U.S. Standards Initiative Seeks to Equalize Benchmarks - washingtonpost.com

U.S. Standards Initiative Seeks to Equalize Benchmarks - washingtonpost.com:

"The opening of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice.' Toni Morrison's 1993 Nobel lecture. Walt Whitman's poem 'O Captain! My Captain!' The Declaration of Independence. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter From Birmingham Jail.'

Those were among a handful of texts chosen to illustrate proposed standards for skills and knowledge that every high school graduate should have in English language arts.
And that should be the cue for another 'great works' debate. Every so often, educators, politicians, parents, students and those who care about schools will tussle over lists of works deemed essential (or not) for a culturally literate young adult. It gets especially fierce when the nation's academic reputation is perceived to be at stake."

‘Mama’ Shines Her Light - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

‘Mama’ Shines Her Light - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos:

"In its Editor’s note, NAM wrote: “In early September, on schoolyards and in hallways across the country, the same excited, anxious question rings out: ‘Who’d you get?’

“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.”)"

Sweetwater teachers rally for a contract | SocialistWorker.org

Sweetwater teachers rally for a contract SocialistWorker.org:

"CHULA VISTA, Calif.--One day after an estimated 1,000 members of the Sweetwater Education Association (SEA), the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association, rallied along with students, parents and community members in front of the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) building, a tentative agreement was reached between the district and SEA bargaining teams.

On October 7, protesters marched in South Bay San Diego to confront the SUHSD, which had failed to bargain a union contract in good faith for well over a year. The rally picked up steam when a large group of students, gathered next to the building opposite where SUHSD administrators were holding a 'fact finding' meeting, started chanting on behalf of their teachers: 'What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now.'"

Inland educators not counting on federal stimulus dollars, despite governor's effort | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Inland educators not counting on federal stimulus dollars, despite governor's effort Inland News PE.com Southern California News News for Inland Southern California:

"California could get about $500 million out of the $4.3 billion up for grabs in the federal Race to the Top education program, said David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers Association. The state had cut about $4.5 billion from the education budget for kindergarten through community college because of the fiscal crisis.

'If we were talking about significant money, we would probably be more excited about it,' Sanchez said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday signed into law Senate Bill 19, which allows student performance on standardized tests to be used in evaluating teachers and principals -- previously prohibited in California. States with such bans are prevented by federal rules from applying for the stimulus money."

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, a former Cal and NBA star, robbed in San Francisco - San Jose Mercury News

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, a former Cal and NBA star, robbed in San Francisco - San Jose Mercury News:

"SAN FRANCISCO — Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, former Cal and NBA star, was reportedly robbed on the streets of San Francisco over the weekend, KCRA-TV in Sacramento is reporting.

In a post on his blog, Johnson said he was near Union Square helping an elderly man get into a cab when someone stole his garment bag.
Johnson, former NBA All Star, said he lost a suit, a pair of shoes and some personal items.

'Not the end of the world, but frustrating,' Johnson wrote. 'The real crime was the vulnerability of it all, the idea that I could leave my bag on a crowded street, turn my back for 30 seconds and have my stuff stolen.'"

Helpless Mayor Blames School Violence On Parents, Feds (Again) - District 299

Helpless Mayor Blames School Violence On Parents, Feds (Again) - District 299:

"Then Mayor Daley came on and blamed everything on family problems, privacy laws, and...well, anyone but himself. There is no violence problem...or if there is it's not his fault. It was an amazing performance. Completely self-serving and convenient, full of false indignation and distractions. You'd think he wasn't mayor.

Gayle read a letter from a CPS teacher (good job!) that says 'Fenger is just a microcosm of what occurs every day in some CPS schools and in schools nation-wide. Reform after reform has yet to provide many of our children with some education foundation that is badly needed.'

Daley's response was to defend the principal of Fenger and assert that there was no real violence problem in the schools. Which would be an appropriate defense if it were true and if Daley weren't in charge of the schools AND the streets.And would be more believable if there hadn't just been a violence summit."

Privatize nonteaching services in schools | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Privatize nonteaching services in schools detnews.com The Detroit News:

"If all school privatization opportunities were realized, it would save hundreds of millions of dollars, dwarfing a $165 per-pupil foundation grant cut on the table in state budget negotiations. For example, Richmond Public Schools expects to save $823,545 annually from contracting out custodial services -- an effective per-pupil funding increase of $435.

