CFT/AFT In the News: 4/30

Rivals Vie for Job of California Schools Chief
Education Week News - Lesli A. Maxwell - ‎2 hours ago‎
The 120000-member California Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, was the first of the two statewide teachers' ...

Teachers, workers march to defend public education in California
Party for Socialism and Liberation - Joel Flores - ‎7 hours ago‎
The crowd consisted mostly of organized labor, including members from the California Federation of Teachers, the California School Employees Association, ...

Education News: 4/30

California Mayors Gather To Discuss Student Dropout Rate -- Nearly one in five students – 18.9 percent – dropped out of California high schools during the 2007-08 school year, according to California Department of Education figures released last year. 2008-09 numbers are due this summer. MELODY GUTIERREZ in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/30/10

California Watch: State Lawmakers Seek Millions In Earmarks For Colleges, Universities -- Members of Congress have submitted their 2011 requests for earmarks – federal money that lawmakers direct to organizations of their choice. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 4/30/10

Teachers From Local Districts Rally Against State Budget Cuts -- Nearly 125 people, mostly teachers, stood on a busy street corner along the Covina/Azusa border Thursday decrying the state's slashing of school funding. JAMES WAGNER in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 4/30/10

Hearing Scheduled On Dispute Between UC, Researchers -- A congressional panel on Friday will examine the obstacles that have prevented more than 6,000 University of California researchers from signing their first contract with the 10-campus system. MATT KRUPNICK in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/30/10

California City and Striking Teachers Agree - We're Broke!
Huffington Post (blog) - Brett Myers, Orlando Campbell - ‎15 hours ago‎
And while surrounding districts have turned to teacher layoffs in response to state budget cuts, Betty Olson-Jones, President of the Oakland Education ...

Californians divided over paying higher taxes to prevent painful cuts in ...
California Independent Voter Network - Adrienne Verrilli - ‎4 hours ago‎
Among public school parents, 43 percent say their children's schools have been affected a lot by recent state budget cuts, 15 points higher than a year ago.
http://caivn.org/article/2010/04/30/californians-divided-over-paying-higher-taxes-prevent-painful-cuts-public-educati

University of California Center in Sacramento to reopen
Thu Apr 29, 2010 — After closing down last fall, the center will reopen for public policy and public affairs students

State News: 4/30

Want to see who's giving Gov. Schwarzenegger gifts? Sac Bee Capital Alert
Californians can view disclosures of elected officials' income, investments and other personal financial information beginning today by clicking a computer keyboard.
Disclosures by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, other constitutional officers, lawmakers and county supervisors are available on the Fair Political Practices Commission Web site, www.fppc.ca.gov.

Budget Blues Begin Anew -- California's bad budget juju is beginning to emerge again for lawmakers looking for ways to close an $18.6 billion hole. KEVIN YAMAMURA and TOREY VAN OOT in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/30/10

Schwarzenegger For President? He Would If He Could -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegg er would love to run for president - if he could. AP -- 4/30/10


CFT/March for California’s Future In the News: 4/29

I am marching
Union members and others walk 365 miles up the state to urge new thinking on California’s budget mess – Sacramento News & Review
Twenty-one-year-old walker and community organizer Emmanuel “Manny” Ballesteros arrives at the state Capitol.
Thousands of protesters, many of them bused in from around the state, joined the March for California’s Future last week as it made its way from Sacramento’s Southside Park to the Capitol building, 48 days and 365 miles after its core group began walking from Bakersfield on March 5

• District to hold adult ed meeting
Daily Pilot - Tom Ragan - ‎14 hours ago‎
... hearing for several dozen teachers whose jobs are slated to be cut, said Kimberly Claytor, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers.

State of 'taxiness'
Los Angeles Times - William Voegeli - ‎10 hours ago‎
To take just one example, however, California's public school students perform miserably on the US Department of Education's National Assessment of ... The website of the California Federation of Teachers still asserts that "the real problem that needs to be addressed to solve California's budget problems ...

Education News:  4/29

Why let senior teachers get a free pass during layoffs?
CNN - Ruben Navarrette - ‎5 hours ago‎
San Diego, California (CNN) -- As a frequent critic of teachers' unions for standing in the way of education reform, perpetuating a culture of low ...

Keeping the Promise of California's Master Plan for Higher Education
Huffington Post (blog) - ‎46 minutes ago‎
Join the movement to support higher education in California and recommit our great state to investing in the Master Plan for Higher Education.

Report: Californians worried about school funding
OCRegister - Fermin Leal - ‎5 hours ago‎
"People can't really ignore any longer that the education quality in California has taken a drastic hit because of funding losses," she said.

City's shield against school budget cuts weakening
San Francisco Examiner - Mike Aldax - ‎12 hours ago‎
The California Department of Education says the schools are struggling now more than ever. “The school districts are doing everything they can just to keep ...

District calls for shorter school year
Agoura Hills Acorn - Stephanie Bertholdo - ‎15 hours ago‎
The call to shorten the school year points to the “dismal” condition of California's budget, he said. Zimring said he was proud of how the teachers union ...

Oakland Teachers Steel For One-Day Walkout -- Oakland teachers prepared for today's one-day strike by putting the finishing touches on picket signs Wednesday, while school administrators readied 300 emergency workers to cover the classrooms. JILL TUCKER in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/29/10

FUSD Teams Up With L.A., Long Beach For Fed Funds -- Fresno Unified School District will go after federal Race to the Top funding -- along with two more of the state's largest school districts -- after California failed to secure the education reform dollars earlier this year. TRACY CORREA in the Fresno Bee -- 4/29/10

Not All Charter Schools Succeeding -- But just like regular public schools, some charters — publicly funded schools that run independently of school boards and education codes — have washed up on the shoals amid rough seas. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/29/10

Budget Cuts Gaining Students' Attention -- The economy. Politics. Budget cuts. When most teens hear these words, they instantly check out, thinking there is no way they can have any say in these ongoing issues in American society. Think again. EMILY KAY SHRADER in the Modesto Bee -- 4/29/10

Learning To Love Algebra
California schools have higher math standards than most states. The goal is to get all eighth graders enrolled in algebra. But that's a tall order, especially in schools where there's a high immigrant population still struggling to learn English. The last installment of our series looking at math and science education visits a district that's trying to meet the math challenge by having fun. Reporter: K. Oanh Ha.
More: Part One of this series
More: Part Two of this series

State News: 4/29


CFT/AFT In the News: 4/28

Education News:  4/28

Bakersfield City School District cuts 111 positions
Bakersfield Now - Jose Gaspar - ‎9 hours ago‎
School budget cuts keep coming. Just a few weeks ago, 120 teachers got pink slips. Now another round of cuts targets 111 ...

