Jamaica High School to close doors, ending it's rich history in Queens

Jamaica High School to close doors, ending it's rich history in Queens:

"A once preeminent Queens high school will close its doors, city officials announced Thursday.

But the century-old Jamaica High School won't go down without a fight.

'This is a travesty,' said teachers union chapter leader James Eterno. 'We're outraged. . . . In the middle of the game, the Department of Education pulled the rug out from under us.'

After the state removed Jamaica from the 'persistently dangerous' list and the school's graduation rate jumped 10 percentage points, teachers and students relaxed."

The Associated Press: Obama pushes to turn around failing schools

The Associated Press: Obama pushes to turn around failing schools:

"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will spend at least $3.5 billion to push local officials around the country to close failing schools and reopen them with new teachers and principals.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan hopes to see the 5,000 worst-performing schools, about 1 percent of all U.S. schools, turned around in five years. The administration is beefing up the federal school turnaround program, which was created under the No Child Left Behind law championed by former President George W. Bush.

'As a country, we need to get into the turnaround business,' Duncan said in a statement. 'Adults need to have the courage to make these tough decisions and do right by our kids.'"

DPS board, superintendent get coaching on making up - The Denver Post

DPS board, superintendent get coaching on making up - The Denver Post:

"COLORADO SPRINGS — Denver's seven-member school board and superintendent spent nine hours Thursday with a psychologist, learning how to better communicate and work together.

The word 'Kumbaya' was, indeed, uttered, and board members participated in various relationship-building exercises as they were coached on how to build trust and cohesion using constructive language, listening skills and empathy.

'This is skill-building,' said Susan Heitler, the Denver psychologist and marital therapist hired for $2,400 to lead the session. 'It's basically the same (as marriage counseling). The main difference is it's eight people rather than two.'"

Position Paper December 2009 « New Action – UFT

Position Paper December 2009 « New Action – UFT:

New Action – UFT

Fighting for educators, building chapters, increasing democracy, with a progressive agenda

"Educators are under attack. This is not news. What has changed in the last 30 years is a decrease in the effectiveness of the UFT to counter the power of the DOE. There are many reasons for this decrease starting with a young, new workforce with many barriers to union activity and a lack of connection to unionism. Teachers today have no connection to the necessary strikes and job actions of yesterday that produced workable conditions in our schools. There is no solidarity, union or otherwise.

Second is the change of pedagogic philosophy from an education model to a corporate model. We recognize some of the elements: top-down structure with no feedback or collaboration from teachers, data driven based on massive testing and without regard to proven educational practices (educate the whole child), establishing a subjective pay system based on merit and bonuses, and strongly anti-union."

Insideschools.org » Parent “ambassadors” to help with HS admissons

Insideschools.org » Parent “ambassadors” to help with HS admissons:

"Eighth-graders and their families are in the final frenzy of filling out high school applications before tomorrow’s Dec. 4 due date after a fall of attending fairs, visiting schools, taking exams, and auditioning.

The process is a daunting one, despite reforms in the system and efforts by the central enrollment office to get information out to parents. It’s especially confusing for families at risk, (as described in a June 2009 Schools Watch report), parents who don’t speak English, and those who don’t have time to research all the options. No wonder many are wondering, “is there a better way?” as our High School Hustle blogger Liz Willen asked in her recent post."
DOE officials agree that parents need all the help they can get. Yesterday they announced the launch of a “High School Admissions Ambassador” program, recruiting parents to teach parents about high school admissions.


The volunteer program, which involves three mandatory training sessions, won’t begin until 2010, too late for those filling out applications now, but in time for the new schools fair to be held in early February. At that time students can change their applications and apply to new schools.

The DOE is seeking 50 volunteers who will be selected based on “their statement of interest, commitment to the program, interpersonal skills and communication skills.” They must agree to attend five evening or weekend workshops and fairs throughout 2010.

GothamSchools - Breaking News and Analysis of the NYC Public Schools

GothamSchools - Breaking News and Analysis of the NYC Public Schools:

"The head of the union chapter at Jamaica High School said teachers there have been expecting the school’s closure for years and criticized the city for planning to open new small schools without offering help to the struggling large one.
James Eterno, a history teacher at Jamaica for 24 years, said teachers anticipated bad news after the school received a D on its progress report this year. But signs that the 1,500-student high school was in trouble had been apparent for years, he said"

D.C. charter schools frustrated with city in search for home - washingtonpost.com

D.C. charter schools frustrated with city in search for home - washingtonpost.com:

"Walking through a vacant District school building Thursday, Mary Shaffner could visualize the peeling paint replaced by fresh blackboards. Dusty hardwood floors marred by bird droppings could be polished to a gleam. Teachers and students would once again fill the halls of the Franklin School.