Wyoming-Godwin Heights schools will save $69 per pupil, and Troy $14 by privatizing food service. And Benton Harbor Area Schools projects annual savings equal to $113 per pupil by privatizing transportation."

California Chronicle | Governor Signs Simitian's Education Data Bill, Ensuring Access to Federal Funds

California Chronicle Governor Signs Simitian's Education Data Bill, Ensuring Access to Federal Funds:

"State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O´Connell praised the new law as a win for reform efforts. 'The ´Race to the Top´ competition has the potential to usher in a period of bold and far-reaching structural reform of our nation´s K-12 public education system,' said O´Connell. 'Senate Bill 19 will help California move more quickly into having the right conversation about how to use data to make informed and targeted decisions that will have a great impact on improving student achievement.'"

Sarkozy aims to reform French schools, avoid protest - Forbes.com

Sarkozy aims to reform French schools, avoid protest - Forbes.com:

"Education reform is a difficult balancing act for Sarkozy, who does not want to appear weak by backing down on a hot button issue but who is wary of unleashing a new round of demonstrations that could undermine his authority."

The Associated Press: Del. 1st grader faces reform school for camp tool

The Associated Press: Del. 1st grader faces reform school for camp tool:

"NEWARK, Del. — A Delaware first-grader who wanted to eat lunch at school with his favorite camping utensil, a combination of folding fork, knife and spoon, now faces 45 days in reform school.

Hundreds of people were expected to attend a school board meeting Tuesday evening to object to the suspension of 6-year-old Zachary Christie from Downes Elementary School for bringing the camping utensil from home.

The folding knife is banned as a dangerous instrument under the Christina School District's zero-tolerance policy in the student code of conduct and officials said they have to act regardless of his age or what he planend to do with the instrument.

Zachary's mother, Debbie Christie, is appealing her son's suspension and said she'd prefer that the district's policy take into consideration a child's age and intent."

Scared to Go to School

Scared to Go to School:

"He says schools need to have clear and accurate policies on bullying, confidential ways to report harassment, a safe haven within the school. “But more importantly,” says Meyers, “I think you need to have mechanisms in place where teachers learn what bullying is, so they know how to identify it, so they know how to respond, so they don’t think, ‘oh, that’s just kids, that’s just what kids do’.”

And, experts say, parents shouldn’t underestimate their power within the school.

“Parents have got to realize that it’s just not the schools that can do this,” explains Vermont state representative Peter Hunt. “The schools receive these kids. The schools really have to have the parents’ support.”

Some educators say parents, teachers, and children should all fight for a kind of “zero tolerance” for bullying."

Year-round school not solution for education woes - Opinion

Year-round school not solution for education woes - Opinion:

"'Now, I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas,' President Barack Obama mentioned earlier this year. 'Not with Malia and Sasha, not in my family and probably not in yours. But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.'

What is our president talking about and suggesting? Year-round school, of course. Why, do you ask? Well, Obama's Education Secretary Arne Duncan put it this way: 'Our school calendar is based upon the agrarian economy and not too many of our kids are working the fields today. Young people in other countries are going to school 25, 30 percent longer than our students here. I want to just level the playing field.'

Currently, most public schools in the United States function on a 180-day system. This system was put into place when the United States was largely a farming nation. So when summer came, children were often needed to work the fields."

A child's education is up to the parents | span, style, align - Opinion - Jacksonville Daily News

A child's education is up to the parents span, style, align - Opinion - Jacksonville Daily News:

"We can offer all the lip service and put all the money we want into our schools, and nothing will remain improved for long without responsible parents who support education at home. If education is not held up in the home as one of the most important aspects of life, your school system and your child’s opinion about education will reflect your failure to do so.

If your school system is a failure, you can be assured that the majority of students in that school come from dysfunctional parenting; and parents are directly responsible for that.

You are also directly responsible for the quality of the schools in your community. It is an apparent yet little known fact that parents are responsible for their child’s education. School systems are meant to enhance your instruction of your children — they’re not meant to be a replacement for it. Are you supervising your child’s education at home daily or are you neglecting that responsibility?"

ASU, U-C Berkeley professors win Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences - Collegenews.

ASU, U-C Berkeley professors win Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences - Collegenews.:

"Two college professors, Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson, have won the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, according to press releases from their respective institutions of higher learning.

