Education Week: 'Funding Cliff' Looms Large for States

Education Week: 'Funding Cliff' Looms Large for States:

"Amid a still-shaky economy, a troubling reality is starting to set in for states and school districts: The budget situation may get a lot worse when the federal economic-stimulus spigot runs dry.

The hope of the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress has been that the $787 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—including some $100 billion for education—would soften the pain of the recession and help drive a recovery.

But as helpful as many state and local officials have found the once-only stimulus aid in coping with current and anticipated revenue shortfalls, it creates some awfully big holes to fill when the money begins to run out late next year in what’s widely known..."

Michelle Obama Reaps Bonanza From White House Garden -- Politics Daily

Michelle Obama Reaps Bonanza From White House Garden -- Politics Daily:

"The White House garden, a project of First Lady Michelle Obama's East Wing, was planted last April. As of Thursday, when Mrs. Obama presided over the fall harvest, it had produced 963 pounds of food.

When the grades come in on President Obama's first year in office -- and next Wednesday marks the anniversary of his election -- the garden on the South Lawn should get an A (as in arugula) because it was one heck of a good idea.

The garden has been great PR for Mrs. Obama, providing a non-controversial, picturesque backdrop to talk about her inter-related issues -- healthy eating, exercise, obesity, eating locally produced food, plugging the Obama health reform plan pending in Congress and opening up the White House to the community."

Amherst Bulletin | Editorial: State applies brakes to school mergers

Amherst Bulletin Editorial: State applies brakes to school mergers:

"The long arm of the law from Boston won't be compelling small school districts like Hadley to find new partners, it turns out. At least not now.

We believe that when done right, school regionalization can widen academic offerings and reduce administrative costs. It has already done so in many area schools, though small districts continue to dot the state's educational landscape.

Now, recent local studies are questioning the money side of the equation. And the state finds itself - in a financially dismal 2009 - unable to bankroll change."

With New York Teachers’ Contract Set to Expire, Talks Are Unusually Quiet - NYTimes.com

With New York Teachers’ Contract Set to Expire, Talks Are Unusually Quiet - NYTimes.com:

"With two days left on the New York City teachers’ contract, it would be reasonable to expect a thunder-and-lightning storm of fists pounding on tables and accusations flying in the press."

But this is no ordinary year for the United Federation of Teachers, the city’s teachers’ union, or for City Hall.

Instead, there is near silence. While the union and city officials are indeed negotiating, few expect any agreement before Tuesday, which is Election Day. The union is all but certain to stay neutral in the mayoral race — a boon for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has been widely criticized among the rank and file. And despite nearly constant calls for changes by the schools chancellor, Joel I. Klein, observers are doubtful that the new contract will contain radical changes in the way teachers are employed and paid.

L.A. schools leader considers shortened school year to balance budget | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

L.A. schools leader considers shortened school year to balance budget L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles schools Supt. Ramon C. Cortines has asked his chief financial officer to study the possibility of shortening the school year to offset part of an expected shortfall of at least $500 million, The Times has learned.

The strategy, if adopted for the 2010-11 school year, would run counter both to the direction of national reform efforts and to the wishes of Cortines, who agrees with research touting the benefits of an extended academic calendar.

"You know I fought fiercely for a longer school year and a longer school day," Cortines said.

At this week's school board meeting, Cortines said he had no alternative but to consider all options. He added that some strategies had to remain off the table. He’s unwilling, for example, to make class sizes larger in middle and high schools. Classes are too large already, he said. Nor would employee furlough days be sufficient to make up the dollar shortfall. Cortines also stipulated that he would not shorten the school year for overcrowded, year-round schools, which operate on overlapping schedules that reduce each student's school year by 17 days.

Furlough days and shortening the school year would have to be negotiated with employee unions, said district spokeswoman Lydia Ramos. Cortines will review the internal analysis from Chief Financial Officer Megan Reilly when he returns from a weeklong trip to China, which began today, Ramos said.

