Welcome to the California Business for Education Excellence Foundation

Welcome to the California Business for Education Excellence Foundation:

"CBEE Names 1,304 Schools to the 2009 Honor Roll
Business Community Recognizes Outstanding Public Schools for Superior Student Academic Achievement and Reducing Achievement Gaps

Sacramento -- California Business for Education Excellence (CBEE) announced today the schools named to the 2009 Honor Roll.

The 2009 Honor Roll includes 1,304 California public elementary, middle and high schools that have been recognized by California’s business community for having demonstrated consistent high student academic achievement and have made significant progress toward closing achievement gaps among all their students. The Honor Roll is made up of two different awards, the Star Schools Award (395 schools) and Scholar Schools Award (909 schools). A full list of the Honor Roll schools, can be found at on our Honor Roll Page."

Sacramento City Schools Honored

• Aspire Capitol Heights Academy
• Golden Empire Elementary
• Isador Cohen Elementary
• Sequoia Elementary
• St. HOPE Public School 7 (PS7)
• Theodore Judah Elementary
• Thomas Jefferson Elementary Closed due to Budget Cuts 
• West Campus

The Associated Press: Forsee: Univ. of Mo. may consider 3-year degree

The Associated Press: Forsee: Univ. of Mo. may consider 3-year degree:

"COLUMBIA, Mo. — Add the University of Missouri to the growing number of schools considering three-year undergraduate degrees to reduce college costs.

University of Missouri President Gary Forsee told anxious employees Wednesday that the gloomy economy and continued lack of adequate state support will force the four-campus system to consider the option of a 'no-frills degree.'

He cautioned that the idea of a truncated undergraduate degree program is merely for discussion's sake — at least for now. There is no specific proposal on the table.

'People just can't afford to waste time and money anymore,' Forsee told about 100 people on the Columbia campus at the final in a series of town hall budget meetings for students, professors and campus workers. 'There's a national appetite to get through faster ... and finish cheaper.'"

Uphold college master plan - The Daily Breeze

Uphold college master plan - The Daily Breeze:

"From the Santa Cruz Sentinel

In 1960, California adopted a far-reaching plan to offer higher education at little or no cost. The Master Plan for Higher Education created a coordinated system involving the University of California, the state university system and community colleges.

It was the envy of other states and set a standard for public higher education unmatched in quality and accessibility - and became a foundation for California's economic progress.

Nearly half a century later, the plan is in peril."

SN&R > Columns > Bites > Suit to kill > 12.10.09

SN&R > Columns > Bites > Suit to kill > 12.10.09:

"If Kevin Johnson wins his strong-mayor campaign, he may look back and say last week was pivotal. On December 1, K.J.’s opponents filed a lawsuit against the city to try and get Johnson’s strong-mayor initiative taken off of the ballot. In the process, they may be giving up some of the political high ground they had enjoyed.

The plaintiff is Bill Camp, secretary of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, and a vocal critic of the strong-mayor initiative. Camp was a big supporter of Johnson’s mayoral bid, but, like a lot of other folks, was alienated by K.J.’s power grab.

The lawsuit’s backers are the Sacramento Sierra Building Trades Council and the Sacramento County Democratic Party. These two groups have joined forces to form an organization called SAVE Sacramento, and they’ve hired heavyweight political lawyer Lance Olson to take the measure to court."

SN&R > Local Stories > Kevin Johnson wants the ball > 12.18.08

SN&R > Local Stories > Kevin Johnson wants the ball > 12.18.08:

"There are three seconds to go in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA finals, and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls have a one-point lead over the Phoenix Suns, thanks to a clutch three-point shot by guard John Paxson. Suns point guard Kevin Johnson stands on the sidelines, ready to inbound the ball for what will be the last play of the game.

If the Suns score, Phoenix lives to see Game 7. Otherwise, Chicago wins the series, becoming the first team to “three-peat” since the Boston Celtics in the 1960s."

SN&R > Local Stories > No more Mr. Nice Guy? > 12.10.09

SN&R Local Stories No more Mr. Nice Guy? 12.10.09

No more Mr. Nice Guy?

