Monthly Archives: November 2013

Vallejo school’s namesake will be honored in ceremony – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

Details of the ceremony to celebrate a new identity for a Vallejo’s school were finalized Monday afternoon.

Formerly known as Peoples High School, the continuation school has embraced a new identity by changing its name, mascot and school colors.

The school has been renamed after the man who was there since the beginning, John W. Finney. Now 85, Finney was the school’s principal for14 years beginning in 1972.

via Vallejo school’s namesake will be honored in ceremony – Vallejo Times Herald.

Ernest Kimme: Chatting with Superintendent Ken Jacopetti – The Reporter

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By Ernest Kimme

Vacaville has had a new superintendent of schools for about four months, so I thought this would be a good time to talk to him.

Ken Jacopetti came to Vacaville Unified from the Bryon School District, a small rural district due east of Mount Diablo. By all accounts, he was a successful and popular leader. During his tenure, two of the three schools in the district earned California Distinguished Schools status.

 

via Ernest Kimme: Chatting with Superintendent Ken Jacopetti – The Reporter.

Buddies help special needs kids do more in Dixon – The Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

Peals of giggles erupted from the Kid Zone at Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon recently, followed by a shower of kernels from the seasonal corn bath.

Turns out there was no bubbly corn monster — just a group of T.E.A.M. Dixon kids having fun with partner Wolfskill 4-H.

The group, short for Together Everyone Always Matters, is an offshoot of the Dixon Marlins Little League Challenger team. The latter is a baseball team consisting of special needs players with buddies who help with the plays, from getting players to each plate to swinging the bat and more.

via Buddies help special needs kids do more in Dixon – The Reporter.

NCLB Waiver States Get Even More Time to Apply for Teacher-Evaluation Extension – Education Week

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By Michele McNeil

For the second time, the U.S. Department of Education is giving states with No Child Left Behind Act waivers more time to decide whether they want an extra year to implement a key piece of their teacher-evaluation systems.

First, the deadline to apply for a one-year waiver extension was Sept. 30. Then, it got moved to Oct. 31. And now, it’s Nov. 22.

This waiver extension allows states to postpone using student growth on state tests as a factor in personnel decisions for up to one additional year—until the 2016-17 school year. Originally, the federal waiver guidelines required states do all of this by the 2015-16 school year.

via NCLB Waiver States Get Even More Time to Apply for Teacher-Evaluation Extension – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

Middle School Science Standards – EdSource Today

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By Kathryn Baron

The State Board of Education will grapple with physical and metaphysical principles this week when it considers how middle school science should be taught. The question is, does each field of science exist in a vacuum?

When the State Board approved the Next Generation Science Standards in September, it postponed the issue of whether middle school science should continue to be taught by discipline – earth sciences in 6th grade, life sciences in 7th and physical sciences in 8th – or if the subjects should be integrated with a bit of each, plus some engineering, in every grade to lay a foundation for more difficult concepts later on.

via EdSource Today.

Mayor eyes Tuesday election turnout – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

He’s not on the ballot, but Fairfield Mayor Harry Price says he’ll be looking at the turnout in Tuesday’s election.

Three candidates are running for two seats on the board of trustees for the Travis School District, one of the few public agencies that continues odd-year elections. Most cities and school districts decided to switch to even years when congressional elections and other contests boost turnout and cut ballot costs, supporters of the change say.

via Mayor eyes Tuesday election turnout Daily Republic.

Solano County Office of Education/Common Core – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Some were on special assignment. All at the network were interested in successful strategies – including tools such as tapping into the “artist’s habits of mind.”

Teachers, school administrators and others at the Solano Common Core Network met last week at the county Office of Education and learned about putting in place the new standards for California schools.

via Daily Republic | Solano County’s Breaking News Source.

Election for Travis Unified School Board members set for Tuesday – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Election Day is Tuesday, and local registered voters, if they live within certain Travis Unified boundaries — in parts of south Vacaville and parts of east Fairfield — will be voting for two of three candidates in the school district’s Trustee Area No. 2.

The candidates are Donna Bishop, the incumbent and a foster parent; Riitta De Anda, a small-business owner; and John Dickerson, an information technology manager.

