Fremont charter hopes to start nation's first Arabic immersion program - San Jose Mercury News

Fremont charter hopes to start nation's first Arabic immersion program - San Jose Mercury News:

"It's 8:30 a.m. at FAME charter school in Fremont, and teacher Nahil Ireiqat is explaining to her Arabic I students like-sounding words, just one of many ways the language can ambush learners. Maktab (teacher's desk), she reminds them, is not the same as maktaba (library).

Even as the high school students learn the flourishes of Arabic script and unaccustomed sounds of the spoken language, they face the sobering prospect that after this year, they've still got about 2,100 hours of class left to master what the U.S. State Department considers an 'exceptionally difficult' language for native English speakers. Its written language is a challenge even for native Arabic speakers."

Education Week: Crisis in School Leadership Seen Brewing in California

Education Week: Crisis in School Leadership Seen Brewing in California:

"In California, where school budgets are being slashed and achievement remains stubbornly low in many districts, there is mounting concern that the supply of principals is too limited to manage the financial and academic challenges facing public schools.

Complicating matters, the state is at the front end of a wave of principal retirements, as some 40 percent of school leaders are expected to leave their jobs over the next decade. Large numbers of principals are also expected to depart the profession well before retirement age, making the recruitment of replacement talent and the retention of existing talent even more crucial."

But finding the best people to lead schools with a total of 6 million children—especially those serving large numbers of poor and low-achieving children—and creating the working conditions to keep them there, has not been a top priority for California education policymakers, some scholars and researchers say. When it comes to recruiting, training, compensating, and empowering principals to manage their schools effectively, the state’s policies are falling short, they contend.

“I think there are real questions about whether the principal workforce in this state is going to have the capacity to do this increasingly complex job and do it in the kind of budget environment that exists here in California,” said Susanna Loeb, an education professor at Stanford University, who co-wrote a recent policy brief that warns that school leadership in California needs urgent attention.

Download policy brief: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/14687171/Leaders-forCalifornia’s-Schools-Policy-Analysis-for-California-Education

Rancho Cordova calls plan for homeless at Mather poorly conceived - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Rancho Cordova calls plan for homeless at Mather poorly conceived - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"A plan to use deteriorating cottages at Mather Community Campus for winter shelter for homeless families was poorly thought out and won't mesh with an existing transitional homeless shelter at the site, Rancho Cordova city officials warned Monday night.

'Western exposures are rotting,' Vice Mayor Ken Cooley said of the cottages. 'There are premises that are appallingly filled with mold. There are no stoves or refrigerators.' Boards in play areas have nails sticking out, he said.

'It's not clear to me that anyone has actually thought that through,' Cooley said."

Updated: Wis. teachers couldn’t be fired over test scores | wausaudailyherald.com | Wausau Daily Herald

Updated: Wis. teachers couldn’t be fired over test scores wausaudailyherald.com Wausau Daily Herald:

"MADISON— Wisconsin schools could use student test scores to evaluate teachers, but they still couldn’t use the information to discipline or fire them under a bill moving quickly through the Legislature."

Lawmakers must remove a ban on using test scores in evaluations for Wisconsin to compete for about $4.5 billion in Race to the Top stimulus money for education. Race to the Top is intended to improve student achievement, boost the performance of minority students and raise graduation rates.

Republicans and the Wisconsin Association of School Boards say Doyle and Democrats who control the Legislature are still giving teachers too much deference even as they work to qualify the state for the program.

Wisconsin and Nevada are the only states that don’t allow test results to be used to evaluate teachers. A similar prohibition in New York expires next year, and California removed its ban earlier this year to compete for the federal stimulus money.

Doyle and Democratic lawmakers are moving quickly to get Wisconsin’s ban removed with a vote this week. There is urgency because applications for the Race to the Top money will likely be due in a couple of months and the Legislature ends its session for the year on Thursday.

Doyle supports a proposal that would lift Wisconsin’s restriction on tying test scores with teacher evaluations. However, it would keep in place a ban on using the scores to fire, suspend or discipline a teacher.

Election Day, here and everywhere | First Reading

Election Day, here and everywhere First Reading:

"You can rewrite the Texas Constitution today … New poll has Perry up 12 on KBH … Movement in House GOP primaries
Stephen F. Austin would have been 216 years old today (assist: General Land Office).

Austin weather from News 8 Austin’s Maureen McCann: Bright sunshine. Seasonable high of 77.

Monday highlights of the day ahead

It’s Election Day. We don’t quite have the sizzle of a race for president or governor, but there’s interesting stuff happening at just about every level of government, and no, I’m not just talking about the school bond election in Zavalla ISD.

Speaking of school districts, that’s an interesting place to start. Remember when the Legislature in 2006 put some pretty tight limits on how much local school boards could raise their tax rates unless they had voter approval? Neither do I. But the ever-helpful Joe Smith over at TexasISD.com does, and he reports that 28 school districts will hold elections today to see if they can increase their tax rates."

US School Kids Are Doing Better Than Ever – But You Never Hear It - NurtureShock Blog - Newsweek.com

US School Kids Are Doing Better Than Ever – But You Never Hear It - NurtureShock Blog - Newsweek.com:

"There is a constant drumbeat heard that America's education system is failing the nation's children. Everywhere we turn around, you hear that traditional public schools in shambles; the teachers are failing and so are the kids' scores. (The only saving grace seeming to be charter schools, which operate outside of the traditional model.) School drop-out rates are said to be stratospheric. And if, by some miracle, kids do make it to college, they don't have any real academic prowess when they get there – since we frequently hear about college students having to take remedial courses.

