Education Now http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/ Education from A to Z in the Inland Empire en Copyright 2011 Mon, 23 May 2011 14:59:58 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification CSU prepares for the worst It's one thing to talk about a worst- case scenario, it's another to see it in writing. 

California State University officials said that for the first time they're seeing - in black and white - what an all-cuts budget would look like if Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal for temporary tax extensions is rejected. 

"The California and California State University systems have already each been cut by $500 million," reads the governor's May Revise that was released last Monday.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/csu-prepares-for-the-worst.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/csu-prepares-for-the-worst.html CSU prepares for the worst Mon, 23 May 2011 14:59:58 -0800 Chino Valley union says district owes teachers money

Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer 

CHINO - Teachers union officials are asking Chino Valley Unified to adhere to contract language that returns excess state revenue back to members in light of concessions made last year to help balance the budget. 

At issue is the 2010-2011 contract agreed to by the Associated Chino Teachers union and the school district last June. 

The district now owes teachers about $3.7 million in excess state revenue to compensate some of the nearly $10 million in concessions agreed to by the union, which included 10 furlough days over two years and a class size increase, union officials said. 
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/chino-valley-union-says-distri.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/chino-valley-union-says-distri.html Chino Valley union says district owes teachers money Sun, 22 May 2011 15:06:36 -0800 Chaffey celebrates program grads RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Chaffey College hosted the sixth graduating class of the Online to College program earlier last week at the Montclair City Council chambers. 

The ceremony on May 17 celebrated the success of 131 Online to College graduates of Montclair High School's Class of 2011. 

Chaffey College, Montclair, Ontario-Montclair School District, and the Montclair Collaborative created the Online to College program in 1998 to improve the college-going rate of students in Montclair. 

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/chaffey-celebrates-program-gra.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/chaffey-celebrates-program-gra.html Chaffey celebrates program grads Sun, 22 May 2011 15:00:46 -0800 Alta Loma High freshman wins new car for perfect attendance ONTARIO - Melissa Hedrick doesn't have a permit to drive a car, but she's going to get one ASAP. 

On Thursday, the Alta Loma High freshman won a new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze from Mark Christopher Chevrolet Auto Center for having perfect attendance. 

"I didn't think it could happen to me," said Melissa, 15, of her new metallic grey car valued at $20,000.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/alta-loma-high-freshman-wins-n.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/alta-loma-high-freshman-wins-n.html Alta Loma High freshman wins new car for perfect attendance Thu, 19 May 2011 14:58:52 -0800 Forum addresses U.S. education CLAREMONT - The United States can no longer afford its continued commitment to underfunding public education. 

That was the sentiment of Stanford University professor Linda Darling-Hammond at a recent forum at Claremont Graduate University. 

The forum - titled "The Urgency of Transforming Education for an Equitable, Diverse Society" - included discussions on racial inequity, student achievement and teacher education. ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/forum-addresses-us-education.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/forum-addresses-us-education.html Forum addresses U.S. education Wed, 18 May 2011 14:58:05 -0800 ULV to form tax district

Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer 

LA VERNE - The University of La Verne will have to pay for expanded fire protection for creating the largest building in the city, and it will use a novel way to come up with the money. 

A Community Facilities District was recently created for the university to finance fire suppression and prevention services. 

It will cost the university $50,000 a year for its residence hall and an additional $20,000 a year for a campus center. 
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/ulv-to-form-tax-district.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/ulv-to-form-tax-district.html ULV to form tax district Mon, 16 May 2011 15:07:48 -0800 Layoffs deadline passes Hundreds of school employees will not be returning to Inland Valley classrooms this fall as the deadline for officially laying off teachers, counselors and nurses passed Monday. 

The reductions are a result of the ongoing state fiscal crisis and its inability to fully fund public schools. 

"I think we have to accept the fact that students will get a little less attention, and I know our staff will do their best so that our students won't feel any difference, but it's just a matter of time when they will," said Cyndy Byrd, assistant superintendent of human resources for the Ontario-Montclair School District.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/layoffs-deadline-passes.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/layoffs-deadline-passes.html Layoffs deadline passes Mon, 16 May 2011 14:57:24 -0800 Rethinking homework FONTANA - Mango Elementary School pupils may soon benefit from their teachers' efforts to redefine that bane of students and parents alike: homework. 

In fact, some educators at the school are trying to make those traditional packets of busywork sent home every day a thing of the past. 

Still in its pilot stages, half the Mango Elementary staff is working to redefine the conventional ways of doing "homework" and moving toward "Goal-Work." 

