Teachers Sue District Over Layoffs - D.C. Wire -

Teachers Sue District Over Layoffs - D.C. Wire -:

"The Washington Teachers Union sued today to block last week's teacher layoffs, charging that District public school principals improperly targeted educators for dismissal on the basis of age or their willingness to speak out against administrators, union president George Parker said late this afternoon.

Parker said the suit, filed in D.C. Superior Court, asks that DCPS be enjoined from firing the 388 teachers and other staff, who are scheduled to be dropped from the payroll on Nov. 2.

'This was a RIF (reduction in force) that was done in entirely a loose fashion,' said Parker, who briefed teachers this afternoon at the Metropolitan AME Church on M St. NW. 'It allowed principals to get rid of teachers regardless of their performance. Outspoken teachers, strong union advocates, they were targeted. 'That's the bottom line.'"

D.C. Teachers Stunned by Their Dismissal - washingtonpost.com

D.C. Teachers Stunned by Their Dismissal - washingtonpost.com:

"A neat row of X's stretches down Eve McCarey's performance evaluation, showing that in category after category, she is someone who 'exceeds expectations.' With three years of experience as a special education teacher at Anacostia High School, she is hardworking, well-spoken and now unemployed."

McCarey seems to be the sort of teacher any hard-charging, reformist schools chancellor would want in a classroom. But despite layoff rules designed to help the system retain high-performing teachers, McCarey found herself out of a job Friday, along with other educators who range from idealistic Teach for America newcomers to a 32-year guidance counselor who is praised by parents as uncommonly effective.
"It just feels like my heart has been broken," said counselor Sheila Gill, 57, of McKinley Technology High School. "I have been trying to process all of what's going on. It happened so quickly and so suddenly."

Attorney General, in Chicago, Pledges Youth Violence Effort - NYTimes.com

Attorney General, in Chicago, Pledges Youth Violence Effort - NYTimes.com:

"CHICAGO — Trying to spark what he called “a sustained national conversation” about youth violence, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. met with public school students and elected officials here Wednesday, pledging a heightened crime-fighting commitment from the federal government toward vulnerable children."

Mr. Holder, joined by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the former head of the local public schools, said the Obama administration was dedicated to being a full partner in the fight against youth violence, in part, because “too many of today’s victims become tomorrow’s criminals.”

“Youth violence is not a Chicago problem any more than it is a black problem, a white problem or a Hispanic problem,” Mr. Holder said at a morning news conference, flanked by Mayor Richard M. Daley and other city officials. “It is something that affects communities big and small and people of all races and all colors. It is an American problem.”

San Fernando Valley Sun - Census Becomes Point of Contention for Latinos

San Fernando Valley Sun - Census Becomes Point of Contention for Latinos:

"It's still six months away, but the U.S. Census 2010 has become a controversial issue in the Latino community, with some groups advocating for a boycott, while others are gearing up campaigns to push immigrants to get themselves counted.

'If we cannot count on the government, why are we going to get counted?,' asked Nativo Lopez, president of Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana who along with Rev. Miguel Rivera, chairman of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy, are asking undocumented immigrants to abstain from participating in the census as a way to pressure the Obama administration to pass an immigration reform.

Lopez said Latino participation was very high in the past two censuses, in 1990 and 2000 because there was an incentive for immigrants to participate."

Capitol Briefing - School Lunch Funds Get a Boost

Capitol Briefing - School Lunch Funds Get a Boost:

"The debate over health care has largely eclipsed talk of school lunch reform. But there's good news for advocates of healthful school food in the House Agriculture Appropriations conference report: $135 million worth, to be precise.

The bill, which passed 263 to 162 late Wednesday, provides, among other things, $85 million for pilot projects to expand summer feeding programs, $25 million to increase access to low-income children and $25 million to help purchase kitchen equipment necessary to store, prepare and serve healthful meals."

California Chronicle | Get Schooled: The Gates Foundation Launches a New Education Program to Help Students Succeed

California Chronicle Get Schooled: The Gates Foundation Launches a New Education Program to Help Students Succeed:

"Every 26 seconds a student drops out of high school. Every day 7,000 students walk out on their educations. One-third of all students fail to graduate from high school. And most low-income students who start college never finish.

