Thursday, December 17, 2009

City scales back plan to turn schoolyards to parks | Staten Island Featured Entries - Breaking News - - SILive.com

City scales back plan to turn schoolyards to parks

By Associated Press

December 16, 2009, 10:16AM

NEW YORK -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration has scaled back a promise to turn schoolyards into parks.

Advance file photo/Jan Somma-HammelMayor Michael Bloomberg, center, and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. right, seen at an event on Staten Island.The city's Independent Budget Office blames budget woes.

The schoolyard proposal was widely touted by the Bloomberg administration. He unveiled it as part of his long-term environmental plan in 2007.

Bloomberg said more New Yorkers should have access to parks. He promised to keep 290 schoolyards open after school and on weekends.

Since the announcement, just 96 schoolyards have been opened as parks. The total planned has been cut to 266.

NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Education | Battle Over LES Charter School Expansion Heats Up

Battle Over LES Charter School Expansion Heats Up

By: Lindsey Christ

The Department of Education may soon find itself in the center of a heated battle between a charter and public school on the Lower East Side. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.

Schools on the Lower East Side say it is hard to be great when they don't have the space. Girls Prep Charter School is maxed out and needs more room for its growing middle school, but local public schools say they have none to share. Both groups held rallies this week and both blamed the Department of Education for the tension between them.

"We are only going by what the DOE said. If there is a problem, talk to the DOE," said Girls Prep Charter School parent Latrina Miley.

"When the DOE says we are underutilizing space, it is inaccurate. Their way of measuring is false, because they are talking about our science labs, our tech labs, and these are rooms that allow students to expand and to develop critical thinking," said PS 20 parent Monica Harris.

Charter schools are not guaranteed space in public school buildings, but the mayor and chancellor have put many of them in school buildings they say are underutilized. That's just what the DOE proposed for Girl's Prep, giving it more space by shifting other schools around among neighborhood buildings.

Stage Set for Showdown Over School Closings - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Stage Set for Showdown Over School Closings - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com:

"Twenty schools the city proposes to close for poor performance. One night to vote on them all. Seats for nearly 1,000 people, many of them likely to be angry.

On Jan. 26, the large auditorium of Brooklyn Technical High School promises to be the scene for a showdown. For the first time since Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg began closing schools for poor performance in 2002, there will be a public vote on the city’s plans, rather than a decision made by officials behind closed doors."

The vote, by the Panel for Educational Policy, will cap a newly mandated 45-day public comment period, now underway, during which some of the schools singled out for closure have vowed to hold rallies and organize against the decision. Each school will also host a public hearing in January (the dates are posted on the Department of Education Web site) for parents, community members, students and teachers that education officials will attend.

The odds are strongly against opponents of the closings. Eight of the panel’s 13 members are appointed by the mayor, who can remove his appointees at will. The panel has never turned down an administration proposal.

The Answer Sheet - How to create your own education jargon

The Answer Sheet- How to create your own education jargon:

"Ever heard or seen the phrase “phonemic awareness” and wonder exactly what it meant? Or “Bloom’s taxonomy,” “problems-based learning,” “brain-based learning,” “outcome-based education,” “holistic learning,” “formative evaluation,” or internal evaluation?'

How about my new favorite: 'Unleashing research-based curriculum integration?'

Okay, that last one is made up, but the rest are phrases now tossed around in the education world as if they actually mean something to most people.

To help you figure out the jargon, here are Web sites that explain some of these concepts: A lexicon buster from ASCD, formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. And here's another helpful dictionary .
For some fun, you can go"

At Many Colleges, Early Applications Rise - NYTimes.com

At Many Colleges, Early Applications Rise - NYTimes.com:

"In a sudden change of course, Pittsburgh’s mayor asked the City Council Wednesday to postpone a vote on the nation’s first tuition tax on college students, holding out hope that the city’s 10 colleges and universities will agree to provide economic help voluntarily.
“Over the last several days, thanks to your strength, conviction and support, we have made progress,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl wrote in a letter on Wednesday to City Council members, citing discussions with Pittsburgh’s nonprofit community. “I feel that a one-week hold on this bill is an appropriate measure.”
University officials and students, who have been asking for weeks for the mayor to drop his proposed 1 percent tuition tax, hailed the decision as a victory. The mayor is racing the clock because two of the Council members whose votes he needs to get the measure approved are leaving the Council at the end of the year.
In addition, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would explicitly prevent municipalities from enacting such measures."

