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Item(s) found: 118
Education and Workforce Data Connections: A Primer on States’ Status
Date CapturedWednesday April 14 2010, 6:16 PM
Data Quality Campaign - [States are currently working to connect education and workforce data, however, states are far from reaching the goal of having data systems that can link across the P-20/Workforce spectrum. To connect these education and workforce databases, states should engage a broad range of stakeholders to: 1. Prioritize, through broad-based stakeholder input, the critical policy questions to drive the development and use of longitudinal data systems. 2. Ensure data systems are interoperable within and across agencies and states by adopting or developing common data standards, definitions and language. 3. Protect personally identifiable information through governance policies and practices that promote the security of the information while allowing appropriate data access and sharing.]
FACEBOOK: Another Step in Open Site Governance
Date CapturedThursday April 01 2010, 4:42 PM
Michael Richter - Friday, March 26, 2010 at 12:04pm - [We're proposing another set of revisions to our Privacy Policy and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to make way for some exciting new products we're contemplating. Not all of these products have been finalized and many aren't yet built at all. However, we've definitely identified some interesting opportunities to improve the way you share and connect with the people and things in your life. ]
Testimony of Secretary Janet Napolitano before the House Committee on Homeland Security on DHS, The Path Forward
Date CapturedWednesday February 25 2009, 3:13 PM
Release Date: February 25, 2009 - The Committee’s platform items: [Improving the governance, functionality, and accountability of the Department of Homeland Security; enhancing security for all modes of transportation; strengthening our Nation: response, resilience, and recovery; shielding the Nation’s critical infrastructure from attacks; securing the homeland and preserving privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties; connecting the dots: intelligence, information sharing, and interoperability; implementing common-sense border and port security; and inspiring minds and developing technology – the future of homeland security. ]
E P I C - A l e r t -- Volume 15.25 -- December 23, 2008
Date CapturedTuesday December 23 2008, 6:41 PM
Published by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) - Washington, D.C. Table of Contents - [1] Privacy Coalition Members Write to President-elect Obama [2] India Hosts Third Internet Governance Forum [3] Government Issues Final Rules in Education Records Privacy [4] Privacy, Security and Openness at the Internet Governance Forum [5] DHS Releases Fusion Center Privacy Impact Assessment [6] News in Brief
Let mayor lead schools? Do not make schools another arm of City Hall
Date CapturedFriday August 24 2007, 6:49 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle op-ed contributor Jerri Kaiser, community member, Editorial Board opines, "According to the Public Education Reform Project (2004), cities with mayoral control of schools have seen mixed results. Test scores improved in many of the districts, but they dropped in others, including Detroit. Several variables determined success. Boston, Cleveland and Chicago improved scores but their superintendent turnover was low and their city governments were stable over a long period of time."
Let mayor lead schools? CSD needs dose of Duffy's drive, proven abilities
Date CapturedFriday August 24 2007, 6:40 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle op-ed contributor Alex Zapesochny, community member, Editorial Board opines, "Consider that about 96 percent of all Rochester property tax receipts ($119 million) go to the district, whose total budget, $639 million, is considerably larger than that of the entire city — $442 million. Further, educational failure is interwoven with the city's other serious challenges, including crime and economic development. So, by what logic do we not allow the city's top leader to have influence over the running of the schools? Mayor Duffy appears to have the skills and drive to take on our big challenges. Let's give him the ability and responsibility to do so."
Getting Down to Facts: A Research Project Examining California’s School Governance and Finance
Date CapturedMonday July 23 2007, 9:03 AM
The researchers aimed to make the best possible use of existing research findings, identifying important holes in existing research and determining whether there were empirical studies that could be performed in the given timeframe to fill some of these holes. The new empirical work stems from this approach. As a result, the studies each provide a strong review of the literature with targeted new empirical additions.
Greece schools try going paperless -- District hopes new system will reduce costs, increase openness
Date CapturedSunday July 15 2007, 7:18 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports, "She [Hauer, a board member] said she'd like the district to put historic data on the site in order to allow board members and others the opportunity to search for past data on topics of interest. 'But this is really only one small piece in opening up the district to the community,' Hauer said. 'This will be a good resource and a wonderful efficiency tool for the board.' The system's cost, as well as expected cost savings resulting from fewer copies made and less time spent by employees on coordinating board information were not immediately available. "
Ruling bans school busing in Roosevelt
Date CapturedThursday July 12 2007, 9:02 PM
Newsday reports, "Maureen Powell, 74, widow of a former Roosevelt school board trustee, complained to district officials when she noticed the buses in October 2005. Powell, who has long been active in district issues, argued that state law dictates that voters need to approve transportation."
Yonkers school panel's closed meeting may have violated law
Date CapturedThursday July 12 2007, 8:41 AM
The Journal reports, "While parents at Tuesday's meeting were shut out of any budget talk, the board did discuss fostering a better relationship with parents by awarding a contract to a company that would canvass parents about their views of the Yonkers public schools."
Closed-door sessions are lawful
Date CapturedMonday July 09 2007, 8:33 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle guest essayists Joe Moscato and Frank Oberg opine, "Your editorial accuses us of being fond of the use of executive session. We did not invent the executive session. It is prescribed by law. The law clearly defines matters that may be discussed in executive session. They fall into two categories: mandatory and permitted. It's noteworthy to observe that all school districts in New York state use this process. Executive sessions are usually requested by the superintendent and are rarely initiated by the board."
