OC educators: Be skeptical of TV ad about class sizes
OCRegister, CA - Jan 31, 2009
The ad, set to begin airing this weekend, is part of a new campaign by the California teachers union to urge defeat of Gov. ...
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/class-sizes-school-2295881-union-size

Budget hit for California schools clear - how much isn't
Sacramento Bee, USA - Jan 31, 2009
The California Teachers Association is airing a radio commercial that contends that "the governor's latest budget plan cuts another $10.8 billion from ...
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1587927.html

Educators protest state school cuts The Salinas Californian
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20090202/NEWS01/902020301

Wrong approach: Education funding is important, but planned ...
Stockton Record, CA - 9 hours ago
By The Record The California Teachers Association soon will be seeking signatures for a ballot measure aimed at giving education a bigger cut of the budget ...

Raise community college fees by 50 percent, state analyst says
Tri Valley Herald, CA - 3 hours ago
By Matt Krupnick With budget cuts a reality at nearly every level of government this year, the state Legislative Analysts Office higher-education budget ...

Teachers rally against education budget cuts -- Thousands gather at Pershing Square in downtown L.A., speaking out against Schwarzenegger and the L.A. Unified superintendent. Howard Blume and Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/30/09

Teachers Seeing Red Over Budget
MSNBC - 12 hours ago
Schwarzenegger has proposed "a budget that fully funds Prop 98, gives education $4.6 billion on top of that and gives California schools $13.8 billion in ...

Caution at the LAUSD La Opinión

Hundreds of Salinas school workers to rally against budget cuts
The Salinas Californian, CA - 16 hours ago
Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to education funding. Schwarzenegger wants to cut education funding in California - which already ranks near the ...

$19.5 million needed for school lunch program
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 13 hours ago
Before the holidays, the state Department of Education announced that California's school meal program is projected to run out of funding before spring ...

State News: 1/30/09

Dan Walters: Constitutional change could come to California
Inside Bay Area, CA - 9 hours ago
Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledged the idea's currency as he pleaded to lawmakers for action on the budget and other issues. ...

Rumor du Jour: Budget Vote February 3 -- A budget vote February 3 is the latest rumor du jour rolling through the state Capitol. Greg Lucas California's Capitol weblog -- 1/30/09

CFT Locals in the News: 1/29/09

Stimulus Plan Will Net Berkeley Unified School District $4 Million ...
Berkeley Daily Planet, CA - 15 hours ago
California is expected to receive $1422484000 in special education funds over two years. Cathy Campbell, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, ...

Trustees get ready for layoffs
Morgan Hill Times, CA - 16 hours ago
"Be collaborative, communicate, keep information out in the public," urged Federation of Teachers President Donna Ruebusch. "Rumors are flying about the ...

UC Contract News: 1/29/09

UC pensions: worker revolt -- A labor union is launching an initiative drive to shift control of the UC retirement system, the third largest public pension system in the state, from the UC regents to a new 13-member board with a majority of employee representatives. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 1/29/09

UC service workers agree to contract -- The University of California has settled a bitter contract battle with nearly 8,500 service workers after a year and a half that included picketing and sit-ins. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times Patricia Yollin in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/29/09

Education News: 1/29/09

Cal State students speak up over proposed slashes to financial aid -- Students -- some with full course loads and multiple jobs -- address the Board of Trustees, protesting Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts and delays of Cal Grants. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/09

School layoff notices could hit record number
Santa Maria Times, CA - 10 hours ago
Property taxes form the bulk of California schools' revenue source, but since property taxes fall short of providing all the funding schools need to operate ...

San Joaquin County educators say federal funds won't fix cash crisiEducation News: 1/30/09

Wrong approach: Education funding is important, but planned ...
Stockton Record, CA - 9 hours ago
By The Record The California Teachers Association soon will be seeking signatures for a ballot measure aimed at giving education a bigger cut of the budget ...

Raise community college fees by 50 percent, state analyst says
Tri Valley Herald, CA - 3 hours ago
By Matt Krupnick With budget cuts a reality at nearly every level of government this year, the state Legislative Analysts Office higher-education budget ...

Teachers rally against education budget cuts -- Thousands gather at Pershing Square in downtown L.A., speaking out against Schwarzenegger and the L.A. Unified superintendent. Howard Blume and Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/30/09

Teachers Seeing Red Over Budget
MSNBC - 12 hours ago
Schwarzenegger has proposed "a budget that fully funds Prop 98, gives education $4.6 billion on top of that and gives California schools $13.8 billion in ...

Caution at the LAUSD La Opinión

Hundreds of Salinas school workers to rally against budget cuts
The Salinas Californian, CA - 16 hours ago
Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to education funding. Schwarzenegger wants to cut education funding in California - which already ranks near the ...

$19.5 million needed for school lunch program
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 13 hours ago
Before the holidays, the state Department of Education announced that California's school meal program is projected to run out of funding before spring ...

State News: 1/30/09

Dan Walters: Constitutional change could come to California
Inside Bay Area, CA - 9 hours ago
Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledged the idea's currency as he pleaded to lawmakers for action on the budget and other issues. ...

Rumor du Jour: Budget Vote February 3 -- A budget vote February 3 is the latest rumor du jour rolling through the state Capitol. Greg Lucas California's Capitol weblog -- 1/30/09

-- The economic stimulus package approved by the House of Representatives would bring more than $10 billion to cash-strapped California schools. But even though millions of dollars would flow to San Joaquin County districts, education officials Wednesday were far from declaring an end to the fiscal crisis. Roger Phillips in the Stockton Record -- 1/29/09

Stimulus bill has $11 milion for local schools
Marin Independent-Journal, CA - 30 minutes ago
Under the $825 billion economic stimulus bill, about $10 billion would come to California schools. Here are the amounts each Marin school district would ...

State could get $10 billion stimulus school aid San Francisco Chronicle

Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education New York Times

Stimulus could give Calif. schools $10B ABC30.com

Stimulus plan tabs $10B for schools
Monterey County Herald, CA - 8 hours ago
A $10 billion chunk of the federal stimulus package approved by the House on Wednesday is designated for California schools. State Superintendent of Public ...

Cash-strapped school districts hail federal funds, but warn cuts ...
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, CA - 2 hours ago
... Coast schools over two years. Across California, it could mean $10 billion over two years and in Sonoma County, the bill represents nearly $27 million. ...

Emotions run high with school cuts on the line
Pleasanton Weekly, USA - 3 hours ago
California faces a $41.6-billion deficit. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal would require the Pleasanton Unified School District to cut $8.7 ...

Local schools brace for cuts
Redwood Times, CA - 12 minutes ago
"California schools have some of the highest academic standards in the country," said California Teachers Association President David Sanchez in a statement ...

Manteca educators asked to take 8% pay cut in effort to avoid layoffs -- Negotiations are under way between Manteca Unified School District administrators and the district's unions over a proposed 8 percent pay cut. Harley Becker in the Stockton Record -- 1/29/09

Stanford receives record number of applications -- Stanford University received a record number of undergraduate applications this year, but might admit only 7.5 percent of the applicants to the class of 2013, campus officials announced Wednesday. Diana Samuels in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/29/09

Signatures and social change -- a short history
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 2 hours ago
For those following the state's budget crisis, the California Teachers Association and its local counterparts are no strangers to budget protests -- be that ...

