4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: ESL

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Monday, June 28, 2010

YouTube: DOE MEETING WITH PARENTS: A Conversation with Parents about Parental Involvement and Education

Washington DC: May 26, 2010:
"A new era of cooperation with parents, students and families across the nation"

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

THE DENOUEMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE: The day that was: Tuesday Feb 23rd as of 8:35 pm

`de·noue·ment
/ˌdeɪ|nuˈmɑ̃/ Show Spelled[dey-noo-mahn]|
–noun

1.the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.

2.the place in the plot at which this occurs.

3.the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

smf writes for 4lakids:

The board meeting today produced interesting results, some expected – some not. For the most part the superintendent's recommendations were accepted – but there were notable exceptions.

ICEF, Green Dot and The Alliance for College Ready Schools – powerhouse charter operators with programs recommended for acceptance – were repudiated.
The Mayor’s Partnership for LA Schools picked up a school that they weren’t recommended for.
The veracity of evidence and data challenging charter school acceptance of English Language Learners and Special Ed students was intensely questioned – 'good data' supports one's position, 'bad data' is to be denied.
And though the entire PSC evaluation and review process was supposed to be data driven and evidence based, it t turned out that potential operators were not evaluated on past performance on but on whether they agree to follow the rules in the future.
The board followed the unwritten 'Don't mess in my bailiwick' rule of following the lead of the member in their district when Boardmember LaMotte offered an amendment that was accepted denying ICEF at Obama Middle School in her district.
Board President Garcia then violated the same rule on the next vote (denying Green Dot and The Alliance at Estaban Torres High School) by offering an amendment on a school not in her district but in Yolie Flores’. Garcia's amendment carried.
As Flores is the author of the PSC resolution – and the champion of the superintendent’s recommendations – the tension rose, the board grew more and more divided and the politics got fast and furious.
Horsetrading happened in the open – and operators denied this time were assured of better treatment next time (unless some wise judge stops them before they choose again!)
Advance approval was guaranteed of a Pilot School at Gratts Elementary next year even though one wasn't even requested.

Democracy is messy when the sausage is made.

Notable quotes:

NURY MARTINEZ resurrected Connie Rice's metaphor of LAUSD reform as building the aircraft in flight. They have built their plane and it follows the script of Flight of the Phoenix – where it turns out the designer of the plane has only built scale models. Now they have to fly it – and land the puppy!

SUPT. CORTINES: “The Public School Choice process has ~~divided us~~..... (that's Freudian) ….I mean provided us with an opportunity.....”

STEVE ZIMMER: (On the 'Parent Trigger'): “You can't declare war on people and not expect them to act like combatants.” “The 'red shirts' and the 'white shirts' are not the future. The future is in the plans.”

TAMAR GALATZAN: “Nothing is happening in my district, no Focus Schools, no pilots for individual student funding. You are ignoring half of the valley; successful schools are and need to be part of the wave of the future.”

MARGUERITE LAMOTTE: “It has been said by some that charter schools reestablish segregation; I cannot and will not say to my constituents that the money you gave for the bonds is being given to charter schools.”

RICHARD VLADOVIC: “In the past we have written the best plans in the worlds. We have placed them on the best shelves in the world where they collected the best dust in the world.”

MONICA GARCIA: “No one on this board takes their job lightly; I hope I can say no one in this district takes their job lightly. Tomorrow it takes all of us.”

from Google News

LA School Board Snubs Charter School Operators

CBS 13 - Christina Hoag - ‎27 minutes ago‎

The district already boasts the highest number of charter schools of any school district in the country. More than 160 of its 800 schools are run by ...

City Approves School Plan

Wall Street Journal - Tamara Audi - ‎44 minutes ago‎

He recommended awarding the remaining 28 schools to groups led by Los Angeles Unified School District teachers. The board ratified most of Mr. Cortines's ...

Los Angeles Times

LAUSD turns over control of schools to outside groups

Los Angeles Times - ‎1 hour ago‎

... outside the downtown Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters. Bidders inside and outside the district have been vying for the schools under a ...

LAUSD Grants Control Of Several Campuses To Outside Groups

LA Weekly (blog) - Dennis Romero - ‎2 hours ago‎

23 2010 @ 5:58PM Despite a demonstration by members of the teacher's union, the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District Tuesday voted to roughly ...

