N.J. top court upholds lower court's ruling saying state not mandated to pay full teacher pensions | NJ.com

N.J. top court upholds lower court's ruling saying state not mandated to pay full teacher pensions | NJ.com

Plans for Rutgers, Thomas Edison merger are not in $29.4M budget deal

By Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger

June 23, 2010, 5:38PM

Schools officials anticipate steep budget cuts, while waiting for budget to pass Full story »

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N.J. top court upholds lower court's ruling saying state not mandated to pay full teacher pensions

By Peggy Ackermann/Statehouse Bureau

June 23, 2010, 4:27PM

The N.J. Supreme Court declined to hear the NJEA's case, upholding the ruling of a lower court. Above, NJEA President Barbara Keshishian. Full story »

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Gov. Christie's town hall meeting gets off to contentious start

By Claire Heininger/Statehouse Bureau

June 23, 2010, 2:07PM

Protesters called governor a 'loser,' criticizing $820M in school cuts, while Christie is prodded about national political ambitions Full story »

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North Bergen couple may have faked residency to put daughter through elite N.Y.C. schools

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk

June 23, 2010, 12:59PM

NORTH BERGEN -- New York City schools investigators say a North Bergen couple should pay $25,000 for faking a city address to put their daughter through elite public schools, according to a report in the New York Daily News. Officials say Jill Schifter and Anthony Maulella used the address of Upper East Side friends to get their daughter a spot... Full story »

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Bernards school board considers random-drug-testing program

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk

June 23, 2010, 9:51AM

BERNARDS — The township school board is considering conducting random drug tests at Ridge High School, but only for those whose parents choose to be in the pool of students, a report in the Daily Record said. A task force presenting its findings at a Board of Education meeting Monday said the proposal would allow parents to decide if children... Full story »

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Gov. Christie to review proposed changes to N.J. school-choice bill

By Claire Heininger/Statehouse Bureau

June 23, 2010, 5:10AM

TRENTON — The fate of a school-choice bill backed by Gov. Chris Christie was in flux Tuesday after a sponsor announced significant changes in hopes of winning quick legislative approval. The Republican governor — who has called the bill a first step that could "lead to school vouchers across the state of New Jersey" — said he will review... Full story »

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Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Change

Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Change

Change

by coolcatteacher@gmail.com (Victoria A Davis, Cool Cat Teacher)

It was 96 degrees as I drove past the Bank of Camilla today to the post office to mail it in. Then, I got there to realize that the post office closes early on Wednesday. It always has and they still do.

So, I ran back to my sister Sarah's office and she's good friends with the FEDEX guy, so she called him and he came on over since he was in that part of town.

While I was waiting on him to get there, I took a look at the pages and wondered what would happen if I just took them and threw them away. That's right.

Threw them away

and just forgot about the last three weeks. All the mornings up at 5 am and writing until 5 pm and yesterday's 19 hour binge of writing.

What if I just pretended it never happened?

I want to savor this moment. Not because it feels good but because it doesn't.

I've always glamorized authors - they are my heroes. Many bloggers are too. Not because they are super

Daily Education & Technology News for Schools 06/23/2010

by coolcatteacher@gmail.com (Victoria A Davis, Cool Cat Teacher)

• If I Were Going To ISTE

  Jennifer Wagner shares a very nice and "on the money" post about what she'd do if she were going to ISTE. IT is a great read for someone going to any conference. I think many of us feel this way, Jennifer. Kudos on a great post.

  tags: education, iste, iste2010

• The MY HERO Project: Mission Statement

  A great project for teaching digtal storytelling, history, and writing.
  
  From their homepage:
  
  "The mission of MY HERO is to use media and technology to celebrate the best of humanity and to empower young people to realize their own potential to effect positive change in the world.
  

“Remembering The Korean War, 60 Years Ago” | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

“Remembering The Korean War, 60 Years Ago” | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

“Remembering The Korean War, 60 Years Ago” “Remembering The Korean War, 60 Years Ago” is a series of images from The Boston Globe’s Big Picture. I’m adding the link to The Best Sites For Learning About The Korean War.

“Part Forty-Seven Of The Best Ways To Create Online Content Easily & Quickly” The first part of this post is my usual introduction to this series. If you’re familiar with it already, just skip down to the listing of new sites… Here’s the latest installment in my series on The Best Ways To Create Online Content Easily & ...

