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CFT In the News:
5/31
Leave Prop. 13 – and business taxes – alone, group says
OCRegister (blog) - Teri Sforza - May 31, 2010
... Inc, the American Federation of State County Municipal Employees, the California Federation of Teachers, California School Employees Association, ...
5/30
Funding nurses in California schools; deaths in childbirth; Jonah Goldberg on ...
Los Angeles Times - May 30, 2010
The writer is president, California Federation of Teachers. Lopez should know, as a seasoned journalist, that the devil is always in the details.
Education News:
5/31
Bridging The Financial Aid Gap For Community College Students -- A new report from the College Board's new Advocacy and Policy Center offers a number of recommendations to help states and college systems get more federal financial aid in the pockets of community college students. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/31/10
Teachers Union May Not Sway Schools Chief Race -- For nearly three decades, California's largest teachers union has all but handpicked the candidate who went on to win the race for state superintendent of public instruction. JILL TUCKER in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/31/10
5/30
Community Colleges To Get Funds For Retraining -- President Obama's Bay Area visit last week highlighted his support for the green-tech industry, but for out-of-work Californians, the more important initiative may be the administration's little-noticed plan to give community colleges $2 billion in retraining funds over the next four years. TOM ABATE in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/30/10
Mother’s Eyes See Trouble With Tax Rolls -- Jennifer Bestor is a fifth-generation Republican, a stay-at-home mother from Menlo Park who was concerned about budget cuts at her son’s school. So she started looking into the property taxes that underwrite the schools. What she found disturbed her. DANIEL WEINTRAUB in the New York Times -- 5/30/10
5/29
L.A. Teachers Union Rejects Contest For Federal School-Reform Grant -- The Los Angeles teachers union won’t sign the state’s application for federal Race to the Top school-reform grants, diminishing the state’s chances of claiming up to $700 million in grants tied to specific, but controversial reform strategies. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/29/10
After 40 Years, Give Or Take A Few, Chicano Commencement Endures -- Tony Quintero remembered the wailing cry of a friend's mother as a dozen or so defiant Chicano graduates walked out of San Jose State's main graduation ceremony a generation ago. "No!" the woman cried, begging her son to stay seated. "Don't give up your degree!" JOE RODRIGUEZ in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/29/10
State News:
5/31
Election 2010: What the Polls Are Saying
KQED, California Report
Skelton: To Balance The Budget, Cut And Tax -- Everything's in place for the annual legislative battle, but in the end, the state will need more revenue. GEORGE SKELTON in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/31/10
Education News: 5/28
Fensterwald: Layoffs scaring off future teachers -- Many of the 26,000 teachers in California who got pink slips in March may have their jobs back by August, if their colleagues agree to furloughs or give-backs and if districts pass parcel taxes next month and come up with other savings. Los Angeles Unified alone has rescinded two-thirds of the 3,100 layoff notices it issued two months ago. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 5/28/10
L.A. Unified faces tough task in selling parcel tax -- Turnout for the June 8 primary is expected to be low and trend old and Republican. But backers maintain hope and say the emergency is dire. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/28/10
Many English learners still struggle with the language, study shows -- Nearly 60% in California high schools are not proficient despite more than six years of a U.S. education. Flaws in the English-language programs could imperil the state's economic future, report says. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/28/10
Natomas Unified closes all 8 elementary school libraries -- Is it the end of an era, or just a blip on the education budget radar? Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/28/10
Stanford budget on the mend -- Stanford University's quick response to the economic downturn has put the university back on solid financial footing, provost John Etchemendy told faculty at a Thursday meeting. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/28/10
Palin to get $75,000 for Cal State Stanislaus speech -- Two Cal State sources disclose the amount, which is not confirmed by officials. Her appearance has brought much attention to the Turlock campus. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/28/10
School Beat: A Lawsuit for Adequate Education Funding, Proposition 13 and More
by Lisa Schiff‚ May. 27‚ 2010
The lawsuit California public school supporters have been waiting for is finally here. Last Thursday a coalition of individuals, school districts (including the San Francisco Unified School District) and educational organizations announced the filing of the California School Finance lawsuit, which has the goal of entirely refashioning public education funding in California.
Why is SFUSD signing on to Race to the Top?
05.27.10 Tim Redmond
The Obama administration, to its credit, is actually paying attention to, and putting money into, urban public education. But Arne Duncan, the education secretary, is using some of the money to push a broad agenda that, frankly, drives me nuts and undermines a lot of what public education ought to be about.
CFT In the News: 5/27
Santa Rosa Press Democrat Wednesday's Letters to the Editor
Published: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 3:00 a.m.
Gary Ravani's letter to ed at Santa Rosa Press Democrat on Torlakson
over Romero
School Beat: A Lawsuit for Adequate Education Funding, Proposition 13 and More ...
Beyond Chron - Lisa Schiff - 5 hours ago
Notably absent are either of the statewide teachers unions, the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers.
Education News: 5/27
The Latest on State Cuts in Education and Services
Huffington Post (blog) - 12 minutes ago
California, Michigan, and Mississippi have made significant cuts to school aid. Hawaii cut 17 days from the current school year, furloughing teachers.
State budget proposals push PVUSD into the red; business officials urges board ...
San Jose Mercury News - Donna Jones - 11 hours ago
California school districts must adopt budget for the coming year by June 30, and the spending plans must be balanced three years out.
Upping the ante
Pasadena Weekly - Edwin Diaz - 2 hours ago
PUSD manages a leaner operation than most California school districts, allocating less than 5 percent of its budget to administration.
Central School District try for $2.3M infusion fails
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Canan Tasci - 11 hours ago
The 2010-11 budget also includes about $1.8 million in ongoing savings. "Everyone is also looking at ways to increase their income, and in a school district ...
Without Good Schools, Business Is Doomed
In the California Progress Report
By Robert Cruickshank
The San Francisco Chronicle's article on the Alameda parcel tax for schools vote posits a false choice. The article by Carolyn Jones makes it sound as if Alamedans have to decide between their schools and their businesses. In reality, the choice is between good schools and strong businesses on the one hand, and bad schools and declining business on the other:
Revealing Hidden Inequities in School Districts
Center For American Progress - 1 hour ago
Russlynn Ali, who studied this problem in California schools before joining the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, joined other experts ...
Report: Percentage of high-poverty schools rises
The Associated Press - Christine Armario - 1 hour ago
Louisiana, New Mexico, the District of Columbia and California were also pointed out as having higher percentages of low income elementary schools.
Investing in higher education is a win-win
Los Angeles Times - Charles B. Reed - 9 hours ago
Currently, higher education gets less than 60% of the state funding that prisons get. In the last year alone, the California State University lost 21% of ...
UC system wait-lists 10000 top students
abc7.com - 11 hours ago
The state legislature is looking at the California Master Plan for Higher Education because lawmakers are concerned the state isn't living up to its promise ...
Fensterwald: Is CALPADS Unfixable? No Answer Yet -- State education officials expressed deep disappointment last week on learning that California was out of the running for money to expand the statewide student data system. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/27/10
California College Grads Head Overseas -- College graduates discouraged by the tight job market are finding creative ways to pad their résumés until the economy improves: Many are leaving the country to find adventure – and work. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/27/10
Editorial: Romero the best choice for superintendent of public instruction
San Jose Mercury News - 13 hours ago
The primary election for California's superintendent of public instruction is a microcosm of the national battle over education reform.
The Latest on State Cuts in Education and Services
Huffington Post (blog) - 12 minutes ago
California, Michigan, and Mississippi have made significant cuts to school aid. Hawaii cut 17 days from the current school year, furloughing teachers.
State News:
Political Endorsements for Sale
As election day approaches campaigns are bombarding voters with all kinds of messages intended to win their support. One method of political persuasion might not be exactly what it seems. Reporter: Scott Shafer.
Budget Posturing Could Portend A Prolonged, Standoff -- Analysis - The battle lines have been drawn for this summer’s budget fight, with Senate Democrats touting plans for new tax increases and cuts and Assembly Democrats unveiling an elaborate budget maneuver that leads to new taxes on oil production and virtually no cuts to the state’s safety net. The trick, now, is figuring out which pieces of these proposals - and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s May budget revision - are real. ANTHONY YORK in Capitol Weekly -- 5/27/10
CFT/Affiliates In the News: 5/26/10
Opinion: As rising tide of inequality drowns education, don't blame...
San Jose Mercury News - Marty Hittelman - 9 hours ago
... tune of billions of dollars each year that go into their pockets, not into education. California's public school system was once the envy of the nation.