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is returning to Stanford University -- Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is returning to Stanford University to teach political science and write books as a member of the Hoover Institution, according to an interview published in the campus newsletter Stanford Report. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/29/09

State News: 1/29/09

PPIC Survey Shows For First Time Majority Favor Reduction of Two-Thirds Requirement For Budget Passage

Californians give thumbs-up to Obama, thumbs down to state officials -- The survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that three in four Californians think the state is going in the wrong direction, a record high number. The budget problems have dragged the approval rating for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to 40% -- the level it reached after his politically disastrous special election in 2005. The Legislature has sunk to a 21% approval rating. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 1/29/09

CA Schools Chief Plans for Stimulus KCBS
California could get $10 billion stimulus school aid -- An economic stimulus package working its way through Congress could provide $10 billion in federal relief over the next two years for California's public schools, raising optimism among educators that it might ease cutbacks caused by the state's budget crisis. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/28/09

Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education -- The economic stimulus plan that Congress has scheduled for a vote on Wednesday would shower the nation's school districts, child care centers and university campuses with $150 billion in new federal spending, a vast two-year investment that would more than double the Department of Education's current budget. SAM DILLON in the New York Times -- 1/28/09

Thomas D. Elias: School kids, public employees prime budget crisis ...
The Union of Grass Valley, CA - 9 hours ago
It would probably also interfere with recruiting new teachers, as loss of class time and commensurately lower pay would surely harm teacher morale. ...

CSU has record year for donations -- Gift commitments, which include future payments, were up 35 percent from 2006-07, while actual payments were up 12 percent. The report covered the year ending June 30, 2008. Matt Krupnickin the Oakland Tribune -- 1/28/09

Donations to Sacramento State top previous year -- California State University received record donations during the 2007-2008 school year, according to the CSU annual report on external support. Walter Yost in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/28/09

Teachers ready to go -- almost -- with penny sales tax hike -- The California Teachers Association will move forward with an initiative to boost the state sales tax by a penny to raise money for schools. Unless, of course, they don't. John Wildermuth Chronicle Politics weblog -- 1/28/09

L.A. teachers' union calls for boycott of testing -- Axing 'periodic assessments' would save money, UTLA says. But district leaders want teachers to give the exams, which a Times analysis suggests are boosting scores in algebra and English. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/09

School can expel lesbian students, court rules -- An appeals panel finds California Lutheran High School in Riverside County is not a business and therefore doesn't have to comply with a state law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/09

State News: 1/28/09

State leaders say federal stimulus will ease deficit crisis, not solve it -- California stands to receive possibly as much as $14 billion in direct budget relief from the federal stimulus plan, which the House is to consider today. But the state, struggling to close a $40 billion budget deficit, isn't ready to cash it in just yet. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/28/09

Weintraub: Proposed cuts show depth of state crisis -- For all the grief Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is taking from the right for proposing to raise taxes, you would think he was a fiscal softy who is willing to let state spending grow out of control. But take a close look at his budget and you might be surprised at the level of spending cuts that would still be required to balance the books - even if the Legislature passes a big tax hike. Daniel Weintraub in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/28/09

Teachers-Unions News: 1/27/09
KHSD trustee questions union president's pay
Bakersfield.com - 9 hr, 40 mins ago
the size of this one,' said Jesse Aguilar, KHSTA bargaining chair and East High School art teacher. California's Education Employment Relations Act established collective

Education News: 1/27/09

Assembly Democrats Unveil Scroll of Budget Cuts
January 26, 2009 @ 8:10 AM
Last week Assembly Democrats took to the halls of the Capitol to
illustrate the magnitude of the state's budget crisis. Assemblymember
Noreen Evans, Chair of the Budget Committee, along with
Assemblymembers Saldana, De Leon, and Hayashi, unrolled a 150 foot
long scroll listing all the budget cuts the Legislature has adopted
since the 2003-2004 budget. The scroll stretched from the Capitol
Rotunda to the Governor's Office and displayed over 180 cuts totaling
over $19 billion.

North County school districts dealing with budget constraints
Paso Robles Press, CA - 11 hours ago
"California is already 47 out of 50 states in per pupil funding for education and the governor's proposal only adds to the state's under-investment in our ...

WITTHOHN: What do the cuts mean for California school children?
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, CA - 15 hours ago
Because public education accounts for almost half of the state's budget, the schools of California would also suffer, absorbing cuts of almost $20 billion ...

Data Show College Endowments Loss is Worst Drop Since '70s -- The value of university endowments fell about 23 percent on average in the five months ended Nov. 30, according to two newly released reports. KATIE ZEZIMA in the New York Times -- 1/27/09

Market Losses Tighten Screws On Colleges -- American colleges and universities lost an average of 23 percent on their endowment investments last semester, according to a national survey to be released today, a drop that is hurting the bottom line across the board, from major state institutions to the Ivy League. Susan Kinzie in the Washington Post -- 1/27/09

Sane judge tosses state's unwise algebra mandate
Ventura County Star - 4 hr, 12 mins ago
from this pairing of the least qualified teachers with the worst-performing students. The California Teachers Association labor union estimated an additional 3,000

Editorial: UC regents should join trend on fees
Five years ago, Harvard University stunned the higher education world with an announcement that tuition, room and board would be free for families with incomes less than $40,000. This was changed to $60,000 in 2006.

State News: 1/27/09

Strangling California's budget
By Jean Ross, California Budget Project
A proposed 'hard' cap on spending is misguided.

Spending limits would put government on a conservative course -- Liberal activists are worried that Democratic legislators are considering a deal to institute permanent curbs on government spending in order to win Republican support for tax increases as the Legislature seeks solutions to a $42 billion deficit facing the state over the next 18 months. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/27/09

Walters: Feds' stimulus plan could set stage for California budget deal -- The economic stimulus plan being written by President Barack Obama and Congress could cover a third of California's projected budget deficit and give Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators a way out of their political dilemma - but the governor says it would be foolish to count on it. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/27/09

1/26/09:

Outraged Sonoma County educators pleaded for public support Monday to fight what they predict will be a multi-million dollar reduction in state support for local public schools.

CFT/Locals in the News: 1/24/09

The best of the best
Daily Pilot - Jan 24 2009
is a great communicator in a complex field, said Kimberly Claytor, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, who observed one of her classes last week.

Education News: 1/24-26

Palo Alto state senator discusses drastic school budget cuts with ...
San Jose Mercury News, USA - Jan 24, 2009
The budget would rescind a cost-of-living adjustment passed in last year's budget and takes away $1.6 billion to reduce California's education funding to ...

A message to schools Long Beach Press-Telegram

Schools face devastating multimillion-dollar losses in years ...
Whittier Daily News - 8 hr, 56 mins ago
what our politicians have done to us,' Carruth said angrily. 'We will drop to 50th in funding education in the country next year. It's a moral outrage, and it is

Major cuts coming for teachers in the Orcutt Union School District
MSNBC - 2 hours ago
Like all schools in California, it's feeling the pain. This fiscal year the district has been forced to make $1.3 million in cuts. ...

California's economic crisis is also an educational crisis Modesto Bee

Stimulus school money could be hard to cut later
The Associated Press - 8 hours ago
asked California Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, top Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee. The measure making its way through Congress would ...