Class Struggle - Maryland, Virginia and the U.S. News best high schools list

Class Struggle
- Maryland, Virginia and the U.S. News best high schools list:

"As I said in the previous post, I asked some follow up questions of Paul Gazzerro, the Standard and Poor's analyst who leads the number crunching for the U.S. News America's Best High Schools list. I had been getting emails from Washington area readers asking why no Maryland schools, and only two Virginia schools, made their top 100 list. (The top 100 list of high schools I do for Newsweek, using a different formula, has ten Maryland and Virginia schools this year.)

Gazzerro was quick to respond. Here are my questions and his answers:

Mathews:

Two questions--first, Maryland-based survey expert Sid Groeneman speculated that the absence of disadvantaged student data for Maryland, as noted on your list, might have prevented you from putting any Md. schools in the top 100. He said the footnote on yr list indicated 8 states did not provide disadvantaged student data. Did that actually have any effect on you ability to rate any schools in those states?"

State lawmakers decline to act on mayoral control of MPS - JSOnline

State lawmakers decline to act on mayoral control of MPS - JSOnline:

"Madison - Lawmakers refused to act on a bill Wednesday that would give the mayor of Milwaukee substantial control over the operations of the ailing Milwaukee Public Schools system.

Legislators in both houses, controlled by Democrats, declined to take up the legislation.

The bill would grant the mayor more power over MPS than mayors of most other big cities with oversight of their school systems. Milwaukee's mayor would oversee school budgets and appoint the school superintendent.

The lack of action is a sign lawmakers have questions about how much authority they should give to a mayor.

Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democratic candidate for governor, supported the changes. They have said that mayoral control is needed to boost academic performance at MPS."

Writing program rewrites teachers' approach to the craft - washingtonpost.com

Writing program rewrites teachers' approach to the craft - washingtonpost.com:

"George Mason University professor Donald R. Gallehr remembers the dark ages of writing instruction. In the 1960s, when he started teaching at the school, most of the writing teachers he encountered considered themselves topic-assigners and graders -- not writers. Usually, the most they wrote were comments on student papers.

Back then, 'teachers walked into their rooms and closed their doors, physically and mentally,' he said. 'They didn't allow other teachers in.'

In summer 1977, Galle"

Memphis City Schools celebrate $90 million Gates Foundation gift� The Commercial Appeal

Memphis City Schools celebrate $90 million Gates Foundation gift The Commercial Appeal:

"Hundreds of Memphis City Schools teachers went straight from work Wednesday to a gala honoring them and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

While the city has known since Nov. 18 that the foundation is giving the district $90 million to improve teacher effectiveness, there had been no public celebration until Wednesday."

t all poured loose at the Memphis Cook Convention Center, with teachers, philanthropists, parents and business people waving pompoms as the Whitehaven High marching band rocked the auditorium and the city's collective decorum.

"Santa just arrived via the Gates Foundation express," emcee Joe Birch shouted. "You look like a million bucks, ninety times over," he said while spotlights fanned over the crowd dressed in holiday sparkles and finery. "Doesn't it feel good to feel good?"

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Mayor Launches Education Initiative - Education News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Mayor Launches Education Initiative

Nonprofit Gets $500,000 Grant

POSTED: 6:36 pm PST December 16, 2009
UPDATED: 6:49 pm PST December 16, 2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson wants the city to have one of the finest public education systems in the nation.

That's the goal of STAND UP -- a brand-new initiative that was launched Thursday.

A $500,000 grant will kick start the first phase of the new nonprofit's development.

It will focus on in raising academic achievement and college completion rates by advocating, supporting, and developing excellent public schools.

The seed money comes from a national philanthropy group -- the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

"They have selected very few cities to invest in, financially. And Sacramento is one that's going to receive $500,000. Our goal is to raise another $500,000 to match that, which will give us a million dollars to do great things in Sacramento," Johnson said.

The mayor said he's looking for a new education liaison -- someone who will work with STAND UP and area superintendents to make sure students benefit.

