CFT/AFT In the News: 3/18

Empty Chairs
San Fernando Valley Sun - Alex Garcia - ‎15 hours ago‎
One letter was from the California Federation of Teachers informing her she had won the Pride of The Union award for her activism.

March for California’s Future: 3/18

Teachers union volunteers marching to Sacramento in the Pleasanton Weekly
Group draws support in 2nd week of effort to attract more publilc attention to plight of schools
Nearly two weeks into a seven-week march from Bakersfield to Sacramento to advocate for reinvestment in public education and other services, an event spokesman said that despite some blisters and sprained ankles, the walk has "been incredible so far."

Marching for CA's Future Through Today's Desolation
New America Media - ‎10 hours ago‎
TULARE, Calif. -- As the March for California's Future heads up the San Joaquin Valley toward Sacramento, participants are coming up hard against the

Education News:  3/18

Failing schools sanctions lack teeth
San Jose Mercury News - Theresa Harrington - ‎3 hours ago‎
David Richey, spokesman for the California Secretary of Education, said the state expects schools to adhere to the law.

Community college students miss out on grants
San Francisco Chronicle - Jill Tucker - ‎10 hours ago‎
Many California community college students eligible for Pell Grants don't apply for them. California community college students are leaving up to $500 ...

Viewpoints: Don't let feds control local education
Sacramento Bee - Ben Boychuk - ‎10 hours ago‎
California could learn something from Texas' declaration of independence from the ever-widening federal dictates over education policy.

Education chief pitches reforms, New standards sought by 2020
Contra Costa Times - Canan Tasci - ‎12 minutes ago‎
California's standards are based on the annual Account ability Progress Report, which is released by the Department of Education.

Cesar Chavez's legacy of labor recognized by Monterey County schools
Monterey County Herald - Claudia Meléndez Salinas - ‎1 hour ago‎
Villarino-Gonzales said Chavez, who died in 1993, believed Proposition 13, which capped property taxes, began eviscerating public education in California.

State News: 3/18

March Madness 

CFT/AFT In the News:

March for California’s Future:  3/17/10

Californians March into the Heartland
The Nation. - David Bacon - ‎28 minutes ago‎
The march was originally proposed by a group of activists and local union leaders in the California Federation of Teachers.

Clear Need to Reinvest in Public Institutions & Infrastructure after Participant on 260-Mile March for California’s Future Turns  
By Willie Pelote – AFSCME – in the California Progress Report
Repairs for broken roads and environmental protection can now be added to the list of improvements needed in California alongside jobs and assistance for families losing their homes.

Educators march to Sacramento
Visalia Times-Delta - ‎5 hours ago‎
Seven people are walking 352 miles as part of a "Marching for California's Future" effort, which is backed by the California Federation of Teachers union ...

Miller: March for California pushes through Wasco
SDNN (blog) - Jim Miller - ‎17 hours ago‎
Our broad coalition, which includes the California Federation of Teachers and other unions, leaders in labor, faith, education and business, ...

California Faculty Association Continues to Mobilize for Education
California Chronicle - ‎14 hours ago‎
March 23 Central Valley Rally: On March 5, the California Federation of Teachers and a diverse coalition of labor, business, education, and faith groups ...

Education News:  3/17/10

Thousands of California teachers, faculty, face lay-offs
ABS CBN News

Fensterwald: L.A. Task Force Urges Big Changes In Tenure, Pay -- One of the state’s most hidebound districts in the past took a step this week toward becoming one of the most progressive. The rest of the state: take notice. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/17/2010

Tiny School's Fate Roils Rural California District -- Class divisions fuel furor over a plan to close college-prep academy in the eastern Sierra Nevada. 'The situation has unleashed pandemonium,' says the district's superintendent. LOUIS SAHAGUN in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/17/2010

Budget Cuts Force Colleges To Examine Priorities -- These are not the choices college leaders signed up for: immigrants or retirees? Poor or rich? English classes or courses in car repair? MATT KRUPNICK in the Contra Costa Times -- 3/17/2010

State News: 3/17/10

Steinberg: Capitol Is At 'Mini Impasse' On Budget -- Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, suggested Tuesday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger bears blame for budget inaction after the governor rejected the most significant parts of a budget package Democrats have sent him in recent weeks. KEVIN YAMAMURA SacBee Capitol Alert -- 3/17/2010

Ranks Of Those Without Health Insurance Soar In California, Sacramento County -- More than 45,000 Sacramento County residents joined the ranks of the medically uninsured in the past two years, according to a new report that further illustrates the staggering depth of the recession: a surge of 2 million Californians without health insurance. One in four Californians, or 8.2 million people, now lack coverage, according to UCLA researchers. BOBBY CAINA CALVAN in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/17/2010
 
CFT/AFT In the News: 3/16 

Nearly 400 local educators receive preliminary pink slips by Monday deadline
San Jose Mercury News
"It's huge," said Barry Kirschen, president of the Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers, saying the district sent out more notices than necessary. ...