McCall among 3 nominated to SUNY board
Date CapturedWednesday June 06 2007, 9:09 AM
Times Union rerports, "As expected, Spitzer chose former state schools Chancellor Carl Hayden, an Elmira lawyer, for chairman of the board. His third nominee was Linda Sanford of Chappaqua, a senior vice president at IBM."
School districts serve all children
Date CapturedSaturday April 28 2007, 10:13 AM
The Journal News opines, "Those who come to the board, no matter from what community, need to remember that all youngsters in East Ramapo, no matter what kind of school they attend, are the district's children."
Boosting Accountability in New York's Schools
Date CapturedFriday April 20 2007, 9:12 AM
How to Meet the Governor's Historic Challenge, Thursday, March 8, 2007. A panel of state and national education experts gathered at the state Capitol in Albany March 8 to examine and debate Gov. Spitzer's historic education reform plan, which aims to hold New York schools more accountable than ever before. This page features a link to a slide presentation by one of the featured speakers, and also includes streaming audio of the event including John C. Reid, Assistant Secretary for Education State of New York; Thomas W. Carroll, President, Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability; Paul E. Peterson Director, Program on Educational Policy and Governance Kennedy School of Government; Moderator: David F. Shaffer, President, Public Policy Institute of New York State; Panelists: Carl Hayden, Chancellor Emeritus, New York State Board of Regents; Richard C. Iannuzzi, President, New York State United Teachers; Timothy G. Kremer, Executive Director, New York State School Boards Association; Thomas L. Rogers, Executive Director, New York State Council of School Superintendents; Sol Stern, Contributing Editor, City Journal and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
Require 'Pledge of Allegiance' in all public schools
Date CapturedWednesday March 07 2007, 9:01 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle contributor Stephen J. Minarik, chairman, Monroe County Republican Party opines, "The Pledge of Allegiance is not a political tool that may be abused in order to protest President Bush, the war in Iraq or any other policy or belief. It is a profound symbol of unity and freedom for the United States and its people, and regardless of our elected officials or state policies, all Americans can and must support its central message — that we, as U.S. citizens, stand indivisible in support of our great nation and its democratic system of governance. The pledge advocates for the equality of all people, a government that protects these rights and derives its power directly from the people, and a nation of individuals that is united behind the common goal of progress and freedom."
Roosevelt schools facing $12M deficit
Date CapturedTuesday March 06 2007, 7:54 PM
Newsday JOHN HILDEBRAND reports, "The state's new comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, declared that the 2,800-student district is headed toward a fiscal crisis. The state [education department] took direct control of the troubled school system in 2002 -- the first and only time Albany has done this -- and state-appointed administrators have run the district ever since. 'Continuing on this path, the district will run out of cash and won't be able to pay its bills,' DiNapoli declared. 'These problems must be addressed now. It is essential that a realistic, long-term financial plan is developed to get the district on the right track.'"
Experts: Expand teaching methods
Date CapturedThursday March 01 2007, 9:19 AM
Courier News reports, "National education experts are urging school districts to drop what they call a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to teaching and replace it with a student-by-student plan developed by educators. 'We need a change in how we approach the governance of public education,' said Andrew Rotherham, former education adviser to President Bill Clinton."
THE UFT'S ALBANY PUPPETS
Date CapturedThursday March 01 2007, 7:19 AM
NY Post opines, "Education Committee Chairwoman Cathy Nolan and Assemblyman Ruben Diaz questioned Mayor Bloomberg's progress in improving the schools in the five years since he wrested control of them from folks like, well . . . Weingarten & Co. In so doing, they made their ultimate goal obvious: to kill off Chancellor Joel Klein's reorganization plan and then reclaim school governance for folks like (you guessed it) Weingarten & Co."
Data show where Ithaca City School District (ICSD) has progressed
Date CapturedMonday January 15 2007, 7:08 AM
Ithaca Journal contributor Michael Pliss, Ithaca City School District's Director of Information and Instructional Technology writes, "The Equity Strategic Plan calls for us to set local benchmarks for progress toward equity. The experience of identifying and collecting the diverse array of data for the First Annual Equity Report Card makes plain the need for flexible student information systems and for staff training in data stewardship and data governance. Collecting and analyzing data for equity is not an end in itself. But we believe our ability to make real progress in eliminating race, class and disability in student success and participation is critically supported by our efforts in data analysis. Knowing where we are is a crucial first step in getting to where we need to be, a place where all students are achieving their dreams."
L.A. mayor's school-control law blocked
Date CapturedFriday December 22 2006, 9:15 AM
AP reports, "A state law granting Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa partial control of the nation's second-largest school district was struck down Thursday by a judge who ruled it unconstitutional. The mayor, elected after promising to reform the city's troubled schools, vowed an immediate appeal and said he would ask the state Supreme Court to consider the matter directly."
Financial services professionals from Rochester, Albany named to state higher education board
Date CapturedThursday December 21 2006, 9:47 AM
Two New Yorkers with significant financial services experience have been confirmed as the newest additions to the board of trustees of the New York State Higher Education Services Corp. (HESC), the state agency that helps people pay for college. W. Anthony Goodwin, vice president of educational lending at M & T Bank and a resident of the Rochester area, and Thomas J. Murphy, principal of Trailhead Advisors in Albany, were recently appointed to the unpaid positions by Gov. George E. Pataki and confirmed by the state Senate.
Lawsuit challenges LA mayor's school takeover
Date CapturedSaturday December 16 2006, 9:21 AM
AP reports, "A state law that gave Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa partial control of the nation's second-largest school district is unconstitutional, opponents argued in the first court hearing on the controversial reform measure."
