NH town to decide fate of elementary school - Boston.com

NH town to decide fate of elementary school - Boston.com

NH town to decide fate of elementary school

August 23, 2010

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CLAREMONT, N.H.—The town of Unity, N.H., is meeting to vote on the future of its elementary school.

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The state school board had voted unanimously to close the school on July 8 because of fire code and other safety violations.

The town is holding a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Stevens High School in Claremont to vote on whether to approve funds for a new school; renovating the old one; and tuition

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College Dropout Factories � The Quick and the Ed

College Dropout Factories � The Quick and the Ed

College Dropout Factories

by Ben Miller

Nestor Curiel is a higher education success story. The third of six children from an immigrant Mexican family, Nestor is currently enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he is on track to graduate with a degree in engineering. Nestor beat the odds–he came from a gritty working-class suburb near the South Side of Chicago and a high school where only 31 percent of students meet or exceed standards on state tests.

But Nestor could easily have slipped through the cracks. Despite hard work in high school and a grade point average of 3.6, he ended up at Chicago State University, a public four-year college located in the southern part of the city. The six-year graduation rate for Chicago State is 13 percent and more than 40 percent of students don’t

The Educated Guess � Community forums in East San Jose

The Educated Guess � Community forums in East San Jose

Community forums in East San Jose

Posted in A to G Curriculum

Fewer than 4 out of 10 graduates of the East Side Union High School District, encompassing half of San Jose, qualify for a four-year university. Many of those who didn’t had no idea what courses were needed, before it was too late.

Explaining the A-G requirements required by the CSU and UC systems will be one part of a community dialogue of education that the Silicon Valley Education Foundation is sponsoring this week at four East Side Union High schools. The first is Monday, Aug. 23, at Oak Grove High School from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Parents of students in feeder districts are encouraged to attend as well.

For a full schedule, check here.

By John Fensterwald on August 23rd, 2010

LAUSD, teachers negotiating use of test scores

Posted in Teacher Development, Tenure, Turning around failing schools, pay

The Los Angeles Times’ impending plan to publish the performance rankings of 6,000 elementary school teachers, based on student test scores, has become the catalyst for sudden negotiations between Los Angeles Unified and its teachers union over teacher evaluations. One likely reason: Incorporating test scores into teachers’ personnel reviews could provide the legal basis in the future to deny releasing the scores, tied to individual teachers, to the public and to the Times.

The Times reported Sunday that United Teachers Los Angeles has accepted Deputy Superintendent John Deasy’s offer to restart talks on performance reviews of teachers. UTLA President A.J. Duffy declined to say whether that should include using test scores, although Duffy, who has flatly ruled out the use of test scores until now, is facing pressure to do so.

(Read more and comment on this post)

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: Florida charter schools

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: Florida charter schools

Florida charter schools

by The Perimeter Primate

CHARTER SCHOOLS: MISSING THE GRADE (four-part series), March 25-28, 2007, The Orlando (FL) Sentinel

--- PART 1: ACADEMIC TROUBLES ---

Risky choices: Many charters prove poor options

Pat and Tammy Rasmussen had no idea they'd sent their son Daniel to one of the lowest-performing schools in Florida [Richard Milburn Academy in New Port Richey] -- until he came home one day and said he was helping teach math class…

…Administrators offered to pay their son $50 for each friend he persuaded to join…

More than 300 charters teaching about 92,000 students have sprung up, funded by $1.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes in the past three years alone. Eighty schools are operating in Central Florida.

But a statewide investigation by the Orlando Sentinel found that while many charters serve children

AM News: Civic Committee Hates CPS Budget - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

AM News: Civic Committee Hates CPS Budget - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

AM News: Civic Committee Hates CPS Budget

by Alexander Russo

Civic group gives CPS budget cool OK Sun TImes: "This is a short-term, adequate plan to close a large deficit and allow public schools to open this year, but it will not prevent further problems with CPS' future budget,'' Msall said... CPS looks to balance budget on shaky foundation, Civic Federation says Crain's: The group criticized plans to transfer the stabilization fund's entire $190-million kitty to the general fund, characterizing replenishment options as "unreliable" because they depend on the city of Chicago and the state, which also are cash-strapped... CPS Budget Plan Receives a Grim Warning WBEZ: Chicago Public Schools' $6.4 billion budget plan for the upcoming school year is getting a stern warning from a leading fiscal watchdog... First Public Charter High School in Chicago Suburbs Opens WBEZ: The first public charter high school in the Chicago suburbs will begin classes on Thursday... Students Lobby To Use Smart Phones In Classrooms Chicagoist: To bring smart phones to every CPS high school student, the report mentions a proposed outside funding plan... NBA star Dwayne Wade Gives Back to Chicago Kids WBEZ: NBA star Dwayne Wade talks about life before the NBA, and how he tries to give something back to Chicago youth... Fritchey wants surplus TIF funds to go to city's schools Sun Times: Fritchey said Oak Forest and Chicago Heights officials have in the past chosen to return unallocated TIF funds.

