Brian McCall's Economics of Education Blog: New York allowed to … | Educational New York

Brian McCall's Economics of Education Blog: New York allowed to … | Educational New York

Brian McCall's Economics of Education Blog: New York allowed to …

by Educational America

The New York state legislature voted to increase the cap on the number of charter schools in the state from 200 to 460. As the NY times article ” New York State Votes to Expand Charter Schools” reports this may increase New York’s …

Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest in Higher Education

by Educational America

Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest in Higher Education . As a senior, a former university professor, I am deeply pained when I see the d octrine shameful

Louisiana will reapply to education grant program | – NOLA.com

by Educational America

Indeed, the dangling of Race to the Top’s millions prompted significant — although not seismic — changes to education laws in several states. For instance, after months of tumultuous debate, New York’s lawmakers supported raising the state’s cap …

Blog About Pizza Delivery Rochester New York » Alternative …

by Educational America

Meanwhile, Education Division, weak local people and some representatives of the Aeta recently took part in this month (August 2008). They were to prepare the ground for Indigenous Peoples (IP) and indigenous peoples Core Curriculum …

On Louise Bourgeois. � Fred Klonsky's blog

On Louise Bourgeois. � Fred Klonsky's blog

On Louise Bourgeois.

by preaprez

I met Anne in 1973. She was living in an apartment on the far South Side of Chicago in a neighborhood called Roseland.
I can tell you it was pretty much love at first sight (at least on my part) and we ended up getting married three years later.
I’m thinking of this now because in 1973 in the kitchen of her apartment above a storefront in Roseland was the most amazing collection of spices I had ever seen. Anne made her own curries. She had fenugreek and cardamom and things I had never heard of.
Anne’s father was a noted art historian. When she was a little girl, Anne explained, she would go with her mom and dad to visit the Manhattan apartment of Robert Goldwater, a noted historian of primitive art, and his wife, the French-born sculptor Louise Bourgeois.
Bourgeois had a collection of spices in her kitchen. It greatly impressed Anne.
We still have a huge collection of spices in our kitchen, which we sometimes refer to as

Sacto 9-1-1: Sacramento police union backs Hammond, Kennedy in local races

Sacto 9-1-1: Sacramento police union backs Hammond, Kennedy in local races

Sacramento police union backs Hammond, Kennedy in local races

By Ryan Lillis
rlillis@sacbee.com

The Sacramento city police union has endorsed Councilwoman Lauren Hammond in her campaign for the state Assembly's District 9 seat.

In the race for Hammond's replacement in City Council District 5, the union is supporting Patrick Kennedy in the June election.

In a statement released today, Hammond said the police union support is "priceless."

"Government's first job is to protect our citizens," Hammond said. "In the state Assembly, we must be more creative in our efforts to balance our budgets in a way that doesn't hurt public safety and doesn't punish our dedicated law enforcement employees."

Hammond is running against fellow City Councilmember Kevin McCarty, county Supervisor Roger Dickinson and Chris Garland of the California Faculty Association.

In supporting Kennedy, the police union cited "his work in the neighborhoods and as a member of the (Sacramento City Unified) school board."

Kennedy said he would "continue to work closely with rank and file cops, just

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/crime/archives/2010/03/sacramento-poli-75.html#mi_rss=Latest%20News#ixzz0pXD05QaQ

8 Days to the Election You Can Make The Difference! Patrick Kennedy for Council 2010

8 Days to the Election
You Can Make The Difference!
Patrick Kennedy for Council 2010

In this final week leading up to the election, it is imperative that we reach as many people as possible. If you can volunteer for an hour or a week, we need your energy and effort to get our supporters out on election day. There are only 8 days until the election and you can make the difference in the campaign!

Can you walk this weekend?
Can you make calls to voters this week?

Volunteer Opportunities:
Phone Bank
When: Wednesday
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: 2200 L Street

When: Thursday
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: 2200 L Street

Walk a Precinct
When: Saturday
Time: 11 AM
Location: 4640 23rd Street (in Hollywood Park)

When: Sunday
Time: 2 PM
Location: 4640 23rd Street (in Hollywood Park)

Get out the vote!On Monday, June 7th and Tuesday, June 8th we will be talking to voters throughout the day to remind them to vote. We need your help to get our supporters to the polls. Contact me for more details, as we will be working all day.

Anything you can do helps! 

