Gov. Granholm named National Education Policy Leader of the Year | Bay City News - - MLive.com

Gov. Granholm named National Education Policy Leader of the Year Bay City News - - MLive.com:

"Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has been named Policy Leader of the Year by the National Association of State Boards of Education.

The association is a nonprofit that represents state and territorial boards of education.

“Jennifer Granholm has recognized that in difficult economic times, the future health and prosperity of her state’s children and of Michigan as a whole is inexorably linked to a strong and vital public education,” Association Executive Director Brenda Welburn said in a news release issued by Granholm's office.

Granholm says she has strengthened Michigan’s education system in numerous ways, including:"

expanding preschool programs and creating a public-private partnership, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, to improve early childhood care and education;

adopting some of the most rigorous K-8 content standards and high school graduation requirements in the nation;

creating the Michigan Promise scholarship – the first universal college scholarship – which sets the expectation that students will continue their education beyond high school;

establishing Promise Zones, new public-private partnerships in 10 Michigan communities with high poverty rates, that will guarantee all children the financial support to obtain a college degree;

developing the Michigan College Access Network, another public-private partnership, linking Michigan communities together to help more students not only attend college but also to succeed in earning degrees and other credentials;

launching the No Worker Left Behind job-training program in 2007 that provides qualifying participants two years of free tuition up to $10,000 at any Michigan community college, university or other approved training program. This month, enrollment in the program topped 100,000.

Online Education Investor Makes More Than $1 Million in Scholarships Available to Those in Need | Reuters

Online Education Investor Makes More Than $1 Million in Scholarships Available to Those in Need Reuters:

"SOLANA BEACH, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Dr. Michael Clifford, the principal of SignificantFederation (www.sigfed.com), a
company that has invested or has a financial stake in more than a dozen online
colleges and universities around the country, has decided it is time to give
back.

Clifford announced today that SignificantFederation plans to make $1 million in
scholarships available to smart students, who can no longer afford to pay the
skyrocketing tuition that most schools are seeking.

'SignificantFederation has done extremely well in recent years by investing in
colleges that already have, or would like to have, an online education
component,' said Clifford, who was an early investor in both Grand Canyon
University and Bridgepoint Education, two highly successful online education
companies that have gone public in the last 12 months.

'We believe the time has come to reach out to the smartest and poorest students
in America and give them a chance to expand their horizons,' he added.

Prospective students, including adults, are encouraged to visit
http://www.significantfederation.com/scholarships/ to fill out a simple form and
receive a scholarship application."

53 House Republicans Seek Removal of Obama Schools Official - NYTimes.com

53 House Republicans Seek Removal of Obama Schools Official - NYTimes.com:

"WASHINGTON — Fifty-three House Republicans have signed a letter to the Obama administration asking for the ouster of Kevin Jennings, an official charged with promoting school safety, because of his career as an advocate of teaching tolerance of homosexuality."

“As the founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Mr. Jennings has played an integral role in promoting homosexuality and pushing a pro-homosexual agenda in America’s schools — an agenda that runs counter to the values that many parents desire to instill in their children,” the lawmakers write.

They cite as evidence the foreword Mr. Jennings wrote for a book titled “Queering Elementary Education: Advancing the Dialogue About Sexualities and Schooling” (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1999).

The outcry from conservative commentators and activists began not long after the resignation in September of another Obama appointee, Van Jones, who had the task of promoting energy-efficient jobs. Mr. Jones had signed some far-left petitions, including one suggesting that the Bush administration may have allowed the Sept. 11 attacks as a pretext for invading Iraq.

Yale Daily News - Brill: Booker and the Brick City

Yale Daily News - Brill: Booker and the Brick City:

"It’s time for Cory Booker to step up. I write that not in spite of the Newark mayor’s spectacular accomplishments in his first two years in office, but because of them. The Brick City — resilient, reborn under new leadership — is on the mend. But one project looms untouched, without which urban revitalization cannot be close to complete: mayoral control and reform of Newark’s public schools.

It’s hard to understate the miserable condition of New Jersey’s largest school system. For decades, Newark public schools were severely underfunded, resulting in crumbling schools and underpaid teachers. In 1990, however, funding advocates won a landmark lawsuit in the New Jersey Supreme Court which won billions in new school money. Today, per-pupil spending is $18,000, among the highest of urban school districts."

Charter School Battle Reignites

Charter School Battle Reignites:

"Several groups are seeking to make Maine the 40th state to allow charter schools. The groups, including the Maine Association of Charter Schools, Democrats for Education Reform, and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, will meet this Wednesday the 14th in Augusta. The groups seek to inform Mainers about the benefits of charter schools in combating dropout rates, the subject of a recent forum in Orono, low achievement, and more. Matthew Stone reported that the forum comes as another battle over allowing charter schools in Maine is about to heat up.

Advocates of charter schools see the institutions as a way to diversify the learning environment and bring more advantages to Maine students. “We’re just not competitive if we’re not giving students and parents and educators the option for charter schools,” said Roger Brainerd, executive director of the MACS. “It’s not the answer to everything. It’s just another tool.” Charter schools have also been cite many times as a key component to receiving Federal “Race to the Top” funding."

DETNEWS | Weblogs | Daniel Howes' Blog

DETNEWS Weblogs Daniel Howes' Blog:

"In a town desperate for good news, word that Robert Bobb is negotiating to extend his stay as emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools is about as good it gets. They need him. The city of Detroit needs him. DPS kids and their parents need him. The social-services budgets of the city, the state and the feds need him because, as Nick Kristof points out in today's New York Times:

'Good schools constitute a far more potent weapon against poverty than welfare, food stamps or housing subsidies. Yet, cowed by teachers' unions, Democrats have too often resisted reform and stood by as generations of disadvantaged children have been cemented into an underclass by third-rate schools.'