Karno would draw on teaching, law experience if elected in 53rd Assembly
Daily Breeze - Kristin S. Agostoni - 13 hours ago
... the California Federation of Teachers and International Longshore and Warehouse Union's Southern California District Council - has sought to distinguish ...
School district employee negotiations stalled
The Turlock Journal - Maegan Martens - 12 hours ago
Negotiations started with the TTA, the California School Employees Association, the Turlock Classified American Federation of Teachers and unrepresented ...
Education News: 5/26/10
Visalia English-learner students get mixed results on test
Visalia Times-Delta - Victor Garcia - 6 hours ago
According to a California Department of Education news release, students who are considered proficient are placed in the advanced or early advanced ...
Teachers lobby lawmakers to protect school funding San Jose Mercury News
AG Hopeful Torrico Says He'd Sue Legislature For Equal School Funding -- Assemblyman Alberto Torrico doesn't have the prominence or the campaign cash of his chief rivals in the Democratic primary race for attorney general. DAN SMITH and KEVIN YAMAMURA in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/26/10
Legislative panel focuses on college transfers
Sacramento Bee - Laurel Rosenhall - 24 minutes ago
The legislative committee that has been reviewing California's Master Plan for Higher Education continues its work this afternoon,
California's Deal With Kaplan
Inside Higher Ed - 10 hours ago
Kaplan's California Education Assistance Programs give associate-degree students at California community colleges with which Kaplan has an articulation ...
Colorado education law may mark a national shift
Los Angeles Times - May 22, 2010
And although teachers unions opposed the legislation in Colorado, the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, in an unexpected twist, ...
Fensterwald: Hour Of Decision For Low-Performing Schools -- With the June 1 deadline looming for school districts to apply for dollars for chronically poor-performing schools, the state hasn’t heard from the U.S. Department of Education whether it’s getting any money to actually pass around. That unanswered question has added uncertainty to what’s already a been tense process for districts. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/26/10
UCLA Students Memorialize 1969 Black Panther Slayings -- The site of a fatal shooting of two UCLA students in 1969 has never been marked. History students obtained plaques in the victims' honor, one of which will be posted in the Campbell Hall classroom. LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/26/10
State News: 5/26/10
Assembly Democrats Propose Different Budget Fix
Democrats in the state Assembly have delivered their alternative to the Governor's budget proposal with its deep cuts to social and educational programs. Instead, they suggest a long-term loan combined with a tax hike for oil companies.
Walters: Democrats Play For Time On Budget -- The Legislature's Democratic leaders, after months of hoping against hope that the state budget deficit would magically disappear, have finally returned to their ideological roots, proposing new taxes and new borrowing to avoid deep spending cuts. DAN WALTERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/26/10
CFT In the News: 5/25
Ben Boychuk: Time to reform teacher tenure in California
Los Angeles Daily News - 13 hours ago
The California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers hate the bill. They say SB 955 "scapegoats teachers during bad economic times" ...
Education News: 5/25
CSU Schools Report Low 6-Year Graduation Rates
POSTED: 7:27 pm PDT May 24, 2010
SAN DIEGO -- With budget cuts and furloughs, less than half of California State University system students are graduating after six years of college.
Fensterwald: Unions Again Balk At Race To The Top -- The six districts leading the state’s second round Race to the Top application were able to recruit nearly 100 other districts and 200 charter schools to the cause. They failed, however, persuade their own teachers unions to sign the application. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/25/10
Walters: Lawsuit Moves School Duel To New Level -- California's perpetual public debate over the sad condition of its K-12 schools entered a new and potentially climactic phase last week when a coalition of education groups filed a lawsuit alleging that the entire 6 million-student system is unconstitutional. DAN WALTERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/25/10
CSU Presidents Urge Passage Of Governor's Budget Plan -- College presidents from the 23 campuses in the California State University system were at the Capitol on Monday, lobbying for their share of the state budget. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/25/10
Bidders Can Vie For Eight Schools, Including L.A. High; Charter Schools File Lawsuit -- Eight low-performing Los Angeles-area schools and nine new campuses will be open to bids from groups inside and outside the school system, officials announced Monday. The winning bidders would take over management of these schools in the fall of 2011. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/25/10
Mayor's Fiancee Brings Tough-On-Education Talk To Sacramento -- Controversial education reformer Michelle Rhee brought her get-tough-on-education stance to Sacramento on Monday, saying schools need to be run like Fortune 500 companies, but with student achievement replacing capital. MELODY GUTIERREZ in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/25/10
Small Stockton Teachers College Is All About Education Innovation -- A small college in Stockton is an unlikely hotbed of education reform, teaching educators the latest skills promoted by President Barack Obama and national experts. DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/25/10
Ratings: Coming Soon To A Preschool Near You -- Walk into the preschool on the Grossmont College campus and you might see toddlers gamboling around a cushy couch, playing hide-and-seek and shrieking. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/25/10
Californians Say Don't Cut Our Schools
In the California Progress ReportBy Rupa Dev New America Media
An overwhelming majority of Californians think not enough state funding is going to their public schools and that K-12 education is the area they most want to protect from spending cuts, according to a recent survey.
Lindhurst ROTC instructors resign ahead of possible cuts
Appeal-Democrat - Ryan McCarthy - 10 hours ago
... program at Lindhurst High School are resigning their positions and will not return next school year for the program that may end because of budget cuts.
Prop 16: Ugly Use, but Not Abuse, of California's Initiative Process, Say Experts
In the California Progress Report By Dan Aiello
There's no doubt that Proposition 16 on California's June Primary ballot is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and with millions at its disposal to buy the deceptive yarn combined with state law forbidding public utilities from responding to the attack, Pacific Gas and Electric has frustrated consumer rights advocates who are calling its effort a shameful abuse of the state's initiative process. “This year, we are seeing growing concern in what’s happenings with funding and resource issues in California and how this will affect local schools,” said Sonja Petek of the PPIC...
Cal State Fights Release Of Documents On Palin Speech -- University seeks dismissal of suit, saying that appearance by former Alaska governor was arranged through a private foundation. Critics charge that foundation and university have comingled roles. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/25/10
State News: 5/25
Democrats Propose $4.9 Billion Tax Package -- Senate Democrats unveiled a $4.9 billion tax increase package Monday, saying that without new revenue California would be forced to make program cuts that they consider unacceptable. DAN WEINTRAUB HealthyCal.org JUDY LIN AP -- 5/25/10
CFT In the News:
UC Regents attempt to save $500 million
Highlander Newspaper - 10 hours ago
Bob Samuels, president of the UC-American Federation of Teachers, stated that the University's employees would have a keen eye “to see whether the ...
Education News:
5/24:
State Again Denied Education Stimulus Funds -- It was bad enough that California, with a population of 36.9 million, was rejected by the Obama administration in its request for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal education Race to the Top funds. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/24/10
Mayor Johnson Seeks More Clout In Sacramento Education -- Before he was mayor of Sacramento, former NBA player Kevin Johnson was a star in the national charter school movement. MELODY GUTIERREZ and RYAN LILLIS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/24/10
Vallejo schools' English learners becoming English proficient
Contra Costa Times - 9 hours ago
Almost 40 percent of 1.3 million California students tested scored in those ranges, according to the California Department of Education.
Teacher hiring, firing key issue in superintendent race
Daily Breeze - Christina Hoag - 12 hours ago
With thousands of California teachers facing the threat of layoffs, dealing with the state's persistent budget deficit has emerged as ...
Organizing your career from unemployed teacher to what the market will bear or ...
Examiner.com - 17 hours ago
Upscale suburban districts are preparing for layoffs of teachers. It's not only in Sacramento or the rest of California. It's nationwide.
5/23
Cash-strapped districts cutting summer school
The Associated Press - Heather Hollingsworth - May 23, 2010
Across the country, districts are cutting summer school because it's just too expensive to keep. The cuts started when the recession began and have worsened ...