According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the scientific organization that serves as the selection board for the prize, Ostrom won for her “analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm.”

The Academy further noted that, “Elinor Ostrom has challenged the conventional wisdom that common property is poorly managed and should be either regulated by central authorities or privatized.”

Elinor Ostrom is the second ASU professor to have received a Nobel Prize in economics, while Oliver Williamson is the fifth recipient of an economics Nobel from U-C Berkeley."

California Academy of Sciences: One year later

California Academy of Sciences: One year later:

"Over a year later after its grand reopening and the California Academy of Sciences continues to draw massive crowds. As the epitome of green-friendly architecture, the boldly constructed museum received a major facelift at a sizable cost of $488 million. Ever since the original building was seriously damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the vision was to rebuild a sustainable facility that teaches conservation on a very personal level to the visitor. Located across the Music Concourse from the de Young Museum of Art, it has been completely redesigned by Italian architect Renzo Piano with see-through glass walls, 60,000 photovoltaic cells that produce 10 percent of its electricity, other walls packed with shredded denim jeans for insulation, and special sensors to adjust the lights according to the time of day."

California has become wretched state of affairs | San Francisco Examiner

California has become wretched state of affairs San Francisco Examiner:

"Graham — who’s touring the country touting his new book, “America, the Owner’s Manual,” on the roots of the country’s apolitical leanings and the need for more public civic engagement — noted that one of the requirements for statehood was that each agreed to have a “republican” or representative form of government. That may still appear to be the case on paper, but the runaway initiative process in California has placed a vice grip on the state’s lawmaking and budgetary process.

Graham said he’s not sure if a federal judge would rule in favor of a legal challenge to California’s adherence to its original statehood charter, but it does point to the problems that have prompted a number of observers to say that the once-great state is rapidly failing."

UC may charge based on major - Local - The Modesto Bee

UC may charge based on major - Local - The Modesto Bee:

"LOS ANGELES -- At the UCLA studio of the American Society of Civil Engineers, undergraduates are engaged in such extracurricular projects as designing and constructing a 20-foot concrete canoe to race against other California college teams.

But the young engineers face a potentially tougher challenge as University of California leaders consider a plan to charge these students more for their undergraduate education than most others at the university.

As part of a plan to plug the UC's battered budget, the regents might vote as early as next month on the tradition-breaking proposal to require engineering undergraduates, along with those studying business, to pay $900 more a year than the rest of the student body. That would be in addition to the $2,514 systemwide fee increase that all students figure to see by next fall."

Are the rich paying their fair share? -- latimes.com

Are the rich paying their fair share? -- latimes.com:

"When it comes to the state budget and state taxes, everybody knows the following facts:

People earning $75,000 or less pay little or no taxes now.

The same people use 99.9% of state social programs.

Ergo, millions of residents of this state are getting something for nothing, and the rest pay for their freeloading.

Of course I'm kidding. These are popular myths (I owe the formulation above to a reader's e-mail), not facts. Yet, like a cracked windshield, they have the power to distort almost everything we see when we turn our attention to state spending and taxation."

Oil tax supporters, detractors clash on campus - News

Oil tax supporters, detractors clash on campus - News:

"A group of conservative students protested a rally Monday that was designed to drum up support for an oil tax to fund higher education.

The students silently held up signs in front of Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico as he was speaking to about 400 people at the Cesar Chavez Memorial Arch.

The rally was in support for Assembly Bill 656, which would charge oil companies a 9.9 percent severance tax to help fund higher public education in California, according to the text of the bill.

About seven students, many of whom said they were with the College Republicans at SJSU, stormed the podium when Torrico took the stage and held up signs that read 'Don't think you won't pay this tax' and 'Tax cost 9,000 jobs.'

Others with signs supporting the bill quickly rushed the stage to counter the protesters."

Five myths about paying good teachers more | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Five myths about paying good teachers more detnews.com The Detroit News:

"Education Secretary Arne Duncan says paying public school teachers based on their performance is his 'highest priority,' and he plans to dole out hundreds of millions of dollars to states and school systems that embrace the idea. In the District of Columbia, Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee has made such reform a cornerstone of her agenda -- and a backdrop to her recent move to lay off 229 teachers in response to budget cuts. But school reformers have been trying unsuccessfully to introduce performance pay in public education for decades. If today's reformers want to break the deadlock, they're going to have to let go of several myths hanging over the debate:"

Voice of the Day | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader

Voice of the Day News-Leader.com Springfield News-Leader:

"Former California Governor Jerry Brown once famously said, 'A little vagueness goes a long way in this business.'* Obviously Springfield Public Schools officials have taken that advice to heart as concerns the proposal relating to Study and Westport.

