Helping kids read - South Sound - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington

Helping kids read - South Sound - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington:

"WASHINGTON – There are zero-book children, 1,000-book children, the summer slide, Early Readers, Reading First, Striving Readers, and programs, methods and studies with names and acronyms that won’t quit. It’s all part of the effort to teach the nation’s children to read.

But with state and local funding for education being squeezed, school administrators and classroom teachers are hoping a bill introduced by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., will inject some much-needed cash into what most consider the cornerstone of learning. The bill would provide nearly $12 billion for literacy programs over five years.

“The need for federal funds is critical,” said Patti Banks, superintendent of the University Place School District."

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SCUSD Observer: County will begin series of flu shot clinics at Hiram Johnson

SCUSD Observer: County will begin series of flu shot clinics at Hiram Johnson

County will begin series of flu shot clinics at Hiram Johnson

Sacramento County's series of free public clinics to distribute the vaccine against the H1N1 flu starts on Monday.

For the first two weeks, the vaccine will only be for those in priority groups-Pregnant women-Healthcare workers-Persons caring for children under 6 months of age-Children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years-Adults aged 24-64 with underlying medical conditionsIf you plan on attending one of the free clinics, you may save time by downloading the consent form and bringing it with you.

Here is a complete schedule of the upcoming clinics:

Hiram Johnson High SchoolMonday, November 16th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.6879 14th AvenueSacramento, CA 95820

Rio Linda High SchoolTuesday, November 17th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.6309 Dry Creek RoadRio Linda, CA 95673


Loaves & FishesWednesday, November 18th 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.1321 North C StreetSacramento, CA 95814

Casa Roble High SchoolThursday, November 19th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.9151 Oak AvenueOrangevale, CA 95662

Samuel Pannell Community CenterFriday, November 20th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.2450 Meadowview RoadSacramento, CA 95832

Town & Country Lutheran ChurchSaturday, November 21st 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.4049 Marconi AvenueSacramento, CA 95821

First Covenant ChurchMonday, November 23rd 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.10933 Progress CourtRancho Cordova, CA 95670

La Sierra Community CenterTuesday, November 24th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.5325 Engle RoadCarmichael, CA 95608

Scottish Rite Masonic CenterMonday, November 30th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.6151 H StreetSacramento, CA 95819

North Highlands Community CenterTuesday, December 1st 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.6040 Watt AvenueNorth Highlands, CA 95660
Isleton Elementary SchoolWednesday, December 2nd 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.412 Union StreetIsleton, CA 95641

South Natomas Community CenterThursday, December 3rd 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.2921 Truxel RoadSacramento, CA 95833

Antelope High SchoolFriday, December 4th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.4635 Elverta RoadAntelope, CA 95843

American River CollegeSaturday, December 5th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.4700 College Oak DriveSacramento, CA 95841

Sheldon High SchoolMonday, December 7th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.8333 Kingsbridge DriveSacramento, CA 95829

Anthony Pescetti Community Roomat City of Galt Police DepartmentTuesday, December 8th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.455 Industrial DriveGalt, CA 95632

Burbank High SchoolWednesday, December 9th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.3500 Florin RoadSacramento, CA 95823

Citrus Heights City HallThursday, December 10th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.6237 Fountain Square DriveCitrus Heights, CA 95621

Florin High SchoolFriday, December 11th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.7956 Cottonwood LaneSacramento, CA 95828

Franklin High SchoolSaturday, December 12th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.6400 Whitelock ParkwayElk Grove, CA 95757

Mesa Verde High SchoolMonday, December 14th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.7501 Carriage DriveCitrus Heights, CA 95621

Folsom High SchoolTuesday, December 15th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.1655 Iron Point RoadFolsom, CA 95630

St. Rose ParishWednesday, December 16th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.5961 Franklin Blvd.Sacramento, CA 95824

Sacramento High SchoolThursday, December 17th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.2315 34th StreetSacramento, CA 95817

Encina High SchoolFriday, December 18th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.1400 Bell AvenueSacramento, CA 95825

Rosemont High SchoolMonday, December 21st 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.9594 Kiefer Blvd.Sacramento, CA 95827

Natomas High SchoolTuesday, December 22nd 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.3301 Fong Ranch RoadSacramento, CA 95834

Robertson Community CenterMonday, December 28th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.3525 Norwood AvenueSacramento, CA 95838

Sears - Florin Mall “Drive-Thru”Tuesday, December 29th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.7000 65th StreetSacramento, CA 95823

St. Anthony's ChurchWednesday, December 30th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.14012 2nd AvenueWalnut Grove, CA 95690

First Baptist ChurchMonday, January 4th 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.4401 San Juan AvenueFair Oaks, CA 95628

Elk Grove High SchoolTuesday, January 5th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.9800 Elk Grove-Florin RoadElk Grove, CA 95624

Grant Union High SchoolWednesday, January 6th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.1400 Grand AvenueSacramento, CA 95838

Sunrise Mall “Drive-Thru”Thursday, January 7th 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.6041 Sunrise (behind Sears)Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Inderkum High SchoolFriday, January 8th 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.2500 New Market DriveSacramento, CA 95835

Valley High SchoolMonday, January 11th 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.6300 Ehrhardt AvenueSacramento, CA 95823

Sacramento Japanese United Methodist ChurchTuesday, January 12th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.6929 Franklin Blvd.Sacramento, CA 95823

Christ Community ChurchWednesday, January 13th 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.5025 Manzanita AvenueCarmichael, CA 95608

Sacramento City Public Safety CenterThursday, January 14th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.5770 Freeport Blvd.Sacramento, CA 95822
County Administrative CenterFriday, January 15th 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.700 H StreetSacramento, CA 95814

Posted by Sac City Schools Observer at 7:30 AM
Labels: H1N1 vaccine, Luther Burbank High School

Pile of Empty Beer Cartons Evolves into Open Air Library | GOOD

Pile of Empty Beer Cartons Evolves into Open Air Library GOOD:

"I would love to see a community library like this in Los Angeles!