Last week, I was at a conference, participating in a discussion on education reform. One of the panelists – the creator of several highly acclaimed schools – essentially argued that schools are such a mess that we need to throw out the American education system and start over."

Doomsday Talk like that works to galvanize support for his programs, and it's an easy applause line.

But the trouble is that it ignores the fact the millions of kids are thriving in the traditional school system. If we only focus on the disasters, we risk being blind to this success. And the fact is that success – not failure – is actually the American educational norm.

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that there were a record number of students in American colleges and universities in 2008: an incredible 14,955,000 undergraduates were pursuing their degrees. That surpassed the historically high 2007 enrollment, and the Bureau expects that 2009's enrollment is even higher still. Since 2000, the number of undergrads and grad students has skyrocketed, adding more than 3.2 million to college rolls.

Tax-rate tinkering won't work | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/03/2009

Tax-rate tinkering won't work Philadelphia Inquirer 11/03/2009:

"With a poverty rate of 25 percent - 36 percent among children - Philadelphia is racing toward a precipice. Unless we get a handle on the underlying challenges, poverty will continue to climb, with the potential to top 50 percent by 2050.

But rather than chart such a new course, the final report of the Mayor's Task Force on Tax Policy and Economic Competitiveness largely rehashes the recommendations of the 2003 Tax Reform Commission, propounding generic, supply-side approaches that are not fine-tuned to Philadelphia's unique challenges and opportunities.

The task force's main proposal is to restart and accelerate reductions to the wage and business-privilege taxes, as suggested by the 2003 commission, and replace some of the lost revenue by increasing property taxes. The report cites research showing that incremental wage-tax reductions have preserved 25,000 jobs since 1996. But it fails to note that the poverty rate increased during the same period, from 20.3 percent in 1990 to 24.5 percent in 2007."

Philadelphia Teaching Effectiveness Campaign

Philadelphia Teaching Effectiveness Campaign:

"All children in Philadelphia have the right to have consistently effective teaching in every content area and at every grade level, Pre-K through 12.

In too many of our schools, however, the level of teaching and learning does not meet student needs and does not ensure student graduation and postsecondary success. Furthermore too many inexperienced teachers are concentrated in high-poverty and needy schools where they stay only briefly. Subsequently, poor and minority children have the least chance of being taught by a stable, talented combination of effective new and veteran teachers. This teacher “gap” contributes greatly to the District’s stark achievement gap."

Two imperatives guide this platform:

Every child deserves an effective teacher.
Every school needs a stable workforce of effective teachers.

We believe that in order to translate these basic imperatives into reality, the District must do the following:

1. Distribute experienced and effective teachers equitably across the District.
2. Create performance standards for teachers and principals that are aligned with student success, and impplement them consistently district-wide.
3. Create an effective professional development strategy that is guided by teacher input and creates a "culture of collaboration" in schools.
4. Give school leaders the tools & resources to hire and create teams of effective teachers.
5. Create a "deep bench" of applicants for teaching positions.
6. Open school with NO teacher vacancies.

Former Education Official Pleads Guilty to False-Statement Charges - WSJ.com

Former Education Official Pleads Guilty to False-Statement Charges - WSJ.com:

"A former senior U.S. Education Department official pleaded guilty to conflict-of-interest and false-statement charges over his stock ownership in a student-loan company.
Matteo Fontana, the former general manager for financial-partner services in Education Department's student-aid office, held as many as 10,500 shares of Education Lending Group Inc. when he became an department employee in 2002, prosecutors said. In 2004 and 2005, he sold shares in the company and received proceeds of almost $219,000, according to prosecutors.

Mr. Fontana's stock holdings came to light in the aftermath of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's 2007 investigation of allegedly improper payments and other inducements to colleges by Education Lending and other student-loan companies. Neither Mr. Montana's attorney nor Education Department officials could be reached for comment."

Innovation: Nine hurdles facing America as a center of tech

Innovation: Nine hurdles facing America as a center of tech:

"A few weeks ago, just before traveling to South America, I watched Eliot Spitzer and Paul Krugman on the Bill Maher show each make the case for why America’s economic hopes rest on tech. It was interesting and informative television – what a great guest pairing – but I came away more than a little nervous about how much the people who are working so hard to focus America’s hopes and aspirations on tech really understand about tech and the people who work in it.

As a journalism grad who wandered into the tech world almost by accident more than 20 years ago, and has since worked often with world-class innovators at companies large and small, here are the nine key points I think policy makers and pundits need to grasp:"

America Needs to Improve Math, Science Education | Blogs | ITBusinessEdge.com

America Needs to Improve Math, Science Education Blogs ITBusinessEdge.com:

"As a writer, you might think I'd be pleased my 8-year-old is turning out assignments that show a predilection toward writing. And sure, it's nice to see paperwork coming home with enthusiastic remarks from his teacher about his 'creativity.' But I wish he'd show more interest in math. A strong grasp of math, not writing ability, is what I think will put him on the path to success. (If the motherhood gods really want to smile on me, he'll have both.)

I'm concerned about this not just as a mom but as a business journalist covering the tech industry, who sees worrying signs that America's competitiveness could be eroding. And I'm not alone."