2 strikes spotlight Calif. teacher frustration
San Jose Mercury News - Christina Hoag - ‎16 hours ago‎
... where they rallied on the Capitol steps to demand fully funded public education. "California drops to the bottom in the nation in per pupil expenditure, ...

School district trims bus service for funds
The Desert Sun - ‎8 hours ago‎
More students will need to find an alternative way to school next year as budget cuts have led school districts to cut back on transportation.

SB 955 represents radical change to CA teacher policies
San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - ‎Apr 26, 2010‎
... groups adamantly oppose the bill, which is supported by Governor Schwarzenegger, the California Charter Schools Association and Education Trust-West.

How can our schools be a bad gamble?
San Bernardino Sun - John Weeks - ‎16 hours ago‎
Every nickel of net proceeds from legalized, state-sponsored gambling would go straight to California education, we were told, and our state school system ...

Student test score data proposed to evaluate LA teachers
Los Angeles Times - Jason Song - ‎12 hours ago‎
School district task force also suggests giving more money to high-performing teachers and waiting up to four years before granting tenure.

Schwarzenegger Promises More Money For Higher Ed -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is promising California's cash-strapped colleges and universities that he will veto any budget that does not include additional funding for higher education. ROBIN HINDERY AP -- 4/28/10

Fensterwald: Charter Leader Receives Big Award -- A former Los Angeles Unified district superintendent who has gone on to found and lead one of the state’s most successful group of charter schools will be one six Californians to receive this year’s James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award tomorrow in Sacramento. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 4/28/10

California Takes New Tack In Bid For U.S. School Funding -- The state, which lost out in the first round of the Race to the Top grant competition, will have three large districts apply: L.A., Long Beach and Fresno. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/10

Student Test Score Data Proposed To Evaluate L.A. Teachers -- School district task force also suggests giving more money to high-performing teachers and waiting up to four years before granting tenure. The teachers union strongly opposes evaluation reforms. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/10

 State News: 4/28

California Plans Arizona Boycott
The leader of the state Senate says California should send a strong message to Arizona about that state's controversial new illegal immigration law. The message: repeal the law or California government will take its business elsewhere. Reporter: John Myers. 

CFT/March for California’s Future In the News: 4/27/10

Miller: March for California's future goes on
SDNN (blog) - ‎1 hour ago‎

The Struggle to Defend Public Education Continues
Socialist Alternative - Marlon Pierre-Antoine - ‎16 hours ago‎
As Josh Peschtalt, CFT organizer and one of the initiators of the march, said: “We know that it can't be just a fight for education.

Down Prison Road
truthout - David Bacon - ‎7 minutes ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the march's main organizers, brought out over ...

Thousands march for California's future
People's World - Gail Ryall - ‎23 hours ago‎
Photo: Gail Ryall - Elementary school chorus from Agapeland School in Bakersfield sings at the demonstration ending the March for California's Future.

Tehama County Teachers take fight to Capitol
Red Bluff Daily News - ‎1 hour ago‎
California School Employees Association members from throughout Tehama County traveled to Sacramento April 21 to protest the state's continuous cuts to ...

Marching Across California to Restore the American Dream Ethiopian Review

AFSME’s blog  and  stories on the March

Education News:  4/27

AM Alert: Master plan and Maldonado's new job Sac Bee Capitol Alert
Education leaders are gathering at the Capitol to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Master Plan for Higher Education.
The plan, adopted in 1960, was intended to serve as a road map of sorts for providing accessible, affordable and high-quality education at the state's public colleges and universities, as well as set admissions requirements for the three tiers of colleges.

Grant Our Request
Daily Californian - ‎8 hours ago‎
By Senior Editorial Board As the California Master Plan for Higher Education turns 50, the immediate future of the state's public universities looks, ...

A common-sense educator
Los Angeles Times - ‎18 hours ago‎
In other words, if the governance structure for California schools made more sense, we wouldn't be endorsing a candidate for state superintendent.

Schwarzenegger education nomination appears in jeopardy
Los Angeles Times (blog) - ‎1 hour ago‎
In late March, Schwarzenegger tapped four people to fill vacancies on the statewide board, which helps set education policy for California.

Investing in the future with early childhood education
SDNN - Patty Chavez - ‎19 hours ago‎
But what is high quality early education and how do we get it implemented? And with California's budget deficit, what chances do early education programs ...

West Valley students cry, 'No more cuts!
San Jose Mercury News - Brian Babcock - ‎14 hours ago‎
The budget-cut rally, as it was deemed, went from noon to 5 pm and grew out of the "March in March" rally across California that drew thousands of ...

Potential layoffs loom for BCSD employees, teachers
KGET 17 - ‎2 hours ago‎
The Bakersfield City School District will consider cutting more classified positions due to budget problems Tuesday night.

High school district will test water for parcel tax
San Jose Mercury News - Judy Peterson - ‎14 hours ago‎
Board vice chairwoman Rosemary Rossi replied, "You're saying that you're taking a 3 percent cut ... but truly, what percent of the budget does each group

CUSD Teachers Back After Deal
Puggal Latest News and events - ‎3 hours ago‎
The Capistrano Unified School District and California Unified Education Association settled a deal at around 11:30 PM Monday and both parties were happy on ...

OC teachers negotiate late; low student attendance San Jose Mercury News

CMA president adds voice to call for education funds
Vallejo Times-Herald - Sarah Rohrs - ‎2 hours ago‎
California Maritime Academy President Bill Eisenhardt will join a throng of higher education officials today in Sacramento to

No room for error when transferring from community college
News10.net - ‎48 minutes ago‎
Sacramento City College student Tiffany Lang decided to look outside of California for higher education opportunities.

Test mandate may end for AP grades
San Diego Union Tribune - Maureen Magee - ‎10 hours ago‎
The program is likely to be cut from next year's budget. Question: Do you have to take that AP exam to get the weighted grade?

SB 955 represents radical change to CA teacher policies
San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - ‎Apr 26, 2010‎
... groups adamantly oppose the bill, which is supported by Governor Schwarzenegger, the California Charter Schools Association and Education Trust-West.

Kids Get a Chance to Try on Tech
California is placing a new emphasis on science and mathematics to prepare students for 21st century careers. In the second part of our series exploring math and science education, we visit a program in San Jose where students from low-income neighborhoods are getting turned on to technology. Reporter: K. Oanh Ha.

