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Education news: 6/30/09
State, local budget cuts slash adult education
San Francisco Chronicle - 11 hours ago
Green, who represents Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the statewide Association of California School Administrators, said most schools will charge ...
Natomas School District Makes Deep Cuts
Tue Jun 30, 2009 - It looks like the County of Sacramento won't have to assign a financial advisor to the Natomas Unified school district.
Layoffs help Monterey County Office of Education balance budget
The Salinas Californian - Maria Ines Zamudio - 6 hours ago
Nancy Kotowski, county superintendent of schools, said funding for education in California has been up in the air since February. But school districts are...
Ethnic Studies: The "Stress Test" of Education in California
California Progress Report - Joanne Barker, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair, American Indian Studies Department
College of Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University 6/30/09
If public higher education in California were put to a "stress test," one measure of its health would be the condition of Ethnic Studies. ...
School board back in charge in Oakland
San Francisco Chronicle - Jill Tucker - 15 hours ago
The state took over the financially desperate district in 2003 after loaning it $100 million - by far the largest school district bailout loan in California ...
State News: 6/30/09
State IOUs Q&A -- The state controller's office says it will begin issuing IOUs on Thursday for the first time since 1992 if the governor and Legislature haven't come up with a budget fix. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/30/09
Walters: Budget drills show why California needs reform -- While waiting for the state Senate to convene Monday, the California Channel, a public affairs television service, filled in by broadcasting a recent conference on the burgeoning movement to fundamentally overhaul California's dysfunctional state government. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/30/09
Lawmakers may have say on ballot initiatives -- Three California lawmakers want to give the Legislature a chance to reshape ballot initiatives before they're acted on by voters, a process that supporters say could result in fewer but better proposals reaching the ballot. Steve Lawrence AP -- 6/30/09
CFT/Affiliates In the News: 6/26-29, 2009
CA Parent's Homework: Prevent Summer "Brain Drain"
June 29, 2009 Public News Service
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Now that most California kids are on summer vacation, child development experts warn that boredom and "brain drain" are major risks to their progress the rest of the year. Research shows that kids lose the equivalent of two to three months of reading and math skills over the summer, and then have to re-learn it all in the fall.
Gary Ravani, president of the California Federation of Teachers' Early Childhood/K-12 Council, says teachers notice the difference in the classroom, because kids connect their new learning with their old learning.
Teachers left in summer limbo
Saturday, June 27, 2009 By SHIRIN PARSAVAN--The Press-Enterprise
This summer could be a long one for many Inland teachers who are waiting to find out whether they will have jobs when school starts. ...Statewide, districts sent layoff notices to more than 20,000 teachers to comply with a state requirement to tell teachers by May 15 whether they will have a job in the coming year, according to the California Federation of Teachers, one of two statewide unions representing teachers.
Education news: 6/26-29/09
Two-year colleges' fees likely to rise 30% -- Nearly 3 million California community college students are expected to face a 30 percent, $6-per-unit fee increase this fall regardless of how lawmakers ultimately decide to balance the state budget. James P. Sweeney in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 6/29/09
Schools pass budgets that soon will be tossed out -- If school boards grappling with 2009-10 budgets this month had to take tests in math or governance, they'd pass with flying colors. But if the exams were based on common-sense and practicality, the budget exercises fail grandly. Sharon Noguchi in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/29/09
San Joaquin County school layoffs at 1100 and counting Stockton Record 6/29/09
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090629/A_NEWS/906290320/-1/NEWSMAP
Revenue picture not pretty one for schools
San Diego Union Tribune - Bruce Lieberman - Jun 28, 2009VISTA - For the Vista Unified School District, a multiyear look at revenue tells a sobering story. ..
Stimulus funds assist university research in Sacramento, Davis -- When David Sternbergh teaches science to first- and second-graders in Fairfield, he shows them how the forces of nature draw a ball down a ramp. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/29/09
5 Public School Cutbacks Students Will Feel
Smartmoney.com - Wall Street Journal - Lisa Scherzer - 3 hours ago
California's public school system - whose per-pupil expenditures were already below the national average - is getting hit with some nasty cuts, ...
Summer school misses its mark
Napa Valley Register - Chris Burns - Jun 27, 2009
By Peter Schrag In the continuing deficit-driven meltdown of California's schools, universities and other public services, the proposed suspension and ...
State News: 6/26-29/09
June 29, 2009 Sac Bee Capitol Alert
Schwarzenegger promises veto of 'majority vote' tax package
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made it clear this morning he won't sign a package of taxes and cuts approved by Assembly Democrats last night as a way of balancing the state budget.
Skelton: To fix the budget, first fix the state -- Once again, Capitol politicians are fighting over how to fix the chronically bleeding state budget. And again, the answer should be clear: It's unfixable. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/29/09
Fiscal crisis puts Prop. 13 up for discussion -- About this time every year, as the Legislature and governor wrestle over how to pass the state budget, somewhere, somebody blames Sacramento's stalemate - and the state of the California's mediocre schools and crumbling roads - on Proposition 13. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/29/09
The Conversation: Winds of change blow in two directions -- With public angst and anger rising about the dysfunction in California government, two groups are offering competing visions for how best to overhaul the state's government, its budgeting, election laws and more. Daniel Weintraub in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/28/09
http://www.sacbee.com/325/story/1981205.html?mi_rss=California%20Forum
CFT/Affiliates in the news: 6/26/09
Group opposing budget cuts blasts Gilmore
By Lewis Griswold / The Fresno Bee
Freshman Assembly Member Danny Gilmore, R-Hanford, is the target of a mailer sent by a group opposed to deep cuts in the state budget.
"The reality is we can't balance the budget with cuts," said Zwi Reznik, a math instructor at Fresno City College and president of the State Center Federation of Teachers.
Education news: 6/26/09
District's error axes summer break for 2 schools
By MICHELLE RINDELS - 19 hours ago
CHINO HILLS, Calif. (AP) - It's a kid's worst nightmare - just as the last bell has rung for summer break, a school district's error sentences students to another six weeks in class.
That's what happened at two Southern California schools, where administrators face a $7 million penalty from the state after cutting a few school days too short.
Lopez: Student's video puts school cuts on personal level -- David Vera took up an L.A. school board member's challenge, using images to portray the harm caused by slashed budgets. Education advocates hope his work gets a wide audience. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/26/09
In tough times, districts look to lease vacant schools -- In the last five years, two of Sacramento's largest school districts have shuttered 16 campuses, and with tough budget cuts likely to go into next year, more will join the list. Melody Gutierrez in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/26/09
Fri Jun 26, 2009 - The budget crisis has forced the state to let local school districts set more of their spending priorities. Commentator Pia Lopez thinks too many locals have picked the wrong things to cut. Capital Public Radio
Board passes $167M budget
The Desert Sun - Michelle Mitchell - 9 hours ago
Coachella Valley Unified School District's board of trustees unanimously passed a lean $167 million budget on Tuesday and warned that more cuts were likely ...
Atwater district's budget plan wipes out reserve
Merced Sun-Star - Danielle Gaines - 8 hours ago
ATWATER -- Disheartened employees in the Atwater Elementary School District learned Thursday night that the school system is financially ...
PVSD forced to slash $3.4 million
Camarillo Acorn - Eliav Appelbaum - 15 hours ago
The Pleasant Valley School District board of education needed to cut nearly $680000 to adopt a budget for the 2009-10 ...
Calif. may swap print books for digital
CNNMoney.com - 1 hour ago
Traditionally, publishers provide schools with a complete package: student textbooks, teacher's guides with sample lessons and tests, and teacher training ...