The students are encouraged to set small, achievable and timely goals that range from academic to social, Mango Principal Sara Najarro said. 
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Caption: Photo: Mango Elementary School Principal Sara Najarro explains how some kindergartners have moved away from doing traditional homework at her school. Instead, students work on attaining individual goals, which they call Goal-Work. (Will Lester/Photographer)
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/rethinking-homework.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/rethinking-homework.html Rethinking homework Mon, 16 May 2011 14:54:49 -0800 English learners' test scores drop in region The percentage of English learners scoring at advanced performance levels has gone down in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, according to the state Department of Education. 

The results from California English Language Test report, released last week, also show the number of students that have not gained in language proficiency from the 2009-10 to 2010-11 school years. The test assesses the English-language proficiency of K-12 students. 

Kindergarten through first- grade students have their listening and speaking skills tested.Students in second through 12th grades are tested for listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/english-learners-test-scores-d.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/english-learners-test-scores-d.html English learners' test scores drop in region Sun, 15 May 2011 14:53:59 -0800 School's novel approach ONTARIO- Ray Wiltsey Middle School staffers have started a two-week school-wide reading program designed to engage students in discussion and critical thinking. 

As part of the program, which ends Tuesday, every seventh- and eighth-grader had to read the children's fantasy and mystery novel "The Dark Hills Divide," which was authored by Patrick Carman. 

School officials have also asked community members to read to students for an hour every morning and take part in a class discussion, which includes summarizing chapters, discussing vocabulary as well as asking and answering questions.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/schools-novel-approach.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/schools-novel-approach.html School's novel approach Sun, 08 May 2011 14:53:02 -0800 PUSD may close Mendoza Elementary POMONA - It's a nightmare turned real for some districts that are cash-strapped - the closure of a school. 

Faced with a $28 million deficit, Pomona Unified School District board members on Wednesday will consider closing Mendoza Elementary School and moving its students to Lopez Elementary School, one block away. 

Superintendent Richard Martinez said "the consolidation of the two schools seems to be the least painful."  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/pusd-may-close-mendoza-element.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/pusd-may-close-mendoza-element.html PUSD may close Mendoza Elementary Sun, 08 May 2011 14:52:00 -0800 ULV College of Law could lose accreditation

 Author: Wes Woods II Staff Writer 

ONTARIO - The American Bar Association this week denied the University of La Verne College of Law's application for full accreditation. 

The move by the association's Accreditation Committee also means the college will likely lose its provisional accreditation status. 

Students who graduate from a law school without approval from the Chicago-based association can't take a multi-state bar exam. The students will be able to take the State Bar of California. 
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/ulv-college-of-law-could-lose.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/ulv-college-of-law-could-lose.html ULV College of Law could lose accreditation Fri, 06 May 2011 15:09:01 -0800 Students learn about engineering while battling robots POMONA - Months of constructing and programing came to an end Thursday as students battled robots in the fifth annual Robot Rally at Cal Poly Pomona. 

More than 300 students from seven elementary and middle schools in Southern California participated in the event hosted by the university's College College of Engineering. 

Students built and programmed their robots - made from hundreds of Legos pieces - with the intention of forcing their opponent out of a circle in a sumo-style competition.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/students-learn-about-engineeri.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/students-learn-about-engineeri.html Students learn about engineering while battling robots Fri, 06 May 2011 14:50:49 -0800 Students reflect on the meaning and implications of bin Laden's death RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Most high schoolers barely knew how to write their name when America was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. 

Now as young teens, who are much more aware of attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., there is no doubt they know who Osama bin Laden is. 

While mid-terms, proms and other concerns were perhaps the top items among students' minds across San Bernardino County, many have reflected - even if momentarily - about what bin Laden' death on Sunday means.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/students-reflect-on-the-meanin.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/05/students-reflect-on-the-meanin.html Students reflect on the meaning and implications of bin Laden's death Tue, 03 May 2011 14:49:50 -0800 Parents, officials testify about educational impacts of budget cuts POMONA - Abigail Medina worries her five children in the San Bernardino City Unified School District will never achieve their dreams of being a pediatrician, teacher or inventor.

Testifying in front of a group of state senators and a crowd of more than 100 at a Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee hearing, Medina put a face to the way the lack of state educational funding is affecting children's futures. 

"These cuts to education worry me because I'm in a district that is high in poverty and I'm trying to get the best education for my children...," Medina said.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/04/parents-officials-testify-abou.html http://www.insidesocal.com/educationnow/2011/04/parents-officials-testify-abou.html officials testify about educational impacts of budget cuts Parents Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:48:53 -0800