Friday, January 8, 2010

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence. - Bright and Early: The Education Newsblitz

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence. - Bright and Early: The Education Newsblitz:

"It's good to be back from vacation. Something just doesn't seem right when I don't start my days combing through educational news. It's what makes your newsblitz:

Vista schools and their teachers union are stalled after three years of bargaining, the Union-Tribune reports. Class sizes in middle and high school and how teachers are transferred are sticking points.

More from Vista: The North County Times writes about the debate over when to transfer students into a brand-new campus, which will be ready in a few months.

I forgot to include this yesterday: OBRag argues that a recent Union-Tribune editorial on the idea of San Diego Unified eliminating the superintendent job got its facts wrong.

New commissioner opens a conversation with R.I.’s best teachers | Education | projo.com | The Providence Journal

New commissioner opens a conversation with R.I.’s best teachers | Education | projo.com | The Providence Journal:

"PROVIDENCE — On a recent visit to North Providence High School, Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist noticed a lanky student with a scruffy haircut slouched in a chair, looking adrift.

Gist said she made a beeline over to him and asked what he was working on.

“He said he was working on his senior project, and he just lit up,” Gist told a gathering of 35 of the state’s best teachers, principals and superintendents on Wednesday. “He told me he was a drummer and his project was on drums, and he started talking about it … I was totally blown away.”"

Gov. Butch Otter warns cuts are coming to Idaho schools | Local News | Idaho Statesman

Gov. Butch Otter warns cuts are coming to Idaho schools | Local News | Idaho Statesman:

"If Idaho public schools are asked to immediately cut spending this year, several local districts say they have the cash reserve to get through it.

It won't be easy, but superintendents say they prefer using their own surplus accounts to getting an advance on next year's appropriation, which is an idea legislative leaders have suggested and Gov. Butch Otter embraces.

Otter said Thursday that he'll announce more funding cuts for this year in Monday's State of the State address, though he won't say how severe they will be or how much they will affect public education. Next year's budget, he said, will hold the line with this new, pared-back spending plan."

Gibbons' education plan would replace voter-elected board - Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 | 1:50 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun

Gibbons' education plan would replace voter-elected board - Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 | 1:50 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun:

"Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposed overhaul of public education would include the dismantling of the State Board of Education, a 10-member panel elected by voters.

Gibbons’ proposal would replace the State Board with a five-member advisory panel – three people appointed by the governor, with the Assembly speaker and Senate majority leader each getting one pick.

The governor would also choose the state superintendent of public instruction, who is now appointed by the State Board.

The State Board also sets policy for Nevada's 17 school districts. The board can suspend or revoke teacher licenses and is the conduit for federal education money awarded to Nevada."

Bredesen, teachers union at odds over tenure rules | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

Bredesen, teachers union at odds over tenure rules | tennessean.com | The Tennessean:

"Gov. Phil Bredesen will push ahead with a proposal to tie teacher evaluations to test scores without the full support of the state's biggest teachers union, saying Thursday that he doubted he could reach a compromise on a crucial issue before the start of a special legislative session next week."

Bredesen said he will ask the legislature Monday to appoint an independent committee to come up with a new system for deciding whether teachers are awarded tenure in their fourth year. The new system will be based significantly on student test scores, meaning that teachers' careers could soon hinge on whether their students show improvements on standardized tests.

Bredesen plans to move forward without the endorsement of the Tennessee Education Association. The group, which represents more than 55,000 schoolteachers statewide, says it accepts the notion of using test scores in tenure decisions, but it wants to limit the extent to which they are a factor.

The group also says it wants the committee that will devise the new system to include its members and for the legislation to ensure that its recommendations will not be set aside by the State Board of Education.

City schools contract with PFT nearing deadline | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/08/2010

City schools contract with PFT nearing deadline | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/08/2010:

"With a contract deadline next Friday, talks between the Philadelphia School District and its largest union, the 17,000-member Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, are accelerating.
But both sides are also focused on a more immediate date.

By Wednesday, the union and the district must agree to collaborate on sweeping changes for Philadelphia schools to enter the $4.35 billion Race to the Top. The competitive federal program rewards districts that promise to revamp teacher salary structures and evaluations and to turn around failing schools.