“What began as an assemblage of 1,000 empty beer cartons pulled together by residents in East Germany has now evolved into an incredible open air public library. Designed by Karo Architekten in collaboration with local residents, the grassroots project revitalizes a post-industrial district in Magdeburg, Germany by creating a cultural center and pop-up library where books are free to take and leave 24 hours a day. Opened this past June, the project introduces plenty of green space and reuses the facade of an old warehouse to beautiful effect.

Libraries and book lending are a great green practices insofar as they encourage the use of shared resources and cut down on crates of pressed tree pulp circulating the globe. They’re even better when they foster a communal spirit of sharing, as does Magdeburg’s new Open Air Library."

Educators Grow Green Schools | Edutopia

Educators Grow Green Schools Edutopia:

"Green schools are emerging around the country, and they are nothing short of spectacular. Whether built from the ground up or retrofitted, they are awash in daylight and the glow of natural wood, equipped with individualized air, light, and temperature control, and surrounded by rich landscapes designed to shade and regenerate our air and water.

Green schools cost less than 2 percent more than conventional schools to build but provide 20 times the financial benefits, according to author Greg Kats. Even in existing schools that are making smaller changes to lighten their impact on the planet, the benefits are obvious: savings in energy, water, materials, land, and transportation. In a 2006 study of 30 American schools, Kats identified an average 33 percent reduction in energy use and a 32 percent reduction in water use in green schools (as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council) when compared with conventional schools."

GradeFund

GradeFund

Starting a revolution one A at a time.

Our Mission

Our goal is to be the most important resource for students across the world to get a great education. We want students to have a friend who works tirelessly to help make a great education more affordable and more accessible. The GradeFund has also been designed to help students find jobs and internships easier as they contemplate life after school. We have taken the first small steps of a long journey to help students across the world achieve a higher level of education.

Our Values

1. Students should be rewarded for academic excellence.2. A great education should be available to all of the world's students.3. Educational resources should be deployed as efficiently as possible.4. The world needs to be better able to find the talent it needs to solve important problems.

What we do in 100 Words

Students invite their friends and family to sponsor their drive for good grades. Sponsors choose grade levels and sponsorship amounts for each grade (as low as $5). Each semester students upload their transcript. We verify grades, collect money from sponsors, and send it to schools or students depending on sponsor preferences. For individuals or companies that want to create an educational cause, they select the classes and grade levels at the universities they want to sponsor. We send the money to the eligible students who achieve the target performance levels.

Why we do it

We wanted to help all students with a service that encouraged them to pursue higher education and focus on doing well while in school. We love education and think it is the most enjoyable and enriching activity we engage in as humans. It is our hope that we can bring that passion and excitement to students across the country and the world.

Our People

GradeFund's management team includes Zachary Suchin, CEO, and Jason Schutzbank, COO. We are also pleased to have Arup Banerjee and Owen Wendland as our board members. Our team is a dedicated group of individuals seeking to aid students around the country by providing a solution that enables them to put more resources towards their education. We are passionate and always looking for others to help us spread our cause. If you have further questions for our management team please e-mail info@gradefund.com.

Secret Recipes Revealed: Demystifying the Title I Part A Funding Formulas

Secret Recipes Revealed: Demystifying the Title I Part A Funding Formulas:

"The 1965 passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act marked an increased role for the federal government in ensuring equal opportunity in education. Title I, Part A of the act is the centerpiece of this federal role in elementary and secondary education. The law authorizes substantial grants—almost $14 billion for the fiscal year that ended in 2008—to augment the education of children living in areas where low-income families are concentrated. Yet the funding formulas that determine the amount of money granted to each school district are not necessarily compatible with the law’s intent."

Flypaper: Education reform ideas that stick, from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Flypaper: Education reform ideas that stick, from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute:

"Posted on November 13, 2009 at 11:41 am by Jamie Davies O'Leary
Ohio keeps its word, will adopt Common Core Standards

For the last month, we’ve been wondering whether Ohio would truly adopt the NGA/CCSSO Common Core State Standards , or whether the Ohio Department of Education would forge its own path in revising academic content standards so as to meet the June 2010 deadline. The issue was one of timing, as Common Core Standards won’t be finalized until January, and this didn’t give Ohio enough time to meet its June 2010 mandate.

Given that Fordham gave Ohio a “D+” in our last State of the State Standards report, and that we think the Common Core Standards are substantially better (see our latest report, “Stars by Which to Navigate“), the possibility of Ohio reneging on the Common Core Initiative was worrisome. Emmy wrote on Flypaper:"

Read the full report: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16391598/Stars-by-Which-to-Navigate-Scanning-National-and-International-Standards-in-2009

Thomas W. Carroll: Schumer's Role in "Race to the Top": Is the Fix In?

Thomas W. Carroll: Schumer's Role in "Race to the Top": Is the Fix In?:

"For months, rumors have circulated in New York political and educational circles that U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has received assurances from the Obama administration that New York will receive a 'round one' grant from the highly competitive federal $4 billion Race to the Top competition for educational dollars. This could mean as much as $350 million for the cash-strapped state.

