Sacramento Press / City Council studying proposal for independent budget analyst:
"The independent budget analyst is separate from the strong mayor proposal because the budget analyst office would be developed through an ordinance, Fehr explained in a phone interview. The strong mayor format cannot be set up through an ordinance because the city’s governance structure is established in the city charter, he noted. The city charter must be changed in order for Sacramento’s mayor to gain new powers.
Fehr wrote that the independent budget analyst office could be paid for in two pieces: $370,000 would come from the city’s general fund, while $130,000 would come from special funds. The position could also lead to future savings for the city, according to Fehr."
Friday, August 28, 2009
Susan Goodkin and David G. Gold: In focus on proficiency, bright kids lose - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee
Susan Goodkin and David G. Gold: In focus on proficiency, bright kids lose - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:
"Many students scoring 'advanced' on grade-level material could progress much further with instruction geared to their needs. Instead, with teachers pressured by the No Child Left Behind Act to aim instruction at below-proficiency students, advanced learners are forced to sit through repetitive rote lessons on material they long ago mastered. Frustrated and bored, many bright students will act up, tune out and, as research shows, eventually even drop out in alarming numbers. Ignoring these students shortchanges them and California's future."
"Many students scoring 'advanced' on grade-level material could progress much further with instruction geared to their needs. Instead, with teachers pressured by the No Child Left Behind Act to aim instruction at below-proficiency students, advanced learners are forced to sit through repetitive rote lessons on material they long ago mastered. Frustrated and bored, many bright students will act up, tune out and, as research shows, eventually even drop out in alarming numbers. Ignoring these students shortchanges them and California's future."
Letters to the editor - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee
Letters to the editor - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:
Librarians help guide students
"As valuable as the Internet can be, it is also riddled with inaccurate and unreliable information. In addition to supplying valid print resources, a credentialed school librarian provides essential guidance in navigating the Web, instructing students in effective search strategies, Internet evaluation and research methodology. Without librarians, students will be left to wander cyberspace on their own."
Librarians help guide students
"As valuable as the Internet can be, it is also riddled with inaccurate and unreliable information. In addition to supplying valid print resources, a credentialed school librarian provides essential guidance in navigating the Web, instructing students in effective search strategies, Internet evaluation and research methodology. Without librarians, students will be left to wander cyberspace on their own."
Police Department hired for Natomas school security - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee
Police Department hired for Natomas school security - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:
"Natomas Unified school board members voted Wednesday night to renew the district's contract with the Sacramento Police Department for security at its two high schools.
'Monday morning we will have resource officers back on high school campuses,' said Heidi Van Zant, district spokeswoman.
The district had started its school year earlier this month without security due to budget cuts."
"Natomas Unified school board members voted Wednesday night to renew the district's contract with the Sacramento Police Department for security at its two high schools.
'Monday morning we will have resource officers back on high school campuses,' said Heidi Van Zant, district spokeswoman.
The district had started its school year earlier this month without security due to budget cuts."
Retiring Natomas superintendent had faced teacher no-confidence vote - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee
Retiring Natomas superintendent had faced teacher no-confidence vote - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:
"The Natomas Teachers Association had been planning to take a no-confidence vote next Thursday to express displeasure with district Superintendent Steve Farrar.
Teachers won't get the chance."
"The Natomas Teachers Association had been planning to take a no-confidence vote next Thursday to express displeasure with district Superintendent Steve Farrar.
Teachers won't get the chance."
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Education News & Comment
Education News & Comment: "Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education Speaks Out
Our new superintendent, plus the County Superintendent Dave Gordon, and Elk Grove Superintendent Steve Ladd were all at this press conference which took place at a school that isn't part of SCUSD. I was shocked when SCUSD Superintendent Raymond said that he was excited to be part of Mayor Johnson's team. When you use the link you need to click on part three. That is the part that contains SCUSD Superintendent Raymond's statement.
