The Educated Guess: Abuse records don’t follow some school workers

California teachers who lose their jobs for misconduct against students lose their licenses to teach, but the state has no similar process for the other 289,000 school employees who are fired or forced to resign due to child abuse. There’s no mechanism for sharing the information on “classified” employees; as a result, other districts and childcare centers may hire a new bus driver, classroom or special education aide or cafeteria worker without knowing why the person left their last job.

via Abuse records don’t follow some school workers – by Kathryn Baron and John Fensterwald.

The Educated Guess: Renewed push for a 55 percent threshold to pass parcel tax

It didn’t take long for a Democratic senator among the newly empowered supermajority in the Legislature to go after a low-hanging fruit: lowering the threshold for passage of a local parcel tax for education.

On Thursday, Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco announced he would introduce a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to pass parcel taxes for school districts and community colleges by 55 percent instead of the current two-thirds majority.

via Renewed push for a 55 percent threshold to pass parcel tax – by John Fensterwald.

The Educated Guess: Freedberg talks about current state of public K-14 education in California

EdSource’s Executive Director Louis Freedberg participated in an online Q&A session with Patch.com’s Alex Gronke. Questions focused on what the state’s economic outlook may mean for K-14 education in California, including a discussion on the impact of Prop. 30. Listen to the entire session below or visit Patch.com.

via Freedberg talks about current state of public K-14 education in California – by Brent Zupp.

FSUSD’s Facebook Wall: On December 13, 2012, the Governing Board will review and possibly approve the 2012-13 Single Plan for Student Achievement

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s Facebook Wall

On December 13, 2012, the Governing Board will review and possibly approve the 2012-13 Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for each Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District school site. Each school’s SPSA is available for public review in the Instructional Support Services office at the Central Office, 2490 Hilborn Road. SPSAs are available for review in hard copy or memory stick. Members of the community may review the SPSA materials during the hours 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. For questions, contact Instructional Support Services at 707-399-5053.

via On December 13, 2012, the Governing Board will review and possibly approve the 2….

Daily Republic: Vanden High hosting robotics competition Saturday

FAIRFIELD — Vanden High School will host the Northern California VEX Robotics Competition all day Saturday.

A total of 36 teams of middle- and high-school students from Northern California and Hawaii will come together for an all-day competition using robots created from the VEX Robotics Design System. Participants will take part in a series of tournaments supported by the REC Foundation and various national, regional and local sponsors.

via Vanden High hosting robotics competition Saturday.

Benicia Herald: BUSD seeks coaches for ‘Odyssey of the Mind’

by Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

The Benicia Unified School District is looking for adults to coach Odyssey of the Mind teams again this year, and time is running short. Training is this Saturday in Concord.

“We’re trying to get the word out: We need coaches,” Superintendent of Benicia Schools Janice Adams said.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods, while having fun in the process.

via BUSD seeks coaches for ‘Odyssey of the Mind’.

The Educated Guess: How a small bet on technology could have a big payoff in learning

Charles Taylor Kerchner

Let me start by saying that I am not a technologist. I don’t lust after the new; I bought my first smartphone just last week. And I don’t for a moment think that tablets are going to replace teachers or that there is a software-driven fix for all the problems ailing California’s public schools. And, yes, teachers need a raise.

Why, then, advocate an investment in education technology? I believe that if properly put together an education technology policy could add enormous capacity to our education system in ways that existing policies do not.

via How a small bet on technology could have a big payoff in learning – by Charles Taylor Kerchner.

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: Why is chronic absence so important?

Solano County Office of Education’s Facebook Wall

Why is chronic absence so important? Research proves that students who are chronically absent in Kindergarten and 1st grade are far less likely to read proficiently by 3rd grade.

Read more about chronic absence on SCOE’s Every Minute Matters web page.

via Why is chronic absence so important? Research proves that students who are chron….

SF Public Press: Tuition Refund Will Net CSU Students $250, but Set System Back $132 Million

A tuition refund of $249 or more per semester that the California State University system is planning to give most full-time students will be a godsend for thousands feeling financially pinched in their academic pursuits.

But the move will also reduce tuition revenues into the system by about 3 percent this school year — money that administrators will have to find somewhere else if they want to avoid further cutbacks.

via Tuition Refund Will Net CSU Students $250, but Set System Back $132 Million.

