FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, October 28, 2013

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Education Headlines

Monday, October 28, 2013

Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson wants longer day at some schools

Fresno Unified officials are pitching a plan to lengthen the school day next year, an idea that's getting flak from teachers union representatives who say educators could get burned out.

Proposed Orange complex at Peralta voted down

The Orange Unified School Board has ditched a plan to add a 340-unit apartment complex at the former Peralta school campus.

Denair Unified board extends olive branch

A rare flicker of hope came at the very end of the contentious Denair Unified Board meeting last week, when the board and the union seemed on the cusp of agreeing to abide by third-party recommendations for a contract.

Deasy, LAUSD at a critical juncture

Speculation that Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy could resign puts his future — and the district's direction — in doubt.

Lopez: Plan to transform bleak school playground hits a big snag

A popular beautification project planned for Berendo Middle School has one hurdle to clear — the Los Angeles Unified School District's can't-do attitude.

Hayward school board sticks with interim superintendent

School board members who decided to bypass a search for a permanent superintendent, instead giving interim schools chief Stanley Dobbs the job, said they are confident their vote will help the struggling district move forward.

Frey: Migrant education programs make Saturday school a family affair

School on Saturday? Most students would protest such an intrusion on their free time, but for children of migrant workers, Saturday school is a family affair.

Dozens of LA Unified administrators involved in iPad selection

L.A. Unified’s declined to share details on how it chose the iPad for its one-to-one table initiative for months. But as scrutiny has grown inside and outside the nation’s second largest school district, officials are beginning to release some documents.

Rosenblatt: Pending lawsuit, if successful, could precipitate monumental changes

With all of the discussion around the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the Common Core State Standards, and Smarter Balanced Assessments, we may be missing the biggest potential change to sweep California public education since Serrano v. Priest.

Freedburg: Civic leaders mobilizing to support LA schools chief

A University of California regent is gathering support from civic, business and philanthropic leaders to pressure the seven member Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District to “make every effort” to retain the services of John Deasy, its embattled school superintendent.

Fensterwald: Proposed spending regs give districts leeway to choose how to serve high-needs students

Much anticipated draft regulations that the State Board of Education will discuss next week would give school districts lots of latitude – too much so, say some advocates for disadvantaged students – to deal with a contentious issue: how to account for the extra money that districts will receive for low-income kids, English learners and foster children.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Under tight deadline, Oxnard Union looks to hire school contractor

With the Oxnard Union High School District trying to build a Camarillo school in time for the fall 2015 semester, the school board is selecting a contractor without going through the traditional bidding process.

Alisal employee goes public with sexual harassment claims

An Alisal Union School District employee has gone public with her sexual harassment complaint against the principal of Frank Paul School.

Chief: Safeguards not followed in gun discharge at Chino school

A preliminary investigation has revealed police did not properly follow established safeguards and procedures when a rifle accidentally discharged at Newman Elementary School injuring three students Wednesday morning, the department's chief said.

Denair parents, teachers angrily protest spending

At a prickly meeting Thursday night, Denair Unified School District parents and teachers protested large legal expenses while the staff is scraping pennies. They challenged changing budget figures and questioned the need to spend common core curriculum dollars on an outside contractor, Fowler-based DataWORKS Educational Research.

10-28-13 Whole Child BLOG: Improving Schools: "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" — Whole Child Education

Improving Schools: "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Improving Schools: “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”

Many have written and spoken about the key lessons taught in kindergarten and during preschool years. There are articles, lists, hints, and videos with much of it coming from Robert Fulghum's book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, a collection of essays on the subject. What do these lists, articles, and books say? That we should share, look both ways, wash hands, play fair, say

by Sean Slade / 22min 

OCT 24

Motivation, Attention, Memory, Cognition, and Action

Human beings are born to learn. During the last few decades, developmental science has exploded with discoveries of how, specifically, learning happens. This provides us with an unprecedented window into children's minds: how and when they begin to think, perceive, understand, and apply knowledge. Author, Whole Child Podcast guest, and Whole Child Virtual Conference presenter Wendy Ostroff builds

by Klea Scharberg / 3d 

OCT 23

The Tools for a Successful Young Learner

Education begins in preschool and kindergarten for a reason. These are important formative years where students build skills and develop behaviors to carry them through many years of learning. As a kindergarten teacher, I make it my goal for students to leave my classroom at the end of the year as capable, confident learners. In order for younger students to learn in a new environment, certain pr

by Pauline Gremaud / 5d 

OCT 22

ED Pulse Poll Results: What Are the Benefits of Community Schools?