If you think it is noteworthy, please forward to as many parents and teachers as you know."
Our new superintendent, plus the County Superintendent Dave Gordon, and Elk Grove Superintendent Steve Ladd were all at this press conference which took place at a school that isn't part of SCUSD. I was shocked when SCUSD Superintendent Raymond said that he was excited to be part of Mayor Johnson's team. When you use the link you need to click on part three. That is the part that contains SCUSD Superintendent Raymond's statement.
If you think it is noteworthy, please forward to as many parents and teachers as you know."
Facebook | Seth Bramble The Executive Board of the Sacramento City Teacher's Association met today to set goals for the upcoming school year that will build our local strength and promote quality public education for ALL students. There were four new Board members... New faces! New ideas! Fresh start!
Facebook Seth Bramble The Executive Board of the Sacramento City Teacher's Association met today to set goals for the upcoming school year that will build our local strength and promote quality public education for ALL students. There were four new Board members... New faces! New ideas! Fresh start!:
"Seth Bramble The Executive Board of the Sacramento City Teacher's Association met today to set goals for the upcoming school year that will build our local strength and promote quality public education for ALL students. There were four new Board members... New faces! New ideas! Fresh start!"
"Seth Bramble The Executive Board of the Sacramento City Teacher's Association met today to set goals for the upcoming school year that will build our local strength and promote quality public education for ALL students. There were four new Board members... New faces! New ideas! Fresh start!"
Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education Speaks Out
Our new superintendent, plus the County Superintendent Dave Gordon, and Elk Grove Superintendent Steve Ladd were all at this press conference which took place at a school that isn't part of SCUSD. I was shocked when SCUSD Superintendent Raymond said that he was excited to be part of Mayor Johnson's team. When you use the link you need to click on part three. That is the part that contains SCUSD Superintendent Raymond's statement.
If you think it is noteworthy, please forward to as many parents and teachers as you know. It is important to tell our new superintendent that he works for SCUSD not for Kevin Johnson. Have SCUSD parents and students who attend our schools told him that he should join with Kevin Johnson 2 days after he starts working for us? That wasn't the message at CK McClatchy from parents, students, and teachers. We need to let Superintendent Raymond know that KJ barely won Oak Park when he was elected and did not do well in the other parts of SCUSD. He won Natomas and the areas not part of SCUSD. Supt. Raymond needs to focus on the opening of district schools, the transition process for the students from closed schools, and on making sure that our students have teachers in the classrooms on the first day of school. We should also let our Board of Education know that we don't want our Superintendent attending Kevin Johnson press conferences or events. We want him learning about our district from the ground up.
How will he be able to fairly evaluate Sacramento Charter High School when he is already a part of the Mayor's team?
Heidi McLean, chairperson
Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education
Click here to view video: http://tinyurl.com/noro72
If you think it is noteworthy, please forward to as many parents and teachers as you know. It is important to tell our new superintendent that he works for SCUSD not for Kevin Johnson. Have SCUSD parents and students who attend our schools told him that he should join with Kevin Johnson 2 days after he starts working for us? That wasn't the message at CK McClatchy from parents, students, and teachers. We need to let Superintendent Raymond know that KJ barely won Oak Park when he was elected and did not do well in the other parts of SCUSD. He won Natomas and the areas not part of SCUSD. Supt. Raymond needs to focus on the opening of district schools, the transition process for the students from closed schools, and on making sure that our students have teachers in the classrooms on the first day of school. We should also let our Board of Education know that we don't want our Superintendent attending Kevin Johnson press conferences or events. We want him learning about our district from the ground up.
How will he be able to fairly evaluate Sacramento Charter High School when he is already a part of the Mayor's team?