 
State News:

CFT/AFT In the News: 4/23-26

CFT/March for California’s Future:

March for California’s Future Strengthens Movement for Change  By Rachel Johnson
California Labor Federation
Thursday marked the end of a long journey for hundreds of devoted teachers, union members and community activists marching for a better future for California. The March for California’s Future began in Bakersfield on March 5, highlighting the need for quality public education and services, an effective and efficient state government and the return of fair and equitable taxes to California.

48-Day March Culminates in Sacramento Rally Against Budget Cuts 
Berkeley Daily Planet - Raymond Barglow  - ‎Apr 23, 2010‎
Thousands of protestors, including a group of marchers who had walked through California's Central Valley, held a rally in front of the state Capitol on ...
 
Thousands of Californians Missing--From the News 
Bay Area Indymedia - Margot Pepper - ‎Apr 24, 2010‎
At the Capitol Rally, Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), attributed California's woes to the absence of a ...

Education News: 4/23-26

Strikes in the Classroom
Tensions are high at school districts throughout the state as administrators grapple with running schools on squeezed budgets. One district in Orange County is already on strike, and Oakland teachers are threatening a walkout. Michael Kirtz, a professor of education at Stanford, warns more strikes might be on the horizon.

Superintendent's Corner: Underfunding of schools key issue 
Pasadena Star-News - Gary Woods
Visit our Education page for more articles and photos. There is no doubt California's public schools face calamitous cuts to many outstanding programs as a ...
 
Stories from the Road: Teacher Worried Recovery Won't Include Her 
Mon Apr 26, 2010 — A middle-aged Natomas teacher who’s working as a substitute this year after being laid off last year searches for work. It’s our latest “Story from the Road." Capitol Public Radio

College in California: Better, or More, or Other?
By Peter Schrag California Progress Report
By now it’s pretty clear that not only is the California’s 50 year-old Master Plan broken   but that the state’s whole higher education system faces a set of critical choices in direction, mission and funding:

Community College Tax On Ballot In San Mateo -- San Mateo County voters could soon become the first in California to approve a special parcel tax on property to help pay for community college education in the county. DANIEL WEINTRAUB in the New York Times  -- 4/26/10

California Weighs Longshot Bid For School Funds -- After coming in 27th out of 40 states the first time, California would have an uphill climb to win up to $700 million in the next round for federal Race to the Top education funds - an effort state officials could decide this week is a losing battle. JILL TUCKER in the San Francisco Chronicle   -- 4/26/10

Fensterwald: Trouble Ahead For New Stimulus Bill -- Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa has proposed spending an additional $23 billion to prevent thousands of teacher layoffs across the country. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org   -- 4/26/10

Pre-School Rating System Raises The Bar -- A preschool rating system modeled on one currently in use at South Bay schools may be implemented statewide. DOUGLAS MORINO in the Torrance Daily Breeze  -- 4/26/10

School Furloughs Leave Parents In The Lurch -- But faced with no-school days at unconventional times, parents are scrambling for child care, worrying about how their children will remember square roots and feeling left out of the decision-making. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury  -- 4/26/10
 
4/25/10

Layoff Reform Ripped; Teachers Say Bill Lifts Shield -- To Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and some education leaders, a bill by state Sen. Bob Huff, R-Walnut, is a common-sense measure aimed at helping school districts keep good teachers and more easily remove bad ones. JAMES RUFUS KOREN in the Inland Daily Bulletin   -- 4/25/10

Step Up Helps Pupils And District Catch Up -- By going to school four hours every Saturday, students are recapturing instructional time, teachers and staff are recapturing pay, and the district is recapturing funding it lost in average daily attendance, according to program coordinator Phil Urabe. MICHEL NOLAN in the San Bernardino Sun   -- 4/25/10

Lopez: Music Lessons Build Brainpower -- School districts cutting arts programs should first consider that playing an instrument activates neuro-pathways to facilitate learning. STEVE LOPEZ in the Los Angeles Times

4/24/10
 
Lausd Teacher Fired In Harassment Case After Two Years -- Thomas Shelden got his $73,500 annual salary but had no duties while the district investigated. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times 

State News: 4/23-26

Scandals Drive Democratic Pension Reforms -- As if their rising cost to state and local governments weren’t trouble enough, public pensions also face legislation cracking down on pension boosting, improperly influenced investments and real estate schemes that displace the poor. ED MENDEL Calpensions.com  -- 4/26/10

California Watch: California Companies Spend $66 Million Lobbying In First Quarter -- By far the largest spender, according to the data, was Pacific Gas & Electric Co., which dropped $25.8 million – nearly all of which was spent to support Proposition 16, which would require two-thirds of local residents to approve the creation of new electricity districts. The company has poured nearly $35 million into the campaign. CHASE DAVIS California Watch <http://www.californiawatch.org/watchblog/california-companies-spend-66-million-lobbying-first-quarter>  -- 4/26/10

Skelton: Watchdog Has Many Ideas For Cleaning Up Politics -- Ross Johnson, outgoing head of the state Fair Political Practices Commission, calls for sharper sanctions for libel in campaign ads and wants similar spending caps for candidates for statewide office. GEORGE SKELTON 
CFT/AFT In the News: 4/23

Time to take a serious look at Proposition 13
Morgan Hill Times - ‎17 hours ago‎
... studies at Ann Sobrato High School, has two children who attend schools in the district and is writing on behalf on the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers.

Public Education Party: It's time to seek solutions for budget crisis in ...
Daily Bruin - ‎10 hours ago‎
Bob Samuels, president of the University Council-American Federation of Teachers, noted that this burdens academic graduate students in two ways: They are ...

March for California’s Future:

THE BUZZ: UNION-BACKED MARCHERS PRESENT LAWMAKERS WITH $40 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL
Friday Apr 23, 2010
 Public employee-union backed marchers arrived at the Capitol this week after 48 days on the road from Bakersfield, presenting lawmakers with their ... read entire article

Staff, Students In State Capital Lobby Against Education Cuts
Daily Californian - ‎9 hours ago‎
"I hope this is the beginning of a movement to support education," Miller said. California is expecting an estimated $85 million in federal economic ...

Rallying Against Cuts to Public Services in California & Illinois
SEIU (blog) - ‎9 hours ago‎
Culminating a 365-mile, 48-day "March for California's Future," members of SEIU 721 and ULTCW joined a diverse coalition of labor, business, education and ...

California Budget Crisis Diaries: Bitter students take it to the Capitol
By Hoa Quach,  SDNN    
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Demonstrators calling for greater investment in public services march to the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 21, 2010. More than 2,000 people rallied to call on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers to stabilize the state's finances by lowering the two-thirds threshold for passing budgets, and imposing taxes on corporations and the wealthy.(Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

They marched 365 miles for a Moral Budget
Examiner.com - ‎Apr 22, 2010‎
SACRAMENTO—It was not clear yesterday if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was actually aware that he was being loudly and vociferously called to task on the front ...