State News: 6/26/09
Schwarzenegger, GOP senators reject stopgap budget bills -- California's budget problems evolved into a game of political chicken Thursday, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and GOP state senators took an all-or-nothing stance that could lead to issuing IOUs to pay the state's bills. Steve Wiegand, Kevin Yamamura and Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/26/09
Income gap widens among state's taxpayers -- The income gap between the state's wealthiest and poorest taxpayers continues to widen, according to a California Budget Project study. Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/26/09
CFT/Locals, in the News: 6/25/09
Community, Educators Plan City's First Public Charter School
Berkeley Daily Planet - Riya Bhattacharjee - 15 hours ago
Berkeley Federation of Teachers President Cathy Campbell said that although there was need for an alternate program within the school district, ...
Education news: 6/25/09
More Cuts On the Way for School District, Adult Education
Berkeley Daily Planet - 17 hr, 32 mins ago
28 in grades seven through 12. The district has also been able to reduced the number of tenured teacher layoffs to one. Huyett also thanked the Berkeley community
Buses cut, teachers' pay may be next
Novato Advance - Mary Southall - 16 hours ago
The resolution authorizes the board to negotiate with the Novato Federation of Teachers and the California School Employees Association, Chapter 312, ...
Schools feel cash crunch
Monterey County Herald - Claudia Melendez Salinas - 9 hours ago
Patricia Rocha-Fernandez holds up a sign at a rally in front of the State of California building during a state budget protest ...
Teachers at 2 school districts OK pay cuts San Diego Union Tribune
Teachers should talk
TheReporter.com - 9 hours ago
... to dictate the cuts, but also how their Vacaville Teachers Association, dictated by the California Teachers Association, will not show some flexibility. ...
DISTRICT OKS BUDGET, HOPE TO BRING BACK TEACHERS
Santa Ynez Valley Journal - Jeremy Foster - 2 hours ago
"With California ranking 47th out of 50 states in education, why would administrators remove quality teachers and quality programs from our schools? ...
Valedictorian says Accelerated School barred her from making speech -- Aurora Ponce says she was also deprived of a tutoring job she was counting on to help with coming college expenses after she took part in a protest over school cuts. Officials aren't talking. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/25/09
UC campus chiefs escape budget pain -- The budget-tightening under way at the University of California has not trickled up to salary and benefits packages for the system's top executives. Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/25/09
Social Security's "massive rip-off" -- Become a teacher - and lose the Social Security benefits you paid for while holding other jobs! A good recruiting slogan it's not. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 6/25/09
State News: 6/25/09
Lawmakers reject budget fix; state could begin issuing IOUs next week -- The core piece of a Democrat-backed package designed to fill the $24-billion gap flops. Last-ditch talks between party leaders and Schwarzenegger expected. Shane Goldmacher and Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/25/09
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget25-2009jun25,0,1060005.story
Education news: 6/24/09
Abandoning High School Exit Exams Would Be a Mistake By Peter Schrag, Columnist-California Progress Report 6/24/09
L.A. Unified OKs $1.6 billion in cuts over three years -- Plan makes layoffs more likely for 4,000 teachers and staff, though union leaders are trying to save jobs. Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/24/09
A Laid-Off Worker's Story
The Los Angeles Unified School District's board voted to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts yesterday, including thousands of teacher and staff layoffs. Jacqueline Byrd is a teacher's aide with the LAUSD who's already had most of her hours cut back. She's trying to find ways to make ends meet. Reporter: Rob Schmitz.
The tenure dilemma: no easy answers
Mountain View Voice - Casey Weiss - 47 minutes ago
As for teachers' legal costs, Dina Martin, spokesperson for the California Teachers Association, said they are covered by CTA dues. ...
PUSD backs off from issuing more layoff notices
Pasadena Star-News - 13 hours ago
Forty-seven teachers, including 34 elementary school teachers, were slated to receive Aug. 15 layoff notices, but the seven-member school board decided to ...
Central Unified oks $140m budget plan Fresno Bee 6/24/09
Early Retirement Offer for Fresno Teachers
ABC30.com - DeShaunta Bullock - 9 hours ago
... Bullock Fresno, CA (KFSN) -- The Fresno Unified School District has struck a deal with the teacher's union that could help the district avoid layoffs, ...
Dropout numbers don't match budget numbers Visalia Times-Delta 6/24/09
Editorial: Classes cut while salaries increase
Sacramento Bee Opinion 6/24/09
Teachers and other staff members would rather see programs cut (and their colleagues lose jobs) than accept some pay concessions in the changed budget environment.
New budget rules loosen up school funding Sacramento Bee Opinion 6/24/09
Sac Bee Capitol Weekly June 24, 2009
Enrollment in independent study high schools surges
Enrollment in California's "independent study" high schools has surged by 44 percent in the last eight years, a new study by EdWest, a San Francisco-based educational research organization, has found.
The report can be found here.
State News: 6/24/09
Lawmakers square off on budget priorities
By Karen Bass and Sam Blakeslee - Updated: 8:27 am
Sacramento Bee Opinion 6/24/09
Today, California legislators will vote on a package of more than a dozen bills in an attempt to close a $24 billion budget gap. The catch is that California requires a two-thirds vote to pass a budget.
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/story/1971535.html
CFT in the News: 6/23/09
Marty's Opinion piece will be distributed to the full Legislature...In case you missed it...
Opinion: Taxes vs. axes and the California state budget
By Marty Hittelman
Special to the Mercury News
Updated: 06/22/2009 09:54:57 PM PDT
In his most recent pronouncements on how to balance the state budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that taxes are "off the table." He allows for just two avenues to address the deficit - cuts and borrowing. More borrowing would seem to be "off the table" unless somehow the state's bond ratings allow it. This leaves the draconian cuts to education, health care, public safety and other vital services proposed by the governor.
ABC school district may OK furloughs, school year reduction
SGV Tribune and Long Beach Press Telegram - 5 hr, 42 mins ago
teachers would work four furlough days under an agreement between the district and the ABC Federation of Teachers, the teachers union. One furlough day would occur
CA: Democrats want California schools to get billions that voters ...
Stateline - 6/23/09
in Sacramento isn't listening.' Democrats counter that a lawsuit already has been filed by the California Federation of Teachers over the disputed $7.9 billion and,
Republican Legislator Shows Profound Misunderstand of State Education Policy... The SacBee does offer the contextual reality of the Democrats' effort here. Before the May 19 special election, the California Federation of Teachers and associated groups sued the state for that $7.9 billion, which they feel is owed to them. By David Dayen in the California Progress Report 6/23/09
Mimi Walters Neglects to Tell Full Story on School Funds OC Weekly 6/23/09
The California Federation of Teachers and associated groups sued the state months ago for that $7.9 billion, saying it was owed to schools.
Education news: 6/23/09
LA Teacher Cuts Prompt Walkouts, Arrests, Hunger Strike
Labor Notes - Joshua Cook - 2 hours ago
Students at Santee sprang into action against teacher layoffs, gathering outside their school a few days after Pink Friday, where they were joined by more ...
Castaic appears stable
Signal - Tammy Marashlian - 6 hours ago
Those reductions could include teacher layoffs and issuing four furlough days for employees. The district is continuing talks with the associations ...
Santa Maria Times
Lucia Mar district, unions reach accord on possible pay cuts
Santa Maria Times - Natalie Ragus - 10 hours ago
The district's board of trustees is expected to approve the 2009-10 contracts with the Lucia Mar Unified Teacher's Association and the California School ...