The indefatigable Schumer is the third-ranked Senator in the United States Senate, a possible successor to Harry Reid as Majority Leader (if Reid loses his tenuous re-election bid), and a linchpin for getting Obama-care through the Senate. Schumer also is very close personally to Chancellor Merryl Tisch, who views Race to the Top as a priority. So, the theory has at least surface plausibility."

Hmong charter school has culture of learning - JSOnline

Hmong charter school has culture of learning - JSOnline:

"Give me some adjectives to describe your school, the visitor asked a couple of dozen eighth-graders at the Hmong American Peace Academy one morning last week.
Peaceful, one volunteered.

Dependable, another said.

Successful.
Educational.
Fair.
Respectful.
Hard.
Supportive.

Show me a school where kids volunteer a list like that, and I'll show you a bright spot on Milwaukee's educational landscape. Which is exactly the case with this school, popularly known as HAPA.

Entering its sixth year, HAPA has a kindergarten through eighth-grade enrollment of 435, nearly twice the number when the doors first opened in 2004. That's not counting another 60 in a partner high school, International Peace Academy, that is in its second year and just beginning to grow."

Raise dropout age to 18 - The Boston Globe

Raise dropout age to 18 - The Boston Globe:

"BILLS TO raise the compulsory school age have been kicking around the State House as aimlessly as high school dropouts on graduation day. And like those dropouts, the bills will need to be nurtured carefully if they are ever to amount to anything."

Last week, the Legislature’s Education Committee held a hearing on a bare-bones-bill that would raise the dropout age from 16 to 18. Upping the age when students can leave school makes good sense - but only if lawmakers and educators focus as much on what students need to achieve success as the date on their birth certificates.

Dropping out of high school wasn’t always an irrational act. As late as the 1960s and ’70s, dropouts in Massachusetts could find decent-paying jobs in manufacturing plants. But a high school diploma is now the rock-bottom minimum requirement to establish an independent life.

The Boss - Michael Chasen Sought to Wire Education Before Dot-Com Boom - NYTimes.com

The Boss - Michael Chasen Sought to Wire Education Before Dot-Com Boom - NYTimes.com:

"WHEN I was about 10 years old, my father, an endodontist, bought a Radio Shack-brand TRS Model III computer in order to track billing. At first, it stayed in a guest bedroom that doubled as an office. Within a few months, I had moved it into my bedroom."

My friend Billy Berger and I began to write programs and were soon writing them for local businesses. We got clients by word of mouth. Working on my own in high school, I charged as much as $25 an hour for computer consulting for local companies. I was always interested in technology and knew I wanted to run my own computer company one day.

I got an undergraduate degree in computer science at American University. Then I decided to get an M.B.A. with a specialization in accounting and follow that with a law degree.

Selling Lesson Plans Online, Teachers Raise Cash and Questions - NYTimes.com

Selling Lesson Plans Online, Teachers Raise Cash and Questions - NYTimes.com:

"Between Craigslist and eBay, the Internet is well established as a marketplace where one person’s trash is transformed into another’s treasure. Now, thousands of teachers are cashing in on a commodity they used to give away, selling lesson plans online for exercises as simple as M&M sorting and as sophisticated as Shakespeare."

While some of this extra money is going to buy books and classroom supplies in a time of tight budgets, the new teacher-entrepreneurs are also spending it on dinners out, mortgage payments, credit card bills, vacation travel and even home renovation, leading some school officials to raise questions over who owns material developed for public school classrooms.

“To the extent that school district resources are used, then I think it’s fair to ask whether the district should share in the proceeds,” said Robert N. Lowry, deputy director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

The marketplace for educational tips and tricks is too new to have generated policies or guidelines in most places. In Fairfax County, Va., officials had been studying the issue when they discovered this fall that a former football coach was selling his playbook and instructional DVDs online for $197; they investigated but let him keep selling.

How good are schools if students can't get in?: Jarvis DeBerry | Opinions - - NOLA.com

How good are schools if students can't get in?: Jarvis DeBerry Opinions - - NOLA.com:

"Once upon a time in New Orleans, parents had a hard time enrolling their children into a good public school because a good public school was something of an endangered species.

Today, good schools are easier to spot. One might encounter them anywhere. But the difficulty parents have getting their children into a good school lingers. As becomes clear in reporter Sarah Carr's five-day series 'The Challenge of Choice,' our decentralized grouping of schools is difficult for parents and students to access.

Different schools have different application deadlines. Some schools require face-to-face meetings with parents and child during the hours most parents are working."

School choice series: High school search frustrates ambitious student

By Sarah Carr, The Times-Picayune
November 12, 2009, 1:40AM
In the face of rejection, persistence pays off Full story »
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School choice series: Grandmother struggles to navigate system

By Sarah Carr, The Times-Picayune
November 10, 2009, 10:40PM
Gathering information not always easy for working parents Full story »
Comments (5)
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School choice series: Mother is determined to find best public pre-K

By Sarah Carr, The Times-Picayune
November 10, 2009, 5:40AM
'When he's older, he'll remember all we did to get him into a good school,' she says of her 4-year-old Full story »
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School choice series: Family works hard to find perfect fit for 12-year-old

By Sarah Carr, The Times-Picayune
November 09, 2009, 5:40AM
Father, aunts, grandmother study all the options Full story »
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School choice is a real test for parents in New Orleans

By Sarah Carr, The Times-Picayune
November 08, 2009, 1:40PM
Navigating the system, finding the right fit for their children can be a frustrating, bewildering process Full story »
Comments (15)

'Positive Parenting' under way | recordonline.com

'Positive Parenting' under way recordonline.com:

"Milford — Parenting isn't easy.

