July 2009 Archives

A state Senate Subcommittee on July 29, 2009 will examine who is in charge of California public schools and how to improve the K-12 education governance system.

The Senate Education Committee Subcommittee on Educational Governance and Accountability was formed to address California's crisis in public education and examine how to deliver public education more efficiently and effectively to state residents and meet the demand for an educated workforce in the 21st Century.  The subcommittee's first hearing will consider changes to the roles and duties of the state's key policymakers - the State Board of Education, the Secretary of Education, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction -- as proposed by the Joint Legislative Committee to Develop a Master Plan for Education in 2002 and the Governor's Committee on Education Excellence in 2007.

Subcommitee members include Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge), Chair; Sen. Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles), who Chairs the Senate Education Committee; and Sen. Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad).

The hearing will feature Ted Mitchell, President of the State Board of Education, who chaired the Governor's Committee on Education Excellence; and Dede Alpert, a former legislator and chair of the joint committee that produced the 2002 California Master Plan for Education.

·        WHAT:     Senate Subcommittee hearing on Education Governance

·        WHEN:     10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.., Wednesday, July 29, 2009

·        WHERE:  San Diego County Administration Center - Room 358, 1600 Pacific Highway

Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is among 13 colleges selected by The Princeton Review for their 2010 Financial Aid Honor Roll. The list, published in The Best 371 Colleges, includes institutions that received the highest possible rating score of 99.

"More than half of CMC students receive financial aid. At the core of the College's mission is our ability to provide need-blind admission. CMC's financial aid program enables us to attract academically-motivated students from diverse backgrounds and populations," said Georgette DeVeres, associate vice president of admission and financial aid. "Our students are given the freedom to attend a world-class liberal arts college without the often overwhelming financial challenges that accompany a private education."

In addition to CMC, the list includes (in alphabetical order): American Jewish University (Bel Air Calif.), Beloit College (Beloit, Wis.), Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine), California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, Calif.), Gettysburg College (Gettysburg, Pa.), Harvard College (Cambridge, Mass.), Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, Ill.), Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, Pa.), Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, Calif.), Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Ind.), Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.), and Williams College (Williamstown, Mass.).

Claremont McKenna College has a competitive financial aid program partnered with a need-blind admission process. For the 2008-2009 academic year, 51% of students received financial assistance, with an average financial aid package of $37,450. In March 2008, the College announced that it was eliminating student loans from all financial aid packages and replacing loans with grant aid.

"The cost of college at most institutions is sobering, and the need for financial aid greater than ever in these tough economic times," said Robert Franek, vice president and publisher of The Princeton Review. "But we encourage applicants never to cross a school off their list because of its sticker price, and always to get information about the schools' financial aid offerings, and their award prospects which can be truly compelling."

The Princeton Review--an education services company--collected and analyzed data from 623 colleges. The Financial Aid ratings--scores on a scale of 60 to 99--were tallied based on data from its surveys of administrators at hundreds of schools in 2008-2009 and its surveys of student aid recipients attending the schools. School data included the percentage of their students determined to have need who received aid, the percentage of need met, and the percentage of students whose aid was fully met. The rating also factored in data from The Princeton Review's surveys of students attending the schools about their satisfaction with their aid awards.

Claremont McKenna College is a highly selective, independent liberal arts college educating leaders in business, the professions and public affairs. A member of The Claremont Colleges, in Claremont, California, CMC is consistently ranked among the nation's best colleges.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement regarding a provision in the state budget agreement - struck by the Governor and the Legislative Leadership - that would suspend the adoption of school instructional materials for five years.

"Over the last two years, education has been cut by a staggering $18 billion, and these cuts threaten to derail the progress we've made in our classrooms over the last several years.

"Unfortunately, on top of these deep cuts, the Governor and the Legislature are now calling for a delay in adopting instructional materials for our students for five years, significantly affecting learning in our schools. Each new version of our textbooks seeks to improve on the last as we learn what strategies and materials are most effective for teaching our students. Our latest Reading Language Arts/English Language Development books, for example, significantly have improved strategies for teaching English learners. Failing to provide new options for adopted instructional materials will hurt all students, especially our most vulnerable students, and threatens to increase our already unacceptable achievement gap.

"Students will not have new approved books until 2016. The impact is that tools for teachers, principals, and superintendents will be dated and stale and, in some cases, unavailable.

"We will have history textbooks that state there has never been an African American president nor will they include up-to-date lessons on the rise of terrorism and our new global challenge as a result.

"We will have science textbooks that don't mention the value of stem cell research. Global warming and climate change will affect our lives but will not appear in our textbooks.

"Our students deserve current and accurate materials. If this decision is allowed to stand, many of our students will be stuck with books that were printed before they were born.

"I fully appreciate the gravity of California's fiscal crisis, but I also understand that any long-term recovery from this crisis will be fueled by the students sitting in our classrooms today. But this recovery won't even get off the ground if we don't ensure that the classroom experience we provide students is of the highest order, and up-to-date instructional materials are an integral part of this experience.

"I would like to urge the Governor and the Legislature to strongly reconsider this move because they've already left our educators with the daunting task of doing much more with much less in our classrooms."

Senator Bob Huff (R - Diamond Bar) released the following statement after the state Senate approved a complex legislative package of 31 bills aimed at closing the state's $25.3 billion budget deficit:

"It was a long-night of debate, but in the end, lawmakers did what was necessary to solve the state's multi-billion dollar cash flow crisis without raising taxes," Senator Huff said. "Everyone is taking big hits, but this budget provides mechanisms in which to pay down the structural deficit and fully fund K-12 education. Furthermore, by allowing slant drilling into off-shore oil reserves, we will boost California's employment and revenues while decreasing dependence on foreign oil.

"The budget fix is not perfect, but it does institute a host of necessary government reforms, including the flawed IHSS and CalWORKS systems where there will now be greater accountability and less fraud," further commented Senator Huff. "By prioritizing funding to those who need it most and targeting those who ignore the rules we will save $850 million over the next two budget years, and ultimately $1.5 billion per year thereafter.

"Among other things, the last 18 months have demonstrated a real need for restructuring the way the state does business. The vote may be over, but California must continue the work this budget patch began.  We must continue to bring our spending in line with revenue, and we must not lose momentum in fighting for basic reforms that stimulate our economy, create jobs, and ensure that every tax dollar is spent wisely.  There is a lot still to do." 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement regarding President Obama's launching of the federal "Race to the Top" competition, which allows states to compete for $4.35 billion in education funds if they fulfill the competition's criteria.

"Without question, 'The Race for the Top' fund will be one of the boldest and farthest-reaching efforts to implement meaningful reform in our nation's schools in generations.

"The over-arching goals of the education community must be to increase student achievement and close achievement gaps, and I applaud the Obama Administration for making these two points a focus of their education reform efforts.

"While every one of our states is unique in the needs of its students, as a nation we must make a united commitment to a number of important, core philosophies, including increasing effective teaching, developing globally competitive standards and assessments, turning around low-performing schools and improving data systems to become continuous learning systems that guide decision making.

