State turns to two-year colleges to house enrollment boom | ajc.com

State turns to two-year colleges to house enrollment boom ajc.com:

"The University System of Georgia expects to enroll between 400,000 and 450,000 students within the next decade and has to find space for the nearly 100,000 additional students."

Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. said much of the growth must be handled by the state’s two-year colleges. These colleges are cheaper to operate and can quickly add programs and make other changes, officials said.

The challenge is persuading students to attend a two-year college when many think of the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech as their only options. The solution, Davis said, can be found at Atlanta Metropolitan College.

The two-year college used to have a declining enrollment but is now setting records after focusing on students and academics. Fall enrollment at the southwest Atlanta college is 2,688 students, an increase of about 60 percent since 2006.

Ms. Rhee's legal layoffs - washingtonpost.com

Ms. Rhee's legal layoffs - washingtonpost.com:

"THE DECISION by a D.C. Superior Court judge to uphold D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee's dismissal of 388 school employees is more than an important legal victory. It is a refutation of accusations that she manufactured a budget crisis as pretext to fire teachers she didn't want. The unequivocal findings should abash Ms. Rhee's critics and, we hope, help her reach needed accord with the teachers' union."

Judge Judith Bartnoff on Tuesday issued a 23-page decision rejecting a bid by the Washington Teachers' Union to reinstate 266 teachers and other staff members laid off on Oct. 2. The judge ruled that the union failed to prove any of its arguments. She also accepted -- without qualification -- Ms. Rhee's contention that budget cuts by the D.C. Council forced the reduction in force. The judge chronicled the events leading up to the layoffs and concluded there was "undisputed evidence" that the schools budget was sufficient to support existing staff members and newly hired teachers "until the Council reduced the budget by $21 million only two weeks before the new teachers were scheduled to report."

State must reveal, not conceal, school aptitude

State must reveal, not conceal, school aptitude:

"This year marks the 10th anniversary of California's Public Schools Accountability Act, an early legislative triumph of then-Gov. Gray Davis. While some good things have come out of the law, the act has failed in its two key missions: to inform parents and the public about the true performance of schools and students, and to impose widespread tough consequences on failing or underperforming schools."

In contrast to funding-focused measures, such as Proposition 98, the act commendably sought to spotlight school and student outcomes, especially results on the state's standardized tests. While many educators complain about this emphasis on student testing, the real problem turned out to be how the act uses test scores to measure school performance.

The act uses the Academic Performance Index, or API, to measure the performance of schools. Based on student results on the state's California Standards Tests, the API calculates a score on a scale of 200 to 1,000 for every school, with the state designating 800 as the target to which all schools should strive to achieve.

Most Californians have little idea what the API numbers mean because the API doesn't talk about performance in terms that people understand. For example, people understand grade-level proficiency, which basically means that students have full mastery over grade-level subject matter. People can understand proficiency, but they don't understand the API.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/24/EDNO1AN0KA.DTL&type=education#ixzz0Xt7UNMU7

NAACP examines its relevancy | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

NAACP examines its relevancy tennessean.com The Tennessean:

"Fifty-five years after its landmark school integration case, the national NAACP is doing some self-examination about its relevancy to members and the communities it represents. The issue carries particular importance in Nashville as the group tries to negotiate a settlement in its federal case questioning a school-rezoning plan."

The local NAACP contended the plan resegregated North Nashville schools, but the district argued that it put students in schools closer to home without seriously affecting racial balance.

When given the choice to continue sending their children to more racially diverse schools across town or enroll them closer to home, 62 percent of affected families chose neighborhood schools, a report made to the board by school district staff said. That figure led some to wonder whether all affected families are represented in a suit that seeks to undo the rezoning.

Edward Fuqua is helping his girlfriend raise her two children in North Nashville. Both are Metro Schools students they chose to send to Pearl Cohn High in their neighborhood after the rezoning was approved. Until a reporter told him, Fuqua had no idea that the NAACP and Metro Schools spent nearly two weeks in a federal courthouse this month battling over the rezoning. He said he doesn't agree with the argument NAACP attorneys are making.

Michigan schools dig in against dropping out, make pledge | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Michigan schools dig in against dropping out, make pledge freep.com Detroit Free Press:

"School officials across Michigan have taken a crucial pledge to keep struggling students in school.

The goal? Keep these kids from giving up and worsening already troubling statistics that show a quarter of Michigan students fail to graduate on time and 15% drop out.

Nearly 1,100 schools across the state -- including all 172 schools in Detroit Public Schools -- have signed on to a dropout challenge, according to information released this week by the Michigan Department of Education."

College chiefs told not to look for bailouts

College chiefs told not to look for bailouts:

"When projected state budget cuts hit in the next couple of years, public university and college presidents can blame the economy when they are forced to close programs or reduce staff.