Corrections Corporation of America Increases Total Capacity Under Contract With California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Corrections Corporation of America Increases Total Capacity Under Contract With California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation:

"NASHVILLE, TN -- 11/02/09 -- Corrections Corporation of America (NYSE: CXW) ('CCA'), the nation's largest provider of corrections management services to government agencies, announced today that it has amended its agreement with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ('CDCR') to allow for the housing of 2,336 additional offenders from the state of California. Under the amended agreement California will have the ability to house additional inmates at CCA's North Fork Correctional Facility in Oklahoma and its Red Rock Correctional Center in Arizona. The 2,336 additional beds provide the CDCR the ability to house up to 10,468 offenders in five CCA owned facilities located in the states of Arizona, Mississippi and Oklahoma. CCA currently houses approximately 7,900 offenders from the state of California.

The terms of the amendment are similar to the previous agreement, including the 90% guarantee which will be phased in over the ramp-up. CCA expects to begin receiving additional inmates pursuant to the amendment during the first quarter of 2010, with a gradual ramp-up estimated to be completed during the first quarter of 2011. CCA will provide fourth quarter earnings guidance when it releases third quarter financial results on November 4, 2009."

U.S. Asks Whether Colleges Discriminate Against Female Applicants (to Admit More Men) - The Choice Blog - NYTimes.com

U.S. Asks Whether Colleges Discriminate Against Female Applicants (to Admit More Men) - The Choice Blog - NYTimes.com:

"The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has begun a formal investigation into an issue that has become of increasing interest to male and female students alike: the extent to which “liberal arts colleges discriminate among female applicants in an attempt to minimize gender imbalances in the student body,” according to an article posted this morning on Inside Higher Ed."

The article continues:

The issue is an extremely sensitive one for liberal arts colleges, many of which in recent years have worried about their sex ratios reaching points (60 percent female is commonly cited) where they face difficulty in attracting both male and female applicants. Generally private undergraduate colleges have the legal right to consider sex in admissions. They were specifically exempted from the admissions provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

The article also notes:

Nationally, female enrollments have grown steadily; about 58 percent of bachelor’s degrees are awarded to women, and gender gaps have become visible not only at liberal arts colleges, but at many larger institutions, including research universities. From an educational standpoint, many observers think that the falling educational aspirations of college-age men is a serious problem.

Teacher Fired For Reporting IDEA Violations Can Sue, Court Rules - Disability Scoop

Teacher Fired For Reporting IDEA Violations Can Sue, Court Rules - Disability Scoop:

"A California educator who says she was fired for speaking out about the limited services provided to her special education students can sue for retaliation, an appeals court has ruled.

Susan Barker was a resource specialist in Riverside, Calif. in 2005 when she raised red flags about the limited services provided to students with disabilities in the school district. She made a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and says her superiors in the school district promptly began intimidating her."

Barker says her colleagues stopped communicating by phone and e-mail, excluded her from staff meetings, limited her responsibilities and changed her work location. As a result, she alleged in a lawsuit against the school district that she was “constructively terminated” in August 2006 because her employer “subjected her to an intolerable work environment.”

Study examines Hispanics' financial literacy

Study examines Hispanics' financial literacy:

"Even though less Hispanics have ever had a checking account, more express interest in bolstering their financial literacy, according to an academic study released today.

The study, 'Assessing Financial Literacy among Hispanics in the California Central Valley,' included samples of more than 1,300 people from Merced to Kings counties. It was conducted by faculty at California State University, Fresno. Among the findings:

• Almost 80 percent of Hispanic respondents reported ever having had a bank account, compared to 99.1 percent of non-Hispanic respondents."

Inside Education: Service learning alive and well in Tracy Unified - ContraCostaTimes.com

Inside Education: Service learning alive and well in Tracy Unified - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"DESPITE THE state's ongoing budget crisis, a number of programs, such as Tracy Unified's service learning, are actually thriving.
Of course, it helps to be funded by a federal grant that has nothing to do with California's budget mess.

The grant allows the service learning program to offer mini grants to participating schools to fund projects such as the community gardens at Freiler and North schools.
Those gardens give students a number of academic challenges, along with the a chance to get their hands dirty and provide fresh vegetables for the less fortunate — which is the idea behind the project, mixing academics and community service."

California Answers Call for $750 Million in Build America Bonds - Bloomberg.com

California Answers Call for $750 Million in Build America Bonds - Bloomberg.com:

"Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- California is responding to investor demand for more of the state’s Build America Bonds by offering about $750 million today after a so-called reverse inquiry that is more common for corporate issues than for municipals.

The U.S. state with the most people and lowest credit ratings, which earlier said it intended to sell $1.5 billion of tax-exempt debt this week, announced plans yesterday to answer a request by offering another taxable issue for which the U.S. government pays 35 percent of the interest. Citigroup Inc. is handling the deal.

Investors such as life insurers and taxable-bond funds already have been drawn to the $7 billion in Build America issues brought out so far by California. The bonds, backed by its general obligation pledge, carry higher yields and longer terms than most similarly rated company debt."

Alex Jones’ Prison Planet.com » Autism Spikes, Toxins Suspected

Alex Jones’ Prison Planet.com » Autism Spikes, Toxins Suspected:

"As the national focus on the H1N1 pandemic rages, additional evidence of a more insidious epidemic has emerged, with an all-too-expected shrug from the mainstream media. Results from two federal studies announced in October say parents have a 1-in-100-or-greater chance of having a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Since boys are four times more likely to have an ASD, their odds are as high as 1 in 60.