Heidi McLean, chairperson
Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education
Click here to view video: http://tinyurl.com/noro72
UC Davis News & Information :: $32.6 Million in Stimulus Funds Awarded to UC Davis for Research, More to Come
UC Davis News & Information :: $32.6 Million in Stimulus Funds Awarded to UC Davis for Research, More to Come:
"According to information available online from two federal agencies that administer research funding, as of Aug. 24, UC Davis faculty have garnered 88 research grants totaling nearly $32.6 million.
“At a time when we are very hard-pressed, this stimulus funding will allow us to build up an infrastructure that will serve us well for many years,” said Barry Klein, vice chancellor for research at UC Davis. “And that is precisely the purpose of these awards: to get things under way quickly that will have a long-term positive impact on the stability of the workforce on campus.”
Klein said he expects to see many more stimulus-funded grants flowing to the campus over the coming months. “We have about a half billion dollars of proposals submitted, while only a fraction of stimulus funds have been awarded so far,” he said."
"According to information available online from two federal agencies that administer research funding, as of Aug. 24, UC Davis faculty have garnered 88 research grants totaling nearly $32.6 million.
“At a time when we are very hard-pressed, this stimulus funding will allow us to build up an infrastructure that will serve us well for many years,” said Barry Klein, vice chancellor for research at UC Davis. “And that is precisely the purpose of these awards: to get things under way quickly that will have a long-term positive impact on the stability of the workforce on campus.”
Klein said he expects to see many more stimulus-funded grants flowing to the campus over the coming months. “We have about a half billion dollars of proposals submitted, while only a fraction of stimulus funds have been awarded so far,” he said."
Advice for Duncan: 'Race to the Top' Needs A Larger Dose of Early Ed | New America Blogs
Advice for Duncan: 'Race to the Top' Needs A Larger Dose of Early Ed New America Blogs:
"Advice for Duncan: 'Race to the Top' Needs A Larger Dose of Early Ed
Lisa Guernsey -
August 27, 2009 - 11:18am
Tomorrow is the deadline to submit comments on the Department of Education's proposed guidelines for Race to the Top, the new grant program created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Secretary Duncan released draft guidelines for RTT last month, and with more than 650 comments submitted so far, he is getting plenty of feedback on his vision.
Race to the Top gives the Secretary unprecedented discretion to dole out $4.3 billion in grants to states over the next year. But the money doesn't come free. States have to be looking pretty good in Duncan's eyes even before they apply for the money. What's more, if they want their applications to have any shot of being competitive, they will have to show that they are already making progress on many fronts, including working toward common standards, allowing for the creation of more charter schools and using longitudinal data systems to track students' performance.
The stipulations and criteria have caused a lot of consternation among state education leaders over the past few weeks, partly because the guidelines for participating are so tightly defined. In an analysis conducted by The National Teachers Project, only two states appear to meet each one of the Department of Education's expectations. Five states -- California, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania -- do not even meet the basic eligibility requirements, according to TNTP."
"Advice for Duncan: 'Race to the Top' Needs A Larger Dose of Early Ed
Lisa Guernsey -
August 27, 2009 - 11:18am
Tomorrow is the deadline to submit comments on the Department of Education's proposed guidelines for Race to the Top, the new grant program created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Secretary Duncan released draft guidelines for RTT last month, and with more than 650 comments submitted so far, he is getting plenty of feedback on his vision.
Race to the Top gives the Secretary unprecedented discretion to dole out $4.3 billion in grants to states over the next year. But the money doesn't come free. States have to be looking pretty good in Duncan's eyes even before they apply for the money. What's more, if they want their applications to have any shot of being competitive, they will have to show that they are already making progress on many fronts, including working toward common standards, allowing for the creation of more charter schools and using longitudinal data systems to track students' performance.
The stipulations and criteria have caused a lot of consternation among state education leaders over the past few weeks, partly because the guidelines for participating are so tightly defined. In an analysis conducted by The National Teachers Project, only two states appear to meet each one of the Department of Education's expectations. Five states -- California, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania -- do not even meet the basic eligibility requirements, according to TNTP."
