Schools Matter: Jay P Greene Joins Bush "Think" Tank

Schools Matter: Jay P Greene Joins Bush "Think" Tank

Jay P Greene Joins Bush "Think" Tank

by Kenneth Libby

Conservative propagandist Jay P Greene will join Sandy Kress at the George W. Bush Institute. Kress is currently a lobbyist for TFA, NCTQ, Wireless Generation, Pearson, Texas Charter School Assocation, and more. Greene, of course, is one of the major proponents of privatization and anti-public school rhetoric, much of it funded through the Wal-Mart family (which provides ample funding to the University of Arkansas).

From the Dallas Morning News:

Bush Institute names three new education fellows

6:25 PM Tue, May 25, 2010

The Bush Institute, which is the think tank arm of former President George W. Bush's future

A Framework for Flexibility for School Turnaround � The Quick and the Ed

A Framework for Flexibility for School Turnaround � The Quick and the Ed

A Framework for Flexibility for School Turnaround

by Rob Manwaring

Over the last few weeks hearings in both the Senate and the House education committees focused on school turnaround. Two related themes were reoccurring throughout the hearings. The first was the desire for more flexibility beyond the four turnaround options available under the School Improvement Grant program and the President’s reauthorization proposal. The second related theme was that the four models do not work well for rural schools. There were valid points raised around both of these issues.

Call for Greater Flexibility. Most of the desire for additional flexibility came in the context of the restrictions that are placed on the $3.5 billion in School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds (the same options are proposed in

It's not too late to make social studies changes | THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | dallasnews.com

It's not too late to make social studies changes | THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | dallasnews.com

It's not too late to make social studies changes

by William McKenzie/ Editorial Columnist

Here's the editorial that we ran today about next year's State Board of Education. Do you agree or disagree?

As expected, the State Board of Education last week passed a flawed set of social studies standards for Texas students. As also expected, their passage has set off a firestorm of debate across the country.

What the state expects Texas students to learn about history, economics and other elements of social studies will shape their view of the world. But perhaps not only their view. The new standards also could influence the views of students nationwide.

By now, you've probably read that those social studies standards shape what goes in Texas textbooks. And Texas textbooks end up being the template for other states' textbooks. Hence, the national interest.

But here's a little-known fact: These standards need not be the last word. The new board that comes into office in January, which is likely to have at least two to three new moderate members, could revise them, if the members move fast.

Textbook publishers won't like the delay. And the Texas Education Agency may have to do some hurried

Autistic Boy Arrested After Confrontation With Officer - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Autistic Boy Arrested After Confrontation With Officer - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Autistic Boy Arrested After Confrontation With Officer

Incident Took Place At Sacramento's Rosa Parks School

A 13-year-old student with autism was arrested after a physical confrontation with a Sacramento police officer assigned to the boy's school.

The boy's mother, Belinda Torres, said her son was being bullied at Rosa Parks Middle School and that the principal did nothing about it.

"They assured me that this was taken care of and it was a safe environment, and if it was, this would not have happened," Torres said.

Police said Kaaron Guillory had a fight with another boy, and a confrontation with school staff members and a police officer ensued. He cut himself smashing a window.

A photo of a bloodied Guillory was taken of him being treated by medics after the confrontation, Sgt. Norm Leong said.

"He was violent with another student initially," Leong said. "The officer was able to get him to walk to the office, but for whatever reason, the suspect g

Charter Schools Are Scrutinized in N.Y. Expansion Debate - NYTimes.com

Charter Schools Are Scrutinized in N.Y. Expansion Debate - NYTimes.com

More Scrutiny for Charter Schools in Debate Over Expansion

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and JENNIFER MEDINA

A review of public documents shows that many charter schools have spent money in questionable ways.

Yale Patron Held in Scheme That Benefited the University and Its Baseball Team

By JOHN ELIGON

John D. Mazzuto gave the university $1.5 million worth of stock in a company he controlled, but prosecutors said the shares were worthless.

At Harvard, Kagan Aimed Sights Higher

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Elena Kagan, the Supreme Court nominee, had hoped to succeed Lawrence H. Summers as the president of the university.

