Obama: 'The Power Of Free And Open Inquiry' Is At The Heart Of America | TPM LiveWire

Obama: 'The Power Of Free And Open Inquiry' Is At The Heart Of America TPM LiveWire

The White House issued the following transcript of remarks today by President Obama at the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation Ceremony. Here's the full text:

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you. Everyone please have a seat. Before I begin the ceremony to introduce these extraordinary innovators, let me just mention a few people who are in the audience today. First of all, we've got some outstanding members of my Cabinet: Secretary Locke, Secretary Sebelius, Secretary Chu, and Administrator Jackson. We are very grateful for all the outstanding work they're doing.
We've got some wonderful partners in Congress that I want to mention: Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon; Senator Jim Risch of Idaho; Senator -- Representative Rush Holt. Rush, I almost gave you a promotion there -- (laughter) -- or a demotion, depending on how you look at it -- (laughter) -- of New Jersey; Representative Anna Eshoo of California; and Representative Zoe Lofgren of California. I also want to mention my science advisor who is doing outstanding work, Dr. Holdren is here, as well as NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. And we want to thank some of the people who helped to organize today's event -- the National Science Foundation and its director, Arden Bement; the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and its director, Dave Kappos; and Linda Katehi, the chair of the National Medals of Science and Technology and Innovation Committee. So give all of them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Now, it's also a real pleasure to have so many distinguished researchers and innovators joining us, although I must admit that I have an ulterior motive for presenting these awards today. You see, Sasha has a science fair coming up. (Applause.) And I was thinking that you guys could give us a few tips. (Laughter.) Michelle and I are a little rusty on our science. (Laughter.)

In all seriousness, it is a privilege to present these medals, our nation's highest honor for scientific and technological achievement, to the folks who've come here today from all parts of our country and all areas of scientific investigation. The scientists in this room have plumbed the furthest reaches of the universe and the deepest recesses of the human mind; they've sequenced the human genome and stimulated the workings of the atom; they've developed technologies that have greatly improved our understanding of the human body and the natural world; and they've fostered innovations that have saved millions of lives and improved countless more.
So this nation owes all of you an enormous debt of gratitude far greater than any medal can bestow. And we recognize your contributions, but we also celebrate the incredible contributions of the scientific endeavor itself. We see the promise -- not just for our economy but for our health and well-being -- in the human capacity for creativity and ingenuity. And we are reminded of the power of free and open inquiry, which is not only at the heart of all of your work, but at the heart of this experiment we call America.

Because throughout our history, amid tumult and war and against tough odds, this nation has always looked toward the future and then led the way. It was during the darkest days of the Civil War that President Lincoln established the land grant colleges and the National Academy of Science. It was during World War II that President Roosevelt requested that Vannevar Bush -- his science advisor and a future recipient of the National Medal of Science -- outline a set of policies to maintain our scientific and technological leadership in the 20th century.

And it was in the years that followed the Soviet launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, that the United States would create DARPA, NASA, and the National Defense Education Act, which helped improve math and science education from grade school to graduate school. In fact, the National Medal itself was established just two years after that launch, as a sign to the world and to ourselves of how highly we valued the work of the nation's scientists.

Today, we face more complex challenges than generations past. A medical system that holds the promise of unlocking new cures -- attached to a health care system that has the potential to bankrupt families and businesses. A system of energy that powers our economy but endangers our planet. Threats to our security that seek to exploit the very interconnectedness and openness that's so essential to our prosperity. And challenges in a global marketplace which link the trader on Wall Street to the homeowner on Main Street, and the office worker in America to the factory worker in China -- we all share an opportunity, but we also all share in crisis.

At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we can't afford to invest in science, that it's a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I could not disagree more. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, and our health, and our way of life than it has ever been. And the winners we are recognizing only underscore that point, with achievements in physics and medicine, computer science and cognitive science, energy technology and biotechnology. We need to ensure that we are encouraging the next generation of discoveries -- and the next generation of discoverers.

That's why my administration has set this goal: by investing in education, funding basic and applied research, and spurring private innovation, we will devote 3 percent of our gross domestic product to research and development. That's more than at any point in recent history. (Applause.)

And as part of this effort, we're putting in place policies that will move us from the middle to the top of the pack in math and science education over the next decade. We are challenging states to dramatically improve achievement by raising standards, by improving the use of technology, and by making it possible for professionals like our honorees to bring a lifetime of experience and enthusiasm into the classroom. And we've also launched a Race to the Top fund to encourage states to compete for the most innovative programs in math and science, as part of a broader effort to foster new ways of engaging young people in these fields.

The White House is participating, too. Tonight, in fact, we're bringing children to the South Lawn for a night of astronomy. I am really looking forward to this. (Laughter.) This is going to be fun. They'll peer through telescopes, wander through exhibits, and hopefully feel a sense of wonder that might one day lead them here to receive a medal themselves.

And my administration has set another goal to compete for the jobs of the future and to encourage the scientists and engineers of the future. By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. We used to be number one. We have fallen behind. We are going to regain our position. (Applause.)

To meet this goal, we've increased the Pell Grant and passed legislation through the House -- which we're working to pass through the Senate -- to end more than $80 billion in wasteful subsidies to lenders and use that money instead to help students.