ASCD continually seeks to provide solutions to the challenges that face educators of all levels. Recently the ASCD SmartBrief ED Pulse poll sought out the opinion of its readers on the idea of community schools. Over the past year, there has been an increase in attention paid to the idea of community schools, from the media showing the results being produced at community schools to U.S. Secretary

by Kit Harris, ASCD ... / 6d 

OCT 21

Stand Up for Others

According to current statistics, more than 30 percent of our school-age young people—approximately 5.7 million children—are bullied in schools, on playgrounds, and in recreational facilities each year. Research shows that these numbers can be reduced by nearly half through the use of effective bullying prevention programs. During the month of October, in observance of National Bullying Preventio

by Kristen Pekarek / 6d 

OCT 18

Pet Pals: Teaching Resilience With Man’s Best Friend

Dogs are amazing creatures! They provide unconditional love, do not discriminate, judge, laugh, or criticize, and they are excellent and attentive listeners. They encourage relaxation, lower blood pressure, and brighten affect. These characteristics help to make pet-assisted therapy a natural fit for children and adolescents, and students in North Carolina's Orange County Schools will happily agr

by ASCD Whole Child ... / 9d 

The Science of Early Childhood Development

"The healthy development of young children in the early years of life literally does provide a foundation for just about all of the challenging social problems that our society and other societies face," says Jack P. Shonkoff, professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University looks at the brain science behind e

by Klea Scharberg / 9d 

UPDATE PCAPS in the News: Short Changing Students: + Full Funding Friday Press Coverage | WeArePCAPS

PCAPS in the News: Full Funding Friday Press Coverage | WeArePCAPS:

Short Changing Students: How the Ten Year Tax Abatement Underwrites Luxury Developments and Starves Schools

Read the report in pdf form here

by wearepcaps / 13min 

PCAPS in the News: Full Funding Friday Press Coverage

Posted on October 28, 2013by wearepcaps

Full Funding Friday Seven, with PCAPS, 10/25/13
CBS3, 10/25/13:

http://ctv4.criticalmention.com/playerpage/player?shareid=158345&partnerToken=8a368b4941950e460141ffa3c1457374&clientId=0

NBC10, 10/25/13:

http://ctv4.criticalmention.com/playerpage/player?shareid=158348&partnerToken=8a368b4941950e460141ffa3c1457374&clientId=0

CW Philly, 10/25/13:

http://ctv4.criticalmention.com/playerpage/player?shareid=158349&partnerToken=8a368b4941950e460141ffa3c1457374&clientId=0

“Protesters Rally Against School District Budget Cuts,” CBS3, 10/25/13

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/10/25/protesters-rally-against-school-district-budget-cuts/

“Protests at city schools over teacher losses the “final straw”” Philadelphia Daily News, 10/27/13

http://articles.philly.com/2013-10-27/news/43435202_1_charter-schools-city-schools-combined-grades

“Cook-Wissahickon parents, students protest looming ‘leveling’ changes,” Newsworks, 10/25/13

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/nw-philadelphia/61217-cook-wissahickon-parents-students-protest-looming-leveling-changes

“Absolutely reprehensible”, Roxborough Review, 10/25/13

http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2013/10/25/roxborough_review/news/doc526a9749b5601540562154.txt

“What $45 Million? Parents say recent funds are not improving conditions at Philadelphia public schools,” NBC10, 10/24/13

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/What-45-Million-Philadelphia-School-Funding-229138271.html

“Cook-Wissahickon Parents Planning Protest Friday,” Roxborough-Manayunk Patch, 10/24/13

http://roxborough.patch.com/groups/schools/p/cookwissahickon-parents-planning-protest-friday

“School rallies expected this morning to protest loss of teachers,” Philadelphia Daily News, 10/25/13

http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20131025_School_rallies_expected_this_morning_to_protest_loss_of_teachers.html#Ar3UilOw7IRs0pgg.99

Full Funding Friday #7

Posted on October 28, 2013by wearepcaps

Last Friday seven schools across the city held rallies to inform parents and the public about the impact of budget cuts and to demand full funding for our schools.

Choosing Democracy: Mayor Johnson Shoots an Air Ball

Choosing Democracy: Mayor Johnson Shoots an Air Ball:

Mayor Johnson Shoots an Air Ball

By Seth Sandronsky

Inaccuracy reigns in U.S. politics today. 