Schrag: Lawsuit Is Risky, But It May Help Focus School Funding -- Nobody should be surprised by the big school funding lawsuit that hit the state Thursday – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, its chief target, least of all. PETER SCHRAG in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/23/10
Cal State System's Ban On Studying In Tijuana Draws Protest -- University-sponsored activities there are frozen because of drug war violence. Students, faculty and Baja California officials say the policy is based on a distorted perception of the city. RICHARD MAROSI in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/23/10
Colorado Education Law May Mark A National Shift -- The law ties teachers' job reviews to the performances of their students on achievement tests. Similar legislation is pending in other states; federal dollars may be at stake. ELIZA KRIGMAN in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/23/10
Federal Funds Help Schools Make Ends Meet — For Now -- Coachella Valley school districts last year received a combined $45.8 million in federal stimulus funds, part of which was used to save or add nearly 240 jobs this school year, including about 180 teaching jobs. MICHELLE MITCHELL in the Desert Sun -- 5/23/10
5/22
Few UC Applicants On Waiting Lists Offered Spots -- Of the more than 10,000 put on the lists for the fall, fewer than 2,000 are offered enrollment — and only for campuses in Davis or Santa Barbara. LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/22/10
Parents Fight How Schools Assigned -- A group of San Francisco parents is hoping to take the fight over the school assignment system to the ballot box this fall, starting a petition drive that would require the district to let students attend the school closest to home. JILL TUCKER, RACHEL GORDON in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/22/10
Students Show English-Language Proficiency Over Time -- Schools in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties this year did not increase the percentage of English learners scoring at advanced performance levels. CANAN TASCI in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/22/10
Pay raises for Marin school administrators raise fury
Contra Costa Times - Rob Rogers - May 22, 2010
Our teachers are scraping to get by as it is." Analyst Ron Bennett disputes that argument, saying most California school administrations are far from ...
State News:
5/23
Walters: Slow Recovery May Bring California To A Spending Crisis -- Has California's recession-wracked economy finally touched bottom and begun to recover? DAN WALTERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/23/10
5/22
Courts Quash Cuts, Add To State's Budget Woes -- Courts in recent years have crushed attempts by California to cut spending by billions of dollars and have forced the state to spend hundreds of millions more than planned. MARISA LAGOS in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/22/10
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/22/MN9C1DI02D.DTL
CFT In the News: 5/21
Be informed, vote Allen
Napa Valley Register - 10 hours ago
There are over 600 endorsements from individuals, community leaders and elected officials, plus 50 organizations including California Federation of Teachers ...
Education News: 5/21
State Faces Multiple Suits of Failure to Adequately Fund Schools
By David M. Greenwald – In the California Progress Report
Given the state of California's economy and cutbacks to education, perhaps it is not surprising that several different groups are threatening to sue. On Thursday a lawsuit was filed in Alameda County by the California School Boards Association, the Association of California School Administrators, and the California State PTA.
Californians Sue to Restore School Funding
A coalition of students, parents and education groups, including nine school districts, filed suit yesterday. They are arguing that the state must boost education funding by billions of dollars to conform to a guaranteed standard of education contained in the California Constitution. Reporter: Tara Siler KQED California Report
Cal State Lost 10% Of Teaching Force, Union Says -- There were about 2,500 fewer faculty members this month than last May on the 23 campuses, the equivalent of 1,230 full-time positions. On at least one campus the data didn't reflect recent hires. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/21/10
Sacrificing educated workforce won't help
San Francisco Chronicle - Henry T. Yang - 15 hours ago
The institute's report was written before the state's radical $2.25 billion, 20 percent cut to higher education forced California Community Colleges, ...
Merced Sun-Star
Thousands rally for saving education in CA
KGET 17 - 16 hours ago
Thousands gathered throughout the state tonight and here at home to put pressure on Sacramento to stop further education cuts.
Rules would cut federal aid to for-profit colleges
The Associated Press - Eric Gorski - 19 hours ago
The US Department of Education is expected to issue new proposed regulations in the coming weeks, working off an earlier blueprint released in January.
States Make Huge Education Cuts Across the US
CBS News - 18 hours ago
Tens of thousands of teachers across the nation have already lost or may soon lose their jobs due to state budget cuts as a result of the recession.
School districts poised to cut classified staff
Redlands Daily Facts - Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell - 16 hours ago
In Fontana, where district officials are also dealing with $30 million in budget cuts for the coming school year, the number of classified employees ...
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Bill requires diversity in Calif. pension funds
The Associated Press - Cathy Bussewitz - 15 hours ago
California's Public Employees' Retirement System, which is known as CalPERS, and the State Teachers' Retirement System, known as CalSTRS, hire external ...
State News: 5/21
PPIC May 2010 Poll Shows Californians Want Democrats and Higher Taxes
By Robert Cruickshank – In the California Progress Report
PPIC is out with its May 2010 poll, and boy is it a doozy. It shows improving numbers for Democrats, confirms the collapse of Meg Whitman's lead, and perhaps most important of all, leaves absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Californians want higher taxes instead of spending cuts.
CFT In the News: 5/20
Local college district braces for more students, fewer services
Ventura County Reporter - Shane Eli Cohn - 1 hour ago
What has those like Baker and the Local 1828 of American Federation of Teachers perplexed is that even after the recent cuts and setbacks, ...
UC seeks $500 million in administrative, purchasing and energy savings
Los Angeles Times - Larry Gordon - 12 hours ago
Bob Samuels, a UCLA lecturer who is president of UC- American Federation of Teachers, which represents more than 4000 lecturers and librarians, ...
Education News: 5/20
Tulare County education workers protest cuts
Visalia Times-Delta - Victor Garcia - 4 hours ago
“We're trying to get across to Connie Conway and all the Legislature to stop cutting education,” said Ferral Hubbard, a retired California School Employees ...
Sacramento, Calif., Schools Face Bankruptcy: Report
Wall Street Journal - Stan Rosenberg - 17 hours ago
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The Sacramento City Unified School District in California could go broke if its teachers ...
Pomona Unified sends 260 layoff notices
San Bernardino Sun - Monica Rodriguez - 12 hours ago
... Tuesday night to send layoff notices to 209 members of the Associated Pomona Teachers and 57 members of the California School Employees Association.
Sacramento County grand jury presses teachers to negotiate Modesto Bee
Demonstrators rally to protest K-12 school cuts -- in Merced and statewide Merced Sun-Star
South Bay schools relieved, anxious over budget cuts
San Jose Mercury News - Sharon Noguchi - May 14, 2010
"I'm glad it's not worse," said Ann Jones, chief budget official of San Jose Unified School District, even as she recited the list of cuts the district ...
California School Reform Shouldn't Look Like This
Jakada Imani - The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, in the Calif. Progress Report
The California State Department of Education recently released student performance rankings based on standardized tests. In the suburban Pleasanton school district, every single school scored in the top 20 percent statewide. In the city of Oakland, however, 50% of our schools received the lowest possible rank.
Fensterwald: Litigation Alert: Major Funding Suit To Be Filed Today -- The long-anticipated suit challenging California’s meager education funding will be formally announced and filed today. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/20/10
CSU Summer Fee Hikes OK, Judge Rules -- The California State University system can charge students an extra fee for summer classes, an Alameda Superior Court judge ruled this week. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/20/10
UC Plans To Cut Administrative Waste By $500 Million -- University of California officials laid out a plan Wednesday to restructure administrative practices in hope of saving $500 million. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/20/10
State News: 5/20
Schwarzenegger’s Values on Clear Display in May Revise
By Willie Pelote, AFSCME, In the California Progress Report
Before unveiling his 2010-2011 budget revision last week, Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he believed the state budget should be “a reflection of what we in California value most and also it should be a representation of what our administration stands for, in good times or in bad.”
CHART: Comparing Leading Candidates For Governor --Whitman, Poizner, Brown in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/20/10
CFT In the News: 5/19
Teacher unions and charter school advocates square off over election
Los Angeles Times - Howard Blume - 14 hours ago
The contest for state schools superintendent has unleashed a battle between unions backing one candidate and charter ...... championed reforms opposed by both the California Teachers Assn. and the California Federation of Teachers, the state's two major teacher unions.
North Monterey County schools might end academic year early
The Salinas Californian - Griselda D. Ramirez - May 18, 2010
Dean Lines, president of the California Federation of Teachers Local 4008, said an unfair labor practice had been filed against the school district, ...
Education News: 5/19
Candidates for schools chief in California differ on reforms
TheReporter.com - 8 hours ago -
A Day of Action for Schools
NBC San Diego - Nicole Ward - 3 hours ago
The group asked elected officials to sign commitment cards to show their commitment to funding education in California. "On May 19, we are going to announce ...
Chula Vista Teachers Keep Jobs But Others Not So Lucky
KPBS - Ana Tintocalis - 2 hours ago
Jim Groth is with the California Teachers Association. He's also a teacher in Chula Vista. "Obviously it's good news for the students of Chula Vista because ...
Many Jobs Saved By EGUSD Contract KCRA Sacramento
Off to college? Several factors conspire to make it difficult to sign up at ...
Merced Sun-Star - Jamie Oppenheim - 7 hours ago
Greg Soto, a Merced College counselor, said that at least five students were accepted into University of California schools or CSUs, but opted to attend ...