The Philadelphia district could be eligible for as much as $8 million. The grant could pay for changes that Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has long insisted on, and that the union has long opposed."

Minority groups want more input on school books | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Minority groups want more input on school books | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"AUSTIN — Minority advocacy groups urged their members to attend a State Board of Education public hearing next week to appeal for more Hispanic and African-American historical figures in public school textbooks.

Registration to give public testimony starts today for Wednesday's hearing at the William B. Travis Building, where the Texas Education Agency is located.

The 15-member board planned to take a preliminary vote later in the week before final action in March on new standards for the social studies curriculum, which will influence how history and government books are written for the state's 4.7 million public school children.

Hispanic school children already make up a small majority in early elementary grades, and they will soon will be the majority in the entire public school system."

State teachers union lays out plan to improve education

State teachers union lays out plan to improve education:

"The Pennsylvania State Education Association wants to be leading the conversation about improving education, not reacting.

So it has pulled together what it considers the best proven ways to enhance education in a 169-page report intended to reach political candidates and the general public.

The report, released yesterday, is titled 'The Power of a Great Education: PSEA's 20/20 Vision for the Future -- Strong Schools, Successful Children, Vibrant Communities.' It can be found at www.psea.org/vision.

'The primary purpose is we want to get out there as we're entering the 2010 election cycle and engage politicians and policymakers,' said PSEA President James Testerman."

Chesterfield cuts could force closure of governor's schools | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Chesterfield cuts could force closure of governor's schools | Richmond Times-Dispatch:

"Central Virginia's two full-time governor's schools could face severe changes or even closure if Chesterfield County eliminates its participation in them.

Chesterfield school officials sent a survey to its employees Tuesday asking them to choose ways to cut nearly $40 million from its proposed fiscal 2011 budget.

Among the many options is to stop sending students to Appomattox Regional Governor's School for Arts and Technology in Petersburg and Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in Richmond.

In an impact statement accompanying the survey, Chesterfield acknowledges that if it ends its participation at the governor's schools, a $2 million savings, 'this option would likely result in both schools closing.'"

Some capital-area school districts sit out race for federal funds - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Some capital-area school districts sit out race for federal funds - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee:

"California politicians scurried for months to pass legislation to ensure state schools have a chance to compete for federal Race to the Top stimulus funds. But many local districts have decided to watch the race from the sidelines.

Roseville City Unified Elementary School District, Camino Union Elementary School District and Sutter Union High School District are just a few that have decided not to apply for a piece of the $4.35 billion funding."

Bill to fix low-performing schools clears panel | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal

Bill to fix low-performing schools clears panel | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal:

"FRANKFORT, Ky. — The House Education Committee passed a bill Thursday morning that officials hope would better position Kentucky to win federal money to improve the academic performance of public schools"

House Bill 176, sponsored by Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, would allow school districts to close low-performing middle and high schools and restart them under the management of a private or non-profit operator, known as an educational-management organization, or EMO.

“I think (the bill) helps us be a little more competitive in the Race to the Top,” Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday said after the committee meeting. “It shows we have a real good plan to help turn around low-performing schools.”

The bill passed 24-1, with two members abstaining. Rollins said he hopes the full House could vote on the measure early next week.

Kentucky could receive up to $200 million through President Barack Obama's Race to the Top contest. The competition pits states against each another and awards those who develop plans to improve student achievement.

House bill would give superintendents more authority - The Boston Globe

House bill would give superintendents more authority - The Boston Globe:

"Superintendents would gain broad new powers to make dramatic changes at the state’s worst schools, including the removal of ineffective teachers, under the education bill approved by the House early yesterday."

The bill, which must now be reconciled with a version approved by the Senate late last year, would also give Boston the right to open and control four charter schools without union approval.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino had aggressively sought that concession for months, making phone calls to key House leaders during their marathon session that ended early yesterday morning.

At a press conference outside his City Hall office yesterday morning, Menino said the bill was “made in heaven.’’

“This is a new era for all of us when it comes to public education,’’ Menino said, surrounded by city school leaders and legislators.