UCD Applications Soars, Despite Budget Cuts
MSNBC - 37 minutes ago
The University of California, Davis, received a record number of undergrad applications for this fall, despite a recent move by the the UC Board of Regents ...

UCLA considering more than 55000 applicants for 2009 freshman class UC Los Angeles

UC Davis freshman applications rise Sacramento Bee

In Campus-Crime Reports, There's Little Safety in the Numbers
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) - 10 hours ago
In 2000 the Education Department investigated the whole University of California system, following articles in The Sacramento Bee and a complaint from ...

Inland school officials react to changes in academic success ...
Riverside Press Enterprise - 4 hr, 18 mins ago
Campuses looking to earn the coveted California Distinguished School title this year must raise the level of achievement for minority, English learner and low-income

Step-Up preschool is a hit with parents, teachers, district -- How do you manage to take care of all of your students and save $500,000 while doing it? The Upland Unified School District's Step-Up preschool seems to provide the answer. Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 1/26/09

1/25/09:

Some school districts fear running out of money for salaries, bills by spring -- With the state of California delaying payment on its obligations, some school districts may run out of money in the spring to pay salaries and bills. Sharon Noguchi in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/25/09

San Mateo County educators hail Obama's stance on education
San Jose Mercury News, USA - Jan 25, 2009
"Throwing money at the problem doesn't solve the problem," said Hector Barajas, spokesman for the California Republican Party. Barajas also complained about ...

Borenstein: Closing schools just the start -- Parents and teachers protesting plans to close older, underutilized schools in West Contra Costa are ignoring the district's dire financial situation and risking a state takeover that would strip local residents of control over their children's education. Daniel Borenstein in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/25/09

Textbook rental program proves popular at San Bernardino Valley College -- Nancy Gonzalez's budget can't accommodate the $370 worth of books she needs for her four classes at San Bernardino Valley College. JULIE FARREN in the Riverside Press -- 1/25/09

UC Merced courts freshmen rejected by other UC schools -- Just hours after the University of California regents cut 2,300 freshman spots for next fall, Patricia Fels - a counselor at Sacramento Country Day School - asked a class of some 15 graduating seniors to raise their hands if they'd be willing to attend UC Merced, assuming they were rejected everywhere else. One lonely hand rose. Robert Faturechi in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/25/09

Applications for UC Merced remain steady -- Applicants for freshman positions fell slightly from last year, while transfer student applications rose. Overall, the campus received 10,296 applications, up slightly from 10,216 in 2008. Danielle Gaines in the Fresno Bee -- 1/25/09

Metal detectors at FUSD gyms? -- Gunshots fired outside a crowded gymnasium have prompted the Fresno Unified School District to consider using metal detectors at high school basketball games. Pablo Lopez and George Hostetter in the Fresno Bee -- 1/25/09

1/23/09 Late News:

Opinion: Don't dilute UC admissions standards

Angry Tired Teachers Band
All Reports by Robin Swanson
January 23, 2009 @ 11:11 AM
As our state's leaders consider making nearly $14 billion in cuts to schools while illegally manipulating Prop. 98 to permanently shortchange schools by $7-9 billion year after year, I wanted to share a recent YouTube video from the "Angry Tired Teachers Band" that cleverly relays the important message: "cuts hurt" our schools and students.

State News: 1/24-26

Legislators signal $6 billion in budget cuts -- Both parties appear to be willing to reduce funding for public schools, colleges, transit programs and programs that help a wide range of people with special needs. Jordan Rau and Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/09

Report offers state less painful options for spending plan -- The state Legislative Analyst's Office on Thursday released a report - in part a response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to cut spending on social services by about $3 billion - that details alternate spending proposals for programs that help poor, disabled and other needy Californians. Jennifer Torres in the Stockton Record -- 1/26/09

Putting a face on the figures -- The numbers of California's budget crisis can blur into one long string of zeros until you see how they'll affect lives in San Joaquin County. Zachary K. Johnson in the Stockton Record -- 1/26/09

Local Media Coverage Distorts Truth About Budget Impasse

Teachers news: late add 1/21/09

Union, School Leaders Split on How to Measure Teachers
Voice of San Diego, CA - Jan 21, 2009
Using standardized test scores to judge teachers is forbidden by their union contract and by California law. The union also advises teachers to avoid ..

Education News: 1/23/09

Editorial: San Jose Unified employees set an example of sacrifice

UC president hopes to boost support for low-income students
San Jose Mercury News, USA - 12 hours ago
Although about 47 percent of California's public high school graduates are members of underrepresented minorities - African-American, Latino, ...

Opinion: Don't blame race or parents; students push themselves at my school

Editorial: Supreme Court and state law send warning to schools on sexual abuse
Public schools in California now have two more compelling reasons to be vigilant in protecting students from sexual abuse.

State News: 1/23/09

Economic stimulus package has a potential windfall for California government -- The state could receive $11 billion, enough to wipe out about 25% of its budget shortfall. Evan Halper and Richard Simon in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/23/09

Walters: Tax overhaul panel facing daunting task -- So can a dozen people from disparate backgrounds and ideologies absorb the complexities of California's multifaceted tax system in perhaps 25 hours of meetings and write an overhaul to bring more revenue stability that could survive the political chopping block of the Legislature? Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/23/09

California Federation of Teachers News: 1/22/09

Late Add from Jan 19, 2009 -California careens toward budget cliff
People's Weekly World -
Calling Schwarzenegger's proposals "a disaster for the students of California," California Federation of Teachers President Marty Hittelman wrote on ...

Childhood workers meeting
Eureka Times-Standard - In 27 mins
anniversary of Northcoast Children's Services employees voting to be represented by California Federation of Teachers. All members are invited to attend the meeting...

Education News: 1/22/09

CALIFORNIA BRIEFING-Los Angeles Times, CA - 11 hours ago
... insider given the job of advancing the governor's education agenda at a time when most of the discussion is about how much to slash education funding. ...

California Challenge: Avoid 'Dysfunction' in Resolving Budget
Education Week News

Public schools get hard hit in budget plan -- As California's budget bleeds red ink - about $1.5 billion a week, by one estimate - the state's political leadership is pondering deep cuts in higher and K-12 education that will have a dramatic impact on teachers, students and administrators. John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 1/22/09

State budget crisis means large cuts to education funding in San ...
Daily Review Online, CA - 13 hours ago
Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent budget proposal, if passed, would reduce education funding in California by approximately 16 percent, which means the San ...

San Mateo County school agencies to be reimbursed for special ...
San Mateo County Times, CA - 14 hours ago
It also includes $65 million in ongoing funding for the local plan areas. The state settled a 14-year-old lawsuit alleging that California imposed costly ...

King City Makes Job Cuts After $1M Deficit
MSNBC - 6 hours ago
With more job cuts still on the line, teachers voiced their frustration. "I don't understand why you want to get rid of somebody who actually cares about ...

School Beat: Strong Schools Need Strong School Site Councils
Beyond Chron, CA - 5 hours ago
The California Department of Education is under pressure to rein in spending, and state compliance officers are unlikely to cut any slack when the San ...

