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Monday, August 5, 2013

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Parent-trigger efforts in L.A. give parents control of the classroom



Education Headlines

Monday, August 5, 2013

#dislike: Lodi Unified students protest social media policy aimed at bullying

The policy cracks down on threats towards other people and other bullying techniques. It allows schools to bench athletes or remove students from clubs if officials learn they have posted inappropriate, profane or sexual language on a social media site - or boasted or endorsed illegal or violent activity.

New school

One Stockton Unified teacher says she's anticipating having more fun than she has in 15 years. Another speaks of looking forward to greater freedom to flex her creative muscles. One even went so far last week as to call coming changes to California public education "almost like an aphrodisiac if you're a teacher."

Common Core issues: Money, tech, testing

Some observers say it may take three or more years before Common Core is running at optimum speed and efficiency.

Students face punishment for inappropriate Facebook, Twitter use

The Lodi Unified School District is requiring high school students who participate in after-school programs such as sports or clubs to sign a social media contract. The document says the school district can monitor students posts on social media and kick them off school teams and clubs if officials find the posts inappropriate, according to Fox 40.

Sacramento school trustees close $2.3 million budget gap

Trustees of Sacramento city schools have voted to close a $2.3 million deficit tied to a decline in Medi-Cal reimbursements and an increase in special education students, district spokeswoman Janet Weeks said today.

Common Core standards to change way teachers teach

Inland students and those across most of the nation will be expected to read more complex materials, write more nonfiction and understand lessons more deeply as teachers start using new classroom expectations.

Fremont school officials warn of worse overcrowding if development goes ahead

Builders of the Patterson Ranch subdivision are expected to break ground next year, but school district officials fret that its 500 new homes will add more students than nearby schools can handle, worsening the Ardenwood neighborhood schools' already major overcrowding problem.

Teachers get sad lesson in quest for pencils

Rachel Tevlin woke up Saturday with the high hopes of a little kid on Christmas morning. It was - at least at one big-box office supply store - Teacher Appreciation Day.

Parent-trigger efforts in L.A. give parents control of the classroom

As the 2013-14 school year begins this month, Southern California will be ground zero for a new experiment in how schools are run. Parents at three failing public schools -- two in Los Angeles and one in the High Desert, between L.A. and Las Vegas -- will reopen after parents forced their local school districts to enact sweeping changes at the schools, successfully using California's 2010 "parent-trigger" law.

Bay Area teachers get hands-on math and science experience

This fall, when students ask Chuck Perez and Kavous Mazaheri why learning math is relevant to their success in life, the teachers will know exactly what to say. That's because both teachers are spending eight weeks this summer working side-by-side with engineers, technicians and lab researchers who eat and sleep math and science, with the express goal of giving instructors hands-on experience that they can take back to their classrooms.

L.A. teachers union urged to improve training for bad teachers

The Los Angeles teachers union must combat public perceptions that it protects bad teachers and should help them improve with better training, a city school board member told union activists in a wide-ranging speech Sunday.
Friday, August 2, 2013

Teacher returning to classroom despite repeat DUIs

A teacher at a Kern County alternative school is scheduled to return to her job when classes resume later this month despite having been caught driving under the influence of alcohol three times since 2011.

Sausalito Marin City School District taps SoCal administrator as chief

Steve Van Zant, 50, who headed the Mountain Empire Unified School District for the last five years, begins his new job Friday.

Alisal board tables music contract

Following a stream of comments from people in support of Youth Orchestra Salinas, the Alisal Union School District board of trustees Wednesday night held off on approval of a new contract for $95,000 in music instruction.