There's no Detroit dateline on the piece, but there might as well be. He continues: 'It's difficult to improve failing schools when you can't create alternatives such as charter schools and can't remove inept or abusive teachers.'"

Rhee uses scores to back up reforms - Washington Times

Rhee uses scores to back up reforms - Washington Times:

"D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee said Thursday that standout gains on a national math test reinforce recent local test results and further validate her aggressive approach to school reform in the District.

'I never like to say that I expect anything,' Ms. Rhee said at a news conference at Mary Church Terrell Elementary School in Southeast Washington. 'We just are glad to see that the progress that our kids are making academically is consistently being seen in lots of different kinds of data.'

The District and four states were the only jurisdictions to see improvements from both fourth- and eighth-grade students since the semiannual National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test was last given in 2007, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Education."

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

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

"(Media-Newswire.com) - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued the following statement on The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2009, National Assessment of Educational Progress ( NAEP ) at Grades 4 and 8:

“Today's results are evidence that we must better equip our schools to improve the knowledge and skills of America's students in mathematics. Our students have made real gains in math over the past two decades, but for the first time since NAEP's mathematics test started in 1990, student achievement in fourth grade has not improved. More must be done to narrow the troubling achievement gap that has persisted in mathematics, and to ensure that America's students make greater gains toward becoming competitive with their peers in other countries.

“None of us should be satisfied. We need reforms that will accelerate student achievement. Our students need to graduate high school ready to succeed in college and the workplace. These NAEP results are a call to action to reform the teaching and learning of mathematics and other related subjects in order to prepare our students to compete in the global economy.

“President Obama's agenda for school reform is focused on improving student achievement. We're building a teaching profession that will ensure every child has an excellent teacher and that teachers are rewarded for excellent work. We're supporting efforts to create standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and careers. We're helping states build data systems to track whether students are meeting those standards. And we're turning around our lowest-performing schools."

Academic dishonesty | The Citizen Online

Academic dishonesty The Citizen Online:

"College education is a costly proposition with tuition, room and board at some colleges topping $50,000 a year. Is it worth it?

Increasing evidence suggests that it’s not. Since the 1960s, academic achievement scores have plummeted, but student college grade point averages (GPA) have skyrocketed. In October 2001, the Boston Globe published an article entitled “Harvard’s Quiet Secret: Rampant Grade Inflation.” The article reported that a record 91 percent of Harvard University students were awarded honors during the spring graduation. The newspaper called Harvard’s grading practices “the laughing stock of the Ivy League.”

Harvard is by no means unique. For example, 80 percent of the grades given at the University of Illinois are A’s and B’s. Fifty percent of students at Columbia University are on the Dean’s list. At Stanford University, where F grades used to be banned, only 6 percent of student grades were as low as a C. In the 1930s, the average GPA at American colleges and universities was 2.35, about a C plus; today the national average GPA is 3.2, more than a B."

UCSC Students Occupy Dean's Office: Call to Revolt! : Indybay

UCSC Students Occupy Dean's Office: Call to Revolt! : Indybay:

"The glass walls of passivity, separating us from one another, can only be shattered with revolt. We are occupying a second building on the Santa Cruz campus of the University of California because we have answered the call of the first to occupy everything. Tonight is a demonstration to students and workers everywhere that the division between taking what you want and planning for a movement to come only appears as a problem for abstract thought about taking action. We only catch sight of the fires of the insurrection to come on the morning after the unrest of the night before.

What is a crisis anyway? It is the exclusion from work and public services of those most precariously situated within this system. To a crisis which is generalized, it is pointless to respond with generic activism. Activists of more prosperous eras held demonstrations. Still, they were unable to secure any lasting position for those on whose behalf they took “action”. As the current crisis unfolds, it is necessary to elaborate innovative forms of escalation and revolt. Our crisis is as much the failure of these tired forms of mobilization as it is the collateral damage caused by a growing economic catastrophe."

National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week to Commence Weeklong Celebration Across the Country

National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week to Commence Weeklong Celebration Across the Country:

"Helping to answer the Obama Administration's nationwide call for renewed service and education reform, more than 5 million youth, parents, teachers, and volunteers will gather in thousands of schools across the country and around the world to spruce up schools, reclaim neighborhoods, and celebrate good character during the 16th annual National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week on October 18-24.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 16, 2009 -- Helping to answer the Obama Administration's nationwide call for renewed service and education reform, more than 5 million youth, parents, teachers, and volunteers will gather in thousands of schools across the country and around the world to spruce up schools, reclaim neighborhoods, and celebrate good character during the 16th annual National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week on October 18-24."

Government Investigates High School Diploma Mills - US News and World Report

Government Investigates High School Diploma Mills - US News and World Report:

"Government investigators are pursuing high school diploma mills, which, for a fee, give high school dropouts diplomas or answers to the tests that enable them to enroll in college and qualify for federal financial aid."

In testimony before a congressional panel on Wednesday, George Scott, a director of the Education, Workforce, and Income Security division of the Government Accountability Office, played secretly made audiotapes of a test proctor apparently giving students the answers to college-qualifying tests.

The tapes were made by investigators looking into for-profit colleges. Scott said the investigators walked into Washington, D.C.-area offices of a publicly traded for-profit college and told the admissions officers that they did not have high school diplomas but wanted to enroll. Scott did not identify the colleges or testing companies his agency investigated.

Normally, colleges don't admit students who haven't graduated from high school. To qualify for federal financial aid, students without diplomas or GED certifications must pass tests to show they have enough language and math skills to ensure their "ability to benefit" (often abbreviated as "ATB") from a college education. ATB tests are supposed to be given by companies or proctors who have no connections to colleges, so that there is no incentive to improperly pass students.