Thousands March to State Capitol
KCBS - ‎Apr 21, 2010‎
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCBS) -- Thousands of students, teachers and parents marched to Sacramento Wednesday afternoon, demanding better funding for education. ...

Union marchers call for tax reform to solve state's budget woes
Central Valley Business Times - ‎21 hours ago‎
Union members and supporters who marched from Bakersfield to the state Capitol presented to lawmakers on Thursday a plan to solve California's $18.9 billion ...

Rally for Social Services at Capitol Ends 365-Mile March From Bakersfield – lots of photos
The Sacramento Press - Stephen Gillis - ‎Apr 21, 2010‎
Thousands of people from across California gathered at the Capitol to express their anger over ...

Education News:  4/23/10

Deep cuts proposed for Hayward schools; vote is next week
Daily Review Online - Eric Kurhi - ‎9 hours ago‎
For example, she said a district in Southern California that was taken over had its music and athletic programs cut to nearly nothing, and bus service were ...

Teachers Strike In Capistrano School District --- Hundreds of teachers walk picket lines in a labor dispute. Few incidents were reported; about 39% of students attended class. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/23/10

Fensterwald: Spending Flexibility, Yes, But At Whose Expense? -- In slashing education spending over the past two years, Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Legislature have given school districts more authority to choose how to spend their dwindling dollars. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 4/23/10

California Will Need One Million More College Grads -- The challenge for California is how to do more with less. That's the fundamental issue that underlies a Public Policy Institute of California report released today, which projects that in 15 years California will have 1 million fewer college-educated workers than our state's economy will need. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 4/23/10

UC, Cal State Should Make More Students Eligible For Admission, Study Says -- The report by the nonprofit Public Policy Institute of California recommends changes to the state’s 50-year-old Master Plan for Higher Education, which established admission guidelines for the University of California and the California State University systems. LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/23/10

Three-Year Bachelor's Degree Gains Popularity -- It can save students time and money, but the fast track isn't for everyone. The University of California is looking at ways to offer the option. LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/23/10

New CSU System Reality: Class Load Limits -- Students are signing up for fall classes, and on many California State University campuses they're bumping into new, tighter limits on the number of classes they can take. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee


State News: 

CFT/AFT In the News: 4/22/10

March for California’s Future

Lots of Photos in articles that follow/check LA Times for photo

48-Day “March for California’s Future” Reaches Finish Line
4/22/10
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - 48 days and 365-miles later, a diverse group of Californians has made its way to the state Capitol. The March for California's Future reached the finish line Wednesday. Thousands of supporters from around the state joined the core group of marchers that included a San Diego college professor, a Los Angeles probation officer and a Bay Area community organizer.

48-day march against more Calif. budget cuts ends
San Jose Mercury News - Judy Lin - ‎20 hours ago‎
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Activists calling for greater investment in public services ranging from schools to in-home health care ended a ...

Marchers look forward
Fresno Bee & Sacramento Bee  - ‎8 hours ago‎
... and Watsonville teacher Jenn Laskin celebrate the completion of the 48 Day March for California's Future on Wednesday at the Capitol.

Rally for Social Services at Capitol Ends 365-Mile March From Bakersfield
The Sacramento Press - Stephen Gillis - ‎11 hours ago‎
... our schools fail by forcing them to make Draconian cuts in their budgets," said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. ...

Thousands Continue to Fight Budget Cuts
City on a Hill Press - Patrick Rooney, Julie Eng - ‎5 hours ago‎
By Patrick Rooney & Julie Eng A diverse coalition of people walked the final mile of a 365-mile march in protest of state budget cuts to education on ...

Education News:  4/22/10

Local School Districts Dismiss Class-Size Reductions -- Remember class-size reduction – the push for classes of no more than 20 students per teacher that swept California public schools in the 1990s? DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/22/10

Fensterwald: All Agree On Value Of EAP -- Seven years ago, the California State University system developed a test in math and English language arts to help inform high school juniors whether they are on track to attend one of their campuses. The Early Assessment Program – EAP – has become a national model, and many high school students use the results in deciding whether to seek extra math and English help in their senior year. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 4/22/10

School Plans Raise Fears; Drastic Changes Coming To 11 Campuses -- Tension was high among employees of the San Bernardino City Unified School District on Wednesday, a day after trustees voted to overhaul 11 struggling schools and increase scrutiny of teachers. DEBBIE PFEIFFER TRUNNELL in the San Bernardino Sun -- 4/22/10

Budget cuts add to North County school jobs lost
San Diego Union Tribune - Bruce Lieberman - ‎9 hours ago‎
In the Vista Unified School District last week, the board of trustees eliminated 48 school support jobs. The cuts in both districts are part of a process in ...

Local school districts dismiss class-size reductions
Sacramento Bee - Diana Lambert - ‎9 hours ago‎
... that swept California public schools in the 1990s? The last two years of state budget cuts have sent the pendulum careening back in the other direction.

Summer school among district's trims
The Desert Sun - ‎8 hours ago‎
In addition to high school credit recovery, Desert Sands Unified will offer a prep class for the California High School Exit Exam that students must pass to ...

Your education, brought to you by...
San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - ‎18 minutes ago‎
California instructors spend an average of $430 a year out of pocket to support their students. Christine Van Ruiter, an East Oakland instructor at the EC ...

Cal State students petition to nix summer fee hike
San Jose Mercury News - ‎2 hours ago‎
A group of California State University students is asking an Alameda County judge to block university officials from charging more for summer and winter ...

Teachers union in OC to begin striking Los Angeles Times

An Open Letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger From Those Parents Who Made a Funny ...
Huffington Post (blog) - ‎21 hours ago‎
We also said the Governor's proposed budget would cut $2.5 billion in CA education dollars. Many estimate that number is closer to $2.6 billion.

Investment Policy Changes At California’s Public Pension Funds: Is Internal Reform Enough?  
By Christopher Lund in the California Progress Report
Following the introduction of AB 2337 (the Socially Responsible Investment Act) by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, CalPERS and CalSTRS recently proposed changes in their real estate investment policies with the goal of avoiding future investments in deals that rely, or result in, the displacement of residents in affordable housing, a practice commonly referred to as “predatory equity”.

State News: 4/22/10

Group names Schwarzenegger to its "worst" list Sac Bee Capitol Report
A Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group has listed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger among the nation's 11 "worst governors" in a new report.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a left-leaning organization, rebuked the Republican governor for several questionable actions throughout his tenure. It named nine Republican governors and two Democrats -- New York Gov. David Paterson and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson -- to its list.

