it turns out, there are many other public school parents, public school teachers, and a variety of people all across the U.S. who are greatly disturbed by things that are happening to the public school systems where they live, courtesy of Eli Broad's "philanthropy." We certainly don’t feel like our communities, or our kids, are benefiting from his largess.

Because the dissatisfaction is definitely out there, I thought it was time to create a place where people could come come together and share what they know. The result is a website I put together over this past weekend called The Broad Report.

Fourth Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week Is Oct. 4 - 10,

Fourth Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week Is Oct. 4 - 10,:

"As part of PACER Center's fourth annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, Oct. 4-10, 2009, children, teens, adults, schools, and communities across the country are encouraged to partner with PACER to prevent bullying. The movement is being given a boost with the launch of PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org -- a relevant, edgy Web site created by and for teens. In addition to videos, stories, blogs, and social networking, the site features a toolbox of things teens and schools can do to address bullying -- from creating their own videos to performing role plays for younger students.

Every day, more than 160,000 children nationwide stay home from school to avoid bullying. Up to one-third of the nation's students are bullied during the academic year, and more than 60 percent witness bullying daily. The results of bullying can be devastating -- or even tragic."

The American Spectator : Running from Reform

The American Spectator : Running from Reform:

"In August, Fenty's integrity took a hit after the mayor -- who makes much of chauffeuring himself around town -- got into a fender-bender. It turns out that Fenty may have violated the spirit (if not the letter) or city regulations by allowing a friend and campaign donor, Keith Lomax, to tool around in city-owned Lincoln Navigators and Smart Cars. Lomax's landscaping firm, by the way, garnered $11 million in city contracts since Fenty took office."

Editorial - Mr. Duncan and That $4.3 Billion - NYTimes.com

Editorial - Mr. Duncan and That $4.3 Billion - NYTimes.com:

"His power to press for reforms was dramatically enhanced earlier this year when Congress gave him control of $4.3 billion in grant money — the Race to the Top fund — that is to be disbursed to the states on a competitive basis. Mr. Duncan will need to resist political pressure and special pleadings and reward only the states that are committed to effective and clearly measurable reform."

Faculty Walkout Teaches an Important Lesson - Daily Nexus

Faculty Walkout Teaches an Important Lesson - Daily Nexus:

"These cuts will have a severely negative impact on all aspects of University operations: Employees will be forced to accept involuntary work reductions (furloughs) and many will even be laid off. There will be much less support for lecturers and TAs, as courses will be cut and many others reduced in size. With fewer classes being taught and less room in the remaining classes, it will take you longer to finish your degrees. The quality of the instruction you receive, indeed, your educational experience as a whole, will also suffer"

Five reasons N.J.'s property tax system is failing you | thedailyjournal.com | The Daily Journal

Five reasons N.J.'s property tax system is failing you thedailyjournal.com The Daily Journal:

"New Jersey's heavy reliance on property taxes as the main source of education funding creates extreme disparities in school funding that the state repeatedly has tried to address.It also pits communities against each other, with residents of suburban districts complaining that too many of the state's resources have been funneled to underperforming urban schools.The state constitution requires local school districts to provide children with a 'thorough and efficient' education from kindergarten through high school, and establishes rules and regulations governing everything from core curriculum to teacher training to class sizes."

WE ARE FAMILY - California's Family Day

WE ARE FAMILY - California's Family Day:

"Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™ is a national movement launched by The Naitonal Center on Addiction Substance Abuse (CASA) in 2001 based on their research that has consistently found that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink, or use drugs."

Top News - Comcast, Discovery team up to extend learning

Top News - Comcast, Discovery team up to extend learning:

"In a move that could help extend students' learning after school hours, the state of Indiana, Comcast Corp., and Discovery Education have teamed up to provide students with free on-demand digital resources that are aligned with state standards.

Discovery Education On Demand By Comcast is a first-in-the-nation service that will give Indiana families instant, at-home access to educational video clips, hands-on activities, interactive content, subject guides, puzzles, and homework help tools. Content is available at no additional cost to local Comcast Digital Cable customers on their cable TV service and to all Indiana parents and students online. (With free registration, persons outside of Indiana may access the content as well.)"

