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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Local boards win appeal on charter schools

Local boards win appeal on charter schools

Local boards win appeal on charter schools

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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A state appeals court strengthened the authority of local school boards over charter schools Monday by making it harder for California education officials to approve statewide charters with campuses in multiple counties.
Charter schools are publicly funded and tuition-free but operate independently of local school districts and their union contracts, though districts are supposed to monitor their performance. They have been proliferating both in California and nationwide.
State law allows the state Board of Education, appointed by the governor, to let a company establish charter schools in far-flung counties without local approval or


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/27/BA9M1EK5UM.DTL&type=education#ixzz0utj2B8s7


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Harder to Fire a Teacher Than Get Her Out of Prison | Intercepts

Harder to Fire a Teacher Than Get Her Out of Prison | Intercepts

Harder to Fire a Teacher Than Get Her Out of Prison

by Mike Antonucci
Last February an Alabama jury convicted Jessica Heath er DeFoor of second-degree sexual abuse and enticing a child for immoral pur poses. She was sentenced to two years in prison, but she is currently free on a $30,000 appeal bond.
Posting that bond wasn’t as large a financial burden for DeFoor as it might have been because she has
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SBA List Launches $100,000 California Latino Voter Education Effort - Christian Newswire

SBA List Launches $100,000 California Latino Voter Education Effort - Christian Newswire
SBA List Launches $100,000 California Latino Voter Education Effort

'Vote Your Values' $1 Million Campaign to Highlight Fiorina with Crucial Pro-Life Latino Voters

Contact: Kerry Brown, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-470-1926, kbrown@sba-list.org

WASHINGTON, July 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today the Susan B. Anthony List launched a $100,000 voter education campaign in conjunction with a $1 million effort headed by the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles in an effort to educate Hispanic voters about the pro-life qualifications of U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina.

"Poll after poll shows that the overwhelming majority of Latino voters call themselves pro-life and that Latino voters are comprising an increasing percentage of the voting block," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "We've been waiting for Carly Fiorina since the day Barbara Boxer was elected. Carly embraces and advances the rights of women and unborn children, following in the footsteps of the earliest women in politics. This is important to all Californians and especially to the Hispanic community."

The $100,000 effort will include a bus tour to areas of high Hispanic population as well as a Google ad campaign targeting

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Preschools Immerse Toddlers in Foreign Languages #Education Week American Education News Site of Record

Education Week American Education News Site of Record

Preschools Immerse Toddlers in Foreign Languages
(July 27, 2010) | Comments (1)

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OPINIONS

COMMENTARY OF THE DAY
'Kindergarten Ready' Needs to Be the New 'College and Career Ready'
Learning begins at birth, writes Elanna S. Yalow, and learning standards should start with even our youngest children. (July 26, 2010) | Comments (9)
COMMENTARY
What Counts, or What Is Counted?
Michael K. Stone, a leader in the green-schooling movement, argues that in education as in life, less easily quantifiable qualities may be those most critical to the future. (July 22, 2010) | Comments (3)
SARA MEAD'S POLICY NOTEBOOK BLOG
Putting the 'Agrarian Roots of Summer Vacation' Myth To Bed
Although blogger Sara Mead found the Time story on summer vacation interesting, one line—where the author says summer breaks stem from "our vanished agrarian past"—drove her bonkers. (July 26, 2010)
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Event: 2010 PSAE - ACT Results Released Today - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Event: 2010 PSAE - ACT Results Released Today - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Event: 2010 PSAE - ACT Results Released Today

by Alexander Russo

vintagebriefcase_crop.jpg
The Board is scheduled to release the 2010 scores this morning at Chicago Vocational Career Academy. The Mayor is supposed to be there, so I guess that means the news is good. [Then again, if it wasn't good they'd find a way to make it good. Check out this recent story about how New York state test scores kept getting better

AM News: City Councilwoman Slams Magnet Results

by Alexander Russo
Preckwinkle Questions Elite School Enrollment CNC: "It's troubling to me -- let's put it that way," said Preckwinkle, who is African-American, at a meeting this morning of the City Council's Education Committee. "It's not that I begrudge the Latino community anything."...

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Loyola University of Chicago among colleges whose tuition is not worth it Sun Times: According to a return on investment report from salary data site PayScale, the sticker price of some American schools outweighs the benefits of its degree. Sure, some recent graduates leave college... Why They Won't Stop Shooting In ChicagoSun TImes: This is the story of why they won't stop shooting in Chicago. It's told by the wounded, the accused and the officers who were on the street during a weekend in April 2008 when 40 people were shot, seven fatally...Education czar pushes Detroit school ballot proposal Detroit News: The nation's education czar joined a growing chorus of public officials who believe residents should decide whether Detroit Public Schools is placed under the
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School Tech Connect: The Quiet Revolution

School Tech Connect: The Quiet Revolution

The Quiet Revolution

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

The reason the revolution is quiet is because, at least in the district Duncan actually ran, it was based on ahouse of cards. There's just something about the post of Secretary of Education that attracts snake oil. I think it's fine to have controversial programs and policies, but it's another thing to just let the narrative roll along like it's true. I hope someone at the National Press Club actually asks a couple follow-up questions today.