Los Rios midyear student enrollment jumps 7,000 -- Midyear student enrollment at Los Rios Community colleges leaped by 7,000 students over last year, a jump attributed to a floundering economy and rising fees at four-year universities. M.S. Enkoji in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/22/09

College freshmen facing growing financial worries -- Record numbers report that financial aid is playing a role in their choice of campus and that they need part-time jobs, according to UCLA's annual national survey. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/22/09

Teachers union goes on offensive with new radio campaign
Capitol Weekly - Sacramento Bee - CBS 5
The California Teachers Association has launched a statewide radio advertising campaign airing on 70 stations that targets the governor and Legislature for failing...

Richmond considers buying district land to save schools -- Richmond city leaders are considering buying West Contra Costa school district land, a plan that would infuse the cash-strapped district with $3 million to keep targeted Richmond schools open two more years. Katherine Tam in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/22/09

State deficit debacle threatens First 5 -- The top administrator of California's embattled First 5 program urged local supporters Wednesday to lobby state legislators not to scuttle the child care and preschool program. DARRELL R. SANTSCHI in the Riverside Press -- 1/22/09

State News: 1/22/09

Republicans considering the unthinkable: taxes -- Republicans are rethinking the unthinkable: saying yes, though begrudgingly so, to taxes. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/22/09

Weintraub: Maybe it's time for a government overhaul -- When people first started kicking around the idea of a constitutional convention for California, I was skeptical. Daniel Weintraub in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/22/09

California's Democratic gubernatorial prospects test the waters at inauguration -- Lt. Gov. John Garamendi said Wednesday that he's hired his new national fundraiser and lined up fresh support from serious contributors. Attorney General Jerry Brown, while not yet a declared candidate, has been getting around town. Multiple big-city mayors have been out and about, in parties where politics remains the main intoxicant. Michael Doyle in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/22/09

Education News: 1/21/09
College chancellor up for 18 percent raise -- Concerned about losing their well-liked chancellor, board members in the Contra Costa Community College District will vote next week whether to give her an 18 percent raise. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/21/09

Fresno State must cut another $3.6 million -- Fresno State President John Welty said Tuesday the state's continuing financial crisis is forcing officials to cut another $3.6 million from the university's 2008-09 budget, on top of a $1.7 million reduction previously announced. Doug Hoagland in the Fresno Bee -- 1/21/09

A perfect opportunity to teach a civics lesson -- Talk about a teachable moment. Nanette Asimov, Jim Doyle and Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/21/09

Bretón: Schools need more than role model of Obama -- President Barack Obama could have been talking about them in his inaugural address Tuesday. Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/21/09

Submission: Education must remain a priority
Daily Bruin - 1/20/09
Education was approved by the UC Board of Regents and the State Board of Education (which at that time governed the California State University and California community

1/19/09 - CFT News:  California careens toward budget cliff
People's Weekly World -
Calling Schwarzenegger's proposals "a disaster for the students of California," California Federation of Teachers President Marty Hittelman wrote on ...Education News: 1/19/09
UC to Cut Freshman Enrollment
The Santa Barbara Independent, CA - 1/19/09
Student leaders say they are concerned about the accessibility and quality of college education. Increasing the difficulty to get into a UC college will ...

Schools prepare for money crunch
Modesto Bee, CA - 1/19/09
"We are about to enter one of the most difficult few months in the history of California education," writes the association's executive director, ...

California has statewide standard on teaching foreign languages -- Respecto. Respekt. Rispetto. No matter the translation, Spanish, German or Italian, California foreign language teachers say they're finally getting some respect. Walter Yost in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/19/09

Nation keeping eye on California illegal-student case -- Several states are keeping an eye on a California court case that could be a bellwether for colleges that discount tuition for undocumented immigrants. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/19/09

Governor's Proposal Attacks Prop. 98, the Voter Approved Minimum School Funding Guarantee, Illegally Making Permanent Cuts of $7-9 Billion to California's Schools and Students
by Robin Swanson-January 19, 2009 @ 9:31 AM
Just as California's schools are bracing for another devastating $10.8 billion in proposed cuts, the Governor's budget plan illegally manipulates Prop. 98, the state's minimum school funding law, to permanently cut at least $7 billion from California's students, in violation of the California Constitution. (See S.F Chronicle: "Governor makes a grab for state school funds.")

1/18/09:

Sacramento County grads leading the way to California colleges -- The number of Sacramento County high school graduates going to California colleges has jumped in the past decade, a fortunate upward trend for them because, in a down economy, they'll need those college diplomas to keep jobs. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/18/09  Between 2003 and 2007, the number of Sacramento County students such as Ng who went straight to college after graduation rose from about 7,300 to 10,000, far faster than the uptick in high school diplomas, according to the latest figures from California Postsecondary Education Commission, available in a searchable database at sacbee.com.

State News: 1/19/09

The Speaker's response to Governor Schwarzenegger's State of the State address:
"At a press conference shortly after the Governor delivered his annual State of the State address Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) said "Californians want us to negotiate a solution to the budget and avoid the cash crisis. They don't want school districts to go broke and layoff teachers ... they don't want small business vendors getting IOUs and they don't want their income tax refunds delayed."

Schwarzenegger gives lucrative board seats to ex-legislators and aides -- While ordering pay cuts for most state workers, the governor has named three officials to state boards overseeing unemployment insurance appeals and waste disposal. The jobs have six-figure salaries. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/18/09

Walters: California budget squabbling has little importance -- There are many specific unresolved points blocking political agreement on closing the state's whopping budget deficit, but the governor and legislative leaders are devoting much of their time to issues that don't have anything directly to do with spending and taxes, falling under the rubric of "economic stimulus." Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/18/09

CFT in the news: 1/16/09

Governor's Proposed Budget is "Disaster" for Schools
By Marty Hittelman, President, California Federation of Teachers
-Excerpts also printed in the Capitol Morning Report (subscription only)

Governor calls for unity in crisis
Times-Standard, CA - 8 hours ago
The proposal has already drawn fire from the California Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers, which claim the proposal cuts ...

Education News: 1/16/09

San Jose Unified teachers vote for two furlough days -- Teachers in San Jose Unified have voted for two furlough days - essentially two days without pay - to help close the district's budget gap. Dana Hull in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/16/09

Parents targeted in effort to help Latino students succeed -- The Orange County Business Council hopes to recruit more businesses and volunteers for Latino Educational Initiative. FERMIN LEAL in the Orange County Register -- 1/16/09

Fresno students seek way to reduce dropout rate -- With roughly one-third of their peers dropping out of high school, Fresno students say it's up to them to find a way to reverse this alarming trend. Kerri Ginis in the Fresno Bee -- 1/16/09

Student safety pays when schools cut busing
CNN - In 3 hr, 27 mins
'If it comes down to cutting teachers or cutting buses, they're always going to cut buses.' School districts all over the nation - from San Diego County, California,

Education/Budget:

State budget woes hit home
The Signal - In 1 hr, 44 mins
manages the budget.' Winger also remains concerned about the cuts to education in future years. Schwarzenegger called California's $42 billion deficit a 'rock upon

State News: 1/16/09

Democratic Leaders Respond to Governor's State of the State Address

Schwarzenegger Uses His Movies to Make Points as Governor -- For outsiders to Sacramento, it's surreal enough to see Arnold Schwarzenegger, former bodybuilder and action-movie star, in his current role as governor of California. Stu Woo in the Wall Street Journal -- 1/16/09

