Uncharted territory: Success Academy riles another Harlem school with plans to move in next fall

Uncharted territory: Success Academy riles another Harlem school with plans to move in next fall:

"Just months after Eva Moskowitz's Success Academy II had movers break locks off doors to squeeze the charter into a Harlem public school, the charter is slated to move into another unwilling school next fall, the Daily News has learned.

With tensions still simmering at Public School 123 after the charter took over precious classroom space there, parents at the charter's new proposed home - PS 30 in East Harlem - also are worried about losing space and resources.

'This is a good school,' said Whit Scitio, whose daughter Destiny, 9, and son Devin, 5, go to PS30. 'We have a lot of things for our children here. They do"

Minnesota seeks ways to ease safety concerns at new charter schools | StarTribune.com

Minnesota seeks ways to ease safety concerns at new charter schools | StarTribune.com:

"Minnesota's charter schools often open with a host of fire code violations.

Inadequate fire alarm and sprinkler systems, improper exits, lack of firewall protection, and inadequate water supply are among problems fire code inspectors have found when they inspect just-opened charter schools.

The problem, state officials say, is that the law doesn't require schools in leased space -- where charter schools generally are located -- to release building plans to state inspectors prior to signing leases and opening."

Klein announces 1 percent midyear school budget cut | GothamSchools

Klein announces 1 percent midyear school budget cut | GothamSchools:

"The dreaded mid-year school budget cuts have arrived. This morning, Chancellor Joel Klein instructed principals to cut their budgets by 1 percent — about $79 million across the city’s schools — by the end of January.

The Department of Education’s central and field operations budget will also be reduced by 2.5 percent, which will mean layoffs of 5 percent of central staff. (UPDATE: The layoffs will affect approximately 500 central and field office employees, DOE spokeswoman Ann Forte said.)

This is the fifth round of budget cuts the school system has sustained in the last two years, though one set of cuts in June 2008 was limited to the central office budget. In November, Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered the DOE to cut its spending by $113 million dollars. When the DOE announced raises to central staff last month, they were smaller than originally allocated in order to lessen cuts in other areas."

Romero Leads California to Race to the Top

Romero Leads California to Race to the Top:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. - (Business Wire) EdVoice applauds Senator Gloria Romero, Senate Pro Tempore Steinberg, Speaker Bass, the Governor and the courageous legislators on both sides of the aisle for putting politics aside to do what’s best for kids and fair for adults. Senator Gloria Romero’s tireless effort to push California to boldly Race to the Top came to fruition today with the Governor’s signature on a bi-partisan package of education reform. The two bills, SB 5X 1 and SB 5X 4, enable California to compete for a share of the $4.3 billion federal Race to the Top program.

“Senator Romero has made it clear she’s a champion for California kids,” explained Rae Belisle, EdVoice CEO and State Board of Education Member. “It took courage to buck the status quo and give parents real power to drive change in their own neighborhood school and also have the choice to enroll in a higher performing public school in another school district. Senator Gloria Romero, the Governor and leadership in the Senate and Assembly deserve a tremendous amount of respect for this bold action.”"

Top News - Study questions learning-style research

Top News - Study questions learning-style research:

"As educators struggle to define effective 21st-century instruction, one practice that many have viewed as fundamental to teaching and learning has come under new fire: catering to different learning styles.

According to a new review of existing research, scientists have yet to show conclusively that students learn better when they are taught according to their preferred modality—and the study’s authors say it’s time to stop funding a technique that hasn’t been proven effective.

Commissioned by Psychological Science in the Public Interest, the main journal of the Association for Psychological Science, the study is called 'Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence.' It was written by Harold Pashler, professor of psychology at the University of California, San Diego; Mark McDaniel, professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis; Doug Rohrer, professor of psychology at the University of South Florida; and Robert Bjork, distinguished professor and chair of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles."