"As the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I am wholly committed to ensuring that California is actively engaged in this national conversation. And so, I look forward to joining Governor Schwarzenegger and the State Board of Education in working with the President and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to move forward this ambitious agenda for change.

"Of course, as with any push for significant change, there will be legitimate concerns. Certainly, these guidelines call for some hard decisions by California educators and policymakers, and while this is not an easy conversation to have, it is the right conversation to have.

"While I generally agree with the intent and the focus of the proposed guidelines, there also are some specific areas with which I disagree. Specifically, I would like to point out what I believe to be a misunderstanding about the law surrounding our data systems. California law does not prevent any school district from using the state's student assessment results for purposes of evaluation or compensation. It only prohibits the use of this data to evaluate individual teachers at the state level. This is simply a matter of local control that appropriately ensures school districts handle their own personnel decisions.

"Regardless of this disagreement or any others, I look forward to beginning this effort to effectively communicate our thoughts and any potential changes to the guidelines over the next month."

Laura Rico, president of the ABC Federation of Teachers, in Southern California is one of about 125 invited educators who will attend a major event tomorrow at which President Obama and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will discuss the $5 billion "Race to the Top" fund which will provide competitive grants to states for projects to improve education quality and outcomes.

Rico will be available to discuss her experience at the event, thoughts on the fund, and the vital role teachers and their unions can play in education reforms.

The event is expected to end at approximately 2 p.m. Contact George Jackson at 202/393-4275 if you would like to connect with Rico immediately after the event at the U.S. Department of Education, or later in the afternoon at AFT headquarters--555 New Jersey Ave. N.W.

The AFT represents more than 1.4 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the appointment of Dr. John Bernard as the State Administrator for the King City Joint Union High School District in Monterey County. The state takeover of the district is required by law after the district was granted a state loan to avoid bankruptcy.

"Although a state takeover of any school district is a very serious matter, I encourage everyone to look upon this as an opportunity," said O'Connell. "Dr. Bernard has the talent and experience and my full support to get King City Joint Union High School District back on firm fiscal footing, improve test scores, and narrow the achievement gap. I have charged him to meet these goals as quickly as possible so that we may return control to the school district. I am confident that the King City community is committed to their children's success, and that their partnership in this process will make the school district better and stronger."

The $13 million emergency loan for the King City Joint Union High School District was authorized in Senate Bill (SB) 130, authored by Senator Jeff Denham (R-Merced). The bill was passed on an urgency basis in the Legislature and was signed into law Wednesday by Governor Schwarzenegger. Of the $13 million loan authorized in the bill, $5 million comes from the state General Fund and is expected to be reimbursed within one year. Up to an additional $8 million is available in the form of lease financing from the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank). Lease financing means the I-Bank still owns the money that is being financed by the sale of bonds. The district may tap into the funds that may be paid back within 20 years.

            "A bipartisan effort, like the support from Superintendent O'Connell, helped pass this fiscally responsible and urgent measure which ultimately saves taxpayer dollars," said Denham. "Parents in the district can breathe more easily now, knowing that their kids will have a place to go when school starts in August."

            O'Connell and Monterey County Office of Education Superintendent Dr. Nancy Kotowski selected Bernard after a thorough search for a state administrator. Bernard is currently the Executive Director of ConnectEd for the Antioch Unified School District, as well as the Senior Advisor for District Improvement and Leadership for Total School Solutions. He has devoted more than 30 years toward success in public education and serving California students. Bernard began his career as a teacher, and then worked his way up to assistant principal, principal, director, and superintendent. He worked in various school districts including San Francisco Unified, Mt. Diablo Unified, Bakersfield City, Novato Unified, and Newark Unified. Bernard has demonstrated success in contract negotiations and management, balancing school district budgets in face of budget reductions, building instructional capacity, and developing collaborative relationships with district and school site staff, parents, and community leaders.

            "The King City Joint Union High School District is facing significant fiscal challenges," said Bernard. "I look forward to the opportunity of addressing these issues through the development of a fiscal recovery plan, while avoiding negative consequences to educational programs during this financial crisis."

            The King City Joint Union High School District's financial crisis stems from a contract negotiated in 2001 with certificated staff that resulted in a lawsuit. The judge in the case ruled in 2004 that the school district owed the certificated staff $5.2 million, which was then settled for $1.2 million. In 2007, the school district received a loan for that amount from the Monterey County Office of Education. Since then, the school district has experienced declining student enrollment, staff turnover, and engaged in deficit spending that led to fiscal difficulties and an inability to manage its finances. To avoid bankruptcy, the district sought state assistance, resulting in the passage of SB 130. 

            Under SB 130, King City Joint Union High School District will receive assistance by the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to develop a recovery plan, prepare budget reports, and make other recommendations. As part of the plan, FCMAT will review five areas of governance: (1.) community relations and governance; (2.) personnel management; (3.) pupil achievement; (4.) financial management; and (5.) facilities management. As the school district makes progress in these areas of governance, FCMAT may recommend to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction whether to return control of those areas to the school district, until ultimately, full control is returned.

            California established a process in 1991 to help school districts that become financially insolvent (Assembly Bill 1200, Chapter 1213, Statutes of 1991). If the state provides a loan to a school district, the State Superintendent takes over its governance and may appoint an administrator and other staff to get the school district back on sound financial footing. California has taken over seven school districts since this process was established: Richmond/West Contra Costa, Coachella Valley Unified, Compton Unified, Emery Unified, West Fresno Elementary, Oakland Unified, and Vallejo City Unified. Governance has been returned to two districts: Richmond/West Contra Costa and Compton Unified. The remaining districts continue under some state oversight until their state loans are repaid. 

  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell will hold a news conference on Thursday morning to announce the appointment of Dr. John Bernard as the state administrator for the King City Joint Union High School District in Monterey County. The state takeover of the district was required by law after the district was granted a state loan to avoid bankruptcy.

            The $13 million emergency loan for the King City Joint Union High School District was authorized in Senate Bill (SB) 130, authored by Senator Jeff Denham (R-Merced). The bill was passed on an urgency basis in the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger on Wednesday.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell issued the following statement today regarding the budget agreement struck by the Governor and the Legislative Leadership:

            "I am glad to see that the Governor and Legislative leadership have reached an agreement that addresses our budget shortfall and resolves our cash-flow crisis, at least for this year. Sadly, the agreement includes $7.6 billion in cuts in Proposition 98 funding. This new massive reduction, which is added to the $11.6 billion in school funding cut just last February, will result in very real consequences for students. Larger class sizes, canceled summer school, a shorter school year, and no new textbooks are just a few of the painful results. I fully recognize that given the magnitude of our state fiscal crisis, the pain for schools could have been worse than that created by the agreement that was reached. I am pleased that the agreement did not include a suspension of Proposition 98 and that schools eventually will get the approximately $9.2 billion that is owed under the Prop. 98 guarantee.

            "Nevertheless, the reductions that our schools must absorb now will heighten the challenge educators face in trying to increase student achievement and close the achievement gap, and I fear that the last decade of progress in statewide student test scores will be interrupted. I continue to have faith in the hard work of our teachers, administrators, school staff, parents, and students, and I sincerely hope that this fear is proven unfounded.