ABC school district may OK furloughs, school year reduction
Long Beach Press-Telegram - Kevin Butler - 15 hours ago
Members of the teachers union have already approved the deal, while CSEA members are voting on their agreement today. The no-layoff clause made the deal ...
State News: 6/23/09
Can the Federal Government Help California's Economy?
On Wednesday, California lawmakers are expected to vote on a $23-billion-dollar package of spending cuts and tax hikes. Given how big California's economy is, there's concern that the spending-cut portion could worsen the recession nationwide. So why doesn't the federal government step in to help? Reporter: John Myers.
CFT/Affiliates in the News: 6/22/09
Pink Slips Have a Devastating Impact on Schools... On Monday, June 22, 2009, I will join the California Federation of Teachers to launch a radio ad by Julie Van Winkle in the California Progress Report 6/22/09
MCOE budget may be passed today
Ukiah Daily Journal - Ukiah,CA,USA
Kathy Wylie, union president of Mendocino County Federation of School Employees, had her own recommendations of what MCOE should do to reduce costs. She presented the trustees with budget concerns that singled out management costs as comprising of 44 percent of the overall personnel costs at the office.
6/21/09
Democrats want California schools to get billions that voters rejected
Sacramento Bee - Jim Sanders - Jun 21, 2009
Democrats counter that a lawsuit already has been filed by the California Federation of Teachers over the disputed $7.9 billion and, if the state loses, ...
Orange County Register, Letters, 6/21/09
Slash-and-burn mentality
The Register refers to my comments in another newspaper and speculates on them without bothering to call me. I did not "exaggerate" when I said the governor is "slashing and burning education," nor do I believe part-time community college instructors "are delivering inferior instruction" ["Part-time professors," Editorial, June 9].
The governor proposes to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from a state community college system already so strapped for funding many districts are not holding summer session this year and are reducing class offerings, just as the recession is pushing hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers back to school. He wants to quadruple student fees, eliminate financial aid and gut education code standards that protect the integrity of the educational process. If that isn't slashing and burning I don't know what is.
The California Federation of Teachers does not "believe part-time faculty are delivering inferior instruction," as you imagine we do. I am a part-time community college instructor myself (for more than 20 years) and proud of my work in the classroom. We oppose the governor's ideas because they would undermine the community colleges' ability to provide student access to affordable quality education.
Fred Glass
Education news: 6/22/09
Budget crisis forces deep cuts at Calif. schools
USA Today - Marcio Jose Sanchez - 19 hours ago
School districts have already issued layoff notices to more than 30000 teachers and other employees, and they could issue more pink slips this summer, ...
California's Solution to $24 Billion Budget Gap Is Going to Bring ...
New York Times - Jennifer Steinhauer - 14 hours ago
EDUCATION Students at the University of California, Los Angeles, after the state's voters turned down budget measures. While Democrats struggle to preserve ...
Cal Grant Program is Vital to the Education of Underprivileged Students by Debrorah Ortiz in the California Progress Report
City College seeks sponsors to save courses -- Got a spare $6,000? Chancellor Don Griffin at City College of San Francisco suggests using it to rescue an endangered community college class. Contribute and the class will be named for you. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/22/09
Education Chief to Warn Advocates That Inferior Charter Schools Harm the Effort -- The Obama administration has made opening more charter schools a big part of its plans for improving the nation's education system, but Education Secretary Arne Duncan will warn advocates of the schools on Monday that low-quality institutions are giving their movement a black eye. SAM DILLON in the New York Times -- 6/22/09
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/education/22duncan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
6/21/09
Budget crisis forces deep cuts at Calif. schools
The Associated Press - Jun 21, 2009
Deep budget cuts are forcing California school districts to lay off thousands of teachers, expand class sizes, close schools, eliminate bus service, ...
State News: 6/22/09
One crisis, two plans -- Two plans have emerged to close the budget deficit, one proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and another passed by the Democratic-controlled conference committee. Here's how some provisions in the two plans compare and contrast. Dan Smith in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/22/09
Skelton: California has no money and few options -- There's no time this year for the ritual denunciations and feigned anger. Republicans and Democrats have work to do. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/22/09
State Budget Vote Possible This Week
Mon Jun 22, 2009 - State lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a plan to close the state's multi-billion dollar budget gap. However, it's a proposal that is likely to fail.
6/21/09
Corporate tax breaks in dire time draw flak -- As most Californians are well aware, there were a lot of losers in the two state budget deals crafted last September and again in February. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 6/21/09
Education news: 6/19/09
UC faculty attacks regents in scathing latter -- In a rare move, faculty representatives from the University of California openly criticized UC regents in a scathing letter Wednesday accusing the governing board of inaction during the worst budget crisis ever faced by the 10-campus system. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/19/09
More high-tech cheating - and rationalizing -- Forget crib notes inked on arms under shirt sleeves - that's old school. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/19/09
Cochran School grads making the most of private-school scholarships -- Three students from less-privileged backgrounds overcome their fears, learn to fit in and soak up the academic opportunities at Los Angeles-area private schools. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/19/09
Cuts cost L.A. Unified its Teach for America instructors for next year -- The district, facing a steep budget shortfall, says it won't be able to afford new teachers from the program, which places college graduates in low-income schools. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/19/09
Closure of summer school, kids camps leaves parents scouting for alternatives -- Now that the Natomas Unified School District has canceled remedial summer classes for elementary and middle school students, Brandy Boyd and her husband are considering whether to spend $190 a month on private math tutoring for their daughter, who will be a third-grader at Heron School in North Natomas. Anita Creamer in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/19/09
PSUSD Engaged in Costly Legal Fight Over New High School Site
KESQ - Nathan Baca - 16 hours ago
This is taxpayer money we're talking about, and with 123 teachers receiving new layoff notices recently, we asked if a district loss would mean more bad ...
Brownley: Keep Cal Grants As Vital Part of Higher Education For All By Dan Aiello in the
California Progress Report 6/19/09
Investing In California Higher Education Benefits All Californians By Alberto Torrico
Assembly Majority Leader in the California Progress Report, 6/19/09
Ventura County Star - Nader Barakat - 9 hours ago
As the economic slowdown continues, California is being forced to cut school budgets, which, in turn, is forcing school administrators to adjust to these ...
California College: Up in Smoke?
Huffington Post - 2 hours ago
... get the point across that the future of higher education in the state of California and the burden of political missteps will not be carried by faculty. ...
State News: 6/19/09
KQED Pub Radio: Capital Notes -June 19, 2009
Podcast: Act Two
Dramatic writers know that once you've turned the corner from Act One -- where you set up the point of your story -- and towards Act Two -- things start to get interesting. And complicated.
And that's a good description of where we find ourselves in the debate over resolving California's fiscal crisis.
On this week's Capital Notes Podcast, Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I examine the Democratic budget proposal, the road ahead for negotiations over compromise, and the uncertainty of how much time lawmakers have... before the state runs out of money.
A Flat Tax for California?
Wall Street Journal - Arnold Schwarzenegger - 13 hours ago
Mr. Schwarzenegger has called for cutbacks even in education, Medicaid, prisons and pensions, heretofore the sacred cows of state politics. And why not? ...
California won't default on its debts, but maybe it should
Los Angeles Times - 14 hours ago
Only education spending comes before debt service, under the law. ". . . only education must be paid off before the next slug of cash goes to creditors. ...