-- Howard Blume

State budget nears completion | detnews.com | The Detroit News

State budget nears completion detnews.com The Detroit News:

"Lansing -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm intends today to sign the final six budget bills, which are most contentious and likely to include line-item vetoes.

One line that won't be vetoed in the higher education budget is for agricultural extension and experiment station programs. Granholm and Michigan State University officials struck a deal announced Thursday that continues funding for those programs and changes their focus to support the green economy."

The budgets awaiting the governor's approval cover higher education, State Police, human services, community health, general government and energy, labor and economic growth. The bills include steep cuts to programs and services including Promise Grants for college students, Medicaid and revenue sharing to help local governments pay for police and fire service. Granholm wielded her veto pen on earlier bills, the most significant one slashing from the school aid budget $52 million in funding for the state's highest spending school districts. Matt Marsden, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said Granholm can veto what she wants out of the final six bills, but it won't force Republicans to raise taxes.

"If she chooses to use the veto to cut further, we've made it clear she's within her right to do that -- but we've also been clear we have no intention of passing tax increases to fund her line items," Marsden said. "Any additional veto cuts will result in unfunded lines and we'll consider that to be savings for the next fiscal year."

School Hearing Not an Executive Thing: Fenty | NBC Washington

School Hearing Not an Executive Thing: Fenty NBC Washington:

"Noisy protesters greeted District Council members before a special meeting on school reform Thursday morning.

Council members and community residents had asked D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty to attend the hearing, but the mayor said he doesn't go to hearings in D.C. for the same reason that executives across the country, including the president, don't go to legislative hearings.

Responding to an editorial in the Washington Post that called him 'a child who's too obtuse to his obligations to work cooperatively,' Fenty said, 'I don't go to hearings in D.C. [for] the same reason that Mayor Bloomberg in New York, or Mayor Daley in Chicago, Governor Patrick in Massachusetts, President Obama in the country... executives don't go to legislative hearings.'"

William R. Hite Jr. and Donald J. Briscoe - How performance pay works in the Prince George's schools - washingtonpost.com

William R. Hite Jr. and Donald J. Briscoe - How performance pay works in the Prince George's schools - washingtonpost.com:

"Performance pay is supposed to be the third rail of education reform. But in Prince George's County, we have shown that it doesn't have to be.

Two years ago, we agreed to reward teachers and principals who elevate student achievement in high-need schools. Our program shows that the government can be a catalyst for school reform and that the Obama administration's plans to dramatically expand incentive programs are essential to changing school systems that currently fail, or cannot afford, to reward effective teaching."

New Haven Education Experiment Could Be A Leading Light For Schools Around Nation -- Courant.com

New Haven Education Experiment Could Be A Leading Light For Schools Around Nation -- Courant.com:

"New Haven, increasingly a model city for the state, is about to begin an education experiment that could lead school reform efforts around the nation.

Teachers will be evaluated, at least in part, on how well students perform. Classroom teachers who struggle will be asssisted and bad ones may be given the boot. It's also possible teachers will get bonus pay if students perform well. Failing schools may close and new ones could open. The union will not be able to block school reforms.

And teachers, for a change, will play an active part in making decisions."

Dan Walters: School reform duel shifts to surrogates - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

Dan Walters: School reform duel shifts to surrogates - Sacramento Politics - California Politics Sacramento Bee:

"One of the more obscure – and probably more important – of California's many political conflicts pits an organization called EdVoice against the California Teachers Association and other school unions.

It centers on our ever-deepening education crisis, manifested in low test scores and high dropout rates, especially among black and Latino kids."

EdVoice, maintained by some wealthy Californians such as Southern California developer Eli Broad and Silicon Valley tycoon Reed Hastings, advocates charter schools, tougher teaching standards and other aggressive approaches.

The CTA and its allies, meanwhile, say California's chief education issue is money, specifically its below-average level of per-pupil spending.