Michelle Obama to parents: Turn off those TVs | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times

Michelle Obama to parents: Turn off those TVs Top of the Ticket Los Angeles Times:

"Now that we're all up to speed on Meghan McCain's bra cup situation and California First Lady Maria Shriver's 'punishment' for illegally talking on a cellphone while driving, we have news about First Lady Michelle Obama's latest thoughts about teachers and schools and parents.

She's penned an essay for U.S. News & World Report in which she warns of a dramatic impending teacher exodus and, like previous first ladies, advocates that parents shut off the video games and TV more often, presumably not when her husband's talking again about healthcare reform. (And no mention of Fox News.)

She also comes out in favor of her husband's $3-billion government program to boost teacher training."

Youth Policy Institute (YPI) Awarded $26 Million Grant for Afterschool Programs | Reuters

Youth Policy Institute (YPI) Awarded $26 Million Grant for Afterschool Programs Reuters:

"Dixon Slingerland, Executive Director of the Youth Policy Institute, proudly
announced today that the California Department of Education has awarded YPI
nearly $26 million to provide afterschool academic and enrichment programs in
twenty-one Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley K-12 schools.

'It is an honor to receive such a significant grant award from the California
Department of Education,' YPI Executive Director Dixon Slingerland said. He
added, 'We gratefully accept it in recognition of YPI's strong track record in
afterschool programming, and are excited about the potential to serve thousands
of additional students, families, and leaders of tomorrow.'

The check presentation is scheduled for the morning of October 20th on the steps
of Pacoima Charter Elementary School at 9:30 AM. On hand to announce the
five-year grant will be the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack
O`Connell, State Senator Gloria Romero - Chair of the Senate Education
Committee, Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar), LAUSD Board Members Nury
Martinez and Tamar Galatzan, and many of the students and families that have
benefitted from YPI`s enrichment programs."

News: Out-of-State Dreams - Inside Higher Ed

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/10/16/outofstate:

"At a time when getting admitted to many flagship universities is harder than ever, a growing number are considering plans to increase enrollments -- dramatically in some cases -- of out-of-state applicants.

The theory behind these plans is straightforward: Public universities charge much more for out-of-state students; the parents who must pay those bills vote in other states, so these tuition dollars are much less politically costly than those gained by raising in-state rates; states have run out of money. Add those factors together, and all of the sudden everyone wants a larger national student body."

Some flagships have been doing this for years. At the University of Vermont, three quarters of freshmen are from out of state, and the University of Delaware routinely enrolls more from out of state than in state. But whether out-of-state enrollments can grow nationwide -- and whether they should -- is doubted by many policy experts.

They note that the states that successfully enroll many non-residents don't have massive in-state demand. Some worry that the quest for high non-resident tuition will amount to an increased emphasis on enrolling wealthy white students -- those who are likely to be well served by some college no matter what. And guidance counselors who work with students say that this strategy may work for some institutions, but may be a flop at others.

Nonetheless, it's clear that the terrible budget situation has many flagship presidents thinking that this policy shift needs to happen (even if none of them would approach the levels of Vermont or Delaware). Consider these ideas and policies that are in play:

The American Spectator : Fool's Gold?

The American Spectator : Fool's Gold?:

"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state's Democratically-controlled legislature have become better-known for dysfunctional sparring matches and dueling tax increase packages than for any form of unanimous agreement. So the last month proved to be amazing as legislators agreed to pass a string of the Governator's school reform measures, including a measure that allows more parents to choose schools for their kids outside of the districts in which they reside, and, even more shocking, end a ban on the use of student test scores in evaluating teacher performance."

Certainly Schwarzenegger has earned his bona fides as a school reformer. After all, he has strongly backed a string of unsuccessful voter referendums since replacing the much-loathed Gray Davis six years ago. Among his lowlights: A plan to increase the time it takes for teachers to gain lifetime job protections through the granting of tenure was widely defeated thanks to a $15 million campaign against it by state and local affiliates of the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers.

But why did legislators, beneficiaries of $346,300 in donations from the unions in 2008 alone (along with campaign help from their rank-and-file), turn their backs on their erstwhile allies? The opportunity to tap some of the $4.5 billion in so-called "Race to the Top" funds, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, has proven to be too tempting to ignore. Declared Schwarzenegger this week after signing the bill: "These bills represent an important first step in bringing California's students and schools closer to billions of much-needed federal funding."

Daily Pilot - Serving Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, California

Daily Pilot - Serving Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, California:

"About a dozen students, parents, pastors and advocates attended Wednesday’s Orange County Board of Education meeting to speak out against comments board President Alexandria Coronado made to the Daily Pilot regarding a state bill to create a Harvey Milk Day, in honor of the slain gay rights activist and San Francisco county supervisor.

“If you want that lifestyle, don’t make my tax dollars pay for it, and don’t make me teach it to my children,” Coronado, who represents portions of Costa Mesa and other cities, told the Daily Pilot on Sept. 22."

Editorial: Sacramento community attendance centers reduce truancy, crime - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Sacramento community attendance centers reduce truancy, crime - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"When kids skip school, it costs the larger community. The students themselves miss out on learning opportunities and are more likely to drop out, reducing their chances of good jobs later in life.

School districts lose money, which is based on per-student average daily attendance. Neighborhoods lose out with higher crime rates, as kids wandering the streets end up in gangs or on drugs. Local and state budgets suffer as many of these kids end up in jail or prison.

But communities do not have to accept truancy without a fight. Sacramento Area Congregations Together, a community-based organization, has shown that turnaround is possible."

Squeezed capital-area school districts ponder campus closures - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Squeezed capital-area school districts ponder campus closures - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Sacramento City Unified School District officials have proposed closing six to eight schools over the next three years, though they have not yet made a proposal. The district closed four schools at the end of the last school year.

Natomas Unified School District officials plan to close an elementary school next year but have not identified which one.

District spokesman Heidi Van Zant said the closure would save the district $400,000.