'With love, limits, and lots of involvement, parents can be a major influence in developing happy, healthy, and well-behaved children,' said a spokesman for Penn State Cooperative Extension, which is sponsoring a Positive Parenting workshop this month in two locations, one in Matamoras and another in Milford. 'Parenting education can be the key to building strong families.'

Positive Parenting is a university-developed parent education program providing effective parenting tools and strategies that will benefit families of infants, school-age children and teens."

Alan Pagano, Teaching and Learning: Arne Duncan and No Child Left Behind - Santa Cruz Sentinel

Alan Pagano, Teaching and Learning: Arne Duncan and No Child Left Behind - Santa Cruz Sentinel:

"For those unfamiliar with the name Arne Duncan, he is the current U.S. Secretary of Education, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. According to his resume, Duncan has had extensive experience in the development of education policy and served eight years as the CEO of Chicago Public Schools.

However, Duncan has never been a teacher, counselor or school site administrator. As a result, I am extremely skeptical of his ability to understand the challenges and constraints of local issues.

One of the secretary's most important tasks will be the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. In a previous column, I stated: The federal government instituted the No Child Left Behind legislation, which examines student achievement, provides a status category based on that achievement and if the 'school's' achievement is consistently insufficient, imposes sanctions.

In fact, the punitive nature of NCLB and the absence of a targeted focus on real student reform and change, severely undermine the proposed outcomes of the legislation."

Groups Rally Behind Cesar Chavez As Jobs Are Cut - KRDO.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News, Weather and Sports

Groups Rally Behind Cesar Chavez As Jobs Are Cut - KRDO.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News, Weather and Sports:

"PUEBLO - Job cuts at the Cesar Chavez Academy and Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School took students and staff by surprise on Friday.

NEWSCHANNEL 13 learned that several coaches were let go following the final bell on Friday. It left teams showing up for practice with nothing to do but console each other. According to sources, that upset students and staff alike because of there was such little forewarning.

The job cuts are part of a plan to make up for a $1.5 million dollar budget shortfall. It reportedly includes 29 staff members but only two teacher positions. Administrators, teachers and staff we tried to talk to all refused comment or didn't return our call. Word from the chief financial officer within the network is that they tried to make cuts that would have the least impact on the classroom"

Repeal of school reform law rejected - Bangor Daily News

Repeal of school reform law rejected - Bangor Daily News:

"Maine voters have rejected a move to repeal the state’s school district consolidation law — and they did so in convincing fashion.

With 87 percent of the state’s precincts reporting early Wednesday morning, the vote was 284,117 to 201,203 — or 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent — against repealing the law.

“We’re all very disappointed by the vote,” said Skip Greenlaw, chairman of the Maine Coalition to Save Schools, which mounted the drive to repeal the law. “I suppose when you can spend $300,000 on television ads and we had no money for ads, this is what happens. We know we were right, but a lot of people were not able to hear our message, and that’s unfortunate.”"

Pew Identifies States, Like California, in Fiscal Peril

Pew Identifies States, Like California, in Fiscal Peril:

"Washington, D.C. - 11/11/2009 - A report released today by the Pew Center on the States shows that some of the same pressures that have pushed California toward economic disaster are wreaking havoc in a number of other states, with potentially damaging consequences for the entire country. Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin join California as the 10 most troubled states, according to Pew’s analysis, 'Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril'.

These states' budget troubles can have significant repercussions for their residents: higher taxes or fees; layoffs or furloughs of state workers; longer waits for public services; more crowded classrooms; higher college tuition and less support for the poor or unemployed. They also pose challenges for the nation as a whole. Together, the 10 states account for more than one-third of America's population and economic output. And actions taken by state governments to balance their budgets–such as tax increases and drastic spending cuts—can slow down the country's recovery."

California spends $7,500 per student and a whopping $47,000 per prisoner -- you do the math

California spends $7,500 per student and a whopping $47,000 per prisoner -- you do the math:

"California’s first rate educational system used to be the mark to meet for other states, but those days are long gone. While the powers in Sacramento have not positioned us dead last in per pupil spending – the fifth largest economy in the world does rank a paltry 47th…ahead of only Utah, Nevada, Texas and Arizona.

With more than 6.2 million students California has almost 2 million more students than the next most populous state of Texas. Running a school system of this scope and size is a daunting task and is not the only challenge California faces. The state also has the highest percentage of English learners in the nation and is close to the top in the number of students living below the poverty level."

The Signal - Santa Clarita Valley News - Let teachers teach

The Signal - Santa Clarita Valley News - Let teachers teach:

"Parents, do you know where your teachers are?

If your children attend any of the nine elementary schools within the Sulphur Springs Union School District, your child's teacher may be found performing yard duty instead of the important duties she or he is trained to provide.

This is like a symphony conductor being ordered to become a theater usher, seating all the concert guests before taking the podium to lead the orchestra."

Picture the pilot of a jumbo jet also serving as the baggage handler, or a bank president rolling pennies. You get the picture.Parents, are you aware that your child's teacher is wasting valuable classroom preparation time, parent communication time and extra student attention time on such an inappropriate chore?

If I had a child in the district, I'd be bombarding the district office with e-mail, phone calls and petitions demanding a better solution.Yes, all California schools are in a budget dilemma - but how many other districts are taking their best and brightest assets and squandering their talent?

Education for foster youth is key

Education for foster youth is key:

"Overcrowded prisons continue to be a costly issue for Californians as we struggle with a catastrophic economy and budget crisis. In recent news, we learned that the state is being ordered to cut its inmate population by 44,000. Yet little attention is given to how we got into this crisis. Yes, some have talked about the “three strikes” law and probation problems and the lack of facilities to house prisoners. But few have examined the underlying cause for why so many people are turning to a life of crime.