It's not so much a partisan or even ideological conflict – Broad and many other EdVoice leaders are Democrats – as it is one of pedagogic philosophy, but that doesn't make it any less abrasive.

Study: California sets among highest math, reading standards | standards, california, reading, state, math - News - OCRegister.com

Study: California sets among highest math, reading standards standards, california, reading, state, math - News - OCRegister.com:

"California's testing standards for public school students in reading and math are tougher than in most states, a National Center for Education Statistics study reveals.

The federal report released today compared the rigor of different states' standards from 2007 on their own tests, the California Standards Tests here, and also to state performance on National Assessment of Education Progress, dubbed NAEP or the Nation's Report Card exams."

Internet’s 40th anniversary celebrated in US

Internet’s 40th anniversary celebrated in US:

"San Francisco, Oct 30 (IANS) The 40th anniversary of the birth of the Internet was celebrated in the US with events being organised at the University of California and the Computer History Museum in Los Angeles to mark the occasion.

Industry leaders, researchers and analysts, among others, attended the function at the California University Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Computer science professor of the university, Leonard Kleinrock, who on Oct 29, 1969 headed a team to send the first message over the ARPANET, which later came to be known as Internet, also attended the event."

Live This City: ... And the bands played on - Sacramento Entertainment - Sacramento Movie Theaters, Music | Sacramento Bee

Live This City: ... And the bands played on - Sacramento Entertainment - Sacramento Movie Theaters, Music Sacramento Bee:

"If music be the food of love, then students in the Rio Americano High School Band program are preparing for the feast of their lives. Luckily, they have the metabolism – and the heart – to handle all 17 courses.

Next Friday, in a school tradition that spans nearly three decades, Rio Americano's 200 student musicians will perform – with fingers, lungs, and carefully concentrating brains – for 17 continuous hours, from 7 a.m. to midnight, in an effort to connect with the community and to raise funds and awareness for the school's award-winning music program."

California Budget Crisis Diaries: F-bomb controversy

California Budget Crisis Diaries: F-bomb controversy

People surrounding Capitol Hill are wondering whether Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office offered some choice words to an assemblymember, while the state’s chances to qualify for stimulus funds increases.

Increase in charter schools: The number of charter schools in California has risen to 809.


The California Charter Schools Association announced Wednesday that it has opened 88 new public charter schools - adding 56,000 new students to the system. According to the Association, this is the largest single-year enrollment increase in state history.

“California charter schools are experiencing explosive growth, roughly 20 percent growth for two years in a row,” said President Jed Wallace. “This consistent growth is phenomenal given this tough economic climate and it speaks to the choices that both parents and teachers are making and their demand for high-quality educational options.”

The increase in charter schools may look good to President Barack Obama, who has expressed his concern with states who have caps on the number of charter schools. If California removes its cap, the state may be eligible for additional education funds under Obama’s “Race to the Top” stimulus plan.

“As a strong supporter of charter schools I couldn’t be happier to learn that enrollment is breaking records and the number of schools is steadily increasing,” Schwarzenegger said. “Charter schools have proven that their innovative teaching practices are helping California students receive the quality education they deserve and that is why I am working to lift the cap on charter schools entirely - so that parents up and down the state have the option to send their children to a high-quality charter school.”

According to the Association, there are 341,000 students enrolled in the 809 California charter schools.

Read more: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-10-29/politics-city-county-government/california-budget-politics-city-county-government/california-budget-crisis-diaries-f-bomb-controversy#ixzz0VQHlchSX

Sacramento Press / C.H.A.E.D Charter High School of Architecture+Engineering+Design

Sacramento Press / C.H.A.E.D Charter High School of Architecture+Engineering+Design:

"It starts with the premise of caring for high school students’ future by providing them a quality education to be successful. CHAED will deliver innovative methods to improve and achieve academic excellence, reduce the number of high school dropouts, and give students the opportunity to excel in higher learning and compete with today’s challenge.