Reform of Taylor Law to heat up Albany
Date CapturedMonday December 11 2006, 9:15 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports, "While the unions' proposals to tilt the field in their direction is on the table, most of what local governments want has failed to gather much support. Among their proposals: Abolish what is known as the Triborough Amendment, which keeps the provisions of expired contracts — including step raises — in place even when the contract has expired. Do away with binding arbitration for police and fire contracts, where a state-appointed panel has the final say over raises and other contract matters when police and fire unions can't reach a deal with their employers. Abolish teacher tenure, instead hiring teachers for five-year renewable contracts, and make it easier to discipline or dismiss ones who don't perform."
State Library Agencies: Fiscal Year 2005
Date CapturedWednesday December 06 2006, 5:33 PM
This report provides a statistical profile of state library agencies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for fiscal year 2005. The report includes information on governance, collections and services, service outlets and staff, revenue, and expenditures. The data were collected through the State Library Agencies Survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Holton, B., Kroe, E., O’Shea, P., Sheckells, C., Dorinski, S., and Freeman, M. (2006). State Library Agencies: Fiscal Year 2005 (NCES 2007-300). U.S. Department of Education, NCES. Retrieved December 6, 2006 from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch.
D.C. Superintendent Janey Seeks Time to Turn Around Schools
Date CapturedWednesday November 29 2006, 6:45 AM
Washington Post reports, "Janey called for laying 'a new foundation' for schools that includes higher academic standards, more rigorous student assessment and modernized facilities. It was his first-ever 'State of the Schools' speech, as well as his first formal public statement since his future came into question when Mayor-elect Adrian M. Fenty said in September that he might seek to take over the schools."
School aid vows fail arithmetic
Date CapturedSunday November 26 2006, 6:24 PM
Columnist Jay Gallagher writes on CFE and school funding, "Shazam! Add money to New York City schools, but don't subtract any from anywhere else. What could be better? That sounds like a good math problem for the next Regents' math exam, which some New York students have so much trouble mastering. The problem goes something like this: take a pot of money. Divide it up into sections. Then take the same pot of money, and make some of the sections bigger, but don't reduce any of the others."
Day one, item one
Date CapturedSunday November 26 2006, 8:08 AM
Newsday opined, "First, Spitzer must propose a dollar amount for helping not just the city but also poor suburban and upstate districts - without cutting existing funds for any community. Then he has to craft a new formula, based on need and not political clout, for distributing all school aid. Then there's the issue of accountability. Although the court said the state doesn't need a new system of oversight, Spitzer must make sure both the education department and school districts have the resources to ensure that aid money is well spent. How much more should be spent? Based on authoritative studies, public and private, it's clear the court's $1.9-billion minimum for the city is too little. A more reasonable sum is $6 billion - with most going to the city - on top of the $15 billion-plus the state now spends annually. Who should come up with the money? Primarily the state, which has failed to give the city a fair share. But it would be fair if city taxpayers - who also have a history of shortchanging schools - ponied up as much as one-third of the new funds. How should aid be distributed? Most should go to the districts with the neediest students, who tend to be the most expensive to teach."
Institute trains parents to be school advocates
Date CapturedFriday November 24 2006, 9:33 AM
HERALD-LEADER reports, "CIPL was established in 1997 to cultivate parent leaders. Participants are encouraged to become involved in school district politics in the form of school decision-making councils, district PTAs and the county school board. The program has been particularly successful in Fayette County, with 60 percent of the school board having completed the course. 'The final biggest step of parent leadership is to serve our families and communities on the school board,' said Alice Nelson, former manager of the program."
Queens Feels Squeeze Of Overcrowded Classes
Date CapturedThursday November 23 2006, 6:35 AM
Queens Chronicle reports, "Education reform advocates were quick to capitalize on the findings as evidence that the mayor’s plan to alleviate school crowding and reduce class size was falling behind. 'If we want our kids to succeed at every level, there is simply no way we can continue having classes this large,' said Leonie Haimson, of Class Size Matters, a Manhattan based advocacy group dedicated to lowering class sizes. 'It’s not good for kids, and it’s not saving money.' But education officials countered that the figures showed steady progress in the mayor’s plan to reduce class sizes, pointing to marginal declines in class enrollment from year to year at each grade level. Agency officials also noted that the recent class size averages are well below the limits established under the city’s teachers union contract, which recommends a threshold of 25 kids in kindergarten and 32 students in grades one through six."
COURT BITES JUDGE
Date CapturedTuesday November 21 2006, 5:52 AM
NY Post opined on New York school funding lawsuit, "Gov. Pataki deserves two measures of credit for yesterday's ruling: * For having fought this case for so long - his entire 12-year tenure - in a state practically run by school unions and other special interests. Practically everyone agreed (wrongly) that the city needs billions more for schools. Even though it already spends far more per student than most other cities. And even though there is no credible evidence that extra money can guarantee students learn more. * And for assembling a high court - he appointed five of its members - that doesn't confuse itself with the Legislature."
Yonkers school board approves ethics code
Date CapturedThursday November 16 2006, 6:20 AM
The Journal News reports, "Under the new code, employees are banned from hiring, supervising, evaluating, promoting or disciplining a family member. They can't accept gifts valued at $75 or more and must keep confidential any information disclosed in executive sessions on a wide range of subjects, including proposed, pending or current litigation or discussions involving collective bargaining. In addition, former employees are banned from appearing before the school board on any action in which they participated in as employees."
