Archive for August 2013
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August 29, 2013
Small, rural LEAs can struggle with transitional kindergarten
A tiny school district in rural Sonoma County is seeking relief from state law requiring that students enrolled in a transitional kindergarten program receive the same instructional time as those in regular kindergarten.
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August 28, 2013
SAB considers urgency legislation to free up funds for high-performance schools
An urgency legislative measure is among options being considered by a state panel to free up some $35 million in bond money intended to promote high-quality school facilities.
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August 27, 2013
Teacher prep training cap bill among those signed by governor
Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Tuesday lifting a one year cap on the length of time teacher preparation programs have to train new educators. Meanwhile, the governor also backed two bills that will give school districts new options when it comes to buying digital instructional materials.
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August 27, 2013
Non-profits join forces to oppose campaign spending bill
A large coalition of non-profit organizations that includes education groups has come together to protest legislation that would prohibit them from using public resources for campaign purposes.
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August 27, 2013
Plans emerge to replace decile ranking system
In what might be the next step in revising California's system for evaluating student performance, the state board of education is scheduled to consider next week two options for replacing the existing decile ranking system.
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August 27, 2013
September becomes Attendance Awareness month in CA schools
With the start of another school year, state schools chief Tom Torlakson and the California Legislature are making chronic absenteeism a special focus this month.
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August 26, 2013
Feds propose eliminating scores from modified testing as part of AYP
As part of a long-standing and controversial commitment to holding all students to challenging content and achievement standards, the Obama administration proposed late last week ending a practice allowing states to use scoring on modified assessments for students with disabilities as part of their overall performance calculation.
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August 26, 2013
Smith brings new energy, commitment to ACSA and CA schools
Wes Smith, newly-appointed executive director of the Association of California School Administrators, steps into a key position of influence at a time when schools in California as well as the rest of the nation are at the crossroads of dramatic transformation.
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August 22, 2013
Last-minute negotiations focus on bill to replace STAR system
While sources say the Brown administration is now weighing in on AB 484, which would suspend the state's current student assessment system, STAR, and usher in the transition to new tests based on Common Core State Standards, officials are keeping mum about the reasons for the governor's last-minute concerns.
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