The answer is lack of educational opportunities. The relationship between the educational path verses the criminal path is a clear one.

Consider one subgroup: foster youth. Surveys report that well over half of California’s inmates were in the foster care system at one time. Even though 70 percent of foster youth desire a college experience, nationally only half of them even get a high school degree. Of those who do, only 3 percent end up on a university campus. Of this 3 percent, only half of them actually succeed in earning a four-year degree. The rest – 98.5 percent are underemployed at best or unemployed, with a disproportionate number on public assistance or homeless – both situations that are often a pathway to crime."

College crisis is a disaster California can't afford

College crisis is a disaster California can't afford:

"In a disaster flick that opened this weekend, supposedly based on prophecies left behind by the Maya, 2012 is the year that California will crash into the Pacific, during a swirl of cataclysmic events that reshapes the world.

Assuming that the Maya or their Hollywood interpreters weren't right and we actually survive 2012, California may face a disaster of its own making within the next 15 years or so, much quieter than the widescreen version but capable of its own form of devastation.

Call it the Education Apocalypse."

Six in 10 California community college students give up transfer plans, never making it to universities - Oroville Mercury Register

Six in 10 California community college students give up transfer plans, never making it to universities - Oroville Mercury Register:

"As California's universities cut back slots for incoming freshman, they are still touting one route to a bachelor's degree that remains wide open: Start off at a community college and then transfer to UC or CSU.

But a new analysis shows that fewer than half the students who undertake that path ever reach their goal, waylaid by financial, personal and procedural potholes.

Only 40 percent of California's degree-seeking students are ready to transfer to universities after community college, according to the state's latest annual accountability report for community colleges. Silicon Valley schools do somewhat better — with success rates that range from 48 percent at San Jose City College to 68 percent at De Anza and Foothill colleges."

Dads give babies headstart | The Courier-Mail

Dads give babies headstart The Courier-Mail:

"But increasingly research is showing that the things fathers bring to the equation can make enormous differences to their children's lives.

Dr Bruce Robinson, co-ordinator of The Fathering Project at the University of Western Australia, has spoken to thousands of fathers and father figures about ways they can engage with their children and the rewards that it brings.

'In general, mothers tend to spend their time worrying about the kids. 'Have you got clean knickers, have you eaten your vegetables, have you brushed your teeth?'. Whereas dads tend to be a bit more laid-back,' Robinson says.

'Those differences are good, so long as they are two good parts of one thing."

Homeless man has key role in Sacramento debate - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Homeless man has key role in Sacramento debate - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Rudolph John Kraintz's gray eyes smolder as he stands outside his tent north of downtown Sacramento, rolling a cigarette with tobacco-stained fingers.

'I'm trying to work within the system, but the system is a mess!' he declares.

Scraggly, rumpled and destitute, having lived outdoors for the better part of seven years, Kraintz has become a most unlikely political force."

Rhee Says She's On The Hook For A Fenty Loss - D.C. Wire -

Rhee Says She's On The Hook For A Fenty Loss - D.C. Wire -:

"Rhee Says She's On The Hook For A Fenty Loss
If Mayor Adrian M. Fenty loses his 2010 re-election bid, he will have someone to officially blame--besides himself. D.C. Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee told an audience at the Newseum Friday afternoon that she would feel 'very responsible' if he served only one term.

The admission came at the Bloomberg Washington Summit, a day-and-half series of journalist-conducted conversations with CEOs, elected officials and assorted big thinkers. During her appearance, Washington Post editorial writer Jonathan Capehart reviewed some of the flashpoints of her eventful tenure--including school closures, central office firings and teacher layoffs--and concluded that while she's 'broken some dishes in this town and a lot of folks aren't happy' she still enjoyed the full support of the mayor who appointed her."

........Pressed for details about her recent engagement to Sacramento mayor and former NBA star Kevin Johnson, she said they would discuss a wedding date this weekend and that the imposing diamond on her finger was three carats. Of Johnson's proposal, she said only:
"I have to say it was very effective."

Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age - Day 1

Forty years after the "War on Poverty" and twenty-five years after "A Nation at Risk," a new forum has been designed to advance a new paradigm for learning by harnessing the largely untapped potential of digital media. Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age brought together 200 of the nations top thought leaders in science and technology, informal and formal education, entertainment media, research, philanthropy, and policy to create and act upon a breakthrough strategy for scaling-up effective models of teaching and learning for children.

Check out our opening night including a welcome speech from Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, opening remarks by Martha Kanter, Under Secretary of the US Dept of Ed, and a fiesty panel discussion featuring Linda Darling Hammond, Joel Klein, Mitch Kapor, Jonathan Miller and Ram Sriram.

And don't miss the final event, our keynote speech by Geoff Canada, CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone

For more about the event, please go to: http://www.google.com/events/digitalage
Category: Education

Cornucopia of Primary Sources Links: The National Archives | Ecology of Education

Cornucopia of Primary Sources Links: The National Archives Ecology of Education:

"In a fantastic session at NCSS Annual Conference, a couple of education specialists from the National Archives and Records Administration presented a small sampling of the incredible wealth of primary source materials available for free. From Nixon’s resignation letter to Regan’s landmark Berlin speech (his speaking copy!), they employed resources that can bring history alive for students of all ages."

Below are a host of links provided during the presentation.

National Archives Sites:

Digital Vaults: A rich and varied arm of the National Archives Education wing. (Mixed metaphor, just to keep you on your toes.) Lots to explore and personalize!

Pathways Challenges: Engaging mysteries at several levels of difficulty for exploring resources related to a specific theme.