The group criticized Schwarzenegger for activities such as relying on campaign and nonprofit funds to pay for his private air travel and Sacramento lodging. Schwarzenegger has said he uses outside donations so taxpayers do not bear such costs.

CFT/Affiliates In the News: 4/21/10

TUSD approves $2.35 million in budget cuts
The Turlock Journal - Maegan Martens - ‎10 hours ago‎
... Teachers Association, California School Employees Association, the Turlock Classified American Federation of Teachers and unrepresented employees, ...

March for California’s Future: 4/21/10

Showers possible for March for California's Future finale
Sacramento Bee - ‎1 hour ago‎

Education roundup: Skills Olympics, March for California's Future and more
Bakersfield Californian - ‎15 hours ago‎
From the blogs: Remember the group of educators and state employees who started the "48-day March for California's Future" here in Bakersfield last month? Well, on Tuesday they finished their 300-mile trek to Sacramento in protest of budget cuts.

In early March, the marchers rode buses from Los Angeles to Compassion Christian Center here, then went to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park before they started walking to the Capitol. They stopped and held rallies against cuts to education, among other things, at several cities during the trip.

The marchers include a community college professor, an adult educator, and several teachers. At noon Tuesday, they reached Sacramento State University.

Supporters can hop on a bus at 7 a.m. Wednesday outside Doubletree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court, and meet the marchers for their final mile.

Education News: 4/21/10

Opinion: Neediest schools should be able to keep their best teachers
San Jose Mercury News - ‎12 hours ago‎ -

Doesn't the California Legislature watch 'Glee'?
Los Angeles Times (blog) - ‎16 hours ago‎
The California Legislature is moving ahead on a foolish bill that says students who attend career and technical education high schools have to take all ...

Fensterwald: Still No Common-Core Appointments -- The decision of whether California should join other states in adopting common-core standards in math and English will have monumental impact on K-12 education. And yet neither the governor nor the Legislature has made any appointments to the 21-member commission that’s supposed to make the recommendation on common core to the State Board of Education by July 15. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 4/21/10

Schwarzenegger Backs Bill That Would Change Teachers' Dismissal Standards -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger threw his weight behind state legislation on Tuesday that proposes to give school administrators the ability to assign or fire teachers based on their effectiveness and to streamline the dismissal process. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/21/10

L.A. Unified OKs Deal To Shorten School Year -- Administrators have overwhelmingly approved a deal that would shorten the school year this year and next, officials announced Tuesday. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/21/10

San Juan Capistrano Teachers Set to Strike
KNX1070 - ‎2 hours ago‎
KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO is Southern California's most trusted and honored news radio station serving Los Angeles County / Orange County / Ventura County ...

Pavilion school budget would cut 9.5 positions
The Daily News Online - Roger Muehlig - ‎1 hour ago‎
Paterson's proposed budget cuts that would reduce state aid to the district by $755796, Ellison said. The staff reductions are a combination of job cuts and ...

TUSD approves $2.35 million in budget cuts
The Turlock Journal - Maegan Martens - ‎10 hours ago‎
The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees approved $2.3 million in budget cuts at their Tuesday meeting, despite comments made ...

State News: 4/21/10

Viewpoints: Majority votes would end budget mess
Sacramento Bee - Bill Lockyer - ‎8 hours ago‎
Every year, budget gridlock and the political games that surround it in Sacramento force me to issue dire forecasts about our state's ...

California’s Great Recession and the Costs of War  
By Zack Kaldveer - Consumer Federation of California - in the California Progress Report
California is on life support. Families are reeling from the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. The state’s social safety net - and the life sustaining services it provides - is needed now more than ever. But due to massive and ongoing budget deficits, rather than strengthening ...

Study: Economic Recovery 5 Years Away
Wed Apr 21, 2010 — Capital Public Radio -  The recession is over, according to a new economic forecast out Wednesday. But don’t expect to see a recovery anytime soon. 

CFT/AFT In the News: 4/20/10

MHUSD expects deficit to double by 2011
Morgan Hill Times - Lindsay Bryant - ‎17 hours ago‎
One possibility - reducing the school year by five days - would need to be negotiated among the Federation of Teachers since it would reduce their salaries.

March for California’s Future: 4/20/10

Viewpoints: Teachers trek to Capitol in bid to bring state back from brink
Sacramento Bee - Marty Hittelman - ‎10 hours ago‎
A Capitol protest rally is business as usual in Sacramento. There are demonstrations every day of the week. But the seven weeks prior to ...

Education supporters near finish of 365-mile march
Sacramento Bee - Melody Gutierrez - ‎1 hour ago‎
March for California's Future has made stops in dozens of cities along the way, including a layover Monday at Cosumnes River College.

Marchers trek over 300 miles to protest school cuts
News10.net - Karen Massie - ‎11 hours ago‎
The marchers admitted they were a bit tired but united in their message that state budget cuts have devastated California public schools and colleges.

Miller: Economic choices are moral choices
SDNN (blog) - Jim Miller - ‎51 minutes ago‎
Our broad coalition, which includes the California Federation of Teachers and other unions, leaders in labor, faith, education and business, ...

What's Happening at the Capitol
The Sacramento Press - Stephen Gillis - ‎10 hours ago‎
The organization will hold a rally, which will include music and speeches from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and California ...

BREAKING NEWS: Organizations join together to fight budget cuts
Cosumnes Connection (subscription) - Maria Zavala - ‎16 hours ago‎
Demonstrators from the "California Federation of Teachers" and "American Federation of Teachers" march, chanting against education budget cuts and tuition ...

Late news from 4/2/10 and 4/7/10

March for the future reaches Modesto
Register Pajaronian - Tarmo Hannula, Todd Guild - ‎Apr 7, 2010‎
... Kathleen Kilpatrick, Jack Carroll, Sarah Ringler and retired teacher Lucia Villareal joined PVFT marcher Jenn Laskin and Pajaro Valley Unified School ...

March for better California schools en route to Livingston today
Pleasanton Weekly - Jeb Bing - ‎Apr 2, 2010‎
Readers can follow the marchers through the Central Valley as they continue their 48‐day "March for California's Future. ...

Education News:  4/20/10

School Districts Warn of Even Deeper Teacher Cuts
New York Times - Tamar Lewin, Sam Dillon - ‎1 hour ago‎
Districts in California have pink-slipped 22000 teachers. Illinois authorities are predicting 17000 public school job cuts.

Two Salinas schools recognized as among best in state, but budget woes loom
The Salinas Californian - Scott Macdonald, Griselda Ramirez - ‎5 hours ago‎
The Santa Rita Union School District, home to New Republic, has announced it will lay off 16 teachers this spring as a result of state budget cuts, ...