In today’s world, it is important that high school students stay current with technology and information, engage in real life applications, and be discipline in their study in order to be competitive. This school will provide the competitive edge."

Why isn't our union fighting? | SocialistWorker.org

Why isn't our union fighting? SocialistWorker.org:

"A CRISIS is tearing through the American public education system like a tornado. It threatens to uproot and overturn everything in its path.

It's no secret that our schools are in a miserable place, and it's something that can't last indefinitely. No one wants it to. So far, the proposals for change are pretty dismal: More cuts to funding. More high-stakes testing. More shredding of collective bargaining rights. More merit pay. More charter schools.

So where is the California Teachers Association (CTA) in all this?"

California Teacher's Association president visits Tahoe/Truckee schools | SierraSun.com

California Teacher's Association president visits Tahoe/Truckee schools SierraSun.com:

"TRUCKEE, Calif. — Sacramento doesn't take public education funding seriously enough. That's a message that David Sanchez, president of the thousand-plus chapter, 300,000-plus member California Teacher's Association, shared this week with local educators.

However, despite his view that Sacramento lacks leadership, Sanchez said he is amazed by the state's teachers making the best of the situation.

Sanchez on Thursday toured the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and answered a few questions from the Sierra Sun on the state of education in California.

Sierra Sun: David, when you take these site tours, what concerns do you hear? What positives do you see?"

Sacramento Press / Marshall School Closure Blow to Central City Renaissance

Sacramento Press / Marshall School Closure Blow to Central City Renaissance:

"The sudden directive by Sacramento City Unified School District that California Montessori Project must abandon the Old Marshall Elementary School has done more than disrupt the lives of the students, parents and faculty. It has the potential to strike a major blow to the renaissance of the central city. One of the primary reasons families choose where they live is what schools are available. CMP had operated successfully out of the Pioneer Church for eight years. The site did limit the size of the enrollment. When SCUSD deemed Old Marshall School safe for charter school and offered it to CMP, after careful consideration they accepted the offer. CMP was thrilled to have a beautiful building that could be used for it's original purpose and they could expand to meet the strong demand for more student enrollment. Central city neighborhood leaders also expressed their enthusiasm for Old Marshall School returning as an elementary school with a program that attracted more families to Midtown and the surrounding area. "

Rancho Cordova feels slighted by homeless task force - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Rancho Cordova feels slighted by homeless task force - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"When Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson trumpeted a collaborative plan for sheltering homeless people this winter, he caught some key players by surprise.

In Rancho Cordova, where Johnson announced last week that homeless families could be housed on the Mather Community Campus, city leaders bristled."

Uprooting a fall harvest at the White House kitchen garden | 44 | washingtonpost.com

Uprooting a fall harvest at the White House kitchen garden 44 washingtonpost.com:

"Rarely has a giant sweet potato, a muddy knee and a stubbornly rooted fennel plant caused such a stir. But when first lady Michelle Obama led groups of fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary and Kimball Elementary schools in the fall harvesting of the White House Kitchen Garden Thursday afternoon, much oohing, giggling, cuteness and shutter-clicking ensued."

The students, White House kitchen staff and representatives from Miriam's Kitchen -- which feeds the homeless and was the main beneficiary of the vegetable haul -- gathered on the South Lawn around picnic tables draped in red and white checked tablecloths and topped with baskets of apples. White House assistant chef Sam Kass -- he of the bald pate and the People magazine-worthy physique -- divided the kids into groups of three. A trio of girls from Bancroft were paired with the first lady, who initiated a contest to see which kids could dig up the largest sweet potato. Obama noted that she and her daughters had already harvested a particularly hefty one. "They're huge," she said, underscoring the size of the potatoes by holding her hands approximate 12" apart. "They're huge!"

The first lady -- dressed in a pair of lapis jeans, a purple cardigan and purple sneakers -- and her team of students -- dressed in yellow Bancroft T-shirts -- produced a basket filled with impressive tubers, which she presented to the assembled photographers and reporters for documentation.