'We want to have tremendous community input into this important decision,' she said.

Natomas Unified's enrollment dipped by 400 students, many of whom enrolled at a new charter school, Van Zant said."

Swine flu vaccine starts arriving in Sacramento; much more to come - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Swine flu vaccine starts arriving in Sacramento; much more to come - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Kennedy Joplin's roar was deafening – perhaps excruciating for her father, Steven Joplin.

The 2-year-old squirmed and wailed on Thursday as a nurse sprayed into her nostrils one of the Sacramento region's first doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

'It hurts me, too. I don't like seeing daddy's little princess cry,' said Joplin, a soldier based in Fairbanks, Alaska, doing his fatherly duties before returning to his military duties. 'She spends a lot of time with other kids in child care, and with flu season coming, better safe than sorry.'"

Michelle Obama: Teachers Are Key to a Successful Economy - US News and World Report

Michelle Obama: Teachers Are Key to a Successful Economy - US News and World Report:

"Michelle Obama is the first lady of the United States.

This is a busy time of year in the Obama household. Like so many parents all across this country, I watch with a mixture of pride and anxiety as my daughters stuff their backpacks, kiss me goodbye, and move ahead in another school year without so much as a backwards glance. [See photos of the Obama family.]"

My girls are now making new friends, tackling challenging new subjects, and moving closer to becoming the strong, confident women I know they can be. But when I see them come home, bursting with excitement about something they have learned or someone they have met, I can't help but think that some of the most influential people in my daughters' lives won't be the ones they socialize with on the playground or read about in the pages of a book—they will be the people who stand up every day in front of their classrooms.

We all remember the impact a special teacher had on us—a teacher who refused to let us fall through the cracks; who pushed us and believed in us when we doubted ourselves; who sparked in us a lifelong curiosity and passion for learning. Decades later, we remember the way they made us feel and the things they inspired us to do—how they challenged us and changed our lives. So it's not surprising that studies show that the single most important factor affecting students' achievement is the caliber of their teachers. And when we think about the qualities that make an outstanding teacher—boundless energy and endless patience; vision and a sense of purpose; the creativity to help us see the world in a different way; commitment to helping us discover and fulfill our potential—we realize: These are also the qualities of a great leader.

CDC H1N1 Flu | Resources for Parents and Caregivers

CDC H1N1 Flu Resources for Parents and Caregivers


Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home

Advice for Parents on Talking to Children

Feeding your Baby: What Parents Should Know

Interim CDC Guidance on Day and Residential Camps

Seasonal and Novel H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Parents

Action Steps: If School is Dismissed or Children Must Stay Home

Action Steps: Protect Your Child and Family from Flu

Action Steps: For Parents of Children at High Risk for Flu Complications
See also

General Information About H1N1

Resources for Pregnant WomenInfo for Child Care Providers. -->

Resources for Child Care

Resources for K-12 Schools

Resources for Colleges & Universities

contenido disponible solamente en inglés -->

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... How a Controversial Rule Played Out in Other Schools

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... How a Controversial Rule Played Out in Other Schools:

"Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 As bargaining grinds on between San Diego Unified and its teachers union over its expired contract, a public debate has erupted over a few paragraphs of legalese.

Teachers and their union say a new proposal will help kids by preventing teachers from being overloaded with new duties. Opponents say it will allow the union to veto any changes to what teachers do -- even small ones -- by enshrining all existing practices in the contract. It has pitted the principals union against the teachers union, divided and perplexed parents."

Yet both its backers and its critics point out that the proposal, known as "maintenance of standards," is nothing new. Similar rules show up in teachers union agreements as early as the 1970s in New York and have cropped up across Wisconsin and Michigan, spreading to Colorado and even Alaska. They typically state that working conditions "shall be maintained at not less than the highest minimum standards in effect" at the time -- language that isn't always clear to the average person.

That wording has varied, along with its impact. Attorneys and educators tell radically different stories about how the clause works. A Wisconsin attorney calls it "a union trump card." A Minnesota superintendent said it posed no problems. And a New York official said it's sometimes difficult.

Bag Theft Scoop: Mayor Kevin Johnson and his lost garment bag

MacArthur Metro - Money Honeys, Articles, & News

MacArthur Metro - Money Honeys, Articles, & News:

by Sharon Higgins

"Kids eating junk food? That is nothing new. I nag, preach, and explain to my kids that they need to limit the amount of junk food they eat. On some days, they get more than they should. On some days, so do I. Last spring at Bret Harte Middle School, after seeing a young man eat chips for breakfast (which he purchased at the cafeteria that morning), after attending a student-safety meeting and after working on the school's litter problem for almost two years, I decided to find out what the students were eating. For three days I randomly approached 90 students during lunchtime and asked them about their lunches."

"The two other options for kids are to bring lunch from home (18 percent) or to have the tray lunch (14 percent). The tray lunch may be purchased at a reasonable price by any student but rarely is. Usually students have it because their income qualifies them to receive it free or for a reduced price. The tray lunch is subsidized and must adhere to federal dietary guidelines. The students described the food on the tray lunches as "all right." Unfortunately, throughout Oakland in the middle and upper grades, tray lunches are stigmatized by many students and, therefore, avoided. Additionally, some families who would qualify for the lunch are unaware that they are eligible. So the sad fact is that many who can least afford to pay for their lunch will do so."

The White House - Blog Post - The Story of the White House Garden

The White House - Blog Post - The Story of the White House Garden:

"The Story of the White House Garden
Posted by Jason Djang

Since ground-breaking and initial tilling in March, we've been documenting the progress of the first garden on White House grounds since Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden during World War II. This new garden was planted with the help of local elementary school children and has yielded a constant supply fresh produce for the First Family and White House events. Hear and see the story of the garden first-hand from First Lady Michelle Obama and White House chef Sam Kass."