Study to analyze Utah charter schools
Date CapturedSunday November 12 2006, 9:25 AM
The Salt Lake Tribune reports, "The Utah Education Policy Center plans to pursue a study on the effectiveness of the state's charter schools, examining whom they benefit and what their impact is on traditional public school districts. The work will follow the policy center's report released Thursday on the state's charter schools. That report, gathered for the Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee, did not examine school quality so much as the schools' purpose and governance."
'No Secret Deal' in New York City Teacher Pact
Date CapturedFriday November 10 2006, 4:54 AM
NY Post David Andreatta reports, "Asked if she would push state lawmakers to reauthorize mayoral control when the law expires in 2009, Weingarten [United Federation of Teachers President ]said it was 'premature to decide.'"
Web conference to address state of Internet laws
Date CapturedThursday November 02 2006, 7:45 AM
The Daily Orange reports, "The Syracuse University community will have the opportunity to witness a global discussion of Internet governance, which concerns creating internationally-accepted laws for the Internet, today from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. in Eggers Hall. The event is a live broadcast of a Web conference in the Maxwell Global Collaboratory. Participating in the conference are representatives from two larger conferences in progress, one in Greece and the other in Grenada, and from the Internet Corporation for Assigning Names and Numbers. The broadcast, which is hosted by the School of Information Studies' Collaboratory on Technology Enhanced Learning Communities, is open to the public."
Time for Vermont to consider district consolidation
Date CapturedWednesday November 01 2006, 8:05 AM
Burlington Free Press reports, "Commissioner Cate deserves credit for moving this discussion [consolidation] forward. However, the ultimate decision will -- and should -- rest with local communities. Montpelier cannot insist that any district share its governance, close a school, shrink its personnel or impose other cost-saving measures. Instead, the commissioner, governor, lawmakers and the public should continue to openly discuss the proposal."
A+ for Mike, Joel
Date CapturedMonday October 23 2006, 4:08 AM
NY Daily News reports, "The Bloomberg-Klein tandem was lauded for improving public schools by stamping out 'cronyism and entrenched interests' and putting the focus back on students since the mayoral takeover of the education system."
New York City Mayor Bloomberg Says City Won’t Pay in School Financing Case
Date CapturedThursday October 19 2006, 3:20 AM
NY Times reports, "According to The News, Mr. Spitzer also suggested that the linchpin of the mayor’s education agenda — the Legislature’s decision in 2002 to give the mayor control over the school system — could be a tool used to pressure the city. 'In the background, you have the issue of mayoral control and other factors that will weigh in the balance in terms of how the negotiation plays out,' he said."
Bloomberg and Klein Keep Pushing Ahead
Date CapturedWednesday October 18 2006, 7:31 AM
New York Observer writes, "At the moment, private groups are managing nearly 200 small public schools through a program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. That private funding, however, will expire in June in about 50 schools. The city is considering an idea to continue the private management by using public money as the Gates grants—which were never intended as a permanent funding source—expire."
Appeals court: School boards not immune from federal lawsuits
Date CapturedTuesday October 10 2006, 10:33 PM
AP reports, "A federal appeals court [2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan], ruling in a case of a 75-year-old teacher who claims he was fired because of his age and his exercise of free speech, said Tuesday that local boards of education cannot claim they are arms of the state immune from lawsuits."
FOR THE CHILDREN
Date CapturedSunday October 08 2006, 8:59 AM
NY Post opined, "Klein [New York City schools chancellor] is to be applauded for looking to breathe fresh air into a stale system. For years, he's been hoping to shake up school management through such promising ideas as charter schools - only to be stymied by the educrats and their puppets in Albany. Clearly, he's not giving up."
Spota backs Sen. LaValle on schools czar
Date CapturedFriday October 06 2006, 5:09 AM
Newsday reports, "LaValle said he was especially aggrieved that his bill is opposed by the state School Boards Association. 'The very people we want oversight over are the ones blocking the legislation,' he said."
Who Controls the Schools?
Date CapturedWednesday September 27 2006, 7:57 AM
New York Observer opined on mayoral control of schools, "Historically, Albany resents strong Mayors in New York City and often sees itself as a counterbalance to figures like Mr. Bloomberg and his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani. Already, some legislators are whispering that the Mayor has too much control over the schools."
Yes to collaboration between City Hall, Rochester city schools
Date CapturedTuesday September 26 2006, 6:25 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle contributors Malik Evans, vice president, Rochester Board of Education and board member Tom Brennan write, "The school board has encouraged and will continue to support a strong working relationship with our friends in city government. The CSD and City Hall are mutually dependent in their efforts to build stronger communities."
School Principals Criticize Union Leaders
Date CapturedTuesday September 26 2006, 3:21 AM
NY Times reports, "In a sign of open rebellion against their union, whose contract expired more than three years ago, 31 New York City public school principals have written a scathing letter, citing 'grave concerns' about the union’s 'ineffectiveness,' and accusing its leaders of being increasingly 'out of touch' with members."
Late for schools: It took state four years after takeover to appoint monitor for Roosevelt district, now $4M in the red
Date CapturedMonday September 25 2006, 4:38 AM
Newsday JOHN HILDEBRAND writes, "A review of Roosevelt's records reveals numerous early warning signs. During the summer, for example, the district laid off teachers and cut services including full-day kindergarten, after local voters twice rejected its budget. The second 'no' vote followed a state audit's revelation of irregular spending, sloppy bookkeeping and loose financial controls. At the time, the district's business office was in turmoil. It had undergone three changes of leadership in four months."