On Oct. 2, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told the press and about 50 members of the autism community that an unreleased Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study shows the incidence of 8-year-olds born in 1996 with ASDs is 1 in 100. The agency’s last two studies of children born in 1992 and 1994 put the chance at 1 in 150."

President Obama May Improve the Image of African Americans, but Being Black or Brown in America is Still Tough for Kids | Reuters

President Obama May Improve the Image of African Americans, but Being Black or Brown in America is Still Tough for Kids Reuters:

"DAVIS, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The media is touting new films about
image and the African American experience -- Chris Rock's 'Good Hair,' Oprah's
'Precious,' CNN's Black in America, Disney's Princess and the Frog and Tyler
Perry's films -- but talking about self-image is a mission for Sandy Holman,
director of The Culture CO-OP, Davis, California. Holman has dedicated the
last twenty years of her career to boosting the body-image and self-esteem of
the nation's youth. Her focus is on diversity and children who are
disproportionately affected by negative messages such as African Americans and
Latinos.

Her first book --'Grandpa, Why Is Everything Black Bad?'-- won national awards
in spite of what her critics called its 'negative title.' Holman reads this
and her other titles, 'Grandma Says Our Hair has Flair' and 'We All Have a
Heritage,' to the nation's children.

The children who read her books know exactly what they mean, and they feel
validated by the positive messages inside. Holman observes that from age
three, kids notice when their skin and hair doesn't measure up to their role
models in movies and television."

Will Privatization Create a New McSUSM? - Viewpoint

Will Privatization Create a New McSUSM? - Viewpoint:

"If the idea of a professor bidding you 'Good morning and welcome to McUniversity, may I take your order?' seems far-fetched, then the silent battle waged in Sacramento has not reached your mind space.

It is time to awaken from political slumber and join the battle. Under attack are not only your educational opportunities, but also the future of educational opportunity for a wide swath of our friends and family on the lower levels of the socio-economic strata. This is a battle to save the California State University system from privatization."

On Wednesday evening in ARTS 111, Professor Gary Rhoades, the General Secretary for the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), spoke to a (too) small crowd of a few dozen about changes taking place in our University system. The AAUP is a national organization founded a century ago to protect the rights of University Faculty (http://www.aaup.org/).

University faculty exists to serve the welfare of the student body, therefore students and professors should share a strong solidarity in matters such at these. Dr. Rhoades and others voiced concern that with California's current economic state, our higher education system is an easy target for political and corporate powers seeking to dismantle the system and build in its place a corporate, for profit structure. This could potentially provide a McDonalds type corporate model in many ways. Homogenization could become the norm, with ideas handed down to professors and students by corporate managers. The result would be a single minded, cloned student body.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

Education News & Comment

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

Welcome to the No Child Left Behind informational web pages.

2009-2010 NCLB Program Improvement (PI) Parent Notification Message for PI Schools (English)
Chinese Hmong Russian Spanish Vietnamese

NCLB Program Improvement Schools

NCLB Program Improvement Year 1 Parent Notification Letter

Supplemental Educational Services (SES) - Free Tutoring

To Learn More:
• Look for more postings about Program Improvement Notification: Public School
Choice and SES Free Tutoring on Sacramento City Unified School District Web Site


• Contact the principal at your child’s school, or the State and Federal Programs
Department at (916) 643-9051.

• Visit these government websites:
o U.S. Department of Education www.ed.gov
o No Child Left Behind www.nochildleftbehind.gov
o California Department of Education http://ayp.cde.ca,gov/reprots.asp

City, Homeless Group Agree To Terms - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

City, Homeless Group Agree To Terms - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Monday that homeless advocates and the city have come to an agreement on winter shelters."

Members of Safe Ground have been fighting for Sacramento's homeless to find a safe place to sleep at night.

Last week, Johnson's office announced a plan to provide more beds in local shelters for the winter.

Per a request from Safe Ground, Johnson said a couple places would be identified in Sacramento where people can use motel vouchers.

"In addition to creating more beds in local shelters for the winter months, the county is freeing up existing beds by helping families and individuals leave the shelter and move to a permanent home or to transitional housing," Johnson's office said in a news release.

The city will also launch its "Sacramento Steps Forward Campaign" initiative Thursday, which is described by Johnson's office as a "call to action" for the community to help the homeless.
"Today is really a win-win for all of us," Johnson said.

Fitch Takes Various Actions on Twin Rivers USD, California (Grant Joint Union HSD & Rio Linda ESD)

Fitch Takes Various Actions on Twin Rivers USD, California (Grant Joint Union HSD & Rio Linda ESD):

"In the course of routine surveillance, Fitch Ratings takes various rating actions on the following Twin Rivers Unified School District, California (Twin Rivers USD) bonds.

--Rio Linda Elementary School District (Rio Linda ESD) $50.7 million general obligation (GO) bonds (series 2003A and 2007) downgraded to 'A' from 'A+';

--Grant Joint Union High School District (Grant JUHSD) $106.8 million GO bonds

(series 2008 and 2007A) affirmed at 'A';.

The Rating Outlook for all rated securities is revised to Negative from Evolving."

Education Week: Crisis in School Leadership Seen Brewing in California

Education Week: Crisis in School Leadership Seen Brewing in California:

"Policy Experts Say State Lacks Comprehensive Human-Resources Policies for Principals
By Lesli A. Maxwell

In California, where school budgets are being slashed and achievement remains stubbornly low in many districts, there is mounting concern that the supply of principals is too limited to manage the financial and academic..."

