Governor Schwarzenegger visited Washington DC yesterday as part of the National Governor’s Association (NGA), but he was the only Governor to get a private meeting with the President afterward. Clearly, federal funding/jobs and health care were likely the central issues in the conversation. Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican is supporting both the Presidents jobs package and [...]
All Posts Tagged: 'California'
California’s New Choice Policy May be Overshadowed by Budget Woes
Last week the California legislature passed a bill that significantly expanded the opportunity for students to be able to attend a school outside of a student’s district of residence as part of its Race to the Top package. Unfortunately, the state’s current budget woes may end up having the opposite effect of stopping choice from [...]
California too Focused on the Canary in the Coal Mine
Since the release of the Race to the Top criteria, the California education community, news stories, editorial boards, and policymakers have had an intense focus on the fact that the California’s data system restricts the linkage of student data (assessment results) and teachers at the state level. But the problem of the state’s data system [...]
Bankrupt
“We’re looking into whether California can renege on its commitment”
–Diana Fuentes-Michel, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, in regards to a state program to repay the college loans of nurses and teachers who agree to work in-state.
The programs sound like a win-win for all sides. A student gets a portion of his or [...]
Backfilling Cuts? Not at the State Level
In California, the state took action last month to address an over $40 billion budget gap through a combination of program cuts, new taxes and a whole lot of other manipulations. The voters will decide what they think about the package in a special election on May 19th. While the actions taken were historic, they [...]
The State and District Dilemma of the Stimulus Package –Supplanting Language will be Critical
Leaks about the content of the House version of the stimulus package surfaced publically this morning (2009%20Stimulus%20Executive%20Summary.pdf). State and school district budgets are clearly facing difficult times, and an infusion of federal funds will be a welcomed event. Education related, the package includes $79 billion for general state fiscal relief, ($39 billion of which is [...]
Pre-KPalooza
Lots of action on the Pre-K front this week:
A new report from Pre-K Now summarizes state governors’ preschool proposals for the 2007 fiscal year. Additional analysis from Stateline here, along with some coverage of the debate over Proposition 82, the California ballot initiative that would establish voluntary universal preschool in that state. Californians are scheduled [...]
More Kid Lit and a Book for Grown-ups, Too (Special Notice Readers in D.C. and Philadelphia)
Q&E’s comrade-en-blog Joanne Jacobs is touring to promote both her recent book, Our School: The Inspiring Story of Two Teachers, One Big Idea, and the School that Beat the Odds. The book tells the tale of Downtown College Prep, a high-performing San Jose, Calif., charter school that serves academically disadvantaged students and prepares them to [...]
Lowering Student Loan Default Rates: What One Consortium of Historically Black Institutions Did to Succeed 
College and Career-Ready: Using Outcomes Data to Hold High Schools Accountable for Student Success
03/19/10 | Ben Miller is quoted on college graduation rates and the NCAA Tournament in the Detroit Free Press.
03/19/10 | Linda Perlstein links to Education Sector's "College- and Career-Ready" event.
03/17/10 | Ben Miller's column on graduation rates and NCAA Tournament eligibility is mentioned on The Wall Street Journal's The Daily Fix.
03/17/10 | Kevin Carey's critique of Diane Ravitch's latest book is quoted in Doublethink's Conventional Folly blog.
03/15/10 | Ben Miller pens an op-ed for US News & World Report on using graduation rates to determine NCAA Tournament eligibility.