Retired teachers group offers scholarships – Daily Republic

By Brad Stanhope

The California Retired Teachers Association Division No. 24 will offer scholarships to students with bachelor’s degrees who are seeking valid teaching credentials.

Applicants for the C. Shirley Michel Scholarships must be residents of Solano County. Last year, the group gave out eight $2,500 scholarships.

via Retired teachers group offers scholarships Daily Republic.

Vallejo schools invite public to talk bond measure, facilities plan – Vallejo Times Herald

By Lanz Christian Bañes

The Vallejo City Unified School District will hold a public meeting Wednesday to review its facilities master plan and discuss a potential bond measure.

“The master plan is like the road map for the facilities work that needs to occur,” said Mel Jordan, the district’s assistant superintendent for administrative services.

Last February the school board authorized district officials to explore a possible bond measure. Since then, the district has surveyed likely June 2014 primary voters and has nearly completed the facilities master plan.

via Vallejo schools invite public to talk bond measure, facilities plan – Vallejo Times Herald.

Student reps can make a difference with school board – Daily Republic

By Mike Corpos

The current student representatives to the Vacaville school board are learning that quickly. Just one meeting into their term and some of the representatives have already helped mold a new district policy.

That’s just part of the responsibility they bear as they report to the board with their respective schools’ activities and are given advisory votes on certain issues the board faces.

via Student reps can make a difference with school board Daily Republic.

Music meeting set for Monday – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Young Artists Conservatory of Music will hold a community meeting Monday in an effort to preserve music enrichment for hundreds of children in Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.

A contract between the teachers association and the district prohibits on-campus classes that can be viewed as “replacing” regular classes or offered during teacher preparation time.

YACM’s Music Matters program runs before and after school, as it has for four years, since budget cutbacks, brought on by the Great Recession and the erosion of the state’s property tax base, forced the elimination of K-6 music classes in the district, said Wanda Cook, artistic director for Young Artists, a Vacaville nonprofit business on Davis Street.

via Music meeting set for Monday – The Reporter.

Dan Walters: Pre-kindergarten expansion shapes up as key budget issue – Sacramento Bee

By Dan Walters

As Gov. Jerry Brown’s new budget was receiving its initial legislative airing last week, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson asked the governor’s budgetary point person, Keely Bosler, about “transitional kindergarten.”

Giving California’s 4-year-olds universal access to state-supported classes is the declared “No. 1 priority” for Jackson and other Democratic senators – part of a nationwide movement to expand early childhood education.

via Dan Walters: Pre-kindergarten expansion shapes up as key budget issue – Dan Walters – The Sacramento Bee.

California Title I Conference – Improving Academic Achievement (CA Dept of Education)

The 2014 California Title I Conference, “Transforming Times,” is scheduled for March 25–26, 2014, in Burlingame, California. The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum for sharing strategies that enhance equitable teaching and learning experiences for students, as well as to provide updates and ideas for effective planning and implementation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

via California Title I Conference – Improving Academic Achievement (CA Dept of Education).

Kindergarten Readiness Roundup helps families prep for school – Daily Republic

By Mike Corpos

For the second straight year the Solano Parent and Child Education Kindergarten Readiness Roundup was a rousing success.

More than 150 families turned up Saturday at the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School to have their children evaluated and to learn about resources that can help families be prepared when their children enter kindergarten in the fall.

For families who missed Saturday’s event, there’s another one on Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., again at the Adult School, 900 Travis Blvd.

via Kindergarten Readiness Roundup helps families prep for school Daily Republic.

Vallejo, Benicia schools weigh June bond measures – Vallejo Times Herald

By Lanz Christian Bañes/Times-Herald staff writer

Posted: 01/24/2014 12:56:17 AM PST

The Vallejo City Unified School District is nearing completion on a facilities master plan, a crucial step in a potential voter bond measure that could come as early as June.

The district has been working on a possible facilities bond measure since the school board authorized it last February.

“The community has a clear perception that Vallejo schools need facilities improvement,” said Mel Jordan, the district’s assistant superintendent for administrative services, during Wednesday’s school board meeting.

However, according to a survey of likely June voters commissioned by the district last summer, the district must work to regain the trust of the city after a financial scandal in 2004 led to a state takeover and a $60 million state loan.

via Vallejo, Benicia schools weigh June bond measures – Vallejo Times Herald.

Vacaville Unified OK’s technology upgrades at four schools – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

After mulling three options to upgrade technology at Vacaville Unified schools, district trustees on Thursday directed staff to equip four schools with campuswide wireless access and mobile carts containing enough laptops for an average-sized class.

Markham, Orchard and Browns Valley elementary schools and Willis Jepson Middle School will be the first campuses to have their computer capabilities upgraded.

The work, expected to cost $177,000, also will include bringing in more electrical outlets to accommodate the number of computers that will be needed to meet testing demands under state educational standards that take effect in the fall.

via Vacaville Unified OK’s technology upgrades at four schools – The Reporter.

State Chiefs Pledge to Not Share Student Data With Arne Duncan, Ed. Dept. – Education Week

By Michele McNeil

By guest blogger Catherine Gewertz. Cross-posted from Curriculum Matters.

Schools chiefs from 34 states have banded together to make a public declaration that they will not share personally identifiable student data with the federal government.