Maine-Endwell Central School District Board of Education decision reflects the district's needs
Date CapturedSunday September 24 2006, 9:56 AM
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin contributor Waneta Griffin, president of the Maine-Endwell Board of Education writes, "The board developed the proposed capital improvement plan after receiving input from a volunteer group of residents called the Capital Project Facilities Committee. The project contains work identified by that group. The district also held two public meetings where comments were encouraged and recorded. Further, district administrators, board members and project professionals requested and received community feedback through surveys and other communications. The project team worked diligently to create a plan that addresses the district's education and infrastructure needs, and maintains fiscal responsibility."
Should Philadelphia schools leave Pennsylvania control?
Date CapturedThursday September 21 2006, 8:42 AM
Philadelphia Inquirer reports, "Mayor Street's office is creating a task force and hiring a consultant to look at the state of education in the city - including whether it's time for the school district to leave state control."
New Mexico board members lament lack of control
Date CapturedThursday September 21 2006, 8:19 AM
Clovis News Journal reports, "As more and more mandates are handed down from the state and federal government, eastern New Mexico school board members feel more and more inert. 'We used to make decisions. Now we just rubber-stamp,' said a frustrated Rex Rush, vice president of the Melrose school board."
Mayor Bloomberg In California For Education Announcement
Date CapturedWednesday September 20 2006, 11:31 AM
NY1 reports on mayoral control of schools, "The jury is still out on whether putting the mayor in charge of schools was a total success."
Mayor Bloomberg Re-emphasizes School Control
Date CapturedWednesday September 20 2006, 3:16 AM
NY Times reports, "In addition, education advocates and elected officials say, Mr. Bloomberg has alienated many parents — precisely the public needed to bring pressure on legislators — who feel excluded from influencing decisions about the system."
'Lite' Choice in School Reform
Date CapturedWednesday September 20 2006, 12:07 AM
The Washington Post reports, "Under-performing schools in Prince George's, Baltimore and elsewhere across the nation have seized on the turnaround specialist as a quick fix that satisfies the federal No Child Left Behind directive, which requires chronically low-performing schools to choose some form of alternative governance, such as a new staff or management by a private company. The report by the Center on Education Policy cites the Prince George's system as emblematic of a national trend: When school systems are forced to take corrective action, they tend to chose the least radical -- and least corrective, it says -- option."
Florida School Boards Association objects to charter law
Date CapturedMonday September 18 2006, 8:23 AM
FLORIDA TODAY reports, "The Florida School Boards Association plans to challenge the constitutionality of the new charter school commission and is calling on every school board in the state to do the same."
In New Jersey, a Community Divided
Date CapturedSunday September 17 2006, 9:35 PM
NY Times reports, "The state’s findings made no mention of religion, but the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, which made the initial complaint to the state, did. It said that the school catered to the Orthodox, who rarely send their children to school with those who are not Orthodox. This summer, when the State Department of Education ordered the district to correct the special-education disparity and the district appealed the order to the education commissioner, a big rift in Lakewood grew bigger. It is a rift that has deepened in recent years as a group that once had little to do with public institutions began to join them, electing its members to a majority of school board seats and two of the five township committee seats."
Florida county school board votes to control charters
Date CapturedWednesday September 13 2006, 1:05 AM
FLORIDA TODAY reports, "In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the Brevard County School Board voted to retain its exclusive authority over charter schools and stressed in a resolution its constitutional role to 'operate, control and supervise all free public schools' in the district, including charters."
Point of no return
Date CapturedSunday September 10 2006, 12:09 PM
LA Daily News opined on Los Angeles schools and constitutionality of mayoral control, "Instead of trying to hold back the tidal wave of public and political support for the mayor's plan, the school board should embrace progress — unless, of course, the members care more about themselves than the kids."
New York City's No-Bid Deal for Schools
Date CapturedSunday September 10 2006, 10:59 AM
NY Times opined, "As they’ve tackled a myriad of education problems, Mr. Bloomberg and Mr. Klein — who both lack previous education management experience — have frequently shown a lack of respect for the education department’s own experts. While both men clearly have the schools’ best interests at heart, it’s sometimes hard to tell whether their eagerness to reach outside for help is based on real need or a simple impatience with people who don’t fit the corporate model. And in the past they have not always been right."
KLEIN'S NEW LINE ON NEW YORK CITY CLASS SIZE
Date CapturedSaturday September 09 2006, 8:19 AM
NY Post David Andreatta writes, "Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said yesterday he has the authority to lower class sizes - despite claims of city lawyers this week that Mayor Bloomberg cannot force the school system to reduce them.
Making School Choice Work
Date CapturedFriday September 08 2006, 12:46 AM
scoop.co.nz reports, "Schools should be given more management autonomy and greater freedom to open, expand and close, according to a newly released report by Harvard University Professor Caroline Hoxby. The report, School Choice: The Three Essential Elements and Several Policy Options, released tomorrow by the Education Forum and the New Zealand Association of Economists (NZAE), outlines a number of key design requirements if policies aimed at giving parents greater choice over their children’s education are to be successful."
City’s Lawyers Say Mayor Can’t Control Class Sizes
Date CapturedThursday September 07 2006, 3:46 AM
NY Times ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS reports, "The claim came during a hearing in a case in which parents and teachers are trying to put a referendum on the ballot to force the mayor to hire more teachers and reduce the class sizes in city schools. They argue that smaller classes, in line with those in much of the rest of the state, are the best way to improve education for city students."
Los Angeles school board to sue over schools bill constitutionality
Date CapturedWednesday September 06 2006, 7:16 PM
LA Times reports, "The district will file suit to overturn legislation giving Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa substantial authority over the city's schools."