Teacher Beat: Sen. Kennedy and the Teachers
Teacher Beat: Sen. Kennedy and the Teachers:
"Given all that, it's interesting to reflect that NCLB probably would not have passed, at least not as we know it now, without Ted Kennedy. As a number of obituaries have pointed out this week, President George W. Bush reached out to Kennedy in 2001 to help get the law through the Senate.
(It's worth pointing out, too, that a lot of the bill's tougher provisions actually came from the Democrats, not the Republicans. Rep. George Miller, for instance, pushed to require a school to make 'adequate yearly progress' for all the different subgroups, in addition to the school as a whole; Bush's original proposal would have required the disaggregated reporting, but only held schools accountable for subgroups of disadvantaged students.)"
"Given all that, it's interesting to reflect that NCLB probably would not have passed, at least not as we know it now, without Ted Kennedy. As a number of obituaries have pointed out this week, President George W. Bush reached out to Kennedy in 2001 to help get the law through the Senate.
(It's worth pointing out, too, that a lot of the bill's tougher provisions actually came from the Democrats, not the Republicans. Rep. George Miller, for instance, pushed to require a school to make 'adequate yearly progress' for all the different subgroups, in addition to the school as a whole; Bush's original proposal would have required the disaggregated reporting, but only held schools accountable for subgroups of disadvantaged students.)"
Education roundup: Race to the top hearing, SAT scores, new BC ... - Bakersfield.com
Education roundup: Race to the top hearing, SAT scores, new BC ... - Bakersfield.com:
"Teachers are concerned they could be unfairly evaluated or lose tenure in a new system.
State schools chief Jack O'Connell favors the application, and called for 'uncomfortable' conversions from all interested parties to put student needs first.
The California Teachers Association said it didn't want legislators to make a 'knee-jerk' reaction, and asked they not make changes without 'input from educators and parents.'"
"Teachers are concerned they could be unfairly evaluated or lose tenure in a new system.
State schools chief Jack O'Connell favors the application, and called for 'uncomfortable' conversions from all interested parties to put student needs first.
The California Teachers Association said it didn't want legislators to make a 'knee-jerk' reaction, and asked they not make changes without 'input from educators and parents.'"
PVUSD faces money trouble, labor unrest - Santa Cruz Sentinel
PVUSD faces money trouble, labor unrest - Santa Cruz Sentinel:
"'We're asking management, administration and principals to start taking the lead, to take pay cuts first,' said Bobbie Salazar, president of California School Employees Association, chapter 132.
Teachers didn't oppose a contract with San Jose-based Keenan and Associates for insurance consulting services, but they found a provision that called for binding arbitration to resolve disputes as well as a pay increase galling. Binding arbitration is a sticking point in the current labor impasse between teachers and district management. Jack Carroll, chief negotiator for the teachers union, said teachers aren't even looking for a raise. 'Do you folks have a plan, a plan to end the labor unrest that is brewing?' he asked."
"'We're asking management, administration and principals to start taking the lead, to take pay cuts first,' said Bobbie Salazar, president of California School Employees Association, chapter 132.
Teachers didn't oppose a contract with San Jose-based Keenan and Associates for insurance consulting services, but they found a provision that called for binding arbitration to resolve disputes as well as a pay increase galling. Binding arbitration is a sticking point in the current labor impasse between teachers and district management. Jack Carroll, chief negotiator for the teachers union, said teachers aren't even looking for a raise. 'Do you folks have a plan, a plan to end the labor unrest that is brewing?' he asked."
Draft guidelines for school improvement grants released
Draft guidelines for school improvement grants released - JSOnline
Duncan's proposed guidelines call for states to identify their bottom 5% of Title 1 schools in terms of school improvement status and implement one of four comprehensive reform models:
• Turnaround: Replace the principal and at least 50% of the staff; adopt new or revised instructional strategies; consider a longer school day or year; implement more social services; and get and keep highly qualified teachers.
