Saturday, April 17, 2010

Education - Everything you need to know about the world of education.

Popular D.C. principal found dead at home

Brian Betts, of Shaw Middle School, was a favorite of Rhee

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Brian Betts, 42. (Nikki Kahn-TWP)

VALERIE STRAUSS

The Answer Sheet

A School Survival Guide for Parents (And Everyone Else)

Posted at 3:00 PM ET, 04/16/2010

"Twilight" joins 2009 Most Challenged Books list

The Twilight Saga books joined the list of the Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009, the American Library Association says. The list includes "Catcher in the Rye," and, believe it or not, "To Kill a Mockingbird."

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JAY MATHEWS

Class Struggle

What's Right and Wrong With Our Schools

Posted at 10:49 AM ET, 04/16/2010

Brian Betts--a great loss for D.C. schools

It is difficult to adjust to any 6 a.m. phone call, but the one I received this morning was particularly jarring. Brian Betts, one of the most energetic and enthusiastic educators I have ever met, had been found dead in his home in Silver Spring, just months before what I expected would be good news about his relentless efforts to raise achievement for students at the Shaw Middle School at Garnet-Patterson.

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Posted by Jay Mathews | Permalink | Comments (4)

Ed Buzz: The Nation

Illinois school fighting cyber-bullying(Chicago Tribune)
Boston teachers asked to work more hours for same pay (Boston Globe)
Advocates weigh Obama's commitment to early ed. (Education Week)
N.Y. bill would allow layoffs of teachers with seniority (New York Times)
Bilingual ed., immersion work equally well (Education Week)
Schools tackle teacher-on-teacher bullying (USA Today)
English-language learners making gains (Education Week)
Researchers argue over Head Start study (Education Week)

Ed Buzz: The Region

MoCo school investigates cyber-bully threats (WUSA)
P.W. dad wins FOIA fight with school board (Potomac News)
Kids at Md. school get tainted milk (Fox 5)
McDonnell signs college lab school legislation (Richmond Times Dispatch)
Schools reduce police presence (The Examiner)
Montgomery College, schools brace for cuts (The Gazette)
P.G. County PTA reinstated (The Gazette)
Md. GOP: Don't raise dropout age (The Gazette)
Birth-control center finds home at T.C. Williams (Alexandria Gazette Packet)
Fairfax teacher quits over embezzlement charges (Examiner)
MoCo teachers say they are overwhelmed (Gazette)
Alex. considers new school boundaries(Examiner)
PG parents fear impact of school cuts(WJLA)
Md. lawmakers favor ed cuts (Baltimore Sun)

EducationNews.org - EducationNewsToday

EducationNewsToday

Minnesota schools renew focus on keeping students safe

School districts have spent millions to build safer schools. They've touted safety plans, installed high-tech surveillance, locked doors and monitored entrances.

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D.C. Students First Among 2010 Graduates Chosen as Gates Scholars

Seven of 57 high-achieving Washington, D.C., students who applied for the competitive Gates scholarships learned Thursday they will receive the prestigious award. ...

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McKinney elementary school to teach kindergartners in English and Spanish

When the next school year begins at Caldwell Elementary, some kindergarteners will no doubt arrive unwillingly, clinging to their parents' knees. ...

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Indiana schools chief says union vague on proposed reforms

Indiana public schools chief Tony Bennett criticized the head of the state's largest teachers union for failing to clearly and specifically state his position as the two continued to fight over proposed school reforms ...

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Fighting school health center closures

Dozens of parents filed through City Springs Elementary/Middle School on Friday to sign a petition to protest proposed funding cuts to the school's health center. ...

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DeKalb schools chief fired

School board says it and Crawford Lewis (right) "mutually agreed" that his departure is the best thing for the district. ...

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State is offered $300 million loan by First Things First

The state could get a $300 million interest-free loan from an early-childhood program and up to $60 million to pay for KidsCare in exchange for dropping plans to redirect the group's money. ...

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Jay Mathews: Brian Betts--a great loss for D.C. schools

It is difficult to adjust to any 6 a.m. phone call, but the one I received this morning was particularly jarring. Brian Betts, one of the most energetic and enthusiastic educators I have ever met,...

Full story

"Twilight" joins 2009 Most Challenged Books list

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Crist Crossing Kids

No doubt it's a naive question, but why do some people get into politics? Is it merely to accumulate power and fame for their own sake, or to actually do something? The questions come to mind...

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LAUNCH OF PARENT-LED STATEWIDE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE EDUCATION QUALITY IN ILLINOIS

Chicago, Target Area DevCorp and 17 collaborating organizations launched the Statewide Action & Grassroots Education (SAGE) Campaign and released a progress report, “When Good is Not Good Enough: A Quest for Quality Education in Illinois’ Public Schools,”...

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Florida Governor Splits With G.O.P. on Teacher Pay

Gov. Charlie Crist’s decision spurred speculation he would abandon the party to run for Senate as an independent. ...

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Girls in Private Schools Ask, Thin Mints or Samoas?

Organizers of the Brownie troop at Columbia Grammar School expected 10 girls but got 25....

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Texas city revives paddling in schools for disipline...

TEMPLE, TEX. -- In an era when students talk back to teachers, skip class and wear ever-more-risque clothing to school, one central Texas city has hit upon a deceptively simple solution: Bring back the paddle. ...

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College aid maze

For low-income applicants to U.S. colleges, April remains the cruelest month. By early April, almost all admission decisions are known....