Bounce Might Be Good For Annotating Websites…Once They Get It Working *(Since I wrote this post, after trying it several more times, I got Bounce to work. It seems very simple to use, with no registration necessary. I’m adding it to my “The Best…” list on website annotation tools).* Bounce was unveiled today as a new ...

States work together to create new academic tests - Boston.com

States work together to create new academic tests - Boston.com

GLOBE EDUCATION NEWS

Freeze berries now to savor summer later

Yes, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries can be too much of a good thing, especially when you return from the local pick-your-own farm and realize there are only so many you can eat before they start to lose their luster.(By Diana Burrell, Globe Correspondent)

Nonprofits deliver $27m for schools, with challenges attached

Several major philanthropic organizations in Boston will give $27 million to a new partnership, being announced today, that aims to greatly accelerate student achievement across the city, from “cradle to career.’’ (By James Vaznis, Globe Staff)

17 Boston teachers, staff honored for excellence

Despite cuts in programs and funds at most schools this year, 17 Boston teachers and staff members stood out among their peers and were honored for their work last night at the 2010 annual Educators of the Year and Service Excellence Awards ceremony at the Shubert Theatre. (By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Staff)

Balderas’s immigration reprieve will be indefinite

Eric Balderas, a 19-year-old Harvard biology student granted a reprieve from deportation to his native Mexico last week, will be allowed to stay in the United States indefinitely unless something changes in his case, a federal official said yesterday. (By Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff)

Teachers, city reach extra-hour agreement

Boston school officials announced yesterday that they had reached a tentative agreement with the teachers’ union on a plan to overhaul the city’s 12 underperforming schools, in a new state negotiating process that attempted to resolve a divisive battle over compensating teachers for working extra hours. (By James Vaznis, Globe Staff)

LATEST EDUCATION NEWS WIRE UPDATES

• 31 states combine to create new academic tests (AP, 1:01 p.m.)
• Alaska man's goat milker sells well on Internet (AP, 10:42 a.m.)
• Louisiana lawmakers worry about budget 'cliff' (AP, 8:09 a.m.)
• Pawtucket schools name new leader (AP, 7:08 a.m.)
• Immigrant families leave Arizona and tough new law(AP, 12:14 a.m.)

LATEST K-12 EDUCATION NEWS

• Teachers on vacation spend time in Supreme Court (AP, 10:21 a.m.)
• Chicago mayor defends handgun ban after shootings(AP, 6/22/10)
• 14-year-old arrested after her newborn suffocates (AP, 6/22/10)
• Immigrant families leave Arizona and tough new law(AP, 6/22/10)
• Colo. nonprofit helps build Afghan school for deaf (AP, 6/22/10)

LATEST HIGHER EDUCATION NEWS

• Northeastern students aid justice in ’64 slayings (Boston Globe, 6/22/10)
• Ohio governor's running mate lays out urban agenda(AP, 6/22/10)
• Judge: UC illegally searched journalist's camera (AP, 6/22/10)
• More college students are choosing classes over time at the beach (Boston Globe, 6/21/10)
• Judge: UC illegally searched journalist's camera (AP, 6/21/10)

Seeking Recruiting Edge, Colleges Turn to Fishing - NYTimes.com

Seeking Recruiting Edge, Colleges Turn to Fishing - NYTimes.com

James Card

Jake Lawrence, a freshman on Bethel University’s bass fishing team, was one of the first two students to receive an athletic scholarship for bass fishing.

Gone Fishing on Scholarship, With Hopes of Turning Pro

By JAMES CARD

Jake Lawrence and Jacob Hardy became the first students in the United States to receive athletic scholarships for competitive bass fishing.

New York Budget Talks Stall on University Proposal

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

Gov. David A. Paterson wants an overhaul to the public system that would allow schools to set tuition, but some fellow Democrats are opposed.

In Law Schools, Grades Go Up, Just Like That

By CATHERINE RAMPELL

In the last two years, at least 10 law schools have made their grading systems more lenient to give their students a better chance in a soft job market.