Since it is an odd-year election, one without state or federal government candidates or controversial statewide propositions, county election of

via Election for Travis Unified School Board members set for Tuesday – The Reporter.

Adult Education: How To Translate Adult Education Into Job Skills : NPR

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by Kavitha Cardoza

Adults wanting to go back to school have the odds stacked against them. They juggle many responsibilities, there are long waitlists for classes and often there isn’t a connection between what they learn in class and the skills they need to get a job.

But a program offered in Washington state has been so successful in getting adult students into the workforce that more than 20 states are implementing the model. It’s called Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training, better known as I-BEST.

 

via Adult Education: How To Translate Adult Education Into Job Skills : NPR.

A New Student Teaching Model for Pairing Interns with Clinical Teachers | Edutopia

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By Teresa Washut Heck

Most of us have vivid memories of our student teaching experience. Whether these images are positive or negative, they played a significant role in preparing us to become teachers. The old model of student teaching often had the teacher candidates spending their initial weeks as silent observers, gradually assuming the role of teacher, leading up to “full responsibility” in the classroom. Clinical teachers rarely assisted or vacated the room, letting the candidate learn his or her craft alone.

via A New Student Teaching Model for Pairing Interns with Clinical Teachers | Edutopia.

State Board executive director optimistic conflict with feds over testing can be resolved | EdSource Today

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By John Fensterwald

Despite a threatening letter last week from an assistant secretary of the federal Department of Education, the executive director of the State Board of Education is expressing confidence that the state will reach an agreement over standardized testing next spring to avoid tens of millions of dollars in federal penalties.

“I remain optimistic we can resolve this,” Karen Stapf Walters said on Friday. “They feel the same.”

They – specifically Assistant Secretary Deborah Delisle – haven’t appeared equally sanguine, at least publicly. In her letter to state officials, which was released last week, Delisle said California would face substantial sanctions if it follows a new state law and fails to test every student in reading and math in grades 3 though 8 and grade 11 next year. Delisle said the state Department of Education stands to lose federal money used to administer Title I funding for disadvantaged students and to administer federally required tests.

via State Board executive director optimistic conflict with feds over testing can be resolved | EdSource Today.

Syllabus of Guidance on Behavior-Related Issues – CA Dept of Education

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The syllabus has been constructed in response to the requirements of Assembly Bill 110, Chapter 20, Statutes of 2013. It lists both federal and private-sector publications that may be of assistance to educators looking for information following the repeal of Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 3001d, e, f, g, and ab and Section 3052, formerly known as the “Hughes Bill” regulations.

via Syllabus of Guidance on Behavior-Related Issues – Announcements & Current Issues CA Dept of Education.

For Teachers, Wired Classrooms Pose New Management Concerns – Education Week

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By Liana Heitin

In a growing number of K-12 schools, the use of 1-to-1 computing devices—including iPads, laptops, and Chromebooks—is becoming a central part of instruction. For teachers making the digital leap, one of the greatest hurdles can be figuring out how to manage the tech-infused classroom. How do you keep kids, who suddenly have the Internet at their fingertips, on task? How do you ensure the devices are safe and well-maintained? And how do you compete with your most tech-savvy students?

via For Teachers, Wired Classrooms Pose New Management Concerns.

Vallejo teachers get new union chief – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Lanz Christian Bañes

Sheila Gradwohl didn’t always think she’d be a teacher.

“I wanted to be a lawyer,” said Gradwohl, who spent about 15 years as a police dispatcher.

But as her daughter grew older, Gradwohl searched for a career that didn’t have her working nights and weekends. As a regular volunteer at her daughter’s school, she decided to give teaching a try.She’s never looked back.

via Vallejo teachers get new union chief – Vallejo Times Herald.

Parents push for more prominent place at the school budget table | EdSource Today

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By Jane Meredith Adams

Four months into the rollout of the new state education funding law, parent leaders across California are trying to ensure that “local control” over school spending truly includes parents.

The law, known as the Local Control Funding Formula, is a landmark shift that gives school districts more control over spending decisions that had previously been mandated by the state, and outlines eight key priorities that districts must consider when allocating their resources. One of those new priorities is parent involvement, and implementation of the law begins with the requirement that districts engage parents in crafting budgets.

via Parents push for more prominent place at the school budget table | EdSource Today.