Walters: Speech reflects state's need for major reforms -- Arnold Schwarzenegger apparently delayed his State of the State address in hopes that he and legislative leaders would reach agreement on closing the state's enormous budget deficit and he would have some positive news to report. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/16/09

Text of State of the State

Education News: 1/15/09

Study: College students paying more, getting less -- As states cut back on higher-education funding, students are paying higher fees to make up for the lost money, a Washington, D.C., group reported Wednesday. At the same time, the Delta Project noted, the cutbacks are eroding the quality of the education those students receive. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times Canan Tasci and Connie Llanos in the San Bernardino Sun -- 1/15/09 link to the study here

Fresno schools expect less money but do not see massive layoffs -- Despite the likelihood of receiving a lot less money from the state next year, Fresno Unified officials reiterated on Wednesday that they don't expect major cuts to the classroom or massive layoffs. Kerri Ginis in the Fresno Bee -- 1/15/09

O'Connell Criticizes UC Cuts in Enrollment

State of the People is Grim: More Budget Cuts Are Exactly the Wrong Prescription

PTA Responds to State Budget: Our Responsibility to Children ...
KOTA Territory News - 4 hr, 17 mins ago
times. 'We believe the smartest economic stimulus plan for California right now is to invest in the future by investing in the education, health and welfare of our

Drop-In Day slated for school dropouts
Ventura County Star - In 56 mins
California adults 25 or older do not have their high school diploma, according to the California Department of Education. That??s 3.5 million adults. Without a diploma,

Intel Science Talent Search finds Mira Loma student -- Over the past two years, Divya Nag has spent hours in the laboratory analyzing soil samples. Chelsea Phua in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/15/09

Long Beach aid program aims to raise Latino enrollment -- Hoping to boost Latino college enrollment, a federal education agency has partnered with local community organizations to create six centers offering students help in completing financial aid applications. Kevin Butler in the Long Beach Press -- 1/15/09

L.A. college district awards $400 million for new facilities -- The two-year system is moving forward on a $5.7-billion construction program being funded with voter-approved bonds. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/15/09

State News: 1/15/09

Schwarzenegger to deliver address amid grim news -- Five years ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told Californians in his first address to the Legislature that the state couldn't afford to tax its way out of a fiscal mess or borrow against the future. Juliet Williams AP Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/15/09

State of the People is Grim: More Budget Cuts Are Exactly the Wrong Prescription

How did we get here? -- There is no question that the state is faced with one of the most dire financial situations in its history. But that seems to be about where the agreement ends. Anthony York in Capitol Weekly -- 1/15/09

State fiscal analyst examines coming cash crunch -- The state legislative analyst has released a new report about the state's cash flow in anticipation of the state defaulting on some of its bills - perhaps as early as next month. Anthony York in Capitol Weekly -- 1/15/09

CFT in the news: 1/14/09

ZWI REZNIK: State GOP lawmakers must compromise
Fresno Bee - By Zwi Reznik, president of the State Center Federation of Teachers.

Big labor backs overturn of Proposition 8
The Sacramento Bee's Capital Alert, CA - 23 hours ago
Among them: the California Labor Federation, SEIU California State Council, the California Federation of Teachers, the California Nurses Association, ...

Education Coalition: 1/14/09

California Gets an "F" for School Spending, According to Education ...
California Majority Report

Education News:

Report Finds California Has Slipped Into Educational and Economic ... California Chronicle

California drops to 47th in public school spending -- Education Week magazine, in its annual state-by-state survey of public education, gives California an overall "C" grade, but the California Teachers Association is jumping on the state's "F" in school spending, which has dropped to 47th in the nation on a per-pupil basis. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 1/14/09

Governor makes a grab for state school funds -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose budget already makes dramatic cuts in education, is proposing to withhold billions of dollars from schools that were guaranteed by a measure approved by voters two decades ago. Matthew Yi, Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/14/09

LAUSD board votes to possibly lay off 2,300 teachers -- The 4-2 vote authorizes the job actions if no other options are found to decrease a potential $250-million budget shortfall this year caused by the state's financial problems. Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/14/09

UC may admit 2,300 fewer freshmen -- High school seniors hoping to attend the University of California next year could get more grim news by the end of today. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/14/09

UC Davis receives chair endowment for center -- The University of California, Davis, received a $2.5 million endowment Tuesday for a permanent chair to head its Energy Efficiency Center. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/14/09

District could lose $9 mil
Redlands Daily Facts, CA - 18 hours ago
Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public schools, released a statement Dec. 31 after the proposal was announced. "Many families in California are ...

Area schools prepare for cuts -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal to slash funding for schools by a staggering $6billion could mean tough times ahead for California teachers, area educators and teachers, union representatives say. Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 1/14/09

Santa Ana Unified considers lowering graduation requirements -- Plan would aid students in district with county's lowest graduation rate. FERMIN LEAL in the Orange County Register -- 1/14/09

Shooting Yourself in the Foot
Center For American Progress, DC - 3 hours ago
Indeed, many more are projected in school districts from California to Massachusetts to Florida. Mid-year layoffs create obvious hardships and turmoil. ...

Budget Proposal Could Be Devastating Blow for Career Technical ...
MSNBC - 15 hours ago
"Since California does not include CTE as part of a balanced education, eliminating its funding protections essentially kills it -- at a time when we should ...

Shared Sacrifice: CTA: Watchdogs for schools? Or...
Sacramento Bee, USA - 2 hours ago
After adjusting for California's high cost of living, the state has ranked in the bottom 10 in many school spending categories for more than two decades. ...

State News: 1/14/09

State budget: three more days of heavy lifting? -- Legislative leaders are sticking with the talks-are-productive narrative, but are saying little more following their most recent meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 1/14/09

Budget pain is felt everywhere
The parameters of the current budget crisis in Sacramento are clear: The state faces a $40 billion shortfall over the next 18 months.

Walters: Is Democratic tax-fee swap really legal? -- One of the odder - and more interesting - aspects of the Capitol's budget stalemate has been a scheme by Democrats to increase revenue by billions of dollars without, or so they say, running afoul of the 31-year-old constitutional requirement that tax increases require two-thirds legislative votes. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/14/09

Weintraub: Suspend ballot-box budgeting measures -- Anybody who watches the California Legislature up close probably understands the voters' impulse to pass measures tying the hands of lawmakers when it comes to managing the budget. When the Legislature's approval rating hovers around 15 percent, the public isn't going to trust the politicians to make important decisions. Daniel Weintraub in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/14/09

Education News: 1/13/09

Schwarzenegger proposes major Cal Grant cuts -- California's main financial aid program for college students may stop covering rises in tuition. Meanwhile, UC and Cal State officials are gearing up for 10% fee increases. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/13/09

Fresno State closes fall freshman class -- Fresno State is no longer accepting applications from freshmen who want to attend next fall -- another effect of the state's ongoing budget crisis. Doug Hoagland in the Fresno Bee -- 1/13/09

Stimulus slots more cash for schools -- Federal aid for education could grow as much as $140 billion under a two-year economic stimulus bill now taking shape in Congress, where Democrats are proposing a new block grant for states and a $15 billion expansion of annual Pell grants to low-income college students. DAVID ROGERS Politico -- 1/13/09

University shelves library expansion -- California State University, Dominguez Hills will be forced to temporarily halt construction on a $57.4 million library expansion and freeze the salaries of its top administrators because of the state's uncertain finances. Max Zimbert and Nguyen Huy Vu in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 1/13/09

Area schools prepare for budget cuts
San Bernardino County Sun - 2 hr, 53 mins ago
to slash funding for schools by a staggering $6 billion could mean tough times ahead for California teachers, area educators and teachers union representatives say.