• Read Comments (366)

Ensuring Transparency at Our Public Institutions | California Progress Report

Ensuring Transparency at Our Public Institutions | California Progress Report

Ensuring Transparency at Our Public Institutions

by kaldveer

By State Senator Leland Yee
There is an unfortunate growing trend among our public higher education institutions of doing public business behind closed doors without any accountability to the taxpayer. Over the past several years, I have authored new laws to bring greater transparency to executive compensation decisions and provide protections to students and workers who report waste, fraud, and abuse.
However, another such abuse has remained unresolved for nearly ten years despite court challenges and two legislative attempts at a fix: public university auxiliary organizations.

NorthJersey.com: New Jersey Supreme Court declines to hear case on teachers' pensions

NorthJersey.com: New Jersey Supreme Court declines to hear case on teachers' pensions

New Jersey Supreme Court declines to hear case on teachers' pensions

Wednesday, June 23, 2010
LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY JUNE 23, 2010, 4:36 PM

BY PEGGY ACKERMANN AND LISA FLEISHER

STATE HOUSE BUREAU

STATE HOUSE BUREAU

The New Jersey Supreme Court has declined to hear a case in which the state’s largest teachers union sought full funding for its pension fund.

STAR-LEDGER FILE PHOTO

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian is led into in the Governor's Office at the State House In April for a meeting with Christie.

In rejecting the case Tuesday, the court let stand a ruling by a three-judge appellate panel that said New Jersey is not constitutionally required to pay the millions it owes every year into the fund for teachers' pensions.
That ruling in March came amid contentious discussion over how to fix the state’s underfunded pension plan — including a proposal that could make full funding a constitutional requirement.
The New Jersey Education Association, which represents more than

City Brights: Rachel Norton : A heartbreaker in Alameda

City Brights: Rachel Norton : A heartbreaker in Alameda

A heartbreaker in Alameda

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The subject line on an email from Alameda USD trustee Mike McMahon says it all -- "Crushing Defeat." Though there are a few votes left to be counted, it looks like Alameda's Measure E, a parcel tax to fund its highly-regarded public schools, is going down in defeat.

The irony? More than 65 percent of Alameda's voters voted to approve the tax -- juuuust shy of the 66 and 2/3 plus one required to pass. Only in California!

I can only begin to imagine the frustration and fear for the future that Alameda's parents, teachers and school administrators are experiencing right now. The measure would have added $659 annually to the property taxes for each residential parcel and 15 cents per square foot for commercial parcels, and would admittedly have been one of the highest school taxes in the Bay Area. Still, it was replacing two existing parcel taxes that are expiring in 2012, so there was a precedent for local funding of Alameda schools.

To add insult to injury, Alameda's school board last night passed a 2010-11 budget that eliminates gifted education programs, middle and high school counselors, and other programs -- in all, $7 million in cuts to Alameda USD's $80 million annual budget. Over three years, the district is expecting to cut $17 million, or more than 20 percent of its total budget.

Here in San Francisco, we passed a $198 per parcel tax back in 2008, and successfully renewed a $6 million facilities parcel tax earlier this month. Despite this funding, and additional funding from the City of San Francisco's Rainy Day Fund and Public Education Enrichment Fund, the district has faced its own budget travails - a $113 million deficit through 2011-12. Last night, we adopted a

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/rnorton/detail??blogid=184&entry_id=66403#ixzz0risvTKfK

Washington, Oregon seek to develop standardized tests for many states to use | OregonLive.com

Washington, Oregon seek to develop standardized tests for many states to use | OregonLive.com

Washington, Oregon seek to develop standardized tests for many states to use

Published: Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 11:46 AM Updated: Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 2:00 PM

Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian
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Washington and Oregon are among the 31 states that applied today for $160 million in federal funding to develop rigorous new reading and math tests that would be used to evaluate students and schools in many states.

The joint application, submitted by Washington on behalf of the so-called Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, is one of at least two applications seeking to win $320 million of federal funds set aside to develop such a test.

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The tests the group says it would develop would be similar in some ways to the exams Oregon already gives. Students would take the tests on computers and would have more than one chance a year to prove they meet grade-level standards.

But, unlike Oregon's current exams, the new tests wouldn't be limited to multiple-choice questions. And they would be pegged to the recently released nationwide English and math standards that are reputed to be harder than Oregon's current standards, the Common Core Standards.

The U.S. Department of Education will announce in September which team or teams of states have won the money. Competing with the 31-state consortium is another group of 21 states, headed by