The California Forward Action Fund submitted a pair of nonpartisan initiatives Friday that would bring comprehensive reform to California's broken budget process, protect funding for local services, and give communities new tools and resources to set their own priorities and chart their own paths for the future.

These measures take practices that have proven themselves in business and other states, and put them to work in California, balancing the budget, reducing waste, and delivering better results for people.Politics as usual won't solve our problems.

The California Forward Action Fund is a nonpartisan organization, with no political ties or partisan agendas, and is led by citizens of every walk of life willing to put California first -- like you.

Both of the initiatives, the Best Practices Budget Accountability Act and the Community Funding Protection and Accountability Act, would amend the state Constitution. Each will require 694,354 signatures by April 16, 2010 to be placed on the November 2, 2010 ballot.We need as many people to join us as possible.

If you haven't already, please endorse our principles now. Then, forward this message to your friends and ask them to sign it, too. We're depending on Californians like you to bring this comprehensive reform plan before all voters next year. The status quo isn't acceptable any more.

It's time to step up and address our state's challenges head-on.

These reforms get California moving again so California can lead again.

Thank you,

Thomas McKernanCo-Chair, California Forward Action Fund

Robert HertzbergCo-Chair, California Forward Action Fund

'Emotional' Michelle Obama announces White House mentoring program for girls | 44 | washingtonpost.com

'Emotional' Michelle Obama announces White House mentoring program for girls 44 washingtonpost.com:

"In her own version of 'Pay It Forward,' first lady Michelle Obama, who has often talked about the influence of role models in her life, announced a year-long mentoring program at the White House for area high school girls.
Monday afternoon, thirteen young women gathered around a polished wood table, austerely set with water glasses and blue folders, in the State Dining room for a get to know you conversation with the senior women from the White House staff who will serve as their mentors. That list includes a who's who of fancy titles and impressive resumes -- among them, senior advisor Valerie Jarrett, domestic policy advisor Melody Barnes, Obama's chief of staff Susan Sher and social secretary Desiree Rogers."

CDF’s Champions for Children’s Health San Francisco Stroller Brigade and Rally

CDF’s Champions for Children’s Health San Francisco Stroller Brigade and Rally

CDF’s Champions for Children’s Health San Francisco Stroller Brigade and Rally on November 8th 2-3pm at San Francisco City Hall. The purpose of this event is to send a strong message to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Diane Feinstein that California children need their leadership now to ensure that children are better –not worse – off after health care reform.

As you may know, both houses of Congress will make key votes on national health reform legislation in the next few weeks and we are still begging them to fix the health care system for children. I am asking for your support in helping us raise our voices for children and demand that Congress and the President ensure every child has access to comprehensive, affordable health coverage that is easy to enroll in and keep.

Thank you in advance for your support. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on November 8th!

Trochet: H1N1 Crisis Exists In Sacramento Co. - Health News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Trochet: H1N1 Crisis Exists In Sacramento Co. - Health News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento County's health officer is urging leaders to declare a state of emergency after an increase in hospitalizations of people suffering from the H1N1 flu bug.

Dr. Glennah Trochet is expected to make her case to the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Trochet said there has been 15 H1N1-related deaths in the county so far, including one last week.

In Depth: H1N1 Flu FAQs, Symptoms, More

Trochet is seeking the declaration so officials can follow a protocol for dealing with emergencies."

Parents for Public Schools (PPS)

Syracuse

The Syracuse Post-Standard reports that "it's looking like a few hot issues have kindled more interest than usual in the Syracuse school board election." Susan Fahey, president of PPS-Syracuse, attributes the increased interest in part to the new Say Yes to Education program, which promises to provide free college tuition for Syracuse high school grads.
The chapter has hosted candidate forums and received substantial media attention. There are three openings on the board this year. With only one incumbent running (Syracuse School Board President Kim Rohadfox-Ceaser, past President of PPS National Board of Directors) there will be two new board members chosen.

Seattle

Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle is actively engaged in the big issues now facing the district, including proposed changes to the way students are assigned to schools. The chapter is helping facilitate comments on a proposed New Student Assignment Plan boundary map, including providing maps to parents and how the proposal affects specific addresses.
There are three school board positions up for election this year in Seattle, with two being contested. The chapter has provided a resource page for parents with a candidate questionnaire. Also, check out a great interactive forum proposing ideas for Seattle Public Schools. The page provides some specific proposals for strengthening Seattle and allows for comments.

Mississippi: Schoolhouse to statehouse

Schoolhouse to Statehouse, PPS's statewide effort in Mississippi, is focused on improving school boards in the state. The Schoolhouse to Statehouse section of the PPS website contains resources for parents on the work of school boards that can be adapted for other chapters. PPS staff is working with the Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA) to find ways to increase and improve parental involvement. MSBA Executive Director Mike Waldrop has participated in Parent Leadership Institutes to explain the responsibilities of school board members.
Mississippi has about 150 different school districts with school board positions filled in a variety of ways (elected or appointed - sometimes both in the same district) and elections almost every year. PPS parent coaches are working to raise public awareness of school board elections this year in selected districts.


houston

There are nine districts in the Houston Independent School District. Voters in each district elect School Board Trustees. Five positions are up for election this year and three races are competitive. For each district, PPS-Houston is providing an online district map to help voters determine their district and providing a detailed questionnaire to give candidates an opportunity to explain why they are running.