Jurupa school board OKs shorter school year
Press-Enterprise - ‎12 hours ago‎
Because of California's budget crisis, the district needed cut $12.3 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Trustees already have approved about ...

Ceres school workers set for 8.5% pay cut
Modesto Bee - Ken Carlson - ‎10 hours ago‎
The teachers have said there is room for trimming the school district budget in other areas. In their view, the pay cut for administrators is misleading ...

End to Poway Busing?
San Diego 6 - Elex Michaelson - ‎10 hours ago‎
Therefore, in this era of budget cuts, the school board is looking at busing as a cost savings. Right now the district is trying to close a $24 million ...

Fensterwald: Cutting Through The Transfer Maze -- The failure of the community colleges and state four-year universities to agree on common transfer requirements creates tremendous waste and confusion. It has become one more factor discouraging students from pursuing a four-year degree. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 4/20/10

L.A. Study Affirms Benefits Of Preschool -- Gains at the L.A. Universal Preschool programs were especially significant for learners of English. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/20/10

Opinion: Henton:
San Jose Mercury News - Doug Henton - ‎14 hours ago‎
Last year, the state of California reduced spending on higher education by 18 percent while enrollment demand has been rising. As a graduate student at UC Berkeley, I had the opportunity to meet Clark Kerr, the former president of the University of California and architect of the Master Plan for Higher Education. Later, I conducted 

Educators: School success rides on community's support
The Desert Sun - ‎9 hours ago‎
Just as every class has different needs that teachers have to adjust for, every school is uniquely different. The difference between successful schools and ...

Higher Education and America's Economic Growth Huffington Post (blog)

What to do with 'persistently underperforming' schools?
San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - ‎11 hours ago‎
On April 20, the San Francisco Board of Education will convene a policy discussion to discuss the Superintendent's plans for our 10 schools labeled ...

 
State News:

 CFT/AFT In the News: 4/17 – 19

The March for California’s Future

Sac Bee Capitol Alert: 4/19/10
FINISH LINE: A group protesting cuts to education, public safety and public health concludes its 48-day march from Bakersfield to Sacramento with a rally at Cosumnes River College. Six marchers have been joined at times by as many as 50 local participants on the 365-mile trek.

Tax Day debate stirs up protesters
Ventura County Star - ‎Apr 18, 2010‎
The California Teachers Association touted its pending ballot measure that would repeal some big corporate tax loopholes that the Legislature and Gov. Meanwhile, the union-backed March for California's Future, which entered Sacramento County on Thursday and will arrive at the Capitol next week, ...

Education News:  4/19

Budget cuts erase summer school classes
The Desert Sun - ‎7 hours ago‎
Summer school programs have been slashed at Coachella Valley school districts - yet another victim of California's public school budget crisis.

Moreno Valley school district could cut 20 classified workers
Press-Enterprise - Laurie Lucas - ‎10 hours ago‎
Lorri Limoges-Kerns, president of the California School Employees Association, said the cuts affect a total of 39 positions for a savings of $1.2 million.

Superintendent's Corner: Feeling the budget crunch at Los Nietos
Whittier Daily News - Jonathan Vasquez - ‎12 hours ago‎
These teachers deserved better than to hear their superintendent testify that the state of California has reduced funding for the Los Nietos School District ...

Fensterwald: Bill Would End Layoffs By Seniority -- Proposals that Gov. Schwarzenegger made during his budget speech in January to weaken teacher tenure and seniority rights have finally taken bill form. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 4/19/10

Teacher Layoff Threat Brews Uncertainty At New Rancho Cordova School -- Next school year, students returning to Sunrise Elementary School in Rancho Cordova may recognize only half their teachers. DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/19/10

VISTA: VUSD teachers, administrators resume negotiations
North County Times - ‎16 hours ago‎
Revenue is declining for districts across California, as state officials cut education funding to deal with their own budget woes.

California charter schools draw bipartisan support, but fail to live up to the ...
California Independent Voter Network - Adrienne Verrilli - ‎2 hours ago‎
Last month, California placed the Stanford New School, a K-12 program created and supervised by Stanford University's School of Education, ...

Mercury News Editorial
San Jose Mercury News - ‎13 hours ago‎
California's politicians haven't shown much interest in regular old taxpayers' protests over the disastrous state of public schools.

4/18/10:

California's University System: What Went Wrong? -- Fifty years ago this month, California promised a low-cost, high-quality university education for every qualified high school graduate in the state. But that promise — inflated by growing populations and academic aspirations — expanded beyond the state's willingness to pay for it. LISA M. KRIEGER in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/18/10

Alan Pagano, Teaching and Learning: Merit pay for teachers
Santa Cruz Sentinel - ‎Apr 18, 2010‎
The National Education Association, for example, has opposed merit pay, while the United Federation of Teachers, at least in part, seems to support the idea ...

4/17/10:

California's university system: What went wrong?
San Jose Mercury News - ‎Apr 18, 2010‎ -

Special education a second chance for pink-slipped teachers
San Jose Mercury News - Katy Murphy - ‎Apr 17, 2010‎
On Wednesday, the California Teacher Corps announced that the state's alternative teacher certification programs would work with school districts to provide ...

State News: 4/19/10

For Democrats, It's All About November
KQED California Report 4/19/10
At this weekend's Democratic state party convention in Los Angeles, gubernational candidate Jerry Brown challenged his two Republican opponents to a debate -- even before the June primary decides which of them will face him. Without a major primary challenge on their side, Brown and other party activists have begun laying out their strategy for the general election. Reporter: John Myers. 

CFT/AFT In the News: 4/16

The March for California’s  Future: 4/16

Tax Day Rally as “March for California's Future” Nears Finish Line
Public News Service - ‎8 hours ago‎
Hundreds of firefighters, nurses, in-home care workers, students and police officers have participated in the 365-mile "March for California's Future.

Dan Walters: Tax debate heats up on Tax Day
San Luis Obispo Tribune - Dan Walters - ‎8 hours ago‎
Meanwhile, the union-backed March for California's Future, which entered Sacramento County on Thursday and will arrive at the Capitol next week, ...

