Representatives from the Legislature, the California School Boards Association, the California Department of Education, a host of public and private children’s interest groups, county offices of education and school districts gathered at CSBA’s offices in West Sacramento this week to tackle a tough problem: How to standardize the rules for awarding partial credit to students forced by difficult life circumstances to change schools frequently.
Category: Closing the Achievement Gap
Closing the Achievement Gap
California schools tackle Common Core challenges
How are school districts and county offices of education preparing to implement the Common Core State Standards? It’s a daunting task, reveals the spring 2013 issue of California Schools magazine. To be ready for new common national academic standards, local educational agencies will have to dramatically change instructional methods and prepare students—and technological systems—to handle revolutionary computerized tests. This would be a tall order in the best of budgetary times. Yet despite years of harsh cuts in state support for public education, LEAs throughout the state are finding creative and innovative ways to meet the CCSS challenge.
Torlakson’s good news: More students are graduating; fewer are dropping out
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson had some good news for the California public education community: more students are earning high school diplomas and fewer are dropping out. According to the latest figures from the state’s new data system, which tracks progress of individual […]
Fontana teamwork is turning young lives around
Suspensions and expulsions were out of control in the Fontana Unified School District in 2010-11, and more than 20 percent of students did not graduate. Further complicating matters, the local police department had arrested more than 1,000 students. Clearly, the situation called for decisive action. […]
SBE applauds boldness of unique 9-district NCLB waiver request
The State Board of Education last week agreed to draft a formal comment for federal officials to consider when they rule on an unusual request from a consortium of nine California school districts to receive a waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements. The unified […]
First lady calls on school leaders to help children get active
In a nationwide conference call hosted by first lady Michelle Obama and the Let’s Move! Active Schools initiative on March 19, CSBA Immediate Past President Jill Wynns and several school superintendents from across the country shared what they’re doing to encourage quality physical activity and […]
Teacher intern credentialing dominates CTC Monthly Agenda
By Teri Burns, Senior Director for Policy and Programs This month’s meeting of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) had comparatively light agenda because one item managed to stir up the whole of the education community and absorb a full afternoon of the two-day meeting. […]
Long Beach Unified named among top 5 high-performing districts in the world
Long Beach Unified School District has again been recognized for its outstanding programs that have helped students make substantial academic gains and acquire skills for success in college and career. Long Beach is one of just five school systems in the world recognized by the […]
58 outstanding programs win 2012 Golden Bell Awards
CSBA’s Golden Bell Awards program is renowned for recognizing some of the many success stories in California public schools. This is the 33rd year of the program, which will salute 58 winners on Dec. 1 at the association’s annual conference. This year, programs in 18 categories […]