Californians rally throughout state Wednesday to stop education budget cuts
Santa Rosa Press Democrat - 18 hours ago
Local school union workers, educators and concerned citizens who oppose the State's education budget cuts will be joining Californians protesting in ...
Fensterwald: Massachusetts Leads, California Lags -- California likes to be linked with Massachusetts as states with the nation’s most rigorous academic standards. Call it bragging by association. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/19/10
College Bound, DNA Swab In Hand -- Instead of the usual required summer-reading book, this year’s incoming freshmen at the University of California, Berkeley, will get something quite different: a cotton swab on which they can, if they choose, send in a DNA sample. TAMAR LEWIN in the New York Times -- 5/19/10
Lopez: This Schools Tax Is A Bargain -- For just $8.33 per household a month, voters could save hundreds of L.A. Unified teachers' jobs and help preserve arts education in elementary schools. STEVE LOPEZ in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/19/10
State News: 5/19
California Legislative Analyst Backs Targeted Tax Increases -- Disagreeing with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's nonpartisan legislative analyst Tuesday recommended imposing targeted tax increases rather than killing the state's welfare program and child care subsidies. JIM SANDERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/19/10
Another Study Shows Costs Of Schwarzenegger's Proposed Cuts -- Here's another tool Democrats are sure to use as they fight the governor's proposed budget: a study by an independent research group that determined his proposal to ax all funding for Adult Day Health Care would actually cost the state $51 million next fiscal year, even when you factor in the proposed savings. MARISA LAGOS in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/18/10
CFT In the News: 5/18
Educator’s Response: Budget Cuts Mean Thousands of Teachers Lost
By Marty Hittelman, California Federation of Teachers in the California Progress Report
As President of California Federation of Teachers (CFT), I vow to continue CFT’s campaign, the “Fight for California’s Future,” as an alternative to the governor’s position that we have no choice but to further reduce important social programs. Lost tax revenue due to loopholes for the rich and large corporations is costing the state's general fund billions of dollars every year. Governor Schwarzenegger is leaving a clear legacy – a legacy of saying one thing and doing the opposite. In January, he claimed he was not going to cut education, and in May he proposes to cut it by $2 billion. How does that protect education?
Education News: 5/18
University Of California Plans To Slash Spending -- The University of California was set to unveil plans for a sweeping financial and administrative overhaul that could reduce annual operating expenses by more than $500 million, as the much-scrutinized public university system moves to deal with a widening budget shortfall. CARI TUNA in the Wall Street Journal -- 5/18/10
Fensterwald: Now Or Never To Sign Race To Top MOU -- A 19-page memorandum of understanding for signing up for round 2 of Race to the Top went out Monday. District, county offices of education and charter schools will have only until Wednesday to indicate whether they’re in or out. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/18/10
UC Santa Cruz students announce plans for protest near Amgen race route
San Jose Mercury News - Bonnie Horgos, Megha Satyanarayana - 3 hours ago
... describing a situation where California's gap between the rich and poor, coupled with the boom of the private loan industry, has put higher education ...
Sunday View - EducationŠwho needs it?
Ukiah Daily Journal - Karen Rifkin - 6 hours ago
So far this year more than 29000 pink slips have been issued to California educators in response to the $17 billion that has been cut from education funding ...
Save Public Education Rally this Wednesday May 19, 2010 in Downtown Oxnard Ventura County Star
Op-Ed: Cuts to Education
The Stanford Daily - 13 hours ago
The cuts to the California education budget have not only resulted in the loss of jobs, but real day-to-day effects for the lives of many students, ...
Oakland judge denies attempt to lower CSU summer, winter fees San Jose Mercury News
San Marino turns to private donations to avoid teacher layoffs Pasadena Star-News
North Monterey County schools might end academic year early The Salinas Californian
Donations help school district avoid layoffs
San Jose Mercury News - 7 hours ago -
Saunders: Starving For Attention At UC Berkeley -- When some 20 UC Berkeley students announced on May 3 that they were launching a hunger strike to protest the new Arizona immigration law, they also issued a set of "demands." DEBRA J. SAUNDERS in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/18/10
The Teachers' Unions' Last Stand
New York Times - 2 hours ago
State News: 5/18
LAO to lawmakers: Don't kill welfare, child-care subsidies – Sac Bee Capitol Alert
California's nonpartisan legislative analyst recommended Tuesday that California lawmakers reject Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposals to eliminate the state's welfare program and state subsidies for child care.
"Some of the most severe cuts proposed by the governor could be avoided by adopting selected revenue increases," Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor said in a report analyzing the governor's budget plan.
Schwarzenegger slaps Legislature for gridlock, dysfunction
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized California's Legislature and political system Tuesday as dysfunctional, gridlocked and hyperpartisan, continuing a theme likely to be trumpeted in the public relations war over bridging a $19.1 billion budget shortfall. Sac Bee 5/18/10
Out-of-district donors furnish bulk of legislators' campaign cash Sac Bee 5/18/10
State legislators rely largely on donors outside their districts for cash to fuel their campaigns, a new report found.
An analysis released today by MapLight.org, a nonprofit research group based in Berkeley, found that 79 percent of campaign contributions to state legislators over the last three years came from individuals and groups outside the district the lawmakers represent. The analysis did not include contributions from the lawmakers' personal funds or cash donated by the political parties.
CFT In the News:
NAVA CALLS ON GOVERNOR TO SUPPORT OIL SEVERANCE TAX
East County Magazine - 27 minutes ago
... the Congress of California Seniors, the California Nurses Association, the California Teachers Association, the California Federation of Teachers, ...
Alan Pagano, Teaching and Learning: Stumbling along in the Race to the Top
Santa Cruz Sentinel - May 16, 2010
Marty Hittleman, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said he wasn't sorry California lost the first round.
On the picket line - Note: entire article follows
Workers World - Sue Davis - May 15, 2010
Calif. teachers pass resolution to end Afghan war
The California Federation of Teachers passed a resolution on March 20 to end the Afghanistan war and use the money to support domestic programs. Sponsored by United Teachers Los Angeles, American Federation of Teachers Local 1021, the resolution demands that the military budget for that war be redirected "to meet urgent human needs domestically, such as education, healthcare, housing, jobs, and other social programs and public services." In addition, it calls for reparations to support infrastructure and social programs for the Afghan people. The resolution will be raised at the AFT convention in July.
GOVERNOR PROPOSES TERMINATION OF WELFARE AND DRASTIC CUTS IN SERVICES FOR ...
East County Magazine - Miriam Raftery - May 15, 2010
CFT led a march of more than 7500 to the State Capitol in March, calling for increased funding for education and other public services.
Vote Allen for state Assembly
Napa Valley Register - May 15, 2010
... including the California Highway Patrol, California Federation of Teachers, Noreen Evans, Wes Chesbro, Leon Garcia and the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra ...
Education News:
4/17
Fensterwald: Amid The Havoc, K-12 Relatively Spared For Now -- In his revised budget, Gov. Schwarzenegger is not suggesting any more cuts to K-12 schools than he proposed in January. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/17/10
CSU Fee Hike Hits Summer Students -- California State University students registering for summer classes are finding an extra fee on their bill, raising the cost for a full course load by about $1,000. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/10
Fresno State Students May Have To Pay Extra Fee For Summer School
KMPH Fox 26 - 1 hour ago
University Officials say they have few choices because the system's 23 campuses have been crippled by state budget cuts from a $560 million budget shortfall ...
Critics of tenure wonder if protects poor teachers
Lodi News-Sentinel - Jennifer Bonnett - 8 hours ago
In the past five years, no tenured Lodi Unified School District teachers have been fired because of poor performance. Zero. ...
Layoff notices sent out; Schools expected to lose more teachers this...
San Bernardino Sun - Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell - 10 hours ago
Hundreds of public school teachers in the San Bernardino area received final layoff notices in the mail this weekend. While school boards scrambled to save ...
Superintendent's Corner: Standing up for arts education
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Maria Ott - 9 hours ago
We have seen how public schools are funded in California, and there is a definite balancing act required to retain arts education.
5/15
Teacher layoffs made official
San Mateo Daily Journal - May 15, 2010
School districts across San Mateo County issued layoff notices, many recently approved, this week which will mean an increase in class sizes this fall. ...
3 districts issue teacher layoff notices
San Diego Union Tribune - Bruce Lieberman - May 15, 2010
NORTH COUNTY — As school districts across North County move closer to adopting their 2010-11 budgets by June ...
District to send layoff notices
San Diego Union Tribune - Michele Clock - May 15, 2010
LEMON GROVE — More than 20 Lemon Grove School District employees will receive final layoff notices, ...
