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CFT In the News: 5/31
On the Spectrum: Keep college education affordable
Lake County Record-Bee - Cynthia Parkhill - 17 hours ago
As reported in the California Federation of Teachers (CFT)'s May "AFT Perspective," Knorr was talking with Valldejuli about a proposed $10-per-unit increase in fees for community college students.
Education News: 5/28-31
Fensterwald: 7 Districts Primed For Race’s Round 3 -- The seven school districts that led the state’s second round application to Race to the Top – and did better than expected – are eager to go after money that the Obama Administration has reserved for California and eight other states in round three. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess COREY G. JOHNSON California Watch -- 5/31/11
State's Students Miss Out On P.E. -- More than one third of all adolescents enrolled in California public schools do not participate in any school-based physical education classes, according to a new policy study by UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. JIM STEINBERG in the San Bernardino Sun --5/31/11
NCAA Penalizes Teams For Failing To Meet Academic Standards -- Eight Division I teams at five universities in California are among more than 100 nationwide that have been penalized by the NCAA for poor academic performance, according to a report released last week. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/31/11
Weathering childhood: Stressors that jeopardize teen health
San Jose Mercury News - Beatrice Motamedi - 2 hours ago
Seniors at the Castlemont Business and Information Technology School, both have failed the math portion of the California High School Exit Exam, or CAHSEE. Until they pass, the graduation party that their big Samoan family wants to throw for them is on ...
Inland College Students Facing Summer Class Crunch -- Celeste Suarez had hoped to be in a dental hygiene program by now. But the Riverside City College student keeps getting shut out of classes she needs to transfer. DAVID OLSON in the Riverside Press -- 5/31/11
Riverside's Hillcrest High: What If They Built A School And Nobody Got To Go? -- When it's completed this fall, Riverside's $105-million Hillcrest High will be a high-tech academic hub. But thanks to state budget cuts, it will be missing its justification for existence: students. It's a bitter disappointment to incoming freshmen. PHIL WILLON in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/31/11
Latest Budget Victim: Adult Education -- Facing staggering cuts tied to the state budget deficit, a growing number local school districts and community colleges are focusing precious resources on K-12 and undergraduate education at the expense of adult-education classes, eviscerating a key economic springboard for low-income Californians. JENNIFER GOLLAN Bay Citizen -- 5/31/11
Teachers College Hopes to Empower Educators
For many college students, a degree is the reward for all those sleepless nights. But for two graduate students in Stockton, their ultimate goal is not a piece of paper -- they want to transform a failing school. Reporter: Ana Tintocalis
5/29
Capitol Journal: An on-time budget for a change?
Los Angeles Times - George Skelton - May 29, 2011
Students and parents rally outside Millikan Middle School, one of many protests about California education budget cuts. (Kirk McCoy, Los Angeles Times / May 24, 2011) By George Skelton Capitol Journal The landscape will be shifting at the state Capitol ...
Consultant Paid $824K To Attend Meetings -- An investigation into a hired consultant's work with the Pasadena Unified School District revealed the firm was paid $125 an hour to attend community meetings. BRIAN CHARLES in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 5/29/11
San Francisco JROTC Future Hangs On Board Vote -- Nearly 1,000 San Francisco high school students participated in the school district's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps this year, reviving a program that was nearly killed two year ago in a political battle over the military's presence in seven city high schools. JILL TUCKER in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/29/11
School Districts Nationwide Implement Controversial 'Pay To Play' Fees
Huffington Post - May 29, 2011
In a recent editorial, the Los Angeles Times questions the constitutionality of similar fees in California. Charging fees to students to offset budget cuts is not legal, just as it would not be legal to announce that in an effort to make ends meet, ...
5/28
L.A. Teachers Union Tentatively Agrees To Furlough Days -- The deal between the teachers union and L.A. Unified could save $42 million and thousands of jobs. The agreement requiring teachers to take four unpaid days off must be ratified by union members. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/28/11
State News: 5/31
Are Brown's Revenue Projections Reasonable?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Governor Jerry Brown’s updated budget proposal assumes more than $6 billion in rosier revenue projections than previously expected. Are they reasonable?
Budget Update: Floor Votes Coming, but No Deal Yet
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
It's getting closer to crunch time on the California budget. Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly say they're shooting for floor votes next week on the governor's proposed tax extensions. But there’s still no deal – and no Republican votes.
Viewpoints: Pension 'reformers' distort facts on benefits
Sacramento Bee - 9 hours ago
Contrary to some misleading claims, breaking promises to millions of public servants certainly will not generate a sudden infusion of money for California's cash-strapped schools. Nor will it keep parks open, prevent college tuition hikes or protect ...
CFT In the News: 5/27
Proposed Bill Allows Students To Buy Their Way Into Community College
City Town Info Education Channel - 14 hours ago
"The fundamental problem is that this bill represents a major change to the multiple missions of the California community colleges," said Carl Friedlander, president of the Community College Council of the California Federation of Teachers.
Education News: 5/27
New study finds is critical of state school funding deregulation
89.3 KPCC - 2 hours ago
A new study released on Thursday criticizes the way California deregulated portions of public school funding several years ago.
Dream Act Could Provide Public Funds For College -- Members of the state Assembly will vote Friday on a bill that could fling open the doors to higher education for undocumented students by offering them public money for college. HEATHER SOMERVILLE in the Fresno Bee -- 5/27/11
Greater Flexibility In Spending Hurts Low-Achieving Students -- A $4.5 billion experiment intended to give schools greater flexibility over state education dollars has resulted in cutbacks in some programs targeting students who need the most academic help. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/27/11
Teachers' Union Candidate Wins L.A. School Board Seat -- Retired teacher Bennett Kayser defeats Luis Sanchez, who was supported by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, for the last open seat on the board. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/27/11
Adult Education Hard-Hit By Changes In School Spending Rules, Study Finds -- Adult education programs were hard-hit by changes in spending rules for school districts struggling to keep basic operations going during California's budget crisis, according to a new study released Thursday. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/27/11
Cal Poly Pomona Students Rally In Opposition To Potential Budget Cuts -- More than 100 students rallied at Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday in opposition to a potential $1 billion budget cut to the California State University system. WILL BIGHAM in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 5/27/11
Opinion: Annual pink-slip dance in schools helps no one
San Jose Mercury News - Sandy McConnell - 8 hours ago
I cannot change the California Education Code. I can, however, put a face on the problem that affects thousands of teachers, their families and their students every year.
Baron: The Suspense Is Over -- The wild budget rumpus is about to begin in earnest. Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg’s bill to give counties and school districts broader power to push for new taxes is headed to the Senate floor for a vote. KATHRYN BARON TopEd -- 5/27/11
Raising Graduation Rates, and Questions
Inside Higher Ed - 8 hours ago
Against a backdrop of state budget cuts, the university increased its proportion of low-income students and raised graduation rates faster than any other four-year research university in the country.
State News: 5/27
Education News: 5/26
Adult education hard-hit by changes in school spending rules, study finds
Los Angeles Times - 58 minutes ago
Adult education programs were hard-hit by changes in spending rules for school districts struggling to keep basic operations going during California's budget crisis, according to a new study released Thursday. The spending mandates for formerly ...
Urging unity for education
Contra Costa Times - Dana Guzzetti - 11 hours ago
Without passage of the continued taxes, the loss of revenue from DMV fees and other taxes could create another round of budget cuts, unless an improved California economy provides for more revenue. Bonilla implored the audience to unite to make sure ...
Without tax hikes, local schools face $772638 cut
Napa Valley Register - Howard Yume - 10 hours ago
Calistoga's share of an estimated $8 million reduction in the county's education budget could reach $772638. Other school districts also face severe cuts, said Napa County Office of Education Superintendent Barbara Nemko during a countywide forum held ...
Deal On CSU, UC Foundation Disclosures -- State university officials, who have fought to keep secret the financial details of how campus foundations manage nearly $2 billion, have withdrawn their opposition to public disclosure under a compromise with public records advocates and state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco. NANETTE ASIMOV in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/26/11
California May Win Smaller Grant From Federal 'Race To The Top' -- California's previous plan for schools could have won $700 million from 'Race to the Top,' but federal officials may award $50 million to the Golden State after revisions. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/26/11
Fensterwald: Rocketship’s Target: 29 Charters In San Jose -- Rocketship Education, the charter organization whose hybrid online/classroom model has drawn national attention and foundation dollars, wants the Santa Clara County Office of Education to let it open 20 more elementary schools, primarily in its hometown of San Jose, in the next seven years. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/26/11
L.A. School Board, Union Still At Odds Over Budget -- The district appeals to the teachers union to take six unpaid days off to help balance the books and save jobs. But parents hold rallies in support of the union, which wants no cuts. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/26/11
Viewpoint: Want to save schools? Fix pension systems
Sacramento Bee By Marcia Fritz - Updated: 9:46 am
The recession deserves most – but not all – of the blame for the 1,200 layoff notices mailed to Sacramento area teachers this year.
State News: 5/26
Democrats Want To Use New Revenue To Reverse Cuts -- In their first review of Gov. Jerry Brown's revised budget, Democratic lawmakers are opting to use new tax revenue to reverse child care and welfare-to-work cuts despite the governor's opposition. KEVIN YAMAMURA SacBee Capitol Alert SHANE GOLDMACHER LA Times PolitiCal -- 5/26/11
Redistricting Win, Lose, Or Draw -- More competition. More moderate politicians. Less sleazy deal making. More good stuff. Less bad stuff. JOHN MYERS Capitol Notes weblog -- 5/26/11
AFT/CFT In the News: 5/25
Lauded Dallas campus could help shoulder Texas school cuts
Reuters
Already thousands of teachers in states like California, Illinois, Wisconsin and New York have lost their jobs. The American Federation of Teachers estimates that 2 percent of the nation's local government education workers have been affected by job ...
Education News: 5/25
Interesting Article - Please Note: From NYT 5/21/11
Behind Grass-Roots School Advocacy, Bill Gates
New York Times - Sam Dillon - May 21, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS — A handful of outspoken teachers helped persuade state lawmakers this spring to eliminate seniority-based layoff policies. They testified before the legislature, wrote briefing papers and published an op-ed article in The ...
CSU leaders plead for education funding
Fresno Bee - Heather Somerville - 11 hours ago
California State University presidents descended on the state Capitol on Tuesday to pressure legislators to pass tax extensions and protect higher education from a $1 billion budget cut. "There doesn't appear to ...
Protesters decry school cuts
Long Beach Press-Telegram - Kelly Puente - 2 hours ago
School districts across the state are facing major slashes in funding as California struggles to further reduce what was once a $25.4 billion budget gap. Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed a ballot measure to extend temporary taxes, which would maintain ...