Other education leaders were more reserved in their response as they tried to unravel - and, in some cases, just to get a copy of - the flurry of last-minute

NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Education | Hundreds Rally To Keep Queens School Open

NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Education | Hundreds Rally To Keep Queens School Open:

"A spirited rally was held Thursday night outside Jamaica High School in Queens.
More than 500 parents, students, teachers and alumni rallied against plans to replace the school with several small high schools in the same building.

'We're here to tell them that our school is a viable place, and it's a good school, and it's been around for 118 years. It deserves to be around as Jamaica High School for 118 more,' said Jamaica High School teacher James Eterno.

Inside, more than 100 signed up for speaking slots to tell officials why the doors to Jamaica High should stay open.

'We're here tonight to show our support because Jamaica is a great school. We have great academics, great programs,' said Jamaica High School student Rachael Ali. 'What's not to like here? We have a great atmosphere, we have a great, beautiful campus. Why do they want to close our school down?'

The Department of Education cites the high school's 46 percent graduation rate and falling enrollment, but teachers say statistics are improving."

In Pursuit of School Grants, New York Governor Seeks Changes to Law - NYTimes.com

In Pursuit of School Grants, New York Governor Seeks Changes to Law - NYTimes.com:

"Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday proposed a host of changes in state education law, including eliminating the cap on the number of charter schools, which he said would make the state more likely to receive $700 million in federal grant money.

The governor’s bill would also repeal a 2008 law that banned the use of standardized test scores in tenure decisions, as well as give the state the ability to pay for charter school construction and allow the state to take over low-performing schools."

Lawmaker predicts MTA student fares won't be cut - NYPOST.com

Lawmaker predicts MTA student fares won't be cut - NYPOST.com:

"A lawmaker with oversight of the MTA predicted today that student fares won’t be cut for hundreds of thousands of students – and that the state and city will be footing the bill.

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said he agrees that the MTA shouldn’t have to fork over any funds to pay for free and reduced-fare student MetroCards – the transit agency used to be the only in the nation to do so.

'We're confident there's going to be a good outcome,' he said after a committee hearing.

Yet Brodsky, Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Assemblyman Kevin Kavanaugh – who also attended the hearing – were three of the legislators to approve Gov. Paterson’s massive cut to student fares last December, prompting the MTA to cancel the program totally."

Uncharted territory: Success Academy riles another Harlem school with plans to move in next fall

Uncharted territory: Success Academy riles another Harlem school with plans to move in next fall:

"Just months after Eva Moskowitz's Success Academy II had movers break locks off doors to squeeze the charter into a Harlem public school, the charter is slated to move into another unwilling school next fall, the Daily News has learned.

With tensions still simmering at Public School 123 after the charter took over precious classroom space there, parents at the charter's new proposed home - PS 30 in East Harlem - also are worried about losing space and resources.

'This is a good school,' said Whit Scitio, whose daughter Destiny, 9, and son Devin, 5, go to PS30. 'We have a lot of things for our children here. They do"

Minnesota seeks ways to ease safety concerns at new charter schools | StarTribune.com

Minnesota seeks ways to ease safety concerns at new charter schools | StarTribune.com:

"Minnesota's charter schools often open with a host of fire code violations.

Inadequate fire alarm and sprinkler systems, improper exits, lack of firewall protection, and inadequate water supply are among problems fire code inspectors have found when they inspect just-opened charter schools.

The problem, state officials say, is that the law doesn't require schools in leased space -- where charter schools generally are located -- to release building plans to state inspectors prior to signing leases and opening."

Klein announces 1 percent midyear school budget cut | GothamSchools

Klein announces 1 percent midyear school budget cut | GothamSchools:

"The dreaded mid-year school budget cuts have arrived. This morning, Chancellor Joel Klein instructed principals to cut their budgets by 1 percent — about $79 million across the city’s schools — by the end of January.

The Department of Education’s central and field operations budget will also be reduced by 2.5 percent, which will mean layoffs of 5 percent of central staff. (UPDATE: The layoffs will affect approximately 500 central and field office employees, DOE spokeswoman Ann Forte said.)