Obtaining people's trust is district aim: Hyde Park looks to build support
Date CapturedTuesday September 05 2006, 6:06 AM
The Poughkeepsie Journal reports, "Stung by budget defeats in May and last year, the school board is determined to gain community support for upcoming votes on building upgrades. These are among the eight goals the Hyde Park school board is proposing to adopt for the 2006-07 school year."
Costly defeat for LAUSD
Date CapturedSaturday September 02 2006, 10:05 AM
LA Daily News reports, "Los Angeles Unified has spent more than $350,000 in taxpayer money in its unsuccessful bid to defeat Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's school-takeover legislation, documents obtained by the Daily News show. The expenses include lobbying and consulting contracts, nearly $10,000 to bus hundreds of parents to Sacramento, and thousands of dollars to house school board members in pricey hotel rooms. They also include more than $2,000 for T-shirts for supporters and hundreds of dollars to fly parents opposed to mayoral takeover in from New York and San Francisco."
Where's the courage in education reform?
Date CapturedSaturday September 02 2006, 9:07 AM
Scrippsnews contributor Star Parker writes, "According to NCLB, students in failing schools must be notified and permitted to transfer to another school. We have found that 250,000, about 30 percent, of the students in the LA system are eligible for such transfers, yet notification is not being given and there have only been only slightly more than 500 transfers."
Contractors fuel Broward School Board campaigns with tens of thousands in checks
Date CapturedFriday September 01 2006, 10:50 AM
Sun-Sentinel reports, "The biggest single contributors to this year's Broward County School Board campaigns are not parents, teachers or activists, but companies and their lobbyists seeking part of the school's $2.3 billion in construction over the next five years."
Get a job or get out
Date CapturedFriday September 01 2006, 10:38 AM
NY Daily News opined on AP positions, "But union boss Jill Levy rejects the thought of empowering the city's school chiefs. Why? Because assistant principals make up most of her union, and she insists on preserving the job security even of lemons that no one wants. In fact, she takes great umbrage at Klein's characterization of her desk jockeys in the making."
Teachers' contracts stall over health care: District standoffs rise 33%
Date CapturedFriday September 01 2006, 10:27 AM
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reports, "New York State United Teachers, the state's largest teachers union, reported Thursday that 209 local teacher unions and 169 NYSUT-affiliated unions -- cafeteria workers, bus drivers, teacher aides, teaching assistants and other professionals -- will work with expired contracts. Overall, 70,000 employees are in those locals. State law requires that teachers eligible for step raises get them even if the contract is expired."
Los Angeles School District reform measure likely faces day in court
Date CapturedThursday August 31 2006, 10:44 AM
Los Angeles Daily News reports, "The California School Boards Association, one of the powerful opponents to the legislation, believes there is little doubt the bill is unconstitutional."
Reminder: School chief serves board
Date CapturedThursday August 31 2006, 9:45 AM
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Op-Ed contributor Cynthia Elliott, member of the Rochester Board of Education writes, "All the district goals should be developed by the board in conjunction with the superintendent, and any assurances that our long-term and strategic goals are achieved should emanate from those elected representatives."
MIXED RECORD ON SCHOOL TAKEOVERS
Date CapturedThursday August 31 2006, 9:21 AM
AP reports, "As [Los Angeles] Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa prepares to assume some control over the nation's second-largest school district, education experts in Chicago and New York said Wednesday that greater city involvement there has achieved mixed grades."
Private 'whys' in school consults
Date CapturedMonday August 28 2006, 7:55 AM
NY Daily News reports, "The city's decision to dish out millions of school dollars for financial consultants without public scrutiny is the latest reason mayoral control of the education system must be reexamined, the teachers union boss charged yesterday."
Arizona Maricopa County faces canceling 84 school races
Date CapturedSaturday August 26 2006, 9:58 AM
The Arizona Republic reports, "In all, 84 races could be canceled: 65 races have only one person running, and 19 have no candidates."
Ed contracts will be eyed after no-bid report
Date CapturedTuesday August 22 2006, 8:14 AM
Daily News reports, "'The fact that the [Department] of Ed is now doing $120 million in no-bid contracts without any form of public review or vote or scrutiny by any outside body is outrageous.'" [Assemblyman James Brennan ]
Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Takes Case to Teachers
Date CapturedMonday August 21 2006, 4:34 PM
LA Times reports, "Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made a passionate pitch for the support of teachers union activists Sunday, as his plan to assume some control of the Los Angeles Unified School District moves forward amid grumbling from some union members."
A no-bid bonanza: City schools awarded $120M in noncompetitive
Date CapturedMonday August 21 2006, 6:50 AM
Daily News Erin Einhorn exclusive, "City rules created to prevent graft and save taxpayer money make it difficult for local agencies to buy products or services without an open process that requires competition. When city agencies award lucrative noncompetitive contracts, public hearings are normally held. But Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein argue that because public schools are regulated by the state - not the city - the Education Department can follow different rules."
Rochester city school board TV
Date CapturedSunday August 20 2006, 8:52 AM
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle opined, "From now on, busy parents and others who care about public education in the city can tune in to RCTV (Channel 15) and watch the Rochester school board's monthly business meetings. That's a step toward greater public accessibility that ought to be emulated."
Elmira school board to get laptops
Date CapturedWednesday August 16 2006, 8:48 AM
Star-Gazette reports, "Most information will now be e-mailed to board members or posted on a Web page protected with a password, according to the district. Each board member will have an e-mail account to allow them to communicate with district employees, parents and community members."