But they should not depend on the federal government for stopgap money to maintain business as usual, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Tuesday. Instead, they should find creative ways to boost quality and graduation rates in the face of tough economic times.

“We are trying to ... pump unprecedented resources into education at every level. But at the end of the day, if folks think they are going to be able to avoid making hard decisions, I think that is unrealistic,” said Duncan, who spoke to college presidents gathered at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio for a conference of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, a group of 430 public institutions."

The Answer Sheet - Should the National Council of Teachers of English win its own Doublespeak award?

The Answer Sheet - Should the National Council of Teachers of English win its own Doublespeak award?:

"Yesterday I wrote about why the National Council of Teachers of English gave its 2009 “Doublespeak Award” to Glenn Beck for exceptional achievement in using language that is “deceptive, evasive, euphemistic, confusing and self-centered.”

Today I will explain why some educators and researchers are calling for the teachers council to give the award to itself.
Why does this matter to you? Because it involves the way kids in public school will be taught how to read during the Obama administration."

Perry says Texas, not U.S., should set state public education standards | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Perry says Texas, not U.S., should set state public education standards News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News Latest News:

"AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry still wants no part of a move to establish national standards for English and math instruction in public schools.

Perry issued a letter Tuesday – just as rival Kay Bailey Hutchison was announcing education policy proposals – to state Education Commissioner Robert Scott reiterating his opposition to federal standards."

Texas education officials, with Perry's backing, told the U.S. Department of Education in June that the state would not participate with most other states in developing the standards, spelling out what students at all grade levels should be taught in those subjects.

By doing so, Texas has severely hurt its chances of getting a piece of a $4.35 billion federal grant program for schools, known as "Race to the Top" funds. But Perry said in his letter that that's a price worth paying.

"The citizens of Texas, not the federal government, know what is best for our children," said Perry, who has hammered away at various federal programs as he runs for re-election next year.

Harold E. Ford Jr., Louis V. Gerstner Jr.,And Eli Broad: Race to the Top in Education - WSJ.com

Harold E. Ford Jr., Louis V. Gerstner Jr.,And Eli Broad: Race to the Top in Education - WSJ.com:

"For decades, policy makers have talked about significantly improving public education. The problem has been clear: one-third of public school children fail to graduate, there are embarrassing achievement gaps between middle-class children and poor and minority children, and the gap between our students and those in other countries threatens to undermine our economic competitiveness. Yet for the better part of a quarter century, urgent calls for change have seldom translated into improved public schools.

Now, however, President Barack Obama has launched 'Race to the Top,' a competition that is parceling out $4.35 billion in new education funding to states that are committed to real reform. This program offers us an opportunity to finally move the ball forward."

News: Unnatural Enemies - Inside Higher Ed

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/11/25/california:

"Amid a season of protests across the University of California, the system’s president and the leader of its premiere campus have increasingly found themselves portrayed as the villains. While they are both working to change that, a few recent public relations missteps may complicate their efforts.

Allegations of police brutality during a protest at Berkeley last week and faculty concerns about athletics spending are the latest PR headaches for Robert J. Birgeneau, the campus's chancellor. As for the system’s president, Mark Yudof has been busy defending a 32 percent tuition hike, while suffering additional criticism for joking about his compensation in a New York Times interview."

The Santa Barbara Independent Cesar Chavez Saved for Now

The Santa Barbara Independent Cesar Chavez Saved for Now

Cesar Chavez Saved for Now
Charter Extended Till End of School Year

It isn’t entirely in the clear yet, but after more than a month of late night board meetings, worst case scenario speculations, and passionate “save our school” rallying calls, Cesar Chavez Charter School’s future became a whole lot more secure this week. Faced with a freshly fired principal, an expired charter, and a host of district administrators adamant that the school doesn’t qualify for renewal of its charter—and as a result the very real possibility of a mid-year shut down from the state only a few weeks away—the popular dual-language-immersion elementary school got some much needed breathing room Tuesday night. The Santa Barbara School Board narrowly approved, on a 3-2 vote, a resolution extending Cesar Chavez’s charter through the remainder of the school year, essentially buying time so that the school, working with strong oversight from the district, can figure out its next move.

Truthdig - Reports - Books, Not Bombs

Truthdig - Reports - Books, Not Bombs:

"California campuses have been rocked by protests this past week, provoked by massive student fee increases voted on by the University of California Board of Regents. After a year of sequential budget cuts, faculty and staff dismissals and furloughs, and the elimination of entire academic departments, the 32 percent fee increase proved to be the trigger for statewide actions of an unprecedented scale. With President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan war strategy—which, according to one leak, will include a surge of 35,000 troops—soon to be announced, the juxtaposition of education cuts and military increases is incensing many, and helping to build a movement."