• Restart: Close the school and reopen it under the management of a charter school or education management organization. The school must admit all former students who wish to attend the reopened school.
• Closure: Close the school and transfer the students to higher-performing schools in the district.
• Transformation: Implement a comprehensive transformation strategy that replaces the school leadership, rewards teacher and leader effectiveness, extends learning time and offers community-oriented services, and provides operating flexibility and other support.
But identifying the bottom 5% of Title 1 schools in a state can be harder than it sounds.
For schools, use of stimulus money falls short of big hopes | csmonitor.com
For schools, use of stimulus money falls short of big hopes csmonitor.com:
"The announcement earlier this year that roughly $100 billion in federal stimulus funds would flow to public schools came with great expectations – both for saving jobs and for fostering reforms in education. But the way the money is being used so far is decidedly more mundane.
In a new survey of 160 school-district leaders, 53 percent say they have not been able to use the money to save teaching positions in core subject areas or special education. And 67 percent say the opportunity to direct the money to reforms has been limited or nil."
"The announcement earlier this year that roughly $100 billion in federal stimulus funds would flow to public schools came with great expectations – both for saving jobs and for fostering reforms in education. But the way the money is being used so far is decidedly more mundane.
In a new survey of 160 school-district leaders, 53 percent say they have not been able to use the money to save teaching positions in core subject areas or special education. And 67 percent say the opportunity to direct the money to reforms has been limited or nil."
When asked how they are using or plan to use ARRA Title I monies, the top five responses were:
professional development (63 percent)
saving existing personnel positions (58 percent)
classroom technology (53 percent)
classroom equipment/supplies (38 percent)
software (35 percent)
professional development (63 percent)
saving existing personnel positions (58 percent)
classroom technology (53 percent)
classroom equipment/supplies (38 percent)
software (35 percent)
The top five reported uses for ARRA IDEA dollars are identical:
professional development (68 percent)
saving existing personnel positions (61 percent)
classroom technology (54 percent)
classroom equipment/supplies (41 percent)
software (37 percent)
professional development (68 percent)
saving existing personnel positions (61 percent)
classroom technology (54 percent)
classroom equipment/supplies (41 percent)
software (37 percent)
The ARRA State Fiscal Stabilization dollars are being invested in the same areas as Title I and IDEA dollars, though at much smaller rates, as districts report a greater variety of uses for the SFSF funds.
REGION: Testing improvements attributed to teachers, increase of data
REGION: Testing improvements attributed to teachers, increase of data:
"'We're moving forward,' said Jim Growth, a member of the California Teachers Association's board of directors and a teacher in Chula Vista. 'It's good news for everybody.'
Teaching strategies and curricula vary from district to district and from classroom to classroom, but local school officials said it's ultimately up to teachers and parents to boost student performance.
'Where the work takes place is in the classroom,' Growth said. 'California has thousands and thousands of very hardworking teachers who, in spite of all of the politics, continue to move forward and put their best foot forward.'
Teachers are becoming more familiar with what students are expected to know in each grade level, which has also helped to bring up test scores, said Sally Bennett-Schmidt, assessment coordinator with the San Diego County Office of Education. State education officials rewrote the tests in 2003 to align them closer to academic standards that were adopted a few years before."
"'We're moving forward,' said Jim Growth, a member of the California Teachers Association's board of directors and a teacher in Chula Vista. 'It's good news for everybody.'
Teaching strategies and curricula vary from district to district and from classroom to classroom, but local school officials said it's ultimately up to teachers and parents to boost student performance.
'Where the work takes place is in the classroom,' Growth said. 'California has thousands and thousands of very hardworking teachers who, in spite of all of the politics, continue to move forward and put their best foot forward.'