CFT/Affiliates in the News: 6/18/09
Santa Cruz school district restores music, counseling in final budget
By J.M. BROWN - Sentinel Staff Writer 6/18/09
SANTA CRUZ - Trustees for Santa Cruz City Schools unanimously passed a final budget Wednesday that trims $3 million in its $60 million spending plan for next school year, but does not eliminate as many jobs as initially expected... Teachers union President Barry Kirschen said he felt that Bloom "would genuinely like to heal old wounds."
Education news: 6/18/09
UC backs new UC Davis chief, won't probe her role in Illinois controversy -- University of California officials are standing firmly behind their selection of Linda Katehi as UC Davis chancellor, despite a scandal brewing in a department she oversees as provost at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/18/09
Low-performing charter schools in California could close under plan -- Statewide group for charter schools proposes a new means of measuring their quality. The idea draws qualified praise from state and local education officials. Mitchell Landsberg in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/18/09
Editorial: State should consider suspending K-3 class-size reduction
Oakland Tribune - 12 hr, 40 mins ago
to the expense. That does not mean California's CSR program is a failure. There are other benefits such as less overcrowding and general satisfaction among teachers
San Jose Unified expected to raise class sizes from 20 to 30 kids in early grades -- Taking aim at one of the state's most cherished education reforms, San Jose Unified is expected to become the first district in Santa Clara County to raise class sizes from 20 students to 30 in the early grades because of the state's multibillion-dollar fiscal crisis http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12620198. Dana Hull in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/18/09
Budget calls for bigger classes, fewer aides
SignOn San Diego - In 39 mins
a scaled-back summer session under a budget trustees will consider in a special meeting June 29. Sweetwater Union High School District's board tentatively approved
Court: School district can bar political endorsements from teacher ...
San Jose Mercury News - 1 hour ago
By Josh Richman School districts need not let teachers' unions distribute election endorsement literature through internal school mailboxes, the California ...
Pink slips leave teachers in limbo The Desert Sun
Governor vows to save graduation requirement -- A day after legislators shocked state education officials by voting to eliminate the high school exit exam graduation requirement, the governor has promised to kill any proposal that would do away with the high-stakes test. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/18/09
Democrats push to suspend California high school exit exam -- A California law requiring high school seniors to pass a high-stakes exit exam before receiving their diplomas is targeted for elimination, at least temporarily, because of the state's fiscal mess. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/18/09
State News: 6/18/09
Can the U.S. Government Afford to Let California Fail?
Time - In 1 hr, 25 mins
their jobs. 'California could become the only state in the First World without subsistence benefits for poor children,' says Frank Mecca, executive director of the...
CFT/Affiliates In the News: 6/17
More Deets on Temporary Teachers - Voice of San Diego 6/17/09
Here are a few more details on temporary teachers that didn't fit into my article today:
... The school board is discussing the issue Tuesday night.
Marc Houle, president of the Poway Federation of Teachers, said that few temporary teachers take the job expecting that they'll leave in a year. "...
Education news: 6/17
California Schools' Tough Choices -- Residents of some affluent cities in this broke state are banding together to make up for cuts in public education, opening rifts between rich and poor school districts. STU WOO in the Wall Street Journal -- 6/17/09
UC on track to meet reduced enrollment goal -- The University of California will successfully reduce enrollment in 2009-10, according to data released today by the university. Matt Krupnick in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/17/09
Los Angeles loses new breed of teachers in layoffs
USA Today - 5 mins ago
high schools could lose up to 40% of their teachers, according to an analysis by the Institute for Democracy, Education and Access at the University of California,
Federal funds to preserve Conejo teachers' positions
By Marjorie Hernandez (Contact)
The Conejo Unified School District board on Tuesday unanimously voted against further cuts in the 2009-2010 school year and will use federal funds to save teaching positions that were marked for elimination.
Do You Know a Teacher Who's Been Laid-Off?
Extra TV - 21 hours ago
Ms. Brier is only one of more than 27000 California teachers to be handed preliminary pink slips. What are your thoughts on the teacher layoffs in ...
L.A.'s Urban Schools Hardest Hit By Teacher Layoffs - NPR - 6/17/09
by Carrie Kahn - NPR - 6/17/09
Court Will Not Hear Challenge to School Integration Strategy
Daily Californian - 9 hr, 33 mins ago
the rights foundation said that the plan is not only in violation of the proposition, but is a waste of money that should be used for educational purposes. 'It's
State News: 6/17
Legislative panel approves oil and tobacco taxes -- The Democrat-dominated committee pulls back from some of the governor's proposed cuts. Its action sets up a showdown over the budget, as the Republican Schwarzenegger vows to veto any tax increases. Shane Goldmacher and Eric Bailey in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/17/09
Pollsters evaluate California special election results -- Two of California's top pollsters said Tuesday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and some lawmakers are miscasting last month's special election as a clarion call against any new taxes to solve California's fiscal crisis. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/17/09
An Electorate Without Citizenship- By Peter Schrag, Columnist in the California Progress Report, 6/17/09
CFT In the News: 6/16
Republican Freshman Legislator in Union Crosshairs - By Dan Aiello in the California Progress Report 6/16/09... Joining Pelote in the conference call were Denee Gillum, California School Employees Association, and Marty Hittelman, president of the California Teachers Association.
Yee Calls on Incoming UC Chancellor to Respond to Corruption Charges
California Chronicle - 7 hours ago
... California Labor Federation, University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), University Council of the American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT), ...
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/106225
Nishino dedicated lifetime to students
Morgan Hill Times - 15 hours ago
The Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers Union contract was ratified May 26, almost a year into its three-year contract. District and union officials are ...
Education news: 6/16
Sac City Cancels K-8 Summer School
Capitol Public Radio - Tue Jun 16, 2009 - Kids may like it...but Sacramento City Unified School District officials say they regret having to cancel most of their summer school classes at the last minute.
Cal charter schools have had 'mixed results'-Sac Bee Capitol Alert 6/16/09
Charter school students do not out perform public school students ... Los Angeles Daily News
Some Calif. kids may get 34 extra school days
The Associated Press - 3 hours ago
Under California law, schools' occasional short days - taken to allow teachers time for preparation - must be at least 180 minutes. ...
State News: 6/16
All Cuts Were Not Created Equal- By Brian Leubitz-Founder and Publisher, Calitics in the California Progress Report 6/16/09
Schism widens in California budget review -- The partisan schism over how to close a $24.3 billion state budget hole widened Monday, as Republican and Democratic lawmakers found almost nothing to agree on - except to reject a plan by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to borrow $2 billion from cash-strapped cities and counties. Steve Wiegand and Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/16/09
CFT In the News: 6/13-15
New tax-hike campaign targets individual lawmakers
Sacramento Bee - 1 hour ago
Coalition members include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers...
Time to shed excess
TheReporter.com - Jun 13, 2009
Last week, Jeff Freitas, a lobbyist for the California Federation of Teachers, told a legislative budget committee "we simply need to re-evaluate our ...
6/12/09
Are charters a drain on traditional public schools?
Los Angeles Times - Jun 12, 2009
... money to charters and teacher organizations -- the California Teachers Assn., the National Education Assn. and the American Federation of Teachers alike ...