Students 'suspend' boycott at South Phila. High | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009

Students 'suspend' boycott at South Phila. High | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009:

"After meeting with schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman in Chinatown last night, the 50 Asian students who have been boycotting classes at South Philadelphia High agreed to return to school starting this morning.

The 25 or so students who continued to stay out of class in response to a Dec. 3 incident on campus in which dozens of them had been beaten said last night that they were 'suspending' their boycott while awaiting action from school and district officials. (About half the boycotting students returned earlier this week.)"

Ex-Phila. Academy leader gets prison term | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009

Ex-Phila. Academy leader gets prison term | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009:

"If anyone could have stopped the fraud at Philadelphia Academy Charter School, a federal judge said yesterday, it was the school's former board president.

U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno praised Rosemary DiLacqua as an intelligent and educated police officer, with more than 25 years of distinguished service and a reputation for toughness, who was a specialist in detecting fraud. She could have told school founder Brien N. Gardiner and former chief executive Kevin M. O'Shea 'enough is enough,' Robreno added.

Instead, DiLacqua, 51, accepted $34,000 in secret payments from the two and kept quiet."

Parent tells SRC she was pressed not to testify | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Parent tells SRC she was pressed not to testify | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

"A parent of a student at the Jackson Elementary School in South Philadelphia told the SRC Wednesday that school and South Region officials tried to intimidate her from testifying before the commission.
Angelica Viceriana, accompanied by Zac Steele, a community organizer from the community organization JUNTOS, said that while she was talking to her daughter's teacher at the school Tuesday, other school staff interrupted and asked specifically to say what she planned to testify about. Staff yelled at her, then repeatedly called her after she went home, she testified.
'They told me to call other parents and not to come to the SRC meeting,' she said in Spanish through a translator. She said she was told that if she complied, 'they would pay more attention to my child’s concerns.'"

The Daily Politics - NY Daily News

Paterson: School Aid Plaintiffs Are 'Extra-Special' Special Interests »

BY ELIZABETH BENJAMIN

Gov. David Paterson derided the coalition that sued him for withholding education aidpayments today, saying they are failing to realize the severity of the fiscal crisis and making a "desperate attempt" to put their needs above everyone else in the state.

If the administration loses this suit, Paterson said, it will be forced to make all of thescheduled $1.5 billion in school aid payments and $2.5 billion in STAR property tax rebate payments, which would require deeper reductions for local governments and service providers.

"So, in other words, these other groups are going to take a 67 percent delayed payment," Paterson said. "They’re going to wipe these other groups out, and I think now that I’ve pointed this out you may see their lawyers in court on Monday.

"Because what these school districts and unions and otherwise have said: 'We aren’t special interests we’re extra special. We’re supposed to get all the money and everybody else can just divide up the crumbs.'...It's clear to me they don't care about anybody but themselves."

Paly Voice - Race to top bill may threaten Palo Alto education standards

"Race to top" bill may threaten Palo Alto education standards

posted December 16, 2009

by Sophie Cornfield of Verde

The standard of education in Palo Alto public school may be threatened in a bill being considered in California legislature. Taken up in the State Assembly on Dec. 9, two versions of "Race to the Top" propose various changes to the California public school system. This emergency education bill would help California secure a much-needed $4.35 billion from the Federal government's "Race to the Top" funds. Among the most controversial potential changes is the Senate's proposal to require open enrollment in all California school districts. This means that, if there is capacity, districts must accept students from other districts.

"It is possible that someone might say that Palo Alto has capacity," said Lauren Janov, advocacy chair for the Parent Teacher Association. "That could mean more students coming from nearby school districts and take with them the money from their struggling school districts." The State Assembly's verision of the bill does not contain this provision. Therefore, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has threatened to veto this verison if it makes it to his desk. Regardless, the Senate has chosen to carry-on with its draft.

Yet another controversial provision, endorsed by Schwarzenegger, is the Common Core State Standards Initiatives in which

Local News | Washington ranks second nationally in 2009 teacher certifications | Seattle Times Newspaper

Washington ranked second in the nation this year for the number of its teachers that have achieved certification in a national teacher-certification program.

By Katherine Long

Seattle Times Eastside reporter

National Board Certified Teachers

Top 5 states by number of new certified teachers in 2009, with percentage increase from 2008.

North Carolina: 1,509, 4% increase.

Washington: 1,248, 36% increase.

