Monthly Archives: April 2015

Arne Duncan Gives Five States Early Bird Renewal of NCLB Waivers – Education Week

Posted on by

By Alyson Klein

The five states that applied early—under a special, fast-track process—for renewal of their No Child Left Behind Act waivers have all gotten approved by the U.S. Department of Education Tuesday.

That means that Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Virginia will get to keep their waivers for another four years, to through the 2018-19 school year, meaning beyond the end of the Obama administration. The fast track renewal was intended, as a reward of sorts, for states that remained on track with their original waiver plans in the tricky area of teacher evaluation.

(For you waiver geeks, Minnesota wasnt in the initial batch of states tapped for the very special, expedited, and longer waiver renewal, intended for states that stayed on track with teacher evaluations. And it was not happy about being excluded. But apparently Minnesota joined the group at some point. I’m sure there’s a great “inside the bureaucracy” story there.)

via Arne Duncan Gives Five States Early Bird Renewal of NCLB Waivers – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

First 5 Solano seeks ‘Business Champions’ for summer pre-kindergarten program – The Reporter

Posted on by

First 5 Solano has launched its “Pre-K Business Champions” campaign, seeking local businesses to help support Solano Pre-Kindergarten Academies. Now in its third year, First 5 Solano has partnered with the business community to support Solano’s children. First 5 will match every business contribution up to the maximum $5,000.

This year, there are four ways that businesses can support children participating in Pre-K Academies:

• $200 sends one child to a Pre-K Academy

• $500 provides an entire classroom with backpacks and supplies

• $2,500 funds half of a classroom

• $5,000 funds an entire classroom

“As a business owner, I believe we can’t afford to not help our children get the best education possible,” said Buck Kamphausen, owner of Fairfield Funeral Home in a press release about the program. “The Pre-K academies target children who have not yet experienced the school environment, daycare or any other early learning program.”

via First 5 Solano seeks ‘Business Champions’ for summer pre-kindergarten program.

Vallejo fifth-graders come out on top at spelling bee – Times Herald

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

This year Vallejo, not Vacaville, boasts the top and the second-best elementary spellers in Solano County.

After 11 rounds and hundreds of words, an hour after the 39th annual bee began Tuesday evening, Gabriella Pasami correctly spelled “inaugurate” when competitor Maryann Pidlaoan stumbled on “impairment.”

Both fifth-graders, they immediately became eligible to compete in the California Elementary Spelling Bee April 18 at the San Joaquin County Office of Education in Stockton, where some 100 spellers will vie for top state honors.

via Vallejo fifth-graders come out on top at spelling bee.

Music teachers receive program grants – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Susan Winlow

Superstition usually dictates that 13 is an unlucky number but in the case of 13 local music teachers, it’s kicked the unlucky descriptor.

The Donald and Rose Marie Wong Endowment Fund chose the teachers to receive music program mini grants through a competitive application process. The grants total $17,500 with amounts ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.

The list includes teachers from districts, charter and private schools throughout Solano County, with the bulk coming from Vallejo and Vacaville.

via Music teachers receive program grants Daily Republic.

Board may OK district staff pact – Benicia Herald

Posted on by

By Keri Luiz

Benicia Unified School District trustees will hear a request Thursday to approve a tentative agreement between the California School Employees Association and the district for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years.

According to a report by Deputy Superintendent Michael Gardner, the cost of the two-year contract with the school employees union is approximately $505,000.

The tentative agreement gives classified employees, or non-teaching staff, a 3.5-percent salary increase for this year (retroactive to July 1, 2014) and a 4-percent increase in 2015-16. Under the contract, district employees also would get a retroactive $30 increase to their medical cap, and a $100 increase next year.

via Board may OK district staff pact.