The California story : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

The California story : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis:

"There are definitely different narratives about California, a state blessed with so many riches but which also has fallen into a desperate financial condition. Why?
A letter writer today blames '30 years of relentless tax-cutting.'

She cites the damage done to the state's university system. As a result of that decline, she implies, California no longer will be generating jobs in high-tech industries.

Another narrative is that California remains a high-tax state, and that this and an oppressive regulatory climate actually are driving out industry.

Neither of those narratives is true, although I think the second has more basis in fact.

A recent report from the Public Policy Institute of California addresses some of the issues. I've selected a few key statements:"

Love Triangle: WaPo's top pundit an ex of school chancellor | Washington Examiner

Love Triangle: WaPo's top pundit an ex of school chancellor Washington Examiner


It turns out that The Washington Post's "America's Next Great Pundit" was in bed with a local official.

Literally.

Winner of the Post's columnist contest, Teach for America Executive Kevin Huffman, is the ex-husband of D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee, according to The Washington Post.

Rhee and Huffman moved to the District from Colorado in 2007 with their two children when Rhee accepted her post as chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools system.

Although the couple are no longer together, Rhee's fiance Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento, Calif., supported Huffman with an e-mail to friends asking them to vote for the rising pundit, according to the Gotham Schools blog.

Latest Allegations About Former Phoenix Suns Great (and Now Mayor of Sacramento) Kevin Johnson - Phoenix News - Valley Fever

Latest Allegations About Former Phoenix Suns Great (and Now Mayor of Sacramento) Kevin Johnson - Phoenix News - Valley Fever:

"We loved KJ, otherwise known as Kevin Johnson, first as one of the all-time great Phoenix Suns and, later, as the subject of an unseemly New Times cover story entitled 'The Summer of '95.'"


In part, the story described how Johnson allegedly had engaged in sexual petting with a teenage girl at his Phoenix home.

Though the Phoenix cops never pressed charges against the b-ball star, the allegations resurfaced during Johnson's successful 2008 campaign to become mayor of Sacramento, California.

Now this, from a Web site called TheHill.com, which focuses on politics, Washington D.C.-style. It cites a Republican congressional report accusing the White House of inappropriately going to bat for Mayor Johnson, a stauch supporter of President Barack Obama.

Readers here can discover the details for themselves in the attached link, but the political and sexual intrigue is both delicious and disturbing.

Sacramento Press / City Attorney finds "additional issues" to investigate

Sacramento Press / City Attorney finds "additional issues" to investigate


The Sacramento City Council’s audit committee will be busy for awhile.

During a Tuesday night briefing on an investigation into the city’s approval of 35 building permits in a Natomas flood zone, City Attorney Eileen Teichert told the City Council there are more issues to address. She identified one of the issues as the Facilities Permit Program (FPP), but declined to specify the other issues.

“During the course of these initial interviews and documentary review, additional issues have arisen,” Teichert told the City Council.

The FPP became controversial in a recent debate over Nestlé’s move to set up a bottling plant in Sacramento. In three weeks, the city attorney’s office will deliver a report to the City Council on issues related to the FPP, Teichert said.

The office will also give recommendations on how to revise the program to align to related laws, she said.

In addition to the FPP

The Answer Sheet - Willingham: Six practical reasons arts education is more than a luxury

The Answer Sheet - Willingham: Six practical reasons arts education is more than a luxury:

"Johns Hopkins University and the Dana Foundation hosted a conference titled “Neuroeducation: Learning, Arts and the Brain.” As the title implies, the goal was to bring together researchers considering, from an educational point of view, the impact of the arts on the brain. A book-length summary of the May conference just became available as a free pdf, available here.

Some great neuroscientists participated, including Mike Gazzaniga, Liz Spelke, and Mike Posner. The keynote speaker was Jerry Kagan, one of the leading researchers in developmental psychology. His address offered six reasons that the arts should be included in school curricula."

Parent Leadership Conference 2010

Parent Leadership Conference 2010

You Are Invited!

Parents Anonymous^® Inc. and the California State Parent Team in partnership with the California Department of Social Services, Office of Child Abuse Prevention are pleased to invite you to attend the exciting 2010 Parent Leadership Conference. The theme of this one-day event is Parent Leadership: Real Families, Real Involvement, Real Outcomes.

The conference is scheduled on Friday February 26, 2010 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, California with a pre-conference workshop the day before on February 25, 2010 from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm. A Special Networking Reception will follow from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm on February 25, 2009.

The registration fee is $125.00 per person and includes the pre-conference workshop and Special Networking Reception on February 25th and the continental breakfast, lunch and all conference materials on February 26th. SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION TODAY!