These are some big issues. And on Sept. 8, big names from business, entertainment and politics gathered to help solve these problems at a conference held at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California. The event centered on the launch of Get Schooled, an initiative started by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The five-year program is dedicated to helping more high school kids graduate so that they can succeed later in life."

Obama: 'The Power Of Free And Open Inquiry' Is At The Heart Of America | TPM LiveWire

Obama: 'The Power Of Free And Open Inquiry' Is At The Heart Of America TPM LiveWire

The White House issued the following transcript of remarks today by President Obama at the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation Ceremony. Here's the full text:

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you. Everyone please have a seat. Before I begin the ceremony to introduce these extraordinary innovators, let me just mention a few people who are in the audience today. First of all, we've got some outstanding members of my Cabinet: Secretary Locke, Secretary Sebelius, Secretary Chu, and Administrator Jackson. We are very grateful for all the outstanding work they're doing.
We've got some wonderful partners in Congress that I want to mention: Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon; Senator Jim Risch of Idaho; Senator -- Representative Rush Holt. Rush, I almost gave you a promotion there -- (laughter) -- or a demotion, depending on how you look at it -- (laughter) -- of New Jersey; Representative Anna Eshoo of California; and Representative Zoe Lofgren of California. I also want to mention my science advisor who is doing outstanding work, Dr. Holdren is here, as well as NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. And we want to thank some of the people who helped to organize today's event -- the National Science Foundation and its director, Arden Bement; the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and its director, Dave Kappos; and Linda Katehi, the chair of the National Medals of Science and Technology and Innovation Committee. So give all of them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Now, it's also a real pleasure to have so many distinguished researchers and innovators joining us, although I must admit that I have an ulterior motive for presenting these awards today. You see, Sasha has a science fair coming up. (Applause.) And I was thinking that you guys could give us a few tips. (Laughter.) Michelle and I are a little rusty on our science. (Laughter.)

In all seriousness, it is a privilege to present these medals, our nation's highest honor for scientific and technological achievement, to the folks who've come here today from all parts of our country and all areas of scientific investigation. The scientists in this room have plumbed the furthest reaches of the universe and the deepest recesses of the human mind; they've sequenced the human genome and stimulated the workings of the atom; they've developed technologies that have greatly improved our understanding of the human body and the natural world; and they've fostered innovations that have saved millions of lives and improved countless more.
So this nation owes all of you an enormous debt of gratitude far greater than any medal can bestow. And we recognize your contributions, but we also celebrate the incredible contributions of the scientific endeavor itself. We see the promise -- not just for our economy but for our health and well-being -- in the human capacity for creativity and ingenuity. And we are reminded of the power of free and open inquiry, which is not only at the heart of all of your work, but at the heart of this experiment we call America.

Because throughout our history, amid tumult and war and against tough odds, this nation has always looked toward the future and then led the way. It was during the darkest days of the Civil War that President Lincoln established the land grant colleges and the National Academy of Science. It was during World War II that President Roosevelt requested that Vannevar Bush -- his science advisor and a future recipient of the National Medal of Science -- outline a set of policies to maintain our scientific and technological leadership in the 20th century.

And it was in the years that followed the Soviet launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, that the United States would create DARPA, NASA, and the National Defense Education Act, which helped improve math and science education from grade school to graduate school. In fact, the National Medal itself was established just two years after that launch, as a sign to the world and to ourselves of how highly we valued the work of the nation's scientists.

Today, we face more complex challenges than generations past. A medical system that holds the promise of unlocking new cures -- attached to a health care system that has the potential to bankrupt families and businesses. A system of energy that powers our economy but endangers our planet. Threats to our security that seek to exploit the very interconnectedness and openness that's so essential to our prosperity. And challenges in a global marketplace which link the trader on Wall Street to the homeowner on Main Street, and the office worker in America to the factory worker in China -- we all share an opportunity, but we also all share in crisis.