As the questionnaire explains: "This election is important to everyone served by HISD. Please be an informed citizen so that you can vote for the benefit of all HISD children." The chapter also helped sponsor a "HISD Board Candidates Forum" on a local television channel KTRK. To see how this broadcast helps voters learn their district and meet the candidates, click here.
Anne foster's Blog: "American School Boards - Abolish or Improve?"

Public schools in the United States continue to be governed by appointed or elected school boards - except in cases of takeovers and charter schools that report directly to states. But some seem to be asking if school boards are relevant in today world. Often there is no mention of them in national conversation about school reform. Other times, there is prominent mention of them in the headlines because of bad governing skills and just plain bad behavior. And yet school boards continue to set policy, to hire and fire superintendents, and to manage huge amounts of taxpayer money. Can we really afford to ignore them? How can we insure effective school boards?
For starters, public schools belong to the public. The public either elects their school board members or elects a Mayor who appoints them. Either way, school boards represent their communities in the oversight of their schools. Read more

pps national - annual donor campaign

The PPS Annual Donor and Membership Campaign is coming up. Your support of PPS strengthens a national network of community-based chapters working to improve and reform K-12 public education. The campaign is a coordinated effort to support our local chapters and the national office. You direct where your money goes. To support PPS with an online donation, visit our website.

Parents for Public Schools (PPS) is a national organization of community-based chapters working with public school parents and other supporters to improve and strengthen local public schools. We believe that quality public education is vital to our democracy and to America's future.

Interested in starting a PPS chapter? Contact Us

Teacher Beat: Duncan Calls for Multiple Measures in Evaluation

Teacher Beat: Duncan Calls for Multiple Measures in Evaluation:

"Education Secretary Arne Duncan made a particular point yesterday of underscoring that teacher evaluations should be based on 'multiple measures' that would include student achievement alongside other factors, such as peer evaluations.

He was speaking at conference here in Washington for state officials hosted by the National Comprehensive Center on Teacher Quality.

Frankly, the multiple-measures comment shouldn't come as a big surprise if you've been paying attention. A number of other ED officials have made the same point in other forums. But a lot of the state officials told me they were nevertheless glad to hear the message. They noted that the Race to the Top proposed criteria make a big deal about incorporating student achievement, but are silent on other teacher-evaluation criteria."

Education Week: Accept No Substitutes for Real Decentralization

Education Week: Accept No Substitutes for Real Decentralization:

"Is anyone recommending that General Motors repair itself by retraining its workers, or by adopting performance-based compensation for them? Are people advocating that we solve the nation’s health-care problems by altering the curriculum in schools of medicine?

The answer to both questions is no. Why, then, does it make sense for us to attack the problems of urban schools with equivalent measures: improving teacher training, adopting merit pay, or changing the curriculum and books?"

General Motors got into trouble by being overcentralized in its management, and the debate over health-care reform is largely about whether centralization will make it better or worse. When big organizations get into real trouble, the issue is often about centralization.

Urban school districts are dysfunctionally centralized, and putting improved subsystems of selection, training, and compensation into them cannot overcome the larger problem. To see how inappropriate are the currently voguish palliatives, we need only to observe what happens when principals are given the freedom to spend their budgets as they see fit, staff their schools as they think best, and arrange curricula and schedules according to the desires of their teachers.

Education Week: Conflict of Interest Arises as Concern in Standards Push

Education Week: Conflict of Interest Arises as Concern in Standards Push:

"A respected literacy-research organization is asking that a process be put in place to make more transparent potential conflicts of interest that writers of the common national academic standards* might have, and to address them.

The Literacy Research Association sent a letter Oct. 21 to the groups overseeing the development of common standards that, among other points, expresses concern that many of the authors are “representatives of multiple commercial entities that stand to profit enormously from selling curricula, instructional materials, assessments, and consultancies as the standards are rolled out.”"

Such connections should be “explicitly revealed and addressed,” says the letter from the group, formerly called the National Reading Conference.
While the letter does not cite specific names, a significant number of people selected to write the standards, which are geared initially toward college and career readiness, are representing ACT Inc., and the College Board. The authors’ names and primary affiliations are listed on the project’s materials.



*The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a joint effort by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in partnership with Achieve, ACT and the College Board. Governors and state commissioners of education from across the country committed to joining a state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. The first step of this initiative is developing college- and career-readiness standards followed by K-12 standards.
These standards will be research and evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, aligned with college and work expectations and include rigorous content and skills. The NGA Center and CCSSO are coordinating the process to develop these standards and have created an expert validation committee to provide an independent review of the common core state standards, as well as the grade-by-grade standards.

http://www.corestandards.org/

Putting the Customer First in College

Putting the Customer First in College:

"The U.S. higher education marketplace is complex. It boasts multiple stakeholders, among them taxpayers, parents, federal and state governments, colleges and universities and of course the students. But there is only one real customer—the individual who chooses to pursue an education.

Students make customer choices based on available information, interests, abilities and life circumstances that will mostly determine whether they succeed in obtaining an education with a meaningful credential. The problem is our higher education marketplace today does not account for this customer focus that is so important to success. In large measure, this is because education policies that guide this marketplace are largely crafted by the dominant voices in higher education—colleges and universities with the resources to sway elected officials. Students as customers have no voice in this policy conversation."