 "I am pleased that the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) will remain as a condition of graduation for most students, but it is unfortunate that the agreement excludes the CAHSEE requirement for students with disabilities. Many thousands of students with disabilities have passed the Exit Exam, and many more will continue to take and pass this test. The Exit Exam requirement has pushed our system to help ensure that all students have the critical basic skills in English-language arts and math that are needed for productive work or college after high school. Eliminating this requirement for students with disabilities who are on a diploma track does nothing to help prepare these students for success after high school."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that instructional materials submitted for the 2009 Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum Review for kindergarten through grade twelve are now available for public review and comment.

            "Students today will be responsible for making decisions that influence the future health of the environment," said O'Connell. "This curriculum provides the foundation to prepare students to be informed, environmentally conscious decision makers. I encourage educators, parents, and all interested parties to participate in the review of these landmark environmental instructional materials. Their input will help ensure that high-quality, standards-based environmental curricula are available to teachers and schools in California."

The curricula encompass 85 units that address about 100 science and history-social science standards. The curricula also cover environmental topics such as sustainability, global climate change, waste, water, energy, and resource conservation and recycling.

The California Department of Education's Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission (Curriculum Commission) is responsible for the review of the proposed materials and will submit its recommendation to the Secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Natural Resources Agency. The Secretaries will then submit the materials to the State Board of Education for approval.

A link to the EEI curricula and instructions for submitting public comment is available on the California Department of Education Web site at www.cde.ca.gov/157468. Comments received by September 1, 2009, will be forwarded to the Curriculum Commission for consideration prior to its September 24-25, 2009 meeting. Comments received after that date will be given to the Curriculum Commissioners the day of the meeting. Public comments and concerns also may be presented, orally or in writing, at the meeting.

Today, SB 680, which allows parents to send their child to whatever public school district they choose that participates in the District of Choice (DOC) program, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a 9-3 bipartisan vote. The program was terminated July 1, 2009; SB 680 would reinstate the program for seven years and allow hundreds of new school districts to become districts of choice.

SB 680, jointly authored by Senator Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles) and co-authored by Senator Bob Huff (R-Glendora), would also allow more than 5,000 students to stay in public schools best suited for their academic needs.

"Parents and their families are a step closer today in regaining access to a quality public education for their children," said Senator Gloria Romero, chair of the Senate Education Committee.  "This solution allows parents--not bureaucrats--to decide which public school their children should attend."

The bill previously passed the Senate Floor and Assembly Education Committee with bipartisan support.  On June 30 the Assembly Appropriations Committee defeated the bill however; the vote today was on reconsideration of the previous vote.   

Because the DOC program expired July 1, a student who had transferred to a school in a district other than the school district of their residence could be forced to return to their district of residence. In many cases, students could be sent to an unfamiliar school or one that their parents do not feel meets their academic needs.  The DOC program is the only program in current law that provides parents an option to enroll their child in a public school of their choice without permission from their resident district.

"Parents know what is best for their children and they should be the ones charged with making the best choices for them," said Romero.  "Parents choose where their child worships, what TV programs they watch, the food they eat  and where their family shops and they must be allowed to choose where their child will receive the best public education to meet their academic needs."

The DOC program, also referred to as a cross-district or open enrollment option, has operated successfully for 16 years through four program extensions.  SB 680 would now allow any of the more than 1,000 California public school districts to elect to become a DOC. 

The bill recognizes the negative effects of "educational redlining" and seeks to end a practice that holds children hostage by a zip code. This is often the case when students, especially poor and minority children, are assigned to a persistently low-performing school in their neighborhood.  Most students who participate in the DOC program transfer from a low-performing school to DOC schools with an Academic Performance Index of 100, 200 and even 300 points higher than their former school.

"Allowing parents to choose what public school is best for their children truly promotes excellence in education," said Senator Huff. "Our schools will be better than they would be otherwise by giving parents more choices." 

"This legislation is really about providing equal opportunities in education for all California students," said Romero.  "Parents, not zip codes, should decide if a school is providing those opportunities for their child."

SB 680 next will be heard on the Assembly Floor.     

SACRAMENTO -- Despite optimism earlier in the day that a deal to close California's $26.3 billion deficit could be close at hand, talks between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders stalled late Wednesday over cuts to public schools.

After huddling most of Wednesday, the Big Five -- Schwarzenegger and the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Assembly and Senate -- appeared to be within striking distance of a deal.

But emerging from the governor's office around 10 p.m. Wednesday, Democratic leaders said talks had broken down over a proposal to repay schools about $11 billion in recent budget cuts. Democrats want to make schools whole in future years once the economy rebounds, but Republicans say writing such a guarantee into the budget would skirt Prop. 98, the voter-approved constitutional amendment that spells out how public schools and community colleges are funded.

"I hate to describe today as a step back, but it's definitely a stall," said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles.

After weeks of partisan sniping, the budget talks have taken on a more serious, determined tone over the past few days, the governor said at a noon news conference. Both sides plan to reconvene today for further talks.

Among the outstanding questions are how much to slice education spending and whether to suspend Proposition 98, which mandates that about 40 percent of the state's budget go to education.

Today, SB 680, which allows parents to send their child to whatever public school district they choose that participates in the District of Choice (DOC) program, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a 9-3 bipartisan vote. The program was terminated July 1, 2009; SB 680 would reinstate the program for seven years and allow hundreds of new school districts to become districts of choice.

SB 680, jointly authored by Senator Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles) and co-authored by Senator Bob Huff (R-Glendora), would also allow more than 5,000 students to stay in public schools best suited for their academic needs.

"Parents and their families are a step closer today in regaining access to a quality public education for their children," said Senator Gloria Romero, chair of the Senate Education Committee.  "This solution allows parents--not bureaucrats--to decide which public school their children should attend."

The bill previously passed the Senate Floor and Assembly Education Committee with bipartisan support.  On June 30 the Assembly Appropriations Committee defeated the bill however; the vote today was on reconsideration of the previous vote.   

Because the DOC program expired July 1, a student who had transferred to a school in a district other than the school district of their residence could be forced to return to their district of residence. In many cases, students could be sent to an unfamiliar school or one that their parents do not feel meets their academic needs.  The DOC program is the only program in current law that provides parents an option to enroll their child in a public school of their choice without permission from their resident district.

"Parents know what is best for their children and they should be the ones charged with making the best choices for them," said Romero.  "Parents choose where their child worships, what TV programs they watch, the food they eat  and where their family shops and they must be allowed to choose where their child will receive the best public education to meet their academic needs."

The DOC program, also referred to as a cross-district or open enrollment option, has operated successfully for 16 years through four program extensions.  SB 680 would now allow any of the more than 1,000 California public school districts to elect to become a DOC. 

The bill recognizes the negative effects of "educational redlining" and seeks to end a practice that holds children hostage by a zip code. This is often the case when students, especially poor and minority children, are assigned to a persistently low-performing school in their neighborhood.  Most students who participate in the DOC program transfer from a low-performing school to DOC schools with an Academic Performance Index of 100, 200 and even 300 points higher than their former school.