TO MAKE A RESERVATION AT THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL, YOU MUST CALL 909-937-0900. Please indicate that you are attending the "Parent Leadership Conference" to receive the special group rate. Our group code is PAI.

Come learn about many new and innovative Parent Leadership and Shared Leadership models and strategies utilized by California Parent Leaders and service providers in their work with children and families. You will have the opportunity to hear about their experiences, lessons learned and outcomes achieved. Since California Parent Leadership Month is celebrated annually all throughout the month of February, this conference will also recognize and honor 2 outstanding Parent Leaders and 1 exemplary staff member and 1 exceptional Parent Leadership Program. The Leadership Awards page has more information on submitting nominations.

Key conference participants include parents and staff from the public and private sector interested in partnering together to strengthen services and policies affecting families. This would include administrators, supervisors, and direct service staff who work with children and families in various systems such as child welfare, early childhood development, education, mental health, health, juvenile justice and other family strengthening organizations; parents/caregivers; Parent Advocates, Parent Partners and other Parent Leaders.

Participants are invited to showcase products and information related to the goals of the conference. Check the appropriate box on the registration page to indicate whether you wish to display materials at our resource tables.

We wish to thank our special Co-Sponsors including: Casey Family Programs, California Department of Social Services, Child and Family Policy Institute of California, County Welfare Directors Association, First 5 California, First 5 San Bernardino, National Association of Social Workers-California Chapter, and Strategies for working with us to make this a great Parent Leadership Conference.

We look forward to seeing you here.

Art Savage Memorial Saturday at Raley Field - The Sac Rag

Art Savage Memorial Saturday at Raley Field - The Sac Rag:

"River Cats owner Art Savage, who passed away last week at age 58, will be remembered Saturday in a public memorial at Raley Field.

From the River Cats:

The entire River Cats family is shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Art Savage. Art was an extraordinary person whose dedication to his community was only surpassed by his commitment to his own family. All those who were lucky enough to have had their lives touched by Art were far better because of it. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Savage family during this incredibly difficult time."

The Savage family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, those who wish to show their support and honor Art’s memory can do so in the form of a donation to the River Cats Foundation. The River Cats Foundation was created to serve and benefit children and families in need in our community. Donations should be made to:

River Cats Foundation, Inc.
Attn: Dan Vistica, Chairman
400 Ballpark Drive
West Sacramento, CA 95691

Art Savage Memorial Service
Saturday, November 28 – Service begins at 1:00 p.m. (ballpark opens at 12:00 p.m.)
Raley Field
400 Ballpark Drive
West Sacramento, CA 95691

Campaign for High School Equity

Campaign for High School Equity:

"With Focus on Lowest-Performing Schools, Graduation for All Act Will Help All Students Obtain the High-Quality Education that is their Right, says Campaign for High School Equity

WASHINGTON — The Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE), a coalition of civil rights organizations focused on high school education reform, applauds the introduction of The Graduation for All Act of 2009 (H.R. 4122), a bill aimed at improving failing middle and high schools. The legislation, cosponsored by Representatives Miller (D-CA), Davis (D-IL), Grijalva (D-AZ), Kildee (D-MI), Scott (D-VA), Fattah (D-PA), Hinojosa (D-TX), and Loebsack (D-IA), puts action into the assertion that all American students have the right to receive a high-quality education."

Sacramento Press / Fargo: Will she run again?

Community Journalism at its Very Best

Sacramento Press / Fargo: Will she run again?:

"Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo said she has been considering running for re-election.

In news that would be welcome to many who still call her by her honorary title, Fargo said Friday she has thought about running for the seat she lost a year ago to former NBA star Kevin Johnson.

'I have,' she said. 'Mainly because I'm asked all the time.

'It was clearly a great honor to be elected mayor. It was very painful, very challenging and incredibly rewarding at the same time,' she said during one of her first media interviews since leaving office."

Sac Mayor: Fiancee Wasn't 'Fixer' - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Sac Mayor: Fiancee Wasn't 'Fixer' - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Sac Mayor: Fiancee Wasn't 'Fixer'
Congressional Report Released On Former IG's Firing

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson denied Tuesday that his future fiancee played the role of "fixer" during last year's investigation of his St. HOPE organization.

"She was on the [St. HOPE] board at the time," Johnson said Tuesday during his weekly news conference at Sacramento City Hall. "The Inspector General's Office called her in as a board member and she weighed in on it. It was not as a 'fixer.'"

Johnson recently announced his engagement to Michelle Rhee, who is currently the superintendent of schools in Washington, D.C. Rhee's role in the St. HOPE investigation was raised in a report issued last week by two members of Congress.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California, have called into question why Inspector General Gerald Walpin was forced to resign earlier this year. Walpin said he had found evidence that St. HOPE had misused federal AmeriCorps funding while Johnson was serving as CEO of the organization.