This is the fifth round of budget cuts the school system has sustained in the last two years, though one set of cuts in June 2008 was limited to the central office budget. In November, Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered the DOE to cut its spending by $113 million dollars. When the DOE announced raises to central staff last month, they were smaller than originally allocated in order to lessen cuts in other areas."

Romero Leads California to Race to the Top

Romero Leads California to Race to the Top:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. - (Business Wire) EdVoice applauds Senator Gloria Romero, Senate Pro Tempore Steinberg, Speaker Bass, the Governor and the courageous legislators on both sides of the aisle for putting politics aside to do what’s best for kids and fair for adults. Senator Gloria Romero’s tireless effort to push California to boldly Race to the Top came to fruition today with the Governor’s signature on a bi-partisan package of education reform. The two bills, SB 5X 1 and SB 5X 4, enable California to compete for a share of the $4.3 billion federal Race to the Top program.

“Senator Romero has made it clear she’s a champion for California kids,” explained Rae Belisle, EdVoice CEO and State Board of Education Member. “It took courage to buck the status quo and give parents real power to drive change in their own neighborhood school and also have the choice to enroll in a higher performing public school in another school district. Senator Gloria Romero, the Governor and leadership in the Senate and Assembly deserve a tremendous amount of respect for this bold action.”"

Incarceration vs. higher education? Easy choice | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun

Incarceration vs. higher education? Easy choice | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun:

"The biggest headline in the governor's Wednesday morning speech was his declaration that the state should not spend more on prisons than on higher education.

This pledge deserves enthusiastic support. Thirty years ago, 10 percent of the general fund went to colleges and 3 percent to prisons. Today, nearly 11 percent goes to prisons and 7.5 percent goes to colleges.

“Spending 45 percent more on prisons than universities is no way to proceed into the future,” Schwarzenegger said. “What does it say about our state? What does it say about any state that focuses more on prison uniforms than on caps and gowns?”"

Court to decide LAUSD battle with charters - ContraCostaTimes.com

Court to decide LAUSD battle with charters - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"A battle between Los Angeles Unified and charter groups could be decided today when the State Board of Education is expected to rule whether charters statewide can take complete control of educating their special needs students.
Publicly funded and independently run charters have argued that they should control special education funding, as they do for their general education student population. They accuse large school districts like LAUSD of controlling federal special education dollars and obstructing charters from getting their fair share.
But L.A. Unified officials say charters traditionally cherry pick special education students with less severe disabilities and leave LAUSD with severely disabled students who are more expensive to teach."

America as Texas vs. California, Part III � The Enterprise Blog

America as Texas vs. California, Part III � The Enterprise Blog:

"Responding to my post on Texas vs. California and the better education students get in the Lone Star State, a reader writes:

A new neighbor (former migrant worker from northern California who opened a family business, and had to move to Houston for a young daughter’s cancer treatments) reports to me that when she enrolled her 10 year old in the neighborhood elementary school, they determined that the child was at least a year behind. This is a school with an English-as-a-second-language program, and despite normal demographics which would put it in the bottom rung of schools, won an exemplary rating from the state. The mom pleaded with them to keep her daughter in the higher grade, and promised that she would work with her every day to catch her up. So far so good, but she says she’s never seen a school work her kid so hard. In her words, she thinks Texas is her family’s salvation. Not only did her younger daughter get the cancer treatment she needed at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center here, but her other daughter is now getting a quality education."

Beverly Hills' unwanted out-of-towners - latimes.com

Beverly Hills' unwanted out-of-towners - latimes.com:

"California's formulas for funding schools are labyrinthine, outdated and just plain weird. They have needed a radical makeover for decades, though this year Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unwisely vetoed legislation to begin the process. The most recent victims of this messy situation are students who attend schools in Beverly Hills without living there.

The prestigious public school district was glad to have nearly 500 nonresidents attend under its 'opportunity' permits when each student brought in annual state funding of more than $6,000. But under California's convoluted formulas, Beverly Hills is likely to become one of the state's 90 or so 'basic aid' districts, meaning it will be funded by local property taxes instead of per-pupil dollars. Now the district's financial incentive is to have fewer students, not more."