Rally For Education
Patch.com - Miriam Finder - 16 hours ago
Since 2007, $18 billion have been cut from the California schools' budgets. Burlingame School District is currently working on cutting $800000 in spending for both the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years.
Getting Community College Students Caught Up
Nearly three million students are expected to enroll next semester in California community colleges. But most will have to take remedial math or English classes; and once they're on that track, the success rate for completing community college is very low. One remedial program has found ways to double student achievement. Reporter: Kathryn Baron.
Fensterwald: Redistricting’s Shadow On Budget -- State law requires the Legislature to pass a spending plan annually by June 15 – something that lawmakers habitually ignore. But the key date this year actually may be June 10. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/25/11
Baron: Wake Up And Smell The School Cuts -- Forgive Patty Koel if she rants for a moment; she has a lot to say, and most of it is dire. KATHRYN BARON TopEd -- 5/25/11
L.A. School Board, Union Still At Odds Over Budget -- The district appeals to the teachers union to take six unpaid days off to help balance the books and save jobs. But parents hold rallies in support of the union, which wants no cuts. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/25/11
State Joins Suit Against For-Profit Education Company -- California is one of two states to join a whistleblower lawsuit against Education Management Corporation, a for-profit college company that operates 14 campuses in the state under the Argosy University and Art Institute brands. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/25/11
California must keep free education truly free
Los Angeles Times - 15 hours ago
The basic rule, however, is that a public school education is free. It's true that California's schools are underfunded and that they need more money if they're going to provide a first-class education.
Oakland elementary school teaches children about gender
San Jose Mercury News - Katy Murphy - 21 hours ago
Stone said few parents expressed concern about the program, which was funded by a grant from the California Teachers Association.
State News: 5/25
Jerry Brown, Grover Norquist, Spar On Tax Plan -- Gov. Jerry Brown said Tuesday he is actively negotiating a budget deal with Republicans while conservative activist Grover Norquist roamed Capitol hallways urging GOP leaders to hold the line against taxes. KEVIN YAMAMURA and DAVID SIDERS in the Sacramento Bee
CFT/Affiliates In the News: 5/24
Starting Over?
Inside Higher Ed - 10 hours ago
The challenger, United Faculty, is affiliated with the California Federation of Teachers, which is part of the American Federation of Teachers.
Education News: 5/24
At Sonoma State, Faculty Decry Budget Cuts, Call for Regime Change
Patch.com - Angela Hart - 2 hours ago
The Campaign for the Future of Higher Education launched May 17 with support from a myriad of educational institutions statewide.
Protests over school budget cuts planned across Calif.
abc7.com - 58 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Major protests over cuts to education are planned across California on Tuesday. The grassroots effort, which includes parents and citizens in the community, is designed to bring awareness to the statewide crisis facing public ...
The way forward in the fight against budget cuts in California
World Socialist Web Site - 13 hours ago
In March, Governor Jerry Brown, with support from both parties in the state legislature, approved a budget that cuts more than $8 billion from vital social programs, including education, health care and welfare. A second austerity budget is now being ...l
Buzz: Recognizing Ethnic Studies Stirs Assembly Debate -- At first glance, the issue seemed simple enough: a non-binding resolution that registers support for ethnic studies curriculums at California's three public university systems. The item is in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/24/11
Fensterwald: Judge To Throw Out Trigger Petitions -- Parents at Compton Unified who filed the state’s first Parent Trigger petition will get the charter school they’ve demanded. It just won’t be at their school, McKinley Elementary, but in a church down the street instead. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/24/11
Lack of dates may doom Compton parent petition
San Jose Mercury News - Christina Hoag - 19 hours ago
The petition was filed in December, the first under California's so-called "parent trigger" law, which allows parents to force radical change at underperforming schools through a petition signed by at least half the parents. The Compton school district ...
Fensterwald: The Case For/Against CALPADS -- For all of the shortcomings in its implementation, the data system CALPADS has always had plenty of supporters. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/24/11
http://toped.svefoundation.org/2011/05/24/the-case-foragainst-calpads/
High Schools Offer Grade Boosts To Students Who Improve Test Scores -- High schools are offering a new deal at 39 Los Angeles campuses: Students who raise their scores on the state's standardized tests will be rewarded with higher grades in their classes. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/24/11
State News: 5/24
Education News: 5/23
Doomsday budget forecast for schools may not materialize
San Jose Mercury News - Sharon Noguchi - 5 hours ago
The Legislature acted this spring to impose deep cuts, income-tax revenues unexpectedly improved, and loud protests by teachers and lobbying by schools advocates made clear the political risks of further education cuts. Now, after talk of budget ...
Los Angeles Teachers Union Seeks To Block Test Of Evaluation Program -- Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy appeared to have momentum in the effort to revise educator evaluations in the LAUSD, but the teachers union is digging in its heels. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/23/11
CSU Prepares For The Worst -- It's one thing to talk about a worst- case scenario, it's another to see it in writing. CANAN TASCI in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/23/11
Extension proposal splits community colleges
San Jose Mercury News - Matt Krupnick - 14 hours ago
But some college leaders have welcomed the proposal, saying California's dire budget situation demands innovative thinking.
Fensterwald: Common Core’s Manifesto War -- Opponents of the Common Core standards and the standardized tests that two consortia of states are designing see a plot by the Obama Administration to create a national curriculum. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess --
Young and Homeless (Part III): Risking It All, For an Education
New America Media - 8 hours ago
Since arriving in California three years ago, Antonio has bounced through the homes of five relatives, and attended three high schools. "I have been around a lot," he said, as he listed the various places he has lived. "There were times when I thought ...
Preschools Checked Less Than Dog Kennels -- Dog kennels are inspected once a year in San Diego County. Restaurants get vetted twice as often. But here and across California, preschools and child care centers can go five years without a checkup from state evaluators — and sometimes even longer. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/23/11
New York AG Investigates Calif. For-Profit College Companies -- The New York state attorney general's office has subpoenaed five for-profit college companies, including two California-based operations, Bridgepoint Education of San Diego and Corinthian Colleges of Santa Ana. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/23/11
Union Files Complaint Over Use Of AmeriCorps Volunteers In Twin Rivers Schools -- Twin Rivers Unified School District's use of AmeriCorps volunteers has pleased parents and angered the California School Employees Association, which has filed an unfair practice charge with the Public Employment Relations Board. MELODY GUTIERREZ in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/23/11
5/21
L.A. Teachers Union Seeks To Halt School District Initiatives -- Union opposes testing of a new teacher evaluation system and wants to thwart plans to hand over South Los Angeles campuses to a charter organization. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/21/11
East Bay Schools Not Serving Minorities And Low-Income Students Well, New Study Says -- The report by Education Trust-West, an Oakland-based advocacy group, graded 146 large school districts in California based on four components. The list shows sobering results for several East Bay districts, including Mt. Diablo, Berkeley, and Antioch. SHELLY MERON in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/21/11
Absence Rates At Oakland Unified Schools Alarming -- One out of every seven Oakland Unified public school students last year missed nearly four weeks of school, a rate of excused absences that startled district officials into action and underscores a problem statewide that researchers say could lead to academic failure in the future. JILL TUCKER in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/21/11
Sac State Prepares For Trial As Professor Fights Termination Based On Harassment Claims -- A Sacramento State professor who has been accused of sexually harassing four students and three professors has sued the university, alleging that it botched its investigation of the claims against him and discriminated against him for being Latino. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/21/11
Late News: 5/20
Conference Tackles Truancy - California Report
A silent problem plagues California schools: truancy and chronic absence from class. Experts say it's the best predictor of who's going to drop out before finishing high school. This week, the State Education Department held a conference to begin tackling the problem.
State News: 5/23
The Schwarzenegger Legacy: What Legacy?
By Peter Schrag – California Progress Report
The response was predictable. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s friends were shocked, bewildered and disgusted.
To fix California's budget, we need taxes too Los Angeles Timest
CFT In the News: 5/20
Assembly approves new limits on charter schools
San Mateo Daily Journal - Adam Weintraub - 3 hours ago
Charter schools often hire nonunion teachers, which has made them a target for union-supported legislation. The California Federation of Teachers is a sponsor of AB401. There were 815 charter schools in California during the 2009-2010 school year, ..
Appeal is made for new charter school in Pajaro Valley
Contra Costa Times - Shanna Mccord - 10 hours ago
In addition to the charter school appeal, Jack Carroll of Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers presented a report to the board that shows the Pajaro Valley school district has some of the lowest paid teachers among districts in similar size and ...
Education News: 5/20
LA Mayor Pushes For Tougher Teacher Tenuring Rules
Huffington Post - 44 minutes ago
Since an earlier court ruling deemed mayoral control of schools unconstitutional in California, a school board runs the Los Angeles Unified School District. This means that beyond his political clout and nonprofit education involvement, ...
Brown Proposes Schools, Not Counties, Pay For Mental Health -- Deep in Gov. Jerry Brown's May revision of his January budget is a possible solution to a major conflict over funding mental health services for special education students. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/20/11
Brown Sends Mixed Message On First 5 Funds -- When Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled his revised budget Monday, he sent a mixed message to First 5 commissions throughout the state: On one hand, the budget would no longer include taking $1 billion from them. On the other, the state would still pursue those funds. JOANNA LIN in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/20/11
Tobar: Behind Student Success, An LAUSD Librarian -- Rosemarie Bernier, an LAUSD teacher-librarian facing layoff, teaches students to go beyond textbooks and "learn to stand on the shoulders of the great scientists, philosophers and mathematicians." HECTOR TOBAR in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/20/11
State News: 5/20
California Farmers Begin Using Methyl Iodide
A chili pepper field near Fresno is the first crop in California to be sprayed with the pesticide methyl iodide. Environmental groups are looking to halt more spraying until a lawsuit is resolved. Reporter: Sasha Khokha. California Report
Analyst Urges Lawmakers To Look Beyond Jerry Brown's Budget Options -- The state's nonpartisan budget analyst agreed Thursday with Gov. Jerry Brown's rosier view that California will take in $6.6 billion more than once thought through June 2012, assuring that the revenue bump will factor into the state's fiscal solution. KEVIN YAMAMURA in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/20/11
Budget Analyst Is Critical Of Jerry Brown's Tax Referendum Push -- The nonpartisan legislative analyst says a vote on taxes would create instability for schools and spook Wall Street investors. ANTHONY YORK in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/20/11
Sacramento Lawmakers May Not Be Punished For Late Budget -- The law stipulates that merely passing a budget bill — it says nothing about whether the budget is balanced, as California's Constitution also requires — is enough to keep state pay rolling into lawmakers' bank accounts. The Legislature passed a budget bill in March that closed about half of the deficit. EVAN HALPER and PATRICK MCGREEVY in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/20/11
CFT In the News: 5/19
Community College If You Can Pay
Inside Higher Ed
“The fundamental problem is that this bill represents a major change to the multiple missions of California community colleges,” said Carl Friedlander, president of the Community College Council of the California Federation of Teachers. ...