Beyond the classroom, the Recovery Act that we passed is funding the largest single boost to biomedical research in history. My budget makes the research and experimentation tax credit permanent to help companies afford the often high cost of innovation. I've proposed eliminating the capital gains tax for investments in startups and small companies -- because countless big ideas begin in small businesses. And we are doubling our capacity in renewable energy, even as we seek to create a system of incentives to make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.

For at our best, this nation has never feared the future. We've shaped the future. Even when we've endured terrible storms, we haven't given up or turned back -- we've remain fixed on that brighter horizon. That's how we've led in the pursuit of scientific discovery; and in turn that's how science has helped us lead the world.

There's no better illustration than what took place at the close of World War II, when the United States transported dozens of captured V-2 rockets from Germany to New Mexico. These were among the most sophisticated weapons in the world, a reminder that much of World War II was fought far from the battlefield -- by Alan Turing in Bletchley Park, and Oppenheimer in Los Alamos, and by countless others who developed radar and aircraft and antibiotics.

The military wanted to understand this new missile technology that the V-2 represented; but scientists were also invited to use these tests to take measurements of the atmosphere. And then one engineer had an idea: to rig a camera and attach it to one of the rockets. And so in this brief moment between the end of a world war and the start of a cold war, a group of scientists erupted with joy as they discovered that they had captured the very first photos of our world as seen from space. Their work would continue as the Rocket and Satellite Research Panel. And after the launch of Sputnik in 1957, the work of this panel would be assumed by a new agency, called NASA. The research into these weapons of war would lead to the missions of Mercury and Gemini and Apollo.

That's the incredible promise of the work scientists do every day -- like the scientists, researchers, and engineers, and innovators we honor with these medals. Yes, scientific progress offers us a chance to achieve prosperity and defend our nation. It has offered us benefits that have improved our lives and our health -- improvements that we often take for granted. But it also gives us something more. At root, science forces us to reckon with the truth as best as we can ascertain it, and to reckon with the power that comes from this knowledge -- for good and for ill. With each new discovery brings new responsibility to move past our differences and to address our shared problems; to embrace a sense of wonder, and our common humanity.

Carl Sagan, who helped broaden the reach of science to millions of people, once described his enthusiasm for discovery in very simple terms. He said, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." (Laughter.) Thank you all for the incredible discoveries that you have made, the progress you've invented, and the benefits you've bestowed on the American people and the world.

So it is now my honor to ask the recipients to come forward to receive their medals, and as their citations are read I will -- you'll just have to bend down a little bit -- (laughter) -- and we will bestow on you the highest honor that our nation can give you for your science, technology, and innovation.

So, do we have someone here for the citations?

MILITARY AIDE: Dr. Berni Alder. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Berni Alder, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, for establishing powerful computer methods useful for molecular dynamic simulations, conceiving and executing experimental shock-wave simulations to obtain properties of fluids and solids at very high pressures, and developing Monte Carlo methods for calculating the properties of matter from first principles, all of which contributed to major achievements in the science of condensed matter.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Francis S. Collins. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Francis S. Collins, National Institutes of Health, for his visionary contributions to the fields of genetics and genomics through the work of his own laboratory and his leadership of multiple international genomics initiatives, including the Human Genome Project.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Joanna S. Fowler. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Joanna S. Fowler, Brookhaven National Laboratory, for her pioneering work in chemistry involving the synthesis of medical imaging compounds and her innovative applications of these compounds to human neuroscience, which have significantly advanced our understanding of the human brain and brain diseases, including drug addiction.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. Elaine Fuchs. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Elaine Fuchs, The Rockefeller University, for her pioneering use of cell biology and molecular genetics in mice to understand the basis of inherited diseases in humans and her outstanding contributions to our understandings of the biology of skin and its disorders, including her notable investigations of adult skin stem cells, cancers, and genetic syndromes.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. James E. Gunn. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. James E. Gunn, Princeton University, for his brilliant design of many of the most influential telescopes and instruments in astronomy, and in particular for the crucial role those technological marvels played in the creation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which has cataloged 200 million stars, galaxies, and quasars; discovered the most distant known quasars; and probed the epoch of formation of the first stars and galaxies.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. Rudolf E. Kálmán. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Rudolf E. Kálmán, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, for his fundamental contributions to modern system theory, which provided rigorous mathematical tools for engineering, [econometrics], and statistics, and in particular for his invention of the "Kálmán filter," which was critical to achieving the Moon landings and creating the Global Positioning System and which has facilitated the use of computers in control and communications technology.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. Michael I. Posner. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Michael I. Posner, University of Oregon, for his innovative application of technology to the understanding of brain function, his incisive and accurate modeling of functional tasks, and his development of methodological and conceptual tools to help understand the mind and the development of brain networks of attention.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. JoAnne Stubbe. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. JoAnne Stubbe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for her groundbreaking experiments establishing the mechanisms of ribonucleotide reductases, polyester synthases, and natural product DNA cleavers -- compelling demonstrations of the power of chemical investigations to solve problems in biology.

THE PRESIDENT: He had to practice that. (Laughter.)