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson reflects on his first year in office, the strong-mayor initiative and unseemly allegations

I hate using tape recorders for interviews. A hundred things can go wrong. The device might not pick up the subject’s voice. The batteries could die. Tape recorders have been known to spontaneously self-destruct at precisely the wrong moment. Over the years, I’ve learned to take very accurate notes, which is a good thing, since it wasn’t until I was on the elevator that would deliver me to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson’s office on the fifth floor of City Hall that I discovered I’d left my tape recorder at home. That’s one of the other things that can go wrong.


Johnson spokesman Joaquin McPeek met me in the lobby, and I informed him of my dilemma. “You gotta tape recorder I can borrow?” I asked. He said he’d go find out and disappeared inside the mayor’s office. He returned and informed me there was no tape recorder, but I could reschedule if I wanted to. I’ve heard that one before.
“I’ll go old school,” I said, clutching my notebook and pen. Mano a mano with Kevin Johnson, the would-be strong mayor of Sacramento, with nothing but the rudimentary tools of the trade and my wits.

Asian students and allies speak to SRC | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Asian students and allies speak to SRC | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

"Just a few highlights from two hours of testimony today by Asian students at South Philadelphia and supporting organizations:

Xu Lin, community organizer of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, who has been working with the Asian students from South Philadelphia:"

"We were glad to see the former principal removed for her inability to perform her duty. South Philadelphia High School's new principal was brought to a community meeting by the regional superintendent. She agreed to meet with Asian community organizations on a monthly basis due to our concerns about school violence. The first meeting was scheduled for September 29, 2009... We waited for over 40 minutes before we were able to have a brief meeting with her. The principal promised to meet with us again in the near future, but this has yet to happen."

Ellen Somekawa, executive director of Asian Americans United, noting that many of the victims of anti-Asian violence have not yet been interviewed by the District:

"If a student is beaten at the school and taken to the hospital, you would think that the District would call up the family and find out how the student is."

"The students are very disappointed with the pace and the seriousness of the investigation."

(In response to concerns about the investigation, Superintendent Ackerman noted that there would be an outside investigator hired, who will start interviewing students and staff next week.)

The Educated Guess California’s NAEP enigma: it’s not just demographics

The Educated Guess California’s NAEP enigma: it’s not just demographics:

"California ranks near the bottom of the states, along with Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia, on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the biennial test in math and English language arts known as the “nation’s report card.”

So it’s hardly a surprise that students in Fresno Unified and Los Angeles Unified did worse than peers in most of the 18 large urban districts that participated in a NAEP math study released this week. What’s disappointing is by how much."


Fresno’s math score of 219 for fourth graders in 2009 was higher than only two of the 18 urban districts (Detroit and Cleveland) that participated in the NAEP exam. Los Angeles, tied with Baltimore and Chicago with 222 ponts,  was not much higher. The average for the 18 districts, which included  New York City, Washington, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit and Miami, was 231; the national average was significantly higher – 239 on the 500 point scale.

Eighth grade results weren’t much better: The 258 points for LA and Fresno were behind 10 of the 18 – and far behind the urban average of 271 and national average of 282.

There was also good news. The 280 points for eighth graders in San Diego in 2009, the third California district in the study, was higher than the urban average of 271, right behind the national average of 282, and higher than every urban district except for Charlotte and Austin.

Middle schoolers get a taste of adult money decisions | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Middle schoolers get a taste of adult money decisions | Richmond Times-Dispatch:

"Being an adult isn't easy.

Forget about work.

The bills take a lot out of you, too.

Consider that a lesson learned yesterday by 100 eighth-graders from Hungary Creek Middle School in Henrico County attending the Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park.
The students became 'adults' when they entered the park.

They were given identification cards listing their new salary, marital status, number of children and occupation.

And then they were charged with figuring out the maximum and minimum amount they could spend on housing, electricity, food, a car, insurance, cable TV and other necessities and luxuries. The calculations were based on net monthly income."

DNA language raises hackles as Palm Beach County School Board considers worker policy

DNA language raises hackles as Palm Beach County School Board considers worker policy:

"Fingerprinting some school employees is acceptable — but the Palm Beach County School board draws the line at DNA.

The board unanimously voted today to reword a policy on a fledgling employee-identification program after one member objected to provisions that would have included retina scans and DNA samples as means of recording when workers are on the clock.