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Ex-Principal of Arabic School Won’t Sue City

By JENNIFER MEDINA

Debbie Almontaser will not sue the Department of Education, she said Tuesday, despite a ruling from a federal commission that the city discriminated against her by forcing her to resign in 2007.

Rhode Island: Board Approves Reinstating Teachers

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The board of the Central Falls School District approved an agreement on Tuesday to allow teachers at a troubled high school to keep their jobs after all of them were fired.

Charters In The United Kingdom | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Charters In The United Kingdom | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Charters In The United Kingdom

by Larry Ferlazzo

I’ve written several times about my concerns around charter schools (see My Concerns About Charters andCharter Schools and “Creaming”).
The recent election in the United Kingdom appears to have heightened similar concerns over in the United Kingdom.
I’d encourage you to check-out

Oil Spill Update

by Larry Ferlazzo

Here’s What I’m Doing For My Class Final Exam

by Larry Ferlazzo

Our school has been very fortunate by working with Jayne Marlink from the California Writing Project over the past two years. She has been working with all of our English teachers to help us become better teachers of writing.
Largely because of her suggestions at a session with her today, I’ve developed a plan for what I think should be a useful “final exam” for my mainstream ninth-grade English class, and thought readers might find it useful/interesting — and help me make it better!
Students in all our English classes at the beginning of the school year read a very short text and responded to a 

City panel hears of more targeting of immigrants at schools | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/26/2010

City panel hears of more targeting of immigrants at schools | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/26/2010

SRC OKs spending plan that relies heavily on state aid

If Harrisburg doesn't come through with the state aid the Philadelphia School District is banking on, cuts to its newly adopted $3.2 billion budget could come from the classroom, officials said Wednesday.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Report Card on the Schools

The Inquirer's annual survey of education in the region, with a searchable database of school and district information, and multimedia profiles of area students and high schools.

A Doorway Back

With the dropout problem in Philadelphia at crisis proportions, a chance-of-a-lifetime program offers 40 select students a shot at breaking the cycle of failure. But can they take advantage?

RECENT STORIES

Under revised budgets, districts make do with much less

In Cherry Hill, Mount Misery is back, but four Spanish teachers and two reading coaches are out. In Rancocas Valley, an adult-education program that lasted a half-century appears to be truly gone.

City panel hears of more targeting of immigrants at schools

Refugee students from Iraq are the latest target of violence in the Philadelphia School District, an advocate told a city panel Tuesday.

Lower Merion's laptop tracking system easily hacked

A Seattle-based security firm says it needed just hours to hack into a version of the laptop tracking system that the Lower Merion School District used, suggesting that tech-savvy outsiders could have commandeered the computers and watched students through their webcams.

Ex-S. Phila. principal still on district payroll

Former principal LaGreta Brown is gone from troubled South Philadelphia High School but remains on the School District payroll at $124,000 a year, officials confirmed.

24 South Jersey schools to get state aid

Ten schools in Burlington County and 14 in Camden County are in line for a total of $11.4 million in capital-improvement money, state officials announced Monday.

New chancellor — Rita Cepeda — to lead San Jose/Evergreen Community College District - San Jose Mercury News

New chancellor — Rita Cepeda — to lead San Jose/Evergreen Community College District - San Jose Mercury News

News > Education

New chancellor — Rita Cepeda — to lead San Jose/Evergreen Community College District The San Jose/Evergreen Community College District board of trustees has appointed veteran educator Rita Cepeda to lead the two campuses, bringing stability to a 40,000 student district that has been troubled by scandal. Herhold: The fate of a high school newspaper Nisei woman, 87, and other Japanese-Americans to be honored by San Jose State Cops patrol San Jose middle school after 'hit list' scrawled on bathroom wall Flush with $2.2 million success, Cupertino parents share secrets Legal challenge between Palo Alto company, Orange County hospital halts stem cell research San Jose-based community college promises greater oversight after chancellor probe Document: Probe into allegations about Rosa Pérez