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE: Dr. J. Craig Venter. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. J. Craig Venter, J. Craig Venter Institute, for his dedication to the advancement of the science of genomics, his contributions to our understanding of its implications for society, and his commitment to the clear communication of information to the scientific community, the public, and policymakers.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Forrest M. Bird. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dr. Forrest M. Bird, Percussionaire Corporation, for his pioneering inventions in cardiopulmonary medicine, including the medical respirator; devices that helped launch modern-day medical evacuation capabilities; and intrapulmonary percussive ventilation technologies, which have saved the lives of millions of patients in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other conditions.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Esther Sans Takeuchi. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dr. Esther Sans Takeuchi, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, for her seminal development of the silver vanadium oxide battery that powers the majority of the world's lifesaving implantable cardiac defibrillators, and her innovations in other medical battery technologies that improve the health and quality of life of millions of people.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. John E. Warnock and Dr. Charles M. Geschke. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dr. John E. Warnock and Dr. Charles M. Geschke, Adobe Systems Incorporated, for their pioneering technological contributions that were central to spurring the desktop publishing revolution and for their role in changing the way people create and engage with information and entertainment across multiple mediums including print, video, and the Web.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Mr. Samuel Palmisano, accepting for IBM Corporation. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to IBM Corporation for the IBM Blue Gene supercomputer and its systems architecture, design, and software, which have delivered fundamental new science, unsurpassed speed, and unparalleled energy efficiency and have had a profound impact worldwide on the high-performance computing industry.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that -- the ceremony is over, but I think it would be appropriate for everybody to, again, to stand up and give these recipients a big round of applause. (Applause.)

The Bay Area Reporter Online | Religious right gunning for safe schools czar

The Bay Area Reporter Online Religious right gunning for safe schools czar:

"Conservative pundits and organizations, including the American Family Association and Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, are seeking to oust Kevin Jennings from his job as assistant deputy secretary of the national Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

The calls for him to resign have intensified in the aftermath of Fox News commentator Glenn Beck's leading the charge to force the resignation of Obama administration green jobs czar Van Jones."

Capitol Alert: EdSource report lays out California's school conflicts with feds

Capitol Alert: EdSource report lays out California's school conflicts with feds:

"While a flap over using student test scores to evaluate teachers' performance has gotten most of the ink, it's just one of several significant changes in education policy that California would have to make to qualify for a new surge of federal aid, EdSource, a Mountain View-based education think tank, says in a new study.

President Barack Obama, both personally and through his education secretary, Arne Duncan, has criticized California for not aligning itself with the administration's new education goals, focusing on its reluctance to use test data for teacher evaluation.

With billions of federal dollars"

California gains stimulus funds for broadband Internet - Sacramento Business, Housing Market News | Sacramento Bee

California gains stimulus funds for broadband Internet - Sacramento Business, Housing Market News Sacramento Bee:

"California will receive some of the first federal stimulus money to close the so-called digital divide, but it's angling for much more.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded the first four grants under its State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program."

Lustig: A jury selection to revamp constitution? - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Lustig: A jury selection to revamp constitution? - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"The deepening failure of California politics has led many to call for a new constitutional convention. Major state groups, leaders and mayors are backing the idea, which will be the focus of a meeting in Sacramento on Oct. 14.

One of the thorniest but most important questions surrounding a convention is deciding how to pick its delegates. One current proposal, which has led to some confusion, is to pick convention delegates the way we do jury panels. In that way, the thinking goes, citizens could escape the influence of special interests and wealth in the convention proceedings."

St. HOPE board names new schools superintendent - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

St. HOPE board names new schools superintendent - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Ed Manansala has been named the new superintendent of St. HOPE Public Schools.

The board of directors of the public charter school system that operates Sacramento Charter High School and PS7 Elementary School announced Wednesday that it had made Manansala's position permanent.

Manansala had been serving as the interim superintendent since former executive director Rick Maya officially left in June."

Why I Love My Public School

Our Mission

Parents for Public Schools -- San Francisco (PPS-SF) is a network of parents working together to build and ensure quality schools for all San Francisco children. We do this by providing parent-to-parent information, news and networking and by developing parent leaders at the school and district level.
http://www.ppssf.org/

CTA representatives, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Majority Leader Kevin Deleon (D-Los Angeles),

This morning, CTA representatives, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Majority Leader Kevin Deleon (D-Los Angeles), and school supporters told reporters at a news conference on the Capitol steps that they are urging Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a measure that would protect $402 million in funding for the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) and district revenue limit appropriations. SCTA President Linda Tuttle spoke about schools in Sacramento that have seen skyrocketing student performance as a result of the tools the QEIA funding helps provide.

Sacramento Press / Mayor in favor of Nestlé water bottling plant

Sacramento Press / Mayor in favor of Nestlé water bottling plant:

"Nestlé water bottling plant

Johnson praised Nestlé’s plan to set up a plant to bottle and sell water from the American River, saying the plant will create jobs.

“I knew that this would bring about 40 to 60 jobs in our community and that’s a good thing,” he said.

Johnson also said he wished he could have been more involved in the process of bringing the plant to Sacramento, but noted that the city manager’s office has jurisdiction on the issue.

But Councilmembers Kevin McCarty and Lauren Hammond disagree. They said they want the City Council to get involved in the issue. McCarty has called Nestlé’s plan “a sweetheart deal.”"