In a letter sent to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Thursday afternoon, the state superintendents said they are trying to calm a rising tide of concern that administering student assessments through the two federally funded multistate consortia—PARCC and Smarter Balanced—puts the privacy of personally identifiable student data at risk. All of the chiefs are participating in test design through one of the consortia.

via State Chiefs Pledge to Not Share Student Data With Arne Duncan, Ed. Dept. – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

Dixon Students reclassified to Engligh Proficient – Dixon Tribune | Facebook

Brianna Boyd, Editor

Cameras flashed and proud families, teachers, principals and peers applauded Wednesday as 71 Dixon Unified students were recognized for accomplishing a significant feat in their education. These students, who range from third grade to high school, all attend Dixon’s elementary, middle and high schools, and have been reclassified from English language learners to English language proficient. They can now participate and perform successfully in all academic subjects in school without English language development support.

via Timeline Photos – The Dixon Tribune | Facebook.

Vallejo schools could see $10 million budget increase – Vallejo Times Herald

By Lanz Christian Bañes

Vallejo schools could get an extra $10 million next year, should Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal be approved.

But the district must still move forward cautiously, officials warned Wednesday night.

“We’re still not out of the woods yet. We must learn from the past and make sure we’re not over-committing our dollars,” said James Arcala, director of business services for the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Arcala pointed out unemployment in California is still higher than the national average.

via Vallejo schools could see $10 million budget increase – Vallejo Times Herald.

Vanden cheerleaders get to go to NFL’s Pro Bowl – Daily Republic

By Mike Corpos

From Sacramento to Honolulu.

That’s the journey the Vanden High School cheer team is set to complete as it makes its way to the National Football League’s Pro Bowl, which will be televised at 4 p.m. Sunday on Channel 3.

The Vikings were named the top squad last summer at their Universal Cheer Association camp at Sacramento State. The remainder of 2013 was a flurry of choices and fundraising.

via Vanden cheerleaders get to go to NFL’s Pro Bowl Daily Republic.

Vacaville school board workshop tonight – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

One day after a communitywide meeting about district facilities needs, in advance of possibly drafting a bond measure, Vacaville Unified leaders will hold a special meeting tonight in the Educational Services Center.

They will participate in a technology and facilities workshop, with district staff providing information about Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (new statewide testing required under Common Core), the district’s technology plan for the future, and the technology department’s vision, its costs and challenges.

via Vacaville school board workshop tonight – The Reporter.

Vacaville Unified School District site ‘needs’reviewed – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

When compiling their facilities needs lists, site committees at Vacaville Unified’s 16 campuses unanimously agreed that upgrading technology was No.1.

The No. 2 need, at most schools, was safety and security.

Those top needs became more widely known Wednesday night, when district leaders convened a community meeting in advance of possibly proposing a bond measure for the November ballot.

The meeting was convened to gain public input not on the bond measure but more on a “facilities needs list,” site by site, so district staffers could offer the information to governing board members in the first step of the political process, which comes with state-mandated deadlines.

via Vacaville Unified School District site ‘needs’reviewed – The Reporter.

Obama’s State of the Union Speeches and Education: A Scorecard – Education Week

By Alyson Klein

Set your DVRs: President Barack Obama will give his State of the Union speech next week, on Jan. 28. So that means a week from now, we’ll all be mulling over the education portion. After all, Obama (and most other presidents) typically use their annual address to Congress to outline an edu-wish list for the year. It often includes at least one big idea (whether brand new or recycled from an earlier proposal).

Is Obama usually able to get what he wants from Congress? Short answer: Not so much. For the longer answer, check out these past State of the Union speeches:

via Obama’s State of the Union Speeches and Education: A Scorecard – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

Governor’s State of the State Address – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement regarding Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State Address:

“As Governor Brown made clear, California is poised for a tremendous leap forward, and nowhere is that more the case than in public education. The Local Control Funding Formula is by its nature a major victory for our students and their schools. It pushes decision-making closer to those students and their parents. It measures outcomes instead of whether the right dollars were put into the right categorical boxes.

via Governor’s State of the State Address – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education).

Dixon Montessori kicks off open enrollment – Dixon Tribune | Facebook

Brianna Boyd, Editor

Dixon Montessori Charter School kicked off its annual open enrollment period this week for the 2014-15 school year. Open enrollment, which began on Tuesday, will continue through Feb. 14. There are spaces available in all the grades, from kindergarten to eighth grade, although the most popular by far is kindergarten, which will welcome 52 new children to the school next August. The school office is open from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily to pass out enrollment forms and director Joanne Green encourages parents to make appointments with her for tours of the school and classrooms.

via Dixon Montessori kicks off open… – The Dixon Tribune | Facebook.

Search for burglary suspect causes school lockdown – Daily Republic

By Mike Corpos

A search for a burglary suspect Wednesday prompted police to have a Vacaville middle school locked down.

Police received a call at approximately 10:54 a.m. from a someone who reported seeing a male armed with a rifle in the creek near the 700 block of Linwood Street, according to a news release. The caller had a short conversation with the person before the male fled on foot northwest along the creek, the release states.

via Search for burglary suspect causes school lockdown Daily Republic.

Vallejo school district, Solano College seeking grants for workplace training – Vallejo Times Herald

By Sarah Rohrs

To help prepare Vallejo students for careers and college after graduation, the school district is pursuing a grant opportunity state leaders hailed Tuesday as crucial in meeting workplace demands.

The California Career Pathways Trust fund is making $250 million available in grants to school districts, community colleges, county superintendents of schools, and charter schools that are pursuing programs that connect education to either the workplace or college.

Alana Shackelford, Vallejo City Unified School District spokeswoman, said the district is already seeking $7 million through another state grant to beef up the district academies, and intends to seek grants through the new program, as well.

via Vallejo school district, Solano College seeking grants for workplace training – Vallejo Times Herald.