At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we can't afford to invest in science, that it's a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I could not disagree more. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, and our health, and our way of life than it has ever been. And the winners we are recognizing only underscore that point, with achievements in physics and medicine, computer science and cognitive science, energy technology and biotechnology. We need to ensure that we are encouraging the next generation of discoveries -- and the next generation of discoverers.

That's why my administration has set this goal: by investing in education, funding basic and applied research, and spurring private innovation, we will devote 3 percent of our gross domestic product to research and development. That's more than at any point in recent history. (Applause.)

And as part of this effort, we're putting in place policies that will move us from the middle to the top of the pack in math and science education over the next decade. We are challenging states to dramatically improve achievement by raising standards, by improving the use of technology, and by making it possible for professionals like our honorees to bring a lifetime of experience and enthusiasm into the classroom. And we've also launched a Race to the Top fund to encourage states to compete for the most innovative programs in math and science, as part of a broader effort to foster new ways of engaging young people in these fields.

The White House is participating, too. Tonight, in fact, we're bringing children to the South Lawn for a night of astronomy. I am really looking forward to this. (Laughter.) This is going to be fun. They'll peer through telescopes, wander through exhibits, and hopefully feel a sense of wonder that might one day lead them here to receive a medal themselves.

And my administration has set another goal to compete for the jobs of the future and to encourage the scientists and engineers of the future. By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. We used to be number one. We have fallen behind. We are going to regain our position. (Applause.)

To meet this goal, we've increased the Pell Grant and passed legislation through the House -- which we're working to pass through the Senate -- to end more than $80 billion in wasteful subsidies to lenders and use that money instead to help students.

Beyond the classroom, the Recovery Act that we passed is funding the largest single boost to biomedical research in history. My budget makes the research and experimentation tax credit permanent to help companies afford the often high cost of innovation. I've proposed eliminating the capital gains tax for investments in startups and small companies -- because countless big ideas begin in small businesses. And we are doubling our capacity in renewable energy, even as we seek to create a system of incentives to make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.

For at our best, this nation has never feared the future. We've shaped the future. Even when we've endured terrible storms, we haven't given up or turned back -- we've remain fixed on that brighter horizon. That's how we've led in the pursuit of scientific discovery; and in turn that's how science has helped us lead the world.

There's no better illustration than what took place at the close of World War II, when the United States transported dozens of captured V-2 rockets from Germany to New Mexico. These were among the most sophisticated weapons in the world, a reminder that much of World War II was fought far from the battlefield -- by Alan Turing in Bletchley Park, and Oppenheimer in Los Alamos, and by countless others who developed radar and aircraft and antibiotics.

The military wanted to understand this new missile technology that the V-2 represented; but scientists were also invited to use these tests to take measurements of the atmosphere. And then one engineer had an idea: to rig a camera and attach it to one of the rockets. And so in this brief moment between the end of a world war and the start of a cold war, a group of scientists erupted with joy as they discovered that they had captured the very first photos of our world as seen from space. Their work would continue as the Rocket and Satellite Research Panel. And after the launch of Sputnik in 1957, the work of this panel would be assumed by a new agency, called NASA. The research into these weapons of war would lead to the missions of Mercury and Gemini and Apollo.

That's the incredible promise of the work scientists do every day -- like the scientists, researchers, and engineers, and innovators we honor with these medals. Yes, scientific progress offers us a chance to achieve prosperity and defend our nation. It has offered us benefits that have improved our lives and our health -- improvements that we often take for granted. But it also gives us something more. At root, science forces us to reckon with the truth as best as we can ascertain it, and to reckon with the power that comes from this knowledge -- for good and for ill. With each new discovery brings new responsibility to move past our differences and to address our shared problems; to embrace a sense of wonder, and our common humanity.

Carl Sagan, who helped broaden the reach of science to millions of people, once described his enthusiasm for discovery in very simple terms. He said, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." (Laughter.) Thank you all for the incredible discoveries that you have made, the progress you've invented, and the benefits you've bestowed on the American people and the world.