What a difference a week makes
Lake County Record Bee - 1 hr, 51 mins ago
Lake High School. That says something about what we think about our children.' In light of recent budget cuts, MacDougall said this money is greatly needed to continue

California Schools Guide: Database of Scores With News Hook
PBS - 1 hr, 44 mins ago
interested in tracking a school, this is an invaluable tool. Why It's Innovative The California Department of Education has an enormous amount of information, but

Statement by Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation ...
American Federation of Teachers - 2 hr, 3 mins ago
and graduate from high school prepared for college. The law also should allow ELLs to take tests in their native language until they achieve English proficiency.

SDSU Announced New Program
COX.net for San Diego - 2 hr, 44 mins ago
prepares military personnel and veterans for science and technology jobs. Southern California military education experts partnered with industry leaders to create
-----------
Teachers' union protects its turf
Modesto Bee - 4 hr, 11 mins ago
in the state, the California Teachers Association arguably is the most powerful of interests at the Capitol. Term limits have made it even more powerful. With education

Shared Sacrifice: Pupils lag in teacher union priorities
San Luis Obispo.com - In 2 hr, 24 mins
emergency. As the largest dues-paying organization of public employees in the state, the California Teachers Association arguably is the most powerful of interests
------------
PSR/Sacramento Announces 2009 High School Scholarship Essay Contest, California Notes, 9:27 a.m.

State News: 1/13/09

California Faces Bankruptcy and IOUs

California's Exodus
NBC 4 - 1 hr, 48 mins ago
facing a $41.6 billion budget hole over 18 months, residents are bracing for higher taxes, cuts in education and postponed tax rebates. One multibillion-dollar project

Time ticks for Schwarzenegger to seal his legacy -- With two years left in his term, the California governor is leading a state that is worse off than when he took office. But nationally, his ideas have placed him in the spotlight. Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/13/09

Walters: Bob Monagan's death recalls a different California era -- There was a time, a few decades ago, when "Valley Republican" had a special meaning in the state Capitol. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/13/09

California's top elected Democrats reject furlough plan -- All six of California's elected statewide Democrats are refusing to implement Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to furlough state workers for two unpaid days each month. Shane Goldmacher in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/13/09

Education News: 1/12/08

Q&A: How does Schwarzenegger's proposal to reduce school days save ...
Sacramento Bee, USA - 19 hours ago
How did California settle on a 180-day year? In 1983, the state ramped up educational funding to increase instructional time, but a longer school year was ...

Schwarzenegger skips school
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 10 hours ago
The plan would be "devastating," according to state schools chief Jack O'Connell. If anything, California should be devising ways of lengthening the school ...

School administrators head to Sacramento today as deep budget cuts ...
Pleasanton Weekly, USA - 11 hours ago
Ron Bennett, president and chief executive officer of School Services of California, an advocacy resource for education agencies in California that is ...

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Students, teachers losing out Glendale News Press

Skelton: Gains in school achievement are at risk from budget ax -- It's inevitable that California public schools soon will be whacked with hefty program cuts. And that's a shame because students recently have been making significant gains. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/12/09

Walters: California education tax echoes 1980s battle -- The old saying among Capitol insiders that "what goes around comes around" is especially applicable to the perennial battle over financing public schools, by far the largest single item of the state budget. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/12/09

Teacher jobs may be at risk at Paso Robles -A $2.1 million funding shortfall has forced the district to freeze spending and hiring, and more cuts may follow San Luis Obispo Tribune

Hit by state budget deficit, Silicon Valley schools begin mapping out massive cuts
Goodbye counselors, tutors, gardeners, janitors and five days of the school year. Hello class sizes in the mid-30s or above. Santa Cruz Sentinel/San Jose Mercury news

Court To Rule On Aid Law
Daily Nexus, CA - 11 hours ago
"I'm a strong believer in higher education for all students," Van Gieson said. "If students have been living in the state of California, ...

State Supreme Court to hear illegal immigrant tuition case Redlands Daily Facts

Universities step up their out-of-state recruiting
The Associated Press - 4 hours ago
Last month, an independent report on American higher education flunks all but one state - California, which got a C - when it comes to affordability. ...

Private universities still likely to dole out aid to Sacramento-area students -- With the last applications for most private universities trickling in this month, the hard part for high school seniors is over. But for their parents, stuck with the hefty tab of private education, the stress has just begun. Robert Faturechi in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/12/09

Students report, teacher fired? -- High school newspaper advisors have been given a renewed freedom of speech in 2009 with a law that will protect them from administrator retaliation for content that appears in student publications. Keith Reid in the Stockton Record -- 1/12/09

LAUSD sends out report cards evaluating schools -- Supt. Ramon C. Cortines pushed for the mailings to give parents a clearer view of students' graduation and dropout rates, math and English proficiency, college preparation and more. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/12/09

1/10/08:

CFT In the news:

Come health or high prices 01.10.08
In California, job-based health care fell from 58.7 percent in 2000 to 54.7 percent in 2006, said Sarah Muller, ... political director for the California Federation of Teachers. The California Labor Federation's Marty Hittleman agreed. ...

Education News: 1/10/09

REGIONAL: Educators cold to idea of shortening school year
North County Times - Californian, CA - Jan 10, 2009
... be able to afford the extra days, said Jim Growth, a member of the California Teachers Association's board of directors and a teacher in Chula Vista. ...

State's public universities face major cutbacks -- Reeling from a state budget crisis that shows no sign of abating, California's two premier public university systems are facing salary freezes, construction shutdowns and curbs on enrollment. Patricia Yollin, Jim Doyle in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/10/09

UC, Cal State to freeze top salaries, construction projects -- With the economy in crisis and the state's budget in tatters, California's public universities announced Friday that they will freeze salaries for hundreds of top administrators and halt construction projects. Matt Krupnick in the Oakland Tribune -- 1/10/09

University of California officials urge 6% cut in freshmen for fall -- The 2,300-student reduction would not affect UCLA, UC Berkeley or UC Merced. The number of applicants denied their first-choice campus would rise, but transfer slots would increase. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times DAVID OLSON and SEAN NEALON in the Riverside Press -- 1/10/09

Yudof wants to freeze pay of top UC executives -- Faced with a state budget crisis that shows no sign of abating, University of California President Mark Yudof will ask the university's governing Board of Regents to consider freezing the salaries of top administrators and to limit freshman enrollment. Patricia Yollin in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/10/09

Recall election OK'd for an entire school board in Tuolumne County -- Tioga High students campaigned to unseat the Big Oak Flat-Groveland board after it got rid of their popular math teacher over an allegation of plagiarism. Richard C. Paddock in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/10/09

Success gap: High grades, high stress for Asian-American students in Bay Area -- They may just be kidding, but there's some truth lurking below: Many Asian parents, especially well-educated immigrants, set sky-high expectations for their children. Sharon Noguchi in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/10/09

Lodi Unified weighs laying off office staff -- The Lodi Unified School District will consider laying off the equivalent of 44.5 full-time employees from its district office staff in order to save roughly $3 million from its operating budget, according to a report released Friday afternoon. Keith Reid in the Stockton Record -- 1/10/09

Education News: 1/9/08

As our state's leaders meet to discuss further slashing funding for public schools that have already been subjected to crippling cuts, the non-partisan national publication Education Week released its annual "Quality Counts" California literacy at bottom -- Almost 1 in 4 adults in California have such poor literacy skills they cannot follow a simple newspaper article, a federal study released Thursday said. SHIRIN PARSAVAND in the Riverside Press -- 1/9/09

Mid-Valley literacy rates drop over 10 years Appeal-Democrat

Governor proposes controversial education cut for California
KSBY, CA - 1/9/09
Facing a more than 41 billion dollar deficit Governor Schwarzenegger proposes a controversial education cut for California. The governor is proposing a 1.1 ...