Crowds protest cuts to higher education
Contra Costa College Advocate
We are one against this educational state of emergency," Kathy Campbell, vice president of the California Federation of Teachers, said. The rally was held in connection with thousands of people up-and-down the state participating in the "State of ...
California Teachers Declare State of Emergency
Labor Notes - 1 hour ago
While teachers from CTA's 1100 local associations led the state-of-emergency week, we were not alone. Our sister union, the California Federation of Teachers, joined us. “Unity Day” in Sacramento brought members of the Service Employees, AFSCME, ...
School wars
Sacramento News & Review - Nick Miller - 10 hours ago
The California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers coordinated the Sacramento rally, one of six actions statewide, calling for five-year extensions of temporary taxes, which expire June 30.
SRJC instructors square off in union vote
Santa Rosa Press Democrat - Sam Scott - 17 hours ago
... Public Employment Relations Board began mailing ballots to 1387 SRJC instructors presenting voters with three choices: stick with AFA, go without any union, or switch to United Faculty, which is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers.
From 5/18:
Students brace for uncertain future
Santa Maria Times - May 18, 2011
Hancock College students listen to speakers during a rally Tuesday to celebrate the end of the year. Administrators outlined the financial reality of potentially devastating state funding cuts for the 2011-12 school year. ... “We must provide more funding for education,” said Mark Miller, Hancock’s part-time faculty association president.
Education News: 5/19
State Analyst Criticizes Brown’s Education Committee Cut -- A proposal to eliminate the California Postsecondary Education Commission would significantly impact the state's ability to protect its investment in public higher education, according to a state analyst. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/19/11
The education funding battle: The right fight for the wrong reasons
Del Mar Times - Marsha Sutton - 2 hours ago
The purpose is to raise awareness of the serious cuts facing education and to pressure California legislators to return funding priority to our schools.
http://www.delmartimes.net/2011/05/19/the-education-funding-battle-the-right-fight-for-the-wrong-reasons/
UC Leaders: Tuition Hikes Nearly Inevitable -- The University of California may charge higher tuition each of the next five years even if the state stops cutting its budget, UC leaders said Wednesday. MATT KRUPNICK in the Contra Costa Times
Fensterwald: John Deasy’s Pressure Chamber -- LAUSD's new leader needs to make things happen fast. JOHN FENSTERWALD
educatedguess -- 5/19/11
Agreeing on What's Best for Kids
Huffington Post (blog) - 1 hour ago
But slashing funding for public education every time we face a budget crisis cannot be our long-term fiscal strategy.
The fuzzy math of teacher layoffs
Sacramento News & Review - 5 hours ago
That's a long way from having a budget deal, but that could mean a bit of a reprieve for local schools. Members of the SCUSD Board of Education will hear a report on the fluid budget situation this Thursday. David Sanchez, president of the California ...
Teachers protest outside Strickland's district office
Thousand Oaks Acorn - Anna Bitong - 14 hours ago
California school districts are in financial limbo as they wait for Sacramento politicians to decide whether to balance the state budget with further cuts to education spending. On Monday, they received word from the state Capitol with news of the ...
Kerchner: Besides Anger, Action And Ideas Can Emerge From The Worst Of Times -- While now is clearly the worst of times, it is also the very best time to think, plan, scheme, and politick about the future of public education. CHARLES TAYLOR KERCHNER TopEd -- 5/19/11
Six Furlough Days May Offset Most Threatened LAUSD Cuts -- Los Angeles Unified officials are expected to announce that they only need six furlough days from all employees to save most threatened jobs and programs, officials close to the negotiations said. CONNIE LLANOS in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 5/19/11
ACLU Challenges School's Net Filter On Gay Info -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California announced Wednesday that it has notified the Oroville Union High School District that its Internet-filtering software has been improperly configured to block access to Web content geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. CATHY LOCKE in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/19/11
State News: 5/19
CFT In the News: 5/18
East Bay lawmaker renews call for tax hike on state's richest
Oakland Tribune
By Josh Richman California Assembly member Nancy Skinner, D-14th District, ... said California Federation of Teachers President-elect Joshua Pechthalt, ...
Brown releases May revise; redevelopment remains on chopping block
Lake County News
At the same time the California Federation of Teachers, which pointed out that even with the additional funds public education's proposed spending in ...
Lake Elsinore Resident Wants To See A Fair Tax Increase For California
Patch.com - Diana Hansen - 47 minutes ago
AB 1130 would raise $2.5 billion and be an important first step in restoring fairness and sanity to California's permanent revenue stream... The California Federation of Teachers asked Governor Brown to include this idea in his tax package. So far he hasn't said yes.
Governor's latest budget changes little at local schools
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Shanna Mccord, donna jones - 9 hours ago
Several school leaders across the county plan to attend a workshop Monday in San Jose organized by School Services of California to better understand the immediate impacts of Brown's budget... The California Federation of Teachers is not backing down from its push for taxing the wealthiest Californians an additional 1 percent to raise an estimated $2.5 billion for education.
Francisco Rodriguez, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, said he's been fielding calls for teachers targeted for layoff asking if their jobs would be saved.
Selected Kaiser Employees Will Strike for 24 Hours Starting Wednesday
Patch.com - Ken Stone - 11 hours ago
“If you have a non-urgent medical appointment scheduled during that 24-hour period, please consider rescheduling it,” wrote Jim Mahler, president of San Diego Local 1931 of the American Federation of Teachers. “Please honor the picket line of our ...
From 5/17:
Public education is 'the last best hope'
Morgan Hill Times - Jeanie Wallace - May 17, 2011
Jeanie Wallace teaches math and social studies at Ann Sobrato High School, has two children who attend schools in the district and is writing on behalf of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers.
Education News: 5/18
Revised California Budget Softens Blow For Schools -- Largely because of rosier revenue projections for the coming year, budget experts at the Capitol say schools gained a cushion against cuts – even if Brown fails in his effort to extend 2009 increases to income taxes. DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/18/11
Schools Are Still Hurting -- The revised state budget plan released Monday provides about $3 billion more to public schools, but local school officials say even if that money materializes, it won't mean reversing the deep cuts districts have had to make. JAMES RUFUS KOREN in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/18/11
Teacher: ‘My Employer Has Become My Enemy’ -- A library media educator in Los Angeles who blogs under the name Mizz Murphy wrote a powerful, first-person account of hearings being held by the Los Angeles Unified School District for teachers and others who who have received a Reduction in Force notice and are trying to keep their jobs. VALERIE STRAUSS in the Washington Post -- 5/18/11
School dropout rates are worse than the numbers show
San Jose Mercury News - 10 hours ago
That's because a lot of kids today leave the education system long before they ever arrive in high school. Because of budget cuts that in many places have eliminated offerings such as arts and music programs, busing, child care and some sports, ...
Faculty groups form campaign for higher education
Los Angeles Times - 16 hours ago
The campaign comes as public college systems throughout the nation face funding reductions that have forced layoffs and higher tuitions as well as cuts in classes and enrollment.
Lawmaker asks Brown to dump teacher-credentialing leaders Sac Bee Capitol Alert
Keeping a vow he made last week, the chairman of the Legislature's joint audit committee sent a letter today asking Gov. Jerry Brown to dump top officials of the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Assemblyman Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, is seeking the ouster of Executive Director Dale Janssen; attorney Mary Armstrong, director of the Division of Professional Practices; and commission Chairwoman Ting Sun.
Bill to boost campus balloting spurs party-line split in Assembly Sac Bee Capitol Alert
Why shouldn't California make it easier for college students to vote?
That was the question posed to the Assembly this week by legislation that would require counties to establish a polling place on at least one college campus for every legislative, congressional, presidential or statewide election.
State News: 5/18
CFT In the News: 5/17
East Bay lawmaker renews call for tax hike on state's richest
San Jose Mercury News - Josh Richman - 19 hours ago
"There's a growing understanding that tax breaks for the richest in this society "... can no longer be tolerated" while public services suffer, said California Federation of Teachers President-elect Joshua Pechthalt, adding that passing this bill and ...
Weeklong Capitol protests mellow into California budget pep rally
Fresno Bee - Jim Sanders - 14 minutes ago
Key speakers included Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation, Yvonne Walker of Service Employees International Union 1000, Jeff Freitas of the California Federation of Teachers, and state schools superintendent Tom Torlakson.
Coast Lines: May 17, 2011
Santa Cruz Sentinel - 8 hours ago
Former Mayor Bruce Van Allen, a community organizer and political strategist, and Fred Glass, state communications director for the California Federation of Teachers, are expected to speak. UC Santa Cruz students will also give a report about recent ...
Demonstrators with Large Gold Brick Disrupt Assemblyman Fletcher's Education ...
OB Rag - Shane Finneran - 14 hours ago
After Fletcher entered his office, Jim Mahler, president of the American Federation of Teachers Guild Local 1931, calls for Fletcher to return.
From 5/16
In Focus Part One: Jim Rose Talks About Teacher Protests
Teachers are trying to pressure GOP lawmakers into supporting Governor Brown's proposal to extend a series of temporary tax hikes that are set to expire.
Without the tax extensions, more layoffs, more kids per classroom and a shorter school year might happen.
On In Focus teacher and outgoing president of the Oxnard Federation of Teachers President talks about what's at stake.
From 5/14:
Calif. debates taxing the wealthy to save schools
San Jose Mercury News - Lien Hoang, Adam Weintraub - May 14, 2011
"The wealthy should pay their fair share; it wouldn't affect them that much," said Joshua Pechthalt, incoming president of the California Federation of Teachers.
Teachers and students gather at City Hall to oppose cuts
Examiner.com - Bryan Lowry - May 14, 2011
Cathy Campbell, President of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, fiercely criticized Republican legislators' efforts to prevent the tax extension, proclaiming on stage, “This isn'ta democracy.
Education News: 5/16
Fensterwald: Big (Invisible) Boost In K-12 Spending -- Gov. Jerry Brown gave K-12 school districts significantly more money, tempered by conflicting messages and sober warnings in the May Revision budget he presented on Monday. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/17/11
Baron: Holding A Line, Almost, On Higher Ed -- California’s public colleges and universities were spared their worst-case scenario fears in Monday’s May revise, but it’s not exactly a cause for celebration. KATHRYN BARON TopEd -- 5/17/11
Schools urged not to rescind pink slips
OCRegister - Scott Martindale - 14 hours ago
SACRAMENTO - California's leading school financial consultant is urging school districts statewide to not rescind pink slips to teachers and other workers for at least a month, but to abandon planning for an anticipated "worst-case" ...