LA school board OKs handing schools to nonprofits

San Jose Mercury News - Christina Hoag - ‎2 hours ago‎

AP LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles school board has approved a plan to turn over the operation of 30 campuses to nonprofit educational groups, but most of the ...

LAUSD board approves new administration for 36 schools

89.3 KPCC - ‎2 hours ago‎

The powerful United Teachers Los Angeles, which helped teachers craft successful reform plans, wants to put a stop to the process before then. ...

School Handoff Plan Divides LA

Wall Street Journal - Tamara Audi - ‎3 hours ago‎

He recommended awarding the remaining 28 schools to groups led by Los Angeles Unified School District teachers. The changes would affect 38000 students. ...

Awards for Teachers and Schools in Arts Education to be Held Downtown

LA Downtown News Online - ‎6 hours ago‎

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - The Music Center of Los Angeles County this week announced the 14 teachers and six schools named as finalists in the 28th annual ...

Hundreds protest LA board vote on school choice

MyMotherLode.com - ‎7 hours ago‎

Hundreds of teachers and parents chanted slogans and waved placards in front of the Los Angeles school district headquarters Tuesday as the school board ...

Hundreds to protest LA board vote on school choice

Education Week News - ‎7 hours ago‎

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hundreds of teachers and parents plan to protest at a Los Angeles school board meeting in which the district could approve the transfer ...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

This just in: SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNS 14 EDUCATION BILLS, VETOES 17

from Capitol Alert | SAcramento Bee

October 11, 2009 | As legislative leaders continue talks on a package of water bills, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office released word of the fate of 183 bills.

The governor, who threatened to veto "a lot" of bills if leaders can't strike a water deal, has until midnight to act on the more than 500 bills remaining on his desk.

See the governor's office's list of the 89 bills he signed and the 94 bills struck down with the veto pen after the jump.

EDUCATION BILLS IN RED

Bills Signed:

SB 19 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) - Education data.
SB 36 by Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) - Real estate, finance lender, and residential mortgage lender licenses: mortgage loan originators.
SB 48 by Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) - Joint powers agencies: City of Santa Clara.
SB 102 by Committee on Local Government - Validations.
SB 103 by Committee on Local Government - Validations.
SB 117 by Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) - Adult day health care services: eligibility criteria: Medi-Cal reimbursement methodology and limit.
SB 136 by Senator Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) - State real property.
SB 143 by Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) - Hazardous materials: California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004.
SB 147 by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) - California State University: career technical education courses.
SB 148 by Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) - Mammogram machines: inspection: posting of results.
SB 149 by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) - Claims against the state: appropriation.
SB 150 by Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) - Sentencing.
SB 224 by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) - Housing assistance.
SB 237 by Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) - Real estate appraisers.
SB 239 by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) - Mortgage fraud.
SB 240 by Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) - Vehicles: Department of Transportation vehicles.
SB 247 by Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) - Instructional materials.
SB 249 by Senator Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) - Vaccinations: meningococcal disease.
SB 273 by Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) - Domestic Violence.
SB 283 by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) - Department of Water Resources: recycled water.
SB 285 by Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) - Disability benefits: attachment.
SB 312 by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) - Public meetings and hearings.
SB 337 by Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) - Health information.
SB 357 by Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego) - Tribal gaming: grants to local jurisdictions.
SB 412 by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) - Electricity: self-generation incentive program.
SB 419 by Committee on Veterans Affairs - County veteran service officers: funding.
SB 448 by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) - California State Safe Harbor Agreement Program Act.
SB 471 by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) - California Stem Cell and Biotechnology Education and Workforce Development Act of 2009.
SB 478 Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) - Employment safety: manlifts.
SB 481 by Senator Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) - Airports: wildlife.
SB 511 by Committee on Education - Education.
SB 519 by Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) - Public employment.
SB 532 by Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) - State Highway Routes 1, 108, 132, and 201.
SB 538 by Committee on Public Employment and Retirement - County employees' retirement: mandatory retirement.
SB 588 by Committee on Public Safety - Sex Offender Management Board.
SB 592 by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) - Charter Schools Facilities Program.
SB 614 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) - Vessels.
SB 619 by Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) - Flood control: County of Santa Barbara: Lower Mission Creek.
SB 651 by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) - Pupil retention.
SB 680 by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) - School attendance: interdistrict transfers.
SB 702 by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) - Ancillary day care centers: employees: trustline providers. See attached signing message.
SB 734 by Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) - Transportation.
SB 744 by Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) - Clinical laboratories.
SB 751 by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) - Teacher credentials.
SB 792 by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) - Tidelands and submerged lands: City and County of San Francisco: Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and Candlestick Point.
SB 822 by Committee on Revenue and Taxation - Property taxation: local administration.
SB 826 by Committee on Governmental Organization - General obligation bonds.
SB 827 by Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) - South Coast Air Quality Management District: CEQA: permits.
SB 831 by Committee on Governmental Organization - California State Lottery: multistate lottery.
SB 833 by Committee on Natural Resources and Water - Natural resources: mining: conservation lands: Native American historical sites: tidelands and submerged lands.
SBX3 18 by Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego) - Corrections.
AB 14 by Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar) - Vehicles: nuisance abatement: impoundment.
AB 37 by Assemblymember Warren Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County) - Public postsecondary education: honorary degrees.
AB 66 by Assemblymember Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) - Pupil work permits.
AB 73 by Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) - Marriage licenses: vital records: fees: domestic violence.
AB 74 by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) - Flood control: Middle Creek and Hamilton City Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Projects.
AB 92 by Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) - State claims.
AB 93 by Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) - Claims against the state: appropriation.
AB 94 by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) - Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act of 2000.
AB 136 by Assemblymember Jim Silva (R- Huntington Beach) - Horse racing: imported harness or quarter horse races.
AB 154 by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) - Adoption assistance: federal law.
AB 167 by Assemblymember Anthony Adams (R-Hesperia) - High school graduation: local requirements: foster children.
AB 236 by Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson (D-Alameda) - Employment: car washes.
AB 242 by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) - Dog fighting.
AB 246 by Senator (former Assemblymember) Curren Price (D-Inglewood) - Horse racing: deductions and distributions: trust funds: harness and quarter horse racing.
AB 262 by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) - American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan: energy activities, programs, or projects.
AB 275 by Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) - Missing persons: DNA database.
AB 282 by Committee on Transportation - Transportation.
AB 286 by Assemblymember Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista) - Vehicles: additional registration fees.
AB 287 by Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-San Jose) - Persons with developmental disabilities: employment.
AB 292 by Assemblymember Yamada (D-Solano) - Personal income taxes: contributions: Alzheimer's disease.
AB 293 by Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) - Gambling regulation.
AB 299 by Committee on Insurance - Insurance.
AB 318 by Assemblymember Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands) - Bureau of Automotive Repair: inspection fees.
AB 329 by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) - Reverse mortgages.
AB 343 by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) - Pupils: military families.
AB 344 by Assemblymember Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) - State highways: relinquishment.
AB 386 by Assemblymember Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City) - Public postsecondary education: instructional materials: disabled students.
AB 399 by Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) - Public employee benefits.
AB 483 by Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) - Workers' compensation: Internet Web sites.
AB 485 by Assemblymember Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) - Civil Air Patrol: California Wing: employment leave.
AB 523 by Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) - Hospitals: seismic safety.
AB 530 by Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) - Unlawful detainer: controlled substances and firearms.
AB 547 by Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) - Commercial feed: license fee: inspection tonnage tax.
AB 595 by Assemblymember Anthony Adams (R-Hesperia) - Placement of children: criminal background checks.
AB 601 by Assemblymember Martin Garrick (R-Carlsbad) - Motor vehicle insurance: special assessments.
AB 636 by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) - Charter-party carriers: busdrivers.
AB 654 by Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) - State teachers' retirement.
AB 665 by Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) - State adoption services: investment.

