Neat Census Interactive | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Neat Census Interactive | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Larry Ferlazzo

Neat Census Interactive

Filed under social studies

The U.S. Census has an interactive that lets you see how responsive your local community is in responding to the mail-in Census form. It’s updated daily.

I’ve added it to The Best Resources To Learn About The U.S. Census.

A Letter You’ll Never See � InterACT

A Letter You’ll Never See � InterACT

A Letter You’ll Never See

by David B. Cohen

Dear Teacher,

I just want to take a moment to thank you for all that you did for me when I was in your class. Now that I’m out of high school, I really appreciate it even more. When I started your English class, I knew that my test scores were kind of low, and I was really committed to improving my performance on two of the subtests. You saw that potential in me, and even more. By providing me with chances to read anthologized literary excerpts and random workplace documents, all followed by multiple choice assessments, you showed a commitment to my learning, and my test scores that spring really proved how far I had come. I was totally comfortable dealing with any readings chosen for me, and comfortable choosing the answers to other people’s questions. I also remember that you showed us how to answer the questions without even doing most of the reading, and that sure did help on the test!

Do you remember my sister? She was in your class a few years ahead of me, and I was just talking to her about your class. She couldn’t even remember what her test scores were – probably because she usually has her nose in a book, when she’s not writing in her journals or on her blog.

My sister just graduated from college, but as for me, I don’t know if you heard, but I’ve taken a break from

On the Road with RTT :: Frederick M. Hess

On the Road with RTT :: Frederick M. Hess

Frederick M. Hess's Blog

On the Road with RTT

by Frederick M. Hess • Mar 25, 2010 at 9:46 am
Cross-posted from Education Week

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Andy Smarick's dazzling new "AEI Education Stimulus Watch," bringing readers up to speed on all things edu-stimulus, is out today. It provides a vivid look at the Race to the Top (RTT) landscape; in particular, combining Andy's principled enthusiasm for RTT with his careful attention to how the program is playing out. Readers will find especially useful his attention to the challenges of program design, ED execution, and political gamesmanship. (Full disclosure: As the report's title implies, it is written for and published by my AEI Education shop).

I found Andy's piece especially thought-provoking, as I've been on the road the past couple weeks talking about my new book. My travels have involved visiting a number of RTT finalists. In all of them, I've had the chance to catch up with friends and colleagues involved in their state's bid. Those discussions have clarified for me six observations worth noting. I'll chat about a few below and finish up tomorrow.

Defending Education | The Advocate

Defending Education | The Advocate

Defending Education

by Alison Powell

Upcom ing Con tract Negotiations

The cur rent PSC con tract expires in Octo ber 2010. The Adjunct Project and CCU (Cuny Con tin gents Unite) are work ing together to deter mine what demands should be included on the agenda at the upcom ing union con tract nego ti a tions. We’re already plan ning for the next round of bar gain ing; the kick-off will be a meet ing with the PSC and Bar bara Bowen at the Grad u ate Cen ter (room 9205) at 12:30 pm on Tues day, April 6, to dis cuss pri or i ties for the next con­tract and how GC stu dents can be part of the col lec tive bar gain ing process.

Pro posed CCU con tract demands were cir cu lated by Abe Walker on the CCU-Discussion list on Feb ru ary 5, after they were approved by the Coor di nat ing Com mit tee. If you would like to receive a copy of that post ing, please write to cunycontingents@​gmail.​com.

The next Adjunct Project meet ing is March 25, and the monthly CCU meet ing will be held on Fri day, March 26, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, in the Polit i cal Sci ence The sis Room, inside Room 5200 at the CUNY Grad u ate Center.