First 5 California Joins Sid the Science Kid to Talk about the Importance of Immunizations

First 5 California Executive Director Kris Perry joined Sid the Science Kid in a PSA informing young children and parents about the importance of vaccinations.

Come meet Sid and attend a special screening of Sid the Science Kid on Tuesday, October 20 from 3-5 pm. Show starts at 3:30 pm at the Kidspace Children's Museum (480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103).

For more information about health, education, services and support, visit www.first5california.com/parents.

NASA hosts lunar robotics competition - UPI.com

NASA hosts lunar robotics competition - UPI.com:

"MOFFIT FIELD, Calif., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- NASA says 23 teams are participating in this weekend's 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge in California to find better ways of handling moon dust.

The two-day event begins Saturday at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif.

The space agency said the $750,000 prize competition -- part of its Centennial Challenges Program -- will involve 23 teams from across the nation using robots they designed and built to excavate simulated lunar soil, known as regolith. Teams will test their robots in a box approximately 13 feet square and 1 1/2 feet deep that contains eight tons of simulated moon soil."

Welcome to Reporting Transparency in Government Website - State of California

Welcome to Reporting Transparency in Government Website - State of California:

"Welcome to California’s site dedicated to transparency. Governor Schwarzenegger recognizes the importance of making data available to its citizens. Governor Schwarzenegger also believes these data should be easily accessible and easy to view."

Read the report California Budget Transparency 2.0 at : http://www.docstoc.com/docs/13258579/California-Budget-Transparency-20

For Hearing, Sign Language Becomes Classroom Tool - washingtonpost.com

For Hearing, Sign Language Becomes Classroom Tool - washingtonpost.com:

"Teachers come to the classroom with noble goals -- closing the achievement gap, illuminating young minds. But first they must confront a more pressing problem: how to manage children's urgent requests, in the middle of the most carefully planned lessons, for permission to sharpen pencils, get drinks of water or visit the bathroom.

One solution, a growing number of teachers are finding, is learning to speak without making a sound.

'The very first year I taught, I realized how much time I was wasting in my classroom for my students to be constantly raising their hands,' said Fran Nadel, 25, a second-grade teacher at Woodburn School for the Fine and Communicative Arts in Falls Church. 'I realized if they could do this without talking, I could send them somewhere with a flick of my finger.'"

NCES Kids' Zone Home Page

NCES Kids' Zone Home Page:

"The NCES Kids' Zone provides information to help you learn about schools; decide on a college; find a public library; engage in several games, quizzes and skill building about math, probability, graphing, and mathematicians; and to learn many interesting facts about education.

Did you Know?
85% of fourth-graders received five or more hours of mathematics instruction per week.

The Word of the Day
negligible -(adj.).So insignificant as to be unworthy of consideration."

In a Democracy The Majority Rules - California Progress Report

In a Democracy The Majority Rules - California Progress Report:

"A cornerstone of our democracy is when you elect a legislature, the majority rules.

That means when one party gets 50 percent plus one of the vote, they are the majority.

If they agree on a legislative program, they pass it.

If the majority of the people disagree, then they will vote the majority party out and put the other party in power.
We all agree with this. It speaks to our sense of fairness."

Historic: Governor Signs Bill Honoring California Slain Civil Rights Leader Harvey Milk With Special Day - California Progress Report

Historic: Governor Signs Bill Honoring California Slain Civil Rights Leader Harvey Milk With Special Day - California Progress Report:

"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, citing legislative progress on his multi-billion dollar water canal plan, lifted his veto threat for the 707 bills piled on his desk awaiting signature in time to sign 478 of them into law before the Sunday deadline passed.

Among the bills signed into law by the governor Sunday was Senate Bill 572, authored by State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), designating each May 22 Harvey Milk Day in California.

The governor’s endorsement comes just one year after Schwarzenegger vetoed similar legislation intended to create “a special day of significance” for the slain civil rights leader. Schwarzenegger’s veto message then: Milk should be honored, but locally, not statewide."

Then an academy award winning movie about the gay rights pioneer, a posthumously awarded Medal of Freedom to Milk, the highest civilian honor, bestowed by President Barack Obama and finally the governor and first lady’s own decision to induct Milk into the State’s Hall of Fame, combined to change the Governor’s mind and garner his signature Sunday.Openly gay State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) authored the Harvey Milk Day legislation both years.“It is certainly appropriate the first openly gay elected official in our State, someone who literally gave his life in service to his community, should be recognized in this way,” Senator Leno told the California Progress Report.

What School Parent Groups Do - SchoolFamily.com

What School Parent Groups Do - SchoolFamily.com:

"With a new school year starting, you’re probably flooded with flyers and forms, school lunch menus, supply lists, and announcements. As you sort through the stacks of paper deciding what to keep and what to toss, chances are you’ll come across a letter inviting you to join your school parent-teacher group. Hold onto that one. That letter is a keeper.
The Role of Parent Groups

For many people, the first introduction to their school parent group is through a product fundraiser catalog. And while it’s true that a mission for many PTOs and PTAs is to bring money into the school to pay for extras like playground equipment and cultural arts programs, parent groups contribute much more. They support teachers and staff, enrich the educational experiences of students, and improve schools. Through their efforts, these parent groups turn what could be a mere collection of individuals into a strong and supportive school community."

Teach Your Children to REALLY Finish Their Homework

Teach Your Children to REALLY Finish Their Homework:

"I spend a lot of time talking about what students should do before they sit down to do homework. Today, I'd like to discuss what students should do after they've finished it! I have found that putting everything away is a crucial-but-often-neglected step, resulting in lost assignments and insane mornings. (Can you relate?)
Explain to your children that they're not really, truly, absolutely finished with their homework until they have put:"


EVERY assignment in their homework binder in the correct pocket.

