Education Week: Jobs Bill Collides With Obama Education Agenda

Education Week: Jobs Bill Collides With Obama Education Agenda

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Jobs Bill Collides With Obama Education Agenda

By Alyson Klein

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The sharp division between the Obama administration and key congressional Democrats over education policy and priorities may never have been more clear than it was Thursday night when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut $800 million from key administration initiatives to help pay for an effort to avert teacher layoffs.

The legislation—which the White House has threatened to veto—takes aim at three of the administration’s most-prized education priorities. Most notably, it would cut $500 million from the $4.35 billion Race to the Top program, which rewards states for making progress on certain education redesign initiatives.

It also would cut $200 million from the Teacher Incentive Fund, which doles out grants to support pay-for-performance programs, and $100 million intended to help start new

Rewarding Good Teachers Teaching may be more a calling than a profession, but it shouldn’t be a sacrifice, writes Brian Crosby, a bestselling author, syndicated radio host, and 21-year-veteran teacher.

Arizona's Anti-Immigrant School Policy Civil rights lawyer Khin Mai Aung writes on Arizona's less-publicized spring controversy: the state education department’s citations to districts that hired English-language-learning teachers with Spanish accents.

Elk Grove Citizen : Happy birthday to Elk Grove

Elk Grove Citizen : Lifestyle

Happy birthday to Elk Grove

Published: Friday, July 2, 2010 9:20 AM PDT

On July 1, 2000, Elk Grove became the first new city in California and perhaps in the U. S. as well. A flag flew over the U. S. Capitol to commemorate Elk Grove’s cityhood, thanks to the late Robert Matsui. Our city flag will remind us forever that Elk Grove is connected to our state and national capitals, Sacramento and Washington D. C.

Ten years later, we continue to recognize the importance of preserving our history and the roots of our existence that brought us to where we are today. Elk Grove became a city because of the vision, determination, and hard work of south Sacramento County residents that culminated in our historical vote for independence. The stories of our past are important links to the great history of our state. Knowledge of what happened in our own back yards helps us make good decisions as we plan for the future of Elk Grove and the south county area.

The following is a summary of ten magical moments in our history when people led the way and made significant changes that affect how we live in the city of Elk Grove and the area around us.

Magic Moment ONE - In the Beginning, the Miwok People… Long before James Hall placed the name of Elk Grove forever in our California geography books, the tule elk made their home along the delta waters and the river known as ko’sum by the Miwok Indians. The mighty oak trees along the Cosumnes River brought forth an ample supply of acorns, a staple of the Miwok diet. These first Americans also came here for salmon, ko’sum, which is how the Cosumnes River got its name. There were villages all across what we now know of as Elk

Magic Moment SIX, 1893 - The Elk Grove Union High School, the First Union Free High School in California. From the days of the California gold rush in the late 1840s until 1893, the young people of Elk Grove families had to be content with the education that was provided for them in their one-room country schools. If their parents wanted them to go on to higher education, the students had to go somewhere else because there was no high school in the south county area. In 1891, the California legislature passed a law that allowed the formation of a high school district if the majority of the heads of households voted for it. Six active citizens of Elk Grove, Dr. James McKee, Joseph Kerr, Joseph Hasman, Julius Everson, James T. Chinnick, and Alfred Coffman, decided that Elk Grove needed a high school. They held community meetings in all 18 grammar school districts, and 16 of the districts voted to form the Elk Grove Union High School District. This was the first unification of elementary school districts with a high school district in the state of California.

Hechinger Report | Common standards: Necessary but not sufficient

Hechinger Report | Common standards: Necessary but not sufficient

Common standards: Necessary but not sufficient

by Justin Snider

Should every student in this country be able to name the president? If so, by what age? Should every child know how to tell time to the nearest minute? By first grade, or by fifth grade?
Surprisingly, only 26 states have learning standards that say students should be able to name the president. Iowa is not among them. Students in Arizona and Arkansas are expected to know who the president is by kindergarten, whereas students in Maine don’t need to know until eighth grade.
Thirty-three states expect students to learn how to tell time to the nearest minute. Once again, Iowa is not among them. Students in South Dakota and Tennessee are supposed to master this skill by second grade, but in Alaska there’s no such expectation until fifth grade.