"Allowing parents to choose what public school is best for their children truly promotes excellence in education," said Senator Huff. "Our schools will be better than they would be otherwise by giving parents more choices." 

"This legislation is really about providing equal opportunities in education for all California students," said Romero.  "Parents, not zip codes, should decide if a school is providing those opportunities for their child."

SB 680 next will be heard on the Assembly Floor.      

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell issued the following statement regarding a report released today by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on the achievement gap.

            "While the report released by the NCES today does not provide new data about California student achievement, it does provide a stark reminder of the prevalence of the achievement gap here and across the country. The achievement gap is a real threat to the economic well-being of millions of students as well as to our state and national economies. We have put ourselves in a permanent national recession by failing to close these gaps. A recent study by the consulting group McKinsey & Company found the U.S. gross domestic product would be up to $2.3 trillion higher in 2008 had we succeeded in closing the achievement gap in the 15 years after ANation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform was published in 1983 by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. Finding ways to close the gap demands our ongoing focused attention.

            "I realize that these are extraordinarily difficult economic times for schools, but we cannot let budget cuts distract us from our goal of closing the gap and helping all students meet their full potential. We owe it to our students - and to our state - to stay the course."

Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R- Chino Hills) announces that AB35XXX has been put in the "Suspense" file of the Senate Appropriations Committee by the Democratic members of that Committee. The bill would save taxpayer dollars while minimizing the impact in the summer-break of the kids and parents who are being punished for the District's mistake.

Assembly Bill 35XXX would declare Chino Valley Unified School District to have completed 180 days of instruction in the 2008-09 school year for the purposes of computing any instructional time penalty associated with the Longer Year Incentive program, as long as the district follows a list of requirements.

The bill passed unanimously through the State Assembly and through the Senate's Education Committee.  The bill also had the support of the California Teachers Association.

"Democrats on the committee put bureaucracy above taxpayers, kids and common sense.  This bill had only received 'aye' votes and it had no opposition.  This is why voters don't trust the legislature to solve problems" said Assemblyman Hagman.

 School districts across the country will be able to improve and strengthen their emergency management plans as a result of $26 million in grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Education. The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) discretionary grant program will enable 108 school districts to improve plans that address all four phases of emergency management:  Prevention-Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

            "The safety of kids is our number one priority," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. "In order for children to learn, they have to feel safe. It's our responsibility to help schools create safe learning environments for students. These grants will support that effort."

In addition to addressing the four phases of emergency management, plans must commit school districts to coordinate with officials in law enforcement, local government, public safety, public health and mental health; train school officials in emergency management; and provide a method for communicating emergency and reunification procedures to parents and guardians. Projects should support the implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and include plans designed to prepare districts for infectious disease outbreaks and take into consideration districts' special needs populations. 

            Funds may be used to coordinate with local emergency responders, including fire, police, and health and public health agencies; conduct drills and exercises; purchase emergency supplies and equipment; and to train staff and students on emergency response procedures.

The grants are housed within the Department's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, which supports efforts to create safe schools, respond to crises, prevent drug and alcohol abuse, ensure the health and well being of students, and teach students good citizenship and character. The office also coordinates the Department's efforts in these areas with other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A complete list of the 108 grant awards follows:

ALABAMA Michigian, cont. Enterprise Board of Education Clarkston Community Schools Enterprise, AL Clarkston, MI $99,250 $249,074 ARKANSAS Godwin Heights Public Schools Bentonville Public Schools Wyoming, MI Bentonville, AR $98,497 $678,264 Taylor School District ARIZONA Taylor, MI Ft. Thomas Unified School District $242,739 Ft. Thomas, AZ Monroe County Intermediate School District $106,661 Monroe, MI CALIFORNIA $244,966 Northern Humboldt Union High School District MINNESOTA McKinleyville, CA Hopkins Independent School District $99,458 Hopkins, MN Glendale Unified School District $246,500 Glendale, CA MISSISSIPPI $344,289 Webster County School District Elk Grove Unified School District Euphora, MS Elk Grove, CA $100,000 $467,826 MISSOURI Del Norte County Office of Education The Paideia Academy Crescent City, CA St. Louis, MO $239,966 $262,546 Ontario-Montclair School District MONTANA Ontario, CA Butte Silver Bow County Public Schools $250,000 Butte, MT Butte County Office of Education $250,000 Oroville, CA NEBRASKA $249,463 Lincoln Public Schools Marin County Office of Education Lincoln, NE San Rafael, CA $134,476 $373,865 NEW JERSEY Westminster School District Bergen County Special Services School District Westminster, CA Paramus, NJ $236,522 $249,966 Fortuna Union Elementary School District Teaneck Public Schools Fortuna, CA Teaneck, NJ $385,057 $90,679 Montebello Unified School District Burlington Township School District Montebello, CA Burlington, NJ $383,014 $98,470 Los Angeles Leadership Academy NEW MEXICO Los Angeles, CA Deming Public Schools $336,528 Deming, NM Santa Clara County Office of Education $99,440   San Jose, CA NEW YORK $499,994 Ulster County Board of Cooperative Educational Services   Lodi Unified School District New Paltz, NY Lodi, CA $243,051 $235,137 Rochester City School District El Rancho Unified School District UC president proposes thousands of employee furloughs to address budget problems By Canan Tasci on July 10, 2009 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The president of the University of California is proposing to furlough tens of thousands of employees to offset deep funding cuts to the 10-campus system. UC President Mark Yudof unveiled the furlough proposal  Friday as part of his plan to address an expected 20 percent reduction in state funding. Under his plan, most employees would see their paychecks reduced but receive additional days off. Employees would see salary reductions ranging from 4 percent to 10 percent, with higher paid workers taking bigger pay cuts. The furloughs are expected to result in $184 million in savings to the university's general fund budget. The UC Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on Yudof's plan when it meets in San Francisco next week. QuEST educational issues conference By Canan Tasci on July 10, 2009 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) he American Federation of Teachers' biennial educational issues conference begins Monday and features U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan taking questions from the audience of 2,000 educators, a speech by U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, a keynote address by AFT President Randi Weingarten, events with unionized charter school teachers, and a panel on community schools.   The first day of QuEST (Quality Educational Standards in Teaching) features Weingarten's 3 p.m. keynote speech, which will focus on the need for greater collaboration between educators and school officials. At 4:30 p.m., Secretary Duncan will take questions from teachers during a town-hall-style forum. Immediately following that session (at approximately 5:45 p.m.), Duncan and Weingarten will be available for press. Later, they will join unionized charter school teachers from cities around the country, along with Green Dot Public Schools founder Steve Barr, at a reception.   Tuesday's highlights include a 9 a.m. session with Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford University, who will speak about teacher quality, followed by a rally for healthcare reform. A 4 p.m. panel discussion on community schools will feature educators from New York City and Cincinnati.     Labor Secretary Solis will address the educators during Wednesday's closing session.   In addition to the general sessions, starting at 1 p.m. on Monday, educators also will attend workshops covering a range of education topics, such as common academic standards, early childhood education, English language learners, classroom management, and collaborating with parents and the community.   Reporters may attend all of the general sessions and workshops, and should first stop at the QuEST Press Office to receive credentials and other materials.   WHERE:                                 Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC PRESS OFFICE:                   Jefferson Room PRESS OFFICE PHONE:     202/745-2176    For more information or to download a complete QuEST schedule: www.aft.org/quest2009/index.htm State cash shortage causes delay in $4B in school funding By Canan Tasci on July 10, 2009 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and State Controller John Chiang today announced that a $4 billion payment to schools has been delayed for several weeks as a result of the state's ongoing fiscal crisis.             The payment, known as the Principal Apportionment, is the largest annual payment of state funds to California's public education system. Due to the state's ongoing fiscal crisis and cash shortage, the payment scheduled for release today, which is the last payment for the 2008-09 fiscal year, will instead be issued on July 30, 2009.             "The delay of this school funding payment is a consequence of California's economic crisis and our very serious cash shortage. Public education continues to bear a disproportionate share of the cuts needed to solve our state budget shortfall. And delays in funding as a result of the state's cash flow problems transfer those problems to our local schools," O'Connell said.             "Without budget solutions that provide immediate cash in the treasury, I have no option but to delay payments and issue IOUs that push the State's problems onto schools, taxpayers, businesses, and local governments," Chiang said. "I urge the Governor and lawmakers to provide solutions that get our payments back on track."             The Principal Apportionment is a monthly payment to the public education system. However, the budget agreement in 2003 permanently deferred the June payment to July. Then the 2009 February budget increased the deferred amount by $2 billion, for a total of $4 billion, by deferring a portion of the February payment until July 2009.             In accordance with existing law, the California Department of Education (CDE) certified on July 2, 2009, the amount of 2009 Principal Apportionment funding designated for each county office of education, school district, and charter school. The law requires the Controller to make the payment to schools in the month of July, but historically has made this payment early in the month. Earlier this year, schools were notified to expect the payment on July 10, 2009, but the Controller recently was forced to announce the payment release date has moved to July 30, 2009 in order to ensure that the state has sufficient cash on hand to make the payment in full.             Later this month, CDE will certify another payment that is normally scheduled to go out at the end of July, the first apportionment payment for the 2009-10 school year. However, also due to the February 2009 budget agreement, slightly more than half of the funds that are normally sent out to local educational agencies at this point in the year will be deferred until October 2009. Registration for Mt. SAC's fall semester begins next week By Canan Tasci on July 9, 2009 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) New and continuing students can register for Mt. San Antonio College's 2009 fall semester credit classes online starting July 22 through Aug. 19.    New and continuing students must register for classes online at my.mtsac.edu. Before registering, new students are required to activate their new Mt. SAC accounts at https://my.mtsac.edu/claim.html. This site provides detailed instructions on establishing the student online accounts. Students will receive a permit for their assigned registration date and time. They will not be allowed to register before their assigned time.  For students who do not have computer access, computers and assistance will be available in the Student Services Center, building 9B, during business hours. Telephone registration is no longer available.          New students must submit an admission application online at www.mtsac.edu. They may also apply in person at the Admissions & Records Office on campus, located in the Student Services Center. The Admissions Office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New students must also contact the Counseling Office to sign up for the required orientation session before registering for classes.  Mt. SAC's fall semester credit classes begin on Monday, Aug. 24.          For more registration information, call the Mt. SAC Admissions & Records Office at (909) 594-5611, ext. 4415, or visitwww.mtsac.edu.     Stem cell and biotechnology education bill passes assembly education committee By Canan Tasci on July 8, 2009 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) A bill to help prepare California students for careers in the stem cell and biotechnology industries was passed today by the Assembly Education Committee just days after the Obama administration issued new federal rules that will greatly expand stem cell research nationwide.   SB 471, jointly authored by Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg was approved.   The "California Stem Cell and Biotechnology Education and Workforce Development Act of 2009" responds to recent reports predicting a shortage of trained professionals to fill jobs in California's emerging biotechnology industry, especially laboratory technicians.   "The expanded research made possible by the new NIH rules will exacerbate the demand for workers in the stem cell and biotechnology fields," said Romero.  "It is more urgent than ever that our public schools develop a homegrown workforce soCalifornia retains its premier position in these growing sectors of the economy."   California leads the nation in stem cell research due to $3 billion in public funding voters approved with Proposition 71 in 2004, after President Bush limited federal research funds in 2001.  President Obama reversed those limits in March.  The National Institutes of Health issued new regulations Monday that expand the number of stem cell lines for research with federal funds.   SB 471 requires the California Department of Education to collaborate with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state stem cell agency, and with the biotechnology industry to include stem cell and biotechnology in existing science and career development programs. It requires that stem cell science be included in the revision of the Science Framework.  