Teachers are becoming more familiar with what students are expected to know in each grade level, which has also helped to bring up test scores, said Sally Bennett-Schmidt, assessment coordinator with the San Diego County Office of Education. State education officials rewrote the tests in 2003 to align them closer to academic standards that were adopted a few years before."
L.A. Unified OKs pay incentives for some administrators -- latimes.com
L.A. Unified OKs pay incentives for some administrators -- latimes.com:
"Reporting from Los Angeles and Sacramento - The Los Angeles Unified School District has instituted a pay incentive program for high-level administrators, a move that is largely symbolic now but that some officials and board members hope will pave the way for more merit-based compensation in the future.
'I don't believe everyone is the same and I do believe there are individual skills and they should be rewarded,' said Supt. Ramon C. Cortines. 'I would hope some of the bargaining units would pick this up on their own.'"
"Reporting from Los Angeles and Sacramento - The Los Angeles Unified School District has instituted a pay incentive program for high-level administrators, a move that is largely symbolic now but that some officials and board members hope will pave the way for more merit-based compensation in the future.
'I don't believe everyone is the same and I do believe there are individual skills and they should be rewarded,' said Supt. Ramon C. Cortines. 'I would hope some of the bargaining units would pick this up on their own.'"
NEA Attacks Administration's Education Reform Plan | 44 | washingtonpost.com
NEA Attacks Administration's Education Reform Plan 44 washingtonpost.com:
"The union, which boasts 3.2 million members, charged that Race to the Top contradicted administration pledges to give states more flexibility in how they improve schools. 'We find this top-down approach disturbing; we have been down that road before with the failures of No Child Left Behind,' the union wrote in its comments, 'and we cannot support yet another layer of federal mandates that have little or no research base of success and that usurp state and local government's responsibilities for public education.'"
"The union, which boasts 3.2 million members, charged that Race to the Top contradicted administration pledges to give states more flexibility in how they improve schools. 'We find this top-down approach disturbing; we have been down that road before with the failures of No Child Left Behind,' the union wrote in its comments, 'and we cannot support yet another layer of federal mandates that have little or no research base of success and that usurp state and local government's responsibilities for public education.'"
Strong-Mayor Talks Heat Up At Council - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento
Strong-Mayor Talks Heat Up At Council - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento:
"After a suggestion by Councilmember Ray Tretheway, the council voted unanimously to delay the discussion for two weeks while Teichert seeks advice from the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the FPPC had not yet received a request from the Sacramento City Attorney's office.
Executive Director Roman Porter said if requested, the agency could provide an informal opinion during the two-week time frame."
"After a suggestion by Councilmember Ray Tretheway, the council voted unanimously to delay the discussion for two weeks while Teichert seeks advice from the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the FPPC had not yet received a request from the Sacramento City Attorney's office.
Executive Director Roman Porter said if requested, the agency could provide an informal opinion during the two-week time frame."
Gapers Block : Mechanics : Chicago Politics - Obama and Duncan: Unanswered Questions
Gapers Block : Mechanics : Chicago Politics - Obama and Duncan: Unanswered Questions:
"The skeptical person could conclude that it isn't Duncan's supposed 'new approach' to school reform--an approach that all evidence shows failed conclusively--that prompted his choice, but perhaps his ability to mask failure with corporate-speak laced 'initiatives' that give liberals the sensation that schools are 'innovating' and provide a good bulwark against criticism from teachers' union and public school advocates.
That would be the skeptical person. I'm going to give the President the benefit of the doubt and say that it was because they played basketball together."
"The skeptical person could conclude that it isn't Duncan's supposed 'new approach' to school reform--an approach that all evidence shows failed conclusively--that prompted his choice, but perhaps his ability to mask failure with corporate-speak laced 'initiatives' that give liberals the sensation that schools are 'innovating' and provide a good bulwark against criticism from teachers' union and public school advocates.
That would be the skeptical person. I'm going to give the President the benefit of the doubt and say that it was because they played basketball together."
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