Or perhaps, more accurately, it is not vagueness but prevarication that best describes the ever-changing explanations, rationalizations and fabrications that comprise the narrative 'spun' by SPS."

t has been publicly and privately asserted that "research" justifies this proposal and/or, alternatively, that one can "find numbers/data/research that say anything." Understandably, SPS doesn't really desire to engage in an open discussion regarding either the existing national research or the local experience relevant to this matter.

First, the "research" cited by SPS administrators is generally not research at all. Various lists provided at various times in various circumstances include virtually nothing of substance but rather consist of a motley collection of magazine articles, personal essays and the like. The one unifying element of these pieces is that they do not, in any manner, endorse the proposal at hand. Indeed, the one most compelling argument each makes is for the creation and/or retention of smaller schools-precisely opposite of the course of action pursued by SPS. The case that is being made therein for the relative virtues of new K-8** schools is contingent on the small size existing or proposed for such entities as against the larger middle schools prevalent in urban settings where such re-configurations are being undertaken.

'Future of Education Computing' Recognized via Award From National School Boards Association | Reuters

'Future of Education Computing' Recognized via Award From National School Boards Association Reuters:

"SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Wyse Technology, the global leader in thin computing and client virtualization,
today announced that Brian Seaman, Network Administrator at the Western Wayne
School District in Northeast Pennsylvania has been named by the National School
Boards Association`s Technology Leadership Network (TLN) annual list of '20 to
Watch' emerging leaders in education technology. These individuals are
recognized by NSBA for championing technology initiatives that make a difference
for students, teachers, school districts, and the greater education technology
community.

According to Ann Flynn, Director of Education Technology for NSBA, 'This year's
'20 to Watch' represents educators who see the potential that technology brings
to the learning environment, and who know how to translate that knowledge in a
way that excites and inspires their students and colleagues.'"

Education Week: Education Secretary Leads Chorus Calling for Big City-Hall Role

Education Week: Education Secretary Leads Chorus Calling for Big City-Hall Role:

"The troubles that plague many local school boards prompt some observers to throw up their hands. But when it comes to big-city districts, there’s a popular remedy that continues to gain momentum: mayoral control.

This governance arrangement sidelines school boards, for the most part, in favor of a strong chief executive handpicked by the mayor.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who for seven years ran Chicago’s public schools under Mayor Richard M. Daley, is using his bully pulpit to aggressively promote the approach as a necessity for reversing decades of abysmal academic performance in some cities. In a speech to mayors and school superintendents last spring, in fact, Duncan said he would consider his time as education secretary a “failure” if more mayors didn’t take over city school systems by the..."

Early statistics show teachers gaining the most from Obama's stimulus plan by avoiding layoffs -- latimes.com

Early statistics show teachers gaining the most from Obama's stimulus plan by avoiding layoffs -- latimes.com:

"In California, the stimulus was credited with saving or creating 62,000 jobs in public schools and state universities. Utah reported saving about 2,600 teaching jobs. In both states, education jobs represented about two-thirds of the total stimulus job number. Missouri reported more than 8,500 school jobs, Minnesota more than 5,900. In Michigan, where officials said 19,500 jobs have been saved or created, three out of four were in education.

'They're going to be the biggest driver of jobs from the state side,' said Chris Whatley, who tracks stimulus programs for the Council of State Governments.

Figures for construction companies will vary because some states have spent that money faster than others. Unlike construction jobs, which require bidding and contracting, teaching jobs were relatively quick to save once billions of dollars in aid arrived from Washington."

AuburnPub.com - Center enlists art groups for education

AuburnPub.com - Center enlists art groups for education:

"Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson told The Associated Press the initiative could not have come at a better time as school districts face budget cuts. Groups like the Sacramento Theater Company and Crocker Art Museum will also benefit by fostering a new generation of patrons for theater, ballet and art, he said.

Over the next few months, the Kennedy Center will conduct an audit of the local arts scene and existing arts programs in the Sacramento Unified School District and Twin Rivers Unified School District."