The Importance Of The Arts In Education - The Philadelphia Bulletin

The Importance Of The Arts In Education - The Philadelphia Bulletin:

"The arts play a significant role in education for their intrinsic value as well as for the enrichment of the learning experience they provide. Study of the various arts sharpens cognitive as well as social skills and plays a part in improving achievement in grades and standardized tests."

Other Views: California schools need a shakeup | schools, california, state - Editorials - Appeal-Democrat

Other Views: California schools need a shakeup schools, california, state - Editorials - Appeal-Democrat:

"The Legislature should start by giving local districts more power to make decisions, instead of setting policy from Sacramento. The state needs to streamline an overgrown education code that puts more emphasis on administrative paperwork than good education practices.

The state also needs to change an education financing system that dispenses money without regard to needs, costs or educational goals. And the Legislature should give districts more flexibility to use school money to meet local needs, instead of dictating spending priorities from the state Capitol."

California's budget should hold up until winter, analysts say — but plenty of pain still in store - San Jose Mercury News

California's budget should hold up until winter, analysts say — but plenty of pain still in store - San Jose Mercury News:

"A funny thing has happened on the way to California's next regularly scheduled fiscal doomsday: a glimmer of good economic news.

Of course, those glad tidings may just be a temporary respite. But for now, buoyed by a resurgent stock market and other signs the recession is on its way out, the state's fragile revenue and spending projections ought to hold up until at least mid-January — and maybe even beyond, analysts and economists say.

If true, it would mark the longest stretch in more than a year when deficit-slashing wasn't the topic du jour in Sacramento."

Michigan Schools: education reform would provide home owners for empty metro Detroit homes | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Michigan Schools: education reform would provide home owners for empty metro Detroit homes detnews.com The Detroit News:

"Metro Detroit has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation and is littered with empty homes. It needs a strategic plan to address its growing home abandonment crisis. What few community leaders and activists have considered as a solution: education reform.

That should change. As a new report shows, there is perhaps no other strategy that would tackle the area's housing problem as effectively."

School choice would reshape U.S. education | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/28/2009

School choice would reshape U.S. education Philadelphia Inquirer 09/28/2009:

"Tomorrow in Philadelphia, two of politics' most interesting personalities - the Rev. Al Sharpton and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich - are expected to join Education Secretary Arne Duncan in kicking off a tour of America's urban public schools. Sharpton and Gingrich have said they intend to draw attention to persistent problems and promising remedies in education."

Education gap is leading to a 'Great He-pression' -- chicagotribune.com

Education gap is leading to a 'Great He-pression' -- chicagotribune.com:

"For years now, women have been earning the most college degrees. That trend is accelerating, leaving experts to wonder if men are somehow missing the latest economic wake-up call.

Given a knowledge-based economy and a sluggish outlook for skilled trades, men are facing the economic recovery with significantly bleaker career prospects than the opposite sex."

Education Week: GAO Report Sounds Stimulus Warning on Four States

Education Week: GAO Report Sounds Stimulus Warning on Four States:

"California, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas have been singled out for intensive technical assistance by the Education Department to help them implement good practices in using the federal money. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico also made the department’s list."

Read full report here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12188302/RECOVERY-ACT-Accountability-and-Reporting-Challenges-GAO-Report-to-the-Congress

Testimony - Commission on the 21st Century Economy

Testimony - Commission on the 21st Century Economy


Governor Schwarzenegger's Executive Order S-15-09 mandated the bipartisan Commission on the 21st Century Economy to re-examine and modernize California's out-of-date revenue laws that contribute to feast-or-famine state budget cycles.

The Commission is comprised of 14 members; seven appointed by the Governor, and seven appointed by the legislature.

Applying the principles outlined in Governor Schwarzenegger's Executive Order S-15-09, the Commission will suggest changes to state and local revenues that will result in a revenue stream that is more stable and reflective of the California economy. The Commission will report its findings to the Governor and legislature on or before September 20, 2009.

Principles

Establish a 21st century tax structure that fits with the state's 21st century economy;

Stabilize state revenues and reduce volatility;

Promote the long-term economic prosperity of the state and its citizens;

Improve California's ability to successfully compete with other states and nations for jobs and investments;

Reflect principles of sound tax policy including simplicity, competitiveness, efficiency, predictability, stability, and ease of compliance and administration;
Ensure that tax structure is fair and equitable.