It also requests that the University of California include these subjects in the curriculum of the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science and that CIRM consider education and workforce development when allocating Proposition 71 funds.   "This is the Golden State," said Senator Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee.  "California's next Gold Rush will be found in the Petri dishes and laboratories of this great state, but only if we produce the next generation of scientists, technicians and trained professionals capable of translating stem cell research into therapies and cures." Latest high school exit exam results show steady progress By Canan Tasci on July 8, 2009 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell has released updated results of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) that show that students in California continue to make progress in meeting the Exit Exam requirement as a condition of graduation. Based on interim results of the CAHSEE compiled by the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO), 9 of 10 students in the Class of 2009 met the CAHSEE requirement by the March administration of the exam during their senior year.             "I am pleased that these results show that California students continue to rise to the challenge of higher expectations, and that nearly every subgroup of students in the Class of 2009 is showing improved passage rates if you compare the latest results to the Class of 2008 at the same point in time a year ago," O'Connell said. "The results do show that we must continue our efforts to help Latino, African American, English learner, economically disadvantaged, and special education students master these critical skills. "But the Legislature's recent proposal to eliminate the CAHSEE as a graduation requirement is ill-considered and will jeopardize our work to close the achievement gap and our progress toward ensuring that all students who receive a diploma have the necessary skills to pursue meaningful work or college opportunities after high school," he said.             "The global economy is becoming increasingly competitive. It is more important than ever that students graduating from high school have at least the basic skills measured by the Exit Exam. Furthermore, with our state and national economic challenges, it is imperative that we maintain our focus on higher expectations for all students so that we have a well-skilled, analytical, and critical-thinking workforce to improve and sustain our economy in the future.             "While I am deeply sympathetic to the challenges schools and districts face during these difficult economic times, eliminating the Exit Exam requirement would do little to close the state's budget shortfall yet would tell students in our schools today that we have given up on them. We can't afford to give up on any student in our state," O'Connell said.             The updated CAHSEE results were presented to the State Board of Education today during its regular two-day July meeting held at the California Department of Education headquarters in Sacramento.  The data showed a point-in-time comparison between the classes of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 following the March administration of each class's senior year. The results show an increase of 0.4 percentage points in all students from the Class of 2009 meeting the CAHSEE requirement when compared to the Class of 2008 at the same point in time of their senior year. The Class of 2009 passing rates for most subgroups are greater than the rates for the Class of 2008. For example, the passing rate for students receiving special education services from the Class of 2009 increased over 2 percentage points when compared to the Class of 2008 at the same point in time of their senior year. To view the findings in table form, please go to: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/documents/bluejul09item05.doc   Students are required to take the CAHSEE for the first time in the tenth grade. Students who do not pass either the mathematics or the English-language arts (ELA) portion of the test as tenth graders are given two more opportunities as juniors, and if they are not successful then, up to five more opportunities during their senior year. Students who do not pass one or both portions of the Exit Exam by the end of their traditional senior year can continue to take the exam until they are successful in meeting both the ELA and the math requirement. Passing the CAHSEE is only one of a number of state requirements students must meet in order to graduate from a California public high school. School districts also may impose local requirements that must be met before students can earn a diploma.  Please note that the updated CAHSEE reports that will contain results for all of the Exit Exam administrations during the 2008-09 school year are scheduled for release later this year. To read the State Board of Education Agenda Item Number 5 regarding the Exit Exam results and the summary of key issues, please go to: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag/ag/documents/jul09item5.doc. California State University Board of Trustees hear details of plan to close $584M budget deficit By Canan Tasci on July 7, 2009 5:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)  Trustees of the California State University heard details of the massive $584 million budget cut facing the CSU for the next fiscal year, and discussed a range of options including employee furloughs, enrollment reductions and potential student fee increases needed to address the deficit.  State general fund support of the CSU for 2009-10 is expected to be $1.6 billion, which is $500 million below the level of state support provided a decade ago. "We have never before seen such a devastating cut in a single year," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed.  "I am really concerned because the CSU system has a national reputation for access, quality and diversity." CSU Board Chair Jeffrey Bleich emphasized the purpose of the meeting was to lay out all of the options. "This is going to be a terrible situation for California and for this board," he said. "We all need to understand what we're dealing with and the timing and tools that we have available to address the budget situation." Employee salaries and benefits account for 85.9 percent of the CSU's operating budget, which means that large expenditure cuts will require significant reductions in labor costs, explained Robert Turnage, CSU assistant vice chancellor for budget.  The overall goals of the effort to close the budget gap are to serve as many students as possible with quality instruction and to protect as many jobs as possible.  However, Turnage also stressed that the enormity of the budget problem means that there is no single solution. "We are facing a historic downturn in state revenues," said Turnage. "No single option can solve the problem, and the problem will extend beyond 2009-10.  The realities of operating our campuses require moving forward, even if action on the state budget is delayed." To illustrate the magnitude of the cuts, the $584 million is equivalent to the funding provided by the state for about 95,000 students or approximately the number of students CSU graduates each year.  Turnage emphasized that it is likely that the state will take a long time to recover, and that any plan for the CSU needs to anticipate fiscal uncertainty for at least the next 24 months. Employee Furloughs Trustees also heard an update on the CSU's meetings with its labor unions to discuss an option to furlough all employees for two days per month as one part of the effort to address the budget crisis.  To date, CSU has reached a tentative agreement with the California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) that represents more than 16,000 non-academic employees.  Applied systemwide, a two day furlough per month for all 47,000 CSU employees would generate approximately $275 million toward the $584 million deficit.  In addition, it would save 22,000 classes - or about 15 percent - that would otherwise need to be cancelled for the coming academic year. In addition, members of the Academic Professionals of California, that represents 2,400 student services employees, have also voted to begin negotiating furloughs.  Furloughs for approximately 5,000 management, executives, presidents, and non-represented are expected to begin August 1, 2009 following board action on July 21 to change state regulations. To date, approximately 21,000 of CSU's overall workforce of 47,000 employees have committed to furloughs as one part of the overall effort to address the massive deficit.  CSU has met with the California Faculty Association (CFA) to discuss the furlough option, but to date, no vote of its members has been scheduled.  There are approximately 23,000 faculty personnel, but only dues-paying members of the faculty union are allowed to participate in a vote.  Employees in the public safety labor unit will be exempt from furloughs, and several other collective bargaining units have either rejected furloughs or are still negotiating with the CSU on the option. "We know that furloughs save jobs, protect retirement and keep health benefits in place," said Reed.  "There are no savings in furloughs. Furloughs cut expenses, and will allow us to preserve as many jobs as possible and to offer as many course sections as possible." A furlough ihttp://www.calstate.edu/PA/News/2009/documents/furlough-factsheet.pd f>s a mandated period of time off without pay.  Furloughs differ from salary reductions and pay cuts in that they are temporary and do not affect employment status, or health benefit eligibility or pay rate for retirement benefits. Employees are required not to work on furlough days. Enrollment Cuts and Student Fees Trustees also were briefed about planned enrollment reductions for 2010-2011.  Chancellor Reed announced that campuses will be closed for spring 2010 enrollment and will close winter 2010 admissions. Overall, CSU will look to reduce its enrollment by 32,000 students systemwide for 2010-2011 through a combination of enrollment management tools used last fall such as increased grade point averages for out-of-area applicants. There will also be a fee increase considered at the July 21 board meeting that will go into effect for fall 2009.  While the exact amount of the fee increase has not been finalized, increases in financial aid included in the federal stimulus package will likely cover any fee increase for 187,000 of CSU's 450,000 students.  In addition, CSU expects to receive an additional $81 million in Pell awards for its neediest students, and would also set aside one-third of any fee increase toward financial aid.  Tax credits, increased work study and student loan improvements will also help to offset the fee increase for many students. Next Steps Chancellor Reed reiterated that CSU is running out of time to plan for the beginning of the new academic year, since many personnel decisions require a minimum of 45 days notice.  "I have got to ask the presidents to move forward with their plans on how they will deal with the budget cuts on their campus, and we need to follow the contract provisions to reduce our workforce," said Reed.  