Inside City Hall: Tretheway blocks mayor's council committee shuffle - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com

Inside City Hall: Tretheway blocks mayor's council committee shuffle - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com:

"Tretheway blocks mayor's council committee shuffle

Mayor Kevin Johnson's attempt to shuffle the City Council subcommittees was scuttled last week. Here's the back story, according the parties involved:

Jeff Dorso, the attorney who chaired the mayor's transition team, stopped by Councilman Ray Tretheway's office 90 minutes before last week's council meeting. Dorso wanted to chat about Johnson's proposed strong-mayor initiative, for which Dorso is a legal adviser.

During the talk, the mayor's proposed realignment of two City Council committees came up. It was on that evening's consent agenda - which is normally approved with little discussion."

UC Leadership Looks Into Alternative Ways To Save Public Universities - California Progress Report

UC Leadership Looks Into Alternative Ways To Save Public Universities - California Progress Report

A little over a week ago, the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of UC Berkeley, Robert Birgeneau and Frank Yeary wrote an op-ed published on both coasts arguing for a new hybrid model as a means to save California's public universities.

They wrote:

"The economic crisis has made this a countrywide phenomenon, with devastating cuts in some states, including California. Historically acclaimed public institutions are struggling to remain true to their mission as tuition rises and in-state students from middle- and low-income families are displaced by out-of-state students from higher socioeconomic brackets who pay steeper fees. While America is fortunate to have many great private universities, we do not need to add to the list by privatizing Berkeley, Illinois, Rutgers, etc. On the contrary, we need to keep our public research and teaching universities excellent and accessible to the vast majority of Americans."
Their proposal is for the federal government should create a hybrid model,

"in which a limited number of our great public research and teaching universities receive basic operating support from the federal government and their respective state governments. Washington might initially choose a representative set of schools, perhaps based on their research achievements, their success in graduating students, commitment to public service and their record in having a student body that is broadly representative of society.

The White House - Blog Post - Streaming at 1:30: National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation

The White House - Blog Post - Streaming at 1:30: National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation:

"From his first days in office the President made clear that science, technology, and innovation would be elevated to core values in his Administration. But the awards being given today are evidence of how deeply rooted these things are in the American tradition.
Watch the event here through WhiteHouse.gov/live

Watch and discuss the event as it's happening through Facebook
The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering."

Afterschool Alliance

Afterschool Alliance:

"Each afternoon across the U.S., 15 million children--more than a quarter of our youth--are alone and unsupervised after school. The parents of 18 million would enroll their children in an afterschool program, if one were available. These are some of the key findings from the nation’s most in-depth study of how America’s children spend their afternoons. America After 3 PM was sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. The 2009 report, conducted for the Afterschool Alliance, surveyed nearly 30,000 households across the United States.

The survey finds that 8.4 million children participate in an afterschool program, an increase of nearly 3 million children over the past five years. While this is encouraging, there is still work to be done. The number of children left alone after the school day ends has risen to 15.1 million children - an increase of 800,000 children - since the 2004 edition of America After 3PM.

Listen to the Afterschool Alliance's Jodi Grant and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund's Jodi Gibson talk about the new America After 3 PM findings.
Please see the links and map below for America After 3 PM insight into nearly every avenue of afterschool program participation."

Read the full report: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12734400/America-After-3-PM

Education Week: Survey Finds More Children Unattended After School

Education Week: Survey Finds More Children Unattended After School:

"Thirty percent of those students left alone are middle schoolers, 4 percent are in elementary school, and the remaining 66 percent are students of high school age, according to the nationally representative survey, which included responses from about 30,000 U.S. households during the 2008-09 school year. Most participants were surveyed through the mail with some follow-up phone surveys, and the margin of error for the study is plus or minus sixth-tenths of a percent.

The survey, sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, based in Plano, Texas, also found that 88 percent of those surveyed agreed that after-school programs are “an absolute..."

Bridging Differences: Why 'Washington-Driven Standardization' Is NOT Best

Bridging Differences: Why 'Washington-Driven Standardization' Is NOT Best:

"I am somewhat crazed and stressed-out today because my book is due to the publisher, with no more edits allowed. So, needless to say, I am focused on meeting that deadline. But since the book deals with the same issues that we discuss every week, it is not as if I have to turn my attention to a totally different subject. Readers of this blog know that I have often tried out ideas here and benefited by hearing their reactions."

One issue that we have discussed and should discuss more is the regulations embedded in the Race to the Top fund, that sum of $4.3 billion that the U.S. Department of Education is using to stimulate innovation and reform. It may be daring to say this, but I am weary of reform. I think that our schools have been overrun by too many reforms, to the point where it becomes difficult to say what effect any of them has had. Some of our schools are like archeological sites, with layer after layer of reform, one on top of the other. A teacher once said to me that she had "reform fatigue." I wonder if any other nation so regularly reorganizes, reshapes, and reforms its schools.

Inverting Bloom's Taxonomy

Education Week: Inverting Bloom's Taxonomy

The magic of Bloom’s Taxonomy, that familiar classification system for levels of thinking (and hence learning objectives), was that teachers could close their eyes and picture it. And with a little help from entrepreneurial consultants, they didn’t need to close their eyes at all—posters of color-coded pyramids became a standard part of classroom decor. The taxonomy was lean and intuitive, but the image of the pyramid gave it staying power. “Knowledge” formed the wide and stable base. “Evaluation” was the terrain of intellectual mountaineers.