Please call me at (916) 601-8558 or e-mail me at Rachel@Patrick-Kennedy.com to join our team.

Sincerely,
Rachel Miller
Campaign Manager

(916) 601-8558
Rachel@Patrick-Kennedy.com

Patrick Kennedy for Council 2010

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: New Design High School

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: New Design High School

New Design High School

by The Perimeter Primate

NO-SWEAT TRACK TO GRADUATION: NEW DESIGN HS STUDENTS EARN GYM CREDITS BY SELLING SNACKS, May 30, 2010, NY Daily News

It's a reel bad idea.
Exercise-starved students from a lower Manhattan school are getting gym credits for working concessions at the Rooftop Films festival, the Daily News has learned.
"Selling drinks and popcorn at a movie is not physical education. It's just not right," said Palmer Taylor, a gym teacher at New Design High School. "The kids aren't getting enough phys-ed."
Every Friday and Saturday starting in May, students can earn seven hours toward their gym requirements by staffing the screenings at the school, one of 10 venues for the popular film series, students and Taylor said.
Roughly 20 students, a handful of them packing a few extra pounds, were performing tasks that required little more exertion than flipping burgers, lifting coolers and setting tables.

Texas Budget Deficit Shatters Myths About California's Deficit | California Progress Report

Texas Budget Deficit Shatters Myths About California's Deficit | California Progress Report

Texas Budget Deficit Shatters Myths About California's Deficit

by christine

By Robert Cruckshank
Well, well, well. For years now we've been hearing that California's budget problems exist because we "overspend." Others claim it's because our taxes are so high that companies and jobs move to low-tax states. Texas is often held out by those making these claims as an example of what California should emulate - a low-tax, low-services, low-spending state that supposedly has government figured out.
Except they don't. California faces a budget deficit of about $18 billion. And how much is Texas's budget deficit?
That's right. $18 billion:
But as the state's budget shortfall widens-to as much as $18 billion, or about 20% of the next two-year budget, according to the state legislature's latest analysis released earlier this month-critics are complaining that Mr. Perry's policies have left the state with little room to reduce spending.
read more

ACT Report: Improve Teacher Evaluation � InterACT

ACT Report: Improve Teacher Evaluation � InterACT

ACT Report: Improve Teacher Evaluation

by David B. Cohen

Accomplished California Teachers (the organization that sponsors this blog), has released its debut policy report, “A Quality Teacher in Every Classroom: Creating a Teacher Evaluation System that Works for California.” Watch for an official press release coming very soon.
This report was produced through a long collaboration involving thirteen California public school teachers (including me) whose teaching and leadership experience, research, discussions, and writing provide the substance of the report, and whose consensus yielded the policy recommendations in the report. Our group included teachers from up and down the state, with experience teaching from kindergarten to twelfth grade, in a variety of subject areas, in small schools and large, traditional schools and charters. We had union members and non-members, several National Board Certified Teachers, and winners of all sorts of awards for teaching. What we all had in common was a certainty that teacher evaluations can be done more effectively – and must be done more effectively, especially if other education reforms are to go forward with any chance of success. Our hope is that policy-makers at every level in California will find it helpful to review the available research and

Blackwell: Glad for West Philly delay | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Blackwell: Glad for West Philly delay | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Blackwell: Glad for West Philly delay

by Benjamin Herold on May 31 2010

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It can seem that all roads in West Philadelphia eventually run through City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.

Increasingly, it appears that the long and winding path to determine the fate of West Philadelphia High School under Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's Renaissance Schools initiative is no exception.

Asked if her office was the source of the information that led to the surprising last-minute postponement on May 26 of the School Reform Commission vote on West’s future, Blackwell demurred, but added that she was “glad to see the delay.”

“My office is always involved in these issues and concerns,” said Blackwell, who chairs City Council's Education Committee and who represents the district in which West is located. “In that regard, I hear a lot of things. It would be counterproductive for me to be more specific at this time.”

She added that she’s “glad we have the opportunity to review this so that community members, [West] alumni, parents [and others] can all feel we had a positive process. It's better to make sure it’s done well and done right.”

On May 24, after more than two months of deliberations, the West School Advisory Council (SAC) voted to recommend that West be matched with Johns Hopkins/Diplomas Now. The council was strongly in favor of Hopkins, which received nine votes, compared to two votes apiece for Mastery Charter and Ackerman's own District-run Promise Academy model.