Education Week: Questions Raised on New York Test System's Reliability

Education Week: Questions Raised on New York Test System's Reliability:

"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 revisit 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."

Schools Chancellor Touts Test Score Gains to Business Leaders - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Schools Chancellor Touts Test Score Gains to Business Leaders - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com:

"Supporters of mayoral control of city schools like to say that having one person in charge of the schools eliminates the old politics of the Board of Education. But it’s simply been replaced by a different kind of politics, centered on just how well Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and his schools chancellor, Joel I. Klein, have done in the battle to improve city schools.

So it was hard to put aside politics Monday at an hour-long presentation Mr. Klein gave to business leaders on the 50th floor of the J.P. Morgan Chase building on Park Avenue. With his back to a stunning view of the Chrysler Building, Mr. Klein went over a dozen graphs charting out what he called tremendous progress of the city’s schools."

City Insider : This isn't the kind of steal Kevin Johnson used to relish

City Insider : This isn't the kind of steal Kevin Johnson used to relish:

"When he played for the Phoenix Suns, point guard Kevin Johnson was known for his steals. But the tables were turned on Johnson, now the mayor of Sacramento, when he visited Union Square over the weekend and had his belongings snatched.
Johnson describes the troubling incident on his blog. Apparently, the Good Samaritan - in San Francisco for an arts education conference - was helping an elderly man get into a cab when someone grabbed his garment bag. He lost a suit, pair of shoes and toiletries."

CAVALA: Legislature Victim Of Yet Another ‘Cheap Shot’? - California Progress Report

CAVALA: Legislature Victim Of Yet Another ‘Cheap Shot’? - California Progress Report:

"The Sacramento BEE is leading yet another crusade against the State Legislature. This attack focuses on the benefits provided Legislative employees. While factually accurate, the BEE story is biased and unfair.

After listing the benefits – which contrast favorably on paper with those enjoyed by other state employees and many private sector employees (like BEE reporters), and then allowing reliable witnesses like Jonathan Coupal of the Howard Jarvis organization to take his usual shot at any government action, it isn’t until paragraph 16 (after the fold) that we find the following:"

“Unlike other state workers legislative aides lack civil service protections, receive no automatic pay increases can be fired without cause, receive no overtime compensation and must try to get hired by another legislator when theirs leaves office”.

Which, because of term limits, is a five year occurrence.

Let’s look at the lavish benefits exposed in this hard-hitting report.

Vacations? “Vacations ranging up to six weeks for long time employees”. But with a 35% staff turnover “every year” – a fact listed in paragraph 17 – how many “long time employees” are around to enjoy their six weeks? I was such an employee. In my 25 years of service I enjoyed a net 20 days of “vacation”. My vacation “time” was used up in unpaid volunteer service in political work in an effort to keep my employer in a job where he could employ me.

Retirement benefits? The same as other state employees and not as good as those enjoyed by the staff of Legislative “sergeants” – who are “peace officers”. But who are the Legislative employees who serve long enough or are old enough to retire in grade? Typically they are the clerical workers of the Legislature, not the highly paid attaches of my grade.

Education Week: State law blocks stimulus education funds

Education Week: State law blocks stimulus education funds:

"RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada is ineligible to compete for millions of stimulus education funding because of a state law pushed by the teachers union.

The law prohibits student achievement data from being used in teacher evaluations. That means the state isn't eligible to enter the Obama administration's Race to the Top, a $4.3 billion competition for states trying to turn around failing schools."

State superintendent Keith Rheault says Nevada won't apply for the first round of funding because of the law, which would need a special legislative session to change.

"If you're desperate for money and you get a credit card offer in the mail, you read the fine print to see what the interest rate is," Rheault said. "This to me is like a 35 percent interest rate, with all the federal reporting requirements and changes to regulations. But it just depends on how desperate you are for the money."

The state can still work to resolve other issues in time for the second phase of funding, Rheault said.

Rheault said changing the state law would not immediately make the state eligible for the federal funds because the competition requires states to have increased education funding between 2008 and 2009 and Nevada had to cut its funding. The state would also have to dedicate money for after the stimulus funds ran out.

Education Week: Protest Planned Against N.J. School's Obama Song

Education Week: Protest Planned Against N.J. School's Obama Song:

"Conservative groups plan to rally Monday near a New Jersey school where students performed a song celebrating President Barack Obama.
The planned rally has school district officials planning to beef up security at the B. Bernice Young School in Burlington Township, which houses kindergartners through second-graders.