Bringing a customer focus to higher education would empower students as customers and, especially for low-income students, provide information and support to make postsecondary education a viable option amid their work and life responsibilities. Customer focus can help build a student-centric higher education system that delivers quality, flexible learning experiences that lead to educational credentials for personal growth and career success.

In most sectors of our economy, customer focus is paramount, as it should be in education, too. Customer focus could yield a more student-centric system through the development and dissemination of user-friendly “truth-in-education” information that helps students make “best-fit” choices regarding which education provider to select based on customer preferences such as: academic quality, price, convenience, learning style, beginning education level and the anticipated return on their investment in education. After all, an estimated 60 percent of undergraduate students are not on the “four-years-and-graduate” program, instead attending classes in a variety of non-traditional ways at multiple institutions over many years.

Customer focus has an additional benefit. Understanding how students make choices and actually experience higher education in many different ways would benefit all the other stakeholders who invest in a students’ education, among them parents, taxpayers, and the educational institutions themselves.

Developing a student-centric focus for higher education and using it to empower customer choice will require a neutral, independent voice that is equally capable of gathering U.S. Department of Education data and analysis to provide critical customer information as well as providing a national voice to help students find the best education providers given their needs and educational desires. The Department of Education should take on this ombudsman role by forming, a quasi-independent, Office of Consumer Protection in Higher Education. This new office should:

Produce a College Customer Bill of Rights that enforces truth in advertising regarding: academic quality, student services and support and flexibility and convenience.
Ensure that mandated federal data gathering, assembly, analysis and presentation are conducted in ways that empowers students with usable customer information.
Be an ombudsman for students with state officials and regional accrediting agencies to integrate and publish “truth-in-education” customer data and direct student customers to the appropriate officials when they have grievances with their education provider.

It is time our nation had public policies and institutions that provide for the needs of their customers, the students, by building a student-centric higher education system.

Support the Center for American Progress

Calif. Finance Director To Step Down - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Calif. Finance Director To Step Down - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Finance Director Mike Genest said Monday in e-mail that he is stepping down from his post.
Genest is leaving after one of the worst financial crisises California has ever faced.

'The state we serve has gone through some difficult times lately,' Genest said in a message to fellow staff members.

'As we continue to sort out our fiscal situation, this department will be instrumental in leading the state through the challenges that remain ahead,' Genest said in his message.
Sources tell KCRA 3 that Genest will retire by the end of the year."

There's still time to register!

East Bay LGBTQ Welcoming & Inclusive School Forum and San Francisco Elementary School Fair and Forum

NEW INFORMATION EVERY YEARHELP GET MORE LGBTQ PARENTS AT YOUR SCHOOL AND MAKE IT MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE!

Our Family Coalition is pleased to invite you to participate in our annual San Francisco and East Bay Welcoming and Inclusive School Forums.

These forums are designed to give school administrators, teachers and parents an introduction to some of the innovative and groundbreaking strategies to creating inclusive and welcoming environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) parents and their children which is needed now more than ever.

East Bay School ForumRegister: Click here!

When: Thursday, November 5, 5:30pm-8:30pm

Where: Malcolm X Elementary School, 1731 Prince Street, Berkeley (map it)

Dinner and childcare on site included, $5 per person suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds

San Francisco Elementary School Kindergarten Fair and Forum *Register: Click here!

When: Saturday, November 14, 11:30am-3:30pm (School Fair 11:30am-1:00pm, Forum 1:30-3:30pm)

Where: Rosa Parks Elementary School, 1501 O'Farrell St., San Francisco (map it)

*The San Francisco School Forum will feature a school fair where public and private schools from the area will be tabling. Parents are encouraged to ask their schools to participate. To register your school for the school fair tabling portion of this event, click here.

Lunch and childcare on site included, $5 per person suggested donation, one one turned away for lack of funds
Help us promote this important event!

We need your help to encourage your schools parents, teachers, and administrators to attend this important event. Please forward this email to parents, teachers, and school administrators you think may be interested in attending.

Our Family Coalition promotes the rights and well-being of Bay Area lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer families with children and prospective parents through education, advocacy, social networking, and grassroots community organizing.

Headquarters: 870 Market St., Ste. 872, San Francisco, CA 94102

East Bay Office: 344 40th St., Oakland, CA 94609

http://www.ourfamily.org/

· 415-981-1960

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Find a Flu Shot Near You

Find a Flu Shot Near You:

"Flu Shot Locator
Seasonal flu vaccine is widely available. H1N1 vaccine is being shipped now. States are posting new information every day about availability, distribution to priority groups and where to get vaccinated. There is also information on State planning and preparation efforts, as well as general flu information here.

Click your state or use the drop-down box to learn more.

HHS is working with the states and interested partners to build a zip code-based flu clinic locator covering both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. This new locator will be available here and on most state Websites in the near future."

H1N1 (Swine) Flu Virus: Facts for Parents (& Expecting)

Pregnant and recently pregnant women are a priority group for the H1N1 flu vaccine. More…

Vaccinating children is a priority. Flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children. More…

Antiviral Drugs to Treat H1N1. More…

Clinicians should consider these facts before prescribing antivirals. More…

Do not stop breastfeeding if you are sick. Your breast milk is good for the baby. More…

The symptoms for all flu, including H1N1 flu, are similar. However, be on the lookout for signs of serious illness. More…

Don’t wait; call your doctor immediately if your child gets sick with flu-like symptoms. More…

Relieve the symptoms of H1N1 flu with certain over-the-counter medications. More…

Emergency medical care may become necessary. Know the signs. More…

Talk to children about H1N1 flu. More…

Flu during the school year. More…

Vaccinating Children

All people from 6 months through 24 years of age are a priority group for the H1N1 flu vaccine. Getting your child vaccinated as soon as possible is the best method for protecting him or her from the flu. Use our Flu Shot Locator to get vaccinated where you live.