Applebatch: Luring Students Back to Learning

Applebatch: Luring Students Back to Learning:

"Should educators use money to stimulate attendance and create better grades? The New York Times reports that in July of 2009, the French Government released a list of 165 initiatives proposed to stymie high school dropout rates that have led to high youth unemployment in France. Among these initiatives is an incentive-based proposal that has fomented a debate in the teacher community in France since its more public pronunciation by the newspaper Le Parisien last Friday. By committing to an attendance and performance target, high schoolers can earn from €2,000 to €10,000 for their class fund that can then be spent on educational activities such as field trips."

Whitman Q&A Pt. 3: Living with schools cuts - Total Buzz - OCRegister.com

Whitman Q&A Pt. 3: Living with schools cuts - Total Buzz - OCRegister.com:

"In this installment, GOP gubernatorial candidate and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman talks about how we may need to live with the scaled-down education funding for now. She says K-12 needs to move more money from administration to the classroom, get more charter schools, and reward the top teachers. And she says 10 percent cuts of higher ed may actually be an asset, although further cuts are hurtful.

I asked if she thought the teachers union was part of the problem, but she wasn’t going there.

In Part 1, Whitman addresses her spotty voting records. You can also click here for today’s update on that issue.

In Part 2, she addresses the state budget, including her proposals for tax cuts and eliminating 20,000 to 30,000 state jobs."

New school assignment plan cuts parents' choice

New school assignment plan cuts parents' choice:

"For years, parents have been given wide latitude to pick and choose schools for their children in the Seattle Public Schools."

Until now.

Seattle Public Schools administrators Tuesday evening unveiled the proposed new attendance-area boundary maps (click here for high school and here for middle and elementary schools) for the 46,000 students attending 88 public schools. After numerous community meetings, including one this Saturday, the final School Board vote will take place Nov. 18.

The new student-assignment plan, approved by the Board in mid-June, uses a community-based approach towards school assignments, sending students to schools closest to home. These changes are necessary, district officials have said, because Seattle's population density and demographic makeup has shifted considerably and parents have demanded more predictability.

The cash-strapped school district could save a considerable amount of money by changing the way schools are assigned and by reducing transportation costs. (In 2007, we reported that Seattle spends an average of $560.86 per student on transportation, or about $25 million -- more than other large districts in the state).
The plan, however, would also require new capital expenditures. Five closed elementary schools would reopen under the plan.

Education Chief Duncan to Give Innovation Grants - NYTimes.com

Education Chief Duncan to Give Innovation Grants - NYTimes.com:

"The federal Department of Education sketched out a new nationwide competition on Tuesday under which some 2,700 school districts and nonprofit groups are expected to compete for pieces of a $650 million innovation fund.

The department already has the 50 states vying for chunks of a $5.4 billion education improvement fund that it calls Race to the Top; the innovation fund is a separate competition.

Federal officials said the Investing in Innovation Fund would be distributed in three categories. Small development grants of up to $5 million will support new, unproven ideas that seem worth exploring, they said. Validation grants of up to $30 million will support existing programs that have shown evidence that they can work. Scale-up grants of up to $50 million will go to programs that have developed a strong track record for improving student achievement, the officials said."

Ohio.com - Willard: Grading education isn't easy

Ohio.com - Willard: Grading education isn't easy:

"COLUMBUS: About a decade ago, this newspaper ran a series of articles about the problems facing public education. In those stories, three reporters, myself included, each spent a day following typical fourth-grade students in three different school districts.

In one classroom, the teacher asked students about a spinnaker, and a young man answered by explaining he had seen the sailing ship on a trip to Turkey. In another classroom, when a teacher asked what was the first thing they smelled when they went to the movies, the students fell silent. When the teacher exclaimed, ''popcorn,'' we learned many of the students had yet to step into a theater.

Students arrive at the doorsteps of schools each day burdened with backpacks and often varied experiences and economic backgrounds. They are at different learning levels, and for this reason, it is difficult to fairly assess just how much teaching is going on in individual classrooms and buildings and across districts."

Doyle signs bill mandating kindergarten -- chicagotribune.com

Doyle signs bill mandating kindergarten -- chicagotribune.com:

"MADISON, Wis. - Starting in 2011 children will be required to complete kindergarten before they can start first grade in Wisconsin.

Gov. Jim Doyle on Tuesday signed a bill making that change.

The bill passed the Legislature last month. Supporters say it's needed to ensure that students who enroll in kindergarten actually attend class.

Because kindergarten isn't mandatory now, students aren't bound by truancy rules.

It won't affect many children.

Each year, an average of just 117 first-graders haven't been to kindergarten. That's about one-third of 1 percent of the total number of first-graders as of last school year.

Students who are home schooled or attend charter schools can get an exemption."

Dyslexia and the reading brain

Dyslexia and the reading brain:

"All of us are born with brains that are designed to think and talk.

But no one is born with a brain that is designed to read.

For that reason, every child who learns to read is adapting older brain structures to a new purpose, and 'it's almost a miracle that so many kids are able to do that effortlessly.'