We turn to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a two-term Democrat who rose to fame as a star guard in the NBA. Mr. Johnson is now visiting U.S. cities on a Mayors for Educational Excellence Tour with three mayors: Julián Castro of San Antonio; Michael Hancock of Denver and Angel Taveras of Providence, R.I.   

In a recent Politico opinion piece “On the road to school success,” Mr. Johnson shot an air ball concerning public education in Sacramento:

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/on-the-road-to-school-success-98352.html 

He wrote: “Facing the inherent difficulty of addressing the challenges of the city’s five school districts, Sacramento saw a need to attract proven education practices to the city. The mayor’s office helped convene and recruit prominent national organizations, and within just one year, City Year, Teach for America, StudentsFirst and College Track launched sites in the city. Each organization has had an immediate impact on schools and on student learning, and the influx of talented individuals invested in student success has created a promising environment for collaboration and innovation.” 

It is inaccurate to write that “Sacramento” saw a need to change its K-12 public education system. For the record, the 

Who is Reading the Big Education Ape Now?

Who is Reading the Big Education Ape Now?

10-28-13 10:14AM PDT

http://feedjit.com/stats/bigeducationape.blogspot.com/map/

Video: Public Education is a Civil Right Rally at North Division High School | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Video: Public Education is a Civil Right Rally at North Division High School | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

Video: Public Education is a Civil Right Rally at North Division High School

Filed under: MPS Buildings — millerlf @ 11:03 am 

Community leaders held a news conference on October 18 to oppose State legislation which would take control of MPS buildings away from the MPS school board.

Public Education is a Civil Right, Community Leaders Speak Out, October 18, 2013. To view the video go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yRa3_Uc_1o&feature=youtu.be

Sesame Street’s Elmo and Rosita to Join First Lady Michelle Obama for an Announcement about Marketing Healthier Foods to Children | The White House

Sesame Street’s Elmo and Rosita to Join First Lady Michelle Obama for an Announcement about Marketing Healthier Foods to Children | The White House:

Sesame Street’s Elmo and Rosita to Join First Lady Michelle Obama for an Announcement about Marketing Healthier Foods to Children

After the announcement, Mrs. Obama, Elmo and Rosita will be joined in the garden by children from MD, VA and WV whose schools are starting to offer healthy snack options

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, October 30 at 2:40 PM ET, First Lady Michelle Obama will join Sesame Street’s Elmo and Rosita, the Produce Marketing Association and the Partnership for a Healthier America for an announcement about marketing healthier foods to children. The announcement comes on the heels of the first ever White House convening on food marketing to children, during which Mrs. Obama called on stakeholders to leverage the power of marketing to promote healthy products and decrease the marketing of unhealthy products to kids.

Following the announcement, Mrs. Obama, Elmo and Rosita will join school children for the annual fall harvest of the White House Kitchen Garden. For this harvest, the First Lady invited children from MD, VA and WV whose schools are starting to offer healthy snack options. Starting next school year, all schools will be required to follow the “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards, making vending machines and a la carte lines healthier. Many schools across the country have already met or are working to meet these standards to ensure kids are getting the nutrition they need to lead healthy lives. 

Mrs. Obama will also be joined in the garden by children from Harriet Tubman Elementary and Bancroft Elementary in Washington DC who regularly help in the White House Kitchen Garden.  Mrs. Obama planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn to initiate a national conversation around the health and wellbeing of our nation – a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.

Children from the following schools, in addition to the two DC schools, will help harvest this fall’s garden:

Magnolia Elementary School, Harford County Schools – Joppa, MD

Magnolia Elementary School is a Healthier US Schools Challenge bronze recipient. The school has made great strides in improving their school meals by ensuring that all competitive foods sold on the cafeteria line meet the requirements for the Healthier US Schools Challenge. Additionally, Magnolia Elementary participates in the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program through the USDA, which introduces school children to a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have the opportunity to sample. As part of their afternoon routine, the school reports that students have become “adventurous eaters” and try different fresh fruits and vegetables each day. Magnolia also participates in Maryland Meals for Achievement, which is an innovative classroom breakfast project that offers school breakfast in the classroom each morning at no cost to students, regardless of family income. The school also participates in a Harvestable School Garden program where students and parents participate in the harvesting of the garden, and vegetables from the garden are incorporated in their school lunches. As part of the program, students in grades 2, 3, and 4 participate in monthly nutrition lessons. As a result of these initiatives, Magnolia has seen an increase in student readiness for school and rigorous work.

