The Educated Guess: CTA’s a team player for Jerry Brown

By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

The president of the California Teachers Association said Monday that in backing Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, the state’s largest teachers union is agreeing to “stay at awful” for now with the expectation that more money will flow again to schools in coming years. But if voters defeat the $6.9 billion tax measure in November, the CTA will fight Brown – and go to court if necessary – to prevent the governor from exacting disproportionate cuts to K-12 schools.

via CTA’s a team player for Jerry Brown – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

The Educated Guess: Foster youth deserve to be left out of Brown’s plan to combine categorical funds

By Daniel Heimpel

In 1981, the California State Legislature launched the Foster Youth Services program to address the educational needs of foster children, putting California at the vanguard of a national movement to level the educational playing field for students in foster care.

But dramatic changes to how K-12 education is funded in Governor Jerry Brown’s latest proposed budget threaten this program. The governor’s January budget plan consolidates most of the categorical funding streams for schools and folds them into a new “weighted student formula.” Foster Youth Services (FYS) would be consolidated, leaving it up to the state’s 1,000 school districts to decide whether or not to maintain the program.

via Foster youth deserve to be left out of Brown’s plan to combine categorical funds – by Daniel Heimpel.

Fairfield Daily Republic: By-area election process kicks off for Fairfield-Suisun district

FAIRFIELD — Do it yourself or appoint an outside committee. Those are the options before the Fairfield-Suisun School District board Tuesday when it discusses the process for switching its election system.

The district is moving away from at-large elections in which all registered voters within the district elect board members, to a by-area election system in which voters elect candidates living within their designated area.

via By-area election process kicks off for Fairfield-Suisun district.

Fairfield Daily Republic: Students triumph over adversity to graduate

FAIRFIELD — Robert Lee wanted to enlist in the Army but couldn’t. Now he can.

Lee was one of 22 who graduated Monday night from the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School and Sem Yeto High School with either a diploma, a GED or a certificate of completion. They are the first class of 2012.

via Students triumph over adversity to graduate.

Benicia Patch: High School Students Will Compete in Poetry Competition Saturday

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The Benicia Poet Laureate Program has partnered with The National Endowment for the Arts, The California Arts Council, The Solano County Arts Council, The  Poetry Foundation and The Benicia Public Library to present Poetry Out Loud, a National Recitation Contest for high school students.

Benicia High School and Liberty High School are participating in this event. Benicia’s two high schools are the only schools in Solano County to compete thus far. Ronna Leon, Benicia’s Poet Laureate, is proud to have achieved her goal of bringing such an important national event to Benicia.  Last year’s winner was Lindsey Blackie.  This is the second year the event will be held in Benicia.

via High School Students Will Compete in Poetry Competition Saturday.

Benicia Patch: Congressman Mike Thompson Visits Benicia High School

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Benicia High School was visited Monday by Representative Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who will represent Benicia in congress if he wins the June 6 primary and, then in November, the general election.

Monday, Thompson spent time at Benicia High’s ECH2O Academy where he watched students analyze water samples.  “I don’t think we had this kind of opportunity when we were kids,” said Thompson as he toured the classroom.

via Congressman Mike Thompson Visits Benicia High School.

Benicia Herald: Congressman tours Benicia ‘green’ school

By Keri Luiz

The man who hopes to be Benicia’s new congressman, Mike Thompson, paid a visit to the city Monday to get a firsthand look at Benicia High School’s new “green” academy, ECH2O.

He was impressed by what he saw.

“It’s wonderful!” the Napa Democrat said. “So often you hear criticism about kids today. Nonsense! Kids today are fantastic.”

via Congressman tours Benicia ‘green’ school.

Tom DeLapp: Seeing the Brilliance in Children

Tom DeLapp’s PR Perceptions

I have come to realize that school administrators and teachers are actually diamond cutters. Recently, in an academy workshop for aspiring superintendents, I posed my usual question as we explored marketing, branding, and communication concepts: “Why should I enroll my child in your schools?” One answer I got back was unexpected, and absolutely brilliant.

via Seeing the Brilliance in Children.

Should we switch to weighted student funding and do it now?

The Educated Guess

In next year’s budget, Gov. Jerry Brown proposes to rearrange school funding based on a weighted student formula – a concept that State Board of Education President Michael Kirst fleshed out in a 2008 brief. Beyond a flat grant for all students, districts with large concentrations of English learners and low-income students would get a premium of potentially thousands of dollars more per student. Districts would decide how the money would be used. Under the initial plan, Brown would phase in the new system over five years but would not hold districts financiallyharmless; doing so would require new money or a  long timeline to implement. As a result,  there would  be district winners and losers. Proponents praise the transparency and equity of the new system. Skeptics have other concerns, as you will read. (See an earlier TOP-Ed post for details on how it would work.)

via Should we switch to weighted student funding and do it now? – by forum.

New kindergarten laws leave Vacaville-area parents, school districts in limbo

It is the time of year, like a change in seasons, when parents begin to think about registering their children for kindergarten.But a new state law, the state’s ongoing fiscal crisis and its complex budgeting ways have left this annual rite in limbo. The convergence of those facts not only raises questions among affected parents but it also leaves public school officials, including those in the Vacaville area, with little choice but to adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

via New kindergarten laws leave Vacaville-area parents, school ….

California Teachers Association endorses Brown tax initiative

EdSource Extra!

By Louis Freedberg

In a major boost for Gov. Jerry Brown’s attempt to balance the state’s budget, the California Teachers Association yesterday endorsed his proposed initiative for the November ballot that would yield billions of dollars for California schools.

via California Teachers Association endorses Brown tax initiative.

Brown plan to delay “transitional kindergarten” triggers uncertainty in many school districts

EdSource Extra!

By Louis Freedberg

Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to delay implementation of “transitional kindergarten” for 4-year-olds has triggered doubt and confusion in many school districts around the state.

One district — San Francisco Unified School District  – has announced that it will not offer the program.  Preschool advocates believe it is the only one to have done so so far.

via Brown plan to delay “transitional kindergarten” triggers uncertainty in many school districts.

Dixon children recognized for their academic achievements

Dixon Tribune’s Facebook Notes

Brianna Boyd

Cameras flashed and proud parents and teachers applauded Wednesday as over 60 Dixon Unified students were recognized for accomplishing a significant feat in their education.

These students, who all attend Dixon’s elementary, middle and high schools, have been reclassified from English language learners to English language proficiency.  They can now participate and perform successfully in academic subjects without English language development support.

via Dixon children recognized for their academic achievements.

San Francisco scraps Transitional Kindergarten

The Educated Guess

By Kathryn Baron

When registration begins today in San Francisco Unified School District for the 2012-13 academic year, it will become the first district in California to forgo plans for Transitional Kindergarten. The decision leaves several hundred families that thought their children would be entering the new educational program with few options. A notice posted late Wednesday on the district’s website lays the blame on Gov. Brown’s January budget proposal.

via San Francisco scraps Transitional Kindergarten – by Kathryn Baron.

Charters getting 7% less funding

The Educated Guess

By John Fensterwald

Under state law, charter schools and district public schools are supposed to be funded equally. That’s not happening, according to a report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which found that charter schools receive on average $395 per student or 7 percent less than district schools. And for the half of charter elementary schools that don’t qualify for class-size reduction subsidies, the gap increases on average an additional $721 per student.

via Charters getting 7% less funding – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

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