South Carolina: 798, 5% increase.

Illinois: 732, 4% increase.

Florida: 651, 5% increase.

Source: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Washington ranked second in the nation this year for the number of its teachers that received certification in a national teacher-certification program.

The state now ranks fifth nationally in the total number of its teachers that are certified under the program, which is run by the private, nonprofit National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

And three of the state's districts — Bellevue, Seattle and Spokane — are among the nation's top 20 in terms of the number of teachers who achieved national board certification in 2009.

To receive certification, teachers must submit four portfolios, including an examination of student work and video recordings from the classroom. Only about half of teachers who make

Academics & Activities | GreatSchools

Gifts for mini multimedia mavens

Are "nano" and "flip" part of your kids' vocabulary? Boost their tech savvy — and talents — with one of these gadgets.

Hot topics

Academic Skills
Homework Help
Prep for College
Media & Kids
Learning Activities
Book Reviews

Academic Skills

Stay on top of what your child is learning

More help for your child's academic life »

Sacramento Press / City Council votes to challenge 2nd Amendment

Today, December 15th, is Bill of Rights Day. These 10 amendments to the Constitution protect our most basic rights, including: freedom of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, and have a fair trial. Ironically, in this evening's Sacramento City Council meeting our representatives voted to support Chicago in a Supreme Court Case (McDonald v. Chicago) which would allow cities to ignore the 2nd Amendment.

The 2nd Amendment reads:
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

The City Council Proposal
"Discuss and consider whether to authorize the City Attorney's Office to take the necessary steps to have the City of Sacramento join as amicus curiae with various cities in McDonald v. Chicago, United States Supreme Court Case no. 08-1521, in support of the position that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution does not apply to the States and local governments. Contact: Eileen Teichert, City Attorney, (916) 808-5346, Office of the City Attorney."

This proposal was brought forward at the request of Kevin McCarty. After he introduced the item, councilmember Robbie Waters made a statement strongly opposing the proposal. There were three public speakers from the community, all opposing the proposal. After the public comments, Steve Cohn made comments supporting it. It then passed with a majority vote.

After 12/16, you can watch archived video of this decision here: 12/15, agenda item #28.

SAC City DAC Education News & Comment 2010 Parent Leadership Conference

SAC City DAC Education News & Comment: 2010 Parent Leadership Conference
DAC

PARENTS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND

OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO PLAN FOR THE

SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS

Go DAC!

Hi everyone,

As you know from my recent e-mail to the Conference Planning Committee, we are actively seeking nominations for Leadership Awards in the following categories for the 2010 Parent Leadership Conference:

· Parent Leadership Awards - 2 parents will be selected

· Staff Leadership Award - 1 staff member will be selected

· Parent Leadership Program Award - 1 parent Leadership Program will be selected

The Submission Deadline for Leadership Award Nominations is December 18, 2009.

The award nomination forms for all three categories are included in one document on the 2010 Parent Leadership web site under the link “Award Nominations.” For your convenience, I have attached three separate documents to make it easier to submit the appropriate nomination forms related to each category.

Also, if you have not yet e-mailed me a description of the donation you or your organization will be making for the Gift Raffle, please make sure to send me this information as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for all your assistance.

Best regards,
Meryl Levine, ACSW, MSSA

Vice President of Development
Parents Anonymous^® Inc.

2010 PARENT LEADERSHIIP CONFERENCE -

Oakland middle school to get a plug on the “Today” show tomorrow | The Education Report

Oakland middle school to get a plug on the “Today” show tomorrow

By Katy Murphy
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 4:58 pm in English learners, achievement gap, middle schools, small schools.

Urban Promise Academy, a small middle school in East Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, will be one of three schools in the nation to be featured tomorrow morning onNBC’s “Today” show for a segment on innovative schools in low-income communities.

Because the show will be filming live from UPA for its East Coast broadcast, a group of teachers, parents and students will get to the school by 5 a.m. Mark Triplett, the school principal, said he’ll probably be there by 4.

Hey, if tonight’s board meeting goes late enough, maybe I can pull an all-nighter! (That was actually Triplett’s suggestion. I’m SURE he was only half-serious.)

It is scheduled to air after 8 a.m. Pacific Time, likely around 8:30, Triplett said.

Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, December 17, 2009