The homework binder INSIDE their backpack.

ALL of their books in their backpack.

ALL materials (pencils, papers, calculator, etc.) that remain home away in a drawer or their handy Magic Homework Box.And, finally...

Their backpack by the front DOOR- or where ever they'd have to step over it before they leave in the morning.

Can you imagine how much easier everybody's life will be when your children complete all of these steps regularly?

Advice for Parents Volunteering at School - WSJ.com

Advice for Parents Volunteering at School - WSJ.com:

"Rosa Rivera receives so many invitations to volunteer at her children's school and other activities that the dozens of daily emails and calls about various projects can be 'just overwhelming,' says the mother of two.

At her children's stage, ages 7 and 9, her top priority is to take the projects that will help them most in school and life, says Ms. Rivera, Austin, Texas. But it can be hard to figure out which projects those are. 'You're pulled and stretched in so many directions, now more than ever,' she says."

Sometimes, of course, it is best to volunteer where a school needs you most. And most school volunteer projects have worthy goals. Fundraisers keep alive arts, sports or music programs. Helping out in the school office fills staffing gaps. Painting classrooms improves kids' environment. Serving on the school board helps shape schools' strategy and direction.

But for parents with limited time and energy, which roles deliver the biggest benefit for your kids? And how does the answer to that question change as a student grows up?

Education and Children | iparticipate.org

Education and Children iparticipate.org:

"Communities In Schools
Tutor, mentor, and or help with after-school enrichment activities in a public school. Short-term or long-term volunteers are needed to support the nation’s largest organization dedicated to helping students achieve.

Find Communities In Schools Opportunities"

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says | New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com:

"If the federal government doesn't do more to assist with the recovery of New Orleans schools, gains made over the past four years will prove unsustainable, according to a new report by the Southern Education Foundation.

Jennifer Zdon/The Times-PicayuneLangston Hughes Academy, a charter elementary school, opened in a new building in August, but the majority of New Orleans public school students remain in outdated buildings.The foundation says that unless the federal government increases its commitment to moving forward, 'the progress made to date could become a 'flash in the pan,' to the detriment of all.' Officials must give particular attention, it said, to rebuilding the city's destroyed school buildings and to supporting instruction within their walls.

Since Katrina, only 4 percent of federal disaster relief aid provided to the Gulf Coast has gone to education, according to the not-for-profit advocacy group and think tank, which is based in Atlanta."

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says | New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com:

"'That money has been spent, and there's no more in the pipeline,' said Steve Suitts, the foundation's vice president and an author of the report.

Overall, the report says, progress has been made in New Orleans, the only city in the country where a majority of public school students attend charter schools, which are publicly financed but more privately run. It says the federal government has an obligation to continue supporting the rebirth of the city's schools for two main reasons.

First, it says, the federal government was complicit in the destruction of schools, and the unprecedented trauma and dislocation endured by its children, because of its failure to maintain and construct levees properly or respond quickly in the days after they failed.

Also, it says, New Orleans will serve as a crucial test of whether an education system composed primarily of autonomous charter schools can succeed in the long term."

SN&R > Columns > Bites > The ground game > 10.15.09

SN&R > Columns > Bites > The ground game > 10.15.09:

"When Bites heard that Richie Ross would be running the campaign to stop the strong-mayor initiative, Bites thought, “Why not just coronate Kevin Johnson now?”
Ross got creamed running Heather Fargo’s campaign for mayor, in the media, in the debates and on the ground. Christopher Cabaldon’s campaign for state Assembly was Ross’ to lose, and darned if Ross didn’t lose it. The list goes on.

So Bites started calling around and asking, “Why Richie Ross?” Bites even called Richie Ross to ask, “Why Richie Ross?” though that call went unreturned.
Well, apparently Bites wasn’t the only one asking that question, because last week, word came that Ross is out and political consultant Phil Giarrizzo is in, hired by the building trade unions and the Sacramento County Democratic Party to stop the measure.

Giarrizzo is said to bring a real “ground campaign” to the contest. After all, he ran the field operation for the unions that torpedoed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s special-election package back in 2005."

Layoff ax falls in D.C. schools | SocialistWorker.org

Layoff ax falls in D.C. schools SocialistWorker.org:

"ANGER ERUPTED at Washington, D.C., public schools October 2 after Chancellor Michelle Rhee delivered RIF (Reduction in Force) notices to nearly 400 people, abruptly laying off hundreds of mostly long-tenured teachers and support staff a mere five weeks into the new school year.

Though a budget crisis was the reason given for the layoffs, the real reason is plain--Rhee is continuing her campaign to break the teachers' union and further open D.C. schools to privatization."

The community response the day of the layoffs caused what the Washington Post described as "one of the most turbulent days in recent history" in the D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) system. And six days later, thousands of students, teachers and workers rallied in downtown D.C. against Rhee's latest assault. The rally followed a series of smaller actions led largely by students protesting against the massive teacher layoffs.

After hiring more than 900 new teachers in August, Rhee, with the backing of Mayor Adrian Fenty, laid off 388 DCPS teachers and other staff, causing unprecedented disruption and chaos at the start of a new school year. Among those laid off were 229 teachers, plus dozens of guidance counselors and custodial staff. Teachers who received RIF notices were told to pack their things that same day, and many were escorted out of classrooms by D.C. police.

NEA - NEA commits $6 million to support quality teaching in high-needs schools

NEA - NEA commits $6 million to support quality teaching in high-needs schools:

"WASHINGTON - September 03, 2009 - As school bells ring across the country signaling the start of another school year, many districts struggle to fill thousands of classroom vacancies. High poverty, high need schools have failed to effectively recruit and support a stable and quality staff. The National Education Association (NEA) contends that solutions are at hand if policymakers, parents, and teachers themselves promote thoughtful and comprehensive strategies to address working conditions, school leadership, and teacher quality. That belief has prompted the NEA in partnership with the Center for Teaching Quality to release,“Children of Poverty Deserve Great Teachers: One Union’s Commitment to Changing the Status Quo,” a report that highlights what is needed to identify and develop teachers and to recruit and retain them for high-needs classrooms.