The song drew national attention last month after a video of the performance was posted on YouTube. Conservatives say it shows how schoolchildren are being indoctrinated to idolize Obama, allegations school officials have denied."

Education Week: 'Dropouts Happen'

Education Week: 'Dropouts Happen':

"Webster defines realism as “a concern for fact or reality and the rejection of the impractical or visionary.”

For perhaps too long, we educators have denied the realities of public schools in favor of a tireless, unending quest for excellence and the success of all students. While these are certainly desirable and justifiable goals, the failure to achieve them should not result in an overwhelming sense of failure, or worse, guilt.

This is not intended to excuse ourselves from the all-important task of educating our young. Rather, it is a plea to accept some of the realities of public schools that contravene our best efforts."

Schwarzenegger signs gay rights bills - Latest News - sacbee.com

Schwarzenegger signs gay rights bills - Latest News - sacbee.com:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed two gay rights bills, one honoring late activist Harvey Milk and another recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.

In the last of hundreds of bill actions taken before midnight Sunday, Schwarzenegger approved the two bills by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco.

The governor last year vetoed the measure declaring May 22 a state day of recognition for Milk, suggesting that the former San Francisco supervisor be honored locally. But he subsequently named him to the California Hall of Fame."

Education News & Comment

Education News & Comment:

"Dear Parent and Community Leaders:

We are currently accepting applications for the current session of the School, Family and Community Partnership Leadership Academy. The Leadership Academy is a leadership development program that promotes excellence in education and is sponsored by the Sacramento City Unified School District in partnership with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

The goals of the program are to raise participant awareness of how the educational system works, enhance communication and collaboration with school and district staff, promote interaction and networking among parent and community and to develop the leadership capacity of participants to lead effectively and strategically."

Please forward the attached brochure (application inside brochure), and session outline to parent leaders in your school, your district advisory committees, or to administrators, teachers and/or community organizations and members who you think would benefit from this training.

Applications are due by October 20, 2009 at the Office of Parent Engagement and Support Services (see brochure). On October 27, 2009 applicants will be notified if they were accepted into the program. The first training session begins on November 2, 2009 (see enclosed session topics and dates). The program selects 20-25 participants per training cycle.

If you have any questions, please call me at (916) 643-7912.

Manuel Guillot

Director Parent Engagement and Support Services

Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis appointed ambassador to Hungary - Latest News - sacbee.com

Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis appointed ambassador to Hungary - Latest News - sacbee.com:

"WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama today named Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis, a prominent Democratic fundraiser and developer from Sacramento, as his ambassador to the Republic of Hungary.

The president said he was confident that she'll be part of a team that 'will work to keep our nation safe at home and strengthen our partnerships abroad.'
Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis is a civic leader, philanthropist and president of AKT Development Corp., one of California's largest land development firms."

Houston schools slow to add Bible elective 2 years after law | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Houston schools slow to add Bible elective 2 years after law Houston & Texas News Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"Two years ago state lawmakers made it OK for schools to provide elective Bible classes but, so far, few Houston-area school districts have taken them up on the offer.

The 2007 law requires schools, beginning this year, to include some Bible literacy in history and literature classes. Bible classes are optional but encouraged under the law. The thinking is that educated students must be familiar with biblical references and themes that pervade culture and society.

“It's not like a Bible study like you have at church,” said Gale Drummond, assistant superintendent of secondary education for Conroe ISD. “It's about looking at the Bible and its influence in Western civilization.”"

Schwarzenegger OKs school bill required by US law - Yahoo! News

Schwarzenegger OKs school bill required by US law - Yahoo! News:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California is removing a legal ban on using the results of student achievement tests to evaluate teachers, under a bill signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill lifts a barrier that prevented California from applying for $4.5 billion under the federal Race to the Top program. Schwarzenegger says more legislation is needed beyond the bill he signed Sunday. He has called lawmakers back into special session this fall.

California still has to qualify for the federal money in competition with other states.

To do so, education officials say the state must approve other reforms, including removing a cap on the number of charter schools, improving poorly performing local schools, and giving the state more authority to intervene in failing schools."