Lynne Cheney group gives UC Berkeley an 'F' in general education | California Watch

Lynne Cheney group gives UC Berkeley an 'F' in general education | California Watch

Lynne Cheney group gives UC Berkeley an 'F' in general education

by Erica Perez

Erica Perez

Just as the vaunted U.S. News and World Report rated UC Berkeley as the nation's top public university last week, a less-noticed ranking system from the conservative American Council of Trustees and Alumni gave UC Berkeley an "F" because it only requires students to take one out of seven core subjects as defined by the

In wake of Palin speech, lawmakers OK opening foundation records

by Chase Davis

Chase Davis

Fundraising foundations at public universities would have to open their books to public scrutiny under a bill passed last week by the state Legislature, though donors would still be able to request anonymity in most cases.

It was the second time in the last two years that the bill, carried by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, has been sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk. He vetoed it last year, citing a chilling effect on donors if their names were to be disclosed.

More schools accused of pay-to-play catch ACLU's gaze

by Corey G. Johnson

Corey G. Johnson

The American Civil Liberties Union is accusing three more Southern California school districts of illegally charging students to participate in cheerleading, athletics, and AP calculus classes.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Poway, Grossmont and San Dieguito school districts received letters from the ACLU this week demanding internal documents on their pay-to-play practices. The letters included such instances as:

• Mandating a total of $1,691 in fees to be on the cheerleading team, plus another $600 to $700 to

Dan Walters: New school data fuel old debate - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

Dan Walters: New school data fuel old debate - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

Dan Walters: New school data fuel old debate

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By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com

Published: Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 3A

Last Modified: Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010 - 10:18 am

As 6 million California kids head back to school, the adults who are supposed to provide for their educations are engaged, as usual, in their circular debate over effects and causes.

A few days ago, the state Department of Education began releasing the annual flood of data about educational performance that is supposed to shed light on what's happening but more often causes confusion and generates political heat.

The first wave was a report on standardized testing aimed

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/22/2974637/dan-walters-new-school-data-fuel.html#mi_rss=Education#ixzz0xRMTS3gu

School year starts with bigger classes, reduced resources

By Diana Lambert and Melody Gutierrez - Published: Sunday, August 22 2010 - 12:00 am

School is back in session in most local districts, and students and staff are noticing big changes.

Rocklin's Sierra College gets serious about video games

By Mark Glover - Published: Sunday, August 22 2010 - 12:00 am

Parents who have been riding their kids about playing too many video games might want to reconsider.

Program aims to get teen girls excited about surgery, biomedical engineering

By Gina Kim - Published: Sunday, August 22 2010 - 12:00 am

Tanya Vincent, 16, wanted to be a nurse one day.

• More information about the Perry Initiative

Ex-legislator Ortiz's name can stay on Los Rios ballot, judge says

By Robert D. Dávila - Updated: 11:54 am

A judge cleared the way Friday for former state lawmaker Deborah Ortiz's name to appear on the Nov. 2 ballot for a seat on the Los Rios Community College District board.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/education/#ixzz0xRMeRIgk

With limited training, Teach for America recruits play expanding role in schools

With limited training, Teach for America recruits play expanding role in schools

GALLERY

From student to teacher, in five weeks

Jamila Best graduated from Howard University in the spring. Monday will be her first day teaching special education in a D.C. charter school. After taking part in a Teach for America boot camp this summer, she says she's ready for the job.

» LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

By Michael Birnbaum

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 23, 2010

Four months ago, Jamila Best was still in college. Two months ago, she started training to become a teacher. Monday morning, the 21-year-old will walk into a D.C. classroom, take a deep breath and dive into one of the most difficult assignments in public education.

THIS STORY

• School is back in session for many D.C. area students
• From student to teacher, in five weeks
• For Teach for America, 4,500 tests

View All Items in This Story

Best is one of 4,500 Teach for America recruits placed in public schools this year after five weeks of summer

Democratic primary could determine fate of D.C. schools, for better or worse

by Jay Mathews

School opens today in the District. For the next three weeks, Americans who care about the future of urban schools will watch the city closely.

A Few Noteworthy Thoughts from ECS :: Frederick M. Hess

A Few Noteworthy Thoughts from ECS :: Frederick M. Hess

A Few Noteworthy Thoughts from ECS

by Frederick M. Hess • Aug 23, 2010 at 9:22 am
Cross-posted from Education Week

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I spent the tail end of last week out in Portland, Oregon, at the Education Commission of the States annual confab. ECS honcho Roger Sampson quarterbacked an impressive gathering, chock full of state chiefs and key legislators. The chiefs in attendance were buzzing that the Department of Ed was sending word on Friday that governors should expect calls tomorrow morning from Duncan regarding round two Race to the Top (RTT) results (unless ED reprises its not-so-smooth i3 goof and accidentally posts the winners on TMZ this afternoon).