State News: 5/15-17
Schwarzenegger's Pledge To Fix Budget Unfulfilled -- California's latest budget implosion, leaving the state in a multibillion dollar hole, is another stark reminder that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not fulfilled the central pledge from the 2003 recall election - to tame the state's chronic deficits and enact long-term budget reforms. JUDY LIN AP -- 5/17/10
Timeline Of Schwarzenegger's Budget-Reform Efforts -- Here is a timeline of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's major budget actions: AP -- 5/17/10
Governor's Budget Hits Health and Social Welfare
Capital Public Radio
Friday afternoon, angry protesters demonstrated in Sacramento just outside the building where Governor Schwarzenegger was announcing deep cuts to health and social welfare programs. With California stuck in an economic ditch and facing a $19 billion deficit, the governor proposed things like eliminating subsidized child care for poor families and ending CalWorks, the state's welfare-to-work program. And he's not proposing any additional tax revenues to fill the gaps. Guest: John Myers, KQED's Sacramento bureau chief.
5/15
Schwarzenegger's Budget Deals Blows To The Poor -- The governor unveils a proposal that would cut the welfare-to-work program and reduce child care for the needy. 'California no longer has low-hanging fruits,' he says. SHANE GOLDMACHER in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/10
Schwarzenegger's Revised State Budget At A Glance -- AP -- 5/15/10
CFT In the News: 5/14
SF State alum looks back on Black Friday
Golden Gate [X]Press - Ryan Fisher - 16 hours ago
Fellow guest speaker Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers, recently finished a 48-day march from Bakersfield to Sacramento to ...
Late news 5/12:
Colleges across state grapple with free-speech zones
San Jose Mercury News - Matt Krupnick - May 12, 2010
"This is an abomination," said Robert Bezemek, an attorney for the Peralta Federation of Teachers, which has threatened to sue if the policy is adopted.
PV schools struggle with school calendar, proposed extended winter break
Contra Costa Times - Donna Jones - May 12, 2010
Francisco Rodriguez, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, said an agreement between teachers and management calls for the unpaid leave to ...
SLO County Roundup
San Luis Obispo Tribune - May 12, 2010
Allison Merzon, a health educator at Cuesta College and president of the Cuesta College Federation of Teachers, said, “After years of budget cuts, ...
Education News: 5/14
State Releases Annual Report Ranking Schools' Academic Performance -- State schools chief Jack O'Connell released the annual report that ranks schools academically and establishes their base Academic Performance Index score Thursday. DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/14/10
Courts doing schools' job
Los Angeles Times - 17 hours ago
... reminder that the California courts have been far more willing to stand up for disadvantaged students than either district leaders or the Legislature.
Students protesting cuts at UC Santa Cruz library expected to continue sit-in San Jose Mercury News
Editorial: Young teachers get tossed under a bus
Published: 12:00 am
The teachers union in Sacramento City Unified refuses to open salary and health benefit negotiations until 2011, sending a strong message to the community:
Fensterwald: Landmark Ruling On Teacher Layoffs -- A Superior Court judge has served notice to school districts statewide that the seniority rights of teachers do not trump the fundamental right of students to an equal opportunity for a good education. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/14/10
Modesto Teachers Reach Deal: Less Pay, More Kids -- The union that represents teachers in the Modesto City Schools district has reached a tentative contract agreement that would prevent most layoffs among its members while accepting a pay cut and fewer workdays. J.N. SBRANTI in the Modesto Bee -- 5/14/10
Funds For Research Flowing Into SDSU -- San Diego State University expects to obtain a record $150 million for research this fiscal year — 15 times the average of what a Cal State campus gets. MIKE LEE and GARY ROBBINS in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 5/14/10
State News: 5/14
Schwarzenegger to unveil grim budget revision today
89.3 KPCC - 4 hours ago
The legislature enacted mid-year cuts to save a little over $1 billion. But in all likelihood, the budget deficit is roughly the same as it was in January ...
Schwarzenegger budget: No new taxes, deeper cuts
The Associated Press - Judy Lin - 1 hour ago
With unemployment remaining high and tax revenue low, California will face a deficit of more than $20 billion — a quarter of all general fund spending ... urting -
Literally - Kids and Seniors To Protect Tax Cuts for the Rich
By Robert Cruickshank in the California Progress Report
There's no better illustration of the priorities of Arnold Schwarzenegger than this report from Shane Goldmacher and Evan Halper in the LA Times, explaining that today's May Revise is likely to include a proposal to eliminate health care services for children and the elderly: More from the LA Times.
CalBuzz: Jean Ross: “The Battle For California’s Future” -- Today the Governor will release his final “May Revision” – the document that updates budget estimates and policy proposals. JEAN ROSS CalBuzz -- 5/14/10
CFT In the News: 5/13
'Black Friday,' birth of US protest movement
San Francisco Chronicle - Carl Nolte - 8 hours ago
... it was a turning point," said Marty Hittelman, who was in the hearing room that day and is now the president of the California Federation of Teachers.
For more on Black Friday: KPFA
On today's show-we speak with Barbara Epstein, Prof., History of Consciousness at UC Santa Cruz about the 50th Anniversary of SF protests against the House Committee on Un-American Activities,Berkeley in the Sixties.
Colleges across state grapple with free-speech zones
San Jose Mercury News - Matt Krupnick - 18 hours ago
"This is an abomination," said Robert Bezemek, an attorney for the Peralta Federation of Teachers, which has threatened to sue if the policy is adopted.
Venice: Karno touts experience, public service and leadership as defining ...
Marina del Rey Argonaut - Gary Walker - 10 hours ago
... to fight for better schools and for giving teachers the tools they need,” said Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers.
School Beat: A Hopeful Turn in SFUSD/UESF Negotiations
by Lisa Schiff‚ May. 13‚ 2010
The May 15th deadline for mailing out final layoff notices to teachers has once again arrived. Until this week it was not clear just how many teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) would receive notices,... We also know that he has rejected or ignored the many possible streams of revenue that even in these rough times would have increased available public resources (see for instance, those enumerated by the California Federation of Teachers). ...
Education News: 5/13
Minority student activists protest education cuts
The Associated Press - Eric Gorski - 14 hours ago
The March 4 Day of Action for Public Education began as a California-only event, a sequel to fall demonstrations against the state Board of Regents' ...
Judge stops layoffs at 3 LA schools
89.3 KPCC - 5 hours ago
... schools and the quality of learning suffered so much that students weren't receiving a basic education, as guaranteed by the California constitution.
On The Backs Of Children -- How UTLA's teacher-layoff rules are devastating inner-city L.A. schools -- BETH BARRETT LA Weekly -- 5/13/10
L.A. Unified Barred From Budgetary Teacher Layoffs At 3 Schools -- The Los Angeles Unified school district cannot for budgetary reasons lay off teachers at three of the city's worst-performing middle schools, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/13/10
Hundreds of Monterey High students protest teacher transfers
Students say they're concerned teachers will be sent to Seaside
By LAITH AGHA Herald Staff Writer Posted: 05/07/2010 01:28:59 AM PDT
Monterey High School students tried to send a collective message to school district brass Thursday: Leave our teachers be.
Fensterwald: Nonstop Work On Race To The Top -- California’s forthcoming second-round application for Race to the Top may be a long-shot, but the half-dozen districts behind the effort sure aren’t treating it as such. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/13/10
Colleges Across State Grapple With Free-Speech Zones -- The Peralta Community College district is considering guidelines to limit where and how groups can speak on campus, prompting outrage from employees and students who say the proposed rules would restrict free speech. MATT KRUPNICK in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/13/10
Why Groups Want Students To Appeal SDSU Denials -- Brittanie Martinez was stunned this spring when she found out that San Diego State University had rejected her. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/13/10
UC Berkeley Ends Hunger Strike Over Immigration -- With the blessings of ceremonial dancers, a group of UC Berkeley students ended a 10-day hunger strike Wednesday while negotiators met with the chancellor over the status of illegal immigrants and student demonstrators. BOB EGELKO in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/13/10
California teachers union pushes measure to rein in corporate tax breaks
San Jose Mercury News - Neil Gonzales - 12 hours ago
That equals less revenue to fund services, including education." A provision in the initiative also would hurt small businesses and could force them to ...
County schools rank among the best and worst in state
San Jose Mercury News - Donna Jones - 11 minutes ago
The annual rankings, released today by the California Department of Education, are part of the Academic Performance ...
State News: 3/13
CFT In the News: 5/12
POWAY: Poway Unified, district's teachers agree to new contract
North County Times - 13 hours ago
However, leaders with the Poway Federation of Teachers, the union that represents more than 1500 Poway Unified teachers and other employees, ...