Education news: 6/13-15
As state cuts funding, more districts turn to voters -- Parcel taxes are sought to fill school budget gaps in several Southern California cities. Inequity is a concern, experts say, because such proposals tend to occur in wealthy areas. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/15/09
6/14
Summer classes few, far between -- Summer school has long served as the last hope for struggling students, offering them a chance to make up failed courses or bone up on the basics in time to join their classmates in the fall. Maureen Magee in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 6/14/09
L.A. Unified vote foretells difficulties for school reform -- Debates between the board and the union grow more heated as teacher appraisals and tenure gain national attention. Jason Song and Jason Felch in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/14/09
Higher fees would help community colleges, analyst says -- Higher community college fees would hurt virtually nobody while helping the schools survive budget cuts, California's legislative analyst said last week. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 6/14/09
Summer classes few, far between San Diego Union Tribune 6/14/09
L.A. Unified vote foretells difficulties for school reform
Los Angeles Times - Jun 14, 2009
In California, a Times investigation recently found, it is remarkably time-consuming and cumbersome for school districts to fire teachers who don't meet ...
6/13
Paying for bad teachers
Los Angeles Times - 6/13
Duncan has $4.3 billion in competitive grant money to parcel out to schools that meet his standards for innovation, and California's perverse position on ...
Layoffs mean LA schools lose new breed of teachers The Associated Press
6/13/09
Give us flexibility to run our schools
Long Beach Press-Telegram - Jun 13, 2009
Someone must act soon, or the progress we've all worked so hard to achieve in Long Beach and other California schools will evaporate. ...
State News: 6/13-15
Editorial: Rescind California's ill-timed corporate tax breaks
San Jose Mercury News - 15 hours ago
Corporations looking to expand are just as likely, and perhaps more so, to consider a state's quality of life and the conditions of its public schools and ...
Taxes move to the center of the debate over $24.3 billion deficit -- Are Californians overtaxed? On the face of it, the question should not even have to be posed. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times -- 6/15/09
Skelton: Democrats are going to need prodding to reach budget accord -- Animal analogies come to mind when somebody asks, "What is going on in Sacramento with the budget deficit?" George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/15/09
CFT In the News: 6/12/09
Community college costs can be reduced
Desert Dispatch - 16 hours ago - reprint of OC Register piece
... exaggerated Fred Glass, an official with the California Federation of Teachers, the largest union representing community college instructors. ...
Our View: Addicted to spending
Appeal-Democrat - Jun 11, 2009
A lobbyist with the California Federation of Teachers, one of several public employee unions facing the possibility of less funding than they hoped for, ...
Editorial: Spending addicts still fixated on taxes
Orange County Register - 13 hr, 18 mins ago
must be met to prevent running out of cash by the end of July. A lobbyist with the California Federation of Teachers, one of several public employee unions facing
MIDDAY REPORT: Broad Coalition Demands End to Corporate Tax Loophole
Read the full letter here:
Also noted in the Sac Bee Capitol Alert 6/11/09: "Roll back corporate tax breaks," labor and advocacy groups demand
Education news: 6/12/09
State hints at big fee hike for community colleges -- The state Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) says in a new report that lawmakers could increase community college fees by up to 3 times their current level without greatly affecting enrollment at the schools, which include nine colleges in Orange County. Gary Robbins in the Orange County Register -- 6/12/09
Teacher Funding Hits Snag
In the New York Times
KCBS - 18 hr, 9 mins ago
repayment comes in after you provide the service,' said Catalina Mistler of the California Student Aid Commission. Teachers in the program agree to put in four years
Community members call on Assemblyman Dan Logue to support a ...
Gridley Herald - 45 minutes ago
Deny some 300000 students a college education and increase class sizes in our public schools, weakening education for our children and making California ...
Temecula schools drop plans for furlough days
Press-Enterprise - 11 hours ago
As part of the deals negotiated with the Temecula Valley Educators Association and the California School Employees Association Chapter 538, school officials ...
East Bay school lays off their 'best' teacher
abc7news.com - 16 hours ago
By Wayne Freedman SAN LORENZO, CA (KGO) -- There was an emotional farewell to a California teacher of the year -- the "best of the best" being forced to ...
Standing up for education
The Desert Sun - 9 hours ago
Desert Sands Unified has laid off 120 teachers in response to millions in state budget cuts that are impacting districts across California. ...
School district may have to cut another $2.6 million
Sierra Sun - 17 hours ago
The district's final layoff resolution included about 30 teachers, who by state law had to be noticed of their layoff by May 15, unless the legislature were ...
State News: 6/12/09
May/June Budget Blues, part Two: California Is Terminated, By Sheila Kuehl
California Integrated Waste Management Boardmember, to the California Progress Report
In Crisis Comes... Confusion -- As California's state budget fracas begins to heat up, it's getting awfully hard to sort through the numbers, data, and pitches that are being presented to prove particular points. John Myers KQED Public Radio Capitol Notes weblog -- 6/12/09
Late Add: Fred Glass in the news
Editorial: Part-time professors
Orange County Register - 13 hr, 18 mins ago
to slash-and-burn education,' exaggerated Fred Glass, an official with the California Federation of Teachers, the largest union representing community college instructors.
Education news: 6/11/09
L.A.'s schools chief proposes gutting watchdog's office
Los Angeles Daily News - 6 hr, 20 mins ago
as well as teachers, and so it would not include performance as a criteria for firing teachers. Currently, California school districts cannot directly fire teachers
North State Voices: Education cuts send the wrong message
ChicoER.com - 6 hr, 24 mins ago
decline in our public schools. California stands among the bottom in per pupil spending. Although the research supports smaller class sizes, more teacher layoffs
Santa Maria high school district heads back to the budget-cutting ...
Santa Maria Sun - 6 hr, 13 mins ago
programs, adult education, transportation, and some personnel. If approved, the cuts would also eliminate class size reductions and reduce funding to a handful of
Berkeley school integration challenge rejected -- In a victory for advocates of school integration, the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge Wednesday to Berkeley's policy of considering the racial composition of students' neighborhoods in deciding where they will enroll. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/11/09
Schwarzenegger seeks online revolution in schools -- In the state that gave the world Facebook, Google and the iPod, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says forcing California's students to rely on printed textbooks is so yesterday. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 6/11/09
Digital high school graduates first set of cyber students
Sonoma West Times and News - 8 hr, 7 mins ago
made 20, 331 calls to students this school year. The school also employs 31 credentialed California teachers, as well as supervising teachers, counselors, and a Special
State News: 6/11/09
Governor's Budget Proposals Mirror Third World Structural Adjustment Policies, By Willie L. Pelote, Sr.
Assistant Director ASFCME in the California Progress Report 6/11/09
"Roll back corporate tax breaks," labor and advocacy groups demand, Sacramento Bee Capitol Alert, 6/11/09
CFT In the News: 6/10/09
Website Launched to Help ´Reform the UC´
California Chronicle - 5 hours ago
... California Labor Federation, University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), University Council of the American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT), ...
Education news: 6/10/09
Not the time for state education cuts, report says -- Proposed state higher-education cuts will exacerbate a projected shortage of college graduates and imperil California's long-term economic future, a new report says. DAVID OLSON in the Riverside Press -- 6/10/09
Over 100 Teachers Could Receive Pink Slips
CBS 2 Palm Springs - 19 hr, 40 mins ago
For the first time in state history California teachers could face August layoffs. Palm Springs Unified's Board of Education will vote on the possibility of layoffs
Wealthier school districts like SL Coastal, Cayucos and Cambria ...
San Luis Obispo Tribune - 11 hours ago
State cuts to the other districts have led to teacher layoff announcements and program reductions. But San Luis Coastal has, to date, been able to avoid ...
Music programs face cuts in Fruitvale school district
Bakersfield Californian - 12 hours ago
In March, Rosedale Union School District sent layoff notices to 32 teachers, but to date 14 have been rehired as a result of retirements, resignations and ...