Part of NEA’s “Turn Around for Great Public Schools Initiative,” The Children of Poverty report summarizes NEA’s commitment to principled changes in the status quo — signaling its determination to break ground for new teaching policy and strategic partnerships. The initiative includes an investment of $1 million per year over six years to develop comprehensive strategies and policies to increase teacher effectiveness in high-needs schools."

Op-Ed Columnist - Democrats and Schools - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Columnist - Democrats and Schools - NYTimes.com:

"The Democratic Party has battled for universal health care this year, and over the decades it has admirably led the fight against poverty — except in the one way that would have the greatest impact.

Good schools constitute a far more potent weapon against poverty than welfare, food stamps or housing subsidies. Yet, cowed by teachers’ unions, Democrats have too often resisted reform and stood by as generations of disadvantaged children have been cemented into an underclass by third-rate schools."

President Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, are trying to change that — and one test for the Democrats will be whether they embrace administration reforms that teachers’ unions are already sniping at.

It’s difficult to improve failing schools when you can’t create alternatives such as charter schools and can’t remove inept or abusive teachers. In New York City, for example, unions ordinarily prevent teachers from being dismissed for incompetence — so the schools must pay failed teachers their full salaries to sit year after year doing nothing in centers called “rubber rooms.”

A devastating article in The New Yorker by Steven Brill examined how New York City tried to dismiss a fifth-grade teacher for failing to correct student work, follow the curriculum, manage the class or even fill out report cards. The teacher claimed that she was being punished for union activity, but an independent observer approved by the union confirmed the allegations and declared the teacher incompetent. The school system’s lawyer put it best: “These children were abused in stealth.”

Unions are wary in part because school administrators can be arbitrary and unfair. Yet there are some signs that the unions are rethinking their positions in very welcome ways. The National Education Association has announced an initiative to improve teaching in high-poverty high schools, and the American Federation of Teachers is experimenting with teacher evaluation that includes student performance data.

Neither initiative reflects sufficient urgency. But let’s hope this is a new beginning. I’m hoping the unions will come round and cooperate with evidence-based reforms, using their political clout to push to raise teachers’ salaries rather than to protect ineffective teachers.

Online university -- free for all - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source

Online university -- free for all - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source:

"It has no campus, no lecture theatres and hardly any paid staff, but the International University of the People, which opened last month, does have one big plus point -- no tuition fees.

This, and the fact that its courses are taught entirely online, is designed to make it accessible to people who, because of poverty, geography or personal restrictions, would not otherwise contemplate university study.

“Hundreds of millions of people deserve to get an education and don’t,” says the university’s founder, Shai Reshef, a California businessman. “We are showing a way that this mass of people can be educated in a very efficient and inexpensive way.”"

Educators' on-campus conduct a concern? - Colfax Record

Educators' on-campus conduct a concern? - Colfax Record:

"An angry crowd flooded Monday night’s Colfax Elementary School board meeting to demand that Superintendent-Principal Jon Ray and seventh-grade teacher Michelle Heimann be placed on administrative leave.

After waiting close to five hours for an answer, the crowd left the meeting expressing frustration and dissatisfaction.

Many vowed to keep their children home from school, while others threatened to recall the school board.

Following the first of two closed sessions, the board announced that an attorney had been retained to investigate allegations of misconduct, including excessive texting and cell phone calls between the two throughout the school day.

On Wednesday, Ray claimed the picture being painted by the parents is untrue. He defended Heimann, who he described as a close friend and praised her work as a teacher and former school board president."

Stacie Krajchir: The Imagine Bus Project Brings Arts Education To Underserved Youth In San Francisco

Stacie Krajchir: The Imagine Bus Project Brings Arts Education To Underserved Youth In San Francisco:

"Now more than ever it's excruciatingly clear that our educational system is in deep peril. We operate within a system strapped for money, increasingly ruled by standardized tests, underpaid educators and under-performing students. Some might say the concept of arts within schools is simply an extravagance we can't afford and don't need-- and it seems this population of believers is sadly winning, as the arts are being further cut from schools across the country."

I live under the same roof as a veteran educator who works in the private sector consulting, doing professional development in school districts in Southern California-- so I get a daily dose of the numbers involved, the politics of each districts endless list of needs, and a first person account on countless unmotivated teachers in tenure. I also receive an earful as to why arts were originally cut out; because our kids got a little "un-smart" along the way - apparently teachers focused a bit too much on arts, resulting in a slip in math and language; test scores suffered as well, and...you know the story from there. I think that's a cop out.Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacie-krajchir/the-imagine-bus-project-b_b_321573.html

U.S. illiteracy: Why Johnny still can't read - USATODAY.com

U.S. illiteracy: Why Johnny still can't read - USATODAY.com:

"By the time he was 17, Antonio Rocha had bounced among 11 New York City schools and was reading at a first-grade level.

It wasn't until he told school officials 'I want a lawyer!' that things began to change.

STUDY: 1 in 7 U.S. adults can't read this story

With the help of an advocacy group, Rocha pressured the city to pay for 480 hours of private tutoring, which eventually helped him read at a functional level. Now 20 and working for United Parcel Service, he's one of three people profiled (and the only one comfortable with being identified) in WNYC Radio reporter Beth Fertig's new book, Why Cant U Teach Me 2 Read?."

Golden Gate [X]press : Campus organizations join forces to rally on City Hall

Golden Gate [X]press : Campus organizations join forces to rally on City Hall:

"Campus organizations from colleges across the city are joining together to gather on the steps of City Hall at noon on Oct. 15 to call attention to the mayor's office the fact that higher education was not a topic in the gubernatorial campaign.