"It seems a lot of people might have been interested in protecting the AmeriCorps program and the Mayor of Sacramento from an IG who was discovering some unpleasant facts," Sen. Grassley said in a written statement issued with the report.

Spoiled: California Food Safety Legislation Dies On The Vine | California Progress Report

Spoiled: California Food Safety Legislation Dies On The Vine California Progress Report:

"Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez started the year with high hopes that he could transform California’s system of ensuring food safety .

The issue had drawn national attention. “Omnivore’s Dilemma” was atop the best seller lists, while authorities announced they had detected salmonella in hundreds of tainted peanut butter, paste and other products produced by Peanut Corporation of America, prompting a massive recall and a bankruptcy.

Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Calif., voluntarily pulled from the shelves scores of its products after federal authorities discovered they too were fouled by salmonella. Beef producers had recalled hundreds of thousands of pounds of hamburger containing e-coli."

Fast Tracking My Bill to Increase Higher Education Funding | California Progress Report

Fast Tracking My Bill to Increase Higher Education Funding California Progress Report:

"While California is preparing to go into special session next month to consider legislation to help it receive millions in federal Race to the Top Kindergarten-12 education funds, I'm asking the state to also fast track my bill to provide the community colleges and public universities with more than $1.3 billion.

As we have witnessed from the thousands of students, faculty and staff who marched and protested last week, higher education funding is an urgent matter that demands our action. The Race to the Top will lead to a dead end if we deny California’s high school graduates a chance to pursue a higher education in our own state universities and community colleges."

California's New Deal | California Progress Report

California's New Deal

California's New Deal California Progress Report:

"California never had a New Deal. While California voted for FDR in 1932 (and for each of his three reelection bids), state politics were dominated by right-wing factions in both the Republican and Democratic parties for much of the era.

In 1934, when Upton Sinclair won the Democratic nomination on a socialist platform called End Poverty In California, or EPIC, he was unable to overcome a sophisticated campaign machine built by conservative Republican Frank Merriam, which included political ads created by movie studios and shown in cinemas statewide before the election. (A centrist Democrat, Raymond Haight, also ran in the 3-way contest, costing Sinclair anti-conservative votes.)"

In 1938 progressive Democrat Culbert Olson finally broke through. An atheist and friend of labor unions, his term in office was marked by battles with conservative Democrats and Republicans in the legislature, frustrating his plans to bring the New Deal to California, beyond the few dams and bridges that had been initiated earlier in the decade. Moderate Republican Earl Warren beat Olson in the 1942 election, and a true New Deal for California would have to wait until 1958, when Pat Brown got elected governor.

As California sinks deeper into a similar economic crisis some 75 years later, we risk making the same mistake - being unable to overcome a legacy of Hooverism and provide the state with the government-led economic recovery program we so desperately need. So argue California scholars Richard Walker and Gray Brechin in a SF Chronicle op-ed today:

FCUSD Approves Closure of Cordova Lane and Riverview Elementaries — The Rancho Cordova Post#comment-4316#comment-4316

FCUSD Approves Closure of Cordova Lane and Riverview Elementaries — The Rancho Cordova Post#comment-4316#comment-4316:

Join the Conversation

"In a decision Board President Ed Short said was “heart-wrenching,” the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Education approved the closure of Cordova Lane and Riverview Elementaries at a meeting held Thursday night.

“I know for me personally, combining schools is not something I want to do,” Short said to the packed audience in the Cordova High School gymnasium."

Council Member Linda Budge expressed her dissatisfaction with the process and the reasoning the district used to come to the decision. “Everyone in government is struggling to do more with less,” she said in reference to the district’s assertion that the state budget has forced the school closures. She also noted that the reports issued by the district about the schools contained conflicting data.

Budge also admonished the district’s ultimate decision to close the schools. “It will hurt the future of our kids, it will hurt the future of our city,” she said, and she urged board members to stall the decision for two to three months and come up alternative cost-saving measures.

6 Reasons Why Every Student Should Take Shop Class

6 Reasons Why Every Student Should Take Shop Class:

"Shop class, once a staple of American high schools, has been nearly decimated by the digital age. High school students have little time for electives, and when they do, they often choose technology classes. Schools are selling off their circular saws to buy computer labs, and trading in their welding tools for web-cams. After all, why do our kids need to know how to build a birdhouse when they can buy one at Home Depot for $9.99?"

But new voices are calling for the return of shop class. In his 2009 book, Shop Class as Soulcraft, Mathew Crawford praises the benefits of learning how to do manual work. In a time where most of our work is intangible, working with our hands can bring a sense of satisfaction that is lacking in our virtual lives. Even if one doesn’t go into a manual trade, the ability to make and fix the utilities we need can help us “live concretely in an abstract world.”