Bills Vetoed:

SB 20 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) - Personal information: privacy.
SB 34 by Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) - Petitions: compensation for signatures.
SB 45 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) - Public works: payment of prevailing wage: violations.
SB 84 by Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) - Education finance.
SB 86 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) - Public postsecondary education: executive officer compensation.
SB 109 by Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) - Auctioneers: real estate.
SB 115 by Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) - Public employment.
SB 158 by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) - Health care coverage: cervical cancer screening: human papillomavirus vaccination. .
SB 161 by Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) - Health care coverage: cancer treatment.
SB 172 by Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter) - Voter registration.
SB 173 by Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter) - Food safety: testing and recalls.
SB 193 by Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) - Class size reduction: Long Beach Unified School District.
SB 196 by Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) - Emergency medical services.
SB 201 by Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) - Vehicles: illegal taxicabs.
SB 212 by Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter) - Pupil health: communicable diseases.
SB 213 by Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter) - Gambling licenses.
SB 218 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) - Public records: state agency: auxiliary organizations.
SB 219 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) - Disclosure of improper governmental activities: University of California: damages.
SB 242 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) - Civil rights: language restrictions.
SB 248 by Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) - Educational equity: Title IX.
SB 257 by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) - Lactation accommodation: state employees.
SB 262 by Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) - Coastal resources: California Coastal Commission: meeting.
SB 272 by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) - Local government: organization.
AB 1 by Assemblymember William Monning (D-Carmel) - Teachers: program of professional growth: conflict resolution. See attached veto message.
AB 3 by Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) - Workforce development: Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Initiative: local workforce investment boards.
AB 6 by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) - Initiatives: paid circulators.
AB 8 by Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) - Education finance: working group.
AB 21 by Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) - Renewable energy resources.
AB 24 by Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) - California State University: feasibility study: Chula Vista.
AB 43 by Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) - California Earthquake Authority: employees.
AB 56 by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena) - Health care coverage: mammographies.
AB 57 by Senator (former Assemblymember) Curren Price (D-Inglewood) - University of California hospitals: staffing.
AB 82 by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) - Dependent children: psychotropic medications.
AB 98 by Assemblymember Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate) - Maternity services.
AB 101 by Assemblymember Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) - Elections: vote by mail ballots.
AB 115 by Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-San Jose) - Adult Health Coverage Expansion Program.
AB 120 by Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) - Healing arts: peer review.
AB 132 by Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) - School safety: immigration investigations.
AB 146 by Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) - Instructional materials: delivery.
AB 147 by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) - Hazardous waste: electronic waste.
AB 213 by Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) - Vehicles: parking.
AB 217 by Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-San Jose) - Medi-Cal: alcohol and drug screening and brief intervention services.
AB 241 by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) - Dogs and cats: breeding for sale.
AB 243 by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) - Animal abuse: penalties.
AB 244 by Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-San Jose) - Health care coverage: mental health services.
AB 245 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) - Physicians and surgeons.
AB 249 by Assemblymember Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) - Health facilities: marking patient devices.
AB 261 by Assemblymember Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista) - Pupil records: privacy rights.
AB 267 by Assemblymember Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) - Education finance districts: taxes.
AB 311 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) - Property taxation: certificated aircraft assessment.
AB 320 by Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) - County jails: reentry facilities.
AB 322 by Assemblymember Jim Silva (R-Huntington Beach) - Less lethal weapons.
AB 324 by Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-San Jose) - Aging: Elder Economic Security Standard Index.
AB 330 by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) - Elections: voting devices.
AB 335 by Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (D- Sylmar) - Employment contracts.
AB 337 by Assemblymember Norma Torres (D-Pomona) - Juvenile court records: sealing and destruction.
AB 338 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) - Transit village developments: infrastructure financing.
AB 358 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) - Criminal procedure: narcotics and drug abuse cases.
AB 368 by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) - State lands: oil, gas, and mineral leases.
AB 369 by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Solano) - Adult day health care centers.
AB 374 by Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) - Consequences of dropping out notice.
AB 382 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) - Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: inmates and wards: classification.
AB 402 by Assemblymember Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles) - Employment: entertainment work permits.
AB 423 by Assemblymember Norma Torres (D-Pomona) - Emergency telephone systems.
AB 429 by Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) - Public school accountability: advisory committee.
AB 436 by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) - Elections: initiatives.
AB 442 by Assemblymember Juan Arambula (I-Fresno) - Notaries public.
AB 443 by Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani (D-Livingston) - Apple pests: pest and disease prevention.
AB 469 by Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) - Sales and use taxes: qualified use tax payment.
AB 472 by Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley) - Earthquake and emergency preparedness.
AB 473 by Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland) - Solid waste: recycling: multifamily dwellings.
AB 476 by Assemblymember Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) - Standardized Testing and Reporting Program.
AB 503 by Assemblymember Warren Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County) - Battered women's shelters: grant program.
AB 504 by Assemblymember Warren Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County) - Peace officers: training.
AB 513 by Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) - Health care coverage: breast-feeding.
AB 517 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) - Safe Body Art Act.
AB 527 by Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar) - Employee complaints: proceedings: payroll records.
AB 543 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) - Perinatal care: The Nurse-Family Partnership.
AB 1401 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) - Transition to Organics Act.
AB 1404 by Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) - California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: offsets.
AB 1435 by Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez (D-Coachella) - Public school accountability.
AB 1439 by Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) - Gang and youth violence: prevention.
AB 1447 by Assemblymember John Perez (D-Los Angeles) - State Compensation Insurance Fund: audits.
AB 1462 by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) - Medi-Cal: inpatient hospital services contracts.
AB 1510 by Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) - Public schools: parental access.
AB 1512 by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) - Food and drugs: sale.
AB 1527 by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) - Motor vehicle emission reduction projects.
AB 1559 by Committee on Labor and Employment - Workforce development: summer youth job training.
AB 1561 by Committee on Labor and Employment - Occupational safety and health: citation outcome analysis.
AB 1562 by Committee on Labor and Employment - Employment: garnishment of wages.
AB 1563 by Committee on Labor and Employment - Employment: contracts or agreements for labor or services.
AB 1567 by Committee on Veterans Affairs - Employment training panel: 3-year plan: training programs: veterans.
AB 1577 by Assemblymember Joe Coto (D-San Jose) - Problem and pathological gambling.
AB 1580 by Assemblymember Charles Calderon (D-Montebello) - Taxation: federal conformity.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