Education News: 5/12
California Master Plan for Higher Education in ruins
Sonoma State Star - 11 hours ago
The California Master Plan for Higher Education is quickly being demolished into a pile of rubble. A state that once paved the way to education in the 60s ..
Education Protest Planned At Capitol
KCRA Sacramento - 1 hour ago
Student leaders from University of California campuses will rally at 1 pm to urge lawmakers to preserve Cal Grant funding and higher education money.
Jurupa school district retains teacher jobs
Press-Enterprise - Sandra Stokley - 10 hours ago
Pam Lauzon, the district's assistant superintendent for business services, said 77 of the teachers returning for the 2010-2011 school year are elementary ...
City School District to keep all but 6 teachers facing ax Bakersfield Now
Lucia Mar OKs layoffs Santa Maria Times
Schools prepare for teacher layoffs
San Mateo Daily Journal - Heather Murtagh - 5 hours ago
California required districts to send out preliminary notices to teachers by March 15. That number is refined this month as final layoff notices must be ...
Travis Unified approves cuts to save $617K
TheReporter.com - Ryan Chalk - 8 hours ago
The effect of budget cuts in education is rearing its ugly head as school districts face the May 15 deadline to issue layoff ...
Miller "thoroughly disappointed" over UC labor talks
San Jose Mercury News - Matt Krupnick - 16 hours ago
The University of California should move more quickly to sign a contract with its 6000 or so postdoctoral researchers, ...
Fensterwald: Bricks And Clicks: Part Two -- California is lagging behind other states, like Florida, in online education, in part because of regulations enacted nearly a decade ago to clamp down on independent study scams masquerading as charter schools. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/12/10
San Diego Unified Restricts District-Related Travel To Arizona
KPBS - Ana Tintocalis - 2 hours ago
San Diego Unified is the first big-city school district in California to make such a bold move. Denver Public Schools in Colorado also approved a travel ban ...
Arizona Bill Targeting Ethnic Studies Signed Into Law -- Gov. Jan Brewer signs the bill that bans schools from teaching classes designed for students of a particular ethnic group. School districts may appeal the law, which becomes effective Dec. 31. NICOLE SANTA CRUZ in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/12/10
CSU Fullerton Weighs Costs, Benefits Of Satellite Campus -- In the face of crippling budget cuts, some faculty and staff at CSU Fullerton have questioned whether the university should continue to run its Irvine branch campus when the college's lease expires in 2011. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/12/10
State News: 5/12
Schwarzenegger Spokesman: Budget Cuts Will Be Terrible
Tue May 11, 2010 — It’s going to be ugly when Governor Schwarzenegger rolls out a new budget proposal Friday. His spokesman says the choices are bleak, given the state’s massive shortfall.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/articledetail.aspx?articleid=8240
Opinion: Say no to Prop 15, public financing of political campaigns San Jose Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_15057337
Education News: 5/11
State fiscal woes threaten classical guitarists in Fullerton, art students in ...
Los Angeles Times (blog) - 20 hours ago
Now on the chopping block, thanks to the state's budget crisis: a crucial part of the only degree program in classical guitar at a California public ...
San Jacinto school trustees will vote Tuesday on 15 teacher layoff notices
Press-Enterprise - Gail Wesson - 11 hours ago
Employees represented by the California School Employees Association are taking 10 days off for year-round employees and eight for those who work during the ...
Local redevelopment money headed to state's schools
Porterville Recorder - Jenna Chandler - 26 minutes ago
The Porterville Redevelopment Agency has cut a $373000 check to the state that will now be used to pay for California's public schools.
Schools Scooping Up Outside Money to Keep Moving in Tough Times
Voice of San Diego - Emily Alpert - 17 hours ago
Point Loma High is getting a new weight room -- but not because budget cuts have let up in San Diego Unified schools. The school snagged a $90000 grant from ...
UC Students Move Protest To Chancellor's House
KTVU San Francisco - 13 hours ago
Shortly after 5 pm, protesters took their sit-in blocking entrances at California Hall to outside University House on the north side of campus.
Our Education Needs Are California's Needs
New America Media - 9 hours ago
They can begin to see that we cannot cut our way to a healthy state and school system. They can also understand that together we must come up with ways to ...
Schools Scooping Up Outside Money To Keep Moving In Tough Times -- Point Loma High is getting a new weight room -- but not because budget cuts have let up in San Diego Unified schools. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/11/10
School Districts Lack $1 Billion To Pay Retiree Health Benefits, Grand Jury Says -- Twelve of Sacramento County's 13 school districts don't have enough money in their coffers to pay the health benefits promised future retirees and are not setting aside money to pay for them, according to a grand jury report released Monday. DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/11/10
Fensterwald: Bricks And Clicks: A New Hybrid School -- There are more than 10,000 traditional bricks and mortar public and 800-plus charter schools in California, and there are a handful of virtual or online charter schools, serving primarily home-schooled students. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/11/10
Several Colleges Make Below-Market Loans To Top Officials, IRS Finds -- A new, wide-ranging report on colleges and universities by the Internal Revenue Service has found that a number of institutions make loans with below-market interest rates to their top administrators. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/11/10
CSUs Tout Ability To Produce Jobs -- As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger looks at revising his budget, the California State University system released a report on Monday hoping to help it avoid additional cuts to its operations. CANAN TASCI in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 5/11/10
Chevron Makes $1.5 Million Math Investment In Kids' Future -- Cal State East Bay will be able to expand programs designed to help underserved students sharpen their math skills thanks to a $1.5 million investment from Chevron Corp., officials said Monday. KRISTOFER NOCEDA in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/11/10
Business Journal: CSU Study Touts Sac State's Economic Impact
Mon May 10, 2010 — California State University has released a report that argues the 23-campus system is a key source of job creation and innovation for the state’s economy. What's Sac State's impact on the capital region?
Teacher to Teacher
Center For American Progress - Susan Moore Johnson, John P. Papay - 4 hours ago
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, recently proposed a new approach to facilitating the dismissal of ineffective teachers.
The $23B "Keep Our Educators Working Act" Is No Education Jobs Fund
Huffington Post (blog) - 1 hour ago
In fact, the district teachers of the year in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara, California were among those who received pink slips.
Ammiano carries bill to amend Prop. 13 rules
San Francisco Chronicle - Carolyn Said - 7 hours ago
On the other side, teachers unions and the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, the California successor to the ACORN social advocacy
State News: 5/11
California's Kids Fall Deeper into Poverty, Homelessness
In the California Progress Report
By Viji Sundaram - New America Media -
The indicators are coming in thick and fast:
• One in four California students lives in poverty, compared to one in six before the recession began.
CFT In the News: 5/10
The Buzz: Independent campaigns rev up in schools' chief race
Fresno Bee - 10 hours ago
The 30-second spots, largely bankrolled by committees run by the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers, tout Torlakson's ...
Education News:
5/10
Parcel Taxes A Tough Sell For Cash-Strapped Schools
KQED Public Radio – California Report - The budget crisis has forced many school districts to lay off teachers, increase class sizes, and shorten the school year. To avoid even deeper cuts, a record number of districts are asking voters to pass parcel taxes. Reporter: K. Oanh Ha.
Whistleblower Lawsuit Against For-Profit Education Company Unsealed -- In a federal lawsuit that was unsealed last week, a former employee of a for-profit education company that runs several colleges and online programs in California claims the company illegally compensated recruiters based on how many students they enrolled. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/10/10
Students From Region Can Enroll In Virtual School -- Elk Grove Unified School District has opened enrollment for its first-ever virtual school. DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/10/10
School District May Make Volunteering Mandatory -- If parent participation in classrooms is good, why not make it mandatory? SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/10/10
Uncertainty looms for PUSD after voters reject parcel tax Pasadena Star-News
Schools Consider Condeming Ariz. Law
NBC San Diego - Katia Lopez-Hodoyan - 2 hours ago
“I don't understand why California has a problem with it,” Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has said recently. “Maybe we should boycott California?
5/9:
More pain in store for California's needy
San Jose Mercury News - Denis C. Theriault - May 9, 2010
Valle, a fourth-year psychology major, said she's already forced to attend another year because budget cuts have made it hard to get all the classes she ...
State News: 5/10
10,000 Voices Say Gov’s Budget Fails Californians
By Nancy Berlin – California Progress Report
With less than a week until Governor Schwarzenegger unveils his revised May budget, there’s little hope that California’s struggling economy will see any reprieve from the threat of draconian cuts to vital services and unnecessary and wasteful corporate giveaways. This much has already been forecasted in the Governor and fellow Republicans’ incessant claims that California’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit can only be reigned in through sacrifice (read cuts!). But who are the ones really making the sacrifice? And what’s really at stake?