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My Children are not Widgets � SCUSD Observer

My Children are not Widgets � SCUSD Observer
SCUSD Observer

My Children are not Widgets

Sac City Unified suing over controversial pension plan - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sac City Unified suing over controversial pension plan

by mgutierrez@sacbee.com (Melody Gutierrez)

Ten years after creating a controversial pension plan for administrative employees, Sacramento City Unified is headed back to court to continue a legal battle over the plan.
A hearing has been set for Aug. 9 in Sacramento Superior Court.
The school district is suing the lawyers and a consultant who advised them during the creation of an alternative retirement plan called California Administrative Services Authority.
CASA's basic premise when it began in 2000 was to allow employees to sidestep payments to both Cal-PERS and Social Security by joining the new retirement plan. Doing so raised the take-home pay and boosted the retirement benefits of 101 district administrators and 14 Yolo County Office of Education workers who participated.
The district took Cal-PERS, CASA trustees and individual employees who participated in the plan to court in 2005 to dismantle CASA. That case is settled, but the payout is pending, said district spokesman Gabe Ross.
The district is waiting for the IRS to determine how the payout of CASA funds will be taxed, Ross said.
Sacramento City Unified paid CalPERS $4.1 million after the retirement group contended the system was illegal

UC Davis serves up 96th Picnic Day

The 96th annual Picnic Day today at the University of California, Davis, means a kaleidoscope of activity such as cockroach and dachshund races; kissing pit bulls; milking cows and goats; painting maggots; coopering wine barrels; and nitrogen-frozen ice cream.
Organizers expect 50,000 to 60,000 people to descend on the college campus beginning with a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by a parade starting at 10 a.m.
The free event was first held in 1909 for the school to showcase its new dairy barn. About 2,000 people attended, bringing along picnic lunches, and the event has evolved into a university open house in which departments open their doors to future students, alumni and community residents.
There have been only five years it was not held: 1924, 1928, and 1942-1944.
For more information on today's activities, go to www.picnicday.ucdavis.edu or call (530) 752-6320.

– Gina Kim

UC Davis cuts 4 of 27 athletic teams

by lrosenhall@sacbee.com (Laurel Rosenhall)

UC Davis women's rower Brittani DeRemer prepares to carry a shell out to the water at the Port of Sacramento on Friday.

It was hard to tell who was more disappointed over the UC Davis announcement Friday morning that four athletic

Lawsuit seeks disclosure of details on Palin speech

An open-government group filed a lawsuit Friday to obtain records about Sarah Palin's upcoming speech at California State University, Stanislaus.
The lawsuit filed by Carmichael-based Californians Aware against Cal State Stanislaus asks for a court order requiring the university to disclose records it sought, including information about how much the former Alaska governor is being paid to appear at the school's 50th anniversary celebration in June.

Latino people, history and culture to be celebrated during PCC's Semana de la Raza | OregonLive.com

Latino people, history and culture to be celebrated during PCC's Semana de la Raza

By Roger Gregory, The Oregonian

April 17, 2010, 6:00AM

ROCK CREEK -- "The Heart of the People" is the theme for Portland Community College's fourth annual Semana de la Raza (Week of the People).

The event will take place from Monday, April 26, through Friday, April 30, at the Rock Creek Campus, 17705 N.W. Springville Road.

The week's highlights include Tuesday's El Poder de la Mujer Conference, an all-day event for Latina women and girls, and Friday's Cesar Chavez Evening of Excellence Celebration, recognizing "people's service to the community through leadership and education," according to event organizers. The celebration includes naming the recipient of the Cesar Chavez Distinguished Service Award.

Keynote speaker for the Tuesday conference will be Susan Castillo, Oregon State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Previously held in

Cultural bridges built on pillar of Muslim community, Cedar Mill's Salma Ahmad

by Special to The Oregonian

The FBI recently honored Ahmad for her outreach efforts with the Director's Community Leadership award.

Teachers in 2d S.J. district agree to wage freeze | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/16/2010

Teachers in 2d S.J. district agree to wage freeze

By Rita Giordano

Inquirer Staff Writer

The teachers in a second South Jersey school district have tentatively agreed to take a wage freeze in the coming school year, according to information released by the district's superintendent Thursday.
The Southampton Township Education Association and the school board reached a tentative agreement that calls for the district's 87 teachers to take no raise next year, according to Superintendent Michael L. Harris. The year after that, the teachers would get a 2.75 percent raise but contribute 1.5 percent of their salary for health benefits.
Harris noted that the teachers' last contract expired June 30.
"Our teaching staff has gone above and beyond the call of duty this year," he said in a written statement, also noting the teachers' professionalism during the process.
Teachers in Florence Township also have agreed to a wage freeze.
The Southampton contract requires ratification by the board and teachers. Votes are expected by mid-May.
Gov. Christie has called on teachers and other school staff to freeze wages and pay a 1.5 percent health-care

Camden mayor appoints 3 to school board

Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd announced her first three appointments to the city's school board Thursday. They are current member Kathryn Blackshear; Sean M. Brown, a Rutgers University-Camden student and community activist; and Raymond L. Lamboy, head of the local Latin American Economic Development Association. They were nominated by a steering committee.

Education - San Jose Mercury News San Jose State to lay off 76 staff and eliminate 49 positions in budget crunch

Education - San Jose Mercury News

News > Education

Forty wild horses and burros gallop into the big city to be auctioned off to the public

Shagged, wild-eyed and broom-tailed, they've never felt a saddle or slept in a stall. But they're smart and quick to gentle -- and will be offered at auction Saturday at the Santa Clara County Horsemen's Association headquarters.