Tom Elias: Dropout reports are a whitewash
Record-Searchlight - Tom Elias - 10 hours ago
That comes with county schools, as opposed to local ones. All 58 California counties run little-publicized school systems, mostly for problem pupils. There are schools in juvenile halls and youth camps - it's difficult to drop out of those.
Fensterwald: CALPADS Put On Ice -- Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing to suspend funding for CALPADS, the state student longitudinal data system, and to stop further planning for CALTIDES, the teacher data base system that was to be joined at the hip with CALPADS. That big piece of education news was tucked away in May Revision of the state budget that Brown presented on Monday. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/17/11
Federal Plan Would Expand School Year – As California's Shrinks -- Even as school districts around California are shrinking their school year, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington is trying to push states to move in the opposite direction. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/17/11
Banks: At Manual Arts High, Same Goals But Different Methods -- Longtime teacher bristles at the 'failing school' label and dreads a pending restructure of his program. But he and his new bosses seem to share a vision: Preparing students to succeed in college and in life. SANDY BANKS in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/11
National: 5/16
43 education programs Republicans want to eliminate
Washington Post (blog) - Valerie Strauss - 6 hours ago
The program has never been authorized but has been funded under an existing ESEA authority eliminated by the Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act.
State News: 5/16
Brown Releases Revised Budget Plan With $6.6-Billion Windfall -- State revenue has rocketed to a projected $6.6 billion beyond expectations, a windfall that Gov. Jerry Brown wants to use to stabilize education spending and help repair California's battered finances. EVAN HALPER and A NTHONY YORK in the Los Angeles Times
East Bay Lawmaker Renews Call For Tax Hike On State's Richest -- Just before Gov. Jerry Brown released his May budget revision Monday, an East Bay lawmaker touted her bill to raise taxes on the richest 1 percent of California's residents by 1 percentage point -- a move she said would bring in $2.3 billion per year. JOSH RICHMAN in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/17/11
For Our Top 400 Taxpayers, a Near-Record Year
By Sam Pizzigati in the California Progress Report
America's super rich, new IRS income data show, partied on right through the depth of the Great Recession. And they shared precious little of their good fortune with Uncle Sam.
CFT In the News: 5/14-16
Calif. debates taxing the wealthy to save schools
Fresno Bee
... California Federation of Teachers. The union supports Skinner's legislation. The state's largest teachers union, the California Teachers Association, ...
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/14/2388128/calif-debates-taxing-the-wealthy.html
Rally for education: Waving the pink flag of priorities
Examiner.com
At San Diego's rally, Gregg Robinson, representing the California Federation of Teachers, expressed fear that without adequate school funding, “our students ...
http://www.examiner.com/public-education-in-san-diego/rally-for-education-waving-the-pink-flag-of-priorities
Rally Sends Message to Sacramento: Stop Cutting our Schools' Budgets
Patch.com
Gregg Robinson of the California Federation of Teachers gave a fiery speech that blasted politicians for cutting education funding while undertaxing ...
http://lemongrove.patch.com/articles/rally-sends-message-to-sacramento-stop-cutting-our-schools-budgets
Calif. debates taxing the wealthy to save schools
Danbury News Times
"The wealthy should pay their fair share; it wouldn't affect them that much," said Joshua Pechthalt, incoming president of the California Federation of ...
http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Calif-debates-taxing-the-wealthy-to-save-schools-1379558.php
Weeklong Capitol protests mellow into California budget pep rally
Sacramento Bee - Jim Sanders - 2 days ago
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/14/3626088/weeklong-capitol-protests-mellow.html
California protest of budget cuts falls short of expectations
Bellingham Herald
Key speakers included Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation, Yvonne Walker of Service Employees International Union 1000, Jeff Freitas of the ...
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/05/13/2014043/california-protest-of-budget-cuts.html
Education News: 5/14-16
Calif. debates taxing the wealthy to save schools
San Jose Mercury News - Lien Hoang - Adam Weintraub - 2 days ago
Her AB1130 would tack another 1 percent onto the tax rate of any taxable ... But Skinner said AB1130 returns fairness to the tax structure by using the ...
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCsQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mercurynews.com%2Fnews%2Fci_18063986&ei=JT3RTe_rDpK6sQPHttSSDg&usg=AFQjCNGKcKsV9kFq2s8VQ2G9dzfPl-r_0g
Teachers Protest Education Cuts
Thousands of teachers boarded buses and carpooled to Sacramento this week to take part in what they call the "State of Emergency," a week-long series of rallies at the state capitol. They're pressuring lawmakers to approve tax extensions to limit state education cuts. A number of teachers were arrested -- but will their actions make a difference? Reporter: Ana Tintocalis. The California Report
http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201105131630/a
Long Wait For Layoffs -- Joyella Beuler spends five afternoons a week teaching reading, writing and math to enthusiastic kindergarten students. But like thousands of other teachers statewide, the Lytle Creek Elementary School teacher faces an uncertain future. DEBBIE PFEIFFER TRUNNELL in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/16/11
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18068508?source=rss
Baron: It’s Not Business, It’s Personal -- It’s a measure of how worried and angry people are that nearly a hundred parents, students, educators, and policy makers gave up their Saturday to learn just how badly schools will be hit under Gov. Brown’s all-cuts budget, due out today, and to discuss some of the not-so popular solutions. Kathryn Baron TopEd -- 5/16/11
http://toped.svefoundation.org/2011/05/16/its-not-business-its-personal/
Teacher Pink Slips - Uncomfortable Budget Uncertainty For Instructors And School Districts --As she has every year since she began teaching, Holly Gonzalez celebrated her May 15 birthday with a pink slip -- not the silky kind that comes in a shiny box, but the flat one that comes in a plain white envelope. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/16/11
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_18070516?source=rss
Schools Supposed To Integrate Even Without Buses -- Hoping to save more teacher jobs, the San Diego Unified school board is talking about halting integration busing in the massive school district. Yet under an old court order that stems from the Carlin case, San Diego Unified is still supposed to integrate its schools. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/16/11
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/education/schooled/article_1fd9e996-7f57-11e0-b33d-001cc4c002e0.html
Counseling Suffers -- When her daughters, Jennice and Brittney, attended A.B. Miller High School in Fontana Unified School District, counselors made a difference and guided them along the path to college, Russi said. Her son, Anthony, will be a freshman at the school next year. And now it's looking as though there won't be any counselors. JIM STEINBERG in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/16/11
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18068506?source=rss
Debates Focus On Taxing The Wealthy To Save Schools -- Taxing the rich more to benefit others isn't a new idea, but it has emerged in recent weeks as a potential solution as California tries to salvage its public education system from deep budget cuts. LIEN HOANG AP -- 5/15/11
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_18065556?source=rss
State News: 5/16
Sac Bee AM Alert: Budget
Here comes the latest round in the budget war: Gov. Jerry Brown is releasing the May revision of his budget proposal.
The news conference starts at 11 a.m. and will be streamed live on the governor's website at www.gov.ca.gov. The California Channel http://www.calchannel.com/ will also be covering it live on cable and at www.calchannel.com.
http://www.gov.ca.gov/
Democrats Believe Two-Thirds Margin In California Legislature Is Within Reach -- State Democrats tired of dickering with Republicans for tax votes are increasingly hopeful that next year they will elect a majority large enough to make negotiating unnecessary. DAVID SIDERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/16/11
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/16/3629038/democrats-believe-two-thirds-margin.html#mi_rss=State%20Politics
Gov. Jerry Brown Not Giving Up On Tax Hikes To Help California Budget -- Gov. Jerry Brown, facing mounting pressure to walk away from his stalled budget plan, is refusing to yield and will seek to reinvigorate his campaign for a public vote on taxes with the revised spending package he releases Monday. But there will be a new twist. SHANE GOLDMACHER in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/16/11http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/la-me-state-budget-20110516,0,143780.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fpolitics%2Fcal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+Politics%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Leavenworth: Will Steinberg's New Budget Gambit Fly? -- What are the chances lawmakers will strike a budget deal prior to the start of the fiscal year? STUART LEAVENWORTH in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/11
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/15/3625844/will-steinbergs-new-budget-gambit.html#mi_rss=Opinion
Hiltzik: Public Pension Reform, Not Public-Worker Bashing -- We'll never achieve an equitable and effective fix to the very real problem of unsustainable public pension obligations until we dispel the miasma of non-facts enveloping this highly fraught topic. MICHAEL HILTZIK in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/11
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20110515,0,1032272.column
Yet One More Sisyphean Attempt at Initiative Reform
By Peter Schrag California Progress Report
Why is it so hard to enact even the most obvious reforms of California’s opaque, budget-busting initiative process? Is it special interest pressure? Is it ideology? Is it jealous turf-protection?
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/node/8982
Let's Give The 'People's Budget' a Chance
By Hannah-Beth Jackson in the California Progress Report
When I participated in my first budget battle as a new member of the California Assembly back in the late 1990s, I was admonished that the budget isn't just a collection of numbers. It is a moral statement of our values as a people and a community. The budgets proposed by the Republicans -- both in California and in Washington, D.C. -- clearly show that today's Republican Party values millionaires over working families and Big Oil over seniors.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/node/8979
Education News: 5/13
Calif. protests highlight teachers' frustrations
BusinessWeek - Juliet Williams - 6 hours ago
Teguia was among the hundreds of teachers who converged on the state Capitol this week to press lawmakers for more education funding as schools face the prospect of billions of dollars in cuts to balance California's budget. Amid frustrations over past ...
"State of Emergency" Rally Planned for Sacramento Friday
May 12, 2011 @ 2:26 PM California California Majority Report
Parents, students, educators and other public school supporters across California will be participating in State of Emergency rallies to highlight the devastating impact that more than $20 billion in state budget cuts have had on public education, colleges and other essential services.
Hundreds Of Teachers Rally For Tax Extensions -- Hundreds of teachers, many wearing red shirts and waving signs, lined both sides of a hundred-yard-long stretch of Harbor Boulevard Thursday afternoon, rallying for support of tax extensions they said would stave off billions of dollars in cuts to public education. AP -- 5/13/11
Teachers arrested in protests at Calif. Capitol
(AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — More than two dozen California teachers, including the president of the state's largest teachers union, have been arrested at the state Capitol as part of a protest over education funding in the state budget.