Create Your Own Pathways Challenge: You can create posters, movies, and other media to engage your students in primary sources around a theme of your creation.

National Archives Education Team’s Delicious Account: Hundreds of links to primary source documents, ideas for teaching with documents, and information about education programs at the National Archives.

National Archives Education Team’s Delicious Account for National History Day: Numerous links to primary sources pertaining to National History Day.

National Archives Education Team’s Delicious Account Primary Sources: Their links to primary sources.

Archival Research Catalogue (ARC): This link will take you to the site for finding resources relevant your course of study or instruction. Deep, rich resources avaialble, as well as a student/teacher page.

US National Archives Flickr Account: Images that bring the history to life. A picture is worth a thousand words, afterall.

National Archives Videoconferences: Bring a professional into your classroom or to fauculty professional development! An opportunity only available thanks to the advent of the internet.

Collaborate with National Archives: Help them help you.

Coming Attractions: Docs Teach (still in development, but will be incredible I think!)

Teachers pick the documents and primary sources they want to use

Then, they assemble the materials on site to create multi-media lessons

Use with students (blow their minds)

Preserve for future use

Or,

Find lessons assembled by other teachers

Create variation to meet specific needs

For more information contact Dave Rosenbaum, Education Specialist (david dot rosenbaum at nara dot gov)

Child abuse a national issue | Spokesman.com | Nov 14, 2009

Child abuse a national issue Spokesman.com Nov 14, 2009:

"Too often, the simple joys of a child’s life in Spokane that many of us take for granted in our own families are far beyond the reach of even our closest neighbors.

Tragically, thousands of children die each year in the U.S. at the hands of family members or others living with them. A report out this month from the Every Child Matters Education Fund shows that more than 10,000 children in the U.S. died from abuse and neglect from 2001 to 2007. Experts say that number could be as much as 50 percent higher because of varying definitions of abuse and neglect in the states, as well as inconsistent record-keeping and data-collection methodologies. Child abuse prevention leaders say this makes it almost impossible to know the real number of children experiencing abuse and neglect in America."

Safe Routes to School Report Aims to Rally State, Local Support

Safe Routes to School Report Aims to Rally State, Local Support:

"A report released this week gives results from 10 pilot projects that offer best practices and lessons learned for communities and schools wishing to tap into federal funds for developing safe biking and walking paths for students, especially in low-income areas with high crime rates."

But first, state departments of transportation must be on board, said Deb Hubsmith, director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, which authored the report.
“We need to ensure that state level policies are set up in such a way that they help low-income communities that are most vulnerable to childhood obesity,” she said.

But, while targeting rising rates of childhood obesity remains a key goal, more attention is being turned to keeping children safe from crime on their way to and from school.

The goal of the partnership, which launched in 2005 after the federal Safe Routes to School program was implemented as directed by current surface transportation act, SAFETEA-LU, is to help states to develop action plans and policies and allocate federal and matching state Safe Routes funds for assisting local schools in cite planning and school wellness programs.

Hubsmith added that the report, “Safe Routes to School State Network Project: Final Report, 2007-2009, Making Change Through Partners and Policies,” is designed to help states structure a Safe Routes blueprint that will trickle down to the local level and, in doing so, set a precedence nationwide.


Safe Routes to School National Partnership (SRTSNP).

CCRI is spread too thin to train 21st-century work force, report finds | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

CCRI is spread too thin to train 21st-century work force, report finds Rhode Island news projo.com The Providence Journal:

"With more than 70,000 Rhode Islanders out of work, hard questions are being asked of the state’s only community college and its ability to train Rhode Islanders for 21st-century jobs.

Is the Community College of Rhode Island preparing students for jobs of the future or the jobs of the past? Is CCRI equipped to lead the state in training students for jobs in allied health, information technology, advanced manufacturing and green industries? Can the state offer the college adequate resources to do what needs to be done?

Can CCRI respond quickly enough to changing market needs?"

Seattle PostGlobe | News | Seattle | State schools chief appears ready to signal big retreat on academic requirements

Seattle PostGlobe News Seattle State schools chief appears ready to signal big retreat on academic requirements:

"Education leaders may have to wait until next Thursday to hear the details, but state Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn will likely call for a big retreat on long-planned science and math requirements for high school graduation. Well-informed education reform sources told the PostGlobe that they expect Dorn to say he wants an indefinite postponement of the science requirement.

It also appears he could ask for more than a year's delay in the requirement that students pass a standardized math test to graduate high school.

The PostGlobe confirmed that a leader of the Office of the Superintendent Public Instruction's work on the science requirements will leave the department. Mary McClellan, the science director of teaching and learning, said she is resigning over 'philosophical' differences. She didn't elaborate and an office spokesman said he could not comment on personnel matters."

Nevada out of ‘race’ for innovation funding - Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 | 2 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun

Nevada out of ‘race’ for innovation funding - Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 2 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun:

"It’s official: Nevada has been shut out of the “Race to the Top,” a federal grant program offering $4.35 billion to improve the nation’s public schools.

Keith Rheault, Nevada’s superintendent of public instruction, said Thursday “it’s looking pretty hopeless ... they won’t even let us come to the starting line.”

To compete for the grants, states must, among other qualifying criteria, allow the use of student test scores in the evaluation of their teachers. During a special legislative session in 2003, Nevada lawmakers passed a last-minute bill that explicitly prohibited using test data in teacher evaluations."