Massachusetts leaders join forces to improve education from pre-K to college
Date CapturedTuesday August 15 2006, 7:42 PM
AP reports, "Members of the Massachusetts Advisory Committee on Education Policy say they hope the meeting will begin a historic cooperation between the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Education and the Board of Higher Education. The committee is made up of high-level officials from the three state agencies. 'Education policy now crosses every sector of education,' said Stephen Tocco, the chairman of the Board of Higher Education. 'We really have to talk collectively.'"
Implementing Graduation Counts: State Progress to Date
Date CapturedSunday August 13 2006, 9:52 PM
NGA Issue Brief written by Bridget Curran, Education Division, National Governors Association. (08/07/2006). "In 2005 governors of all 50 states signed the Graduation Counts Compact and made an unprecedented commitment to a common method for calculating each state's high school graduation rate. In addition to agreeing to a common formula for calculating the graduation rate, the governors committed to leading efforts to improve state data collection, reporting, and analysis; reporting additional indicators of outcomes for students; and reporting annually on their progress toward improved high school graduation, completion, and dropout data."
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce L.A. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Villaraigosa's School District Plan
Date CapturedFriday August 11 2006, 11:57 AM
LA Times reports on support and opposition to LA mayoral control of schools, "The chamber's support was somewhat hedged — the bill in the state Legislature, it said, 'is not a cure' for all of the Los Angeles Unified School District's problems — but it placed a widely recognized and respected business group on the record in support of Villaraigosa's efforts. That could have special weight because the bill is seen in some quarters as being driven by union interests, notably United Teachers Los Angeles, which also has endorsed it."
Arrogance unaffordable
Date CapturedWednesday August 09 2006, 2:51 PM
The Journal News opined on accountability, "Warning: In the current climate of a growing taxpayer rebellion against high property taxes, particularly in the suburbs, no school board can react to scrutiny of its books with defensiveness. That's just plain offensive — and could lead to contagious doubting of all districts' fiscal management."
Pennsylvania anti-bullying policy might be mandatory
Date CapturedTuesday August 08 2006, 12:03 PM
Times Leader reports, "Though the bill would define student bullying to include written, verbal and electronic intimidation, it would allow districts to develop their own procedures and punishments for student bullies."
Los Angeles Mayor's Staff Makes Changes to Protect School Reform Plan: Adds provisions to assure city councils of control and to deflect legal liability
Date CapturedTuesday August 08 2006, 10:57 AM
LA Times reports, "New language in the proposed bill, however, specifically keeps the City Council, and other affected city councils, in charge of the purse strings: 'Nothing … shall be construed to require any city to expend city resources on services to the school district.'"
Official Response from the Board of Education to the Comptroller's Audit (including Appendices)
Date CapturedMonday August 07 2006, 11:35 PM
William Floyd UFSD response to State of New York, Office of the State Comptroller draft Audit Report of Examination dated May 16, 2006, "Given the extraordinary time and money that was invested in improving its practices, the Board, the administration and the taxpayers of the District looked forward to your office conducting a neutral, objective, impartial and constructive audit of our current practices. Specifically, we looked forward to knowing - - in accordance with your stated purpose - - what current practices should be corrected or improved. We hoped to rely on your considerable expertise in following your recommendations as they pertained to 'current and emerging fiscally related problems.'"
Utica district needs plan for building: Assess how HOPE VI plan fits into district's overall needs
Date CapturedMonday August 07 2006, 7:40 AM
Observer-Dispatch (Utica) opined, "Creating a building plan is something the district should move forward on as soon as possible. The residents of Cornhill, and all district taxpayers, deserve an answer about whether this school is feasible. And input from district residents should certainly be part of the school board's planning process. Regardless of what it says in the HOPE VI plan, the school board is charged with determining what's best for district students and taxpayers, and meeting their needs has to come first."
Choice of a coach should be based on qualifications, not union membership
Date CapturedSunday August 06 2006, 9:44 AM
The Press Republican reports, "The choice of a coach should belong to the board of education and not be dictated by a union contract. Let the board hire the most qualified applicant with the best chance to do the best job for the students."
Niagara schools superintendent presents report
Date CapturedFriday August 04 2006, 1:53 PM
Buffalo News reports, "During a 16-hour retreat, Granto unveiled a thorough demographic report showing the nine board members everything they probably didn't like to see about the city and the school district - but needed to know. It contained startling statistics, including numbers on poverty, unemployment and single-parent families in the city, as well as the dramatically falling student population, rising costs and the impact the Niagara Charter School will have on district revenue during the next five years."
NYC Mayor Bloomberg endorses mayoral control of Los Angeles schools
Date CapturedFriday August 04 2006, 7:42 AM
NY Daily News reports, "Bloomberg and Daley [Chicago mayor] said mayoral takeover of the public school system has resulted in more-empowered principals, improved safety and new programs to support struggling students and schools."
On the Public-Private School Achievement Debate
Date CapturedWednesday August 02 2006, 6:28 PM
Paul E. Peterson and Elena Llaudet discuss methodological problems with NCES's study requested by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), "The results from the Alternative Models should not be understood as showing that private schools outperform public schools. Without information on prior student achievement, one cannot answer questions about schools’ efficacy in raising student test scores. The NCES analysis is at serious risk of having produced biased estimates, because its adjustment for student characteristics suffered from two sorts of problems: a) inconsistent classification of student characteristics across sectors and b) inclusion of student characteristics open to school influence. To avoid bias, classification decisions must be consistent for both groups under study. This rule was violated repeatedly in the NCES study." PEPG 06-02. Program on Education Policy and Governance Department of Government, FAS Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Analyst warns against Los Angeles Unifed School District plan
Date CapturedWednesday August 02 2006, 10:50 AM
Daily Breeze reports, "The city of Los Angeles' own legislative analyst has recommended that the City Council oppose Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to gain some control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, saying it threatens the balance of power in local government."