Fensterwald: Here’s To The Data System That Works -- California can’t get a computer system right. Its K-12 longitudinal data has been a disaster. Post-secondary institutions are squabbling; a P-20 data system, from pre-school to post-college, remains a concept. You’re heard that before; I’ve written it myself. But that’s not the complete story. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/13/11
Tobar: The Disgraceful Interrogation Of L.A. School Librarians -- If state education cuts are drastic, the librarians' only chance of keeping a paycheck is to prove they're qualified to be switched to classroom teaching. So LAUSD attorneys grill them. HECTOR TOBAR in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/13/11
Teacher Layoffs Out Of Sync With Budget Impasse -- Thousands of California teachers will receive final layoff notices by a state-imposed deadline of May 15, even though school districts are still in the dark about their financial status in the coming school year. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/13/11
Oakland Unified Becomes A Cautionary Tale For State Takeovers In California -- Eight years after the Oakland school district's financial meltdown and state takeover, the local school board can't seem to shake past mistakes -- including some made by the state agency tasked with restoring its fiscal health. KATY MURPHY in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/
Richmond Schools' Historic Meltdown -- When the Richmond school district ran out of money in 1991, school almost closed six weeks before summer vacation, leaving high school seniors with incomplete transcripts and no diplomas. KATY MURPHY in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/13/11
Planned Merger Of Charter School Organizations Dissolves -- Financially troubled ICEF Public Schools, backed by Richard Riordan, was to be acquired by Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, but the deal has been scrapped, and ICEF's leadership is in flux. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/13/11
Dual-language immersion in schools proves popular
San Francisco Chronicle - Teresa Watanabe - 13 hours ago
California had 224 programs in 100 school districts as of 2008 - a number that officials say has risen considerably in recent years.
The Truth Behind the "Foundation" for Fiscal Responsibility's Study & Mike Genest's Study on Pensions (Maviglio story from 5/12 follows)
By Allan Clark California School Employees Association in the California Progress Report
Al and Wilma Diggle live in a mobile home on a small swath of desert in the town of Inyokern, Calif. They drive an 11-year-old station wagon, and the total $1,500-a-month pension for each working more than a decade at public schools barely covers their health bills.
5/12: late news:
Pension Experts Assail California "Reform" Group's Study
All Reports by Steven Maviglio – California Majority Report May 12, 2011 @ 12:24 PM
In a blistering report, experts at the California Public Employee Retirement System today blasted a pension report by former Schwarzenegger Department of Finance Director Michael Genest for the Foundation for California Fiscal Reform, saying it is "flawed" and "raises serious concerns."
Teachers Protest Budget Cuts From Coast To Coast
Huffington Post
Angry teachers from New York City to Detroit to California are rallying, ... Tomorrow, the United Federation of Teachers, New York City's teachers union, ...
State News: 5/13
Jerry Brown Set Stage For Budget Fight With Campaign Tax Promise -- The Democratic governor launched his campaign in March 2010 on a promise he would not raise taxes without a vote of the people. It was a way to disarm GOP attacks on taxes while embracing the popular notion of allowing voters to resolve the budget. KEVIN YAMAMURA in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/13/11
Republican Plan For California Budget Relies On Deep Cuts -- The Republican proposal relies on deep cuts in spending on state workers, the mentally ill and the disabled, as well as an optimistic revenue projection, and no tax extensions. Democrats attack the plan. SHANE GOLDMACHER in the Los Angeles Times
GOP unveils long-awaited budget proposal
San Francisco Chronicle - 12 hours ago
Members of the California Teachers Association protested state education cuts and refused to leave the offices of Conway and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga (San Bernardino County).
From 5/12:
Union to launch ad blitz on budget in GOP districts
The state's largest public employee union, Service Employees International Union California, will launch a "seven-figure" ad campaign Friday targeting GOP members who could vote for a budget deal. Sac Bee Capitol Alert
CFT In the News: 5/12
KQED 5/12/11 Audit: Teacher Oversight Panel in Disarray Taped program available later today
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is responsible for reviewing allegations of misconduct by teachers and school administrators. A recent audit exposed major flaws in how the state agency investigates such complaints, and how it revokes credentials. Also uncovered was a backlog of three years worth of cases, and familial relationships among commission employees. Now, a legislator is calling for a complete change in leadership for the agency. Gary Ravani, vice president of the Early Childhood/K-12 Council for the California Federation of Teachers and former high school teacher in Petaluma
Teachers call for CalSTRS to divest from methyl iodide.
Monterey County Weekly - Mary Duan - 9 hours ago
In March, the smaller of California's two teachers' unions - the 120000-member California Federation of Teachers - issued a resolution at its annual meeting calling for CalSTRS to divest from Permira unless Arysta stops manufacturing MIDAS - or until ...
District protests further state budget hits
Napa Valley Register - Adam Weintraub, Juliet Williams - 9 hours ago
The California Federation of Teachers also supports a bill by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, which would increase the income tax rate from 9.3 percent to 10.3 percent on taxable income of $500000 and up, CTA spokesman Steve Hopcraft said.
State of emergency
Pasadena Weekly - André Coleman - 3 hours ago
On Monday, the California Federation of Teachers unveiled a radio ad singling out GOP state senators who oppose the tax extensions.
Op-Ed: School Board Needs to Lower Its Reserves and Pay Its Teachers
Patch.com - Leslie Lipman - 21 hours ago
The Novato Federation of Teachers has been saying all along that our board spends money on what they value. It is very obvious that what is valued in NUSD is administrators and consultants.
Education News: 5/12
Teachers, Students To Hold Rallies All Over Bay Area
KTVU San Francisco - 21 hours ago
BAY AREA -- Educators and students planned rallies across the Bay Area Wednesday to honor teachers and to protest looming state budget cuts to education.
Vallejo teachers, others join chorus urging higher taxes
Contra Costa Times - Lanz Christian Bañes - 8 hours ago
We're talking about amputation," said Robert Raven, a Vallejo High School history and French teacher. Educators across the state have been protesting this week, organized by the California Teachers Association, the state's largest teachers union.
Schools Chief, Teachers Press Taxes With Lawmakers -- State schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson joined dozens of teachers, nurses and firefighters at a state Capitol rally Wednesday, the latest in a weeklong series of actions designed to pressure California lawmakers into raising taxes to avoid deep spending cuts to education. DON THOMPSON AP -- 5/12/11
Calif. protests highlight teachers' frustrations San Jose Mercury News
Fensterwald: Board Stands By Aspire’s Statewide Charters -- In the face of a court challenge, the State Board of Education reaffirmed its authority Wednesday to allow a half-dozen Aspire Public Schools charter schools serving low-income minority students to continue operating. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/12/11
State To Audit School Seismic Safety Regulator -- Legislators voted yesterday to fast-track an audit of the office that oversees public school construction after a recent California Watch investigation found it had routinely failed to enforce earthquake safety laws. COREY G. JOHNSON California Watch -- 5/12/11
If An Earthquake Hits, Is Your Child's School Safe? California Legislators ...
Huffington Post - 3 hours ago
Altogether the audit could cost California taxpayers around $500000. The California Watch investigation centered around the Field Act, a state law that requires the government to oversee all school construction projects and certify that these projects ...
Three Investigations Later, Grades Changed Back -- A new report from the San Diego County Office of Education urges an unconventional high school to change back grades that were improperly altered, ending the bitter saga over grade-changing allegations at the San Diego Metropolitan Career and Technical High School, known as the Met. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/12/11
Raise $1 Million In A Week To Save School Jobs? Not Even In Beverly Hills -- The Beverly Hills school district falls short of its official goal but raises enough cash to cause the board to cancel 11 layoffs. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/12/11
SF Public Schools To Cut 152 Jobs
The San Francisco Appeal - 4 hours ago
by Bay City News The San Francisco Board of Education voted to eliminate 152 teaching and administrator positions because of anticipated state budget cuts at Tuesday night's meeting. The 6-1 vote came after the San Francisco Unified School District ...
Seniority policy puts Futures Elementary teachers at risk
San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - Lillian Mongeau - 16 hours ago
As elected officials sort out California's budget, with further cuts to education expected, public school districts are preparing to lay off teachers.
Viewpoints: Gov. Brown should drop school scare and do these two things
Sacramento Bee - Tom Del Beccaro Chairman of the California Republican Party- 9 hours ago
In an era of perennial budget crises in California, we cannot forget that California schools are in crisis, too. The simplistic answer for some is to throw more money at schools.
From 5/11:
GOP Education Bill Rejected Amid Teacher Protests
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Capital Public Radio
A state Senate committee heard a bill that would change the way some teachers are evaluated Wednesday. The backdrop was the week-long teachers’ protest at the Capitol.
Lawmaker calls for toppling California's teacher credentialing bosses
Fresno Bee - Jim Sanders - May 11, 2011
A blistering two-hour legislative hearing into problems within the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing ended Tuesday with a key lawmaker committed to toppling the panel's bosses. Assemblyman Ricardo Lara ...
State News: 5/12
Business Groups Urge Jerry Brown, Lawmakers To Solve Budget -- A business coalition pushed Wednesday for a grand state budget compromise that essentially merges Gov. Jerry Brown's budget and GOP demands for long-term pension and spending controls. San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/12/11
Higher taxes backed; California business leaders don't want all cuts
Modesto Bee - Ken Carlson - 9 hours ago
But a coalition of business groups from throughout California has come out against an all-cuts state budget that it said would cause long-term damage to public safety, education and safety-net programs. The coalition supports extension ...
G OP Needs to Offer More to Budget Crisis than “No”
By Angie Wei California Labor Federation in the California Progress Report
Assembly Republican leader Connie Conway has an answer to just about any question directly relating to our budget crisis. “No.” No revenues.
New Census Data Reveals Aging Calif. Population in the California Report
New Census data out Thursday shows that even though California added more than three million people since the 2000 census, the state has a quarter of a million fewer children between 5 and 14. Reporter: Scott Shafer.
From 5/11:
Census Bureau releases details on California's population in the Sac Bee Capitol Alert
Talk about a data dump.
The U.S. Census Bureau is releasing all the details of its 2010 census in California, slicing and dicing its 37.3 million residents by race and ethnicity, age, gender, marital status and housing.
CFT In the News: 5/11
Speak up, help save our schools
Times-Standard - 8 hours ago
The Education Coalition includes representatives from the American Federation of Teachers, Association of California School Administrators, California School Boards Association, California School Employees Association, California Teachers Association, ...
Teachers' Unions Pricey Campaign May Not Sway GOP Lawmakers
The Bay Citizen - Jennifer Gollan - 18 hours ago
This week, the California Teachers' Association and the California Federation of Teachers are running radio ads in heavily Republican districts, urging voters to ask their legislators to support the tax extensions.