Almanac : Glimmers of change in stress-filled high schools?

Almanac : Glimmers of change in stress-filled high schools?:

"In private sessions Saturday, 22 school teams from around the country will toss around ideas on how schools can help to broaden the rigid notion of 'success' that has taken hold on so many hyper-competitive campuses -- high grades, top test scores and acceptance into prestigious colleges."

Why are so many people in Georgia mad about math? | Get Schooled

Why are so many people in Georgia mad about math? Get Schooled:

"Of all the curriculum debates, the ongoing sparring over Georgia’s new math standards is the most vigorous. A while back, I ran two related articles on Monday AJC education pages. I am rerunning them here in response to the comments Wednesday about the math standards. Warning, these are long essays so they may only interest those concerned about math."

Schwarzenegger: Overlook glitch, let paralyzed grad take bar exam - CNN.com

Schwarzenegger: Overlook glitch, let paralyzed grad take bar exam - CNN.com:

"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday called on the state bar to overlook a technical error and allow a paralyzed law school graduate to take the bar exam next week."

"It is outrageous that someone who has overcome so much in life is penalized by a bureaucratic error that prevents her from taking the bar exam next week," the governor said in a statement.

"Government should work for the people, not against them, and I'm calling on the state bar to allow Sara Granda to take next week's test. Sara is a fighter, and I am with her all the way."
The state bar's Web site never processed Granda's application for Tuesday's test because California's Department of Rehabilitation paid her $600 fee with a check, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Web site requires a credit card number, but Granda said she was assured by a state bar representative that she was properly registered with the check, the newspaper reported.

U.S. 'Soviet-style' education system not cutting it - CNN.com

U.S. 'Soviet-style' education system not cutting it - CNN.com:

"Finnish students ranked No. 1 in science scores, and No. 2 in both math and reading. And the United States? We come in at No. 29 in science, No. 35 in math, and a recent U.S. reading score which wouldn't even track in the top 10 countries in the world.

In Finland, children begin studying algebra, geometry and statistics in the first grade. By 15, they speak three languages, which, of course, is not uncommon throughout Europe."

According to The Dallas Morning News, a team of Texas educators recently traveled to Helsinki to learn from the Finns. What they found was that teachers had 100 percent freedom to educate as they saw fit. They treated their classroom like an entrepreneur would treat his or her business.

Contrast that to how we do things in America with our five-year plans and giant bureaucracies determining what gets taught. Our brand of institutionalized "education lite" -- with far too few hours spent in the classroom and an antiquated summer vacation schedule from America's agrarian days -- just isn't cutting it.

Commentary: Obama on risky ground on schools - CNN.com

Commentary: Obama on risky ground on schools - CNN.com:

"However, as the administration navigates its way into the policy debates that are swirling over the future of education, it would be wise for it to proceed with caution.
The administration has already staked out positions on a number of issues -- charter schools and merit pay for teachers being two of the big ones -- which run the risk of generating additional controversy in the polarized debates over how to reform education.

If these issues and the stimulus money being made available under the Race to the Top (RTT) program are not handled carefully, conflict and even paralysis are likely to ensue. The president may even inadvertently alienate an important core constituency that he will surely need in the years ahead -- public school teachers."

Garfield High is eligible for takeover -- latimes.com

Garfield High is eligible for takeover -- latimes.com:

"Garfield High, which became nationally known as the real-life setting for the film 'Stand and Deliver,' will be among the initial 12 local campuses, including six high schools, eligible for takeover because of persistent academic failure, officials announced Friday.

The nation's second-largest school system will invite bidders from inside and outside the district to run these schools next year through a proposal process that is still being developed."

Texas Board of Education's choice of investment consultant takes heat | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Texas Politics | The Dallas Morning News

Texas Board of Education's choice of investment consultant takes heat News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News Texas Politics The Dallas Morning News:

"The Texas State Board of Education has courted controversy in recent years by promoting intelligent design, debating whether minorities like César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall are overrepresented in social studies lessons, and balking at approving a high school health textbook that mentioned the word 'condom.'

But its financial management of the Texas Permanent School Fund's investments has largely gone unnoticed.

Over the past year, board members have twice spurned the investment advice of the school fund's professional staff by hiring consultants that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more than their competitors."