Incarceration vs. higher education? Easy choice | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun

Incarceration vs. higher education? Easy choice | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun:

"The biggest headline in the governor's Wednesday morning speech was his declaration that the state should not spend more on prisons than on higher education.

This pledge deserves enthusiastic support. Thirty years ago, 10 percent of the general fund went to colleges and 3 percent to prisons. Today, nearly 11 percent goes to prisons and 7.5 percent goes to colleges.

“Spending 45 percent more on prisons than universities is no way to proceed into the future,” Schwarzenegger said. “What does it say about our state? What does it say about any state that focuses more on prison uniforms than on caps and gowns?”"

Court to decide LAUSD battle with charters - ContraCostaTimes.com

Court to decide LAUSD battle with charters - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"A battle between Los Angeles Unified and charter groups could be decided today when the State Board of Education is expected to rule whether charters statewide can take complete control of educating their special needs students.
Publicly funded and independently run charters have argued that they should control special education funding, as they do for their general education student population. They accuse large school districts like LAUSD of controlling federal special education dollars and obstructing charters from getting their fair share.
But L.A. Unified officials say charters traditionally cherry pick special education students with less severe disabilities and leave LAUSD with severely disabled students who are more expensive to teach."

America as Texas vs. California, Part III � The Enterprise Blog

America as Texas vs. California, Part III � The Enterprise Blog:

"Responding to my post on Texas vs. California and the better education students get in the Lone Star State, a reader writes:

A new neighbor (former migrant worker from northern California who opened a family business, and had to move to Houston for a young daughter’s cancer treatments) reports to me that when she enrolled her 10 year old in the neighborhood elementary school, they determined that the child was at least a year behind. This is a school with an English-as-a-second-language program, and despite normal demographics which would put it in the bottom rung of schools, won an exemplary rating from the state. The mom pleaded with them to keep her daughter in the higher grade, and promised that she would work with her every day to catch her up. So far so good, but she says she’s never seen a school work her kid so hard. In her words, she thinks Texas is her family’s salvation. Not only did her younger daughter get the cancer treatment she needed at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center here, but her other daughter is now getting a quality education."

Beverly Hills' unwanted out-of-towners - latimes.com

Beverly Hills' unwanted out-of-towners - latimes.com:

"California's formulas for funding schools are labyrinthine, outdated and just plain weird. They have needed a radical makeover for decades, though this year Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unwisely vetoed legislation to begin the process. The most recent victims of this messy situation are students who attend schools in Beverly Hills without living there.

The prestigious public school district was glad to have nearly 500 nonresidents attend under its 'opportunity' permits when each student brought in annual state funding of more than $6,000. But under California's convoluted formulas, Beverly Hills is likely to become one of the state's 90 or so 'basic aid' districts, meaning it will be funded by local property taxes instead of per-pupil dollars. Now the district's financial incentive is to have fewer students, not more."

Most local schools bypassing Race to Top

Most local schools bypassing Race to Top:

"While the California Department of Education and the state Legislature are clearing the track to compete for federal Race To The Top (RTTP) funding, many local agencies have chosen to not step into the starting blocks.

The Santa Maria-Bonita, Santa Maria Joint Union High School, Orcutt Union, Lompoc Unified and Santa Ynez Valley school districts have all decided to not participate in the program.
Locally, only Lucia Mar Unified and Guadalupe Union school districts have filed paperwork to be included in the RTTP.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 set aside $4.35 billion nationally for RTTP funding. California could be eligible for up to $700 million, but it must “compete” with other states for the funds according to the rules set forth by the federal Department of Education."

As We See It: State failing its children - Santa Cruz Sentinel

As We See It: State failing its children - Santa Cruz Sentinel:

"In the aftermath of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'State of the State' call for education over incarceration, California must face the reality of how children in the state are faring.

Children Now, a group that lobbies for better health care and education for kids in California, released its annual report card earlier this week and the results were dismal.