Education Week: Ed. Dept. Emphasizes Graduation-Rate Accountability in Letter to States

In the face of continued criticism that the federal Education Department is allowing states to weaken graduation-rate accountability, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a letter to states reinforcing that high school completion must be a significant part of accountability systems under No Child Left Behind Act waivers.

Duncan, in a “dear colleague” letter sent Monday to chief state school officers, emphasizes that he is not waiving the 2008 regulations that required states to calculate graduation rates in the same way and use that data as a “significant” factor in accountability.

via Ed. Dept. Emphasizes Graduation-Rate Accountability in Letter to States.

The Educated Guess: Incomparably comparable graduation rates

For the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Education has released high school graduation rates based on a common, rigorous measure that makes it possible to compare states, and California falls into the bottom half.

More than a quarter of California high school students don’t graduate after four years, according to figures released yesterday for nearly every state, the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. [Note: Data for Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Puerto Rico has not been reported.]

via Incomparably comparable graduation rates – by Kathryn Baron.

Dan Walters: High school grad rates tell a tale

Let’s assume, for sake of argument or column-writing, that the fundamental task of any public school system is to maximize the number of students who graduate from high school and are ready to either enter the workforce or further their educations.

Thanks to a new report from the U.S. Department of Education, which for the first time provides state-by-state comparisons of graduation rates on common criteria, we now know where California ranks – and it isn’t very high.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/28/5014534/dan-walters-high-school-grad-rates.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters#storylink=cpy

via Dan Walters: High school grad rates tell a tale.

Vallejo Times-Herald: Solano College hires consultant to recruit foreign students for higher revenues

By Sarah Rohrs/Times-Herald staff writer /

Solano Community College hopes to reap $3.5 million if the recruitment of international students proves to be a success, the school’s president Jowel Laguerre said.

The school has signed a two-year $106,000 contract with consultant Naoki Hirota to recruit students from China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam to the community college.

International students pay nearly $200 more per unit than local students, Laguerre said.

via Solano College hires consultant to recruit foreign students for higher revenues.

Edutopia RSS: Assistive Technology and the 1:1 Student

Andrew Marcinek Instructional Technology Specialist, Boston, MA

Much has been said about the iPad being a revolutionary device for education. There are even education conferences that are dedicated to its use. About a year ago, after the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs, 60 Minutes ran a piece on how the iPad was being used as an assistive technology with autistic students. This piece was eye opening for many — it showed the potential for this device as an assistive technology and how it can change learning for students with disabilities or impairments.

via Assistive Technology and the 1:1 Student.

Education Week: Duncan Sharpens Second-Term Agenda, Stresses Teacher Quality

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan continued to lay out his priorities for the next four years in a speech today, emphasizing that he thinks teacher preparation is broken and that the best educators need to be teaching the highest-need children.

In remarks at the two-day forum in Washington of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, run by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Duncan said he has an “ambitious” second-term agenda that includes holding the line on initiatives he started during his first four years. He cited specifically the tough road ahead for common standards, common tests, and teacher evaluations.

via Duncan Sharpens Second-Term Agenda, Stresses Teacher Quality.

EdSource Today: Rural district serves as model for offering healthy meals

By 

By emphasizing partnerships with community nonprofits and businesses, taking advantage of statewide grants and making good nutrition a financial priority, rural Fort Bragg Unified has continued to provide healthy food and nutrition education to its primarily low-income students, despite budget cuts.

The state Department of Education has recognized Fort Bragg as a model for Northern California under its Stepping Up to the Challenge, Creating A Healthy School Environment program. Pilar Gray, the district’s nutritional services director, does trainings for other small districts that are interested in improving their school meals.

via Rural district serves as model for offering healthy meals – by Susan Frey.

Education Week: New Graduation Rate Data Show Large Achievement Gaps

The U.S. Department of Education today released four-year high school graduation rates for the 2010-11 school year that, for the first time, reflect a common method of calculation for all states.

The state-by-state data show graduation rates that range from 59 percent in the District of Columbia to 88 percent in Iowa. The new method requires states to track individual students and report how many first-time 9th graders graduate with a standard diploma within four years.

via New Graduation Rate Data Show Large Achievement Gaps.