So it is now my honor to ask the recipients to come forward to receive their medals, and as their citations are read I will -- you'll just have to bend down a little bit -- (laughter) -- and we will bestow on you the highest honor that our nation can give you for your science, technology, and innovation.

So, do we have someone here for the citations?

MILITARY AIDE: Dr. Berni Alder. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Berni Alder, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, for establishing powerful computer methods useful for molecular dynamic simulations, conceiving and executing experimental shock-wave simulations to obtain properties of fluids and solids at very high pressures, and developing Monte Carlo methods for calculating the properties of matter from first principles, all of which contributed to major achievements in the science of condensed matter.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Francis S. Collins. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Francis S. Collins, National Institutes of Health, for his visionary contributions to the fields of genetics and genomics through the work of his own laboratory and his leadership of multiple international genomics initiatives, including the Human Genome Project.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Joanna S. Fowler. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Joanna S. Fowler, Brookhaven National Laboratory, for her pioneering work in chemistry involving the synthesis of medical imaging compounds and her innovative applications of these compounds to human neuroscience, which have significantly advanced our understanding of the human brain and brain diseases, including drug addiction.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. Elaine Fuchs. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Elaine Fuchs, The Rockefeller University, for her pioneering use of cell biology and molecular genetics in mice to understand the basis of inherited diseases in humans and her outstanding contributions to our understandings of the biology of skin and its disorders, including her notable investigations of adult skin stem cells, cancers, and genetic syndromes.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. James E. Gunn. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. James E. Gunn, Princeton University, for his brilliant design of many of the most influential telescopes and instruments in astronomy, and in particular for the crucial role those technological marvels played in the creation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which has cataloged 200 million stars, galaxies, and quasars; discovered the most distant known quasars; and probed the epoch of formation of the first stars and galaxies.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. Rudolf E. Kálmán. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Rudolf E. Kálmán, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, for his fundamental contributions to modern system theory, which provided rigorous mathematical tools for engineering, [econometrics], and statistics, and in particular for his invention of the "Kálmán filter," which was critical to achieving the Moon landings and creating the Global Positioning System and which has facilitated the use of computers in control and communications technology.
(The medal is awarded.) (Applause.)

Dr. Michael I. Posner. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. Michael I. Posner, University of Oregon, for his innovative application of technology to the understanding of brain function, his incisive and accurate modeling of functional tasks, and his development of methodological and conceptual tools to help understand the mind and the development of brain networks of attention.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. JoAnne Stubbe. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. JoAnne Stubbe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for her groundbreaking experiments establishing the mechanisms of ribonucleotide reductases, polyester synthases, and natural product DNA cleavers -- compelling demonstrations of the power of chemical investigations to solve problems in biology.

THE PRESIDENT: He had to practice that. (Laughter.)

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE: Dr. J. Craig Venter. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Science to Dr. J. Craig Venter, J. Craig Venter Institute, for his dedication to the advancement of the science of genomics, his contributions to our understanding of its implications for society, and his commitment to the clear communication of information to the scientific community, the public, and policymakers.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Forrest M. Bird. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dr. Forrest M. Bird, Percussionaire Corporation, for his pioneering inventions in cardiopulmonary medicine, including the medical respirator; devices that helped launch modern-day medical evacuation capabilities; and intrapulmonary percussive ventilation technologies, which have saved the lives of millions of patients in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other conditions.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Esther Sans Takeuchi. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dr. Esther Sans Takeuchi, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, for her seminal development of the silver vanadium oxide battery that powers the majority of the world's lifesaving implantable cardiac defibrillators, and her innovations in other medical battery technologies that improve the health and quality of life of millions of people.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. John E. Warnock and Dr. Charles M. Geschke. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dr. John E. Warnock and Dr. Charles M. Geschke, Adobe Systems Incorporated, for their pioneering technological contributions that were central to spurring the desktop publishing revolution and for their role in changing the way people create and engage with information and entertainment across multiple mediums including print, video, and the Web.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Mr. Samuel Palmisano, accepting for IBM Corporation. (Applause.) 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation to IBM Corporation for the IBM Blue Gene supercomputer and its systems architecture, design, and software, which have delivered fundamental new science, unsurpassed speed, and unparalleled energy efficiency and have had a profound impact worldwide on the high-performance computing industry.
(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that -- the ceremony is over, but I think it would be appropriate for everybody to, again, to stand up and give these recipients a big round of applause. (Applause.)