School furloughs and job cuts approved
Lompoc Record
Lompoc Federation of Teachers (LFT) President Carol Arnerich said her organization had passed the furlough plan by a hastily organized vote of 365-57. ...

First Solve Prison Crisis, then Fix California's Budget - Mar 16
Beyond Chron
... the two teachers unions — California Teachers Association (CTA) and the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) — the California Nurses Association ...

March for California’s Future: 3/16

Attached:  Media Avisory – 3/16 Tulare - Visalia

March for California’s Future marcher Jim Miller, guest on KPFK Strategy Session with Anthony Gonzalez 3/15/10  

Education News:

Educators Get Pink-Slip Warnings
School districts across California issued more than 23,000 pink slips to teachers and staff members yesterday. It was the state-mandated deadline to warn employees they may not have jobs next year. Reporter: Rob Schmitz.

See all Pink Slip Stories:

Fensterwald: Obama’s Blueprint For California -- The utopian demand that all children be proficient in math and English language arts by 2014 would be replaced by the goal that all students be on track for a career or college by 2020. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/16/2010

L.A. Unified Panel Recommends Changes In Teacher Evaluations -- The task force of about 50 parents, teachers and administrators suggests paying high-performing teachers more, using student test scores in evaluations and overhauling the tenure system. JASON SONG in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/16/2010

How Did California's Education System Get This Bad?
KIONrightnow.com - ‎15 hours ago‎
King City, CALIF- With all the layoffs and budget trouble Central Coast News wanted to know how did California's education system get this bad?

Going (Not) West
Daily Californian - ‎5 hours ago‎
By Senior Editorial Board Just months after deep cuts to California's public higher education, negative consequences are beginning to emerge that could ...

Budget cuts force California colleges to examine priorities
San Jose Mercury News - Matt Krupnick - ‎20 hours ago‎
With record unemployment and number of high school graduates, demand for higher education is at an all-time high. But California's two public university ...

Work with teachers, don't fire them
CNN - Esther Wojcicki - ‎3 hours ago‎
... Alto High School in California for the past 25 years, developed its award-winning journalism program. She helped design the Google education program, ...

The Way Forward for the Movement in Defense of Public Education
Toward Freedom - Bill Leumer, Ann Robertson - ‎13 hours ago‎
... organized by the California Faculty Association (covering the California State University system), American Federation of Teachers Local 2121 (covering ...

For CalSTRS, an investment bet that failed
Los Angeles Times - Marc Lifsher - ‎19 hours ago‎
... 2010) By Marc Lifsher Four years ago, as the California State Teachers' Retirement System still was recovering from the dot-com bust at the turn of the ...

State News: 3/16

California Republican Convention Reveals Stunningly Out Of Touch Party  
By Robert Cruickshank in the California Progress Report
Walking around at the California Republican Party convention in Santa Clara on Friday night, I could see signs that the GOP has renewed confidence going into 2010. But I also saw signs that this confidence is misplaced and frankly delusional.

Republican Gubernational Debate #1
GOP gubernational candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner held their first debate last night. Major issues included tax cuts and immigration. Reporter: John Myers.

CFT/AFT In the News: 3/13-15:

National Day of Action to Defend Public Education a Major Success
Socialist Alternative - Jesse Lessinger - ‎18 hours ago‎
Notably, March 4 was supported by unions of faculty, K-12 teachers, and other public sector unions. The California Federation of Teachers endorsed the March ...

Fed Up With State Crisis and Cuts, Activists 'March for California's Future'
In These Times - ‎Mar 13, 2010‎
Jennifer Laskin, 37, a school teacher who specializes in reading instruction at Renaissance Continuation High School in Watsonville in central California, is fed up with the state of her state. ... Laskin, a member of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teacher, Local 1936, California Federation of Teachers ...“By eliminating the need to pass a budget with two-thirds, we remove the ability of right-wingers to demand non-monetary concessions, such as ending the eight-hour day or rolling back environmental regulations,” said Kenneth Burt, political director for the California Federation of Teachers (CFT).

March for California’s Future: 3/13/10

Fed Up With State Crisis and Cuts, Activists 'March for California's Future'
In These Times - ‎Mar 13, 2010‎  By Seth Sandronsky
Jennifer Laskin, 37, a school teacher who specializes in reading instruction at Renaissance Continuation High School in Watsonville in

Why I March: To Preserve Allensworth 3-12-10
Huffington Post (blog)
Sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and a coalition of labor, education, community, civil rights and faith-based organizations, ...
See all stories on this topic

Late News 3/11/10:

Education Supporters Rally and March
The Mid-County Post, Feb. 26, 2010 - Mar. 11, 2010

Education News: 3/15/10

Pink Slip Deadline for CA Teachers – KQED Capital Morning Report
Today is the deadline for school districts to notify teachers they may be out of a job once the school year ends. This year, more than 22,000 teachers are expected to be notified. Thanks to the state's budget crisis, this has become an annual ritual - and while the threat may not materialize for all the notified teachers, many schools in the state may not have any choice but to cut. Reporter: Oanh Ha.