California State University system: Investing in higher education is a win-win - latimes.com

California State University system: Investing in higher education is a win-win - latimes.com

Investing in higher education is a win-win Charles B. Reed The state's economic future depends on it. UCLA students memorialize 1969 Black Panther slayings By Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times The site of a fatal shooting of two UCLA students in 1969 has never been marked. History students obtained plaques in the victims' honor, one of which will be posted in the Campbell Hall classroom. Cal State fights release of documents on Palin speech By Carla Rivera, Los Angeles Times University seeks dismissal of suit, saying that appearance by former Alaska governor was arranged through a private foundation. Critics charge that foundation and university have comingled roles.

EDUCATION Headlines from L.A. Now L.A. college district agrees to lease part of former Van de Kamp site to city05/26/2010, 8:04 p.m. Blind Cal State Long Beach student graduates with top honors05/26/2010, 3:04 p.m. L.A. fire academy teaches youths about firefighting careers05/26/2010, 6:00 a.m. Memorials of 1969 campus killings unveiled and debated at UCLA05/25/2010, 3:23 p.m. Bidders can vie for eight schools, including L.A. High; charter schools file lawsuit05/24/2010, 4:55 p.m. Students protest UCLA’s choice of commencement speaker -- again05/21/2010, 4:15 p.m. More ...

The Education Report From cradle to college? Maybe not in CA.

The Education Report

From cradle to college? Maybe not in CA.

By Katy Murphy
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 at 11:55 pm in School board news, budget, preschool
No Comments

Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget would decimate the Oakland school district’s early childhood education programs, the district’s Chief Financial Officer Vernon Hal told the school board tonight.

We’re talking about a $16 million cut for Oakland Unified’s childhood development centers — at least 80 percent of the current pre-k budget — and 170-180 jobs lost. That would bring the district’s total deficit to $100 million, and its total full-time position cuts to 630.

Read the rest of this entry »

Study examines link between student poverty, teacher experience | California Watch

Study examines link between student poverty, teacher experience | California Watch

Study examines link between student poverty, teacher experience

by Corey G. Johnson

Corey G. Johnson

California schools in high-poverty areas systemically receive less money from their school districts than campuses in better off areas, according to study by the Center for American Progress.
Aided by data made available due to the 2009 federal stimulus, researchers found a 10-percent increase in the rate of student poverty in a California public school generally meant a $411 drop in average teacher salary.
In Los Angeles Unified School District, teachers at high-poverty elementary schools make $954 less than those whose students come from more affluent backgrounds. At San Diego Unified, the salary gap is $6,766, a difference of $417 per student. At Long Beach Unified, the difference is $11,270 or $694 per student, according

After 100-year wait, UC Press to publish Twain autobiography

by Erica Perez

Erica Perez

For more than thirty years, American literary legend Mark Twain worked on and off on a blisteringly honest autobiography – one where he shared his political opinions, personal vendettas and day-to-day musings.
But he wanted to make sure he and most of the people he was likely to offend would be long gone before the tome hit bookshelves. He didn't want it published until 100 years after his death.
That's why the University of California Press will publish the first nearly 800-page volume of Twain's uncensored account in November of this year, the Independent reports.
"His original intention is to publish it after he dies," said Robert Hirst, lead editor of the book and the Mark Twain Papers & Project at UC Berkeley. "The point is that he's freed up to say what he wants to say, when he wants to say it, without having to worry about hurting anyone's feelings."

As state cuts funding, UC raises money for Grateful Dead archive

by Louis Freedberg

Louis Freedberg

"This is a time of peril for the university we all love."
So read a fundraising pitch sent to alumni of the University of California from Russell Gould, chair of UC's Board of Regents and its president Mark Yudof, imploring them for their support.
New York-based UC Santa Cruz alumna Laurie Garrett received that pitch and many others from her alma mater. She wants to help out. But she balked when she received an invitation to a $250-a-head fundraiser held in New York last night – to raise funds for UCSC's Grateful Dead archive.
The event consisted of a gathering at the home of a UC Santa Cruz alumna on the Upper East Side, followed by