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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Education Ideas & News - Pepsi Refresh Project

Education Ideas & News - Pepsi Refresh Project

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Liz Dwyer has over fifteen years of education experience. She's taught in both China and Compton, California, and served as a program director for Teach For America, supervising K-12 teachers in Los Angeles County.
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Is an Adequacy Perfect Storm Brewing? The Quick and the Ed

The Quick and the Ed

Is an Adequacy Perfect Storm Brewing?




Last week, the Superior Court in my home state of Washington ruled that the state’s finance system was unconstitutional. The court concluded that the current finance system perennial underfunds a basic education, and that the current funding in not ample, stable, or dependable. It also has to rely too much on local supplemental funds to support basic education costs. Such rulings are not unusual for a state. It is unclear whether this ruling will be challenged to the state supreme court. The legislature will have to determine whether they want to start to address this issue in the remaining month of the legislative year (session ends March 11th) at the same time they are trying to work out many of the details of significant legislation that passed last year, and pass a package of bills that would position the state to be more competitive in Race to the Top round 2. Needless to say, it will be a busy month for the education policy community in Washington state.
This ruling made me think about whether a new round of adequacy lawsuits is brewing in the near future. It seems like the perfect adequacy storm may be coming in the very near future. First, most state budgets are in horrible shape, and it will difficult for states to close budget gaps without education playing a role in those reductions. Second, the federal stimulus funding is going to run out soon, and states are not in a position to backfill those funds. So, while the stimulus funds allowed schools to put off difficult cuts for a couple years, when the federal funds end at the same time that states are cutting state funding, it does not look good. And third, local property tax revenues are not looking strong any time in the near future. Now property tax policies differ by state, but at least in some states, when property values fall, so do the tax revenues (although there is a lag until the property tax bases are reassessed). So to sum up the fiscal outlook for schools in much of the country – federal funds down, state funds down, local funds down.
Add to the funding situation the policy push for higher standards. If the common 
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Calif. Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments for 2.10.10 : Thu, 11 Feb 2010 : California Newswire™

Calif. Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments for 2.10.10 : Thu, 11 Feb 2010 : California Newswire™


SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced the following appointments: First, Nicole Anderson, 20, of Redding, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Since 2008, she has served as secretary of state affairs for Associated Students Incorporated at California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Anderson is a Democrat.
Brenda Victoria Castillo, 47, of Whittier, has been appointed to the California Teacher Credentialing Commission. Since 2007, she has served as director of western region government and public affairs for BP America. Previously, Castillo served as director of diversity and community outreach for the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles from 1999 to 2006. She was a teacher for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1994 to 1998 and executive director for the National Hispanic Media Coalition from 1992 to 1994. Castillo worked for KTLA, Channel 5 in Los Angeles as an associate producer and community affairs representative from 1985 to 1992. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Castillo is a Republican.
Dan Chernow, Ed.D., 63, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Teacher Credentialing Commission. Since 1996, he has served as executive director of the school management program for the University of California, Los Angeles. Previously, Chernow was vice president of the Pacific Theaters Corporation from 1962 to 1995 and a teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District from 1968 to 1971. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Chernow is a Democrat.
Holly Mann, 28, of West Sacramento, has been appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Since 2009, she has served as chief of staff to First Lady Maria Shriver, where she also served as deputy chief of staff in 2008, press deputy and communication assistant from 2005 to 2007 and special assistant to the First Lady from 2003 to 2005. Previously, Mann was scheduling assistant to First Lady Sharon Davis from 2000 to 2003 and a student assistant for the California Research Bureau from 1999 to 2000. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Mann is a Democrat.
Michele Minor, 48, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief of rehabilitative program planning and accountability for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). She has served as acting chief of rehabilitative program planning and accountability for CDCR since 2009 and major of youth authority in adult programs for the Rehabilitative Skills Training Unit since 2007. Previously, Minor served CDCR as acting program administrator at the Stockton Training Center from 2005 to 2007, lieutenant for youth authority at the Youth Authority Training Center from 2001 to 2005 and training officer at the Northern Reception Center and Clinic in 2000. She was sergeant for youth authority at the Northern Reception Center and Clinic from 1993 to 2001 and the Northern California Youth Correctional Facility from 1991 to 1993. Prior to that, Minor was a youth correctional officer at the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility from 1985 to 1991. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $107,952. Minor is a Democrat.

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For Harris, More Than 'One Small Step For Man' : NPR

For Harris, More Than 'One Small Step For Man' : NPR:

"Forty years ago, the astronauts on board Apollo 11 made history when they landed on the moon. Dr. Bernard Harris watched the moon landing on television as a teenager and was inspired to pursue a career as an astronaut. In 1995, he became the first African-American to walk in space. The trailblazer talks about being in orbit and his work to persuade young minorities to reach for the stars — literally."



MICHEL MARTIN, host:
And now it's time for our Wisdom Watch. That's the part of the program where we seek out those with wisdom to impart from a lifetime of accomplishment. Today, a man who reached for the stars, and is now helping others to do the same. Forty years ago today, America was captivated as Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission.
Mr. NEIL ARMSTRONG (Astronaut): That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
MARTIN: Bernard Harris was only 13 years old when he watched those small steps, but at that moment he knew he wanted to become an astronaut. Dr. Harris went on to become a flight surgeon. And in 1995, he also became the first African-American to walk in space. Today, he heads the Harris Foundation. That's a nonprofit organization that supports science education and other programs for youth. And he joins us now in our studios in Washington. Dr. Harris, thank you so much for stopping by.
Dr. BERNARD HARRIS (Founder, Harris Foundation): Glad to be here.
MARTIN: So, what was it about that moon walk that made such an impression on you, the moon landing? I mean, obviously, we all watched it. Those of us who were around back then, like, wow. But most of us didn't take the next step to thinking, okay, I'm going to do that, too. What do you think made such a big impression?
Dr. HARRIS: Well, you know, my love for space started before because I got the chance to watch, you know, the early programs, the Gemini program, Mercury program, leading up to the Apollo program. So I was kind of already, you know, into science and into space science in particular. I also like to say, I was also into science fiction too, an original Trekkie. So, as you said, 1969, when the guys landed on the moon, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and I saw that, something changed inside of me that said, you know what, that looks like something fun and exciting and I want to do it. I want to be just like them.
MARTIN: But there are those who would say, you can't be what you can't see. And for you, if that had been true, you wouldn't be where you are now. So, what do you think it is that allowed you to make the leap from those three men to you and to say, I can do that?
Dr. HARRIS: Now, you know, I'm African-American. When I looked at those guys going into space they were nobody, at least visibly, that looked like me. I subsequent found out that there were certainly African-Americans, Hispanics, all races that are involved, including women who were working in the program but just behind the scenes.
MARTIN: Eventually.
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