Most local schools bypassing Race to Top

Most local schools bypassing Race to Top:

"While the California Department of Education and the state Legislature are clearing the track to compete for federal Race To The Top (RTTP) funding, many local agencies have chosen to not step into the starting blocks.

The Santa Maria-Bonita, Santa Maria Joint Union High School, Orcutt Union, Lompoc Unified and Santa Ynez Valley school districts have all decided to not participate in the program.
Locally, only Lucia Mar Unified and Guadalupe Union school districts have filed paperwork to be included in the RTTP.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 set aside $4.35 billion nationally for RTTP funding. California could be eligible for up to $700 million, but it must “compete” with other states for the funds according to the rules set forth by the federal Department of Education."

As We See It: State failing its children - Santa Cruz Sentinel

As We See It: State failing its children - Santa Cruz Sentinel:

"In the aftermath of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'State of the State' call for education over incarceration, California must face the reality of how children in the state are faring.

Children Now, a group that lobbies for better health care and education for kids in California, released its annual report card earlier this week and the results were dismal.

Here's a few of the sobering grades:

Health coverage: D

K-12 education: D

Early learning and development: C

Child safety: D

Obesity: C-"

State education plan makes parents responsible

State education plan makes parents responsible:

"Giving parents their choice of schools. Making sure teachers are qualified. Forcing bad schools to improve."

All are tackled in the huge school reform package signed into law Thursday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and approved with lightning speed by state lawmakers this week, to give California a shot at winning $700 million in the national education competition called Race to the Top. The application deadline is Jan. 19.

But to anyone who has spent time in a school over the past decade, such reforms will sound familiar: They have been part of the federal No Child Left Behind Education Act that has strictly governed school accountability since 2001.

California's new Race to the Top plan "sounds very similar to No Child Left Behind," said Mike Kirst, education professor emeritus of Stanford University. "What's different is that NCLB relies on top-down enforcement from the state and federal governments," while the new plan requires parent participation to fix low-scoring schools.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/07/MNT41BEGO3.DTL#ixzz0c1erDyRk

California's education reforms hand more power to parents / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

California's education reforms hand more power to parents / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an education reform bill Thursday that lets California vie for federal 'Race to the Top' grants. The reforms, opposed by teachers' unions, would let parents to force changes in failing schools."

Los Angeles

California is now competitive in President Obama’s national $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” education competition. After six months of bipartisan massaging, hand-wringing, and compromise, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed reform legislation Thursday that will ensure the state can vie for up to $700 million in federal funding for its schools.

But the debate over the reforms – which puts more power in the hands of parents – spilled over into the signing at the Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School in south central Los Angeles. Both teachers unions opposing the reforms and parents groups supporting the bill showed up to make their voices heard.

Mr. Obama created the “Race to the Top” education fund last year as part of the stimulus bill investment in critical sectors. The fund rewards states that create the conditions for education innovation and reform and improve student outcomes and graduation rates.

California could not apply for the funds because of a so-called educational “firewall” that kept its students' test scores from being used to evaluate teachers. Two bipartisan measures have cleared away

Autism Clusters Tied to College-Educated Parents : Discovery News

Autism Clusters Tied to College-Educated Parents : Discovery News:

"Highly educated parents may be more likely to have children diagnosed with autism, according to a recent study from the University of California at Davis.

The findings suggest a new, major risk factor for this complex, and still mysterious, developmental disability.

Dr. Karla Van Meter, the lead author for the study published online this month in the journal Autism Research, and her colleagues examined the birth records for 2.4 million live births that took place in California between 1996 and 2000."

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Best and Worst Jobs 2010 - The Wall Street Journal Online - Interactive Graphics

Best and Worst Jobs 2010 - The Wall Street Journal Online - Interactive Graphics:

"Best and Worst Jobs 2010

The 200 best and worst jobs in the U.S. in 2009 based on five criteria -- environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress -- according to a newly released study from job site CareerCast.com. Read about the methodology.