[Budget] compromising past promises/Compromising the future: NEW BUDGET RULES LOOSEN UP SCHOOL FUNDING + LAUSD BOARD INFORMATIVE ON CATEGORICAL FLEX

By Laurel Rosenhall and Robert Faturechi | The Sacramento Bee

Published: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009

Summer school. Art and music. Classes for gifted children.

Buying textbooks. Training math and English teachers. Tutoring students for the high school exit exam.

For decades, a large portion of California's school funding has been strictly designated for such categories.

Not any more.

In the budget deal crafted last week, the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger combined many of the pots of money known as "categoricals." The result is that for the next five years, principals and district administrators will have more spending flexibility than they've had in recent history.

It's a move education reformers have been pushing for years, saying a bit more freedom with the checkbook would help schools meet their students' needs.

The new state budget cuts about $2.4 billion from schools this year and changes the payment terms of another $5 billion. The reductions get even deeper next year, when schools will face an additional cut of $400 million.

About $1 billion of the cuts will be taken out of categorical funding – which makes up one-third of the money California spends on education and funds more than 60 individual education programs.

Categorical funding became popular in the 1960s as politicians tried to help disadvantaged children by spending money specifically on them and ensuring the additional cash didn't wind up in teachers' paychecks, according to a new report by UC Berkeley's law school.

As categoricals proliferated over time, however, they created a bureaucratic web of obligations for educators, who couldn't target funds where they were needed most. Money for buying new technology couldn't be used to buy books for a library. Money for checking kids' teeth couldn't be spent on counseling. Money for training principals couldn't be used to train a teacher.

"Principals said they spent a God-awful amount of their time filling out compliance forms," said Bruce Fuller, a UC Berkeley education professor who surveyed principals for a recent study.

"They've got to keep receipts, keep billing information. … Principals become mini-bureaucrats rather than working with teachers and being in classrooms."

The findings led him to recommend – in the massive "Getting Down to Facts" report Schwarzenegger released with fanfare in March 2007 – that the state consolidate categorical funding.

And that is just what the new plan does. It collapses 42 categorical programs into one block of money, and trims it by about 15 percent, or $1 billion. Schools can now use that money for any purpose.

"They could do less on school safety and more on career tech," said Jennifer Kuhn, director of K-12 education with the Legislative Analyst's Office. "They can do less counseling and have smaller class sizes. They can do less adult ed and more K-12 ed."

Or, she said, they can skip spending on those programs and give teachers a raise.

