Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Missing Ore. boy search focuses on Portland area - Boston.com

Missing Ore. boy search focuses on Portland area

In this undated photo provided by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Kyron Horman is seen. The FBI has joined an expanding search for Horman, a 7-year-old Oregon boy who vanished after his stepmother left him at his Portland elementary school on Friday morning. (AP Photo/Multnomah County Sheriff's Office)

By Nigel Duara

Associated Press Writer / June 8, 2010

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PORTLAND, Ore.—Investigators have limited the search for a missing 7-year-old Portland boy to the city's metro area, despite tips from as far away as Washington state, a sheriff's spokesman said Tuesday.

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Kyron Horman disappeared Friday after a science fair at the rural Skyline Elementary School.

Kyron is still being considered a "missing endangered child," Multnomah County sheriff's Capt. Jason Gates said at a news conference, adding the disappearance is not being investigated as a criminal matter.

"We're not prepared to call it a criminal investigation at this point," Gates said. It would be considered a crime "when we have elements or specific information about this case that would lead us in a direction where there are crimes that can be defined."

The search has been difficult in the dense, hilly terrain near the school. At least

Matsuyama Fun Run: Following a 20-year neighborhood tradition, the families of
incoming Matsuyama Elementary School sixth graders are planning a Fun Run event to
raise funds for the 2011 sixth-grade camp week at Sly Park. The Fun Run will be July 3
and will be followed by the Pocket Parade which ends at Garcia Bend with a community
festival.

April 27, 2010 - Sacramento City Council recognizes
2010 Distinguished Schools David Lubin and Matsuyama Elementary Schools

2010 Distinguished Schools

Wells Fargo Reading First Program - Click here to view video
April 14, 2010
Sequoia Elementary School

Budget and Strategic Plan Survey Findings

Slideshow

Association of American Educators - Something Has to Give: Schools Cutting Lunch Options

Something Has to Give: Schools Cutting Lunch Options

posted by: Colin | June 09, 2010, 08:24 AM

"Food justice" advocates are in an uproar over New York City's plan to save $23.7 million by cutting meal choices, food-service workers, and free lunches. According toThe Wall Street Journal, Mayor Bloomberg's proposal cuts the number of hot-meal options from three to two or from two to one, depending on how many are currently offered at the school. The plan also cuts 276 food service jobs and would cut the number of schools that receive free lunches.

New York City is facing a $5 billion budget deficit this year, and Mayor Bloomberg's May budget proposal called for 4,400 teachers to be laid off. New York City has also cut fire stations, libraries, and services for the youth and elderly. In other words, everybody is feeling the pinch of a tightening belt.

Elizabeth Puccini, founder of a group to promote more environmentally friendly schools, claims the lunch cuts will create "a real food-justice issue." City Council member Gale Brewer bemoaned, "Cutting down on food choices is a tragedy and it's outrageous." Really? A tragedy?

This Week In Education: Campaign 2010: Candidates Lie About Teaching Experience, Too

Campaign 2010: Candidates Lie About Teaching Experience, Too

by Alexander Russo

Steve Poizner lost the Republican primary to Meg Whitman last night, setting up a general election between Whitman and Jerry Brown. Earlier this spring, This American Life did a segment about Poizner that focused on his attempt to portray a school where he taught government class one semester as tougher and more dysfunctional than it really seems to have been. In the segment, host Ira Glass confronts Poizner about his version of what

RTTT: Weiss Leaves To Make Room For Hess

by Alexander Russo

Here are some completely speculative but reasonable interpretations of Joanne Weiss's sudden move from RTTT guru to chief of staff for Duncan (EdWeek): Captain jumping ship from dead-end job (there will be no RTTT round three). First of many shakeups within USDE to come (as second half of Obama administration approaches). Sucks to be Margot Rogers

Wealthy Give More Overseas, Less to Education, Religion - The Wealth Report - WSJ

Wealthy Give More Overseas, Less to Education, Religion

By Robert Frank

It is no surprise that charitable giving by the wealthy declined last year. According to a reportreleased today by Giving USA and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, individual giving fell an estimated 0.4% in 2009, to $227.41 billion–a fairly mild drop. Total giving, by the wealthy, companies, foundations and bequests, fell 3.9% to $303.75 billion.

: Philanthropists like Philip Berber are focusing their charity overseas.

More significant was the shift in where the dollars are going.

According to the report, charitable donors are moving away from the the standard charitable causes–religion, education and the arts–to focus their money on health, human services and the overseas poor.

Here are some of the new winners (and losers) in philanthropy:

THE LOSERS
RELIGION–Giving to religion still accounts for 33% of total giving (the largest sector). But it declined 0.7% to $100.95 billion.