The school district is still implementing the program, which requires fingerprint scanning for hourly employees and part-time workers. It's been in place for about a year.

Board member Debra Robinson was most outspoken about the system."

Most Oregon schools slow to get English learners proficient | Oregon Education - OregonLive.com

Most Oregon schools slow to get English learners proficient | Oregon Education - OregonLive.com:

"After five or more years learning English as their second language in Oregon schools, 75 percent of those students still are not proficient in English according to a report out today.

Portland Public Schools has failed its English language learners for so long that the state this fall cut off federal funding for students with limited English proficiency, a loss of more than $600,000 a year to the state's largest district.

The Oregon Department of Education says it's crucial that schools help students gain proficiency in English, and the U.S. Department of Education says five years should be enough time for a typical student to master the language.

But most districts aren't coming close to that target."

Bay schools phase out gay-friendly curriculum - Yahoo! News

Bay schools phase out gay-friendly curriculum - Yahoo! News:

"Under the duress of a lawsuit and threats of recall, the Alameda Board of Education has voted to phase out an elementary school curriculum it adopted in May to prevent anti-gay bullying.

The so-called Lesson 9, which had become an opposition centerpiece in a national anti-gay marriage campaign, will be replaced by a more generic anti-bullying message.

But the board's action Tuesday night did little to ease the tension between gay parents, who want their children protected, and parents who who think elementary school is too early to talk to students about gay people."

The new anti-bullying lessons approved by the board, at the recommendation of School Superintendent Kirsten Vital, will be supplemented by children's books that explicitly address six specific forms of bias, including against gays.

"This has torn apart our community," said school trustee Trish Herrera Spencer, the board member most opposed to the gay curriculum and who opposed adding the supplemental books. She said the board's latest action did not take into consideration "the strong beliefs" of all in the community.

The 45-minute Lesson 9, which was to be taught once a year in each grade starting with kindergarten, sparked a lawsuit, accusations that religious families were being discriminated against and threats of a recall election against the three board members who approved it.

UC charges higher fees to broader range of graduate students -- latimes.com

UC charges higher fees to broader range of graduate students -- latimes.com:

"Future social workers, architects and urban planners studying at the University of California are about to get a change in status they might not want.

Starting next year, these UC students will be considered 'professional' degree candidates and will be required to pay as much as $8,000 more a year in student fees than they do now. They will join law, business and medical students, among others, who have paid big surcharges for years. And some people say that isn't fair."

As the UC system grapples with state funding cuts, its leaders recently approved steep increases in the charges that students in professional graduate schools must shell out on top of regular student fees. The regents also added seven programs to those required to pay the surcharges, with landscape design, social work and physical therapy majors now among students who will face them.

Some critics say the university's actions are based on the erroneous idea that all professional school graduates land well-paying jobs and can easily repay their loans. And they say the university is losing the soul of a low-cost public institution.

Asian students describe violence at South Philadelphia High | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/10/2009

Asian students describe violence at South Philadelphia High | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/10/2009:

"In emotional testimony yesterday, Asian students described being victimized at South Philadelphia High for years, often as school staffers stood by, encouraged the attackers, or hurled racial slurs.

Duyngoc Truong, a South Philadelphia student who was beaten last week, told the School Reform Commission that being let down by those in charge 'hurt our bodies, it also hurt our hearts. We have the right to go to school and we need to be treated fairly.'

The meeting was a dramatic crescendo in a situation that began Dec. 2, school officials said, when a disabled African American student was beaten up by two Asian students outside school."

Editorial: These five steps must be taken to address Detroit school crisis | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Editorial: These five steps must be taken to address Detroit school crisis | detnews.com | The Detroit News:

"• Community summit. The schools won't be improved until the entire community embraces the necessity of reform. There's no room here for adversarial relationships. Everyone must awaken to the emergency and work together to solve it.

Detroit should convene a community summit that results in a blue-ribbon committee whose purpose is to build support for the reform efforts of Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb. Appointed by the governor to right the district's finances, Bobb has been operating without the broad backing of parents and city residents. He can't do this alone.

Detroiters must want a quality education for their children badly enough to move beyond any resentment over Bobb being appointed by Lansing and recognize that he is acting solely on behalf of their children. The support committee could take on the job of selling Bobb's plan to the community, as well as help him to navigate through Detroit's uniquely insular political structure."

NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Education | Reading Program Brings Students 'Behind The Book'

NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Education | Reading Program Brings Students 'Behind The Book':

"Children's book author Tony Medina was recently greeted like a rock star by second graders at Bedford-Stuyvesant's Community School 21. But Medina isn't just making a celebrity appearance. He was there to teach, and not just one but several lessons over the next few weeks, culminating in a class project related to his book. It's all put together by Behind the Book, a literacy non-profit that connects authors with public schools.

'Each student gets a copy of the book, then they read the book and study it before the author gets there. And we do between three and seven visits with each classroom, depending on the kind of project we create with the teacher,' said Behind the Book Executive Director/Founder Jo Umans. 'So it could be anything from a super hero project that we do with a bunch of second grade classes, a poetry project, we've done school newspapers before.'"

Cheating kids - NYPOST.com

Cheating kids - NYPOST.com:

"National math scores were released this week for 18 cities, including New York City, and we learned that our state tests are a complete sham. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is administered by a federal agency, is considered the gold standard of education testing. The big lesson: Our state test scores are grossly inflated.

For the last several years, state education officials have held an annual press conference to boast about dramatic improvements in scores. But the NAEP scores tell a very different story.

According to state officials, the scores for New York City have soared year after year. From 2003 to 2009, they said, the proportion of fourth-grade students who met the state standard for proficiency leapt from 66.7 percent in 2003 to 84.9 percent in 2009. In eighth grade, where test scores had long been flat, the proportion who reached proficiency soared from 34.4 percent to an astonishing 71.3 percent. These amazing changes seemed too good to be true."

L.A. Unified's magnet test scores together at last -- latimes.com

L.A. Unified's magnet test scores together at last -- latimes.com:

"Just in time for magnet school applications, a new L.A. Times database puts the test score information of the school district's programs in one place."

The well-regarded Cleveland Humanities Magnet in Reseda is hardly a secret: On average, two students apply for every available spot. But even parent boosters don't precisely know how their magnet compares to others -- or to other schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

That's because the district does not publicly release the test scores of magnet programs. So a thorough comparison is virtually impossible, an especially frustrating obstacle for parents during this season, with the deadline for magnet applications one week away.

Yet the information is not secret, either: L.A. Unified has provided it on demand. And that data, for the first time, has now been collected and assembled into an interactive database and map by the Los Angeles Times. It is available online at www.latimes.com/magnetscores.

Teacher Magazine: Fort Worth Schools Offer Free Breakfast

Teacher Magazine: Fort Worth Schools Offer Free Breakfast:

"FORT WORTH — Principal Marion Mouton has always stored snacks and dry cereal in his office at Sunrise-McMillian Elementary School. Many times when a student came to him for discipline problems, it was because the child was hungry.

This year his school is one of four in the Fort Worth district participating in a free program that offers breakfast to each of his 450 students, most of whom are economically disadvantaged.
The change at his school has been remarkable, Mouton said. 'Discipline problems are down, and student focus is up,' he said."

A look at the whys and hows of executive pay at charter schools | GothamSchools

A look at the whys and hows of executive pay at charter schools | GothamSchools:

"A hotly-debated topic in the larger battle between charter school advocates and those who oppose their expansion is the question of executive pay. How much is too much for a charter school chief executive officer?

Though charter schools are privately operated, they receive public funding, which opens them up to criticism when their CEOs and CFOs receive high six-figure salaries."

One interesting case study is Harlem Village Academies, a network of charter schools founded by Deborah Kenny in 2001, which operates three charter schools — two middle schools and one high school — in Harlem. According to an analysis done by Kim Gittleson, Kenny also happens to be one of the mostly highly-paid charter executives in the city, second only to Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children Zone charter schools.

Like all charter schools, Kenny’s schools are privately operated but receive public funding, opening her up to criticism that her salary far exceeds what traditional public school administrators earn. This year, Kenny’s base salary, excluding her pension and expense account, is $275,000. She also has the opportunity, as she has every year, to earn a year-end bonus of $150,000 if her schools do well, putting her total salary at a potential $425,000.

Ed Lewis, chairman of the board for Harlem Village Academies, said Kenny’s salary is entirely paid by the board and private contributions.