Huge groups of knowledgeable people are opposed to the Race to the Top as well as to the School Improvement Grant system in ESEA and the role of high-stakes testing in education, to say nothing of the increase
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Jerry Brown's Flawed Pension Plan | California Progress Report

Jerry Brown's Flawed Pension Plan | California Progress Report

Jerry Brown's Flawed Pension Plan

by kaldveer
By Robert Cruickshank
As progressive activists across America organize to fight the looming "cat food commission" proposals to destroy the futures of working Americans by slashing Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age, Jerry Brown is now proposing to do the same here in California - in this case with cuts to public employee pensions:
On his campaign website and in recent comments to the media, California's attorney general and former governor has advocated rolling back state retirement benefits. Many of his points mirror changes pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and tentatively accepted by some unions, but don't cut into pensions as deeply as policies proposed by Brown's Republican opponent, Meg Whitman.
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Gov. Schwarzenegger on ADA Anniversary: Says One Thing and Does Another

by kaldveer
By Doug Moore
United Domestic Workers (UDW) Homecare Providers Union
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the passage of the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this week, California should be leading the way in implementing this historic civil rights breakthrough for people with disabilities.
We should be working to eliminate barriers in employment, transportation, education and other areas that prevent the disabled from living independently and productively.
read more


Back to the States

by kaldveer
By Kristen Eberhard
NRDC
The federal climate bill has been declared dead. What do we do now?
We turn back to our federalist roots. We make the states the laboratories of innovation while the federal government tries to get its act together. The World Resource Institute just issued a report analyzing possible progress towards meeting our emission reduction goals under existing state and federal authority. There’s some bad news: with our current set of tools, we can’t do enough to solve the problem. But there’s also good news: if we pursue our existing state and federal policies aggressively enough, we can stay on a reasonable path for the next five years, buying time to implement a comprehensive national plan.
This is the “Go-Getter” scenario in the figure below.
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Opposition to Wal-Mart Supercenters Spreads Across the Bay Area

by kaldveer
By Martin J. Bennett
The San Francisco Bay Area has become the epicenter for contentious battles in California to halt proposed Wal-Mart supercenters that sell both general merchandise and groceries.
Both the City of Antioch in Contra Costa County and the City of Rohnert Park in Sonoma County will consider supercenter proposals this week. The outcome could derail Wal-Mart's strategy to build at least one supercenter in each county of the state.
In April, the Rohnert Park Planning Commission unanimously denied the Wal-Mart proposal to enlarge its existing discount store into a supercenter. Wal-Mart has appealed the decision to the city council.
The economic and environmental impacts of the proposed supercenter are regional and extend far beyond the City of Rohnert Park. The controversy raises fundamental questions about future growth and the necessity for proactive city and regional planning to promote equitable and sustainable development.
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Schools Matter: Wiki Peeks Offers Up Secret Draft of Duncan Speech Announcement #education

Schools Matter: Wiki Peeks Offers Up Secret Draft of Duncan Speech Announcement


Wiki Peeks Offers Up Secret Draft of Duncan Speech Announcement

by Jim Horn
Secretary Duncan will speak at noon today to announce news regarding Race to the Top. Schools Matter was able to acquire this earlier draft of ED's announcement from Wiki Peeks:


The Quiet Coup Revolution
From journalists and educators to politicians and parents, there is a growing sense that a silent corporate overthrow quiet revolution is underway in our public institutions homes and schools, classrooms and communities.
On Tuesday, July 27, Secretary Arne Duncan will talk about this fascist undercover covert quiet
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Should Conservatives Cuddle Up to the Common Core? My Take on the Finn-Petrilli v. Greene Debate :: Frederick M. Hess

Should Conservatives Cuddle Up to the Common Core? My Take on the Finn-Petrilli v. Greene Debate :: Frederick M. Hess

Frederick M. Hess's Blog

Should Conservatives Cuddle Up to the Common Core? My Take on the Finn-Petrilli v. Greene Debate

by Frederick M. Hess • Jul 27, 2010 at 8:52 am
Cross-posted from Education Week

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During the past week, my pals Checker Finn, Mike Petrilli, and Jay Greene have been sparring over the question of whether conservatives ought to embrace the Common Core standards. Petrilli and Finn have argued in a thoughtful National Review Online column that No Child Left Behind fueled an explosion of mediocre state standards, undermining accountability and reform. Greene has responded that there's good reason to believe that the Common Core won't deliver on its promises and that it will impose real costs. As usual, Joanne Jacobsand Alexander Russo have been all over this.