EDUCATION–Giving to education declined 3.6% to an estimated $40 billion. It was the second straight year giving to education fell.

PUBLIC SOCIETY–Giving for public-society benefit organizations declined 4.6% to $22.77 billion.

ARTS–Giving to arts, culture and humanities organizations dropped 2.4% to $12.34 billion.

THE WINNERS
HUMAN SERVICES–Giving to human services is estimated at $27.08 billion, an increase of 2.3%. It now receives about 9% of the total.

HEALTH–Giving for health increased 3.8% to $22.46 billion and now accounts for 7% of the total.

Schools Matter: Pearson Turns Montgomery County Into Corporate Curriculum Showroom

Pearson Turns Montgomery County Into Corporate Curriculum Showroom

by Jim Horn

There was good reason for educational publishing and testing corporations to celebrate Bush's arrival in Washington. After looking over the NCLB plan, Chief executive of Pearson Education, Peter Jovanovich, quipped to Education Week in February, 2001: "This almost reads like our business plan."

Now some might think that Pearson would be nervous with a new Administration (D), but we know that money is entirely bipartisan, so there is nothing to worry about for Pearson stockholders. In fact, one of the authors of NCLB, Sandy Kress, is an avowed "Democrat," and he now lobbies for Pearson. The other connections between Pearson and the Obamaites await the investigative reporting that the education media is entirely immune to.

The connections to today's ED are already producing results. Last year, for instance, Pearson's profits were up

College, including living expenses, costs more in California than elsewhere, study finds - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

College, including living expenses, costs more in California than elsewhere, study finds

By Laurel Rosenhall
lrosenhall@sacbee.com

Published: Wednesday, Jun. 9, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1B

In-state fees at California's public universities may be lower than tuition at similar campuses in other states, but when living expenses are factored in, the total cost of going to college here is more, new research by the California Postsecondary Education Commission shows.

Undergraduate fees at UC Davis were $9,940 for the 2009-10 year – but the cost nearly tripled to $27,000 when meals, books and a dorm room were added in. At UC Berkeley, the report shows, the total cost for a student living on campus was even greater: $28,900.

Residents of Illinois and Michigan, by contrast, pay higher tuition at their top-flight schools, but less overall because their cost of living is lower. Undergraduate tuition, books, room and board at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, totaled $25,500 this year; it was $23,700 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Each year the California Postsecondary Education Commission compares public university fees and tuition across states. Even as University of California and California State University officials approved 32 percent fee hikes in 2009, the commission found that, on average, fees at California colleges were lower than at comparable schools in other states.

The new report, presented at a meeting Tuesday, is unusual because it analyzed the full cost of college attendance, including living expenses. It tries to address questions left unanswered in prior reports, said assistant director Adrian Griffin.

"The first thing people say is, 'I know our fees are lower in California but our living costs are

Shades of NY Senate coup: 3 may vote no on budget - Boston.com

Shades of NY Senate coup: 3 may vote no on budget

By Michael Gormley

Associated Press Writer / June 9, 2010

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ALBANY, N.Y.—The New York senator who set off a debilitating coup in the chamber a year ago said Tuesday he is willing to vote against any more emergency spending bills even though that could likely force a shutdown of state government.

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Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., the majority leader, was joined by Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos in saying they would be willing to block weekly emergency spending bills with permanent year-round budget cuts that the Paterson administration plans to introduce to the Legislature, beginning Monday.

Espada said it no longer matters if government is shut down after living on bare-bones emergency spending for 10 weeks and with Paterson trying to force a state budget of his own design.

"This eviscerates the legislative branch if we don't stand up," Espada said. "I think if we give into this form of blackmail, it would be worse than the shut down of government."

The state has long passed its April 1 budget deadline and is operating with a $9.2 billion shortfall.

With the budget crisis, Gov. David Paterson has begun including permanent spending cuts in line with his proposed executive budget in the short-term spending bills. The Legislature must by law adopt the bills in whole, or reject

Election 2010: New leaders emerge from Sacramento City Council races

New leaders emerge from Sacramento City Council races

By Ryan Lillis
rlillis@sacbee.com

Job security on the Sacramento City Council is no longer a given.

Councilman Robbie Waters, a 16-year incumbent, was defeated Tuesday night after all precincts were reported. And Councilman Ray Tretheway, seeking a fourth term, may also be out of office. He could face a fall runoff with challenger Angelique Ashby, who gained 50.08 percent of the vote.

There are more than 20,000 vote-by-mail ballots that were turned into polling places Tuesday that still need to be counted, said Brad Buyse, Sacramento County elections spokesman, early Wednesday.