COMPROMISING PAST PROMISES/COMPROMISING THE FUTURE: Under the "Budget Compromise" reached in Sacramento, Schools can now use money from these categorical programs for any purpose: [smf: "for any purpose" is somewhat misleading - see Informative (following)]
• Summer school/supplemental instruction

• Regional Occupational Centers and Programs

• High school counseling

• Specialized secondary programs

• Immediate intervention/underperforming and high achieving/improving schools programs

• Gifted and talented education (GATE)

• Mathematics and reading professional development

• Principal training program

• American Indian Early Childhood Education Program

• California Indian education centers

• Adult education

• Education technology

• Deferred maintenance

• Instructional materials

• Community day schools program

• Bilingual teacher training program

• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification Incentive Program

• California School Age Families Education Program

• California High School Exit Exam

• Center for Civic Education

• Teacher dismissal apportionments

• Charter schools

• School safety

• Class size reduction, grade nine

• International baccalaureate diploma program

• California Association of Student Councils

• Pupil Retention Block Grant

• Teacher Credentialing Block Grant

• Professional Development Block Grant

• Targeted Instructional Improvement Block Grants

• Library Improvement Block Grant

• School Safety Consolidated Competitive Grant

• Physical Education Block Grant

• Arts and Music Block Grant

• County Office of Education Williams Audits

• Certificated Staff Mentoring Program

• Oral Health Assessments

• Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Schools must continue to pay for these programs with categorical funding:

• Child Development

• Child Nutrition

• Economic Impact Aid

• Special Education

• Home-to-School Transportation

• After School Education & Safety

• Class Size Reduction, kindergarten – third grade

• Quality Education Investment Act

The plan has the potential to revolutionize school funding in California, said Michael Kirst, a Stanford education professor and former state Board of Education president.

But it doesn't do away with categorical funding altogether. About 20 categorical programs remain intact, including some of the biggest – special education and K-3 class-size reduction.

Because the restrictions on many of the biggest categorical programs have not been eased, the new flexibility won't help cash-strapped districts very much, said David Gordon, Sacramento County's superintendent of schools.

The changes might have been more useful during a time of surplus, he said. But without money, flexibility is of little use.

"To me it's more like, 'Do you cut your arm off or your hand off?' " Gordon said. "We have a bare-bones program already going in. That basic core – the reading, the math and so on – is something you can't trade off."

Other educators said the eased restrictions will give them some welcome wiggle room.

Patrick Godwin, superintendent of Folsom Cordova Unified, expects the relaxed rules will allow his district to avoid painful staff cuts.

"The district here already had a strong music and arts program," Godwin said. "So we'll be able to use those monies to keep more counselors or keep more electives in the high schools."

The following is from an LAUSD Office Of Government Relations informative to the Bd of Ed & Superintendent dated February 19, 2009

SUBJECT: STATE BUDGET APPROVED WITH MAJOR REDUCTIONS TO EDUCATION CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS

Determining the Categorical Program Reductions

Categorical programs are being funded on the basis of three tiers, with the funding for Tier 1 being the most protected. In 2008-09, the Tier 2 and 3 categorical programs are cut by 15 percent or $944 million. In 2009-10, Tiers 2 and 3 are cut by an additional 4.9 percent or $268 million. Page | 2

1. Tier 1 – No reductions and no flexibility options on the use of these dedicated funds (there are flexibility options within the Class Size Reduction program itself, which are described later). The following are the protected programs in this tier:

Budget Item	Title
Tier 1
6110-161-0001	Special Education
6110-196-0001	Child Development
6110-234-0001	K-3 Class Size Reduction
6110-128-0001	Economic Impact Aid (EIA)
6110-649-0001	After School Programs
6110-601-3116	Home-to-School Transportation
6110-203-0001	Child Nutrition
Quality Education Improvement Act (QEIA)
6110-130-0001	Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

2. Tier 2 – 15 percent reduction in 2008-09, and an additional 4.9% reduction in 2009-10. There are no flexibility options with these programs.