Bar bara Bowen and other offi cers will visit every cam pus this semes ter to begin a union-wide con ver sa tion about bar gain ing the next con tract with CUNY. These meet ings will be the membership’s chance to hear directly about issues that have already emerged for the upcom ing nego ti a tions and to dis cuss their own con cerns and ideas.To find out when and where the meet ing is at your home cam pus, go to: www.psc-cuny.org

Recap: March 4^th Day of Action to Defend Education

On March 4, the National Day of Action to Defend Edu ca tion, stu dents across the nation gath ered for mass protests against bud get cuts, tuition hikes, increased class sizes, and school clos ings. In New York, over 1800 stu dents, teach ers and advo cates gath ered together to protest on the steps of City Hall to protest the mayor’s man age ment of

SJSU planning for layoffs, fee hikes and fewer students - San Jose Mercury News

SJSU planning for layoffs, fee hikes and fewer students - San Jose Mercury News

SJSU planning for layoffs, fee hikes and fewer students

Braced for reduced state support, San Jose State University is planning early summer layoffs, boosting fees and shrinking next fall's incoming classes.

"Our strategy is to keep quality high — but in order to do that with a smaller budget, we'll have fewer students," said SJSU President Jon Whitmore. "So fewer faculty will be needed — and fewer staff will be needed to provide services."

This year SJSU's budget was cut $44 million, or 20 percent — and similar belt-tightening is expected next year. California expects a $20 billion shortfall for the 2010-11 year.

The university imposed furloughs last fall that saved $18 million — and bought time, because many people retired or left their positions on campus. But these 2009-10 furloughs expire in June and will not be continued.

"The $18 million in savings generated by the furloughs has to be permanently out of the system," he said.

He would not speculate on the number of layoffs, but said tenured faculty are safe. The most likely candidates for job cuts are staff and temporary faculty. Layoffs will be governed by union contracts, which require prior notification. SJSU says the workers need to be gone by the end of June.

"Although President Whitmore's letter to the campus doesn't constitute formal layoff notice to the CSU Employees Union, it certainly provides an unequivocal heads-up that layoffs are very likely in the offing, and the union is ready to

deal with that possibility," said Steve Sloan, an information technology consultant at SJSU. "We are committed to saving as many jobs as possible by exploring all mitigation options with the administration."

American Chronicle | EDITORIAL: Make top teams improve graduation rates

American Chronicle | EDITORIAL: Make top teams improve graduation rates

EDITORIAL: Make top teams improve graduation rates

Mar. 25--The NCAA Men's Basketball Championship enters the Sweet 16 stage beginning tonight, and most sports fans are dusting off what's left of their brackets after an opening weekend of upsets.

But a proposal by the U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan would drastically change the look of this year's tournament.

Duncan proposed last week that teams with a graduation rate of less than 40 percent be banned from the postseason tournament.

If that restriction were in place right now, the Sweet 16 would be without Kentucky (31 percent graduation rate); Baylor (36 percent); Tennessee (30 percent); and Washington (29 percent). Eight more teams would have joined those four if the restrictions had been in place prior to the start of the tournament.

Other studies have pointed out that there is a wide disparity in graduation rates between white athletes and black athletes. The graduation rate at the University of California Northridge is so low for black athletes that they actually have a better chance of playing professional basketball in the NBA (1.2 percent) than graduating from college.

Graduation rates can be tricky to figure out. Duncan's figures were based on the number of freshman who graduated after five years. Some athletic administrators would argue that leaves a lot of room for issues. Players leave school early to play professionally. Others leave school to find a team that fits

George Lakoff's 14 Words That Could Fix California | Economy | AlterNet

George Lakoff's 14 Words That Could Fix California | Economy | AlterNet

George Lakoff's 14 Words That Could Fix California

The minority rules in the California Legislature, and they're responsible for the state's budget logjam -- linguist George Lakoff has an elegant solution to fix it.

March 25, 2010 |

Photo Credit: Daryl Cagle

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Here's the little-known truth about California: Since 1978, the state has been subject to what is essentially minority rule. Proposition 13 -- mostly packaged as a property tax law change -- was passed that year, altering the state constitution to read that a two-thirds super-majority is needed in the state legislature to pass any revenue increases. But what this has turned out to really mean is that one-third plus one vote, or 34 percent, of the state legislature can control all legislative decisions.

You thought filibustering on Capitol Hill was bad? This is worse. And California is the only state with such a rule in place, now or ever.