But to the developers also attending Thursday's open house, a hotel or condominiums might be more attractive, and it's likely they'll get their way. Two applications from charter schools to use the building have been rejected, including one from Shaffner's Yu Ying Public Charter School. The city said the renovation costs were too high, and there's little indication a new application will be accepted this time around."

The Educated Guess » Assembly bill to State: Keep hands off bulk of Race to the Top dollars

The Educated Guess » Assembly bill to State: Keep hands off bulk of Race to the Top dollars:

"Assembly Education Committee Chairwoman Julia Brownley may be offering what it takes to pique school districts’ interest in the federal Race to the Top competition: a promise of more money.

Her bill, ABX5-8, would require that at least 80 percent of dollars from the Race to the Top be reserved for school districts. That’s 30 percentage points more than the minimum of 50 percent that the federal regulations call for. That would mean a lot less money for the Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and the state Department of Education, which may have been coveting a very green Obama Christmas."

Entire Los Rios District faculty wins success award - News

Entire Los Rios District faculty wins success award - News:

"The faculty of the Los Rios Community College District was presented the Student Success Award for creative approaches towards student success on Nov. 21.

Every year Dr. Jack Scott, Chancellor of the California Community Colleges League, gives a California community college district's faculty the award.

Cosumnes River College's Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology William Karns said that a community college district must meet a length roster of requirements to be considered for the award."

A Change in Plans - The Daily Californian

A Change in Plans - The Daily Californian:

"Once every decade, the state Legislature revisits the blueprint for California's public universities-the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education. And this once-in-a-decade event couldn't be coming at a more appropriate time. With frustration rippling throughout the system, it's time for legislators to take responsibility for their role in creating this crisis in the first place.

The easy route for legislators, who will be convening hearings on various issues starting Monday, would be to praise the current system and wash their hands of culpability. Yes, California has been a world-renowned model for public higher education-until now. As our elected leaders, they've got to assess the system honestly and recognize the critical state our universities are in."

In his testimony Monday, we hope that UC President Mark Yudof refrains from spewing overly cheery news-he owes it to the university to be frank about the problems we face. The testimony is an opportunity for Yudof to be a truly independent advocate for the university, and he ought to take advantage of it.


As much as we support the ideals behind the master plan, it's clear that the system is much different than it was 50 or even 20 years ago. Legislators must come to terms with the reality of the situation, and the role the state has played in systematically defunding higher education.

The Maneater – Students should get involved with budget

The Maneater – Students should get involved with budget:

"Before Thanksgiving break, CNN ran headline after headline about University of California students protesting raised costs for higher education. Students protested outside the budget vote confirming a 32-percent hike in undergraduate tuition fees. Their voices were heard, and they made a splash, media-wise, but they'll still be paying $585 more in January and another $1,344 next fall.

Around the same time, MU students got some news: Gov. Jay Nixon and university system presidents agreed to cut budgets in exchange for freezing in-state tuition for the next academic year. The announcement secured little comfort for graduate and out-of-state students, but it was better news than what coastal students heard."

Views: Engineering Needs Flexibility - Inside Higher Ed

Views: Engineering Needs Flexibility - Inside Higher Ed:

"Two years ago, my daughter, Katherine, and I appeared on the cover of ASEE Prism magazine. A feature story by the American Society for Engineering Education on two generations of women engineers, perhaps? Not quite.

The cover story focused on how, at a time when the ranks of women faculty and deans in engineering have increased, the percentage of women who earn bachelor’s degrees in engineering is in decline. The lesson, supported by facts and data, is that our nation, our crumbling infrastructure and our ability to lead globally in the future are at risk because too few young people are choosing to study engineering. We will continue to lose talented would-be engineers who are female, as well as some who are male, until we change the traditional undergraduate engineering curriculum, one that is overly structured and lacks flexibility."

BUSD Trails State Averages in Fitness. Category: Front Page News from The Berkeley Daily Planet - Thursday December 03, 2009

BUSD Trails State Averages in Fitness. Category: Front Page News from The Berkeley Daily Planet - Thursday December 03, 2009:

"Results of the 2009 Physical Fitness Test released Monday by the state Department of Public Education show Berkeley public schools trailing their peers in six fitness categories.

Thirty-four percent of Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) fifth-graders met the criteria for all six areas of the test compared with 29 percent statewide. However, only 31 percent of seventh-graders met the same criteria compared with 34 percent throughout California.