Interactive

Want to see how different state standards measure up? Check out our map showing when students have to learn

NEA Convention 2010: Internal vs. External Math | Intercepts #neara10

NEA Convention 2010: Internal vs. External Math | Intercepts

NEA Convention 2010: Internal vs. External Math

by Mike Antonucci

Greetings from New Orleans, where the 2010 National Education Association Representative Assembly begins tomorrow morning. There have been committee and caucus meetings all week, and today’s highlight was the open hearing on NEA’s strategic plan and budget.
It has been almost 30 years since NEA has had to budget for a loss in membership, and the figures displayed by the union’s budget committee form an interesting contrast to those surrounding the edujobs bill. The House passed the Obey amendment, which will provide $10 billion to school districts to save the jobs of education employees (if it passes the Senate and avoids a threatened Presidential veto). NEA estimates the amendment will save 138,000 jobs.
But those 138,000 jobs must be overhelmingly in AFT districts, or states with independent teacher groups, or charter schools, since NEA budgeted for a loss of only 35,000 active members (working teachers and support employees). NEA Secretary-Treasurer Becky Pringle called this “a conservative estimate,” which in context meant it might not be that many. She specifically stated the budget did not assume the jobs bill would pass.
If NEA itself isn’t budgeting on the belief that 300,000 education employees will lose their jobs - or 200,000 - or

School Tech Connect: Let Freedom Ring

School Tech Connect: Let Freedom Ring

Let Freedom Ring

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

This is what happens when a nation's ed policies place extremely high stakes on reading sub-skill tests and math tests.

I jest, of course. I hate when people make sweeping statements from really focused data points. Poll data is like Wikipedia; you have to triangulate it against other sources to mine its value. Even the best polls are really just snapshots, and they record only the responses of a relatively filtered segment of the population: the peoplewho still answer the phone to strangers.

Nobody Changes Their Vote for No Reason � Tangerine, Florida

Nobody Changes Their Vote for No Reason � Tangerine, Florida

Nobody Changes Their Vote for No Reason

by tangerineflorida

Novelist Carl Hiaason discusses county commissions in Florida vote on land use amendments and how Amendment 4 will change the process if passed.

Via Examiner.com

Outside the clouds of doubt about the Gulf oil spill, there is a ray of hope in Florida’s future. On the November ballot, voters will be given an opportunity to decide if they want to take the power of land development out of the hands of local governments, and put it in their own hands instead.

It’s called the Florida Hometown Democracy Land Use Initiative and will appear on the ballot as Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution.

The concept is a simple one; if the amendment passes, developers will no longer be able to get permission to build or develop land from local planning boards for major projects. Their new ‘bosses’ will be the people.
For example; if a developer wants to change the zoning on agricultural land to build a residential subdivision, it will have to be approved with a majority vote by the people.

Senators Announce Opposition to Race to the Top Cut - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Senators Announce Opposition to Race to the Top Cut - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Senators Announce Opposition to Race to the Top Cut

by Alyson Klein

Thirteen senators are urging their colleagues to spare Race to the Top and other administration K-12 prioritiesand come up with another way to help finance aid to states to prevent teacher layoffs
"The proposed education cuts are unacceptable," the group wrote in a letter to Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman. "Choosing between preserving teacher jobs and supporting vital education reforms is a false choice and would set a dangerous precedent. By reducing promised funding for these important reforms, Congress would be pulling the rug out from under the efforts of thousands of communities around the country working to improve their schools."
Their letter comes on the heels of a threat by the Obama administration to veto the entire bill if the cuts remain.

Today's Big Education Ape Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools

Today's Big Education Ape Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools

Today's  Big Education Ape Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools 

• Lunchtime Vid: Al Sharpton Calmly Roughs Up Beck’s ‘Joke’ of a Rally | The Atlantic Wire
• Democurmudgeon: 4th of July’s Celebration of Freedom and Liberty ruined by Tan Tax!
• House-OK’d war funding bill faces Senate trouble – Boston.com #edu #education
• The Answer Sheet – Declaration of Independence rough draft shows crossout #edu #education
• Unemployment: These aren’t the workers you’re looking for | The Economist #edu
• An Independence Day Mash-Up – THE DAILY RIFF – Be Smarter. About #Education. #edu
• Texas students improve fitness in lower grades | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News #Edu
• The Educated Reporter: i3 online. #edu #education
• Teacher Beat Covers the Conventions – Teacher Beat – Education Week #education #edu
• This Week In Education: Video: “The New Boy” At School #edu #education
• The Associated Press: American Indians ask for voice on federal court
• The Associated Press: New rules bring online piracy fight to US campuses #edu
• How Congress Keeps Screwing Up #Education – Newsweek #edu
• Ruling: Cleveland Teachers Needn’t Reapply #Education Week: From the Wires #edu #ednews
• Fox News Reporter vs. Libraries | The Atlantic Wire #edu

