Parents: Retirement savings will help pay college tab - Oct. 5, 2010

Parents: Retirement savings will help pay college tab - Oct. 5, 2010

Retirement funds tapped for kids' tuition

By Jennifer Liberto, senior writerOctober 5, 2010: 9:53 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) -- Nearly a quarter of the nation's parents saving for their children's college education intend to raid their own retirement accounts, despite increasing their tax liability, according to a new study released Tuesday.

The results of the survey, conducted by student loan provider Sallie Mae and the Gallup organization, surprised personal finance experts - especially considering other options, such as 529 college savings plans, that can grow and be spent on college education tax free.

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Some 24% of parents said they planned to save for college by dipping into retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, IRAs and pension plans. The same percentage, 24%, said they plan to use 529 accounts

From Queens to Colorado, two principals start an open dialogue | GothamSchools

From Queens to Colorado, two principals start an open dialogue | GothamSchools

From Queens to Colorado, two principals start an open dialogue

by Philissa Cramer

Denver principal Marc Waxman’s public declaration last month that he no longer believed in school “reform” initially attracted a response from Diane Ravitch. Now it’s prompting a deeper conversation about big education policy questions.

Waxman has enlisted Stacey Gauthier, co-principal of Renaissance High School in Queens, for an open correspondence about how to improve schools. Gauthier and Waxman know each other already; they both worked at New York City charter schools that had converted from district schools.

In the column’s first entry today in the GothamSchools community section, Gauthier writes:

This is what a union looks like. � Fred Klonsky's blog

This is what a union looks like. � Fred Klonsky's blog

This is what a union looks like.

by preaprez

Not long ago I was taken to task on a blog for being critical of the past CTU leadership for allowing tenure rights to be taken away from Chicago teachers without a fight.

The person who posted noted that this happened under the watch of progressive CTU president Debbie Lynch. The writer claimed the old leadership wasn’t able to defend tenure rights for a whole list of reasons.

The victory in federal court yesterday demonstrates what can happen when you have union leadership that will

School choice goes mainstream — Joanne Jacobs

School choice goes mainstream — Joanne Jacobs

School choice goes mainstream

by Joanne

When did school choice go mainstream? asks Reason.tv, which covered NBC’s week-long Education Nation.

The “summit,” held at NBC’s New York studios at Rockefeller Center, almost felt like a publicity junket for Waiting for Superman, a highly praised new documentary advocating for charter schools. A national TV audience watched as D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee chewed out teachers union honcho Randi Weingarten for spending $1 million in campaign funds to halt Rhee’s reform agenda. Morning Joe‘s Mika Brzezinski took a shot at Weingarten for resisting merit pay for

A Small Addendum to My First Huffington Post Blog, Just Because — The Jose Vilson

A Small Addendum to My First Huffington Post Blog, Just Because — The Jose Vilson

A Small Addendum to My First Huffington Post Blog, Just Because

by Jose

John Lennon Speaks Out

Well, by now, most of you have either shared, read, or linked to my first post on the Huffington Post entitled “Where The Hammer Meets The Pick.” First things first: I’m glad I got such great reactions to the post. It’s a testament to the awesomeness of my social network, and how carefully we’ve helped craft the conversations.

Obama holds 1st summit on community colleges at WH - Boston.com

Obama holds 1st summit on community colleges at WH - Boston.com

Obama holds 1st summit on community colleges at WH

President Barack Obama, accompanied by President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) Chairman Paul Volcker, left, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, addresses the PERAB, Monday, Oct. 4, 2010, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

By Darlene Superville

Associated Press Writer / October 5, 2010

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WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama is turning the education spotlight on community colleges, enlisting career teacher Jill Biden to preside over the first White House summit on the system of schools he's counting on to help produce an additional 8 million graduates by 2020.

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While providing millions of students with skills training and a less expensive path to a college degree, these schools are challenged by climbing enrollments, high dropout rates and large numbers of students who come from high school needing significant remedial education before they can tackle college level work, officials say.

What works -- and does not work -- at community colleges will be

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AM News: Layoff Ruling Won't Save Teachers - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

AM News: Layoff Ruling Won't Save Teachers - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

AM News: Layoff Ruling Won't Save Teachers

by Alexander Russo

Federal Judge Orders CPS to 'Rescind' Teacher Layoffs WBEZ: Chicago Public Schools to "rescind" the layoffs of tenured teachers who were laid off earlier this year... Judge sides with union in Chicago teacher layoffs Tribune: In a blow to the Chicago Public Schools, a federal judge on Monday sided with the Chicago Teachers Union by ruling that last ...Judge gives laid off Chicago teachers second chanceCPS General Counsel Pat Rocks says the ruling demands that the district and union agree on a procedure to allow tenured teachers to compete for existing vacancies... CPS turns off the heat on Pilsen protesters Pilsen parents Monday accused Chicago Public Schools officials of cutting off the heat in the Whittier School field.. .25 most dangerous neighborhoods 2010 This year, Chicago took the not-so coveted top spot from Cincinnati for the most dangerous neighborhood [60612], while Atlanta has the highest number of neighborhoods making the list (four).