Budget Item	Title
Tier 2
6110-113-0001	Student Assessment Testing
6110-224-0001	Year Round Schools
6110-125-0001	English Learner Student Assistance
6110-220-0001	Charter School Facility Grant Program
6110-166-0001	Partnership Academies
6110-103-0001	Apprentice Program
6110-119-0001	Foster Youth Programs
6110-158-0001	Adults in Correctional Facilities
6110-182-0001	K-12 Internet Access
6110-167-0001	Agricultural Vocational Education

3. Tier 3 – 15 percent reduction in 2008-09 and an additional 4.9 percent reduction in 2009-10. For these programs, there is complete flexibility for a district to use these funds as it wishes.

Budget Item	Title
Tier 3
6110-246-0001	Targeted Instructional Improvement Block Grant (TIIG)
6110-156-0001	Adult Education
6110-105-0001	Regional Occupational Centers and Programs
6110-247-0001	School and Library Improvement Block Grant
6110-104-0001	Supplemental Instruction
6110-189-0001	Instructional Materials
6110-188-0001	Deferred Maintenance
6110-245-0001	Professional Development Block Grant Program
6110-108-0001	Supplemental School Counseling Program
6110-211-0001	Charter School Categorical Block Grant
6110-244-0001	Teacher Credentialing Block Grant
6110-123-0001	High Priority Schools Grant Program
6110-265-0001	Arts and Music Block Grant
6110-232-0001	Class Size Reduction - 9th Grade
6110-228-0001	School Safety Block Grant (8-12)
6110-243-0001	Pupil Retention Block Grant Program
6110-204-0001	CA High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)-Support and Services
6110-198-0001	CA School Age Families Education
6110-137-0001	Math and Reading Professional Development
6110-124-0001	Gifted and Talented
6110-190-0001	Community Day Schools
6110-227-0001	Community -Based English Tutoring Program
6110-260-0001	PE Teacher Incentive Program
6110-193-0001	Peer Assistance and Review
6110-248-0001	School Safety Competitive Grants
6110-107-0001	County Offices of Education - Fiscal Oversight
6110-267-0001	Certificated Staff Mentoring
6110-266-0001	County Office of Education - Williams Audits
6110-122-0001	Specialized Secondary Program Grants
6100-144-0001	Principal Training Program
6110-151-0001	American Indian Education Centers
6110-268-0001	Child Oral Health Assessments
6110-195-0001	National Board Certification Incentives
6110-240-0001	Advanced Placement Programs
6110-193-0001	Bilingual Teacher Training
6110-150-0001	American Indian Early Childhood Education Centers
6110-193-0001	Reader Services for the Blind
6110-208-0001	Civic Education
6110-209-0001	Teacher Dismissal Apportionment
6110-242-0001	CA Association of Student Councils
6110-123-0001	Sanctions
6110-144-0001	Chief Business Officers Training Program
6360-101-0001	Local Assistance - Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Additional Flexibility Options

1. School districts now have the option of increasing the K-3 Class-Size Reduction (CSR) Program from the present 20:1 restriction without completely losing this specific categorical program funding. Districts would be subject to the following penalties with these new flexibility options:

Class Size Penalty

20.5 to 21.5 (less than) 5 percent

21.5 to 22.5 (less than) 10 percent

22.5 to 23.0 (less than) 15 percent

23.0 to 25.0 (less than) 20 percent

25 or over 30 percent

2. Deferred Maintenance: The .5 percent statutory match for deferred maintenance would be eliminated for the period of 2008-09 to 2012-13.

3. Routine Maintenance Reserve: The requirement for a 3 percent reserve for routine maintenance would be reduced to 1 percent for the period of 2008-09 to 2012-13.

4. Transfer of Categorical Program Balances: The District would have the authority to transfer the 2008-09 categorical balances for any educational purposes, except for balances in the following programs:

Special Education

QEIA

EIA

TIIG

Instructional Materials

CAHSEE

Supplemental Instruction

Transportation

Program Elimination

The High Priority Program is eliminated in 2009-10.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

STATE HELD HOSTAGE

Sacramento Bee cartoonist Rex Babin

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

3onELL

¡Día de Santo Patrick feliz! 4LAKids looks for good things from the English Language Learners' Conference in Long Beach this (3/17-3/18) weekend. There is a lot of new thinking and direction happening — all of which directly impacts every student and stakeholder in LAUSD.

You are directed to these three recent articles on English Language Learners and new directions in English as a Second Language instruction:

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit