Dixon Tribune’s Facebook Wall: Dixon teens show their skills at Academic Decathlon competition

Brianna Boyd, Editor

For most of this school year, a group of Dixon High teens have given up their lunch break once a week to gather in a classroom, open their notebooks and texts, and learn about the history and culture of Russia.

While their peers enjoyed time outside with friends, the nine students in this group know that Tuesdays are devoted to the Academic Decathlon Club. In a fun and relaxed, yet still structured environment, the club has met once a week since October and with the assistant of their advisors and Dixon High teachers Michael Vlach and Janette Sundstedt, delved deep into Russia, the selected topic for the 2013 Academic Decathlon.

via Dixon teens show their skills at Academic Decathlon competition

Education Week: Survey: Teachers Feel Safe at School; Decline Carrying Guns

While state lawmakers and some school districts have their sights set on arming school employees, a new survey of nearly 11,000 educators finds that the majority of them don’t have any interest in packing heat in class.

The survey results, released Wednesday by the professional development company School Improvement Network, found that about 72 percent of teachers and administrators said they would be unlikely to bring a firearm to school even if they were allowed to do so. And of those who already own weapons, nearly 40 percent would choose not to bring them to class if they could.

via Survey: Teachers Feel Safe at School; Decline Carrying Guns.

The Reporter: Sequestered cuts would hit Travis Unified School District hard

If Congress doesn’t act before Friday, officials from one local school district say its operations will face severe cuts on day one of the so-called federal sequestration and not just over time, as some analysts are predicting.

Sequestered cuts to the federal budget are set to take effect Friday and the White House said this past weekend that would include cuts to federal school “Impact Aid,” a program that helps school districts impacted by a federal presence by providing them an “in-lieu of tax” payment. In Solano County, Travis Unified School District relies heavily on federal impact aid to educate more than 5,400 students.

via Sequestered cuts would hit Travis Unified School District hard.

Education Week: Sequestration and Education: 12 Frequently Asked Questions

Now that sequestration, that looming, scary, Inside-the-Beltway possibility, is finally upon us, what does that mean for states and school districts? Here’s a rundown:

1) What exactly is sequestration? Sequestration is a series of across-the-board cuts to a broad range of federal programs, including those in the U.S. Department of Education, set to hit the government on Friday, March 1, unless Congress and the Obama administration make a last-ditch effort to stop them. Programs in the U.S. Department of Education would be cut by about 5.3 percent, according to the Government Accountability Office. The cuts aren’t just for this year, either. They’re aimed at chopping $1.2 trillion out of the federal deficit over the next decade. So, if nothing happens, they’re the new normal.

via Sequestration and Education: 12 Frequently Asked Questions.

Education Week: Back Home, Kline Talks Sequestration, Funding Flexibility, NCLB

Education funding—including looming K-12 cuts, and especially, the need for flexibility with existing funds—took center stage at a round table for local superintendents, school board members, and others that U.S. Rep. John Kline, the chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, held back in his suburban Minnesota district yesterday.

Kline kicked off the Feb. 25 discussion by talking about what he called “the giant gorilla in the room”: sequestration, a set of 5.3 percent across-the-board federal funding cuts set to hit just about every federal program on Friday unless Congress acts to prevent them.

via Back Home, Kline Talks Sequestration, Funding Flexibility, NCLB.

EdSource Today: For now, K-12 districts can wait and watch sequestration unroll

By 

K-12 districts have one advantage over meat inspectors, military contractors, national parks staff, air traffic controllers, Head Start operators (see story) and others facing immediate cuts in federal funding as of Friday’s sequester deadline: time. Because of how districts budget their money, the 5.1 percent reductions in federal revenue that would go into effect March 1 under sequestration won’t be felt by districts until the start of their new fiscal year, July 1. That gives districts four months to plan for the impact ­and Congress and President Obama plenty of time to change their minds – or not.

In figures released Tuesday, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said that California faces $262 million in reductions in federal education funding from sequestration. With the federal government contributing only about 10 percent of total K-12 spending in California, and some programs, like school lunch and nutrition services, exempt from the round of cuts, that represents a tiny slice overall.

via For now, K-12 districts can wait and watch sequestration unroll – by John Fensterwald.

EdSource Today: Head Start administrators get little guidance on impact of sequester

By 

Just weeks after President Barack Obama proposed a massive expansion of preschool in his State of the Union address, Head Start administrators are bracing for sequester cuts that could reduce enrollments by thousands of children.

Despite the looming cuts, Head Start operators have been given almost no guidance from the federal government as to how to plan for the possible cuts, or how or when they would be affected.

via Head Start administrators get little guidance on impact of sequester – by Lillian Mongeau.

Benicia Herald: BHS campus closure talk turns to logistics

Keri Luiz, Assistant Editor

Benicia Unified School District trustees on Thursday approved Benicia High School Principal Damon Wright’s proposal to close the school campus during lunch hours. What that means for the school, the students and the surrounding community remains to be seen.

In the short term, Wright told trustees last week, the school will need to consider the logistics of accommodating so many more students at lunch time. It will need to purchase additional tables, for starters, as well as a food warmer and an awning to keep students dry as they line up in inclement weather.

via BHS campus closure talk turns to logistics.

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: What is Tradigital History? Find out at SCOE’s STEM++ in Action Social Science Workshop for Educators

What is Tradigital History? Find out at SCOE’s STEM++ in Action Social Science Workshop for Educators on March 27.

This workshop will start by focusing on the uses of digital historical resources and encouraging students to use analysis skills while exploring photographs from throughout history. The session will also show examples of how educators can use audio, video and Web 2.0 tools (including Socrative.com, and twitter.com) to engage students. Bring Your Own Device and join us! Register by March 13.

http://www.solanocoe.net/apps/events/2013/3/27/1216844/?id=0

via What is Tradigital History? Find out at SCOE’s STEM++ in Action Social Science W….

The Reporter: Vacaville schools keep ‘fingers crossed’ in U.S. government’s threat of budget cuts

By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com

The threat of government cuts continues to loom and unless Congress acts by Friday, $85 billion in forced cuts are set to take effect from March-September, impacting every state in the union.The White House compiled numbers from federal agencies and its own budget office on how the cuts might impact each state and released those figures this past weekend. The numbers reflect the impact of the cuts this year.

As to whether states could move money around to cover shortfalls, the White House said that depends on state budget structures and the specific programs, though administration officials did not have a list of which states or programs might have flexibility.

via Vacaville schools keep ‘fingers crossed’ in US government’s threat ….

FSUSD’s Facebook Wall: Fairfield High School’s Fashion Design Class and Fashion Club

Fairfield High School’s Fashion Design Class and Fashion Club participated in the Black History Program at Fairfield High School on Thursday, February 21. “The Shape of Fashion from 1920 to Present” featured coordinated outfits worn from Authentic African styles, Traditional Church styles, Dressy Attire, and The Night Life. Models pictured: Mekeda McNeal (Parent), Veronica Garcia (FHS Student 11th grade), Alexis Washington (First Grade), Paulina Zavala II (FHS student 11th grade) Alice Claiborne (Fashion Design Instructor), Savon Murray ( Solano Community College student)

via Fairfield High School’s Fashion Design Class and Fashion Club participated in th….

EdSource Today: LAO would cut money from basic aid districts, other programs Brown would protect

By 

The Legislative Analyst’s Office has added its endorsement of Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal for sweeping school finance reform, praising the simplicity and clarity of Brown’s funding formula and the “reasonable” amounts of extra money he’d direct to high-needs students. At the same time, in an analysis released last week, the LAO is suggesting a half-dozen changes to the plan, including two that would stir up controversies that Brown woud just as soon avoid.

via LAO would cut money from basic aid districts, other programs Brown would protect – by John Fensterwald.

EdSource Today: Brown’s new funding formula should be just the first step

By 

I want to like the governor’s proposal — I really do. Governor Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula is certainly the first sign of real and meaningful education finance reform in decades. As a very active voice decrying our dysfunctional system, I should be jumping for joy right now, shouldn’t I? The governor absolutely needs to be commended for his political courage and vision to change this system, and the notion of directing more money to districts with higher needs is spot on. And folks who are more politically savvy than I in the ways of Sacramento tell me this is the best chance we’ll have to make these changes. So, what’s the problem?

via Brown’s new funding formula should be just the first step – by Seth Rosenblatt.

Daily Republic: Fairfield-Suisun high school boundary committee continues its work

FAIRFIELD — A committee working on recommendations for new high school boundaries continues to meet and will make a report this week to the school board.

The next meeting for the Fairfield-Suisun School District’s high school boundary committee will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the district office at 2490 Hilborn Road, Conference Room 102. The agenda features a final report item.

via Fairfield-Suisun high school boundary committee continues its work.

Benicia Patch: Benicia High to Gradually Become Closed Campus

Benicia High School will slowly become a closed campus during school hours.

Currently all Benicia High students have the ability to leave campus during lunch, except for freshman, and according to the Times Herald, the closed campus change would be gradual. Next year, only juniors and seniors would be able to leave campus and the following year only seniors, the Times Herald reports.

via Benicia High to Gradually Become Closed Campus.

Benicia Herald: 3,000 kids to gather at Solano fairgrounds for Ag Day

By Donna Beth Weilenman, Staff Reporter

 

About 3,000 third graders from throughout Solano County are expected at the 11th annual Youth Ag Day at Solano County Fairgrounds next month.

 

Debbie Egidio, marketing director, said the community event is second only to the Solano County Fair in size for the county’s community-serving events at the fairgrounds in Vallejo.

“This event is one of the highlights of our year-round calendar of celebrations,” said Norma Placido, president of the fair’s Board of Directors.

via 3,000 kids to gather at fairgrounds for Ag Day.

Attendance Works: White House Names Hedy Chang “Champion of Change”

Attendance Works Director Hedy Chang will be honored by the White House on today (2/26) for her leadership in promoting educational opportunities for African-American students, one of 10 leaders who are being named Champions of Change. Since chronic absence disproportionately affects children of color, Chang’s work to improve the policy and practice around school attendance can especially benefit  educational opportunities for African-American students.

“President Obama has made providing a complete and competitive education for all Americans – from cradle to career – a top priority,” said Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett in a White House press release.  “That’s why, last summer, he signed an executive order to establish the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. This week, we look forward to welcoming Champions of Change who have been working to ensure that all African American students receive an education that fully prepares them for high school graduation, college completion, and productive careers.”

via White House Names Hedy Chang “Champion of Change”.

Daily Republic: Fairfield-Suisun School District to consider even-year elections

FAIRFIELD — A proposal for even-year elections will continue to change how local school board members are elected.

The California State Board of Education last month approved changing the Fairfield-Suisun School District from at-large voting to voting by individual districts. That move has the potential to force some current board members to face each other in a race.

via Fairfield-Suisun School District to consider even-year elections.

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: Parents: Find out how you can prepare students for the new Common Core Standards

Parents: Find out how you can prepare students for the new Common Core Standards. Join SCOE on Tuesday, March 12, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., for a Parent Engagement workshop to address the Common Core Standards. The workshop, dinner, and childcare are FREE. The deadline for registration is Friday, March 1.

via Parents: Find out how you can prepare students for the new Common Core Standards….

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