Linwood Holton Elementary School, Richmond Public Schools – Richmond, VA

Linwood Holton Elementary School has prolific, well-maintained vegetable and flower gardens, and each grade level maintains its own flowerbeds, along with help from parents and community members. Linwood Holton Elementary also has curriculum aligned with their gardens. The school is located in the Upham Brook Watershed and has established a rain garden to improve the watershed and educate students while improving the water quality. Linwood Holton Elementary also works to ensure that students have healthy snack options available to their students.

North Elementary School, Monongalia County Schools – Morgantown, WV

North Elementary School began their Panther Pride garden in the spring of 2011. In the garden, they grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables from snake beans to black radishes to strawberries. Many teachers at the school implement garden-based learning, incorporating the garden and its produce in math, science, reading, writing, and health lessons. The school has engaged with the local farmers market, and students learn the value of pricing, marketing, and selling produce at the market. The school has also recently added a WORLD garden where they have planted a new variety of produce indigenous to the almost 50 countries that the students at their school represent so that students can learn about different cultures and expose their palates to international flavors. Last spring, the school began serving some of the items from their gardens in the cafeteria for students, and more recently, they have begun serving items from local farms.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES:

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

From left are Gap Chairman Bob Fisher, investor Charles Schwab and philanthropist Eli Broad. A state investigation found that the three were among secret  donors to right-wing, anti-public school, anti-union group,  Americans for Job Security.   (Times Wire Services)

Anthony York

San Francisco investor Schwab gave more than $6.2 million to the same group [Americans for Job Security]. Broad gave $1 million despite his stated support for higher taxes on the wealthy. -- L.A. Times

L.A. Teacher, Geronimo

 “Although there probably has never been a more self-aggrandizing, yet endlessly self-pitying superintendent than John Deasy, we will now have the spectacle of observing who is going to beg this prima donna to stay. -- Diane Ravitch Blog

GLN Co-founder Andy Thayer

“Because Speaker Madigan is so powerful, controlling access to jobs and contracts, most organizations are 

RAVITCH ON MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY

Time to Focus on the Real Education Problem: Poverty | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

Time to Focus on the Real Education Problem: Poverty | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights:

Time to Focus on the Real Education Problem: Poverty

By AASA, The School Superintendents Association on October 28, 2013

By Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, AASA: The School Superintendents Association

Many Americans believe public schools are failing our students. Public officials, the media, and investors seeking to cash in on the billions of dollars supporting education by privatizing schools often reinforce this opinion. This opinion is wrong.
Substantial evidence illustrates public schools are doing better than ever. The dropout rate is at an all-time low. Conversely, the high school graduation rate is the highest it’s been in decades.
Unfortunately, we have dysfunctional schools where students’ needs are going unmet. These schools are capturing the public eye, causing observers to ask, “How could they exist in the richest and most powerful country in the world?” The predominant populations attending these schools are children of poverty, and in most cases, ethnic minorities. This isn’t an educational problem. It’s a problem within our society.
Driven by the economy, the achievement gap casts its ugly shadow long before students ever come to school. Compared to all industrialized nations, we live in a society with the highest percentage of children in poverty. Our society refuses to acknowledge that poverty is, by far, the single-biggest factor in determining student achievement. We operate in a society that 

“A-F” School Ranking Systems—Exacerbating Racial Divisions and Inequality | janresseger

“A-F” School Ranking Systems—Exacerbating Racial Divisions and Inequality | janresseger:

“A-F” School Ranking Systems—Exacerbating Racial Divisions and Inequality

Posted on October 28, 2013 by janresseger

Yesterday afternoon I spent five hours in Fort Wayne, Indiana at an interfaith gathering where nearly a hundred people discussed the challenges for public schools in a state that quite recently imposed a rash of corporatized, test-and-punish school reforms.  Indiana has lots of new charter schools, a huge voucher program, and a very controversial, econometric, “A through F” rating system for its schools.  The discussion heated up during a panel featuring the president of the local school board, the chair of the state senate committee on education, a member of the state board of education, the newspaper editor, a professor of urban education, a charter school principal, and the principal of a parochial school.  Fortunately a skilled moderator kept the discussion moving.

The president of the Fort Wayne Board of Education bluntly explained how all these changes have affected particular neighborhood schools. He explained why the Fort Wayne Board of Education has refused to implement the “A through F” school rating system and wondered how the state could have imposed such a system that ruins the reputation of certain schools and neighborhoods by reinforcing racial and economic stereotyping and segregation.

It is in the context of the Fort Wayne school board president’s remarks that I have been