Monthly Archives: December 2017

School Voucher Programs Should Be Clear About Disability Rights, GAO Report Says : NPR Ed

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By Cory Turner

A new report from the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office says many of the nation’s voucher programs — and the private schools that participate in them — aren’t giving parents the information they need to make an informed choice, especially parents of kids with disabilities.

Federal law says that students with disabilities are entitled to certain protections when they attend public school (more on those in a minute). If parents use a publicly funded voucher to enroll their child in a private school, they leave many of those protections behind. Some families do this knowingly, trading federal guarantees in a cash-strapped public school for the hope of something better on the private market.

Source: School Voucher Programs Should Be Clear About Disability Rights, GAO Report Says : NPR Ed : NPR

24 ideas for improving the Local Control Funding Formula | EdSource

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By John Fensterwald

With Gov. Jerry Brown retiring a year from now, EdSource asked two dozen school leaders, student advocates, legislators and other astute observers to suggest the most important improvements needed to make his landmark education law, the Local Control Funding Formula, more effective, equitable and truer to its promise. Their insightful recommendations touched on the key aspects of the law — its need-based funding formula, school accountability requirements and a focus on school improvement through local control. There was some common ground, plenty of disagreement and one response in verse. Their recommendations are summarized below and my own observations are in a separate column.

Source: 24 ideas for improving the Local Control Funding Formula | EdSource

Torlakson Meets with Mexican Education Leaders – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson continued his efforts today to increase cooperation with Mexico to better serve California students who end up attending school on both sides of the border. He met with leaders of Baja California’s education system, including Miguel Ángel Mendoza González, the Secretary of Education for the State of Baja California, and visited schools in Tijuana.

Officials from both nations are exploring practical ways to better serve these shared students by making it easier to share student records, encouraging more teachers in both nations to be trained in bilingual teaching, and expanding teacher exchanges between Mexico and California to promote bilingual education.

“It is so important at this time to let the people of Baja California and Mexico know that we are extending the hand of friendship,” said Torlakson. “By working together, we can improve the education of students who formerly attended schools in California and may eventually return to California. We can also help meet the needs of Mexican born children attending school in California,” he said. “We are a strong team together! Somos un equipo fuerte!”

Source: Torlakson Meets with Mexican Education Leaders – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

High school business continues ‘Odd Jobs’ through holidays – Benicia Herald

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By George Johnston

The kids are all right. Well, at least the ones in Benicia. Last year, a group of high schoolers started a business where they do odd jobs for the community.We Do Odd Jobs was started by Benicia High School junior Chris Weldon and a group of his friends. This group was trying to figure out a way to pay for summer camp and came to the solution of creating a service where they would do odd jobs for the community like moving items and yard maintenance. Once they had the idea of what “We Do Odd Jobs” would do, they had to start advertising their new business, which they did on the Facebook group “Benicia Happenings.” From there, the We Do Odd Jobs started getting hired more frequently. Business continued to improve after the group received praise on the internet from their clients.

“We just want to give back to the people of our community.” Weldon said. “We do these services that weren’t being provided by anybody, and it was kind of clicked together and it was something Benicia was kind of missing.”

Source: High school business continues ‘Odd Jobs’ through holidays

Armijo drama students tackle brain-teasing murder mystery – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Armijo High School’s Theater Department invites the community to a good brain-teaser with the production of “The Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery,” which opens this weekend.

The play, written by Brian D. Taylor, takes place in a playhouse in Chen Boyang, Michigan. This mysterious comedy revolves around actors and actresses who are performing the play, “Putting a Little English On It.”

Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Thursday and Dec. 8-9 at the school, 824 Washington St., Room T-2, in Fairfield. The show runs for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, including a brief intermission.

Source: Armijo drama students tackle brain-teasing murder mystery

Solano Office of Education announces poster contest winners – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Ten children and teens are being recognized for their artistic talents in the 2017 Attendance Awareness Poster Contest.

The top three placers in each of the three age groups will be recognized at their school district board meetings.

“This year’s Attendance Awareness Contest was a huge success with over 200 participants using their artistic talents to spread the word about the critical role good school attendance has on student achievement,” Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County superintendent of schools, said in a statement.

Source: Solano Office of Education announces poster contest winners