Born in East Los Angeles, Edward James Olmos has enjoyed a distinguished career as an artist and as an activist. Olmos initially gained notice as a rock musician in Los Angeles. He then transitioned to a career on the stage and on screen. He earned […]
Year: 2016
Californians believe schools need more funding — will they vote that way?
by Vernon M. Billy This November’s election will be unlike any we’ve seen in recent memory. Our Presidential election cycle has been, shall we say, “unique.” While California’s upcoming election isn’t nearly as interesting, we do have a whopping 17 statewide ballot measures that voters […]
Letter To NSBA On Importance Of Transgender Rights
by Chris Ungar As the home to more than 6 million public school students — by far the nation’s largest contingent — it’s natural that California assume a leadership position on issues of great importance to public education. Our equity focus is reflected in our […]
A Conversation with CSBA President Chris Ungar on the Charter School Task Force
By Gayle Romasanta Staff writer for CSBA Why did you think it was important to create the Charter Schools Task Force? Chris Ungar: Several years ago the CSBA Delegate Assembly Region 1 Director Bob Berkowitz and had a conversation about charter schools. He owned radio […]
Food for Thought: September is National Food Safety Month
by Mary Ellen Taylor Packing lunches? Preparing snacks for when kids get home? Here are some things to be aware of during September – National Food Safety Month.. Hepatitis A in frozen strawberries, pathogenic E. coli in flour and Listeria in frozen vegetables, – even […]
Changing the Story of Summer
by Michael Funk Which sounds more appealing to you for a summer activity: sitting in a stuffy school classroom doing remedial work, or hopping on a bus with your friends to go chase minnows in a nearby river? The traditional paradigm for summer learning has […]
Charter School Law Can Lead To Lack Of Oversight
by Chris Ungar In early August, I had the opportunity to testify before the State Senate Education Committee on an issue of grave importance to CSBA and to the future of public education in California — the oversight of charter schools. Many of you know […]
Charter Local Edition: A conversation with California School Boards Association President Chris Ungar
“Charter schools are here to stay and where CSBA is landing on that is … we need to look at what’s good for kids … what’s going to help kids achieve and what are we going to do close that achievement gap. If it’s good […]
Finding meaning in California’s constitutional guarantee of education
by Keith Bray All children can succeed, but not all children have equal opportunity to do so. A child’s background and social station continue to play an inordinate role in his or her scholastic outcomes, both in California and across the nation. Schools, given the […]
The echo of Mendez v. Westminster 70 years later
by Vernon M. Billy In May, Sylvia Mendez captivated CSBA’s Delegate Assembly with her recollection of the historic case in which she and her parents, Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, fought to desegregate California schools. The heartfelt presentation brought to life the intensity, emotions and history […]