That's one of the main messages that Dr. Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University, will deliver in a keynote address at a dyslexia conference here on Saturday."

Catalyst Notebook :: Pitfalls with school choice in Chicago, other districts

Catalyst Notebook :: Pitfalls with school choice in Chicago, other districts:

"A new report by The Center on Reinventing Public Education strikes an optimistic note on the emergence of “portfolio schools”—that is, charter and charter-like schools—in Chicago, New Orleans, New York and Washington DC. But the report also offers a long list of potential pitfalls—from the evaporation of philanthropic dollars to shifting political terrain—that threatens any well-oiled network of autonomous school options.

The center is a research collective at the University of Washington that generally takes a constructively critical view of school choice and district decentralization efforts. In this report, the researchers offer little in the way of evaluation of each city’s portfolio initiatives, but they do serve up a good reference tool for understanding the differences in scale and scope of major reform efforts in the country’s hotspots for urban educational change."

Head of D.C. Schools Pushes Need For Reforming Public Education | The Cornell Daily Sun

Head of D.C. Schools Pushes Need For Reforming Public Education The Cornell Daily Sun:

"Michelle Rhee ’92 has a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to improving the Washington, D.C. public schools system. As chancellor of the historically under-performing school district, she has shut down schools and fired teachers en-route to creating an environment in which all students can succeed.

Often seen as a controversial figure in public education, Rhee’s pioneering actions may someday lead to large-scale school reform. The Sun sat down with Rhee on Monday to talk about higher education’s role in innovating public schools, her portrayal in the media and her time at Cornell."

Danny Glover adds voice for school workers | Philadelphia Daily News | 10/07/2009

Danny Glover adds voice for school workers Philadelphia Daily News 10/07/2009:

"Actor Danny Glover is known for a lot of things, but being an advocate for the Philadelphia School District's lowest-paid workers may not be one of them.

'It's unconscionable,' Glover said yesterday about the meager wages of Philly schools' cafeteria workers and noontime aides.

Surrounded by a group of them at a home near Simon Gratz High, Glover appealed to the decision-makers to 'do better.'"

Legal complaint filed against school district's English Learner policies | 89.3 KPCC

Legal complaint filed against school district's English Learner policies 89.3 KPCC:

"Of the many Southland public school students who study English as a second language, most are Spanish speakers. KPCC’s Adolfo Guzman-Lopez reports that a federal complaint filed Tuesday against an area school district sheds light on the challenges of providing adequate English learner instruction.

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez: One of every four students at Centinela Valley Union High School District east of L.A. International Airport is an English learner. That’s about the statewide average. A Bay Area legal advocacy group alleges that the district discriminated against some of those students by moving English learner services to a campus miles away."

Sophomores on the FAST track to learning at Salinas High | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

Sophomores on the FAST track to learning at Salinas High thecalifornian.com The Salinas Californian:

"Integrating academic and career technical education.Partnerships with businesses to help with things such as student internships and job shadowing.'Academies have been carefully evaluated and shown to have positive impacts on school performance,' a California Department of Education Web site says.The academy at Salinas High operates this year on a $42,000 grant from the state matched by a similar grant from the Salinas Union High School District."

The Orion - Editorial: College newspapers face move to online-only content

The Orion - Editorial: College newspapers face move to online-only content:

"Have you heard the news about the news? It’s no secret the college newspaper industry is dying. The university systems have to decrease their spending and programs are being cut accordingly. This means any student-run newspaper dependent on its college is in serious danger of losing its funding.

The way in which people receive their information is quickly changing. No longer are we confined to the paper and ink of traditional newspapers. Instead, we utilize pixels, video clips and instant commentary. Where does this leave the future reporters and editors of tomorrow’s newspapers?"

Capitol Center To Close - Daily Nexus

Capitol Center To Close - Daily Nexus:

"In late August, the Sacramento Center received a temporary suspension of its funding and stopped accepting applications indefinitely. The Center — which provided graduate and upper-division undergraduate students with a chance to study in the politically-charged Sacramento atmosphere during the academic and summer quarters — had been operating in the state capitol for less than five years when the decision was made to postpone the program. The decision was ultimately made by acting interim UC Provost Lawrence Pitts and will take effect at the conclusion of this quarter."

Editorial: Vote yes on Measures G and H in Acalanes and Walnut Creek school districts - ContraCostaTimes.com

Editorial: Vote yes on Measures G and H in Acalanes and Walnut Creek school districts - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"Unfortunately, we don't live in such a world. School districts are partially funded by the state and then left to make up shortfalls on their own.

For that reason, we support two parcel taxes on the Nov. 3 ballot, Measure G in the Acalanes Union High School District and Measure H in the Walnut Creek School District.

The Acalanes high school district serves students who are funneled through grades K-8 in the Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette and Walnut Creek school districts.

With Measure G, Acalanes voters are being asked to continue paying an existing $189 a year parcel tax. With Measure H, voters in the Walnut Creek district are being asked to continue paying an existing $82 a year parcel tax.

While we back the measures, which require approval of two-thirds of the voters, we do so with some reservations. Voters should be aware that they are being asked to indefinitely extend existing parcel taxes. The current taxes are due to expire in 2011. Measures G and H have no sunset provisions."