Education News:  4/16

Capo Student Sickout Twice As Big As Initially Reported -- Capistrano Unified School District's mass student sickout Tuesday in protest of teacher pay cuts garnered nearly twice as many participants as previously reported, a disparity made clear after the district released updated attendance figures Thursday. An estimated 7,412 students participated in the sickout, up from the 3,882 figure reported Tuesday afternoon. SCOTT MARTINDALE in the Orange County Register -- 4/16/10

Increasing Number Of Students Will Face Shortened School Year -- The state's budget crisis is putting so much pressure on public school districts that some are being forced to trim the school year before school gets out this year. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 4/16/10

SJ State University to layoff dozens of staff

State News: 4/16

CDP Convention Preview: What's in Store for Democrats in LA
All Reports by Steven Maviglio – California Majority Report  April 15, 2010 @ 12:44 PM
Most of the reports by the news media this weekend will focus on whether Democrats are fired up to fend off Republican challenges this year. The answer, quite simply, is yes. Still, it is no secret to the activist base of the Democratic party that shows up at the convention that races up and down the ballot that were slam dunks in 2008 will be tough battles this year.

CFT/AFT In the News: 4/3-5

Union Organizing Campaign Heats Up at Los Angeles Film School
Concerns over faculty pay, benefits and students' classes have propelled a union organizing drive at the private Los Angeles Film School, where management is not pleased that a majority of staff want to join the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), AFL-CIO. truthout - ‎Apr 4, 2010‎

Prop 17 opponents use fools day spoof to mock Mercury Insurance, industry ...
Examiner.com - ‎Apr 4, 2010‎
... Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of California, Vote Vets, California Federation of Teachers, California Nurses Association, SEIU California State ...

Education Cuts Draw Local Protest
Berkeley High Jacket - Chloe Holden - ‎Apr 3, 2010‎
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers (BFT) is taking action against the cuts as well. Like students and employees in other areas, Berkeley's public school ...

Teachers union wades into superintendent fight
April 2, 2010 |  1:54 pm
The California Federation of Teachers, the state’s second-largest teachers union, has reported spending $132,000 on a slate mailer promoting Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) to be the state’s next superintendent of public instruction.

March for California’s Future: 4/2-5

Advisory Attached: Educators, Public Service Advocates to Continue 48Day March For California’s Future: Atwater, Livingston, Turlock, Modesto; Modesto Rally on Wednesday

Marcher Irene Gonzalez Revisits Childhood in Atwater & Livingston  
By Willie Pelote in the California Progress Report
Los Angeles probation officer and Central Vally émigré Irene Gonzalez, who is participating in a 48-day trek from Bakersfield to Sacramento to highlight the need for quality public services and education in California, revisited parts of her childhood when the March for California’s Future reached Atwater and Livingston this past weekend.  

Marchers against cuts hit Turlock
Modesto Bee - Marijke Rowland - ‎Apr 4, 2010‎
The California Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and other labor unions organized the statewide march ...

San Diego Professor, Students Make Halfway Point In Statewide March
KPBS - Ana Tintocalis - ‎Apr 2, 2010‎
The March for California's Future is about the need to restore and increase taxes to fund education and other services.

Off the 99 podcast: March for California's Future
Merced Sun-Star - ‎Apr 2, 2010‎
'Off the 99' takes a look at the March for California's Future, which came through Merced this week. A few rules are needed to help foster a feeling of ...
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/04/02/1372350/off-the-99-podcast-march-for-californias.html

March for better California schools en route to Livingston today
Pleasanton Weekly - Jeb Bing - ‎Apr 2, 2010‎
Readers can follow the marchers through the Central Valley as they continue their 48‐day "March for California's Future.

Education News:  4/3-5

Fensterwald: San Francisco State Removes Free-Speech-Zone Restrictions -- A national free-speech group is patting San Francisco State University on the back for getting rid of its free-speech zones – restrictions on where rallies and demonstrations could take place on campus. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 4/5/10

State’s STEM Plan Mediocre -- California is the source of America’s innovation in science and technology, and a slew of its companies, foundations, universities and non-profits are underwriting science and math education through science fairs, teacher training, new curriculums and all kinds of cool, interactive technologies. (That includes Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s Lessonopoly.) John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 4/5/10

Monterey County educators look for guidance: Chula Vista's students shine
Monterey County Herald - Claudia Meléndez Salinas - ‎1 hour ago‎
The district has 16 bilingual education programs, nine dual immersion programs and structured English immersion programs at its 44 schools.

Parents Rebel Over LAUSD's Transfer Curb -- Faced with the possibility that a strict new Los Angeles school district policy will force her daughter to attend Westchester High next year, Lynda Mitsakos has been shopping for homes in pricey Manhattan Beach. MELISSA PAMER in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 4/5/10

4/4:

State Universities Tap Student Fees For Unintended Projects -- While California universities have faced round after round of crippling budget cuts and protests against increased fees have flared on campuses, administrators have tapped funds meant for classrooms and students to cover some extraordinary costs: losses on ill-timed real estate deals, loans to high-ranking officials and an ambitious construction project. JACK DOLAN in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/4/10

4/3:

Community colleges like attention, need money
The Associated Press - Eric Gorski - ‎Apr 3, 2010‎
No longer the afterthought of higher education, the nation's 1200 community, technical and junior colleges enroll more than 6 million students - almost half ...

Union Fails To Restrict Charter Schools -- A lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles teachers union to block the city's school district from giving new campuses to charter schools was denied Friday by a Los Angeles County Superior Court  judge. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/3/10

UC, CSU Wait-Listing Students For The First Time -- California's public universities are using waiting lists this year for the first time, telling some top-notch students to wait two more months before they find out if they're in. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/3/10

UC Davis Students Protest Anticipated Sports Team Cuts -- Several hundred student athletes and their supporters marched across UC Davis on Friday, trying to save four or five men's and women's teams from the budget ax. STEPHEN MAGAGNINI in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/3/10

Capo Trustees: Illegal Student Protests Must Stop -- Capistrano Unified trustees said Friday they understand and respect the sudden groundswell of student activism at two district high schools in response to recent teacher pay cuts, but stressed that the walkouts cannot continue and disruptions to learning will not be tolerated. SCOTT MARTINDALE in the Orange County Register -- 4/3/10
http://www.ocregister.com/news/students-242435-school-teachers.html

State News: 4/3-5

 CFT/AFT In the News: 4/2/10

Prop 17 Opponents Welcome April With Fools Day Spoof
California Progress Report - Dan Aiello - ‎21 hours ago‎
... Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation of California, Vote Vets, California Federation of Teachers, California Nurses Association, SEIU California State ...

Education News:  4/2/10

Senator Pushes Power Plant, Threatens College District With Audit -- A state senator from Los Angeles – and candidate for superintendent of public Instruction – is demanding that a Bay Area community college stop fighting the planned construction of a natural gas power plant near campus. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 4/2/10

Fensterwald: Poizner The Teacher Is Sent To The Office -- Steve Poizner can’t catch a break. For his advocacy of tax cuts that would further punish public schools, he may not deserve one. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 4/2/10

College loans, no middleman
Los Angeles Times - ‎9 hours ago‎
... which cost anywhere from several thousand dollars a year for live-at-home commuters to $25000 a year for students at the University of California.