CAL: Projects: National K-12 Foreign Language Survey

National K - 12 Foreign Language Survey

Funder: U.S. Department of Education, International Research and Studies Program

September 2006 – August 2009

The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) conducts a national survey of foreign language instruction in public and private elementary and secondary schools every decade to provide an updated national and regional portrait of foreign language instruction in the United States. Working with Westat, a leader in survey research, CAL analyzed results from the third survey to be able to show trends in foreign language education at three points in time (1987, 1997, 2008).

Survey questionnaires were mailed to a stratified random sample of more than 5,000 elementary and secondary schools across the country in October 2007. Data collection was completed in June 2008. The response rate was 76%.

The survey was designed to help us understand, among other issues, current patterns and shifts over time in these areas:

Foreign language enrollments
Number of schools offering foreign languages
Types of foreign language programs offered
Foreign language curricula and methodologies in use
Teacher qualifications and training
Effects of No Child Left Behind legislation on foreign language instruction

Survey data were examined and presented according to various factors that may affect language instruction, including these:

Type of school (public or private)
Location of school (urban, rural, or suburban)
Socioeconomic status of students
Percentage of minority students enrolled in the school
Geographical region (e.g., Northeast, Pacific Northwest)

The survey results present national and regional data; state-by-state data were not an outcome of this survey. Answers to the following questions are presented in the final survey results:

How is students’ language proficiency assessed?
Do teachers integrate national and/or state foreign language standards into their instruction?
How much do teachers use the foreign language in the classroom?

The overarching theme in the analysis was how the data can be used to help our country increase and improve language teaching in elementary and secondary schools over the next decade.

Read the executive summary
(PDF, 3 MB)

Download our Survey Snapshot Brochure
Read our brochure with results of the elementary school survey.
(PDF, 1.6 MB)

Survey Methodology and Others Details
Learn more about how the survey was conducted as well as additional details about the survey.

Spotlight

Report from the National K-12 Foreign Language Survey

Read the Executive
Summary. (PDF, 3 MB)

Order online at the CAL Store.

FL Survey Snapshot Brochure (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Download a brochure of preliminary results of the elementary school survey.

Governor Holds Press Conference with Mayor Kevin Johnson Regarding Race to the Top Legislation

Good morning and welcome to Rosa Parks Middle School. I'm Renee Balestrieri, the principal of Rosa Parks. I'd like to thank the guests who are with us this morning: Mayor Kevin Johnson, the city of Sacramento; Jonathan P. Raymond, the superintendent of Sacramento City Unified School District; Margaret Fortune, member, Board of Trustees of the California State University and CEO of Project Pipeline; Dr. Glen Thomas, the Secretary of Education; Jed Wallace, CEO of Charter Schools; Branche Jones, California Charter Schools Association; Ted Mitchell, the president, California State Board of Education; Ed Manansala, the superintendent of St. Hope Public Schools.

In our audience we have the Rosa Parks AVID class. AVID is a national program that stresses rigor and individual determination to provide students with the skills and strategies that will take them through high school on to college. We also have students with us this morning from Sac High.

It is my honor at this time to introduce the Governor of the great state of California, Governor Schwarzenegger. (Applause)

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:

Thank you very much, Principal Balestrieri. Is this right, did I pronounce it right? OK, good. And I want to say thank you for your great leadership. And I think that's why we're all here at the Rosa Parks Middle School, because this school is a spectacular school and we have heard so much about it, so I wanted to come here myself to see all the action that's going on here and the great education that all of you are getting.

But in the meantime, I want to just say thank you very much to Mayor Johnson, who is such a big believer in children. We have worked together way before he became mayor and way before I became governor, when we talked about after school programs and charter schools and all this, so it's really terrific to have him here. And also Superintendent, I want to say thank you very much, Superintendent Raymond, for his great energy and also Margaret Fortune, who has been a great education leader here in California and has worked with our administration and all the other education leaders that are here with us today.

Now, as I said, we are here today because you have shown such great, great work. And I think that, because of the great leadership of your school principal, you've done a great job with improving the grades and your scores jumped up and test scores have improved so much in these last few years in every area. And you have also coaches here that are coaching teachers how to teach and you have created a great team effort between the students and the parents and teachers

Passage of Race to the Top Bills - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Comments
on Passage of Race to the Top Bills

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement following passage of SBx5 1, authored by Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), and SBx5 4, authored by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles). Both bills now head to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk. The Governor has said he would sign both bills.

"I am very pleased that the Legislature has approved two important bills that will help change the culture in our lowest-performing schools and set the stage for reform and innovation throughout California's public education system. With the passage of these measures, California has met the necessary threshold to apply and be highly competitive for the federal Race to the Top program. I applaud the leadership of Senator Steinberg and Senator Romero for their work to ensure California is eligible to apply for Race to the Top.

"Now it is critical that we complete work on our state plan that will detail how we will implement our Race to the Top goals. Our Race to the Top application will spell out how we will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continual improvement in our schools in order to close the achievement gap and prepare all students for success in the competitive global economy.

"Nearly 800 local educational agencies already have agreed to partner with the state of California in the Race to the Top work, and support for our application is gaining momentum among business, philanthropic, community, and education organizations. With today's legislative action, the clear articulation of how we will implement our reform goals, and the strong support of such a broad coalition, California will submit a very competitive Race to the Top application."

A public draft of Section (A) (1) of California's Race to the Top application is now available at Race to the Top, under "Key Items."

Related Content: Education Reform - Information on how ARRA funds can be used to advance education reforms and support efforts to close achievement gaps. Includes information on LEA and state competitive grants.

Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Responds to
Governor's 2010 State of the State Address

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today responded to Governor Schwarzenegger's 2010 State of the State address (Outside Source):

"I was encouraged today to hear Governor Schwarzenegger say in his State of the State address that he plans to protect education funding in his proposed budget for the coming year. I applaud him for making public education a priority, and for recognizing that the future economic well-being of our state is dependent upon a well-educated, highly skilled workforce. Our schools are still dealing with the effects of $17 billion in cuts made in the last budget cycle. Many vital school programs across the state have been cut back or eliminated all together. We cannot afford to backslide further. The key to expanding our economy is education. We need a well-qualified workforce to fill the green technology, biotechnology, and other sector jobs that the governor is promoting to boost our economy.

"I look forward to seeing the details of the Governor's budget when it's released within the next few days, and I hope it's a budget that does in fact protect our schools and our students."

State Education Labor Leaders Call for Full Funding of Public Education in 2010/11 Budget | California Progress Report

State Education Labor Leaders Call for Full Funding of Public Education in 2010/11 Budget

By Alice Sunshine
California Faculty Association

Everyone in California is painfully aware that public education in California is being dismantled. In nearly every ranking at every level -- from preschool to university -- California is sinking compared to other states.

Yet, the very forces we should expect to be in the forefront of fighting for public education, including businesses that need educated workers and even the leaders of our educational segments, speak of the problems, but are strangely timid at key moments when public action is needed to stop the wrecking crew at work on our schools.

So, a group of education labor leaders have decided to make a public commitment to work together to fight for the future of our schools, colleges and universities, even if those nominally in charge do not.

Over the holidays, education labor groups teamed up for an “e-March” on Gov. Schwarzenegger, sending 5,000 messages telling him to include appropriate funding for public education from pre-school through Ph.D. in his 2010/11 budget proposal slated for release later this week.

On Jan. 5, leaders of five of the labor groups – who collectively

Mark Leno, Dave Jones: CPR Reader’s Choice for 2009 Legislators of Year | California Progress Report

Mark Leno, Dave Jones: CPR Reader’s Choice for 2009 Legislators of Year

By Dan Aiello

With more than 2,600 individual votes cast during three weeks of voting, California Progress Report readers have chosen Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Assembly Member Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) as their 2009 Legislators of the Year.

To make the cut, Assemblymembers and Senators first had to

receive a combined average of 65 percent or higher on the 2009 scorecards of four key progressive organizations, including Equality California, California League of Conservation Voters, California Alliance for Retired Americans and Consumer Federation of California.

With 470 votes, Senator Leno maintained a lead in the polling that began the first day and never waned.

“Leno has fought for consumer and LGBT rights like no other,” wrote one reader in selecting the Senator. “Principled,” wrote another.

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