Top Stories and Commentary for Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Joe Simitian goes to Washington to lobby for schools
By J.M.Brown/Santa Cruz Sentinel
State Sen. Joe Simitian met with three top federal education officials in Washington on Tuesday to assure them that a bill awaiting the governor’s signature would qualify California for a piece of […]
Top Stories and Commentary for Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Who asked us? Dear Arnold: Sign onto education funding fairness
Commentary by Askari Gonzalez/New America Media
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, When is the last time you talked to a public school student? And I don’t mean one of those meet-and-greet, dog-and-pony shows. I mean, you know, really […]
Top Stories and Commentary for Monday, September 28, 2009
California schools need a shakeup
Santa Rosa Press-Democrat
The state has avoided facing the shortcomings in public schools long enough. California legislators should use the upcoming special session on education to make the sweeping reforms the state’s school system urgently needs. A legislative focus on […]
Themes in the News for the week of September 21-25, 2009
School Cuts Have Consequences: Larger Classes, Less Attention
Now that summer has drawn to a close, and the tumult over education budget “compromises” has quieted, some might feel relieved—might think that another crisis has passed. In fact, the crisis has just moved […]
Top Stories and Commentary for Thursday, September 24, 2009
Dropouts costing California $1.1 billion annually in juvenile crime costs
Study finds that cutting the dropout rate in half would save $550 million and prevent 30,000 juvenile crimes a year. Law enforcement urges more dropout-prevention programs.
By Seema Mehta/Los Angeles Times
High school dropouts, who are more […]
Top Stories and Commentary for Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Nation’s teachers unions feel squeezed by some former allies
By Rob Hotakainen/Sacramento Bee
When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed merit pay for teachers and lifting the cap on charter schools, the head of the California NAACP stood by his side. And when the Los Angeles school board voted […]
Top Stories and Commentary for Monday, September 21, 2009
State’s exit exams deserve a failing grade
Opinion by Gerald W. Bracey/Sacramento Bee
Gerald W. Bracey has had a 42-year career in education. His most recent book is "Education Hell: Rhetoric vs. Reality"
In view of the heated discussion of the California High School Exit Examination, […]
Themes in the News for the week of September 14-18, 2009
Test Scores Released: Does Near-Certain Failure Improve Motivation?
By UCLA IDEA Staff
Last week’s “Themes in the News” focused on President Obama’s speech to students and his motivational call for them to work harder in their classes. Many observers, including students, noted that […]
Top Stories and Commentary for Thursday, September 17, 2009
Have diploma, can’t apply to college
By Emily Alpert/Voice of San Diego
Counselor Frank Zavala tries to break the news to high schoolers gently, but sometimes it’s just too late. There’s no way they can rack up the classes they need to even apply to the […]
Top Stories and Commentary for Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Public schools fall behind
More schools struggle to achieve federal goals. By Rubén Moreno/La Opinión (text in Spanish)
Each year fewer California public schools are able to meet federal goals, as defined by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that all […]