As the state faces a growing budget deficit -- now estimated to be $20 billion -- the tyranny of the minority has grown more apparent to voters who have hardly

Will medical schools join 3-year degree trend? - USATODAY.com

Will medical schools join 3-year degree trend? - USATODAY.com

Will medical schools join 3-year degree trend?

As the buzz continues to grow about about three-year bachelor's degrees, Texas Tech University is starting a three-year M.D. program.

Two Canadian institutions — McMaster University and the University of Calgary— offer three-year M.D. options. In the United States, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a three-year option for a D.O. degree. But the unusual Texas Tech M.D. program could represent a significant move in efforts to encourage more medical students to go into primary care and to find ways to minimize the costs of medical education. And it may raise questions about the fourth year of most medical degrees.

UNDERGRAD: AP tests help college students finish early

AT INSIDE HIGHER ED: Should nurses require bachelor of science degree?

DOCTORS: Shortage looms as primary care loses its pull

"I think Texas Tech has challenged some assumptions and I think it's good to challenge them. Others are going

INSIDE HIGHER ED For more breaking news, features and commentary from the world of higher education, visit:insidehighered.com.

Legislature proclaims Passover Education Week | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California

Legislature proclaims Passover Education Week | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California

Legislature proclaims Passover Education Week

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and

Both houses of the state Legislature have proclaimed the seven-day period that begins Friday, March 26, as Passover Education Week in California.

During a proclamation ceremony March 22 in Sacramento, rabbis from around the state were recognized on the Senate and Assembly floors. They met with legislators and staff while handing out matzah and explaining the importance of Passover to California’s Jews.

/u/57545

HISD looks to California for teachers - Houston Business Journal:

HISD looks to California for teachers - Houston Business Journal:

HISD looks to California for teachers

Houston Business Journal - by Christine Hall Reporter

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California’s loss might be Houston’s gain.

Houston Independent School District officials are heading to California this week to host recruitment sessions in an effort to snag some of the 5,000 California teachers who were recently issued preliminary layoff notices.

Carmen Rowan, recruitment team leader at HISD, said the trip was part of the district's revamped recruitment program aimed at more focused efforts. Rowan will be in California through this week meeting education students at various universities.

"We also thought it would be worthwhile to open up recruitment to teachers who may receive a pink slip," she added.

Some 20,000 teachers in California are expected to be handed pink slips in the coming months, according to the California Department of Education.

Rowan will be looking to make some hires in what she said are “critical shortage areas:” Bilingual education, secondary math and secondary science.

She said the district has faced challenges in finding true bilingual teachers — meaning those who speak both languages fluently and can effectively teach — as well as secondary math

Yee to chair committee on public records | San Francisco Examiner

Yee to chair committee on public records | San Francisco Examiner

Yee to chair committee on public records

Staff report
March 26, 2010

State Sen. Leland Yee. (Courtesy photo)

Leland Yee, the Democratic state senator from San Francisco, will chair a new select committee to examine California’s public records and open-meetings laws. He said the committee will look for ways to improve public access to government documents and proceedings. California has good open-government laws, Yee said, but some agencies still deny public and media requests for records.

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Yee-to-chair-committee-on-public-records-89248727.html#ixzz0jHdCEUas

Sacramento march for education | SocialistWorker.org

Sacramento march for education | SocialistWorker.org

Sacramento march for education

By Alessandro Tinonga and Amanda Maystead | March 26, 2010

SACRAMENTO--Nearly 8,000 students, faculty and staff marched in the state's capital on March 22 to fight budget cuts to education. People traveled from all over the state to participate.

"We rode on the bus for eight hours," said Marvin Jordan, a third year history student from Cal State Northridge. "We left at one o'clock last night."

In what has become an annual event, the Student Senate of California Community Colleges organized a day in March to send students to the capital to protest the crisis of budgetary priorities. The California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the largest unions for faculty and staff, mobilized members in support of the cause, in addition to several California State University (CSU) student governing boards.

