More Kids Take Algebra But Don't Learn More Math

Is This A Valid Reason To Protest????

There is a new coalition (Save California Summer) protesting that school should start after Labor Day Holiday. I thought they may have had a good reason until I read this:

Supporter Karen Vick, a Sacramento-area mother with two children in the San
Juan Unified School District, said it is unhealthy for her children to take
physical education classes and eat lunch outside in 100-degree August heat. The
school district’s August 18 start date also crunched vacation time for students
involved in summer swimming and other sports leagues.
The early school start dates have even affected attendance at the nearby state fair, she said. "We used to have a lot of kids participate in the science projects to show at the fair," Vick said. "A lot of families used to go but now nobody goes because school has started. Most families just say we’re in school mode and we can’t stay up late
and take the kids. It’s kind of chaotic with some schools starting in August and
some after Labor Day from neighborhood to neighborhood."

GIVE ME A BREAK. Attendance at the state fair is suffering. What a joke of a reason.

Good Ideas Sometimes Don't Work

A study done by the Pardee RAND Graduate School in Santa Monica, CA shows that banning soda on school's had very little affect on the number of soda's a child drinks. Check out the study here.

California's 8th Grade Algebra Policy "A Set Up For Failure"

Comparing Education Plans

Finally A Budget....80 Days Late.

Seems the Govenator looks at the budget, kind of like a 7th grader looks at homework. Better late, than never.

70% of LAUSD Sophomors Can Pass Exit Exam

LAUSD Cops Recover Stolen Laptops

Looking Forward to Unexpected Success

Locke High in Watts, CA started the new year under the Green Dot Charter. Here's a video discussing the changes that have occurred. We look forward to seeing the "transformation".
Good Luck!!!

UTLA/LAUSD Talks Move To Mediation

Can't we all just get along? LOL. Looks like Mr. Duffy & Superintendent Brewer can't quite work it out, without help. Instead of these two fighting, they should be working together. At this moment in time in LAUSD, these two gentlemen should be joined at the hip. Mr. Duffy, instead of fighting against Charters. You should see them as future union member. Teachers at charter and public schools recognize that union membership is a benefit.

CA Court Slaps down Illegal Immagrants from Pre-Paying Tutition

The 3rd District California Court of Appeal issued a decision Monday that
challenges a state law allowing some undocumented students to pay in-state
college tuition.
The appeals court reversed a decision by Yolo Superior Court
Judge Thomas Warriner in 2006 that upheld a tuition law passed by the
Legislature in 2001 that allows undocumented students who attended state high
schools for at least three years to pay in-state tuition.

Software Allows Schools to Monitor Kids' Computer Use

I would assume that a school/district would have blocking software. But, I can see a need for this. If schools did nothing, that would leave the districts open to lawsuits. Do you think it okay for schools to monitor usage?

Some Good News

South LA High Schools Hit API Growth Targets
Bell, Huntington Park and South Gate high schools in the Southeast area all met their schoolwide growth targets for the year. Bell improved from 580 to 592 in its API score. Huntington Park improved from 543 to 562 and South Gate improved from 565 to 611.

Lynwood USD Addopts New Curriculum

Lynwood Unified voted to kick out the Kaplan curriculum after 4 years and 8 million dollars. Can you say, "big waste of money". On top of that, the district still has not put in place a curriculum to replace the Kaplan curriculum.

State Education Secratary Resigns After 18 Months

It's Been A Long Time Coming...........But A Change Is Gonna Come.

NBC News takes a look at the No Child Left Behind Act. After seven years, there's still no national test standard. In states that dumb down the test, more money flows in. With the NCLB Act renewal and a new President. There will be changes. Take a look, and let us know what your thoughts are.

Way To Go!!!!!!

Miller E.S. Principal Honored with Turnaround School Award
Jean Mitchell, principal at Loren Miller Elementary School, is honored as the first recipient of The Riordan Foundation's first School Turnaround Principal Award. The award, presented by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, includes a $25,000 personal bonus for Ms. Mitchell and a $50,000 grant for the school itself. In addition, LAUSD Board Member Marguerite LaMotte pledged $50,000 in matching funds for capital improvements for the school.

Ms. Mitchell led the school from a API score of 354 to 709. The states goal for the school is 800, still leaving room for improvement. This shows that given the right leadership with exact goals, LAUSD can improve school by school.

We do have a few questions:

What does Ms. Mitchell think was at the root of the schools improvement? Does she think it can be replicated at other schools within the district?

What other schools were being considered? What is it that they did to improve the score?

W. Reed MS Get's a Shout-Out from the GOP

Ooooppps!!!! During the McCain/RNC political convention, a random image of Walter Reed Middle School was displayed on the giant monitor behind John McCain as he was about to delivery his acceptance speech. Many seem to assume that the campaign wanted to display a image of the well know Walter Reed Hospital. It appears that this was a sloppy usage of stage craft. The picture behind you should not step all over your message.

What Was She Thinking?

The family of a former Golden Valley High School student has filed a lawsuit against Hart Union High School District, claiming a former counselor of sexually abusing him. Roselyn Martinez Hubbell, 33, already has been charged by prosecutors with annoying or molesting another boy and faces a court date next month. The boy, who was 14 at the time, was assigned to Hubbell, and she became friends with him and his mother, according to the lawsuit. Hubbell drove the boy home from school each day. The alleged incidents occurred between January and September 2007 at the high school, in Hubbell's car and at the boy's home, according to the lawsuit. In addition to various sexual acts, Hubbell allegedly required the boy to smoke marijuana.

Back To A Traditional School Calendar

Some 10 to 15 year later. LAUSD returns some schools to a traditional calendar. The 19.2 billion dollar building plan the former Superintendent Romer pushed thru is finally starting to pay dividends. Not only is LAUSD finally developing the infrastructure of district, but the return to a traditional calendar must cut down on the administrative cost. This return to normalcy must be viewed as a good thing. With so little good news coming for the district, you would think they would be talking this up.

Here's Another Great Teacher's Link

Here's a link to the New York Times' Learning Network. A great resource for students, teacher, and parents. Our favorite section is Word of the Day. Check it out, let us know what you think.