The Waters defeat marks the first time since 1992 that a council incumbent ran for re-election and lost.

For Mayor Kevin Johnson, the election results are significant.

While he is losing his closest political ally in Waters, the mayor seemed poised to gain a potential supporter in Ashby, whom he supported.

Another candidate backed by the mayor - Jay Schenirer - was the pacesetter in District 5 with 47.0 percent of the vote. And Councilman Steve Cohn, who has sided with the mayor on key issues, gained a record fifth term, with 53.9 percent of the vote.

"There's new blood on the council and the mayor will be dealing with a team that's committed to moving the city forward," said political consultant Steve Maviglio, who worked with both Ashby and Johnson. "It's not the same old clique at City Hall anymore and that's good news for everybody."

Ashby, a community activist from North Natomas, had the support of the city police and fire unions. At

Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to University Students in Nairobi, Kenya | The White House

Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to University Students in Nairobi, Kenya

Kenyatta International Conference Center
Nairobi, Kenya

10:58 A.M. (local)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Hello, my name is Joe Biden. I work for Barack Obama. (Laughter and applause.)

Now, I know no one in Kenya is familiar with Barack Obama, but I can tell you although for years as a United States senator, I had -- I was on a committee called the Foreign Relations Committee, the chairman, and did a lot of work relating to Africa, I hear about Kenya all the time from Barack Obama. He sends his love to you, not just your love to him. (Applause.)

And, Wangari, it’s an honor to be with you. I am very accustomed these days to hanging out with Nobel laureates. (Laughter.) I work for one, I get to meet one here, our Secretary of Energy is one -- I am feeling very, very insufficient not having a Nobel Peace Prize. (Laughter.) But it’s an honor to be with you, it genuinely is. (Applause.) Thank you so much.

You are one of the great treasures not only of your country and of the world, but you’re the embodiment -- in my view -- of what I’m going to talk about today, that is the human capital that this great country has to offer. And you are -- you are one of the great pieces of that capital. It’s an honor, again, to be with you.

Now, where is Professor Freida Brown, the Vice Chancellor of United States International? (Applause.) Freida, professor -- I want you all to know we have caused this beautiful woman a lot of concern. She has been the main person in making sure that my ability to speak here was made possible. I want to personally thank you for all the cooperation and all you do. (Applause.) Helping organize us at a speech is a very difficult thing to do, and I thank you very much, Professor.

Ladies and gentlemen, students, leaders, and friends -- I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being invited to speak before you all today. And I thank you for the warm welcome. And as I said, I bring greetings and love from

Pennsylvania teacher is fired after blogging dispute | NJ.com

Pennsylvania teacher is fired after blogging dispute

Published: Wednesday, June 09, 2010, 8:06 AM Updated: Wednesday, June 09, 2010, 8:36 AM

The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
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After several months of battling parents and the administration over the content of her blog, aPennsylvania teacher discovered the risks that come with education blogging, according to this report in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In February, Elizabeth Collins posted her reaction to a student’s presentation in her English class at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, an all-girls private school in Villanova. Collins had been

Rise & Shine: Bronx school skipped required ESL for 7 months | GothamSchools

Rise & Shine: Bronx school skipped required ESL for 7 months

by Philissa Cramer

Students protested against looming Metrocard cuts at Mayor Bloomberg’s subway station. (NY1)
Dozens of students at PS 212 in the Bronx didn’t get required ESL classes until March. (Daily News)
PS 163 on the Upper West Side admitted too many students but now will add a class. (Daily News)
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised New York State’s Race to the Top changes. (Post)
Bronx Science teachers plan to rally against their administrators at the mayor’s house. (Daily News)
A proposed law on Long Island would fine principals $1,000 if they fail to stop bullying. (Post)
Stuyvesant HS students have had to take down their lists of fellow students “to tap.” (Post)

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Power philanthropy dominating public policy

Power philanthropy dominating public policy

by Mike Klonsky

This is a case study of a much larger trend. Nationally, it's in the area of education that whatMike Klonsky calls "power philanthropy" (and Diane Ravitch calls "the billionaire boys club"), led by Bill Gates and cheered by Arne Duncan, has really come to dominate public policy. In Washington D.C., foundations are even trying to dictate who can be the city's school superintendent. --Curtis Black on Huffington

Yesterday, I focused on the role of power philanthropists like Broad and Walton, using their power to influence election outcomes in D.C. and to protect the job of their favorite teacher basher, Michelle Rhee.

In that same vein, Chicago writer and musician Curtis Black assesses the disproportionate power of big foundations over an emergent not-for-profit media. Black takes on New York Times digital editor Jim Schachter

Wednesday, June 9, 2010