Obama Becomes Japan’s English Teacher - NYTimes.com

Obama Becomes Japan’s English Teacher - NYTimes.com:


"TOKYO — When Utako Sakai was changing the background music in her beauty parlor recently, she did not opt for the classical piano pieces she usually chose.

A CD of President Barack Obama's inaugural speech has sold a half million copies in Japan, leading publishers to flood the market with over a dozen language-learning titles centered on his oratory. Instead, she picked her favorite CD: “President Obama’s Inaugural Address,” released by Asahi Press, a Japanese publisher of language books. She says the speech lifts her spirits and helps her to learn English all at once.

“All our customers love it,” said Ms. Sakai, who is based in Ayase City, in Kanagawa Prefecture, outside Tokyo."

Sacramento Press / Town hall suspicious of strong mayor proposal

Sacramento Press / Town hall suspicious of strong mayor proposal:

"Participants in a town hall meeting on Thursday held at Caleb Greenwood Elementary School expressed skepticism and suspicion about the 'strong mayor' proposal endorsed by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

'I suspect that it [the strong mayor initiative] is a power grab, but I suspect that something will come out of [the town hall meeting] and I'll be able to make a rational decision,' said resident Mike Montgomery.

The town hall meeting, which attracted about 50 people, included a thorough presentation of the strong mayor proposal that has been placed on the June 2010 ballot. The presentation was by members of the Charter Review Committee, a group created by the City Council to research and draft an alternative to the strong mayor proposal."

City Charter Review panel hears draft final report

What: The Sacramento Charter Review Committee, which is formulating an alternative to Mayor Kevin Johnson's strong-mayor ballot proposal, lists on its agenda reviewing a minority report and a draft of the ad hoc committee's final report.

When: 6 p.m.

Where:Council chambers, New City Hall, 915 I St., Sacramento

Education? You be the judge | PressDemocrat.com | The Press Democrat | Santa Rosa, CA

Education? You be the judge PressDemocrat.com The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, CA:

"Meet Supreme Court Justice Irene Waters. With her pursed lips and dark hair pulled back in a bun, she bears a passing resemblance to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In her jurisprudence, however, Waters may be more like Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who cast the swing vote in many key cases before retiring in 2006."

Waters is more animated than either of those two justices, and even more so than Justice Antonin Scalia.

But Waters wasn’t there for the official start of the court’s new term this week. She’s a member of the fictional high court in “Supreme Decision,” an online game designed to teach schoolchildren about the judicial branch. (We told you she was animated!)

O’Connor, the nation’s first female justice, has a new job description: video game promoter. Frustrated by the fact that two-thirds of Americans are unable to name the three branches of government, among other lowlights of the state of civic knowledge, she is spearheading a project called Our Courts, which develops Web-based games aimed at teaching seventh- and eighth-graders about government.

Community must be involved with education in Harrisburg | Our Views & Yours - PennLive.com - - PennLive.com

Community must be involved with education in Harrisburg Our Views & Yours - PennLive.com - - PennLive.com:

"Urban districts have been pushed and pulled through the child-centered curriculum, school and community, No Child Left Behind, unified curriculum, outcomes-based instruction and other approaches to remedy embedded issues with the focus on the teachers doing a better job. While I agree that there are some teachers who can and should do more daily, they are not alone.


Parents, students and adults in our communities need to join in with the efforts of doing more. Nothing will be more helpful to coming out of the abyss of urban decay we currently find ourselves in than a buy-in from the main stakeholders in our communities: parents, students and community representatives.


These stakeholders have to promote the reality of students’ best interests being served when there is community expectation of excelling in school and the workplace. This commitment means having the discipline to study outside of the school walls and time frame."

Is President Obama Continuing Conservative Education Policies? -- New York Magazine

Is President Obama Continuing Conservative Education Policies? -- New York Magazine:

"“Duncan’s plan is cut from the same cloth as the education policies of the Bush administration,” said Sara Bennett after watching the show from her Park Slope home. “It is misguided, disastrous for schoolchildren, and has no basis in sound research.” A Legal Aid lawyer turned activist and the mother of a tenth-grader in a public high school, in 2006 Bennett co-authored The Case Against Homework, which helped launch what came to be known as the “anti-homework movement.” Parents from all over the country, but especially in the gentle strongholds of enlightened parenting like Park Slope, Santa Monica, Berkeley, and Mercer Island near Seattle, began organizing against what Bennett and others have called a “skyrocketing” increase in the amount of homework kids are assigned. They see it as a symptom of a deeper problem—the pressure placed on teachers by school districts to improve their students’ test scores and thereby secure state and federal funding. Many of the movement’s activists are directing their fire toward Duncan’s plan, which they claim will only further enslave children to homework and testing and create a homogenized “monoculture.”"

