November 2011
13 posts
Getting relief from No Child Left Behind law could... →
In what one State Board of Education member described as a “jaw-dropping” figure, California education officials estimate it could cost the state as much as $3 billion to meet conditions set by the Obama administration to qualify for a waiver of some of the most onerous requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
Study: Grade gap between Latinos and white... →
The increasing reliance on online courses at California’s community colleges is contributing to the grade gap between Latino and white students, according to a recent study that examined millions of student records.
Ed-Data to help schools create their annual report... →
Schools now have access to a new tool that will make it easier for them to create their state-mandated School Accountability Report Cards. The tool was developed by the Ed-Data Partnership, made up of the California Department of Education, EdSource and the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team.
Panel wants to attach strings to community college... →
Students receiving fee waivers at California’s 112 community colleges could be required to work towards a clearly identified educational goal and be limited in the number of courses they could take.
The two faces of protest in Oakland | EdSource... →
Louis Freedberg expresses his view on how Oakland school closures are connected to the Occupy Oakland movement.
October 2011
8 posts
Panel wants community college students to draw up... →
Task force recommends that students be required to create an “individual education plan” when they enter a California community college program, as part of a drive to ensure that more of them attain their education goals.
Digital “badges” proposed as alternative way to... →
The concept of measuring talents and accomplishments in the form of online “badges” is gaining steam. And a California university is poised to play a key role in their development.
With federal help, charter schools evaluate... →
Four California charter schools are instituting rigorous evaluations of their principals.
Brown’s veto of education bill consistent with... →
A simple teaching exercise on a green leaf has had an enduring impact on Gov. Jerry Brown’s views on education.
Brown attacks testing and data as measures of... →
Setting himself apart from other governors, Gov. Jerry Brown has launched an extraordinary broadside against the current national obsession with testing that continues to dominate school reform efforts across the state and nation.
“Children’s Cabinet” stalls in state legislature |... →
Proponents of establishing a “Children’s Cabinet” in California to coordinate the vast array of services for children delivered by multiple state agencies have not given up on it, despite failing to convince the Legislature to endorse the idea this year.
Despite new federal guidelines, author says... →
Next year new federal guidelines to promote healthier school lunches will go into effect. In this interview, EdSource’s Sue Frey talked with Amy Kalafa, author of the newly published Lunch Wars.
Districts to pay teachers based in part on their... →
Two California school districts will give teachers bonuses of up to $5,000 based in part on measuring how well their students score on standardized tests this year.
September 2011
11 posts
State burdened by oversight of more charter... →
The closure and bankruptcy of a West Sacramento charter school this fall highlights the State Board of Education’s increasing role in granting charters to charter schools—and its limited ability to oversee those schools.
State looks into loss of funds by start-up charter... →
The California Department of Education is looking into the loss of upwards of “tens of millions of dollars” in federal and state funds from start-up charter schools that either never opened or failed after their first year or two of operation.
California Gears Up for Extra Year of Kindergarten →
School districts around the state are gearing up to offer an additional year of “preppy kindergarten,”
Our own Mary Perry will be on panel of CASBO... →
The CASBO webcast will take place on 9/28 from 10-11a.m.
2011 accountability data now available on Ed-Data →
And watch for a new SARC template application for schools and districts in November.
11th graders’ college readiness in English is... →
The majority of 11th graders—about two thirds—were deemed “not ready for college” based on their EAP results.
Making online learning work: Fresno’s tale of... →
EdSource Extra! - Fresno Unified has figured out a relatively simple way to dramatically increase the pass rates of students who enroll in online courses to make up for classes they have failed in a traditional classroom setting.