NorthJersey.com: What N.J.'s planned budget cuts mean after school

NorthJersey.com: What N.J.'s planned budget cuts mean after school

What N.J.'s planned budget cuts mean after school

Monday, May 31, 2010

WIRE SERVICE

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

display story on 1 pagePage 1 2 >>

TRENTON — In March, Elizabeth Black found herself in a child care scramble for her son, Jamere Carter, a Camden third-grader.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

First-grader Briana Rouzard wears a 'NJ After 3' shirt as she participates in an after-school program at Cadwalader Elementary School in Trenton.

He was one of about 10,000 children around New Jersey whose after-school program ended abruptly when the state stopped funding it as it tried to balance the budget with revenues falling short of expectations.
The program, NJ After 3, will not get any money from the state in the budget year that begins July 1, either, under Governor Christie's proposed budget plan.
After the three-hour enrichment program in Jamere's school was shut down, the boy returned for a time to an imperfect arrangement — staying with a grandmother who struggles to keep up with him.
Finally, Black, a mental health case manager, found another program for him, but it means walking through a rough Camden neighborhood to get to another school.
As governor, Christie must straighten out a budget shortfall magnified by a deep recession. A fiscal conservative, the Republican who campaigned last year promising to make government smaller is determined to do it without raising taxes.
In the real world, that means service cuts and disruptions for many in the Garden State.
Reduced aid to local schools is resulting in teacher layoffs in hundreds of districts across the state. Reduced municipal aid is being partly blamed for a budget crunch in Camden County's Winslow Township, where 12 of the 88 police officers will be laid off in June.
Anti-hunger activists are worried that Christie's pulling back on school meal programs will mean more kids will go hungry.
Senior citizens were fretting about a plan to impose a $310 annual deductible on

Anti-Semitic student game spurs outrage

Anti-Semitic student game spurs outrage

57 comments by Michelle Mitchell - May. 27, 2010 04:16 PM
(Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - A game with anti-Semitic elements played by dozens of high school students was offensive but isn't illegal, officials say.

The game, called "Beat the Jew," has caused "extreme disappointment," but the 40 students involved can't be punished because it happened off school property, La Quinta High Principal Donna Salazar said Wednesday.

Some people said something more should be done to teach tolerance.

"We only have three weeks until there's not much you can do about it," said the 18-year-old La Quinta High student who alerted officials to the game and Facebook page promoting it. She has asked to remain anonymous and is staying home from school out of fear of retribution.

"Some of these kids that have joined the group, they're like the cream of the crop of my class," she said. "They're going to be the leaders of our future and they feel this way?"

The chase game involved a runner - called a "Jew" - and groups of people chasing in cars - "Nazis."

"The objective for the Jew is to run down Hwy. 111 to a specified checkpoint before the Nazis can catch up to him, tackle him down and capture him," according to a Facebook page that was taken down Friday.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/2010/05/27/20100527california-students-play-anti-semitic-game.html#ixzz0pWVj2ZxW

edReformer: Basil Smikle, 38, Bringing Ed Reformers to Table

edReformer: Basil Smikle, 38, Bringing Ed Reformers to Table

Basil Smikle, 38, Bringing Ed Reformers to Table

by Douglas CretsMay 31, 2010

An interview with Basil Smikle, who is running against Bill Perkins in Harlem for a State Senate seat.

eD: Give us a little background about yourself. What were you doing recently, before starting this run against Perkins?

I’ve had my own consulting firm for the last seven years. While I was consluting and being a talking head commenting on government and politics, I was also teaching at Colubmia’s University School of Public Affairs as an adjunct and in the City University of New York system in the School of Professional Studies, also as an adjunct.

eD: What was the catalyst that led you to you to jump into the race to run against Bill Perkins of Harlem?

The catalyst that got me into the race was the pitting of parents and neighbors and schools against one another instead of the honest and sincere search for best education practices in upper Manhattan.

I think the anger and frustration that has been stoked on both sides could be mitigated by bringing everyone to the table and trying to search for really sound ways to improve teaching and learning in this district. Couple that with a number of other lapses in leadership on my opponent’s side specifically, and then the Senate as a body…

I think there is a need for new leadership and I felt strongly I had the talent and energy to really make a difference and be a better advocate in the community.

eD: Do you think the current legislation that effectively bans for-profit growth in New York can be undone?