The Bay Area Reporter Online | Religious right gunning for safe schools czar

The Bay Area Reporter Online Religious right gunning for safe schools czar:

"Conservative pundits and organizations, including the American Family Association and Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, are seeking to oust Kevin Jennings from his job as assistant deputy secretary of the national Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

The calls for him to resign have intensified in the aftermath of Fox News commentator Glenn Beck's leading the charge to force the resignation of Obama administration green jobs czar Van Jones."

Capitol Alert: EdSource report lays out California's school conflicts with feds

Capitol Alert: EdSource report lays out California's school conflicts with feds:

"While a flap over using student test scores to evaluate teachers' performance has gotten most of the ink, it's just one of several significant changes in education policy that California would have to make to qualify for a new surge of federal aid, EdSource, a Mountain View-based education think tank, says in a new study.

President Barack Obama, both personally and through his education secretary, Arne Duncan, has criticized California for not aligning itself with the administration's new education goals, focusing on its reluctance to use test data for teacher evaluation.

With billions of federal dollars"

California gains stimulus funds for broadband Internet - Sacramento Business, Housing Market News | Sacramento Bee

California gains stimulus funds for broadband Internet - Sacramento Business, Housing Market News Sacramento Bee:

"California will receive some of the first federal stimulus money to close the so-called digital divide, but it's angling for much more.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded the first four grants under its State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program."

Lustig: A jury selection to revamp constitution? - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Lustig: A jury selection to revamp constitution? - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"The deepening failure of California politics has led many to call for a new constitutional convention. Major state groups, leaders and mayors are backing the idea, which will be the focus of a meeting in Sacramento on Oct. 14.

One of the thorniest but most important questions surrounding a convention is deciding how to pick its delegates. One current proposal, which has led to some confusion, is to pick convention delegates the way we do jury panels. In that way, the thinking goes, citizens could escape the influence of special interests and wealth in the convention proceedings."

St. HOPE board names new schools superintendent - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

St. HOPE board names new schools superintendent - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Ed Manansala has been named the new superintendent of St. HOPE Public Schools.

The board of directors of the public charter school system that operates Sacramento Charter High School and PS7 Elementary School announced Wednesday that it had made Manansala's position permanent.

Manansala had been serving as the interim superintendent since former executive director Rick Maya officially left in June."

Why I Love My Public School

Our Mission

Parents for Public Schools -- San Francisco (PPS-SF) is a network of parents working together to build and ensure quality schools for all San Francisco children. We do this by providing parent-to-parent information, news and networking and by developing parent leaders at the school and district level.
http://www.ppssf.org/

CTA representatives, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Majority Leader Kevin Deleon (D-Los Angeles),

This morning, CTA representatives, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Majority Leader Kevin Deleon (D-Los Angeles), and school supporters told reporters at a news conference on the Capitol steps that they are urging Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a measure that would protect $402 million in funding for the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) and district revenue limit appropriations. SCTA President Linda Tuttle spoke about schools in Sacramento that have seen skyrocketing student performance as a result of the tools the QEIA funding helps provide.

Sacramento Press / Mayor in favor of Nestlé water bottling plant

Sacramento Press / Mayor in favor of Nestlé water bottling plant:

"Nestlé water bottling plant

Johnson praised Nestlé’s plan to set up a plant to bottle and sell water from the American River, saying the plant will create jobs.

“I knew that this would bring about 40 to 60 jobs in our community and that’s a good thing,” he said.

Johnson also said he wished he could have been more involved in the process of bringing the plant to Sacramento, but noted that the city manager’s office has jurisdiction on the issue.