Public needs say in library's future
Date CapturedSunday July 30 2006, 12:24 PM
The Journal News writes, "At the heart of the governance of all public libraries in New York state are the people of the communities who pay their taxes to support them and the library boards of trustees that oversee the library operations with the assistance of their library directors. Using the funds collected by either the municipality or the local board of education, the library boards carry out their numerous responsibilities."
$17M Ed Dept. job set without bidding
Date CapturedWednesday July 26 2006, 7:40 AM
NY Daily News reports, "Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said the contract 'seems to be part of a pattern' of no-bid deals handed out by the Bloomberg administration. Gotbaum argued that city contracts should only be awarded after a "strenuous" review process."
Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa pressured on LAUSD plan
Date CapturedMonday July 24 2006, 9:31 AM
LA Daily News reports, "Billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, a Villaraigosa ally and one of the city's most influential figures, has come out against the plan, as have the state PTA, the California Contract and Independent Cities associations and the Valley Industry and Commerce Association."
Broad Attacks Villaraigosa's Plan for Schools
Date CapturedSaturday July 15 2006, 4:39 PM
LA Times reports, "Broad, a longtime ally of the mayor, criticized Villaraigosa for striking a deal with teachers unions that he believes would muddle lines of authority in the Los Angeles Unified School District. After months of urging a complete takeover of the district, Villaraigosa struck a compromise last month with United Teachers Los Angeles and the California Teachers Association that would allow him to share power with the elected school board and the appointed superintendent."
New York State School Boards Association
Date CapturedFriday July 14 2006, 2:17 PM
Panel releases Los Angeles schools reform study; Recommendations include decentralization, but less mayoral influence
Date CapturedFriday July 14 2006, 9:15 AM
Daily News (LA) reports, "The 54 recommendations presented by the 30-member Presidents' Joint Commission on LAUSD Governance include decentralizing the district and giving greater authority to administrators and teachers at local schools - hallmarks of proposed legislation brokered by Villaraigosa and two powerful teachers unions. But the report also recommends requiring voter approval for any major change in school district governance and giving the mayor only a limited role in the district."
Texas school reform in state's hands, education chief setting rules for local districts on spending, test scores
Date CapturedMonday July 10 2006, 8:04 AM
Dallas Morning News reports, "Control over public schools is swinging back toward the state as Texas' education chief and her staff write a series of new rules regulating everything from how districts spend their tax dollars to how much student test scores must improve each year."
Los Angeles Mayor launches school reform website
Date CapturedThursday June 29 2006, 8:05 PM
View LA Mayor's website at: http://www.excellenceinlaschools.com/
Reform for Los Angeles Schools Advances
Date CapturedThursday June 29 2006, 9:14 AM
Los Angeles Mayor In Sacramento Again To Lobby LAUSD Plan
Date CapturedWednesday June 28 2006, 11:13 AM
Los Angeles Mayor must go to the public to fix, support LAUSD plan
Date CapturedTuesday June 27 2006, 9:54 AM
Los Angeles school takeover a big gamble for mayor
Date CapturedSunday June 25 2006, 9:33 AM
Teachers Oppose Mayor Villaraigosa's Plan For Los Angeles Unified
Date CapturedFriday June 23 2006, 10:28 AM
Fixing Los Angeles schools
Date CapturedThursday June 22 2006, 10:45 AM
Los Angeles mayor, 'It's a great deal for our kids'
Date CapturedThursday June 22 2006, 10:42 AM
Mayor reaches compromise on Los Angeles schools
Date CapturedWednesday June 21 2006, 5:12 PM
Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Reaches Out to State Teachers Union
Date CapturedTuesday June 20 2006, 10:22 AM
Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa's School Plan Prompts Parent Rally
Date CapturedMonday June 19 2006, 10:26 AM
Los Angeles Mayor's School Plan in Danger of Collapse
Date CapturedSaturday June 17 2006, 5:09 PM
Chicago Mayor Daley defends school property tax increase
Date CapturedThursday June 08 2006, 12:58 PM
Black educators divided on Villaraigosa schools plan
Date CapturedMonday June 05 2006, 6:41 PM
NYSSBA Academy for Public School Governance 2006
Date CapturedFriday June 02 2006, 2:52 PM
Two convenient opportunities to attend: July 21 – 23, 2006 • September 15 – 17, 2006
Los Angeles Mayor Faces School Skeptics
Date CapturedTuesday May 30 2006, 8:00 AM
Drastic steps for school boards proving beneficial across U.S.
Date CapturedMonday May 29 2006, 8:28 AM
Roosevelt Schools Criticized Over Spending Irregularities (NY Times registration)
Date CapturedTuesday May 23 2006, 6:33 AM
Hanging Up on Parents?
Date CapturedMonday May 22 2006, 8:52 AM
Yonkers department of education debated
Date CapturedFriday May 05 2006, 8:17 PM
When States -- and Mayors -- Take Over Schools
Date CapturedTuesday April 18 2006, 11:53 AM
Mayor Attempts to Take Control of Los Angeles Schools
Date CapturedTuesday April 18 2006, 11:23 AM



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