California Worries About Fate of Loan-Repayment Aid for Teachers -- California's budget troubles are starting to have an impact on its programs to help teachers and nurses repay their student loans. PAUL SULLIVAN in the New York Times -- 6/10/09
School counselors, psychologists play critical role -- Struggling to make sense of two recent suicides, officials at Gunn High School in Palo Alto are working overtime to make sure at-risk teenagers are getting the help they need. Dana Hull in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/10/09
Two audacious Bay Area schools make Newsweek's list of top 1,500 in nation -- Wielding No. 2 pencils and propelled by grit and determination, two audacious high schools have landed in the company of often-decorated academic powerhouses in Newsweek magazine's annual list of top schools in the nation. Sharon Noguchi in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/10/09
Schwarzenegger cares more about contributors than 'the people'
San Jose Mercury News - 14 hours ago
At its high end, it could stave off teacher layoffs and cuts in the school year. But Schwarzenegger and his administration completely ignore this ...
Voros: Ka-li-fornia education punched out
San Jose Mercury News - 20 hours ago
More teacher layoffs are coming. Those 30000 termination notices were in response to February's $42 billion shortfall. A new $25 billion deficit must be ...
State News: 6/10/09
Will Fiscal Misery Wake Us Up? By Peter Schrag, Columnist, California Progress Report
California Senate Democrats' budget plan relies on rainy-day fund -- Senate Democrats unveiled a budget plan Tuesday that would stave off the deepest proposed cuts to California's health, welfare and student-aid programs by dipping heavily into the rainy-day fund that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants set aside in case the economy continues to sour. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/10/09
California's top Senate Democrat vows to block Schwarzenegger's most drastic budget cuts -- State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg said Tuesday that Democrats won't allow some of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's most drastic budget proposals to become law. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/10/09
CFT In the News: 6/9/09
Taxes still the way in California budget crisis, some insist -- But labor and education groups, health care and social service advocates and (a bit more quietly) some Democratic lawmakers continue to insist that tax hikes should be part of California's solution to its $24.3 billion budget deficit... education but to re-evaluate our revenue policy,' Jeff Freitas, a lobbyist for the California Federation of Teachers, told a legislative budget committee last week. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/9/09
POWAY: PUSD service workers reject salary rollbacks
North County Times - Californian - 13 hours ago
Earlier this year, teachers represented by the Poway Federation of Teachers voted 1038 to 459 in favor of reducing their salaries by 2.7 percent. ...
Governor Offers New Plan to Help Community Colleges Weather Budget ...
University Business - 10 hr, 34 mins ago
proposals are opposed by community college instructors and their largest union, the California Federation of Teachers, which recently helped defeat a Schwarzenegger-backed
Education news: 6/9/09
Summer School Cuts Hit Poor Families Hardest
School districts across the state are bracing for deep cuts in state funding. Some, such as Los Angeles Unified, are drastically reducing their summer school offerings, leaving parents and kids scrambling. Reporter: Rob Schmitz.
Community colleges say course cuts unlikely for fall -- California community colleges have been a strong voice among those warning of the dire effects of state budget cuts on higher education. Despite that, local community college officials say it's unlikely they'll have to make any major cuts this fall. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/9/09
Cal Poly Pomona students react to summer school cancellation -- Cal Poly Pomona students spent Monday not only dealing with the academic challenges of final exams, but also the knowledge that summer school classes have been cancelled. Andrew Edwards in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 6/9/09
School districts hoping furloughs can prevent layoffs
Ventura County Star - 13 hours ago
"Districts don't have all the information right now," said Arleigh Kidd, an organizer with the California Teachers Association. Ending balances could change ...
123 teachers could face August layoffs The Desert Sun 6/9/09
LA teachers camp out to protest cuts
abc7.com - 2 hours ago
... which has spared 3400 teachers from layoffs. But he said California's May revise adds another $273 million to LAUSD's budget deficit. ...
Cal Grants seed future innovation
San Francisco Chronicle - 13 hours ago
By feeding the insatiable hunger of a prosperous society for smart workers and solid citizens, for inventors and poets and farmers and teachers. ...
Poll: Most Support More Taxes For Education
KQCA, My58.com - 4 hours ago
More than 90 percent of area residents claim that all qualified California residents should have an equal opportunity to get a college education, ...
Where's lottery money?
The Desert Sun - 9 hours ago
Millions of people buy lottery tickets every single day, so one would believe our schools should be in a much better place than firing teachers and cutting ...
Truancy rate drops in San Francisco schools -- San Francisco schools showed a 23 percent drop in the number of elementary schoolchildren skipping classes this year as citywide efforts, including parental prosecution, appeared to be paying off, district officials told The Chronicle on Monday. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/9/09
CalBuzz: News Analysis: How Different are UC and CSU ? -- Frustrated with "egregious" executive pay hikes, questionable policy decisions and student fee increases by the University of California, State Sen. Leland Yee has stirred up a controversy with a plan to give legislators more control over the university. Tanya Schevitz CalBuzz -- 6/9/09
Smart choice for California schools
Los Angeles Times - 10 hours ago
With a few changes, a bill allowing school districts to enroll students from outside areas would help kids and could open a new era of entrepreneurship in ...
Teachers say they're taking second jobs to make ends meet Press-Enterprise 6/7/09
State News: 6/9/09
2010 governor hopefuls tread carefully in budget crisis -- Past and potential future Gov. Jerry Brown may have played it safest when he passed on a question from a San Diego radio host recently on how he would solve California's historic budget crisis. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/9/09
CFT In the news: 6/6-8
State's budget crisis divides unions and Democrats
Los Angeles Times - 11 hr, 21 mins ago
came to Sacramento to help people,' said Marty Hittleman, president of the California Federation of Teachers. 'I know they did not go there to destroy government.
Community Colleges Hiring More Part-Time Instructors
City Town Info Education Channel - 44 minutes ago
"Nothing the governor says these days surprises us," said Fred Glass, communications director of the California Federation of Teachers, who was quoted in ...
Governor offers new plan to help community colleges weather budget ...
Sacramento Bee - 10 hours ago
The proposals are opposed by community college instructors and their largest union, the California Federation of Teachers, which recently helped defeat a ...
Education news: 6/6-8
College Hard to Reach for Undocumented Students - KQED California Report-Magazine - Lisa Morehouse
Three million high school students across the U.S. are receiving their diplomas this month. About 65,000 of them are in the country illegally, most of them in California. But few of those students go to college. Money is a major hurdle for the roughly 6,000 who do pursue higher education, because they're not eligible for most financial aid. We tell the story of two young women, graduating today, who are trying to get to college. Reporter: Kathryn Baron.
Teachers say they're taking second jobs to make ends meet -- Some operate home-based businesses. Others are instructors at community colleges or in one-on-one tutoring sessions. A few even wait tables or work security. MELANIE C. JOHNSON in the Riverside Press -- 6/8/09
Editorial: Students without boundaries
OCRegister - 22 minutes ago
Lawmakers should renew the District of Choice program, one of the few choices that California's rigid public schools allow parents in deciding where their ...