Panel to explore why black students lag peers -- As the upcoming inauguration of the nation's first black president reshapes America's debate on race, the state Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to create an "African American Advisory Committee" to ask why black students lag so far behind their peers. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/9/09

Our View: Colleges face fiscal crisis
Pasadena Star-News, CA - 1/9/09
And whether we are or we aren't, there's nothing California needs more than what PO has for a half-century produced: Teachers whose own education has been ...

Teachers group proposes tax for schools
TheReporter.com, CA - 9 hours ago
Already ranking 46th in the nation in per-student funding, California schools and colleges have been cut by more than $3.5 billion in the past year and face ...

Lodi Unified offering some teachers early retirement
Stockton Record, CA - 1/9/09
... trustees voted unanimously to offer teachers that are already eligible for retirement in the California Teachers Retirement System a chance to retire ...

State News:

A California budget -- or else
Los Angeles Times, CA - 1/9/09
Teachers will be laid off. Health clinics will close. Stimulus money spewing out of Washington will bypass us on its way to states that have their acts ...

California's Plans to Close Gap Become More Drastic -- 's school year could be shortened by a week under increasingly Draconian proposals being considered by state lawmakers seeking to close a projected $42 billion budget shortfall by the middle of next year. STU WOO in the Wall Street Journal -- 1/9/09

Let voters weigh in on budget, legislative analyst says -- Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor may have a fallback solution to the political paralysis that has thwarted a state budget solution - let the people decide. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/9/09

Walters: Voters could help solve the tax battle -- Five years ago, a newly inaugurated Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger beseeched California voters to pass a $15 billion bond issue to refinance the state's burgeoning budget deficit and "cut up the credit cards" with another measure that prohibited any budget that spends more than its revenues. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/9/09

Education News: 1/8/09

Educators brace for sharp budget knife Capitol Weekly

California falls in education ranks
Contra Costa Times, CA - 9 hours ago
By Connie Llanos, Staff Writer Once regarded as a national leader in higher education, California is quickly falling in the ranks as fewer young people ...

California's Failure to Invest in Higher Education Gives the State ...
California Progress Report, CA - 3 hours ago
Contact Frank here. by Lillian Taiz As California's leaders continue to wrestle with how to tackle the ever growing budget deficit, cuts to education and in ...

Study shows California's deteriorating situation in higher education Xinhua

Cal State report predicts harmful consequences from education cuts 89.3 KPCC

Editorial: Finally, real school data is within reach
12:00 am
Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's stated No. 1 priority for getting education reform began: "We need better data."

New study shows California's deteriorating educational status Contra Costa Times

State ELL students fall behind peers nationally
The Desert Sun, CA - 8 hours ago
... according to a study by an education watchdog group released Wednesday. However, the achievement gap in California between English-language learners and ...

Report says California children need better care from the state
MSNBC - 22 hours ago
California's child health care coverage got a D+. Child safety also scored a D+. And the K through 12 education system received a C-.

Schwarzenegger proposes 5 fewer school days -- Faced with a massive budget deficit, the governor wants to stop state funding for a week of classes. Educators criticize the plan as most harmful to poor students. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 1/8/09

Rethinking affirmative action -- In an effort to increase minority enrollment at state universities, an assemblyman has proposed legislation that would amend Prop. 209. Jennifer Torres in the Stockton Record -- 1/8/09

Advanced Placement Italian exam to be suspended -- The College Board says the test won't be offered after this spring but could be revived if sufficient money is found. A fundraising effort by Italian Americans fell short. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/8/09

State's college stature on wane -- Once regarded as a national leader in higher education, California is quickly falling in the ranks as fewer young people graduate high school and enroll in college, according to a report released Wednesday by the California Faculty Association. Connie Llanos in the Long Beach Press Telegram -- 1/8/09

California Law Targets Cyberbullying
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 21 hours ago
As of January 1, officials in California schools may suspend or expel students who harass their peers through cyberbullying, the Washington Post reports. ...

State News: 1/8/09

Editorial: Deal or no deal, Capitol edition
Following Tuesday's meltdown at the Capitol, the deterioration of California's finances appears to be matched only by the deterioration of its leadership.

Time to end budget feuds, governor says -- As he compared political divisions in the state Capitol to feuds in Northern Ireland, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday he hopes Democrats and Republicans reach a budget accord in three weeks despite long-standing disputes. Kevin Yamamura and Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee Mike Zapler in the Oakland Tribune -- 1/8/09

Governor, legislative leaders to talk budget -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday he will meet today with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders to restart budget negotiations, using his budget as a template to bridge the state's looming $41.5 billion deficit during the next 18 months. Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle Steve Lawrence AP -- 1/8/09

Finger-pointing starts after state budget veto -- With state government careening toward what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has warned could become a "financial Armageddon" and negotiations over a budget-balancing package now back at square one following Schwarzenegger's veto of a Democratic-backed plan, an obvious question arises: What's the holdup? Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 1/8/09

Lawsuit seeking to block California Democrats' tax hikes is tossed out -- An appellate court says it cannot rule on the $9.3-billion package because the governor vetoed the legislation hours after the suit was filed. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/8/09

Hiltzik: The wrong people pay for Schwarzenegger's busted budget -- The state's wealthiest residents would make out just fine under his plan to cut services, hike taxes. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/8/09

Education News: 1/7/09

UC to curtail enrollment in 2009 -- The University of California is preparing to limit the number of freshmen it admits this year, a step brought on by the state budget crisis. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/7/09

UC Regents will meet Jan. 14 to consider plan to curtail freshman ...
Media Newswire (press release), NY - 3 hours ago

UC currently enrolls 11000 more students than it receives state funding for, and the state's per-student spending for education at UC, adjusted for ...