But Councilmembers Kevin McCarty and Lauren Hammond disagree. They said they want the City Council to get involved in the issue. McCarty has called Nestlé’s plan “a sweetheart deal.”"

Inside City Hall: Tretheway blocks mayor's council committee shuffle - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com

Inside City Hall: Tretheway blocks mayor's council committee shuffle - Sacramento City News - sacbee.com:

"Tretheway blocks mayor's council committee shuffle

Mayor Kevin Johnson's attempt to shuffle the City Council subcommittees was scuttled last week. Here's the back story, according the parties involved:

Jeff Dorso, the attorney who chaired the mayor's transition team, stopped by Councilman Ray Tretheway's office 90 minutes before last week's council meeting. Dorso wanted to chat about Johnson's proposed strong-mayor initiative, for which Dorso is a legal adviser.

During the talk, the mayor's proposed realignment of two City Council committees came up. It was on that evening's consent agenda - which is normally approved with little discussion."

UC Leadership Looks Into Alternative Ways To Save Public Universities - California Progress Report

UC Leadership Looks Into Alternative Ways To Save Public Universities - California Progress Report

A little over a week ago, the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of UC Berkeley, Robert Birgeneau and Frank Yeary wrote an op-ed published on both coasts arguing for a new hybrid model as a means to save California's public universities.

They wrote:

"The economic crisis has made this a countrywide phenomenon, with devastating cuts in some states, including California. Historically acclaimed public institutions are struggling to remain true to their mission as tuition rises and in-state students from middle- and low-income families are displaced by out-of-state students from higher socioeconomic brackets who pay steeper fees. While America is fortunate to have many great private universities, we do not need to add to the list by privatizing Berkeley, Illinois, Rutgers, etc. On the contrary, we need to keep our public research and teaching universities excellent and accessible to the vast majority of Americans."
Their proposal is for the federal government should create a hybrid model,

"in which a limited number of our great public research and teaching universities receive basic operating support from the federal government and their respective state governments. Washington might initially choose a representative set of schools, perhaps based on their research achievements, their success in graduating students, commitment to public service and their record in having a student body that is broadly representative of society.

The White House - Blog Post - Streaming at 1:30: National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation

The White House - Blog Post - Streaming at 1:30: National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation:

"From his first days in office the President made clear that science, technology, and innovation would be elevated to core values in his Administration. But the awards being given today are evidence of how deeply rooted these things are in the American tradition.
Watch the event here through WhiteHouse.gov/live

Watch and discuss the event as it's happening through Facebook
The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering."

Afterschool Alliance

Afterschool Alliance:

"Each afternoon across the U.S., 15 million children--more than a quarter of our youth--are alone and unsupervised after school. The parents of 18 million would enroll their children in an afterschool program, if one were available. These are some of the key findings from the nation’s most in-depth study of how America’s children spend their afternoons. America After 3 PM was sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. The 2009 report, conducted for the Afterschool Alliance, surveyed nearly 30,000 households across the United States.

The survey finds that 8.4 million children participate in an afterschool program, an increase of nearly 3 million children over the past five years. While this is encouraging, there is still work to be done. The number of children left alone after the school day ends has risen to 15.1 million children - an increase of 800,000 children - since the 2004 edition of America After 3PM.

Listen to the Afterschool Alliance's Jodi Grant and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund's Jodi Gibson talk about the new America After 3 PM findings.
Please see the links and map below for America After 3 PM insight into nearly every avenue of afterschool program participation."

Read the full report: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12734400/America-After-3-PM

Education Week: Survey Finds More Children Unattended After School

Education Week: Survey Finds More Children Unattended After School:

"Thirty percent of those students left alone are middle schoolers, 4 percent are in elementary school, and the remaining 66 percent are students of high school age, according to the nationally representative survey, which included responses from about 30,000 U.S. households during the 2008-09 school year. Most participants were surveyed through the mail with some follow-up phone surveys, and the margin of error for the study is plus or minus sixth-tenths of a percent.

The survey, sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, based in Plano, Texas, also found that 88 percent of those surveyed agreed that after-school programs are “an absolute..."