A Slow Start for the Virtual High School -- Fifteen-year-old Kevin Groarke does not have to deal with homeroom or the obnoxious clanging of bells, urging him from class to class. He wakes up on his own schedule. He takes breaks when he wants to. And he likes it. Class begins and ends when he logs in or out of his computer, which delivers lessons from iHigh Virtual Academy -- the new online school in San Diego Unified. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 6/8/09
For some Inland students, language barrier is extra-wide -- Nadim Bolous is one of a kind. Of the 1,141 students at Park View Middle School in Yucaipa, he is believed to be the only one whose first language is Arabic. ERIN WALDNER in the Riverside Press -- 6/8/09
6/7/09
Sacramento-area school districts weigh class sizes -- When it comes to the size of kindergarten through third-grade classes, there is no shortage of opinions about how many students are academically best. Melody Gutierrez in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/7/09
Community college leaders oppose measure -- Community college leaders statewide and in the Inland area believe a cost-cutting measure proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could devastate community college physical education departments and athletic programs. SEAN NEALON in the Riverside Press -- 6/7/09
State News: 6/6-8
Corporate Tax Breaks in Last Budget Deals Benefit Few, Says Report
By Jill Replogle--Special to the California Progress Report 6/8/09
Willie Brown: Two-thirds vote not there for raising taxes -- As much as the pending cuts to state programs are going to hurt, the idea of raising taxes in California, even on the biggest and richest corporations, is a nonstarter. Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/7/09
Education news: 6/5/09
West Contra Costa school budget situation dire, could force ...
San Jose Mercury News - 17 hours ago
The district already has laid off 125 teachers as well as dozens of maintenance workers, secretaries and administrators as a way to shave $26 million from ...
East Palo Alto charter schools boosting student performance -- A new San Mateo County civil grand jury report indicates East Palo Alto charter schools have improved student performance in the district but may also be creating some financial problems for traditional schools. Jessica Bernstein-Wax in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/5/09
Next Test: Value of $125,000-a-Year Teachers -- So what kind of teachers could a school get if it paid them $125,000 a year? ELISSA GOOTMAN in the New York Times -- 6/5/09
Applicants find some classes closed out -- When Megan Graham decided in March to go back to college, she eyed the master's program in economics at San Diego State University. John Wilkens in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 6/5/09
State News: 6/5/09
Alternative Budget Proposal Pushes For Reform Rather than Simply Cuts- By Lenny Goldberg, Executive Director, California Tax Reform Association in the California Progress Report 6/5/09
Small California budget cuts defended -- Targeting waste, fraud and abuse has become the feel-good pursuit of California's budget crisis. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/5/09
Trimming around the edges? -- Certain elements of state spending are often the target of taxpayers' ire. They evoke a rallying cry for cuts but would save relatively small amounts in proportion to the $24.3 billion deficit. Here is a look at a few of the proposals: The item is in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/5/09
Education news: 6/4
PVUSD libraries face closure
Register Pajaronian - 12 hours ago
Unless the district gets an unexpected influx of funds, all 16 PVUSD elementary school libraries could be closed next year. The five junior high schools and ...
San Bernardino schools face $52 million more in budget cuts over ...
Press-Enterprise - 4 hours ago
By MELANIE C. JOHNSON SAN BERNARDINO - If the governor proceeds with proposed revisions to the state budget, San Bernardino City Unified School District ...
Milpitas student achievement jeopardized by cuts
Milpitas Post - 19 hours ago
by Shannon Barry As the majority of public schools in Milpitas made progress in student achievement scores within the past year, a state official warns ...
Economy trumps education, public safety in new poll -- Education, once the top concern of California voters, is now down the list of priorities, far below the weak economy and narrowly behind public safety, according to a new statewide poll. John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 6/4/09
News from state education chief is not good -- California's public schools chief Jack O'Connell on Wednesday likened the governor's latest round of proposed state budget cuts to the "dismantling" of California's public education system. Caroline An in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 6/4/09
Educators Forced to Find Cuts 6/4/09 in the KQED California Report
State News: 6/4
In states, stimulus aid favors social programs
The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
John Husing, a Southern California economist, said keeping teachers and police officers employed should help prevent the recession from getting worse. ...
Poll appears to show voters behind several GOP reforms -- An ambitious package of reforms introduced by Republican legislators last month had part of its genesis in an unreleased poll of likely voters that they conducted a week before the special election. But the survey also revealed potential support for some reform ideas championed by Democrats. Malcolm Maclachlan in Capitol Weekly -- 6/4/09
CFT In the News: 6/3
Governor: 'Our wallet is empty'
Sacramento Bee and Modesto Bee 6/3/09
the way to fix the budget mess,' said Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers. 'The way to do it is to initiate some revenues, some progressive
Education news: 6/3
Santa Cruz school board refuses to make cuts now for future years -
By J.M. BROWN - Sentinel Staff Writer
SANTA CRUZ - Last week's unanimous vote by the Santa Cruz City Schools board to defy a requirement to balance its budget beyond the next school year has other area trustees wondering whether a similar revolt would be right for them.
Teachers may get late layoff surprise -- School districts across California might have to pull out a rarely-if-ever used state law allowing them to lay off teachers after the normal May 15 deadline. Jill Tucker, Meredith May, Justin Beck in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/3/09
209 teachers definitely losing jobs
Manteca Bulletin - 6/3/09
The final layoffs mean 17 percent of Manteca Unified's teaching ranks will be thinned by the start of the 2009-10 school years the week of Aug. 2. ...
School lunch prices, classroom sizes going up -- School lunch prices will be going up and more children will be squeezed into classrooms as the San Diego school board on Tuesday agreed to tens of millions of dollars in cuts to a budget with a projected $106.7 million deficit. Maureen Magee, David Ogul in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 6/3/09
Smaller-Than-Expected Deficit Spares Arts, Athletics and Others -- Faced with a smaller-than-expected deficit, San Diego Unified leaders opted Tuesday to spare arts and athletics programs, forgo closing schools, and keep popular programs in Old Town and Balboa Park intact and closed nearly all of its budget gap with other cuts. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 6/3/09
Piedmont voters approve pair of tax measures -- Voters passed two school parcel tax measures Tuesday meant to offset state takeaways and preserve the district's quality of education. The required two-thirds majority vote was handily met for both measures. Linda Davis in the Contra Costa Times -- 6/3/09
Pleasanton schools parcel tax fails at the polls -- Unofficial results from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters show Measure G won only 61.71 percent of the vote. It needed approval by two-thirds of voters to pass. Sophia Kazmi in the Contra Costa Times -- 6/3/09
Redwood City schools parcel tax measure defeated -- In the midst of a deep economic recession, voters rejected Tuesday a parcel tax measure that would have helped the Redwood City School District weather cuts in state funding. Shaun Bishop in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/3/09
Solano County's neediest apt to lose vital services under ...
Vallejo Times-Herald - 2 hours ago
She said 30 California School Employee Association workers face layoffs or reduced hours in the Vallejo school district. The budget cuts will affect ...
We Need To Remove Barriers To College
Anthony Woods in the California Progress Report 6/3/09
The road to lasting security and economic prosperity runs through America's universities, state colleges, community colleges and technical training schools... But together, we can reverse these wrong-headed policies- starting with stable and adequate funding at the K-12 level, rolling back recent tuition increases, and by rewarding national service with a year of college tuition for every year served in the military, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or other recognized full-time service programs.
State News: 6/3
First-term California Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) called Governor Schwarzenegger on the carpet yesterday
Steve Maviglio in the California Majority Report 6/3/09
Walters: Is Schwarzenegger serious, or playing chess? -- Reflecting - even befitting - someone who conquered the image-obsessed worlds of bodybuilding and movies before turning to politics, Arnold Schwarzenegger's governorship has been marked by countless changes of persona and position. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/09
States' Budget Woes Are Poised to Worsen -- The bulk of funds from the federal government's stimulus package will be allocated by 2011, but tax collections aren't likely to be enough to take their place -- even if the economy is recovering. AMY MERRICK in the Wall Street Journal -- 6/3/09
CFT/Locals In the News: 6/2
Counselors Hit Hard by School District Budget Cuts
Berkeley Daily Planet - 9 hr, 10 mins ago
The district hopes to save $2.9 million with staff and program cuts, including layoffs for 21 teachers and counselors, and with $1.1 million in cuts from categorical...