Budget Deficit Rooted in Commercial Property Assessment, 'Total System Failure' Finds CTRA Report
By Dan Aiello – California Progress Report
California Progress Report
Amidst the perennial partisan finger-pointing over California's budget and deficit, the California Tax Reform Association (CTRA) has released a new report concluding California's current commercial property tax assessment policy, not its spending on education and social programs as suggested in Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's latest political campaign ads, is the culprit crippling the state's ability to balance its books.
Deep Cuts Likely In Updated State Budget -- The state budget crisis has been quiet for the past few months but will return to center stage this week as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepares to belt out some bad news. WYATT BUCHANAN in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/10/10
More pain in store for California's needy
San Jose Mercury News - Denis C. Theriault - May 9, 2010
Valle, a fourth-year psychology major, said she's already forced to attend another year because budget cuts have made it hard to get all the classes she ...
CFT In the News: 5/7
Performing in protest
Glendale News Press - Max Zimbert - 10 hours ago
... said Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers, the parent union of the Glendale Community College faculty guild.
Education News: 5/7
Fensterwald: Governor, State Board To ACLU: We’re On Your Side -- The lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified and the state over seniority-based teacher layoffs and massive cuts in state education funding has taken some strange twists. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/7/10
Bill Would Ease Path of Community College Transfers
New America Media - 2 hours ago
More than 40 California education groups have pledged support of the bill, including the Board of Governors of California's Community Colleges, ...
Wired In And Protesting At UC Berkeley -- Friedman, looking gaunt and fatigued beneath a New York Mets baseball cap, was among 20 people who entered the fourth day of a fast Thursday on a lawn strewn with books, sleeping bags, laptops and smart phones - the setting for a 21st century hunger strike. JUSTIN BERTON in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/7/10
Lake Elsinore teachers OK deal, avert many layoffs
Press-Enterprise - 14 hours ago
... the school board for approval at its May 13 meeting. Under California law, teachers must be notified by May 15 if they won't have a job the following year.
Opinion: State budget cuts put San Mateo county children in harm's way
San Jose Mercury News - 15 hours ago
In 2008, San Mateo County was the first county in California and among the first in the nation to create and sign a Bill of Rights for Children and Youth.
Education advocates to hold rally in Balboa Park
San Diego Union Tribune - Maureen Magee - 9 hours ago
He was only vaguely aware of education budget cuts when he was tapped to join the effort. “I got a message that they wanted me to meet with the school board ...
School Beat: Californians On Public Education — the Latest PPIC Survey Results- California Progress Report
By Lisa Schiff
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released last week the results of its latest statewide survey of attitudes of Californians regarding K-12 public education. Part of a regular series focusing on “K–12, higher education, environment, and population issues,” this latest survey is the sixth focusing on the K-12 area and thus provides not only an important picture of current attitudes and understandings, but sets those in a context that can help elucidate trends and changes in those same attitudes and understandings. All of this is extremely important for public education supporters trying to be more effective in getting clear messages to policy makers and likely voters regarding the challenges and related needs that must be addressed in our continuing effort to improve public schools for all children.
State News: 5/7
California Needs The FCC To Restore The Fairness Doctrine - California Progress Report
By Roy Ulrich and Richard Holober
One of the lesser-known tragedies of the Reagan era was the Federal Communication Commission's decision to abolish the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. That doctrine used to require radio and television stations to air opposing and contrasting views on controversial issues of public importance. In 1992, the FCC expanded its ruling to include ballot measures.
CFT In the News: 5/6
Will Tom Campbell Apologize for Failure?
by: Robert Cruickshank
Wed May 05, 2010 at 15:30:59 PM PDT
Note: I work as Public Policy Director for the Courage Campaign
In the wake of the Arizona immigration law being signed by their governor, California Republican and US Senate candidate Tom Campbell was quick to announce his support for the law, putting him significantly out of step with public opinion in California and indicating a willingness to let his fellow Californians be subjected to unfair violations of their civil liberties and random searches based on racial profiling.
So the Courage Campaign decided to let Tom Campbell know that Californians didn't agree with his stance. We joined Rev. Eric Lee of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the California of Federation of Teachers to ask our members to sign a letter to Campbell asking him to withdraw his support for the Arizona law and pledge to not bring such a law to California.
http://www.calitics.com/diary/11637/will-tom-campbell-apologize-for-failure
Education News: 5/6
Starting Kids Off Right with Universal Preschool
By Assemblymember Alberto Torrico – California Progress Report
Fifty-six years ago, Oliver Brown took the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas all the way to the Supreme Court so his daughter Linda wouldn’t have to walk a mile to her segregated school. Against all odds, and forging a new American era, Mr. Brown and his daughter emerged victorious. This landmark case set the precedent that separate is inherently unequal and that all children deserve access to the same, quality education.
Keep state funding pledge to college students San Francisco Chronicle
State Education Cuts Hurt Economy, Report Says -- Political gridlock in Sacramento threatens the Bay Area's economy by undermining the educational system needed to train a 21st century work force, says a report being issued today by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. TOM ABATE in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/6/10
Survey reveals Californians' -- and Mercedians' -- ideas on public education
Merced Sun-Star - Jamie Oppenheim - 8 hours ago
An overwhelming 85 percent of those surveyed said they felt the quality of California's education was a problem -- 53 percent said it was huge problem and ...
Taking a closer look at public charter schools
News10.net - 21 hours ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - According to US Charter Schools, there are 750 charter schools in California with more than 200000 students.
Arizona's immigration law adds heat to California's GOP Senate primary
Los Angeles Times - 12 hours ago
... a position on Proposition 187, the 1994 California ballot measure that would have denied public education and social services to illegal immigrants.
Editorial: Moving kindergarten cut-off date back to Sept. 1 makes sense
San Jose Mercury News - 14 hours ago
... it's been recommended by the Legislative Analyst, the California Performance Review and the Governor's Committee on Education Excellence.
Districts to finalize teacher layoffs
San Mateo Daily Journal - Heather Murtagh - 6 hours ago
California law requires final teacher layoff notices to go out by May 15. Notifications of potential releases went out in March.
Cuts make it even harder to get into college
Modesto Bee - Kevin Davidson - 15 hours ago
As the time for college searches draws nearer and nearer for some, the toll that the California state budget cuts are taking on the ...
Drastic changes won't be made at Lawrence, Sutherland elementary schools
Lodi News-Sentinel - Jennifer Bonnett - 7 hours ago
The 4-2 decision was made in front of an over-capacity crowd wearing pink to protest budget cuts. Three private security guards and two armed Lodi Police ...
Unions, Modesto City Schools closing in on deals
Modesto Bee - J.N. Sbranti - 10 hours ago
Gowans said the district's nonmanagement employees also are being asked to accept cuts of about 5.5 percent. The negotiating team for the California School ...
LAUSD begins to slash library funding
Contra Costa Times - Connie Llanos - 16 hours ago
Next year though Reika might have to find a different place to gather her thoughts since steep budget cuts at Los Angeles Unified are expected to reduce ...
More than 100 teachers to be laid off in Newark, New Haven school districts
Inside Bay Area - Ben Aguirre Jr., Linh Tat - 10 hours ago
The district has approved $5.2 million in cuts to balance its $99 million operating budget for next year. Fremont teachers have a "no layoff" clause in ...
The Face Of Local School Boards Could Be Remade -- School districts in San Diego County are eyeing legal threats across the state as cautionary tales that could prompt big changes in the way school boards are elected, spurring them to pick leaders from specific areas rather than the district as a whole. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/6/10
State News: 5/6
CFT/Affiliates In the News: 5/5
Opinion: To solve CSU budget crisis, look to chancellor's office
San Jose Mercury News - Elizabeth D. Cara, Carolle J. Carter - 13 hours ago
The California Faculty Association is dedicated to keeping the doors of CSU open. This will rebuild the American dream as well as California's economy.
From 5/3
Cabrillo ratifies teacher's contract, but faces summer counseling issues
Contra Costa Times - Megha Satyanarayana - May 3, 2010
... but not all work during the summer, said Paul Harvell, Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers president at Monday's regular board meeting.
Education News: 5/5
State Flunks Providing Services to Pre-Schools
NBC San Diego - Rory Devine - 19 hours ago
California receives poor grades when it comes to providing services to pre-schools. That according to a new report from the National ...
Merced College adjunct instructors feel overlooked and underpaid
Merced Sun-Star - Jamie Oppenheim - 7 hours ago
According to Dina Martin, California Teachers Association spokeswoman, eight of the Central 14 community colleges pay their adjuncts for office hours with ...