Campus presidents are due to submit their campus plans within the next two weeks.  The CSU Board of Trustees will vote on the entire action plan to address the $584 million deficit at its July 21 meeting. ### About the California State University The California State University<http://www.calstate.edu/> is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 450,000 students and 46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 90,000 annually. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. State Superintendent on Twitter By Canan Tasci on July 7, 2009 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that he is now accessible viaTwitter and will be holding periodic online office hours using the social networking Web site. O'Connell also announced the California Department of Education (CDE) has created a simplified mobile version of the CDE Web site.             "Technology is helping break down the barriers between government and the people," said O'Connell. "I hope that these Web-based tools will make information from the CDE more accessible to Californians."             Twitter is a Web site designed to help people communicate and share information through the exchange of quick, texted messages that are a maximum of 140 characters long. This is a useful tool for citizens and journalists to keep updated on O'Connell's and the CDE's activities, ask him questions, and follow the latest developments about education. O'Connell will hold his first online office hours today. To follow O'Connell on Twitter, please visit http://twitter.com/sspijack.             CDE is also launching a simplified version of its Web site for handheld or mobile devices, and cellular telephones. Users also may access the regular Web site through these devices.             "The CDE Web site provides access to tremendous amounts of information about public education, but it can be overwhelming to look at it through a tiny screen on a handheld device," added O'Connell. "We are launching a simplified version so users may access the latest developments and certain resources at the CDE much more quickly and easily through today's mobile technology tools."  Because most mobile devices have slower Internet connectivity and smaller screen displays, graphics were removed from the CDE mobile Web site, and text-based links are used that deliver information more quickly to the user. The mobile Web site is designed to provide easy access to information that is most likely to be requested in a format that is suitable for a mobile device. For example, the home page includes: Links to the 10 most recent "What's New" items found on the regular CDE Web site; A search interface to the School Directory where users may get phone numbers, addresses, and maps to schools in California; A search interface to CDE's Staff Phone Directory; A link to information on CDE locations, visitor information, and Frequently Asked Questions; A link to a list of Available Funding for grants, allocations, and entitlements; and A link to the latest State Board of Education agenda.             To access the CDE mobile Web site, please visit http://m.cde.ca.gov. The mobile site links to the regular CDE Web site athttp://www.cde.ca.gov. International Education Corporation acquires American Auto Institute for cash By Canan Tasci on July 6, 2009 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)  International Education Corporation today announced that it has acquired American Auto Institute for cash. Headquartered in Cerritos, California, American Auto Institute has unique transportation education programs that prepare students for entry level careers in the automotive industry.  "This acquisition is consistent with our strategic objective to penetrate new urban markets in existing media markets within high demand career focused programmatic verticals," says Fardad Fateri, President and Chief Executive Officer of International Education Corporation.  Dr. Fateri adds, "We are excited to be able to acquire AAI as it is known amongst employers and graduates to be a provider of top quality career education programs to serve the needs of the automotive industry."  Despite the turbulence in the economy, the senior executives at International Education Corporation believe this type of acquisition is a prudent approach for positioning the corporation for sustaining future success. "Smart money is now investing for expansion in key strategic economic pockets within high potential and historically high performing sectors," say Janis Paulson, Chief Operating Officer of International Education Corporation.  "There is always a need for top quality graduates for entry level positions in high demand sectors," says Ginny White, Executive VP of Marketing & Admissions for IEC. "We believe the need and demand for entry level automotive careers will continue to grow." Headquartered in Irvine, California, International Education Corporation is a premier provider of practitioner focused postsecondary career education in healthcare, business, technology and criminal justice. IEC owns and operates colleges in San Diego County, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Inland Empire, CA; Atlanta, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida under two national brands: UEI College and Advanced Career Training. California State University board of trustees to hold meeting By Canan Tasci on July 6, 2009 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Trustees of the California State University will hear an update of the CSU's actions ranging from enrollment reductions to employee furloughs needed to address a projected $584 million budget deficit for 2009-10, at a meeting of the board to be held tomorrow.  The purpose of the meeting is to update trustees on the latest developments of the state budget and its implications for the CSU, and to seek input from members of the board on measures needed to address the unprecedented CSU budget deficit. The Committee on Collective Bargaining will meet in closed session, and the Committee of the Whole will convene at 12:30 p.m. In an effort to address the projected $584 million budget deficit and to avoid as many layoffs as possible, the CSU administration has proposed furloughing all employees two days per month.  Approximately 80 percent of CSU's budget goes toward employee salary and benefits, and the CSU is proposing to furlough all of its employees (with the exception of public safety personnel) in all classifications, including management and executives, to help close the budget deficit. To date, approximately 21,000 of CSU's overall workforce of 47,000 employees are committed to looking at furloughs as a way to address the budget deficit.  The furloughs, if accepted by all employees, would save approximately $275 million, and an estimated 22,000 course sections or approximately 15 percent of all classes, that would otherwise need to be eliminated for the academic year. Collective bargaining agreements between the CSU and its employee unions include provisions covering mandated non-retention and layoffs, but not furloughs.  Each bargaining unit, therefore, must agree to negotiate furloughs. To date, the California State University Employees Union (CSUEU), that represents more than 16,000 non-academic employees, and the Academic Professionals of California, that represents approximately 2,400 student services employees, have voted to negotiate two day per month furloughs. CSU is expected to begin furloughing management, non-represented, presidents and executives beginning in August following changes to Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations that are anticipated to be modified at the July 21 regular board meeting. CSU has met with the California Faculty Union (CFA) several times to discuss the furlough option, but to date, no vote of its members has been scheduled.  There are approximately 23,000 faculty personnel, but only dues-paying members of the faculty union are allowed to participate in a vote. A furlough<http://www.calstate.edu/PA/News/2009/documents/furlough-facts heet.pdf> is a mandated period of time off without pay.  Furloughs differ from salary reductions and pay cuts in that they are temporary and do not affect employment status, or health benefit eligibility or pay rate for retirement benefits. Also, employees are not required to work on furlough days. ### About the California State University The California State University http://www.calstate.edu/ is the  largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 450,000 students and 46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 90,000 annually. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. State Superintendent encourages district to apply for stimulus funds for construction projects By Canan Tasci on July 6, 2009 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell encourages school districts and charter schools to apply for more than $773 million in the Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) program. The new QSCB tax credit program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.             "QSCB will provide tax credits to school districts and charter schools for bond issuance that has the potential to jump start new construction and modernization projects throughout the state," said O'Connell. "While this program does not provide new money to school districts for construction, it allows them to more efficiently issue local authorized bonds. This will make local bond dollars go further to repair, renovate, and construct much-needed schools, as well as stimulate the economy and generate jobs."             ARRA provides $22 billion nationwide to QSCB for this year and next. California's share is $2.7 billion over the same two year period. Of this sum, $582 million has already been directly allocated to the state's 11 largest school districts; $700 million is available to allocate this year to qualifying school districts; and $73 million is available to allocate this year to qualifying charter schools. The remaining $1.3 billion will be allocated in 2010. QSCB provides federal income tax credits in lieu of interest to lenders who purchase bonds from eligible school districts and charter schools. The United States Treasury Department establishes state allocation limits and sets a tax-credit rate for QSCB that, on average, equals the amount of interest schools would ordinarily pay on debt. With the federal government covering most or all of the interest on the bonds, school districts and charter schools will receive a substantial benefit, because interest payments typically equal about 50 percent of the economic cost of a bond. Applications from school districts are due by August 25, 2009 to the California Department of Education. Applications from charter schools will be handled by the California School Finance Authority within the State Treasurer's office. More information on the charter school application and deadline are forthcoming. Applicants should seek guidance from their own bond counsel and financial advisers before applying to the program and issuing debt. School districts may apply for QSCB at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/qs/index.asp. State Superintendent encourages district to apply for stimulus funds for construction projects By Canan Tasci on July 6, 2009 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell encourages school districts and charter schools to apply for more than $773 million in the Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) program. The new QSCB tax credit program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.             "QSCB will provide tax credits to school districts and charter schools for bond issuance that has the potential to jump start new construction and modernization projects throughout the state," said O'Connell. "While this program does not provide new money to school districts for construction, it allows them to more efficiently issue local authorized bonds. This will make local bond dollars go further to repair, renovate, and construct much-needed schools, as well as stimulate the economy and generate jobs."             ARRA provides $22 billion nationwide to QSCB for this year and next. California's share is $2.7 billion over the same two year period. Of this sum, $582 million has already been directly allocated to the state's 11 largest school districts; $700 million is available to allocate this year to qualifying school districts; and $73 million is available to allocate this year to qualifying charter schools. The remaining $1.3 billion will be allocated in 2010. QSCB provides federal income tax credits in lieu of interest to lenders who purchase bonds from eligible school districts and charter schools. The United States Treasury Department establishes state allocation limits and sets a tax-credit rate for QSCB that, on average, equals the amount of interest schools would ordinarily pay on debt. With the federal government covering most or all of the interest on the bonds, school districts and charter schools will receive a substantial benefit, because interest payments typically equal about 50 percent of the economic cost of a bond. Applications from school districts are due by August 25, 2009 to the California Department of Education. Applications from charter schools will be handled by the California School Finance Authority within the State Treasurer's office. More information on the charter school application and deadline are forthcoming. Applicants should seek guidance from their own bond counsel and financial advisers before applying to the program and issuing debt. School districts may apply for QSCB at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/qs/index.asp. County Superintendent's holiday office hours By Canan Tasci on July 2, 2009 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools offices will be closed on July 3 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. The offices will resume their summer hours of operation, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on July 6. UC Riverside summer programs up for grabs By Canan Tasci on July 2, 2009 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) UCR summer programs for area youth will reach beyond the familiar mathematics classroom as students stretch physically and intellectually. The Healthy Body -- Healthy Mind Academy for potential seventh and eighth graders will be held July 6 through 10 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the University of California, Riverside Student Recreation Center. The free program, offered by UCR's Academy of Learning through Partnerships for Higher Achievement (ALPHA), provides a balance of health education, nutrition, fitness and positive thinking. Students receive instruction in mathematics as it relates to health, instruction in physical education as it relates to a healthy lifestyle as well as self-motivation, and character development through several indoor and outdoor activities. Middle and high school girls will have a better understanding of how mathematics relates to the real world after attending the GEMS program held July 6 through 10 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center on the UCR campus. GEMS is a collection of academies especially designed for middle and high school girls focusing on mathematics as it relates to college and to life. Surrounding school district teachers are encouraged to recommend underrepresented female students who they believe will benefit from the support and community building provided through the academies. Both programs are free of charge. All students need to bring with them is a positive attitude and a willingness to participate. For more information, contact the ALPHA Center (951) 827-5425. Governor Schwarzenegger's proposes to suspend Proposition 98 By Canan Tasci on July 1, 2009 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement in response to Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal to suspend Proposition 98, the minimum funding law designed to provide funding protections for our schools: "The Governor continues to attempt to balance the budget on the backs of our students and our schools. Suspending Proposition 98 is a shortsighted approach that drops school funding into financial quicksand and will harm a generation of students.   "Our schools already have absorbed nearly $12 billion in cuts from a budget passed just months ago. As a result, schools have had to cut summer school; class sizes are going up; teachers and support staff have been laid off; and art, music, and sports programs are being eliminated. The list of tragic consequences of our budget crisis continues to grow.  "California needs a well-educated, critically thinking, and problem-solving workforce in order to improve and grow California's economy. Public education is the key to unlocking the potential for success that our students possess. It is wrong-headed to cut education when we desperately need to nurture and support the students in our schools today who will be the backbone of our economy in just a few short years. "Proposition 98 was passed by the voters of California to provide a floor of funding for our schools. Suspending it simply pulls the rug the out from under our students and the future of our state." Federal funds to be used for lunch program By Canan Tasci on July 1, 2009 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that 242 School Food Authorities in 48 California counties will share more than $12.8 million in 2009 Equipment Assistance Grants. The list of grantees is attached. "This funding is critically needed by districts and other agencies to buy new or replace outdated and inefficient food preparation equipment so they may boost the amount and quality of meals offered to California students," said O'Connell. "Many schools do not have adequate food preparation equipment so it's encouraging to see the number of agencies requesting funds to move toward preparing meals on site."             This one-time funding of $12.8 million in Equipment Assistance Grants is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The California Department of Education received $70 million in requests for new kitchen equipment, underscoring the need for additional support to improve school food operations across the state.             "The need for this funding was so great that we were able to fund only 18 percent of the $70 million in funding requests we received," added O'Connell. "As a result, I am urging the California Congressional delegation to seek ongoing kitchen equipment funding through the reauthorization of the federal Child Nutrition Act scheduled to occur this year. We are working with other state agencies, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Health and Human Services Agency, to jointly developed recommendations for child nutrition changes." The grants were awarded on a competitive basis with priority given to sites with at least 50 percent of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Eligible applicants included School Food Authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program. National School Lunch Program sponsors include public schools, charter schools, private schools, residential child care institutions, and juvenile detention/ probation facilities.             The applicants were required to demonstrate a need for the equipment focusing on four areas: (1.) increasing participation, (2.) contributing to nutritional quality, (3.) contributing to food safety, and (4.) contributing to energy efficiency. District of Choice program scrapped By Canan Tasci on July 1, 2009 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) In an arcane move by the Assembly Democrats, the 16 year running program that provides public school choice to parents and children was completely scrapped today.  The District of Choice program was the last statewide school choice program in California and served thousands of students across the state.    The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted to end the program with only Democrats voting against the measure.  As a result, starting tomorrow, over 5,000 students benefiting from this program will be obligated by law to leave their schools and enroll in new, unfamiliar schools.   "District of Choice has fostered excellence in education for 16 years, giving parents real choice for their education dollars and motivates public schools losing enrollment to improve, said Senator Bob Huff (R- Diamond Bar). "School choice has worked in community colleges for over 20 years for college students. Parents should have the same kind of choice for their younger children."   In what was a rare departure from decorum in the legislature, the Chair of Assembly Appropriations, Kevin de Leon (D - Los Angeles) gave the choice program a kangaroo court hearing as he attempted to circumvent legislative house rules and spoke curtly to the authors and supporters of the bill.  The Chair also offered a number of policy amendments even though the Appropriations Committee is traditionally reserved for fiscal concerns.    "The kids who benefit from this program were not given the respect they deserve today.  In my entire tenure in the legislature, I have never seen such a proceeding," said Huff.   "The question before the committee today was: Should we give parents the right choice to choose the best public school for their kids?  Assembly Democrats flatly rejected that notion."   Senator Huff represents the 29th Senate District that includes portions to Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. « June 2009 | Main Index | Archives | August 2009 » Categories Mark Your Calendar (25) Monthly Archives September 2010 (15) August 2010 (42) July 2010 (30) June 2010 (39) May 2010 (31) April 2010 (41) March 2010 (64) February 2010 (55) January 2010 (30) December 2009 (20) November 2009 (52) October 2009 (37) September 2009 (42) August 2009 (51) July 2009 (40) June 2009 (46) May 2009 (53) April 2009 (45) March 2009 (60) February 2009 (29) January 2009 (22) Pages Blog Extras Subscribe to this blog's feed OpenID accepted here Learn more about OpenID Search About this Archive This page is an archive of entries from July 2009 listed from newest to oldest. 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