Demonstrators marched a mile through downtown Sacramento and converged on the capitol steps to hear representatives from Associated Students, union members and state legislators weigh in on important issues facing the state.

"Budget cuts are ruining my education," said Fptzie Sockel, a third-year economics

Ron Russell: Adult education's demise - MontereyHerald.com :

Ron Russell: Adult education's demise - MontereyHerald.com :

Ron Russell: Adult education's demise

By RON RUSSELL
Guest commentary

Posted: 03/26/2010 01:32:55 AM PDT

Updated: 03/26/2010 01:32:55 AM PDT

I f you think English is a dying language in California, just wait until the last adult education program closes its doors.

Here's the scoop on our state's latest naughty secret. One by one, adult education programs are being eliminated and thousands of adult education teachers, administrators and students anguish as their schools close.

With the focus inevitably on K-12, most people are unfamiliar with the scope, breadth or importance of adult education, so the enrollment numbers might stun some folks: Salinas serves 21,000 students, while Monterey's programs served more than 6,000 last year. Los Angeles caters to tens of thousands.

Locally, Castroville, King City, Greenfield and others have completely closed. Cuts cost Watsonville/Aptos Adult Education over 2,000 students. Salinas, Pacific Grove and Monterey have taken cataclysmic cuts, with additional parsing looming. On March 12, every teacher in Monterey Adult Education, including some who have taught there for 30 years, received pink slips.

Why? Because some recent legal chicanery allows districts to sweep the entire adult education budget into the K-12 kitty.

Historically, this was illegal, as the funding for each was always completely divided. Owing to this sleight of hand,

Joel Shatzky: Educating for Democracy: School Closings and National Priorities

Joel Shatzky: Educating for Democracy: School Closings and National Priorities

Educating for Democracy: School Closings and National Priorities

In recent weeks a number of cities and states have announced school closings and teacher layoffs due to several factors including population shifts, budgetary problems and, as in the case of New York City, low scores on standardized tests. Although these factors indicate a complicated picture, my concern is that the notion of closing schools in itself for reasons that have little to do with student safety is a sign of a profound change in attitudes in this country toward equal opportunity for all young learners.

In Detroit, because of population shifts -- "white flight" -- the school population has precipitously declined in the past decade. Forty-four city schools will be closed and a recent cut in per pupil allocation will be offset from public employee pensions. In California 10,000 educators will be fired and in NYC 8500 will be laid off in addition to 19 schools scheduled for closing due to low test scores. In Kansas City -- with a similar situation as Detroit -- 29 schools will be closed and 1000 educators are being laid off in Chicago. These measures will certainly have an effect on reducing the quality of the education of young learners in these

New test scores on reading show little progress

New test scores on reading show little progress

New test scores on reading show little progress

BY MARSHA SUTTON, SDNN

Thursday, March 25, 2010 no comments | be the first to comment!

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nowBuzz up!

The National Assessment of Educational Progress just released findings from its 2009 reading assessment showing that reading scores are flat for American students in fourth and eighth grades.

Results indicate that the percentage of fourth-graders performing at or above proficiency in reading increased from 29 percent in 1992 to 33 percent in 2009. For eighth-graders, the increase was from 29 percent in 1992 to 32 percent in 2009.

This, in a word, is pathetic. In 17 years, we’ve finally managed to get one-third of kids to read proficiently?

Anyone who thinks the results show we’re moving in the right direction and says they choose to see the glass as half-full instead of half-empty is in serious denial.

As if these statistics aren’t bad enough, on a different set of criteria California’s scores fall below the national average. A scale devised by the NAEP from zero to 500 is based on two types of reading, literary and informational. California recorded dismal scores, even lower than the already lackluster United States averages:

Year 2009 2007 1992
. CA/US CA/US CA/US

Reading
4^th grade 210/220 209/220 202/215
8^th grade 253/262 251/261 –/–

Mathematics
4^th grade 232/239 230/239 208/219
8^th grade 270/282 270/280 261/267

Read more: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-03-25/blog/teachable-moments/new-test-scores-on-reading-show-little-progress#ixzz0jHbvHIq4