• From terrorists to tornadoes, kids learn to be prepared | EdNewsColorado #edu
• The Answer Sheet – Reality check on school accountability movement #edu
• Colleges Removed From Climate Commitment List Quick Takes: July 2, 2010 – Inside Higher #Edu
• Education Week: Atlanta Academy Produces Top Students at High Cost #edu
• Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Beta Test Aviary for Education #edu
• Downballot primary races cash in big from independent spenders | California Watch #edu
• Arlington police investigate threats over pledge vote – The Boston Globe #edu
• House Passes $80 Billion War Spending Bill – NYTimes.com #edu
• June’s “The Best…” Lists | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… #edu
• Sen. Yee clashes with UC, CSU over privacy #edu
• Comment: Voting on Measure C shows a city split – Berkeleyside
• Computers for Classrooms donates 1,000 computers to middle-schoolers – Chico Enterprise Record #edu
• Small schools still in flux | Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/01/2010 #edu
• Education, L.A. Unified: Charters, teachers vie to take over L.A. Unified schools – latimes.com
• Rise & Shine: 23,000 applicants for non-existent teaching jobs | GothamSchools #edu

2nd Banana FRIDAY, July2, 2010 Just Monkey-n around with yesterdays best #education.

2nd Banana FRIDAY, July2, 2010 

Just Monkey-n around with yesterdays best

ASCD Inservice: The Missing Ink on the Common Core

2010-Jul-1

ASCD Inservice: The Missing Ink on the Common CoreThe Missing Ink on the Common CoreWhy isn't state adoption of the Common Core getting more press? asks Linda Perlstein, public editor of the Education Writers Association."Standards are boring," is her conclusion, though she also surmises that the standards are "too removed" or won't really effect change.Let me throw out another possibility: state departments of education aren't communicating adoption of the standards to reporters, much less the public.ASCD has just posted a ...

The Answer Sheet – Reality check on school accountability movement #edu

2010-Jul-2

The Answer Sheet Reality check on school accountability movement. Reality check on school accountability movement My guest is Dave Russell, a teacher in Montgomery County public schools. By Dave Russell It is time to end the childhood obesity epidemic once and for all. Obesity decreases a child’s quality of life and longevity. It contributes [...]

Education Week: Small Schools Still In Flux

2010-Jul-1

Education Week: Small Schools Still In Flux. Small Schools Still In Flux By Kristen A. Graham, The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT) New York City went for small high schools in a big way, and the country's largest school system is still high on that education reform strategy. Oakland, Calif., opened 49 small schools in the last decade, [...]

Closed Springfield charter school goes to court – Boston.com #edu

2010-Jul-1

Closed Springfield charter school goes to court Boston.com. Closed Springfield charter school goes to court July 1, 2010 E-mail Print Comments (0) Text size – + BOSTON—Lawyers for a Springfield charter school closed by state education officials following a cheating scandal are asking a judge for another chance. Tweet 1 person Tweeted this Yahoo! BuzzShareThis Lawyers [...]

EducationNews.org Bill to save teachers’ jobs would slash reform programs #edu

2010-Jul-1

EducationNews.org. Higher Education Science Foundation AZ generating wealth EducationNewsToday Changes to condom proposal promised EducationNewsToday Boston takes charter school nonprofit as a partner EducationNewsToday Moderate Democrats Push Back on Cuts to Race to the Top, TIF EducationNewsToday Ron Clark Academy success comes at a price few schools can afford EducationNewsToday [...]

Rhee hints that her job as D.C. schools chief hinges on Fenty’s reelection #edu

2010-Jul-1

Rhee hints that her job as D.C. schools chief hinges on Fenty's reelection. Rhee hints that her job as D.C. schools chief hinges on Fenty's reelection VIDEO Rhee hints to Post that job hinges on Fenty reelection Speaking with The Washington Post's Nikita Stewart, D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee hints that her tenure as [...]

Busy, newsy end to DPS year | EdNewsColorado #edu

2010-Jul-1

Busy, newsy end to DPS year EdNewsColorado. Busy, newsy end to DPS year by Nancy Mitchell Denver Public Schools’ leaders on Wednesday wrapped up the final day of the 2009-10 year by announcing changes in key staff jobs, approving three new schools and passing a $1.2 billion budget. School board members approved the budget hours before the July [...]