Bias crime charges may not added in Rutgers case... | crime courts, crime courts news, state, other state news from NorthJersey.com

Bias crime charges may not added in Rutgers case... | crime courts, crime courts news, state, other state news from NorthJersey.com

Bias crime charges may not added in Rutgers case

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

THE RECORD

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW BRUNSWICK — Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan says there may not be enough evidence to upgrade charges against two Rutgers University students accused of secretly taping another student's gay sexual encounter.

Moment of silence at Rutgers Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale

Prosecutors say 18-year-old freshman Tyler Clementi's roommate and another student used a webcam to broadcast live images of Clementi during the intimate encounter in his dorm room.

Clementi, a promising violinist, jumped off the George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River three days later.

I Am Furious, and It Keeps Me Running - Bridging Differences - Education Week

I Am Furious, and It Keeps Me Running - Bridging Differences - Education Week

I Am Furious, and It Keeps Me Running

by Diane Ravitch

Dear Deborah,

You asked what keeps me running, which I assume means how I find the energy to stay on the road week after week, speaking to teachers, parents, school board members, and concerned citizens. These days, I am running because of an inner rage at the attacks on teachers and public education. I see one of our most important public institutions under siege by people who want to privatize it, turn it into profit centers, and treat children as data points on a chart. This is wrong, and it will end badly. Critics say I defend the status quo, but nothing could be further from the truth. The status quo is awful, but the demonizing of teachers and the vilification of public education are even worse.

Last week, I was in Los Angeles. I spoke to L.A. teachers, who were shamed by the Los Angeles Times' disgraceful release of test-score data and ratings of 6,000 elementary teachers as more or less effective. I had previously believed that such ratings (value-added assessment) might be used cautiously by supervisors as one

PostPartisan - Are Michelle Rhee and Vincent Gray playing chicken?

PostPartisan - Are Michelle Rhee and Vincent Gray playing chicken?

Are Michelle Rhee and Vincent Gray playing chicken?

My first question to D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee in the latest Post Opinion Leaders video centered on the elephant in the room -- namely, her future.

In the months leading up to the Sept. Democratic primary, Rhee was unabashed about her support of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. She campaigned for him and spoke glowingly about how she was only able to do her job because of his support. How come, I wanted to know, she hasn't resigned or been fired by presumptive mayor Vincent C. Gray?

Rhee adroitly handled the question, saying it's too bad the dynamic

Chicago Teachers Union Celebrates 'Stunning Legal Victory' Against CPS Over Layoffs

Chicago Teachers Union Celebrates 'Stunning Legal Victory' Against CPS Over Layoffs

Updated: Tuesday, 05 Oct 2010, 7:42 AM CDT
Published : Monday, 04 Oct 2010, 6:23 PM CDT

FOX Chicago News

Chicago - A federal judge ruled Monday that the Chicago Public School system does not have the right to fire teachers without regard to seniority or tenure, handing a victory to the Chicago Teachers Union.

Before the start of the school year, 750 teachers were let go because of budget deficits.

Monday, a court ruling sided with CTU over the firings. Judge David Coar ruled that the district has 30 days to work with the union on a process that would set up so called "recall rules".

The teachers believe the ruling will get them back at work

Former NBA star Kevin Johnson to speak at Mt. Zion Baptist Church | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle

Former NBA star Kevin Johnson to speak at Mt. Zion Baptist Church | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle

Former NBA star Kevin Johnson to speak at Mt. Zion Baptist Church

By hildeborg

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Oprah, President Obama and the debut last week of Waiting for Superman have put education in the national spotlight.

To rally the community around improving public education, theLeague of Education Voters is bringing former NBA star and Mayor of Sacramento Kevin Johnson to Seattle to speak at Mount Zion Baptist Church on October 7 at 7 p.m.

Mayor Johnson will speak to a diverse group of local students, parents and community leaders about how communities ca

National Day of Action to Defend Public Education | The Nation

National Day of Action to Defend Public Education | The Nation

National Day of Action to Defend Public Education

Peter Rothberg

October 4, 2010

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Early last spring, students in California sparked a movement that has grown dramatically over the past year propelled by increasingly savage cuts to state education budgets nationwide. Thousands organized and participated in the March 4, 2010 National Day of Action to Defend Public Education events. The protests were most active in California, as this video shows, but took place in 32 other states as well.

Shanker Blog � Talking About But Not Learning From Finland

Shanker Blog � Talking About But Not Learning From Finland

TALKING ABOUT BUT NOT LEARNING FROM FINLAND

by Matthew Di Carlo

Finland’s education system has become an international celebrity. Their remarkable results are being trumpeted, usually in the “What can we learn from them?” context. Yet a lot of the recent discussion about what we canlearn – as far as concrete policies – has been rather shallow.

Right now, the factoid that is getting the most play is that Finnish teachers come from the “top ten percent” of those entering the labor force, whereas U.S. teachers don’t. But without knowing the reasons behind this difference, this fact is not particularly useful.

Although there has been some interesting research on these issues (se