Opinion: Dan Walters: Few would object if governor vetoed all bills on his desk - San Jose Mercury News

Opinion: Dan Walters: Few would object if governor vetoed all bills on his desk - San Jose Mercury News:

"That problematic nature is compounded by the fact that there's nothing of cosmic importance sitting on the governor's desk. While there are some measures of note, such as bills to expand California's commitment to solar, wind and other alternative energy forms, almost none of them need to be enacted this year. The alternative energy measures wouldn't take effect for years, for instance.

Given the ideological tilt of the Legislature, it's no surprise that most of the measures now pending are either minor in nature or are important mostly to liberal groups. And that means Republicans and business interests would not be dismayed if Schwarzenegger vetoes every one of the measures now pending, such as those expanding the services that health insurers must offer."

California's Higher Education Needs Transparency - NAM

California's Higher Education Needs Transparency - NAM:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has until Oct. 11 to sign or veto SB 218.

This is a bill introduced by State Senator Leland Yee, D-Calif., following questions raised about the business practices of foundations on California State University campuses from Fresno to San Francisco, Sonoma to Sacramento.

“Taxpayers and students deserve to know how their public universities are run,” Yee said. He cited several cases where a lack of accountability and transparency has paved the way for abuses by public higher education foundations.

A member of a Fresno State foundation received a no-bid contract connected with building a campus entertainment venue in which he had a financial stake. An executive with the San Francisco City Community College Foundation borrowed money from it for personal consumption. A Sonoma State foundation got stuck with repaying money lent to a former board member unable to make the loan payments."

Education Matters: Obama’s Chance to Spark Real School Funding Reform - NAM

Education Matters: Obama’s Chance to Spark Real School Funding Reform - NAM:


"President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have an unprecedented opportunity to lead real school funding reform through the federal stimulus package. They can encourage states like California to fund public schools adequately and equitably. The question is, will they?

While much of the $100-plus billion in education stimulus funding is targeted to stave off teacher layoffs and keep class sizes in check, the so-called “Race to the Top” Fund stands apart. This $4.35 billion pot is the largest infusion of discretionary federal dollars ever into the public education system, bigger than the combined discretionary funds provided to all prior education secretaries over the past 29 years. States have to compete for funding, and not all will win. Money will be doled out on a selective basis to a subset of states that demonstrate their commitment to bold, systemic education reform. The idea is to reward innovation and results in public education and push states to undertake serious reform if they want to access to the pot."

Duncan, Holder in Chicago to discuss teen violence - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Duncan, Holder in Chicago to discuss teen violence - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"CHICAGO -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan are set to discuss youth violence in Chicago in the wake of the beating death of a 16-year-old honor student whose attack was caught on cell phone video.

Holder and Duncan plan to meet privately Wednesday with students, parents and school officials. They'll hold a news conference later with Ron Huberman, who replaced Duncan as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools.

President Barack Obama sent the two federal officials to Chicago after images emerged of the fatal beating of high school sophomore Derrion Albert. Four teenagers have been charged in his death."

Folsom Cordova district sued over teacher rehiring - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Folsom Cordova district sued over teacher rehiring - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Five teachers laid off because of budget cuts and the Folsom Cordova Education Association are suing the Folsom Cordova Unified School District board of trustees."

The suit, filed Sept. 18, contends that jobs that should have gone to laid-off teachers went to others. The California Education Code requires that districts put all laid-off teachers on a rehire list and to hire from it on the basis of seniority, according to the suit.

The teachers said the district did hire some laid-off teachers for temporary jobs, but did not hire them in order of seniority.

Call your doctor to get H1N1 vaccination, California officials say - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Call your doctor to get H1N1 vaccination, California officials say - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Looking to get an H1N1 vaccination soon? Your best bet is to call your doctor.

California's first allotment of 400,000 H1N1 nasal spray vaccine began arriving in doctors' offices Monday, according to the state Department of Public Health. Doses will continue arriving through the end of the week, and go mostly to pediatrician, OB-GYN and family practice offices."

www.KOB.com - Education cuts cause rift

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1178553.shtml?cat=516:

"Gov. Bill Richardson now says he is not sure he will be able to see eye-to-eye with key lawmakers before this month's budget-balancing special session.

The growing rift between the governor and some key lawmakers is education cuts—and neither side appears ready to budge. Many of those lawmakers said Monday that school funding is a huge part of the budget and if education money doesn't take a hit, all other departments will face deep cuts."

Chicago teen slayings may have roots in school closings that send students across gang lines

Chicago teen slayings may have roots in school closings that send students across gang lines:

"After images of Albert’s death were widely broadcast last week, President Barack Obama is sending his education secretary back to Chicago where, as head of the city’s schools, he implemented that plan. Attorney General Eric Holder will join Arne Duncan on Wednesday when they meet with school officials and students.

Since 2005, dozens of Chicago’s public schools have been closed and thousands of students reassigned to campuses outside their neighborhoods — and often across gang lines — as part of Renaissance 2010, a program launched by Mayor Richard Daley when Duncan was Chicago Public Schools chief.

While the plan has resulted in replacing failing and low-enrollment schools with charter schools and smaller campuses, it has also led to a surge in violence that has increasingly turned deadly, many activists, parents and students say.