Berkeley Federation of Teachers President Cathy Campbell said that in addition to the four on the list proposed by Huyett, one more Berkeley High counselor had been laid off, reducing the total number of counselors at the high school by half.
Education news: 6/2
Galt Superintendent Tom Gemma will receive $50,000 resignation bonus
Some question big payoff as school district faces budget cuts
By Jennifer Bonnett
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Updated: Tuesday, June 2, 2009 9:07 AM PDT
School districts ask voters to OK parcel taxes -- With the state heading into the worst budget year in memory, four Bay Area school districts will ask voters today to pony up by passing parcel taxes to help save teacher jobs, keep class sizes down and maintain science, art and other programs. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/2/09
California Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Issues Statement on Newly ...
Imperial Valley News - 18 hours ago
'With his proposal to reduce spending for public education by another $680 million in the 2009-2010 budget year, the Governor is now asking schools to make ...
Judge says state can bar school discrimination -- California can prohibit public schools from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or identity, a judge ruled Monday, rejecting an invasion-of-privacy claim by a conservative group that said a new state law would force school officials to allow boys into girls' locker rooms. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/2/09
California lawmakers hear pleas not to further slash education -- The very future of California is at stake, scores warn a joint Assembly and Senate budget committee, even as a possible $8.1 billion in education reductions looms. Seema Mehta and Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/2/09
Walters: California's health-welfare services vie with education -- By happenstance, shortly after voters passed Proposition 98 - a constitutional guarantee of public school financing - in 1988, California's economy plummeted into a severe recession, creating a huge deficit in the state budget. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/2/09
http://www.sacbee.com/walters/story/1910434.html?mi_rss=Dan%20Walters
State News: 6/2 None
CFT and Affiliates In the News: 5/30
Lawmakers move to take more control over UC system
By Dan Abendschein, Staff Writer Posted: 05/30/2009 07:06:15 AM PDT
Get the scoop on schools, teachers and students. Visit our Education page for more articles and photos. Two San Gabriel Valley lawmakers are backing a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would strip University of California trustees of much of their policymaking power..."They've refused to allow employees to participate in overseeing their own pension fund," said Ben Harder of the University Council of the American Federation of Teachers.
Education news: 5/30-6/1
California School Funding: "Worse Than a Retreat; It is a Massacre"
Paula Campbell, President, California School Boards Association, Nevada City Unified School Board Member
In the California Progress Report
As public schools around the country prepare for a "Race to the Top," California's schools are sinking to the bottom in funding. Nationally, $5 billion in the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund has been set aside for "Race to the Top" competitive grants.
Chino Valley board has challenges galore
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - May 30, 2009
Some teachers, who weren't among the 170 teachers who won't be coming back next year because of layoffs, say they are still uncertain about where they will ...
Schools facing
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - 47 minutes ago
By Amanda Baumfeld Staff Writer After layoffs of more than 50 teachers at one district and school closures all over the Valley, education experts predict ...
Education: Less financial aid, fewer teachers
San Francisco Chronicle - May 30, 2009
At the K-12 level, the proposal could lead to unexpected teacher layoffs, shorten the school year and boost class sizes, to list just a few possible ...
Digital textbooks coming to state high schools -- As society continues to move toward a digital era, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking to expand California's education system by being the first state in the nation to offer free digital textbooks for high school students. Canan Tasci in the San Bernardino Sun -- 6/1/09
46 States, D.C. Plan to Draft Common Education Standards -- Forty-six states and the District of Columbia today will announce an effort to craft a single vision for what children should learn each year from kindergarten through high school graduation, an unprecedented step toward a uniform definition of success in American schools. Maria Glod in the Washington Post -- 6/1/09
Supreme Court to Address Meeting the Needs of Special-Education Students -- In a case with potential financial repercussions for school districts and families alike, the United States Supreme Court will soon decide when public schools must reimburse parents of special-education students for private-school tuition. TAMAR LEWIN in the New York Times -- 5/31/09
Spitting in the eye of mainstream education -- Three no-frills charter schools in Oakland mock liberal orthodoxy, teach strictly to the test -- and produce some of the state's top scores. Mitchell Landsberg in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/31/09
Lawmakers move to take more control over UC system -- Two San Gabriel Valley lawmakers are backing a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would strip University of California trustees of much of their policymaking power. Dan Abendschein in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 5/31/09
UC Merced sees fall class up 30% -- The University of California is expected to release systemwide information on "statements of intent to register" this week, but UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang revealed in an e-mail message to students earlier this month that the campus had seen a 30% increase in expected enrollment. Danielle Gaines in the Fresno Bee -- 5/31/09
Lessons of life and death in West Contra Costa schools -- There he sat smearing bacon McGriddle grease on the seats of her old burgundy Cadillac as they rolled up Cutting Boulevard in Richmond. Karl Fischer and Kimberly S. Wetzel in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/31/09
California professional schools face shrinking state subsidies -- For more than a century, the University of California turned out doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs from some of the most prestigious - and affordable - professional schools in the country. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/31/09
Summer school latest victim of state budget cuts? -- Worsening state budget cuts may have prompted some districts to eliminate summer school, but across the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas, educators say they should be able to run one full session - for now, at least. Tracy Garcia in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 5/31/09
California's Students Suffer Death by a Billion Cuts -- As Tally of Total Cuts to Education Reaches $17.4 Billion
All Reports by Robin Swanson-May 30, 2009-in the California Majority Report
As cuts to California's students continue to be rolled out a dizzying pace, some may have trouble keeping up with the staggering total of cuts to education, which has now reached an unimaginable $17.4 billion.
State News: 5/30-6/1
Sac Bee Capitol Alert-June 1, 2009
AM Alert: Cold cash
The Budget Conference Committee has a busy week ahead.
Members are scheduled to hear public comment today on education, higher education, child care and development. Meetings continue all week.
Tuesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to address lawmakers at a joint session about -- drumroll, please -- the state budget with the $24.3 billion hole in it.
State Controller John Chiang pleaded with Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders last Friday to fix the budget deficit "no later than June 15th."
Chiang's letter to them projected that starting July 29, the state won't have the cash needed to meet all of its payment obligations.
If the budget isn't truly balanced, Chiang warned, California will be hard pressed to borrow money to cover its cash flow problem.
Assembly Budget Chair Noreen Evans Creates Budget Blog
May 30, 2009 in the California Majority Report
Closing California's budget gap will be a tremendous task. The challenge reflects the historic drop in our economy - and we have less time and fewer options than ever before. With so much on the line for our state, I wanted to create a place where I could give daily updates
on what's happening in our budget process. My Budget Blog is a place
where you can find summaries of Conference Committee hearings, up-to-date hearing schedules, and links to different government entities' websites for their official data and analyses.
Please visit the blog at
http://californiabudget.blogspot.com/
Governor framing agenda on taxes, claims votes don't want them -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's first move after the May 19 special election was to immediately tamp down any thoughts of raising more taxes, claiming voters had sent a "clear message" against taxes in rejecting five of six ballot measures. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/31/09
Political Memo: Deep Cuts Threaten to Reshape California -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not get the election results he sought. Now he seems determined to show California voters the consequences. JENNIFER STEINHAUER in the New York Times -- 5/31/09
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