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Teachers union head calls for Core ‘course correction’

Education Headlines

Thursday, February 20, 2014

FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.

Fillmore teachers say district dragging feet on contract negotiations

More than 30 teachers came to Tuesday night’s Fillmore Unified School District board meeting to demand that officials negotiate a contract in good faith with their union representatives.

Construction firm TELACU bankrolling Centinela Valley school board campaigns, receiving millions in contracts

For a couple of moms from working-class families hoping to retain their seats on the Centinela Valley school board, it was a stark lesson in machine politics.

Eureka City Schools teacher talks continue: No agreement reached; upcoming mediation set

After failed negotiations, the Eureka City Schools District and the Eureka Teachers Association look to meet in early March with a mediator, according to district Superintendent Fred Van Vleck.

School district fires firm, demands money back

A company that was supposed to help clear environmental impact concerns on property that was to be the site of a third high school was fired Wednesday night by the Chico Unified School District board of trustees.

Committee urges Sacramento city schools not to sell closed campus sites without further review

A committee for the Sacramento City Unified School District has finalized recommendations for the future use of seven elementary campuses closed last year due to falling enrollment – urging that none be sold without further evaluation.

Fremont Unified school board members place $650 million bond measure on June ballot

The school district's aging facilities are in such need of major repair that board members have placed Fremont Unified's largest bond, a $650 million campus-improvement measure, on the June ballot.

Now online in Pleasanton: school district public records sought by public

Want to view Pleasanton school district employee salaries, a report on complaints about a principal, or other information disclosed in response to public record requests? All that is now available on the school district's Website.

Aerospace business corridor in El Segundo a cash cow for Centinela Valley school district

The Centinela Valley Union High School District serves a low-income population, but thanks to a quirky boundary line that juts into an unpopulated portion of El Segundo, the district has rare access to a gargantuan cash cow.

Teachers union head calls for Core ‘course correction’

The head of the nation’s largest teachers union said the rollout of the new Common Core academic standards has been “completely botched” in many states and that wholesale changes taking place in U.S. classrooms need an immediate “course correction.”

Los Angeles Unified parents, teachers criticize iPad rollout, call for school repairs

Critics of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s $1 billion iPad program gathered Wednesday outside a downtown school to call for money to be used on school repairs and funding for teachers.

Frey: PTA program creates parent advocates

With 117 years of promoting parent involvement under its collective belt, the PTA thinks it has the right formula for training parents in their new watchdog role under California’s reformed school finance and accountability system.

Adams: Special ed students in isolation at juvenile facilities must receive education, federal government says

Special education students who are locked in isolation in juvenile facilities must receive educational services and behavioral interventions, according to a sweeping assertion of the rights of special education students in detention issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education.

More than 600 L.A. school buildings need quake evaluations, retrofits

The Los Angeles Unified School District still has hundreds of school buildings in need of detailed seismic evaluations and strengthening to withstand a major earthquake, according to district data.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Simi Valley midyear school switch goes 'better than expected'

It was another first day of school — this one in the middle of the year — as Simi Elementary students arrived Tuesday at Mountain View School, their new campus.

Desert Sands Unified School Board approves 5 percent raises

The Desert Sands Unified School Board has approved raises for three employee groups, but the mid-valley school district continues negotiation with teachers, its largest group of employees.

CalSTRS financial reforms could hit districts hard

Orange County schools are bracing for a possible spike in pension contributions as the state inches closer to tackling an $80 billion funding shortfall threatening the state’s teacher retirement program.

New computer testing boosts technology in Sacramento area schools

California schools are racing to add computers and improve Internet access in preparation for the debut next school year of state computerized assessments for students.

CalPERS decides to speed up rate increases for state

In a victory for Gov. Jerry Brown and his get-tough approach, the CalPERS board on Tuesday set the stage for a rate increase that will cost the state treasury around $400 million beginning July 1.