Just 13.8 percent of ninth-graders met the criteria compared with 37.9 percent statewide"

Report shows wide disparity in college achievement - washingtonpost.com

Report shows wide disparity in college achievement - washingtonpost.com:

"A new report, billed as one of the most comprehensive studies to date of how low-income and minority students fare in college, shows a wide gap in graduation rates at public four-year colleges nationwide and 'alarming' disparities in success at community colleges."

The analysis, released Thursday, found that about 45 percent of low-income and underrepresented minority students entering as freshmen in 1999 had received bachelor's degrees six years later at the colleges studied, compared with 57 percent of other students.

Fewer than one-third of all freshmen entering two-year institutions nationwide attained completion -- either through a certificate, an associate's degree or transfer to a four-year college -- within four years, according to the research. The success rate was lower, 24 percent, for underrepresented minorities, identified as blacks, Latinos and Native Americans; it was higher, 38 percent, for other students.

Public News Service

Public News Service:

"LAS VEGAS - Only a month ago, Gov. Jim Gibbons said Nevada had no chance to score hundreds of millions of dollars in 'Race to the Top' federal education money. Now, however, the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) is proposing a solution.

Nevada has a law that prohibits linking teacher evaluation to student achievement, which automatically disqualifies the state from applying for the cash. NSEA President Lynn Warne suggests changing that law, which would put the state back in the competition for up to $175 million"

Parents Unite Behind Race To The Top Funds | KPBS.org

Parents Unite Behind Race To The Top Funds KPBS.org:

"SAN DIEGO — Groups of San Diego County parents are uniting behind an education reform strategy that could earn California $700 million of federal stimulus grants."

The federal grants are called Race To The Top funds. California stands to get a chunk of the $4 billion program. However, state lawmakers must first change a number of education laws so California can be eligible.

Changes to those laws allow the state to lift a cap on charter schools, link teacher performance to student test scores and turnaround failing schools.

A growing number of San Diego County parents are pushing community leaders to support the changes. Groups such as Californians for Quality Education and Voices For Our Kids are backing the Race To The Top movement.

Teaching Reforms Should be Based on Research and Experience | California Progress Report

Teaching Reforms Should be Based on Research and Experience California Progress Report:

"The State Assembly Education Committee is currently considering legislation regarding the federal “Race to the Top” education funding program. The Legislature should not pass a bad law just to compete for federal funding. In a year that Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislature have made billions of dollars in catastrophic cuts to school funding, it is ironic that the Legislature is rushing to adopt bad policy to compete for a relative pittance in federal funding.

The money offered by the federal government will not begin to replace what has been taken away. Legislators are rushing to make permanent changes without a solid basis in facts or research in return for the possibility of three years of funding."

Judge: Only 'Bigots' Would Pull Their Kids Out of LGBT Education Programs / Queerty

Judge: Only 'Bigots' Would Pull Their Kids Out of LGBT Education Programs / Queerty:

"Alameda Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch is Queerty's favorite person today. Might he be yours? Charged with overseeing challenges from parents who don't want their kids to be forced to learn about LGBT tolerance, Roesch found a cute name for such people responsible for the upbringing of human beings: 'bigots.' Adorable!"

You you'll recall, California's Alameda Unified School District, outside Oakland, is trying to implement Safe School Community Lesson 9, which would have K-5 students treated to six, 45-minute lessons a year about queers. You know, so the region doesn't create new generations of hate. But some parents didn't like that, so with conservative legal group Pacific Justice Institute, some 20 parents filed suit demanding they be able to opt their kids out of this brainwashing.

Sacramento Press / Town Hall on arena ideas draws 80 people

Sacramento Press / Town Hall on arena ideas draws 80 people:

"About 80 people turned out for a town hall meeting Thursday night to weigh in on plans for a new entertainment and sports complex. Business leaders and residents presented their ideas to Mayor Kevin Johnson’s 'Sacramento First' arena task force at the Sacramento Public Library downtown.

The task force is assigned to analyze developers’ ideas for the complex. The 12-member group includes real estate, finance and communications executives. Task force members are not paid."

Public Gives Imput on Sacramento Arena Ideas | News10.net | Sacramento, California | News

Public Gives Imput on Sacramento Arena Ideas News10.net Sacramento, California News:

"SACRAMENTO, CA - Mayor Kevin Johnson is calling on all ideas for what exactly a Sacramento sports and entertainment complex should look like.

The first citizens' task force, assembled by Johnson, began evaluating proposals for a new sports and entertainment complex Thursday night during a public meeting at the Main Sacramento Library on I Street.

The goal of the town hall meeting, according to Johnson, was to identify issues needed to be addressed to develop a proposal for a world-class venue."