Stung by cuts, Marin teachers seek recognition for their work
Marin Independent-Journal - Rob Rogers - 17 hours ago
The cuts have left even veteran teachers in well-heeled districts fearing for their jobs, and have heightened tensions between teachers and administrators. Members of the Novato Federation of Teachers plan to distribute flyers protesting high ...
Walgrove Parents, Teachers Protest Looming Education Cuts
Patch.com - Brooke Wirtschafter - 21 hours ago
Teachers also distributed a flier announcing that UTLA and the California Federation of Teachers will hold a protest in Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles and at other sites at 4 pm Friday to demand that the state pass the tax increase bill and ...
Late News 5/10:
Calif. teachers protest budget at state Capitol
Forbes - Juliet Williams, Adam Weintraub - May 10, 2011
In addition, the California Federation of Teachers began running a radio ad in selected areas, singling out Republican state senators who oppose extending the tax increases.
Berkeley school district faces deep cuts
Berkeleyside - Frances Dinkelspiel - May 10, 2011
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers and other unions will be leafleting Berkeley's three BART stations at 4 pm today. A group will also be traveling to San Francisco for a 4 pm rally at Civic Center Plaza on Friday.
KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, LouisianaCalif. teachers begin week of ...
KPLC-TV
In addition, the California Federation of Teachers began running a radio ad in selected areas, singling out Republican state senators who oppose extending ...
Education protest at California Capitol leads to dozens of arrests
89.3 KPCC
The protests are expected to continue all week at the Capitol. The California Teachers Federation's called for a rally and sit-in on Friday.
Education News: 5/11
Cal State Considers Drastic Contingency Plan In Case Of An 'All Cuts' Budget -- California State University is considering a contingency plan that would increase tuition up to 32% and turn away thousands of students next year if the state makes further budget cuts. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times
Trustees' vote to send final notices affects mainly teachers
Contra Costa Times - Kelly Puente - 10 hours ago
"Today is a very sad day for our school system as well as the entire state of California," said Steinhauser, noting that an estimated 20000 teachers in California will lose their jobs as a result of state budget cuts. "This is a direct impact of what's
Fensterwald: To The Barricades And To The Mall -- The tent sign on a table at the food court at Valley Fair Mall in San Jose read, “I am a teacher. Ask me what I do.” So I did. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/11/11
Teachers stage 'grade-in' at mall food court
OCRegister - Scott Martindale - 1 hour ago
"We can fairly fund education within current budget realities," he told the Register. "We need to take a hard look at other state operations taking the reductions proportional to cuts already made to education."
Lawmaker Calls For Toppling California's Teacher Credentialing Bosses -- A blistering two-hour legislative hearing into problems within the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing ended Tuesday with a key lawmaker committed to toppling the panel's bosses. JIM SANDERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/11/11
'Thin Contracts' Will Be Required For Groups Bidding To Take Over L.A. Schools -- L.A. school officials have approved amended rules for how groups will compete to take control of new and low-performing schools in the state’s largest school system, and the revisions already have raised objections from the teachers union. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/11/11
Huntington Park High Students Walk Out To Protest Pending Removal Of Teachers -- An estimated 250 to 300 students from Huntington Park High School organized a walkout to protest the anticipated replacement of at least half the school’s teachers. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/11/11
Judge Orders Consultants To Pay Santa Ana Unified $2.5 Million -- A Superior Court judge has ordered former Santa Ana Unified consultants to repay the school district about $2.5 million from commissions they concealed while negotiating employee benefit contracts. FERMIN LEAL in the Orange County Register -- 5/11/11
Senior Citizens Blast SRJC Program Cuts -- Scores of senior citizens showed up at Santa Rosa Junior College trustees meeting Tuesday to protest budget cuts that cancelled the school’s older adult education program this summer, laying off teachers and leaving many students wondering what to do. As one of the outraged speakers told board members, “now you’ve pissed off Grandma.” SAM SCOTT in the Santa Rosa Press -- 5/11/11
San Mateo County's English learners slip but still fare better than peers ...
San Jose Mercury News - Neil Gonzales - 14 hours ago
"These results demonstrate that the valiant efforts of teachers and school administrators to help our students become fluent in English are being undermined by budget cuts that are crowding classes and shortening the school year," state education chief ...
State News: 5/11
Herdt: Putting Direct Democracy Back On Track -- The 2012 ballot initiative season has arrived, and it's time to put up the red flag alert. The playing-with-fire danger is high. TIMM HERDT in the Ventura Star -- 5/11/11
CFT In the News: 5/10
From the Chicago Tribune 5/10/11
School efforts
This is in response to your April 30 editorial "Parent power." When you refer to the McKinley Elementary School petition in Compton, Calif., as "parent-powered, child-focused," you ignore the fact that the petition was circulated not by parents in the school but by paid organizers pushing a for-profit charter school operation. Dozens of parents signed their names after being given false information about the nature of the petition, and once they found out, asked to retract their signatures. That's one important reason the board took action, a fact you leave out.
The quote you attribute to the California Federation of Teachers president did not appear, as the editorial implies, during the effort by the school board to stop the petition but nearly a year earlier, before the bill became law. Your comment "cue the hysteria" would more aptly apply to your editorial.
— Carolyn Richie, president, Compton Council of Classified Employees, Compton, California
5/9 Late News:
REGION: Teachers plan week of protests
North County Times
On Monday, hundreds of California teachers marched in downtown San Francisco and rallied at the state Capitol to launch the week of protests. In addition, the California Federation of Teachers began running a radio ad in selected areas, singling out ...
Calif. teachers protest budget at state Capitol
The Associated Press - May 9, 2011
In addition, the California Federation of Teachers began running a radio ad in selected areas, singling out Republican state senators who oppose extending the tax increases.
Calif. teachers call for week of budget protests
KGO-TV
The 120000-member California Federation of Teachers is also participating in the weeklong series of events. Next week's events by the teachers unions also ...
Education News: 5/10
CHP Arrests Protesters At Capitol -- About 65 teachers and students protesting budget cuts at the Capitol were arrested this evening after the building closed and California Highway Patrol officers warned them repeatedly to leave. DAVID SIDERS SacBee Capitol Alert SHANE GOLDMACHER and MICHAEL MISHAK in the Los Angeles Times WYATT BUCHANAN in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/10/11
Nearly 300 Rally In Orange County Against School Cuts -- Nearly 300 educators, parents, students and rallied on Monday outside the Orange County offices of state Assemblyman Chris Norby, R-Fullerton to support proposed tax extensions they said will prevent billions in cuts to public schools. FERMIN LEAL in the Orange County Register -- 5/10/11
In Simi Valley Protest, Teachers Call On Legislators To Protect Schools -- Dozens of teachers marched outside state Sen. Tony Strickland's Simi Valley office Monday, saying their students deserve a better future. CHERI CARLSON, TIMM HERDT in the Ventura Star -- 5/10/11
Educators Stage Protests -- Calling for a tax extension to help solve the state's budget fiasco, a dozen teachers from local school districts protested outside Sen. Bob Dutton's office on Monday. WENDY LEUNG in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 5
Hernandez: California At A Crossroads: My Generation’s Future Hangs In Balance -- Today I’m traveling to Sacramento, along with hundreds of student and parent leaders from across California, to deliver an urgent but simple message to the State Legislature and the Governor: It’s time to upgrade California’s education system. MIRIAM HERNANDEZ TopEd -- 5/10/11
Week of Education Protests Begins With Arrests
About 1,000 protesters, organized by the California Teachers Association, took over the state capitol yesterday. Roughly 65 of them were arrested last night after the building closed and California Highway Patrol officers warned them to leave. So ended Day One of a week of statewide protests against education budget cuts dubbed a "State of Emergency." Reporter: John Myers.
California Teachers Association’s Occupying the Wrong Office
By Robert Cruickshank Calitics in the California Progress Report
It's a headline sure to stir the hearts of progressives, education activists, and Californians who are just plain sick and tired of watching their public schools driven to collapse by the Republicans: the California Teachers Association is going to mount a "Wisconsin-style occupation " of the state capitol in Sacramento.
Only problem: it won't accomplish a thing.
Some Schools May Shorten Year to Fit Budget
For decades, California students went to school 180 days in a year. This year, many districts trimmed a week of instruction from their calendars, and some plan to cut up to a month if this year's cuts are severe. Reporter: Ana Tintocalis.
U.S. Schools Chief Backs Off On Publication Of Teacher Ratings -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has tempered his initial enthusiasm for publishing teacher effectiveness ratings based on test scores. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/10/11
Protest presses Dutton on cuts
Contra Costa Times - Wendy Leung, Chantal M. Lovell - 13 hours ago
The Haven Avenue protest was among many in California that kick-started a week's worth of activities aimed to put public pressure on Republicans who back a cuts-only state budget solution. "We don't believe a cuts-only budget will stave off the ...
Calif. parents press tax hikes to fund schools
San Jose Mercury News - Lien Hoang - 7 hours ago
On Tuesday, parents of imprisoned youth will push lawmakers to extend recent tax hikes to avoid education cuts. The parents, from Books Not Bars, say such funding is a smarter investment than locking up minors.
LAUSD Says Its New Method Of Evaluating Student, Teacher Performance Works, But Many Skeptical -- For years Pacoima Middle School has struggled with dismal test scores that have chronically earned it a spot on a federal watch list of campuses in need of major academic improvements. CONNIE LLANOS in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 5/10/11
Unable To Charge Fees, Schools Brace For Shift In Extracurricular Programs -- Legal settlement bars public schools from charging student fees, and proposed legislation would require all materials and equipment to be provided free. Some schools say they'll have to scrap programs. MEGAN O'NEIL in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/10/11
Perry: Fewer Bullies, More Leaders -- In a tiny school district on the outskirts of Stockton, an elementary school principal is incorporating the work of leadership icon Stephen Covey to produce some surprisingly youthful leaders: an entire student body of more than 500 kindergarten through 6th graders. MATT PERRY HealthyCal.org -- 5/10/11
L.A. District Plans Shakeup At Huntington Park High -- By July, officials, spurred by board member Yolie Flores, are expected to replace at least half the teachers at the campus. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/10/11
Remaking Remedial Education -- Chabot is on the leading edge of a movement to improve the odds of college success for students whose scores on community college placement exams put them in developmental education. Their current chances aren’t too good. KATHRYN BARON TopEd -- 5/10/11
State News: 5/10
CFT/Affiliates In the News: 5/9
It's Time To Fight Back! United Public Workers for Action
Bay Area Indymedia - 9 hours ago
The emergency week of action called for by the California Teachers Association (CTA) and supported by the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) was sparked by growing anger among teachers and supporters of public education that the massive budget ...
California teachers begin weeklong series of protests against possible cuts to ...