There are separate vaccines for seasonal flu and H1N1.

Children should get both vaccinations as soon as possible.

Flu vaccine will be available in different settings, such as vaccination clinics organized by local health departments, healthcare provider offices, schools, and other private settings, such as pharmacies and workplaces.

The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is expected to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record. Over the years, hundreds of millions of Americans have received seasonal flu vaccines. More information on vaccine safety

The H1N1 vaccine is provided at no cost by the government. Some, but not all, clinics may charge to administer the vaccine.

More information on vaccine cost

For more information on priority vaccinations see CDC Advisors Make Recommendations for Use of Vaccine Against Novel H1N1.

Sacramento Press / Top Johnson Advisor Resigns To Work For Nestle

Sacramento Press / Top Johnson Advisor Resigns To Work For Nestle:

"Michelle Smira, a Republican strategist and consultant to mayor Kevin Johnson, resigned from her position on October 22. Below is her letter of resignation:

Dear Mayor Johnson,

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as a volunteer in your office, the Office of the

Mayor. The opportunity to serve as your liaison to various organizations and to meet with constituents on your behalf has been very rewarding. Thank you for this opportunity.

I believe strongly that the people of Sacramento voted overwhelmingly for you to represent us as Mayor because we wanted change. What has become apparent is that we desperately need change. I will be stepping away as a volunteer in your official office to further help promote these goals in the community. I believe that the only way to ensure that Sacramento is truly “a City that Works for Everyone” is if you are in fact leading our City. We need to change our antiquated structure and I will be there to help educate our community on the issue.

It has been a wonderful experience working with you at City Hall and I look forward to again helping in this capacity at a later date.

Thank you,
Michelle Smira"

CAVALA: Legalizing ‘Tommy Guns’ For Street Gang Members? - California Progress Report

CAVALA: Legalizing ‘Tommy Guns’ For Street Gang Members? - California Progress Report

CAVALA: Legalizing ‘Tommy Guns’ For Street Gang Members?

By Bill CavalaA veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento


Well, he didn’t really say that. But he wrote a law review article that concluded that if you can carry it, you can bear it (Constitutionally). Which means the decades old ban on automatic weapons should be repealed (we shouldn’t have Unconstitutional laws on the books), which means that street gang members – as long as they have no criminal convictions – should be able to buy and carry “Tommy Guns.”

If I were to mail such a charge, however, Harmer would surely run to the press to claim his position had been slanted, mischaracterized, and distorted.
And he’d be right.

But it’s John Garamendi, Harmer’s Democratic opponent, who has the right to cry ‘foul’.

The Republicans took a quote made in the context of the State’s budget - long before Garamendi became a candidate for Congress – to the effect that it would take a mix of tax increases and spending cuts to solve the budget problem. Ultimately, the Republican Governor and the two Republican Legislative leaders agreed with Garamendi.

Somehow that statement morphed into a demand that we “gut” Prop 13 and “tax people out of their homes” – the characterization of an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal cited in a hit piece against Garamendi (as evidence).

Not that it matters, but Garamendi has never advocated raising the property tax on residential property.

PCL INSIDER: Assemblymember Nava Calls On Big Oil To Pay Its Fair Share - California Progress Report

PCL INSIDER: Assemblymember Nava Calls On Big Oil To Pay Its Fair Share - California Progress Report

PCL INSIDER: Assemblymember Nava Calls On Big Oil To Pay Its Fair Share

By Traci SheehanExecutive DirectorPlanning and Conservation League

On Monday, the Planning and Conservation League (League) joined Assemblymember Pedro Nava as he announced the introduction of new legislation designed to ensure that big oil companies that operate in California compensate the state for extracting oil. The bill, known as the Oil Industry Fair Share Act, ABX6 1 (Nava), brings California in line with other oil producing states by requiring oil companies to pay a severance tax of ten percent. Every other major oil producing state, including Alaska and Texas, have this tax.

The revenue generated by the proposed tax would go into the state's general fund and help balance the budget. Along with the League, Mr. Nava was joined by representatives from Environment California, senior groups, school workers and nurses. These groups all asked the legislature to pass the Oil Industry Fair Share Act to help prevent more severe cuts to vital state services, noting that big oil currently gets a free ride while residents throughout the state are asked to sacrifice to help balance the budget. The measure is estimated to contribute $1.5 billion to the general fund annually.

THE WATER SPECIAL SESSION IS ON!

P/PV Program Areas | Crime Reduction and Reentry | Publications | Publication Detail

P/PV Program Areas Crime Reduction and Reentry Publications Publication Detail:

"In 1999, seeking to reduce Philadelphia's homicide rate and put youthful offenders on the path to a productive adulthood, various Philadelphia agencies and organizations, including Public/Private Ventures, partnered to form the Youth Violence Reduction Partnership (YVRP). The project's goal is to steer youth, ages 14 to 24 and at greatest risk of killing or being killed, toward productive lives through increased support and supervision. This report describes YVRP and presents early evidence the initiative may be reducing homicides."