Mark Leeper was a Civil Engineer before deciding to become a math teacher at Menlo-Atherton High School. Once he got there, he found more personal reward in the hands-on nature of teaching woodshop. After two decades of helping kids learn woodworking, he has seen every type of student benefit from the lessons of practical experience. Here is a list of reasons why every student should consider taking shop class:

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Teachers Union Wins Workload Rules

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Teachers Union Wins Workload Rules

Nearly a year and a half after its last contract expired, the teachers union has reached an agreement with San Diego Unified that will limit their workloads.Union leaders say it will prevent teachers from being overburdened with new responsibilities and push schools to plan for teacher time. Workload rules were one of the most controversial questions for the school district during the protracted negotiations with teachers.

Principals have questioned whether the new rules would hamstring schools from making necessary changes in teachers' duties at all. To address those worries, the union added a section saying that the rule "does not prohibit the District from implementing programs, initiatives or curricular reforms."

Duncan Endorses Efforts to Improve STEM Education

Duncan Endorses Efforts to Improve STEM Education:

"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today praised corporate and philanthropic leaders for stepping up to support improvements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

“The president and I believe that ensuring our nation's children are excelling in the STEM fields is essential for our nation's prosperity, security, health and quality of life,” Secretary Duncan said. “All of us need to be engaged in task of improving STEM education. Business leaders and major donors are leading the way, and leaders from other sectors need to join them.”"

Poor Schools or Poor Kids? : Education Next

Poor Schools or Poor Kids? : Education Next:

"Since the run-up to the 2008 election, the Democratic Party has been home to two prominent and very different reform wings. One, spearheaded by the group Democrats for Education Reform and notable school-district chiefs like New York’s Joel Klein and Washington, D.C.’s Michelle Rhee, is the Education Equality Project (EEP). The other, A Broader, Bolder Approach to Education (BBA), is a coalition of education scholars and Democratic thinkers, including Duke University’s Helen Ladd, former president of Columbia University’s Teachers College Arthur Levine, and New York University professor Pedro Noguera."

Top-10 educational toys - Curiosity Cube | GreatSchools

Top-10 educational toys - Curiosity Cube GreatSchools:

"Over 3 billion toys are sold in the United States annually. We'll refrain from guessing how many end up in the back of the closet for years on end and instead recommend a few we think stand a decent chance of grabbing your child's attention. Needless to say, this list isn't the be-all, end-all. Instead, think of these picks as representative of the kind of toy we're especially fond of: educational, fun, and inventive. When new toys make a beeline for the back for the closet, we believe it's because they lack that trio of qualities. So here's to 10 that strive for, and deliver, something more."

Obama Welcomes India Prime Minister - WSJ.com

Obama Welcomes India Prime Minister - WSJ.com:

"WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama showered praise on India and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an elaborate welcoming ceremony Tuesday, declaring it was only fitting the Indian leader should be the first state visitor of his administration.

Mr. Obama said the U.S. and India share the 'bold experiments' of becoming democracies after breaking from rule by a colonial power, and in modern times both have known the pain of international terrorism.

'Our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations but to build a future of security and prosperity for all nations,' Mr. Obama said"

Blacks hit hard by economy's punch - washingtonpost.com

Blacks hit hard by economy's punch - washingtonpost.com:

"These days, 24-year-old Delonta Spriggs spends much of his time cooped up in his mother's one-bedroom apartment in Southwest Washington, the TV blaring soap operas hour after hour, trying to stay out of the streets and out of trouble, held captive by the economy. As a young black man, Spriggs belongs to a group that has been hit much harder than any other by unemployment."

Joblessness for 16-to-24-year-old black men has reached Great Depression proportions -- 34.5 percent in October, more than three times the rate for the general U.S. population. And last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment in the District, home to many young black men, rose to 11.9 percent from 11.4 percent, even as it stayed relatively stable in Virginia and Maryland.

His work history, Spriggs says, has consisted of dead-end jobs. About a year ago, he lost his job moving office furniture, and he hasn't been able to find steady work since. This summer he completed a construction apprenticeship program, he says, seeking a career so he could avoid repeating the mistake of selling drugs to support his 3-year-old daughter. So far the most the training program has yielded was a temporary flagger job that lasted a few days.

Education Uber Alles | The Advocate

Education Uber Alles The Advocate:

"The recent round of stu­dent protests and build­ing take-overs at cam­puses across the Uni­ver­sity of Cal­i­for­nia sys­tem this week have been both inspir­ing and heart-breaking. The dev­as­tat­ing and unprece­dented 32 per­cent increase in stu­dent “fees” (the UC system’s way of get­ting around using the word “tuition”) approved by the UC regents on Novem­ber 19 reminds us of just how short-sighted, stu­pid, and cal­lous most uni­ver­sity admin­is­tra­tions have been in their response to state bud­get cuts across the coun­try.