ENCINITAS: School board votes to finalize 26 layoffs
North County Times - 10 hours ago
The board won't approve a final budget until June but must plan for cuts now in order to meet certain deadlines.
Sonoma County lags in college-ready grads
Santa Rosa Press Democrat - Christopher Chung - 14 hours ago
Despite the decreasing percentage of students taking them, California high schools are offering more University of California-approved A through G course ...
Fensterwald: Cash-Strapped Districts Shift Their Dollars -- If triage is the new goal of K-12 education, then school districts can claim success. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/5/10
Voters In 5 Districts Approve Parcel Taxes -- Their schools battered by steep cuts forced by declining state revenues, voters in several South Bay communities agreed Tuesday to tax themselves more to support their schools, as at least five districts surpassed the two-thirds hurdle to approve parcel taxes. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury MICHAEL CABANATUAN in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/5/10
Parent activist says lasting changes must come from ‘the bottom up’
By Kido in the California Progress Report
A funny thing happened on the way to education reform: No one really talked to the parents.
That’s why this May 11, as the anniversary of Brown v. Board approaches, I’m going to Sacramento to speak to my elected officials, the people who are supposed to represent me and my children.
Kotowski within her authority, judge rules
San Jose Mercury News - Claudia Meléndez Salinas - 5 hours ago
Mike Myslinski, spokesman for the California Teachers Association, said the union was studying the ruling and had no comment.
Court Rules Against King City Teachers Union KCBA
State News: 5/5
Mythbusting: High Taxes Don't Drive People Out of CA
By Robert Cruickshank in the California Progress Report
One of the oldest and most persistent right-wing myths is that higher taxes lead to job losses and flight of wealthy taxpayers to other states. But as the California Budget Project explains, it's a myth without truth:
Walters: Sacred Cows In California Get Overdue Critical Eye -- As the fiscal travails of California's state and local governments grow more acute, hitherto sacrosanct – or ignored – governmental sectors have found themselves under intensifying scrutiny. An obvious example is the array of state and local government pension funds. DAN WALTERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/5/10
CFT In the News: 5/4
Education News: 5/4
California rejoins Race to the Top race, sort of
Los Angeles Times - 17 hours ago
Union, Megan Fox want funds to stop mass teacher layoffs
USA Today - 17 hours ago
Senator Leland Yee interviewed on public university financial transparency
The Daily Titan - Christine Amarantus - 7 hours ago
The first Chinese-American elected to the State Senate, Yee has fought cuts to California's education and social services.
State spending on prison inmates outweighs spending on students in K-12
News10.net - 9 hours ago
"Really, if we want to invest in our future, we need to protect spending for education," said Hilary McClean with the California Department of Education.
Putting middle school students on the road to higher education
San Francisco Examiner - Ken McNeely - 11 hours ago
We partnered with our world-class higher-education institutions in this effort. California State University Chancellor Charles Reed and San Francisco State ...
Our View: Let's keep the best teachers
Pasadena Star-News - 10 hours ago
For that reason, no one element should be the deciding factor in which teachers are laid off and which are retained. That's why the California Senate should ...
School boards face tough choices, limited options in state's fiscal crisis
San Diego News Room - doug metz - 1 hour ago
In the last two years, boards have been forced to cut teachers and their pay and increase class sizes—all to balance budgets.
School year to be shortened
San Mateo Daily Journal - Heather Murtagh - 5 hours ago
Redwood City is facing $4.7 million to $10.6 million in cuts from this year's $78.8 budget. Strangely, increasing class sizes to 32 should actually save ...
Recession Ravaging Region's Adult Education Classes -- Many Sacramento school districts are severely cutting adult education classes, while others are eliminating entire programs, leaving thousands of adult students wondering what classes will remain this fall. MELODY GUTIERREZ in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/4/10
UC Berkeley Students Begin Hunger Strike -- A group of UC Berkeley students started a hunger strike Monday to demand that the university oppose the new Arizona immigration law, drop disciplinary charges against protesters from the occupation of Wheeler Hall earlier this year, rehire laid-off janitors, and make the campus a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. MICHAEL CABANATUAN in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/4/10
Despite Loophole, 11 San Bernardino Schools To Undergo State Reforms -- San Bernardino City Unified School District will initiate drastic reforms at 11 schools, becoming the second school district to implement the state's plan for transforming under-performing campuses. COREY G. JOHNSON California Watch -- 5/4/10
State News: 5/4
January, 2010: The Governor Presents His Budget to the Legislature
By Sheila Kuehl – California Progress Report
Every January, the Governor is required to present a proposed budget to the Legislature. The budget sub-committees in each house then spend several months pulling apart, questioning and, in some cases, amending the thousands of provisions. The Governor's first proposal, however, is a road map for the ways in which he wants to bring the budget into balance. Cuts or revenues? Smoke and mirrors or reality?
CFT In the News: 5/3
State superintendent race tests education reforms, union power
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Rebecca Kimitch - 13 hours ago
So has Torlakson, winning him the endorsements of the California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, and California School Employees .
5/1
US: Imagining a world without lecturers
University World News - Bob Samuels - May 1, 2010
Bob Samuels is President of the University Council of the American Federation of Teachers. This is an edited version of an article he wrote for his blog.
Education News: 5/3
Tulare Joint Union High School teachers face big classes, less pay
Visalia Times-Delta - Victor Garcia - 5 hours ago
The district presented its initial contract proposals to the California Teachers Association and California School Employees Association Thursday.
Budget Cuts Threaten 250000 Teachers
KSRO - 20 minutes ago
With budget cuts hitting harder than ever our school system hangs in the balance. Over the next year class sizes are expected to rise to around 40 or 50 ...
Fensterwald: Math Training’s Low Numbers -- Leaders in math education in Silicon Valley are concerned that school boards and the public will dismiss the importance of teacher training as a result the dismal results from a much publicized study whose findings were released earlier this month. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/3/10
Arizona weeding out teachers that can't speak English correctly
Manteca Bulletin - Dennis Wyatt - 8 hours ago
Instead it is for the Arizona Department of Education for grasping the meaning of a passage in the federal No Child Left Behind Act and actually enforcing ...
English language learners Danville News
California Bill Seeks To Raise Age For Kindergarten -- As a group, California's kindergartners are among the youngest in the nation, but that may change under a bill being considered in the state Legislature. ROBIN HINDERY AP -- 5/3/10
5/2
Teachers Resist Merit Pay -- In early March, California missed out on Race to the Top funding because many teachers unions declined to sign an agreement requiring them to accept drastic reforms. DEBBIE PFEIFFER TRUNNELL in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/2/10
5/1
Fensterwald: 6 Districts To Steer Race To The Top -- A half-dozen school districts , including Los Angeles Unified, will direct California’s second-round application to the federal Race to the Top competition. They must not only fight a tight deadline – June 1 for submission – but also the low odds of moving from 27th among states in the first round to the top 12 or 15 to get a piece of the remaining $3.5 billion. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 5/1/10
Fensterwald: Court Slaps State Board’s Wrist In Algebra Case -- The state school boards’ and administrators’ associations have won a two-year old suit against the State School Board over a controversy involving eighth-grade algebra. The impact of the decision will be minor, though the decision does serve as a warning to the State Board to follow the state’s open-meeting law. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 5/1/10
L.A. Unified Expected To Reap 'Multimillions' In Lawsuit Win Over Property Taxes -- A long-running legal battle over local property taxes has ended in a court decision that will mean a multimillion dollar windfall for the Los Angeles Unified School District. But estimates of the amount vary dramatically — from about $20 million in the near term to $1.14 billion in years to come. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/1/10
Oakland Teachers' One-Day Strike Is Over: What's Next? -- The day before his teachers joined a one-day strike, Steven Daubenspeck was a sleep-deprived ball of nerves. KATY MURPHY in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/1/10
School budget cuts may affect social workers
Examiner.com - May 1, 2010
And that ratio may grow even larger with more budget cuts. In schools, social workers often serve as the link between student's families and the school, ...
State News: 5/3
Whitman and Poizner Square Off
Republican gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner debated Sunday night in San Jose in what's expected to be their last joint appearance. The hot topics included the controversial Arizona immigration law and Whitman's time on the board of Goldman Sachs. Guest: John Myers, Sacramento bureau chief for the California Report. Reporter: Rachael Myrow.
Whitman, Poizner Clash Over Immigration
Mon May 3, 2010 — Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner squared off in San Jose last night for the second debate of California’s Republican gubernatorial primary contest.
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