For what it's worth, here's my two cents: I think Finn-Petrilli and Greene are both right. Checker and Mike are absolutely correct that the standards were developed by a state-led partnership, are superior to those in place in most states, and that transparency and market efficiency can benefit dramatically from a clear, rigorous,

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Ackerman reshuffles leadership Notes from the news, July 27 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, July 27 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, July 27

by Erika Owens
Ackerman reshuffles leadership Philadelphia Tribune
The Tribune gets the exclusive confirmation of rumored changes to the District's administration.
See also: No more regional heads, Tribune reports The Notebook blog
For whistleblower, no free lunch Daily News
A worker who alerted the District and the principal at Germantown High School about teachers eating free lunches meant for students was fired.
School District: we'll have enough teachers WHYY
Following up on our blog post about dozens of vacancies at Promise Academies, WHYY gets confirmation from the District that there are a "sufficient number of candidates" for this positions.
See also: More Than 60 Teaching Vacancies In School District’s Promise Schools PhillyNow
Sen. Williams introduces voucher bill The Notebook blog
State Sen. Anthony Williams proposed the bill that would bring vouchers to low-performing districts.
EduCon 2.3 Registration is open! Practical Theory blog
Please email us if we missed anything today or if you have any suggestions of publications, email lists, or other places for us to check for news.
Click here to get Notes from the news in your inbox every day.
Notes from the news
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Teaching Assignment Linked to TFA Retention - Teacher Beat - Education Week

Teaching Assignment Linked to TFA Retention - Teacher Beat - Education Week

Teaching Assignment Linked to TFA Retention

by Stephen Sawchuk
Teach For America teachers who are assigned to teach more than one grade, subject, or out-of-field are more likely to leave their schools—or the profession altogether, a new analysis concludes.
The paper is the latest addition to a complex research base on the popular alternate-route-to-teaching program. (Eduwonk has a nice summary of the research over at his blog.)
Morgaen Donaldson of the University of Connecticut and Susan Moore Johnson of Harvard University conducted the study, which is the first to my knowledge to examine the retention of TFA teachers longitudinally, using a national sample.
It also avoids some of the problems with retention-based literature in general. As the authors note, past studies
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20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act a Cause for Celebration and Rededication to Equal Educational Opportunity for Students with Disabilities | U.S. Department of Education

20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act a Cause for Celebration and Rededication to Equal Educational Opportunity for Students with Disabilities | U.S. Department of Education

20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act a Cause for Celebration and Rededication to Equal Educational Opportunity for Students with Disabilities

JULY 26, 2010

Contact:
Justin Hamilton, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov


U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) enactment by applauding the legislation and by rededicating the U.S. Department of Education to the ADA’s effective implementation.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation. It protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination and promotes their full inclusion into education and all other aspects of our society,” Duncan said. “I want to celebrate the progress that we’ve made and highlight our commitment to continuing the work of providing equal access for all Americans. I acknowledge we still have work to do and renew my commitment to ensuring that individuals of all ages and abilities have an equal opportunity to realize their full potential.
“With President Obama’s support,” Duncan said, “we are strengthening our efforts to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, have the tools they need to benefit from a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and careers.”
Duncan noted that the Department plays two important roles serving children and adults with disabilities. First, it enforces portions of the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other civil rights laws.
Since March, the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has initiated eight compliance reviews regarding disability. OCR is also providing technical assistance to help states, school districts, and postsecondary institutions fully understand their legal obligations. In June, the Education Department and the Department of Justice jointly issued guidance on students with disabilities’ right to equal access to emerging technologies in institutions of higher education.
“Due to the Department’s enforcement activities,” Duncan said, “we have increased students with disabilities’ participation in general education and reduced physical barriers, exclusionary qualification standards, and decisions based on generalizations about disability.”
Second, the Department provides funds to support the education, vocational rehabilitation, and other services for people with disabilities. With these services, people with disabilities have gradually improved their outcomes as measured by increased graduation and employment rates. The Department’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) supports ADA Technical Assistance Centers that provide information, guidance and training, and administers grants programs, authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which enable full participation of people with disabilities in the workplace and the community.
For further information about the ADA, Section 504 and OCR, please visithttp://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/disability.html.
To learn more about OSERS, the ADA Technical Assistance Centers and the independent living programs authorized by the Rehabilitation Act go to http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html?src=oc.
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