University of California to Accept Fewer Students U.S. News & World Report

Walters: New approach needed to aid poor students -- The ethnic, linguistic, aptitudinal, cultural and economic diversity of California's 6 million public school kids has expanded greatly over the past few decades, but the school system itself has become more centralized, more politicized and more rigid in its pedagogy. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/7/09

State study ties poverty, grades -- California spends more than $9 billion in state and federal money to help poor students, but the programs are scattershot and don't show evidence of improving academic achievement, according to the state Legislative Analyst's Office. SHIRIN PARSAVAND in the Riverside Press -- 1/7/09

L.A. Unified may lay off almost 2,300 teachers, officials say -- The midyear job cuts are being considered because the state budget crisis has left the district at least $250 million short. Newer teachers are the most vulnerable. Jason Song and Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/7/09

UC Merced asked to trim med school plans -- A key state official Tuesday said he will urge the University of California at Merced to scale back its medical school plans in favor of a stripped-down version that would turn out new doctors quickly. E.J. Schultz in the Fresno Bee -- 1/7/09

Teacher recruitment event coming up
Bakersfield Californian, CA - 20 hours ago
On Saturday, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and California Teacher Recruitment Program will host a meeting about how to become a special ...

State News: 1/7/09

Governor rejects Dems' budget, as he promised -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed Democratic lawmakers' $18 billion mid-year budget package on Tuesday after leaders of the Legislature sent it to him, saying they were perplexed by his unwillingness to break a deadlock in negotiations. Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register Judy Lin AP Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/7/09

What now? -- What happens when "the only game in town" -- as Democrats have taken to calling their budget plan -- ends? Shane Goldmacher SacBee Capitol Alert -- 1/7/09

California Federation of Teachers In the News: 1/6/09

Teachers union gets noticed
Morgan Hill Times, CA - 16 hours ago
In its winter newsletter, the California Federation of Teachers cheered Morgan Hill's teachers for their efforts and union leaders John Loyd and President ..

Education News: 1/6/09:

OC schools can survive $490 million in mid-year cuts, educators say
OCRegister, CA - 15 hours ago
California schools Superintendent Jack O'Connell has blasted the governor's plan for funding education, saying it would create "a cash flow crisis" for ...

UC President Mark G. Yudof statement on governor's 2009-10 state ...
Media Newswire (press release), NY - 5 hours ago
Public higher education in California has a proud record of contributing richly to our state's economic development by providing the educated workforce and ...

Educators concerned about proposed January budget -- The proposal to reduce the school year by five days included in Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed January budget is cause for concern for many California educators. Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 1/6/09

Educators concerned about proposed January budget
Redlands Daily Facts, CA - 15 hours ago - O'Connell also believes the governor's proposal to reduce current year funding to public education by over $6 billion will be extremely difficult for school ...

Teachers union proposes sales tax to fund schools
San Jose Mercury News, USA - 1 hour ago
By Neil Gonzales BURLINGAME - The California Teachers Association has proposed a statewide ballot initiative to raise at least $5 billion a year for public ...

Teachers union proposes sales tax to fund schools
San Jose Mercury News, USA - 1 hour ago
The tax would provide new, ongoing funding for schools and community colleges in a time of continuing budget shortfalls, the Burlingame-based association ...

Gov. proposes to cut school year
abc7news.com, CA - 15 hours ago
The California Teacher's Association calls it potentially catastrophic. Educators and parents say it's just another low blow directed at California ...

Learning Gap Continues to Widen Between African American Students ...
L.A. Watts Times (subscription), CA - 4 hours ago
According to the California Department of Education, black students continue to fall through the cracks and trail their white, Asian and Hispanic ..

Funding freeze delays Cal Poly building project -- Cal Poly Pomona has been forced to suspend construction on its new Business Administration Building due to a state freeze of $3.8 billion in infrastructure funding. Daniel Tedford in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 1/6/09

L.A. teachers on chopping block -- Eyeing an ever-widening budget gap, Los Angeles Unified School District officials said Monday that they could soon send nearly 3,000 nonpermanent teachers notices warning of imminent layoffs. George B. Sanchez in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 1/6/09

Nearly 35,000 get UC holiday present -- Nearly 35,000 former University of California students received a holiday gift from their alma mater: a check for as much as $12,000. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 1/6/09

State News: 1/6/09

Legality of proposed California tax plan in question -- Any budget agreement between Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that skirts the state's two-thirds vote requirement for new taxes will almost certainly be challenged in the courts - and there's a significant chance the state would lose, some legal experts said Monday. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/6/09

CFT News: 1/5/09

Back to School to Learn Lab or History
AFL-CIO, DC - Jan 5, 2009
The California Federation of Teachers (CFT) Labor in the Schools Committee maintains a website, www.cft.org/about/comm/labor, which features curricula and ...

Education News: January 5, 2009

California in Desperate Need of a Stimulus Package

California Progress Report, CA - Jan 5, 2009
... $250 billion in flexible education spending to maintain funding for programs from pre-kindergarten to higher education; and middle-class tax cuts. .

California Supreme Court to take on state law granting in-state ...
Los Angeles Times, CA - 17 hours ago
Under the law, illegal immigrant students qualify for in-state rates if they attended a California high school for three years, graduated here and signed an ...

New California law protects school journalism advisors
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jan 4, 2009
By Robert J. Lopez When California public schools resume classes Monday, high school and college journalism advisors will be protected by a new state law ...

More students compete for fewer UC slots
Sacramento Bee, USA - 12 hours ago
His first-choice school is UCLA, but the souring economy and the tumult at UC have him leaning toward more affordable schools in the California State ...

Rethinking special ed could help kids, too
TheReporter.com, CA - Jan 4, 2009
And, of course, in the intervening years, the quality of California's public schools has only plummeted still further. The solution to this disaster is ...

Schools vital to Obama's plan to stimulate economy
San Bernardino Sun, CA - 11 hours ago
Kathy Kinley, former Chaffey Joint Union High School District board member and former president of the California School Boards Association, said, ...

Giving Back on "The Big Spin" Show
Reuters - Jan 3, 2009
Since its inception in 1985, the Lottery has contributed nearly $21 billion to California schools out of total sales of more than $56 billion. ...

Several New Laws to Take Effect Thursday
California Chronicle, CA - Jan 3, 2009
SB 1370 will protect high school and college teachers and other employees from retaliation by administrators as a result of student speech, which most often ...

State News: January 5, 2009

All the news you missed over the holidays
Here's a guide to all the news you missed during your (and our) holiday break.
Yes, California still has a budget problem.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic leadership negotiated during the holiday weeks over whether Schwarzenegger would sign their majority-vote package of $18 billion in cuts and taxes.
First they were "very close" in the words of Senate leader Darrell Steinberg. Then they were "far away" in the words of Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear.....
....The California Teachers Association, meanwhile, is taking matters into its own hands, filing an initiative to raise the sales tax by a penny.
"It's time for stable and independent funding that cannot be cut by the Legislature or diverted for other uses," CTA President David Sanchez said in a statement.

Dan Walters: California Capitol's 2009 prospects look grim
By Dan Walters
Monday, Jan. 05, 2009
Most bills enacted by the state Legislature take effect on Jan. 1, so traditionally, California's major newspapers each December publish lengthy articles about new laws that the state's residents will have to follow.
Those articles are a rough guide to the overall performance of the state's lawmakers. If there are a lot of important new laws, legislators can claim they justified the $350 million-plus the Legislature costs taxpayers.

Analysis: Schwarzenegger Shifts Budget Focus From Opposing Taxes To Creating Jobs -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he has a price. If he is going to give up the no-new-taxes stance on which he staked his 2006 re-election campaign, he says, Democrats must agree to shove aside environmental rules for 11 highway projects and let private investors and builders play a larger role in state construction. KEVIN YAMAMURA in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/4/09