Immigrant Students and California Republicans
Inside Higher Ed - ‎9 hours ago‎
The Republican candidates for governor are making an issue of the California law that allows those who attended the state's high schools for three years and ...

Jaime Escalante's lesson for teachers
CNN - Ruben Navarrette Jr - ‎3 hours ago‎
San Diego, California (CNN) -- Jaime Escalante was ahead of his time. And today, more than 30 years after the Bolivian-born math teacher put East Los ...

State News: 4/2/10

California Lawmakers' Schedules Kept Private -- When California lawmakers prepare to take a key vote — say when deciding state spending or last year's $11 billion water bond — how often are they meeting with lobbyists, special interest groups or others who have a stake in the outcome? SAMANTHA YOUNG AP -- 4/2/10
 



MARCH EDUCATION NEWS:

CFT/Affiliates In the News: 3/31

POWAY: PUSD employees propose new union for classified workers
North County Times - ‎13 hours ago‎
... the Poway Federation of Teachers, and Service Employees International Union ---- and would remain neutral in the dispute and continue negotiating with ...

March for California’s Future In the News: 3/31

Miller: Not everyone is happy to see us march for education
SDNN (blog) - Jim Miller - ‎Mar 30, 2010‎
Our broad coalition, which includes the California Federation of Teachers and other unions, leaders in labor, faith, education and business, ...

Retracing Cesar Chavez's steps: Educators protesting state spending cuts
Merced Sun-Star - Jamie Oppenheim - ‎8 hours ago‎
According to the California Federation of Teachers, one of the groups supporting the measure and one of the main organizers of the march, the budget gets ...

Education News:  3/31

Cash-strapped schools face more cuts Vallejo Times-Herald

Stanislaus schools may lose millions more
Modesto Bee - J.N. Sbranti - ‎8 hours ago‎
The governor's Web site still contends his "2010-11 budget maintains funding for education at the same level year over year.

State considers additional sanctions for Alisal Union School District
Monterey County Herald - Claudia Meléndez Salinas - ‎12 hours ago‎
The meeting will take place at 5 pm at the California Department of Education in Sacramento, with several teleconference sites accessible to the public.

SD School Districts Turn To Parcel Tax To Offset Education Cuts
KPBS - Ana Tintocalis - ‎11 hours ago‎
SAN DIEGO - Public school districts up and down California are turning to a parcel tax as way to offset deep budget cuts.

CA Cuts Hurt Summer School Selections
KCBS - ‎2 hours ago‎
Even if the oil tax passed, it would not viewed as a panacea for the budget woes afflicting higher education in California.

Parents rally to fight school program cuts
Folsom Telegraph - Eric Laughlin - ‎2 hours ago‎
Parents also heard from leaders of the non-profit organization Support California Kids, a group born of parents and educators frustrated over education cuts ...

Action rally ignites demand for change
The Orion - Kelly Smith - ‎15 hours ago‎
Arnold Schwarzenegger has responded to the anger brought on by the cuts and has proposed to restore some of the money to the California State University ...

To fix schools, adults need to grow up
OCRegister - David Whiting - ‎20 hours ago‎
Educators and their supporters from Anaheim Elementary Education Association and Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association protest cuts to the education budget ...

State News: 3/31

CFT/AFT In the News: 3/30

March for California’s Future In the News: 3/30

Fight4California's Anna of Berkeley: 178 miles through Central Valley
Examiner.com - ‎17 hours ago‎
... attention to the need for California to uphold its standards and vision for a California future benefiting the children and the people of California.

Education News:  3/30

Getting More Grants To Needy Students
Part of the legislative package the President signed today reforms the way that student loans are made, moving them from private lenders to the Department of Education. Much of the savings will be channeled into the Pell grant program for delivery to low-income students, schools that focus on serving minorities and community colleges. But getting community college students in California to apply for Pell grants has been a tough sell. Reporter: Tara Siler. Capital Public Radio

Editorial: Concessions could save young teachers
Sacramento Bee - ‎9 hours ago‎

'Math wars' over national standards may erupt again in California
San Jose Mercury News - Sharon Noguchi - ‎9 hours ago‎
Neither does Ze'ev Wurman, a Palo Alto high-tech executive and former adviser to the US Department of Education. "Essentially we are giving up on the hope ...

As Race to the Top Winners Announced, Spotlight Now Turns to Losers
Newsweek (blog) - Patrice Wingert - ‎20 hours ago‎
As states got busy analyzing their results (as well as those of their competitors), the American Federation of Teachers, which represents teachers in most ...

Tennessee, Delaware win education grants
Los Angeles Times - Kim Geiger, Howard Blume - ‎16 hours ago‎
... students for careers and higher education. Reviewers dinged California for a data collection system that falls well short of federal expectations.

140 layoff warnings bound for nonteachers
Modesto Bee - J.N. Sbranti - ‎9 hours ago‎
The district acknowledged Monday that it has notified the California School Employees Association of its layoff plans. That union represents nearly 1300 ...

Palin's secret CSU speaking fee sparks outcry
San Francisco Chronicle - Nanette Asimov - ‎9 hours ago‎
Sarah Palin is expected to raise nearly $200000 for an appearance on a California State University campus in June. But the school foundation hosting the ...

Late release 3/29/10:

Sorting Out Prop 13's Impact On Education
KPBS - Maureen Cavanaugh, Natalie Walsh - ‎Mar 29, 2010‎
Prop 13 has had a profound impact on California. We'll examine the huge savings to property owners and the negative impacts on education. ...

State News: 3/30

With AB 2492, Ammiano Closes A $3.5 Billion Commercial Property Tax Loophole  
By Dan Aiello California Progress Report
The idea of a revision to the state’s property tax law - established with passage of Proposition 13 - is not new to Sacramento.  It was born, say revision proponents, with the post-Prop 13 realization that what defines a commercial property sale would not be the same as what defines a residential property sale. This legal definition created a corporate tax loophole unintended by the overwhelming number of California voters who supported the initiative.

Costly Redistricting Effort Continues to Struggle
All Reports by Steven Maviglio March 29, 2010 @ 9:33 AM
With only 1,500 of the 31,000 applicants for the Citizens Redistricting Commission returning their supplemental applications, the California State Auditor is once again extending deadlines in an attempt to save face for the troubled effort. The new deadline has been pushed back by two weeks until April 19th at 5 p.m. 

   

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