R2T caught in D.C. budget fight | EdNewsColorado

2010-Jul-1

R2T caught in D.C. budget fight | EdNewsColoradoR2T caught in D.C. budget fightby Todd EngdahlColorado’s $175 million Race to the Top bid could be affected by a proposal that would divert money from R2T and two other education stimulus programs into a fund to save teacher jobs.Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc., wants to use $800 million in previously budgeted reform money to help pay for a $10 billion Education Jobs Fund, which would be distributed to states to blunt the impact ...

EducationNews.org Bill to save teachers’ jobs would slash reform programs #edu

2010-Jul-1

EducationNews.org. Higher Education Science Foundation AZ generating wealth EducationNewsToday Changes to condom proposal promised EducationNewsToday Boston takes charter school nonprofit as a partner EducationNewsToday Moderate Democrats Push Back on Cuts to Race to the Top, TIF EducationNewsToday Ron Clark Academy success comes at a price few schools can afford EducationNewsToday [...]

Busy, newsy end to DPS year | EdNewsColorado #edu

2010-Jul-1

Busy, newsy end to DPS year EdNewsColorado. Busy, newsy end to DPS year by Nancy Mitchell Denver Public Schools’ leaders on Wednesday wrapped up the final day of the 2009-10 year by announcing changes in key staff jobs, approving three new schools and passing a $1.2 billion budget. School board members approved the budget hours before the July [...]

The trouble with charter schools - chicagotribune.com

2010-Jul-1

The trouble with charter schools - chicagotribune.comThe trouble with charter schoolsClarence PageBio | E-mail | Blog | Recent columnsShare this on13ShareTopicsMichelle ObamaClarence PageTeachers UnionsSee more topics »It's easier to open a new one than to close a bad oneClarence PageJune 30, 2010E-mailPrintShare Text SizeCharter schools receive a lot of well-deserved attention this time of year when they appear to be performing miracles. But what about the ones that don't?The Obama administration believes, as did the Bush administration, in taking harsh 

School Tech Connect: Misty for ISTE

2010-Jun-30

School Tech Connect: Misty for ISTEMisty for ISTEby TimStill in recovery mode from ISTE... I'm thinking deeply about Howard Rheingold's critical consumption ("crap detectors") presentation, so at least there's that. I think I can take a year off of ISTE now, although the draw of Philly is considerable.Meanwhile, Diane Ravitch is closing up shop for the summer over at Bridging Differences. Yesterday, she mentioned a few titles for summer reading, one of which is Michael Edwards' Small Change: Why Business ...

Burlington School District to consult Hindus regarding possibility of Diwali holiday #education

Burlington School District to consult Hindus regarding possibility of Diwali holiday

Burlington School District (Vermont, USA) will reportedly consult with Hindu community leaders in the area regarding the possibility of declaring Diwali as a school holiday.

In a reply to the communiqué of Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening, District Superintendent Jeanne Collins said that they would consult with Hindu community leaders in the area but added: “I cannot answer as to when Diwali may be added as a school holiday”.

Burlington School Board has reportedly declared Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr as school holidays recently.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, while congratulating the Board for additional school holidays Yom Kippur and Eid-al-Fitr, urged it to also add Diwali, the most important Hindu holy day, to the holiday calendar.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, called it “a step in the right direction”. Awareness about other religions thus created by these holidays would make the Burlington pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow, Zed said and added that it would make District look good also besides bringing cohesion and unity in the community. It would also go well with the District “mission”, which is “to ensure that all students achieve their highest intellectual and personal potential, and are prepared to contribute as global citizens in the 21st century”.

Rajan Zed further said that since it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home with their children, we did not want our children to be deprived of any privileges at the school because of thus resulting absences on this day. Diwali, the festival of lights, which falls on November five this year, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

Children's Health Magazine reportedly rated Burlington the best place to raise a family. Burlington is the largest and most diverse city in Vermont, where 47 different languages are reportedly spoken. Frederick S. Lane is the School Board Chairman. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 'The secretary of education is somewhat unhappy' -- Rep. Obey

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 'The secretary of education is somewhat unhappy' -- Rep. Obey

'The secretary of education is somewhat unhappy' -- Rep. Obey

by Mike Klonsky

Rep. David Obey stood up to threats of an Obama veto Thursday and pushed through a piece of legislation that will help prevent thousands of teacher layoffs. The House bill includes Obey's amendment which will force some $800 million in cuts to Arne Duncan's pet reform program, Race To The Top. The money will be used to prevent teacher firings and exploding class sizes.

"The secretary of education is somewhat unhappy," Obey acknowledged. "One of the secretary's