Children are being left behind -- latimes.com

Children are being left behind -- latimes.com:

"What needs reform just as badly as the schools, however, is the No Child Left Behind Act, a well-meant but ham-handed law that actually encourages schools to lower their academic standards and that often leaves behind the students who most need help. That revision cannot wait; it must take place in tandem with the grant program. Neither the federal government nor schools can measure success without reasonable, consistent targets.

Fortunately, Education Secretary Arne Duncan has started talking about overhauling No Child Left Behind. Though the details have not been worked out, Duncan has found the right focus: The law's method of determining whether schools have met their goals is rigid, unrealistic and counterproductive."

Cape Fear Business News – Wilmington NC Business News – Brunswick County – New Hanover County – Pender County – Columbus County – Southeastern North Carolina » Opinion: Benefits of Longer School Day, Longer School Year Do Not Add Up

Cape Fear Business News – Wilmington NC Business News – Brunswick County – New Hanover County – Pender County – Columbus County – Southeastern North Carolina » Opinion: Benefits of Longer School Day, Longer School Year Do Not Add Up:

"RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina law requires children to attend school a minimum of 180 days each year, with at least 1,000 hours of instruction covering at least nine calendar months. For years, state education leaders, school officials, and public school advocacy groups have urged the North Carolina legislature to raise these minimum requirements, thereby extending the school day and year.

Our state is not alone. Michael Van Beek of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy recently noted that education leaders in Michigan have been campaigning to lengthen the school day for public schools throughout the Great Lake State."

Central Valley Business Times

Central Valley Business Times:


"Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, who spearheaded the multi-year effort to establish the 10th University of California campus in Merced and served as its founding chancellor from 1999 to 2006, died Oct. 10 in Decatur, Ga., due to complications related to breast cancer, the university says. She was 66.

“We are deeply saddened by Carol’s passing,” says UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang, who succeeded Ms. Tomlinson-Keasey in March 2007. “Simply put, UC Merced would not exist were it not for her visionary leadership, her tireless determination and her remarkable gift of persuasion.”"

Math and science conference for girls set Nov. 7 | fdlreporter.com | Fond du Lac Reporter

Math and science conference for girls set Nov. 7 fdlreporter.com Fond du Lac Reporter:

"The fifth annual Girls+Math+Science=Opportunities (GMSO) one-day conference for girls in Grades 6 to 8 has been scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Moraine Park Technical College.
Agnesian HealthCare, Moraine Park Technical College and UW-Fond du Lac/UW-Extension Continuing Education are founding sponsors.The conference begins at 9 a.m. with an opening session followed by two workshops, a social luncheon, afternoon workshop and a closing presentation. The event concludes at 3 p.m."

Quick Takes: Schwarzenegger Vetoes Limits on Administrators' Pay - Inside Higher Ed

Quick Takes: Schwarzenegger Vetoes Limits on Administrators' Pay - Inside Higher Ed:

"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday vetoed a bill that would have barred most salary increases and bonuses for executives at the University of California and California State University systems in bad budget years, such as this one. In his veto message, the governor criticized the measure as too broad and intrusive. 'A blanket prohibition limiting the flexibility for the UC and CSU to compete, both nationally and internationally, in attracting and retaining high level personnel does a disservice to those students seeking the kind of quality education that our higher education segments offer. The regents and the trustees should be prudent in managing their systems, given the difficult fiscal crisis we face as a state, but it is unnecessary for the state to micromanage their operations.' The veto drew a sharp response from Sen. Leland Yee, sponsor of the bill and a leading legislative voice for closer oversight of the university systems. Yee noted that well compensated executives have continued to receive bonuses and raises even as the university systems face unprecedented budget cuts. “It is deeply disappointing that the governor wants to ensure top executives live high on the hog while students suffer,” Yee said. “The governor’s veto is a slap in the face to all UC and CSU students and the system’s low wage workers. His veto protects the UC and CSU administration’s egregious executive compensation practices and allows them to continue to act more like AIG than a public trust.”"