Instead of stand­ing up to Sacra­mento and demand­ing restora­tion of cuts, UC Pres­i­dent Mark Yudof told reporters after the vote: “Our hand has been forced. When you don’t have any money, you don’t have any money.” This is, of course, easy for Mr. Yudof to say whose first year salary was $828,000 and whose $10,000 a month house in Oak­land, the New York Times reports, is entirely paid for by the Uni­ver­sity."

Instead of throw­ing up his hands and say­ing there is noth­ing he can do, why did Yudof not threaten to resign? Why not encour­age the regents, all of them who voted for this dis­as­trous increase, to do the same and resign unless the state restores the cuts? Why not work with his stu­dents to oppose these cuts rather than kow­tow­ing to the whims of the state?
The answers to these ques­tions are clear: because the gov­er­nance of the UC sys­tem, like so many uni­ver­sity sys­tems across the nation, is such that admin­is­tra­tors and regents and pres­i­dents and trustees see them­selves as some­how at odds with the fac­ulty and stu­dents whom they are sup­posed to serve.

The trend of corporate-structured over­sight of pub­lic uni­ver­si­ties has brought those insti­tu­tions to their knees and until this is changed there is lit­tle hope that these kinds of cuts will not con­tinue.Equally heart­break­ing was the rel­a­tively low turnout in response to these increases.

Instead of thou­sands, even tens of thou­sands of stu­dents protest­ing at every cam­pus across the UC, the biggest protests never reached more than 1,500 peo­ple and although some cam­pus build­ings were taken over and strikes called, they seem to be hav­ing lit­tle impact on the actual func­tion­ing of the schools, which con­tin­ued with their busi­ness as usual, despite the noise of protest all around.

Arizona Union Challenges Law Changes on Teachers - ABC News

Arizona Union Challenges Law Changes on Teachers - ABC News:

"The state's largest teachers union is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to rule that recently enacted legislation affecting public school employees is unconstitutional.

A special-action lawsuit filed Monday by the Arizona Education Association challenges legislation dealing with such topics as teachers' seniority rights in layoffs and deadlines for school districts to decide whether to renew contracts."

The AEA contends the legislation approved last summer was illegal on several grounds. The union says it wasn't included as a topic for a special legislative session called on budget matters.

House Speaker Kirk Adams defends the legislation as valid. He says policy determinations are a long-standing part of budget-making.

Albertson Foundation funds $20 million strategy to get kids in college | Eyepiece | Idaho Statesman

Albertson Foundation funds $20 million strategy to get kids in college Eyepiece Idaho Statesman:

"The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation unveiled its program Monday for raising the state's dismal performance in college completion. Idaho ranks 43rd in the nation in the number of ninth-graders who go on to complete post-high school education.

Executive Director Jamie MacMillan said the foundation will make the money available to each of the colleges for scholarships to retain Idaho students in post-secondary schools and see that they complete their programs.

It is not yet known how many students would get scholarships or how much money individual students would receive. The scholarships would go only to Idaho residents. The money must be committed by January 2011."

Making Science Cool: “Educate to Innovate” | GeekDad | Wired.com

Making Science Cool: “Educate to Innovate” GeekDad Wired.com:

"“We’re going to show young people how cool science can be.”

Those were some of the inspiring words by President Barack Obama at the launching of the new “Educate to Innovate” campaign on Monday this week. This initiative aims to increase science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) literacy amongst students to improve our national standing from average (or in some cases, below average) to the top. $4.35 billion in Federal grants will be offered to schools who can innovate in STEM education and the private sector is stepping up with an additional $260 million in related funding and programs."

Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center | About Us

Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center About Us:

"The Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) is a non-profit social and educational services organization committed to the holistic growth and development of American Indian women and their families. Founded in 1984, MIWRC provides a broad range of programs designed to educate and empower American Indian women and their families, and to inform and assist those who work providing services to the community."

MIWRC is located in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, which has the third largest urban American Indian population in the United States. MIWRC is the only organization addressing the gender and culturally specific needs of our community.

Programs are developed to reflect the needs of our families, and are tailored to address issues that significantly affect their well being; such as family services, child advocacy, child care services, legal services, affordable housing, parenting skills, chemical dependency, mental health care, cultural resilience, historical trauma and many other family and community issues.

Our Mission

"To assist American Indian women so they can enjoy a better quality of life for themselves and their families."