The 'Take a Stand' rally is the last event planned for this week's political days of action, October 14 and 15 that tried to bring further attention to this year's budget cuts to higher education across California.

'We expect upwards of 500 students, faculty and staff,' said Brigitte Davila of the raza studies department, who is helping organize the event.

Participants of the rally include SF State's California Faculty Association chapter, Students for Quality Education, City College of San Francisco, Education Budget Advocacy Committee-SFSU and the California State University Employees Union-SFSU."

University ‘forced to ration’ education - SignOnSanDiego.com

University ‘forced to ration’ education - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"“We are being forced to ration educational opportunity,” Weber said at a meeting with the Union-Tribune editorial board, which editors and a reporter attended. The board regularly meets with newsmakers to discuss current events. The university requested the meeting weeks ago, not long after making the policy change in September. The change affects prospective students who are applying now for admission in 2010. Hundreds of qualified applicants — perhaps as many as 1,000 — may lose out on an SDSU education next fall as a result of the policy change, Ethan Singer, associate vice president for academic affairs, said in an interview. Last fall, the university said, about 4,500 members of its freshman class were from the service area that includes high schools south of state Route 56 and all of Imperial County. In the past decade, an average of about 37 percent of SDSU's first-time freshmen came from the service area each year, although that number has topped 54 percent the past two years."

What it would take for state to reform education | MyDesert.com | The Desert Sun

What it would take for state to reform education MyDesert.com The Desert Sun:

"Assemblyman Brian Nestande's blueprint for education reform (Valley Voice, Sept. 28) is flawed and has the potential for destroying public schools, meaning that education in the future will be reserved only for those who can afford it. Every argument he makes is based on false premises.

Using test results to evaluate teachers is not “necessary.” Parental involvement, public safety and language barriers are not within the control of teachers, so linking test scores and teacher evaluation does not measure what a teacher is doing in the classroom. If you've ever said, “I don't do well on tests” you acknowledge that a single test administered on a given day doesn't measure what a child has actually learned, in a single year or over a lifetime"

Test scores are not tied to promotion or graduation in any way, so unless a student is intrinsically motivated to perform at a high level, there is no motivation to do so. Excessive testing causes students to fill in bubbles on their answer sheets creating patterns or spelling out words.

Third-grade teachers must spend valuable instructional time teaching students how to fill in bubbles so responses will be recorded accurately. None of these measure student learning, thus cannot be a valid measure of teacher effectiveness.

The “enhanced accountability” model is archaic, deceptive and undemocratic. Successful school models encourage collaboration amongst teachers searching for best practices to increase student learning. Framing principal autocracy as “accountability” would allow teachers to be fired simply for disagreeing or clashing personally with a single supervisor. This would breed a culture of fear amongst teachers, so their focus would be on retaining their jobs instead of doing what's needed to help children learn.

South Bend Tribune: Kids left behind

South Bend Tribune: Kids left behind:

"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.

Under the 7-year-old law, a school is considered to be 'failing' unless a certain percentage of students score as proficient on standardized state tests each year. And raising the number of proficient students isn't enough; schools are given targets for each demographic group, including ethnicity, socioeconomic level and special education needs. A school that misses any of the targets lands in the failure category."

Under these restrictive rules, many a school that is making real headway is nonetheless tarred. And because the law gives states the authority to define proficiency, they have an incentive to set the bar low. Some of them have.With its insistence on proficiency as the only determiner of progress, the law is out of touch with the realities of struggling schools. It is practically impossible for students who start out at the bottom levels of achievement to rise to proficiency within a year or two, but schools get no credit for significant improvements that fall short of that mark.

The result: Many schools put their biggest efforts into raising the achievement of students who are just below proficient, because those students give them the best chance of meeting federal targets.

Most States Fail to Adequately Protect the Legal Rights of Abused Children, New Study Finds | Reuters

Most States Fail to Adequately Protect the Legal Rights of Abused Children, New Study Finds Reuters:

"The peer-reviewed study -- A Child's Right to Counsel: A National Report Card
on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children -- was released
today on Capitol Hill by First Star and the Children's Advocacy Institute at
the University of San Diego School of Law (CAI). To view the full report,
visit www.firststar.org, or www.caichildlaw.org.


'The federal government reported that nearly 800,000 children were abused or
neglected in 2007,' said Amy Harfeld, Executive Director of First Star. 'In
the current economic recession, these children are suffering more than ever -
reports of child abuse have skyrocketed while resources to help them have been
placed in jeopardy. Most of these children will go through court proceedings
that will determine their lives and futures. Yet while the state and the
allegedly abusive or neglectful parent stand in court with attorneys by their
sides, the children often stand alone and silent. They are herded through the
system without a strong voice to advocate on their behalf. This is a troubling
double-standard.'"

WSN-US of A News-California Governor Vetoes Kirpan Bill

WSN-US of A News-California Governor Vetoes Kirpan Bill:

"SACRAMENTO: In a surprise blow to the Sikh community, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have made it mandatory for law enforcement officers to be educated about Sikh kirpans.

The Governor’s decision came as a shock to dozens of organizations, individuals and lawmakers who supported the bill."

The veto that came Sunday night was particularly surprising given the unanimous, bipartisan votes in favor of the bill through both houses of the legislature (77-0 and 36-0 in the Assembly and Senate respectively).

“This loss for the Sikh community is a reminder of our serious lack of political clout in this state. After months of hard work and 100% support from our lawmakers, the Sikh voice was still not strong enough to overcome the whim of one man. We have been here for over 100 years. We need to learn to exercise our political muscle. It’s a shame that we haven’t been able to get even a basic education bill passed,” said Prabhjot Singh, the Sikh Coalition Board Chairman.