Who Needs Mathematicians for Math, Anyway? by Sandra Stotsky, City Journal 13 November 2009

Who Needs Mathematicians for Math, Anyway? by Sandra Stotsky, City Journal 13 November 2009:

"The statistics on U.S. math performance are grim. American eighth-graders ranked 25th out of 30 countries in mathematics achievement on the 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which claims to assess application of the mathematical knowledge and skills needed in adult life through problem-solving test items.

We do better on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), whose test items are related to the content of school mathematics curricula. (Differences in participating countries aren’t significant.) But according to Mark Schneider, a former commissioner of education statistics at the Department of Education, the United States lags behind too many countries in “overall mathematics performance and in the performance of our best students.”

And achievement gaps between different student groups within the United States, Schneider says, are “about the same size or even bigger than the gap between the United States and the top-performing countries in TIMSS.”"

School junk food -- chicagotribune.com

School junk food -- chicagotribune.com:

"I am a pediatrician on Chicago's North Side and have two children who attend a Chicago Public Schools school, Inter-American Magnet. I became the chair of our school's fledgling parent nutrition committee this year.

Our committee hasn't even met once this year yet, but in trying to recruit members, I have been asked several questions by parents regarding the quality and selection of food offered at our school's breakfast and lunch."

One mom of a kindergartener told me that her child comes home with her home-packed lunch uneaten because she is bused to school and then eats Froot Loops and a doughnut for breakfast. As a parent, I rarely let my kids buy school lunch until another parent applied for and won a grant for our school that started a lunchtime salad bar.

Now my kids get salad bar twice a week and love it. (Mind you, they will not eat vegetables I pack from home.) I still do not let them eat the school lunch on other days as it is filled with what I call "carnival food": nachos, pizza, corn dogs. I have had discussions about the food selection and the point has been made that the intersection between healthy school food and food that kids will eat is very narrow.

Education reform tour stops in Baltimore -- baltimoresun.com

Education reform tour stops in Baltimore -- baltimoresun.com:

"An unlikely trio explored several Baltimore schools Friday as part of an effort to highlight education reform and challenges, and called on Maryland to give charter schools more autonomy.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich repeatedly emphasized the need for changes to the state's charter school law, which he called 'too restrictive,' as he, the Rev. Al Sharpton and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan toured three city schools and spoke with students, administrators and others about their schools - and what sets them apart.

'I hope that everybody in Maryland will call the governor, will call the legislators, and will let them know that if they want every child in Baltimore to have the chance to have a quality education ... they have to reform the charter school law,' Gingrich said, standing with Duncan and Sharpton at Hampstead Hill Academy, a neighborhood charter. 'If you have the ability to shape resources, to shape people, to focus time on the students, you really can have a dramatic impact. But to do that, you have to have a more flexible, a more creative charter law.'"

San Clemente plans for Supreme Court in free speech case | court, san, city - News - The Orange County Register

San Clemente plans for Supreme Court in free speech case court, san, city - News - The Orange County Register:

"Handbills under windshield wipers count as litter, not free speech, San Clemente officials say, and they plan to go to the Supreme Court to prove it."

A group opposed to illegal immigration recently sued the city over its ban on leafleting parked cars.

At first, the Central District Court of California sided with the city. Then in early October, 9th Circuit Court judges disagreed on appeal and put an injunction on San Clemente's law.
Now the city has begun the process to petition the Supreme Court for an appeal, which it plans to file as early as next month.

"The City Council is asking themselves, 'What are we to tell the citizens if we just eliminate our anti-littering ordinance because we don't want to be accused of violating someone's First Amendment right?'" said Ed Richards, San Clemente's attorney. "The city gets people complaining about litter all the time. It can't just abdicate its responsibility. It has to deal with this issue."

The case affects all cities in California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii and Washington that have a similar law. On Monday, dominoes may start to fall. The Los Angeles Central District Court is scheduled to apply the injunction then, and once that happens, it becomes unconstitutional for cities in the 9th Circuit to carry out the law.

Some cities are already on the defense. One nearby city's attorney has recommended that the law be taken off the books. Other Orange County cities such as San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Woods have similar laws but have not made a decision on what they plan to do about this sticky situation.
There's another sticky factor: money.

States turn backs on millions of Race to the Top funds due to educators' concerns

States turn backs on millions of Race to the Top funds due to educators' concerns:

"Some educators won't buy Obama's Race to the Top program, and states are turning down Race to the Top funds from the U.S. Department of Education.
Why would states turn the money down?

Basically, it's because educators don't want to comply with the federal qualifications for the money.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Thursday the finalization of an application process for the final 4.35 billion dollars."

However, about half of the states will not attempt to accomplish four major reforms to qualify for Race to the Top funds, including:
• Developing teacher evaluations that are tied to student performance,
• Streamlining the process to allow professionals in other fields to gain teacher certification,
• Increasing the number of charter or other alternative schools, and
• Developing methods to deal with failing schools.

So why haven't many states adopted these reforms, especially when the state could land extra millions of dollars?

There is the obvious fact that every time federal dollars come with mandates, they end up costing more in the long run. This alleged to be the case with No Child Left Behind, and many school districts have sued the Department of Education over this issue.

There are other reasons for states electing not to enact the reforms.

Vilsack Announces $13.4 Million in Community Connect Broadband Grants

Vilsack Announces $13.4 Million in Community Connect Broadband Grants:

"WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 22 projects in 10 states to receive $13.4 million in broadband community connect grant funds.

'The Obama Administration recognizes that modern technology is critical to the expansion of business, education, and health care services in rural areas and the competitiveness of the nation's small towns and rural communities,' Vilsack said. 'The President and USDA are committed to bringing broadband services to communities, including isolated ones, so rural residents have access to quality economic, social and educational opportunities.'