On Friday, I had the chance to do a panel on state-federal dynamics with Tennessee's razor-sharp governor Phil Bredesen and two of the state chiefs I admire most--MA's Mitch Chester and CO's Dwight Jones. Bob Wise

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

by Mike Klonsky

Pres. Obama

"We can't allow the corporate takeover of our democracy." (Weekly Address)

Diane Ravitch responds

"What about our schools?" (Tweet)

Wapo's Jay Mathews

If Mayor Adrian M. Fenty loses the Democratic primary, Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee -- the

The Educated Guess � LAUSD, teachers negotiating use of test scores

The Educated Guess � LAUSD, teachers negotiating use of test scores

LAUSD, teachers negotiating use of test scores

Posted in Teacher Development, Tenure, Turning around failing schools, pay

The Los Angeles Times’ impending plan to publish the performance rankings of 6,000 elementary school teachers, based on student test scores, has become the catalyst for sudden negotiations between Los Angeles Unified and its teachers union over teacher evaluations. One likely reason: Incorporating test scores into teachers’ personnel reviews could provide the legal basis in the future to deny releasing the scores, tied to individual teachers, to the public and to the Times.

The Times reported Sunday that United Teachers Los Angeles has accepted Deputy Superintendent John Deasy’s offer to restart talks on performance reviews of teachers. UTLA President A.J. Duffy declined to say whether that should include using test scores, although Duffy, who has flatly ruled out the use of test scores until now, is facing pressure to do so.

(Read more and comment on this post)

By John Fensterwald on August 23rd, 2010

CSBA board admits it was in the dark on pay

Tags: CSBA, Scott Plotkin
Posted in Advocacy organizations

In belatedly releasing more details about former executive director Scott Plotkin’s pay, the California School Board Assn. board of directors fessed up last week that they really didn’t know how much he made in total ($308,000 in 2006, $384K in ’07, $517K in ’08 and $403K in ’09).

“The Board reviewed the executive director’s compensation incrementally, and determined the level of compensation based on snapshots of information – rather than looking comprehensively at compensation history and the long-term implications,” said a statement posted on the organization’s web site.

The immediate consequence is a serious setback in the leadership of a critical organization representing K-12 education at a time when all interest groups in Sacramento are scrapping over every penny. CSBA is facing a swarm of school board members who are angry over how their taxpayer-funded dues, which comprised about 40 percent of CSBA’s $16 million budget, have been handled.

(Read more and comment on this post)

By John Fensterwald on August 22nd, 2010

Schools Matter: Obama Makes Nice: Union Chiefs Pucker Up

Schools Matter: Obama Makes Nice: Union Chiefs Pucker Up

Obama Makes Nice: Union Chiefs Pucker Up

by Jim Horn

George Bush or Margaret Spellings were no worse for education than Obama and Duncan, and they did not even come close in the outright hostility to the teaching profession. While the union prostisuits talked tough at the union conventions recently, that is all in the past now that the Dems need the 3.5 million teacher votes for November. A few nods, a wink, and a backroom deal here and there, and all is peaceful once more.

At a time when Van Roekel and Weingarten could be leveraging some of the liquid rage among the nation's teachers to get some relief from the corporate deformers, all we get are smiles and appreciative bows to the Oligarchs. From Politico:

. . . .Yet, as Obama’s outreach has continued, tensions have simmered down.

“In the last month, there’s been a shift in tone,” said American Federation of Teachers President

Perspectives from the Other Side of the Fence � InterACT

Perspectives from the Other Side of the Fence � InterACT

Perspectives from the Other Side of the Fence

by Kelly Kovacic

My grandmother often repeated the familiar adage, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” I kind of got the point, which was that things possessed by others tended to look a bit better than what I had, even though they really weren’t.

We are used to hearing that the American public school system is “failing” or “broken.” There is a constant drone of criticism from multiple mouths that we are losing a global race to excellence; that we are being passed

Big Education Ape on Vacation

Big Education Ape on Vacation

Please continue to read my favorite blog's latest and greatest below in the 
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I will be posting at Parents 4 democratic Schools when the mouse will let me!

Last night of my LA vacation Downtown Disney Brother Yusef

 Downtown Disney Blues Man Brother Yusef 

This guy Rocks (actually the Blues)

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Bluesman Brother Yusef, awesome Solo Blues Guitarist, as seen performing live in the 'House of Blues District', inside Downtown Disney, at the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, USA, at night

Kids Get The Blues Too/

Blues For Beginners

The Program

Kids get the Blues too/Blues for Beginners is a program created by Blues musician Brother Yusef for the purpose of introducing young children to the early African American tradition of the Blues. Through dancing, singing, and audience participation, children and adults will discover the many expressions of the Blues. Brother Yusef will touch on the early history of instrument making, vocal styles such as call and response and musical styles such as spirituals, work songs and songs just for fun. He will also talk about the influence Blues has in contemporary music. The program concludes with everyone grabbing an instrument and participating in a grand jam session.Kids get the Blues too/Blues for Beginners is a program created by Blues musician Brother Yusef for the purpose of introducing young children to the early African American tradition of the Blues. Through dancing, singing, and audience participation, children and adults will discover the many expressions of the Blues. Brother Yusef will touch on the early history of instrument making, vocal styles such as call and response and musical styles such as spirituals, work songs and songs just for fun. He will also talk about the influence Blues has in contemporary music. The program concludes with everyone grabbing an instrument and participating in a grand jam session.

go to the Organic Deep Fried Fattback Blues Brother Yusef Website