SCUSD Summer of Service SAC City DAC Education News & Comment

Education News & Comment

SCUSD Summer of Service

SCUSD Summer of Service
For: Space for 500 incoming 9th Graders
Contact:
Zenae Scott, Youth Development Support Services 643-9430
youthdevelopment@sac-city.k12.ca.us

SCUSD Summer School & Summer Programs

Summer School
June 21 -July 30, 2010
(July 5, 2010, Holiday)
Contact:
Mike Crosby, Summer School Office 643-9427

Special Education Summer Programs
Contact:
Vivian Miller, Special Education Services 643-9116

START Summer Programs
For: Specific Elementary Schools
Contact:
START

Memorial Day | Intercepts

Memorial Day | Intercepts

Memorial Day

by Mike Antonucci

Free Technology for Teachers: The Evolution of Television 1926-2010

Free Technology for Teachers: The Evolution of Television 1926-2010

The Evolution of Television 1926-2010

The Evolution of Television is a timeline infographic hosted by Sterling Satellite. The infographic highlights major developments in television technology and highlights in broadcasting history. For example, did you know that JFK's inauguration was the first to be broadcast in color? VisitSterling Satellite to view the full size infographic.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Why I support teacher seniority rights

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Why I support teacher seniority rights

Why I support teacher seniority rights

by Mike Klonsky

Without them, testing madness rules

Jimmy Kilpatrick's post today on EducationNews.org, highlights the ongoing attack on teacher seniority rights in Cleveland and in other mainly urban school districts. This has become a centerpiece in Arne Ducan's Race To The Top and his so-called "turnaround" strategy.

I favor protecting teacher seniority rights for several reasons. One is that they signify the respect due to professionals in most fields. Secondly, they are the product of democratically negotiated collective bargaining agreements between school boards and teacher unions and should be honored as such. The current three or four-years probation period, during which teachers can be fired at the discretion of the principal, provides plenty of time for any school leader worth their salt, to weed out incompetent teachers.

But maybe even more importantly, without the protection of seniority, teachers and principals, confronted with

In international waters off the coast of Gaza. Memorial Day, 2010. � Fred Klonsky's blog

In international waters off the coast of Gaza. Memorial Day, 2010. � Fred Klonsky's blog

In international waters off the coast of Gaza. Memorial Day, 2010.

by preaprez

Israelis held up a Free Gaza banner on the beach in Ashdod.

It is a sad story to wake up to on this Memorial Day Monday.
In a violation of international law and acceptable humanitarian behavior, Israeli military commandos attacked a flotilla of ships in international waters carrying aid to Gaza, killing many international peace activists.
In Chicago, those who want to protest the attack can gather Tuesday, June 1, 2010 from 4:30pm – 9:00pm in front of Israeli Consulate, 111 E. Wacker Drive.
One question: What will Obama do? Will his administration bow down

UC Riverside Highlander Newspaper - Governor eliminates funding to UC Riverside school of medicine

UC Riverside Highlander Newspaper - Governor eliminates funding to UC Riverside school of medicine

Governor eliminates funding to UC Riverside school of medicine

By Amy Lozano

Published: Monday, May 31, 2010

Updated: Monday, May 31, 2010

As planning for the opening of UC Riverside’s School of Medicine continues, projected funding for the new institution has recently suffered a setback.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the $10 million that the University of California Regents had recommended to help get the medical school off the ground has now been eliminated in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget.

Kathy Barton, a member of the School of Medicine Planning Office, said that although the recommended $10 million was not accepted into the 2009 to 2010 California state budget, a request for funding has also been submitted for the 2010 to 2011 school year. Barton said that although the initially recommended $10 million was not approved the school of medicine is hopeful for the upcoming year.

“When the health care reform is enacted, millions of people will have more health care coverage […] we recognize that we will need more doctors for the newly insured,” said Barton.

A fact sheet composed by the UC Riverside School of Medicine states that Riverside and San Bernardino counties currently have 36 and 44 primary care M.D. physicians respectively per 100,000 people, among the lowest ratios of primary care doctors per capita in California.

Furthermore, Latinos and African Americans are vastly underrepresented in the physician workforce. While Hispanics comprise approximately 50 percent of the region’s population, 7 percent comprise the physician workforce.

The subjects of physician understaffing and lack of diversity within the medical field are issues that the UC Riverside School of Medicine plans to alleviate.

“The mission of the UC Riverside School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and to serve