USDA Rural Development's Community Connect program provides financial assistance to furnish broadband service in unserved, often isolated, rural communities. The grants are used to establish broadband service for critical facilities such as fire or police stations, while also providing service to residents and businesses. The project must also include a community center that provides community residents with free broadband service for the first two years."

National Briefing - South - North Carolina - Cash-for-Grades Plan Principal Quits - NYTimes.com

National Briefing - South - North Carolina - Cash-for-Grades Plan Principal Quits - NYTimes.com:

"A middle school principal will retire after school district leaders halted a cash-for-grades fund-raiser she approved. The principal, Susie Shepherd, had planned to allow students to buy 20 test points for a $20 donation. School district officials stopped the fund-raiser this week, saying no students would get extra credit and any donations would be returned."

Students look beyond state - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Students look beyond state - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"The annual race to get into college has begun, and for students who want to attend California's public universities, the competition this year is going to be cutthroat.

The number of high school graduates in California is expected to peak with this year's graduating class. Despite the soaring number of potential college students, the University of California and California State University are cutting back the number of freshmen they admit."

Barrow teacher done in by anonymous “parent” e-mail about her Facebook page | Get Schooled

Barrow teacher done in by anonymous “parent” e-mail about her Facebook page Get Schooled:

"I have spent a good part of this week working on the story about Barrow County teacher Ashley Payne. Payne resigned – under pressure, she alleges — after her principal said she was going to be suspended for her Facebook postings of photos with alcohol and her use of the word “bitch.” She is now suing the system. (See earlier posting on this for more background.)

Payne posted that she was headed out to play Crazy Bitch Bingo, a popular game played weekly at Joe’s On Juniper in Atlanta.

Her photos are just standard tourist shots of Payne on vacation in Europe, sitting at pubs and beer gardens. Of 700 vacation photos, 10 had alcohol in them.

Somehow, the principal told Payne that a student had seen her Facebook page. I asked several times this week for Barrow to explain to me how it learned that a student saw the page since Payne says her buddy list does not include any parents or students. It does include fellow teachers.

Barrow officials told me a parent had brought the information to the superintendent’s attention, but the district would not release the parent’s name."

The Answer Sheet - How well do kids do research today? Should they ever look at Wikipedia?

The Answer Sheet - How well do kids do research today? Should they ever look at Wikipedia?:

"Readers had some interesting responses to yesterday’s post from high school senior Adam Turay about how unexpectedly difficult it was for him to do a research paper using books rather than the Internet.

Parents: How extensively do your children do research for school papers? Does anyone still own encyclopedias?

Teachers: What sources and how many of them do you require when you assign a research paper? Is Wikipedia acceptable as a source?

Posted by: jane100000
Adam, some would say (and I would agree) that neither conducting an on-line search nor consulting an encyclopedia counts as doing a research paper. Google and wikipedia can give a student a great start in gaining some grasp of the issues s/he is planning to address in a paper, but only reading entire chapters (or entire books) and being able to consult journal articles can get you even close to confidence that you’re not missing the boat."

State colleges accepting more nonresidents to keep up revenue - washingtonpost.com

State colleges accepting more nonresidents to keep up revenue - washingtonpost.com:

"Raechel Hanson toiled through high school to build an academic transcript strong enough for admission to the College of William and Mary, the storied 'public Ivy' in Williamsburg. She maintained a 3.9 grade-point average, played flute in the band, presided over the Spanish club and amassed more than 100 hours of community service.

It wasn't enough. She wound up 20 miles away at a less-selective state school, Christopher Newport University."

This was a particularly tough year for Virginians seeking entry to William and Mary and several other prestigious public universities because of machinations in the admissions cycle that favored applicants from outside the state.

"I spent most of my life working toward getting in at William and Mary," said Hanson, 19, of Winchester. "I thought I was of the caliber of students who would get in."

Many of the nation's top public universities accepted nonresident students in greater numbers this year, hoping to increase -- or at least sustain -- a pool of incoming freshmen who pay two or three times the tuition charged to locals. At some schools, the push for nonresidents has made it harder for residents to get in.

Teacher shortage gives way to teacher glut - USATODAY.com

Teacher shortage gives way to teacher glut - USATODAY.com:

"LAWRENCE, Kan. — When Lilli Lackey started college, talk of a growing teacher shortage gave her confidence that a job would be waiting for her when she got out.

Now, six months after graduating, she considers herself lucky just to find work as a substitute."

Across the country, droves of people like Lackey are unable to find teaching jobs, in large part because the economy is forcing school systems to slash positions. The teacher shortage that many feared just a few years ago has turned into a teacher glut.

"I always thought that if I didn't find a job, I would be able to sub. And then once that started to be more difficult, it was really kind of devastating," Lackey, an art teacher, said during a career fair for educators at the University of Kansas.

Since last fall, school systems, state education agencies, technical schools and colleges have shed about 125,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At the same time, many teachers who had planned to retire or switch jobs are staying on because of the recession, and many people who have been laid off in other fields are trying to carve out second careers as teachers or applying to work as substitutes to make ends meet.

L.A. Unified asks union to OK four furlough days this year -- latimes.com

L.A. Unified asks union to OK four furlough days this year -- latimes.com:

"Los Angeles school district officials asked union members Friday to agree to four furlough days this year and a future 12% pay cut to help offset a nearly $500-million budget shortfall next year.

Without the concessions, the district may have to lay off up to 8,500 employees this summer, according to a letter to employees from Supt. Ramon C. Cortines. L.A. Unified, the nation's second-largest district, faces nearly a $60-million deficit this year and a projected $480-million shortfall next year, and Cortines said he expects future reductions in state funding."