Before the 2006 school year, an average of 10-15 public school students were fatally shot each year. That soared to 24 deadly shootings in the 2006-07 school year, 23 deaths and 211 shootings in the 2007-08 school year and 34 deaths and 290 shootings last school year.

Few deaths have occurred on school grounds, but activists say it’s no coincidence that violence spiked after the school closures."

Local politician advocates for correction reform - News

Local politician advocates for correction reform - News:


"The cost of the corrections system in California, and its effect on the state budget and public safety, are weighing upon Assemblymember Nancy Skinner. The local politician visisted campus last Thursday, October 1.

Skinner is the Assemblymember for California's 14th District which includes Moraga as well as surrounding areas such as Walnut Creek, Berkeley and Oakland."

Curriki Calls on California Teachers to Open, Share and Collaborate « Blogs « Literacy News

Curriki Calls on California Teachers to Open, Share and Collaborate « Blogs « Literacy News: "

Curriki, a leading online community for creating and sharing K-12 open source curricula today called on California teachers to join forces to enhance high school curriculum. In response to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Free Digital Text Book Initiative, Curriki will work with California teachers to collaboratively improve free digital textbooks for high school earth science and chemistry courses.

The Governor, State Superintendent Jack O’Connell and the State Board of Education announced in May the Free Digital Textbook Initiative (www.gov.ca.gov/press-release/122225/), a project to provide a list of standards-aligned free digital textbooks for high schools that cover course content in math and science."

The White House - Blog Post - White House to Host Star Party

The White House - Blog Post - White House to Host Star Party:

"The White House has announced that on Wednesday, after honoring 13 of the nation’s top innovators and inventors, President Obama will host an Astronomy Night on the White House South Lawn.

OSTP is a proud co-organizer of the event, which will bring the President together with 150 local middle-school students and two students (a middle-schooler and a high school student) who have already made notable astronomical discoveries. The event will highlight this Administration’s commitment to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

It is also a way to increase awareness of the incredible discoveries, inspiration, and expansion of human knowledge that the field of astronomy can deliver, and we hope that people around the country will take part. The event is to be broadcast on the White House Web site as well as NASA TV, and will be linked with simultaneous events at museums and planetariums across the country."

UC leaders propose state-federal 'hybrid"

UC leaders propose state-federal 'hybrid"

"BERKELEY — The federal government should step in to save chronically underfunded public universities, University of California leaders say.

UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau has proposed that top public research schools become state-federal 'hybrids' that receive basic operating funds from the U.S. government. The federal government also should match private funding raised by universities at a 2-1 ratio, Birgeneau and Vice Chancellor Frank Yeary wrote in opinion pieces published in newspapers on both coasts.

The idea has been well received in Washington, they said in an interview this week, but it is unclear when and if the Obama administration would take it on.

'They were enthusiastic,' said Birgeneau, who said he had spoken with Department of Education officials and was told not to expect any movement for at least the next two years. 'But they told me they had no money.'"

Continue reading at: http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_13499464

Health Insurance Reform Forum hosted by Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui

Dear Friend,

The state of our health insurance system impacts all Americans, insured and uninsured alike. Throughout the national debate over health insurance reform, I have listened to and visited with many Sacramentans including community members, families, seniors, doctors, nurses and small business owners. As the debate over health insurance reform continues, I would like to continue hearing from you about your thoughts, recommendations and concerns on this important topic.

This Saturday, October 10th, I will be hosting a public forum to discuss the health insurance reform legislation that is currently pending in Congress. This forum will be held at Sutter Middle School in Sacramento, and will begin promptly at 11:00 AM. Your input will play an important role as I consider the provisions of the proposed legislation.

Health Insurance Reform Forum hosted by Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Saturday, October 10th

Sutter Middle School Multipurpose Room

3150 I Street, Sacramento

Public transit is available via bus lines 30 and 34. On-site parking is also available.

I hope to see you on Saturday.

Please contact my office at (916) 498-5600 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,

DORIS O. MATSUI
Member of Congress

PS - If you have not already, please take a minute to answer my health care survey.

To ensure that you continue to receive periodic updates on my work in Congress, please click here.

Sacramento Press / Welcome to The Sacramento Press Journalism Open!

Sacramento Press / Welcome to The Sacramento Press Journalism Open!

We're so glad you're interested in The Sacramento Press Journalism Open! Not only can you win some great prizes, you can also have an effect on your community and gain some skills in the bargain! Contributing to our site is quick and easy - we can show you everything you need to know to take the act of making journalism into your own hands!

I'm David Watts Barton, the managing editor of The Sacramento Press, our area's top hyper-local, citizen-written news website, where we focus on up-close, in-depth coverage of neighborhoods like yours. We aim to spread the traditional habits of good journalism - accuracy, fairness and a diversity of opinion - across the Web. We do it with a mix of professional and amateur writing from around the community.

We're hosting this contest because we want you to join us! The future of journalism may depend on you: Your ideas, your questions, and the answers you find will increase the amount of good, local information you and your fellow citizens need to make informed decisions, whether it's about city government or where to go for entertainment. And once you've asked the questions you want answered, we want you to write for The Sacramento Press - because citizens like you are The Sacramento Press!

This contest is a pro-am, where writers of all skill levels and points of view are welcome to write about what you know and about what interests you.