Washington Post - 50 minutes ago
Rallies and teach-ins are planned throughout California as schools face mass layoffs, program cuts and shorter school years. The protests will culminate Friday with a sit-in at the state Capitol. United Educators of San Francisco President Dennis Kelly ...
San Diego Hosts Three May Day Rallies
Bay Area Indymedia - Mark Gabrish Conlan - 17 hours ago
“The workers are owed a big kiss from the elite,” said Greg Robinson, political director for local 131 of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). “We are systematically under attack. But there's a solution. It's called solidarity.
Examining California's Parent Trigger Law
NPR - 19 hours ago
And the California Federation of Teachers, the main teachers union, says the law amounts to a parent lynch mob. But lawmakers in several other states, including Maine, Ohio and Illinois, are now also considering whether to introduce similar laws there.
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/08/136119042/examining-californias-parent-trigger-law
High bar for firing kept Sacramento teacher on paid leave for 14 months
Sacramento Bee - Melody Gutierrez - May 8, 2011
Zoglman said she believes California's current laws provide for a swift dismissal process. But another major teachers union would like to see changes. Tired of being blamed for long paid leaves, the American Federation of Teachers voted in February to ..
Education News: 5/7-9
Week of Action:
Teachers To Rally, Push To Prevent Education Budget Cuts -- Teachers and other education advocates will converge on Sacramento on Monday -- some planning to sit in at the Capitol Rotunda -- to draw attention to potentially devastating cutbacks in schools and to prod the Legislature to mend a gaping hole in the state budget. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 5/9/11
University Of California Weighs Varying Tuitions At Its 10 Campuses -- Should an education at UC Berkeley cost more than one at UC Santa Cruz? Should a student pay $11,000 in tuition at UC Riverside while his friend is billed $16,000 at UCLA? LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/9/11
Schrag: Complaining About Civics Illiteracy Is As American As Ignorance Itself -- “Ignorance of U.S. History Shown by College Freshmen,” the headline said. “Survey of 7,000 Students in 36 Institutions Discloses Vast Fund of Misinformation On Many Basic Facts.” Sound familiar? PETER SCHRAG TopEd -- 5/9/11
Baron: Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here -- Developmental education in California’s community colleges is a study in unintended consequences. KATHRYN BARON TopEd -- 5/9/11
San Diego Schools' Big Pink Slip Conundrum -- You can spot the kids in the Academy of Finance at San Diego High School of Business on Tuesdays, crisp in sports coats and suits. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/9/11
Dual-Language Immersion Programs Growing In Popularity -- Dual-language immersion programs are the new face of bilingual education — without the stigma. They offer the chance to learn a second language not just to immigrant children, but to native-born American students as well. TERESA WATANABE in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/9/11
5/8:
Audit Finds Concern About Family Ties In Hiring For California Teacher Credentialing Panel -- The state agency that decides whether teachers are fit for California classrooms has a record of hiring workers with family ties. JIM SANDERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/8/11
Times Updates And Expands Value-Added Ratings For Long Angeles Elementary School Teachers -- New data include ratings for about 11,500 teachers, nearly double the number covered last August. School and civic leaders had sought to halt release of the data. JASON SONG and JASON FELCH in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/11
Deep Cuts Will Close Doors, Turn Away Families At State Preschools -- In Miss Rasa's Room 3, today is the best day: There's painting, storytelling and blowing through a straw to see whether water, milk or dishwater creates more bubbles. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/8/11
Degree Of Difficulty -- Adan Morales, 22, is dedicated to graduating - at any cost. "I couldn't afford to commute to and from school so (in my junior year) for five days a week I would sleep in my car," said the San Bernardino resident and fourth-year Cal Poly Pomona psychology major. CANAN TASCI in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/8/11
Deeply Divided On Solutions -- Teachers and school district officials across San Bernardino County say there's a crisis in public education, that there's not enough money for schools to function properly, that children are being cheated out of their best chance for success. JAMES RUFUS KOREN in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/8/11
Divided Attention -- Ensuring the needs of every student are met is not as easy as one, two, three for teachers facing larger classes. CHANTAL M. LOVELL in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/8/11
Pink-Slipped Before, This Might Be The Last -- In the days leading up to March 15, Russell Groenheim was one of 68 counselors in the Fontana Unified School District who received a pink slip. DEBBIE PFEIFFER TRUNNELL in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/8/11
Cuts Cause Ripple Effect -- Deep funding cuts in public education will create hardships for both future employees and county businesses down the road, say Inland Empire educators, employers and economists. DEBBIE PFEIFFER TRUNNELL and CANAN TASCI in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/8/11
Boren: Test Scores Don’t Mean That Much -- Unfortunately, this accountability system doesn’t tell us much beyond what we already knew about our public schools. JIM BOREN in the Fresno Bee -- 5/8/11
State News: 5/7-9
5/8
Gavin Newsom And Kamala Harris: The California Democratic Party's Future? -- The party's top officeholders — Gov. Jerry Brown and U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer — are all in their 70s. Newsom and Harris top the list of up-and-comers. SEEMA MEHTA and MAEVE RESTON in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/11
CFT In the News: 5/6
Budget cuts spark rally
Mesa Press - 15 hours ago
asked John Mahler, President of American Federation of Teachers Guild for San Diego Community Colleges. According to Mahler the 40 percent increase in student fees equates to a poverty tax.
Education News: 5/6
School chief: Tax extensions needed to save public education
The Desert Sun - Michelle Mitchell - 9 hours ago
“Compare California to other states,” Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent Lorri McCune said. “What we have to offer our kids is so much less ... and with this level of cuts it is devastating, I think, to our kids.
School Construction Officials Gave Low Priority To Quake Hazard Reviews -- For more than 40 years, the state regulator of public school construction approved projects without thoroughly assessing liquefaction, landslides and other earthquake hazards because it doubted the scientific justification and didn't want to pay for the extra work, according to agency and school project records. COREY G. JOHNSON California Watch -- 5/6/11
Fensterwald: Progress In Unexpected Places -- In unheralded corners of California, Latino and African American students are busting the averages, producing higher scores and larger numbers of college-ready graduates. This is happening in places like Val Verde Unified and Desert Sands Unified in Riverside County and Sanger Unified in Fresno County. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/6/11
Berkeley-Based Writing Project Lays Off Dozens -- Among the first organizations in California to feel the pain of Washington's drive to slash federal spending is the Berkeley-based National Writing Project, which has issued layoff notices to 60 percent of its employees. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/6/11
California 'Dream Act' Clears Assembly -- Illegal immigrants could receive college financial aid under legislation approved Thursday by the Assembly and apparently destined for the desk of a new Democratic governor who supports the concept. JIM SANDERS in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/6/11
Rhee: US has 'gone soft' on child education
San Francisco Chronicle - Christina Hoag - 20 hours ago
Rhee spoke Thursday at a luncheon held by the University of Southern California's center on philanthropy and public policy about what she calls the most pressing social justice issue of our time.
Pensions: 5/6
In California, Study Says, Teachers' Pensions Fall Short of Other Public Workers'
New York Times - Mary Williams Walsh - 16 hours ago
Teachers in California make large contributions to their pensions, and once those were deducted, their taxpayer-paid benefits were eclipsed by those of city workers, who can not only retire much earlier but also contribute less. l
California Public Employees Get More Compensation, Disputed Report Says -- Battle lines sharpened Thursday over California's public pensions with the release of a new report that concludes pay and benefit packages for public workers are better than those for their counterparts in the private sector. JON ORTIZ in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/6/11
The State Worker: With Pensions Under Attack, Unions Fight Back -- After more than three years feeling like a collective political punching bag, public employee unions have mounted a multifaceted campaign to defend their pensions and fend off "attacks" on their members. JON ORTIZ in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/6/11
State News: 5/6
CFT In the News: 4/5
School Beat: Taking Action in a State of Emergency
Beyond Chron - Lisa Schiff - 5 hours ago
... initiated by the California Teachers' Association and supported by the Association of California School Administrators, California Association of School Business Officials, California Federation of Teachers, California Professional Firefighters, ...
Unions Ponder District's Proposal to Cut Benefits
Rampage - 21 hours ago
The president of the State Center Federation of Teachers, Lacey Barnes, said in an interview with the Reedley Exponent, that there have been no negotiations between the faculty union and the district since they ratified a new contract in March.
DontScapegoatUs.Com Launched to Counter Attacks
California Majority Report - Steven Maviglio - 19 hours ago
The group's executive committee includes: California Federation of Teachers; California Professional Firefighters; California School Employees Association; California Teachers Association; Orange County Employees Association; Peace Officers Research ...
"Pension Truth Squad" Makes Stop at State Capitol
California Majority Report
The group's executive committee includes: California Federation of Teachers; California Professional Firefighters; California School Employees Association; California Teachers Association; Orange County Employees Association; Peace Officers Research ...
(Note: See more Pension news today in “State News”)
Education News: 4/5
Vacaville schools prepare for 'State of Emergency'
Contra Costa Times - Ryan Chalk - 8 hours ago
Led by the California Teachers Association, the event is intended to inform the public of the massive budget cuts education has suffered from over the last three years, totaling $20 billion. The event is also intended to encourage others to target ...
UC President Yudof to testify about proposed education budget cuts
UC Berkeley - 20 hours ago
Yudof will talk about how UC plans to cope with a proposed state reduction of $500 million, and what an all-cuts budget would mean for the university.
Permanent teachers on May pink slip list
San Mateo Daily Journal - Heather Murtagh - 4 hours ago
Most California school district officials had hoped tax extensions proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown to maintain education funding would be passed. However, negotiations for such a ballot measure halted, meaning there would likely be more cuts rather than ...
Business Leaders Put Focus On Education -- The single policy change that would help the business climate for Silicon Valley companies: improving schools, according to executives surveyed by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a trade association for regional businesses. VAUHINI VARA in the Wall Street Journal -- 5/5/11
Lopez: Think Of It As Hire Education -- Being awarded an honorary doctorate shows the bargain that California's colleges and universities once were — and that they need to remain a budget priority. STEVE LOPEZ in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/5/11
Fensterwald: Anti-Charter Bill Runs Into Trouble -- A bill sponsored by the California Teachers Association to radically change the state’s charter school law and give districts unappealable power to reject charter petitions failed to win majority support of the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/5/11
State News: 4/5
California Has $2 Billion In Unexpected Tax Revenue -- Tax income has been outpacing forecasts — good news as Sacramento struggles with a $15-billion budget deficit. GOP leaders are already using it as fodder against Gov. Brown's proposed tax increases. SHANE GOLDMACHER in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/5/11
Proposals Would Cut Benefits For California Employees 25% To 40% -- In an analysis of two concepts, the nonprofit California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility warns that the state's five biggest pension funds are in precarious financial conditions. MARC LIFSHER in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/5/11
"Pension Truth Squad" and "DontScapegoatUs.com" Debut in California Pension Reform Fight
By Steven Maviglio California Majority Report
Californians for Retirement Security launched two new efforts yesterday to fight attempts to slash retirement security for millions of middle class Californians.
CFT/Affiliates In the News: 4/4
From 4/3:
PVUSD trustees to add jobs to chopping block Register-Pajaronian
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday will add as many as five classified employees to a list of those who will receive ...
But Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers president Francisco Rodriguez said that isn’t likely.
“We would like to assume it will be less, and I know the district is hoping to reduce the total number, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they stay at 123 because of the state budget not being passed,” he said.
LAUSD shortens school day for teacher protest
Los Angeles Times - Jason Song - 11 hours ago
In an email to staff, Deasy wrote: "UTLA agreed that they would adjust the focus of their day of activity to concerns about the failure of the State of California, to the public funded schools. I made it perfectly clear that the day's activities and ...
Education News: 4/4
Student Aid Cuts To Generate Half Of Expected Savings -- A new California law that cuts off Cal Grants to colleges whose students default on federal loans at high rates will produce less than half of the previously expected budget savings – thanks to a data mix-up by the U.S. Department of Education. ERICA PEREZ California Watch -- 5/4/11
California Weighs Shorter School Year As Budgets Wane -- Children in frigid areas have "snow day" school closures. Could students across sunny California face "budget days" in bad fiscal times? KEVIN YAMAMURA in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/4/11
Student aid cuts to generate half of expected savings
California Watch - Erica Perez - 9 hours ago
A new California law that cuts off Cal Grants to colleges whose students default on federal loans at high rates will produce less than half of the previously expected budget savings - thanks to a data mix-up by the US Department of Education.
K-12 Uncertainty as California Gropes for Budget Fix
Education Week News - Reed Saxon - 4 hours ago
An even greater portion of residents, 71 percent, said they opposed the state approving an “all-cuts” budget with no tax increases if it resulted in reductions to K-12 education funding. The poll, conducted April 7-17 among 1500 registered California ...
Most School Districts Passing Parcel Taxes -- Voters in six South Bay and Peninsula school districts Tuesday night scaled the two-thirds threshold to approve parcel taxes for education, adding desperately needed funds for schools struggling with deep state budget cuts. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/4/11
Wallace: Charter Schools Willing To Be Held Accountable To Higher Standards -- When charter school operators accept the challenge of opening a new school, they do so knowing that every five years they must demonstrate high levels of student progress in order to keep their doors open. JED WALLACE TopEd -- 5/4/11
Parent Trigger Law Proving Difficult to Implement
California's so-called "parent trigger" law gives parents the power to turn around failing schools, from converting a campus into a charter school, to firing the principal and teachers. However, a group that petitioned for a charter takeover of an elementary school in Compton Unified is stuck in a protracted court battle. And today in Sacramento, the Assembly's Education Committee takes up a bill that would shift the final say on school overhauls to school boards. Reporter: Ana Tintocalis.
State News: 4/4
Wisconsin: Democrats Pick Up State Assembly Seat in Recalled Senator’s District
By David Dayen in the California Progress Report
Democrats scored a big victory in Wisconsin last night, one which presages even bigger wins to come.
Education News: 5/3
Admission Constraints Lead Cal State To Favor 'Local' Students -- It may be in their backyard, but for many South Bay students, a seat at Cal State Long Beach has become one of the toughest tickets in town. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/3/11
First 5 Sacramento Cuts $48.5 Million In Programs For Kids -- The cuts were necessary because the state recently took $1 billion in reserve funds from First 5 commissions across California to help balance the state budget. BRAD BRANAN in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/3/11
Report: California Lags States In Preschool Quality, Access -- Researchers say it appears California is on track to de-invest in prekindergarten programs, according to a nationwide study that ranked the state toward the bottom for both preschool quality and access. TRACY GARCIA in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 5/3/11
Beverly Hills School Leaders Set A Lofty Goal: Raise $1 Million In One Week To Stave Off Cuts -- Even by Beverly Hills standards, the idea is rich: Raise $1 million in one week to bail out a tiny public school system that is thriving but still lacks immunity from the financial ills plaguing California's schools. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/3/11
Fensterwald: LAO: Cut Subsidies For Small Districts -- The Legislative Analyst’s Office is recommending that the Legislature stop giving thousands of extra dollars per student to small school districts and that it decertify the tiniest of them – those with fewer than 100 students. Enacting the combination of the two measures could spur more district consolidations. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/3/11
Educating Students In Remote Areas Can Be Costly -- In some very small schools in remote parts of California, the state is paying about $200,000 per student to educate them. LOUIS FREEDBERG California Watch -- 5/3/11
Opinion: Fix pensions and we won't have to fire teachers
San Jose Mercury News - Marcia Fritz - 13 hours ago
Silicon Valley has helped before when California's public schools needed it. Your leadership is needed again. MARCIA FRITZ owns an accounting firm in Citrus Heights, is president of the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility and serves on the ...
Education for undocumented students shouldn't be a pipe dream
Daily Sundial - Hansook Oh - 10 hours ago
Through increased access to education, these to-be citizens have an opportunity to create wealth, contribute to the economy and back to social programs like the California Dream Act. Disclaimer: The Daily Sundial is not responsible for comments posted ...
State News: 5/3
California nightmare: Spending cuts vs. tax extension
CNN - 7 hours ago
Under one scenario outlined by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office, California's schools could lose $4.8 billion in funding.
From the Folks Who Brought You the Weekend
By Rebecca Greenberg
California Labor Federation in the California Progress Report
Most of us are familiar with the popular bumper sticker, “Labor Unions – The folks who brought you the weekend.” And yes, unions did play a pivotal role in the creation of the five-day work week. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
CFT In the News: 4/30-5/2
As We See It: Avoiding an all-cuts budget: Brown's last stand
Santa Cruz Sentinel
The California Federation of Teachers wants to see such a tax hike put to voters. All this is confirmation that the governor's best chance of getting tax increases approved, and avoiding bigger cuts to schools, was in getting the measures to a special ...
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_17968456
Margo Howard of Canyon Middle School Honored by State Schools Superintendent
Patch.com
The California Classified School Employee of the Year Award is sponsored by the CDE in partnership with the California School Employees Association, Service Employees International Union, California Teachers Association, California Federation of ...
http://castrovalley.patch.com/articles/margo-howard-of-canyon-middle-school-wins-award
San Diego May Day message: Solidarity
San Diego Union Tribune - Elizabeth Aguilera - 15 hours ago
T-shirts and signs expressed sentiments and allegiances including: “Full Rights for all Immigrants,” “Justice for Janitors,” “Hotel & Restaurant Workers Union,” “California Federation of Teachers,” “Save Friendship Park,” “Stand with Wisconsin.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/01/san-diego-may-day-message-solidarity/
Late News 4/29:
Parent power Chicago Tribune
The California Federation of Teachers president calls the trigger law a "lynch mob provision." One parent advocacy group, Parents Across America, said in a recent press release that the California law "is likely to cause more problems than it solves," ...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-trigger-20110429,0,1065960.story
Education News: 4/30-5/2
Fensterwald: First Pass At Finance Reform -- Assembly Education Chairwoman Julia Brownley has fleshed out the bill that she hopes will be the vehicle to overhaul the state’s school finance system, beginning in 2015-16. AB 18 will get its first public hearing in her committee on Wednesday. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess -- 5/2/11
http://toped.svefoundation.org/2011/05/02/first-pass-at-finance-reform/
Sac Bee Capitol Alert
SCHOOL DISTRICTS: The Legislative Analyst's Office is releasing a report this morning that looks at the issue of combining smaller K-12 school districts into larger ones. "How Small Is Too Small?" will assess whether the state should promote such consolidations. The report will be available after 10 a.m. online at lao.ca.gov.
http://www.lao.ca.gov/
Report: California lags states in preschool quality, access
Whittier Daily News - Tracy Garcia - 16 hours ago
A recent report says it looks like California is de-investing in preschool education because it ranks among the bottom of the 50 states when it comes to meeting benchmarks in pre-K quality.
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_17969525
Back to School for the Billionaires
Newsweek - Brent Humphreys - 13 hours ago
Despite the money, graduation rates in Oakland actually fell by 6 percentage points—though less than the rest of California's schools, which fell by 9 points. In Houston, graduation rates dropped about 6 points, while the remainder of Texas fell only ...
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/05/01/back-to-school-for-the-billionaires.html
UCR's Undercover Chancellor
UC Riverside chancellor Timothy White might have a few more Facebook followers this morning. White got a buzz cut, pasted on a fake moustache and joined the rank and file for an episode of the reality TV series, "Undercover Boss." Reporter: Steven Cuevas.
http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201105020850/c
5/1
Local Representatives Paint a Dire State Budget Picture
Santa Monica Mirror - Hannah Heineman - May 1, 2011
Some of the deepest cuts were made in the area of Health and Human Services. Higher education was particularly hard hit. A $500 million cut was made to both the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) budgets. ...
http://www.smmirror.com/single.php?id=32149
The High Cost of Low Teacher Salaries
At the moment, the average teacher's pay is on par with that of a toll taker or bartender. Teachers make 14 percent less than professionals in other occupations that require similar levels of education. In real terms, teachers' salaries have declined ...New York Times 5/1/11
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/opinion/01eggers.html
4/30
Class Sizes To Grow, Despite State's $1.3 Billion Program -- For years, the Oakland Unified School District spent millions of dollars to open small schools and hire more teachers, giving it some of the smallest class sizes in Alameda County. But that effort is slowly eroding as the state’s financial troubles deepen. JENNIFER GOLLAN Bay Citizen -- 4/30/11
http://www.baycitizen.org/education/story/class-sizes-grow-despite-states-1/
State News: 4/30-5/2
Cut Spending In GOP Districts? Maybe It’s Good Policy
By Peter Schrag California Progress Report
Could hitting Republican districts with the lion’s share of the steep spending reductions required by an all-cuts California budget be good policy, regardless of the politics?
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/node/8938
California Democratic Leaders Say Party Must Put Pressure On Republican Districts -- Speakers at the state party's convention cite GOP opposition to Gov. Brown's push to put tax extensions on the ballot. Assembly Speaker John Pérez says the only solution is to elect two-thirds Democratic majorities in the Assembly and Senate. MAEVE RESTON and SEEMA MEHTA in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/2/11
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-democratic-analysis-20110502,0,5346415.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+|+Local+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
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