ChipIn: Trout's TED Global Fund 2010

ChipIn: Trout's TED Global Fund 2010:

"I have been accepted as 1 of only 700 to attend TED Global 2010 in Oxford. Help me present a doable, achievable solution for global education and bring about eSingularity -- the point all learning is free and accessible to all."

Trout talks about why he feels he should talk at Ted and why people should nominate him to talk at Ted. See http://bit.ly/troutted. Want to help him cover out of pocket expenses? Check out http://bit.ly/TEDfund

Dr. Janette M. Hughes - Multiple Literacies

Dr. Janette M. Hughes - Multiple Literacies

Multiple Literacies

We read the world through images, symbols, colours, signs, body language and in the gaps and margins as well as through printed text. But traditionally, the print text has been privileged in English language arts classrooms. The notion of “text” has broadened to include texts of all kinds including images, sounds, and even the body.

Graphic Novels

Today, book-length comics, better known as graphic novels, have evolved as a popular medium for children and adolescents. There is a growing North American market for import books like Japanese Manga, and traditional bookstores and libraries are devoting multiple shelves and, in some cases, entire walls to their graphic novel collections. There has been an explosion of graphic novels that retell classic stories and childhood favourites. Graphic novels appeal to a generation of children and adolescents who have grown up in a more visual society, and their inclusion in English language arts classes has been touted as a wonderful new way to engage reluctant readers and especially boys (Christensen, 2007; Frey & Fisher, 2004; Gallo & Weiner, 2004; Schwarz, 2006).

Contrary to this trend to promote graphic novels as “simpler” texts for struggling readers, graphic novels actually require different and possibly even more complex reading skills than traditional print texts. The inclusion of pictures, for example, does provide the reader with visual clues to help understand what is happening in the text; however, readers of graphic novels need to understand not only print text and visual images (facial expression and gestures, for example), but also how certain media techniques are employed for different effects. For example, why is a close-up used in a floating panel or how is a panoramic image used to convey a certain effect? As Peter Gutierrez (2009) points out, “By their nature [graphic novels] force readers to get information from the art within a panel, from the progression of images from panel to panel, from the printed text of speech balloons and captions, and often from the in-art ‘audio’ text of sound effects—all at the same time. You must synthesize as you go”. Although comics have been around for decades, the increasing availability of graphic novels provide readers with opportunities to engage with a medium that complements the literacies required by the kinds of multimodal platforms many of them are immersed in daily, such as MSN, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The Digital Newsroom | Global leaders achieve major outcomes at first World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE

The Digital Newsroom Global leaders achieve major outcomes at first World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE:

"Declaration of 10 core education priorities for the 21stcentury

The closing plenary session of the first World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE has produced a number of ground-breaking outcomes that signal the beginning of a new era in global collaboration on education. WISE concluded with a declaration of 10 core education priorities, an announcement of two initiatives and a renewed commitment to the three main areas of focus for WISE in the future.

Held in Doha, Qatar and attended by 1,000 influential opinion leaders from diverse sectors across the globe, the Summit, through its theme of “Global Education: Working Together for Sustainable Achievements” has created a new dynamism towards addressing the most challenging educational issues in the 21st century."

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled...

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled...

Bright and Early

It may be a short school week, but you still have your daily newsblitz:

I overlooked this story last week from KPBS on the forums that San Diego Unified is holding on its budget crisis. We'll be following up with more reporting on the financial troubles soon.

Vista schools decided against merging a middle school and an elementary school to save money, the North County Times writes.

The Union-Tribune profiles a 2nd grader with a knack for violin who spends her weekends at Juilliard.

The Beach and Bay Press writes that those interactive whiteboards popping up in San Diego classroom have an equivalent for preschoolers: the Smart Table.

Read More at the voiceofsandiego.org

A Million Ways to Teach

A Million Ways to Teach



About EnCorps
The EnCorps Teachers Program is a nonprofit that represents the innovative public-private partnership dedicated to increasing the number of much-needed math and science teachers in California’s public middle and high schools.


Developed with guidance from the Governor’s Committee on Educational Excellence, EnCorps helps math and science professionals transition into teaching in low income schools throughout California.


Why EnCorps Is Needed?

Despite California's current budget challenges, underresourced school districts around our state still need quality math and science teachers. In fact, over the next seven to ten years, some 33,000 math and science teachers will be needed in California.


How Can the Baby Boomer Generation Help?

Rewire, don’t retire! Baby boomers are retiring at a younger age than any prior generation. Initial research shows that as boomers begin to retire, they are looking for ways to continue working, specifically in positions which allow them to give back to society in a meaningful manner. Fifty-five percent of upcoming retirees who indicate their intent to continue working express an interest in teaching. Considering this, there is a large pool of potential teachers among the eleven million Californians retiring in the next two years.