Here's a few of the sobering grades:

Health coverage: D

K-12 education: D

Early learning and development: C

Child safety: D

Obesity: C-"

State education plan makes parents responsible

State education plan makes parents responsible:

"Giving parents their choice of schools. Making sure teachers are qualified. Forcing bad schools to improve."



All are tackled in the huge school reform package signed into law Thursday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and approved with lightning speed by state lawmakers this week, to give California a shot at winning $700 million in the national education competition called Race to the Top. The application deadline is Jan. 19.


But to anyone who has spent time in a school over the past decade, such reforms will sound familiar: They have been part of the federal No Child Left Behind Education Act that has strictly governed school accountability since 2001.


California's new Race to the Top plan "sounds very similar to No Child Left Behind," said Mike Kirst, education professor emeritus of Stanford University. "What's different is that NCLB relies on top-down enforcement from the state and federal governments," while the new plan requires parent participation to fix low-scoring schools.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/07/MNT41BEGO3.DTL#ixzz0c1erDyRk

California's education reforms hand more power to parents / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

California's education reforms hand more power to parents / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an education reform bill Thursday that lets California vie for federal 'Race to the Top' grants. The reforms, opposed by teachers' unions, would let parents to force changes in failing schools."


Los Angeles

California is now competitive in President Obama’s national $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” education competition. After six months of bipartisan massaging, hand-wringing, and compromise, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed reform legislation Thursday that will ensure the state can vie for up to $700 million in federal funding for its schools.

But the debate over the reforms – which puts more power in the hands of parents – spilled over into the signing at the Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School in south central Los Angeles. Both teachers unions opposing the reforms and parents groups supporting the bill showed up to make their voices heard.

Mr. Obama created the “Race to the Top” education fund last year as part of the stimulus bill investment in critical sectors. The fund rewards states that create the conditions for education innovation and reform and improve student outcomes and graduation rates.

California could not apply for the funds because of a so-called educational “firewall” that kept its students' test scores from being used to evaluate teachers. Two bipartisan measures have cleared away

Autism Clusters Tied to College-Educated Parents : Discovery News

Autism Clusters Tied to College-Educated Parents : Discovery News:

"Highly educated parents may be more likely to have children diagnosed with autism, according to a recent study from the University of California at Davis.

The findings suggest a new, major risk factor for this complex, and still mysterious, developmental disability.

Dr. Karla Van Meter, the lead author for the study published online this month in the journal Autism Research, and her colleagues examined the birth records for 2.4 million live births that took place in California between 1996 and 2000."

Best and Worst Jobs 2010 - The Wall Street Journal Online - Interactive Graphics

Best and Worst Jobs 2010 - The Wall Street Journal Online - Interactive Graphics:

"Best and Worst Jobs 2010

The 200 best and worst jobs in the U.S. in 2009 based on five criteria -- environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress -- according to a newly released study from job site CareerCast.com. Read about the methodology.

CAL: Projects: National K-12 Foreign Language Survey

CAL: Projects: National K-12 Foreign Language Survey

National K - 12 Foreign Language Survey

Funder: U.S. Department of Education, International Research and Studies Program

September 2006 – August 2009

The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) conducts a national survey of foreign language instruction in public and private elementary and secondary schools every decade to provide an updated national and regional portrait of foreign language instruction in the United States. Working with Westat, a leader in survey research, CAL analyzed results from the third survey to be able to show trends in foreign language education at three points in time (1987, 1997, 2008).

Survey questionnaires were mailed to a stratified random sample of more than 5,000 elementary and secondary schools across the country in October 2007. Data collection was completed in June 2008. The response rate was 76%.

The survey was designed to help us understand, among other issues, current patterns and shifts over time in these areas:

• Foreign language enrollments
• Number of schools offering foreign languages
• Types of foreign language programs offered
• Foreign language curricula and methodologies in use
• Teacher qualifications and training
• Effects of No Child Left Behind legislation on foreign language instruction
  

Survey data were examined and presented according to various factors that may affect language instruction, including these:

• Type of school (public or private)
• Location of school (urban, rural, or suburban)
• Socioeconomic status of students
• Percentage of minority students enrolled in the school
• Geographical region (e.g., Northeast, Pacific Northwest)
  

The survey results present national and regional data; state-by-state data were not an outcome of this survey. Answers to the following questions are presented in the final survey results:

• How is students’ language proficiency assessed?
• Do teachers integrate national and/or state foreign language standards into their instruction?
• How much do teachers use the foreign language in the classroom?
  
  

The overarching theme in the analysis was how the data can be used to help our country increase and improve language teaching in elementary and secondary schools over the next decade.

Read the executive summary
(PDF, 3 MB) 

Download our Survey Snapshot Brochure 
Read our brochure with results of the elementary school survey.
(PDF, 1.6 MB) 

Survey Methodology and Others Details
Learn more about how the survey was conducted as well as additional details about the survey.

---

Spotlight Report from the National K-12 Foreign Language Survey Read the Executive Summary. (PDF, 3 MB)  Order online at the CAL Store. FL Survey Snapshot Brochure (PDF, 1.6 MB) Download a brochure of preliminary results of the elementary school survey.

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Copyright © 2009 CAL

Governor Holds Press Conference with Mayor Kevin Johnson Regarding Race to the Top Legislation

Governor Holds Press Conference with Mayor Kevin Johnson Regarding Race to the Top Legislation

Good morning and welcome to Rosa Parks Middle School. I'm Renee Balestrieri, the principal of Rosa Parks. I'd like to thank the guests who are with us this morning: Mayor Kevin Johnson, the city of Sacramento; Jonathan P. Raymond, the superintendent of Sacramento City Unified School District; Margaret Fortune, member, Board of Trustees of the California State University and CEO of Project Pipeline; Dr. Glen Thomas, the Secretary of Education; Jed Wallace, CEO of Charter Schools; Branche Jones, California Charter Schools Association; Ted Mitchell, the president, California State Board of Education; Ed Manansala, the superintendent of St. Hope Public Schools.

In our audience we have the Rosa Parks AVID class. AVID is a national program that stresses rigor and individual determination to provide students with the skills and strategies that will take them through high school on to college. We also have students with us this morning from Sac High.

It is my honor at this time to introduce the Governor of the great state of California, Governor Schwarzenegger. (Applause)

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:

Thank you very much, Principal Balestrieri. Is this right, did I pronounce it right? OK, good. And I want to say thank you for your great leadership. And I think that's why we're all here at the Rosa Parks Middle School, because this school is a spectacular school and we have heard so much about it, so I wanted to come here myself to see all the action that's going on here and the great education that all of you are getting.

But in the meantime, I want to just say thank you very much to Mayor Johnson, who is such a big believer in children. We have worked together way before he became mayor and way before I became governor, when we talked about after school programs and charter schools and all this, so it's really terrific to have him here. And also Superintendent, I want to say thank you very much, Superintendent Raymond, for his great energy and also Margaret Fortune, who has been a great education leader here in California and has worked with our administration and all the other education leaders that are here with us today.

Now, as I said, we are here today because you have shown such great, great work. And I think that, because of the great leadership of your school principal, you've done a great job with improving the grades and your scores jumped up and test scores have improved so much in these last few years in every area. And you have also coaches here that are coaching teachers how to teach and you have created a great team effort between the students and the parents and teachers

Passage of Race to the Top Bills - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

Passage of Race to the Top Bills - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Comments
on Passage of Race to the Top Bills

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement following passage of SBx5 1, authored by Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), and SBx5 4, authored by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles). Both bills now head to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk. The Governor has said he would sign both bills.

"I am very pleased that the Legislature has approved two important bills that will help change the culture in our lowest-performing schools and set the stage for reform and innovation throughout California's public education system. With the passage of these measures, California has met the necessary threshold to apply and be highly competitive for the federal Race to the Top program. I applaud the leadership of Senator Steinberg and Senator Romero for their work to ensure California is eligible to apply for Race to the Top.

"Now it is critical that we complete work on our state plan that will detail how we will implement our Race to the Top goals. Our Race to the Top application will spell out how we will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continual improvement in our schools in order to close the achievement gap and prepare all students for success in the competitive global economy.

"Nearly 800 local educational agencies already have agreed to partner with the state of California in the Race to the Top work, and support for our application is gaining momentum among business, philanthropic, community, and education organizations. With today's legislative action, the clear articulation of how we will implement our reform goals, and the strong support of such a broad coalition, California will submit a very competitive Race to the Top application."

A public draft of Section (A) (1) of California's Race to the Top application is now available at Race to the Top, under "Key Items."

Related Content: Education Reform - Information on how ARRA funds can be used to advance education reforms and support efforts to close achievement gaps. Includes information on LEA and state competitive grants.

Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Responds to
Governor's 2010 State of the State Address

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today responded to Governor Schwarzenegger's 2010 State of the State address (Outside Source):

"I was encouraged today to hear Governor Schwarzenegger say in his State of the State address that he plans to protect education funding in his proposed budget for the coming year. I applaud him for making public education a priority, and for recognizing that the future economic well-being of our state is dependent upon a well-educated, highly skilled workforce. Our schools are still dealing with the effects of $17 billion in cuts made in the last budget cycle. Many vital school programs across the state have been cut back or eliminated all together. We cannot afford to backslide further. The key to expanding our economy is education. We need a well-qualified workforce to fill the green technology, biotechnology, and other sector jobs that the governor is promoting to boost our economy.

"I look forward to seeing the details of the Governor's budget when it's released within the next few days, and I hope it's a budget that does in fact protect our schools and our students."

State Education Labor Leaders Call for Full Funding of Public Education in 2010/11 Budget | California Progress Report

State Education Labor Leaders Call for Full Funding of Public Education in 2010/11 Budget | California Progress Report

State Education Labor Leaders Call for Full Funding of Public Education in 2010/11 Budget

By Alice Sunshine
California Faculty Association

Everyone in California is painfully aware that public education in California is being dismantled. In nearly every ranking at every level -- from preschool to university -- California is sinking compared to other states.

Yet, the very forces we should expect to be in the forefront of fighting for public education, including businesses that need educated workers and even the leaders of our educational segments, speak of the problems, but are strangely timid at key moments when public action is needed to stop the wrecking crew at work on our schools.

So, a group of education labor leaders have decided to make a public commitment to work together to fight for the future of our schools, colleges and universities, even if those nominally in charge do not.

Over the holidays, education labor groups teamed up for an “e-March” on Gov. Schwarzenegger, sending 5,000 messages telling him to include appropriate funding for public education from pre-school through Ph.D. in his 2010/11 budget proposal slated for release later this week.

On Jan. 5, leaders of five of the labor groups – who collectively

Mark Leno, Dave Jones: CPR Reader’s Choice for 2009 Legislators of Year | California Progress Report

Mark Leno, Dave Jones: CPR Reader’s Choice for 2009 Legislators of Year | California Progress Report

Mark Leno, Dave Jones: CPR Reader’s Choice for 2009 Legislators of Year

By Dan Aiello

With more than 2,600 individual votes cast during three weeks of voting, California Progress Report readers have chosen Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Assembly Member Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) as their 2009 Legislators of the Year.

To make the cut, Assemblymembers and Senators first had toreceive a combined average of 65 percent or higher on the 2009 scorecards of four key progressive organizations, including Equality California, California League of Conservation Voters, California Alliance for Retired Americans and Consumer Federation of California. 

With 470 votes, Senator Leno maintained a lead in the polling that began the first day and never waned.

“Leno has fought for consumer and LGBT rights like no other,” wrote one reader in selecting the Senator.  “Principled,” wrote another.