Teachers Prepare For Pink Slips
KCRA Sacramento - ‎2 hours ago‎
The California Teachers Association said 21000 teachers have already received pink slips ahead of today's deadline.

Huge Increase Expected for Teacher Pink Slips KIONrightnow.com

Teachers' pink slips painful but familiar San Diego Union Tribune

OC schools feel pain of 2219 teacher pink slips
OCRegister - Scott Martindale - ‎3 hours ago‎
And a coalition of community leaders from across California is hand-delivering "pink slips" to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators Monday ...

The Travesty of Education Budget Cuts
San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - ‎3 hours ago‎
I've been hearing so much about budget cuts to public education in the news lately. Last week, there were demonstrations all over the Bay Area protesting ...

Jobs in jeopardy for 11 SBCUSD principals
San Bernardino Sun - Josh Dulaney - ‎8 hours ago‎
The California Department of Education started compiling the list after lawmakers, in an effort to make the state more competitive for federal grant money, ...

Valley schools prepare for budget ax Fresno Bee

School districts in Santa Cruz County brace for cuts Santa Cruz Sentinel

Road to Recovery: Community College Curriculum Going Green – Capital Public Radio
Mon Mar 15, 2010 — Sacramento-area community colleges are revamping their courses and programs to help create a new green-tech workforce.

Education foundation hosts forum on teacher pay San Jose Mercury News

Fensterwald: Run Harder Or Quit Race To The Top? -- Within a few weeks, the governor and state education officials must decide whether to gear up for or give up on the next round of Race to the Top funding. Should California’s next application, if the state takes up the challenge, be broader –reaching out for a larger consensus among districts and unions – or bolder? JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/15/2010

The Four-Flushers in the Governor's Office: Caught Again  
By Peter Schrag in the California Progress Report
The Schwarzenegger Administration hit the Trifecta this month, three loud raspberries from the feds for its shabby funding of California schools and the inadequate resources it provides, particularly for the education of poor and minority children. As usual, the real losers are the kids.

3/14/10:

Campus Protesters Stand On '60s Legacy -- Consider: At local colleges and universities in the last five weeks 11 students were arrested for interrupting the Israeli ambassador, 17 others were arrested during a sit-in to "democratize education." And 10 days ago, hundreds of students joined statewide protests over tuition hikes. DAVID WHITING in the Orange County Register -- 3/14/2010

Obama Calls For Sweeping Overhaul In Education Law -- The Obama administration on Saturday called for a broad overhaul of President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind law, proposing to reshape divisive provisions that encouraged instructors to teach to tests, narrowed the curriculum, and labeled one in three American schools as failing. SAM DILLON in the New York Times NICK ANDERSON in the Washington Post RICHARD A. SERRANO in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/14/2010

3/13/10

UC Ordered To Refund $38 Million To Professional Degree Students -- The university violated a pledge that fees would not rise during students' enrollments, a judge rules. The refunds will apply to students who began law, medicine, nursing and other programs in 2003. LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times BOB EGELKO in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/13/10

State Sifting Through College Transfer Requirements -- It's supposed to be the path to an affordable, high-quality education: attend a California community college for two years, then transfer to one of the state's public universities. LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/13/10

State News:  3/13-15:

Gubernatorial Candidate Comparison -- The Bee asked the three leading candidates for governor to respond to questions on issues facing California. The item is in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/15/2010

3/14/10:
Quinn: Initiatives Don't Need 'Reining In' By Courts -- Peter Schrag's Feb. 28 column "Justices must do more to rein in initiatives" asks the state Supreme Court to wander further than it has into the political thicket. That's a bad idea. TONY QUINN in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/14/2010 

CFT/AFT In the News: 3/12/10

Obama School Plan Strives to Make Grade
CBS News - Ben Tracy - ‎17 hours ago‎
... massive under-funding and a lack of resources in public schools," said Joshua Pechthalt, the vice president of the California Federation of Teachers.

Layoff notices spread across town
Morgan Hill Times - Lindsay Bryant - ‎17 hours ago‎
Teachers who are considering retirement are asked to think about it harder, with at least a $20000 incentive to boot. The Federation of Teachers along with ...

March for California’s Future:  3/12/10

March for California’s Future Highlights State Park Closures at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
By Willie Pelote – AFSCME – in the California Progress Report
Participants in a 260-mile trek from Bakersfield to Sacramento attended a rally at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park as part of the “March for California’s Future” to highlight how budget cuts have forced the closure of state parks throughout California.

Campus Protests Should Remind Us All of College's Value
Huffington Post (blog) - ‎3 hours ago‎
Decrying college fee increases and widespread budget cuts, the demonstrators especially highlighted the hardships that many families face in affording ...

Late News from 3/3/10:

Educators, students to protest deep cuts
Los Angeles Daily News - Connie Llanos - ‎Mar 3, 2010‎
CSUN's rally will be from 3-5 pm "This is an unprecedented action by the educational community," said Josh Pechthalt, vice president of United Teachers Los ...

Education News:  3/12/10

Fresno State Prods 'Super Seniors' To Finish -- Fresno State student Wesley Sheets figures he's banked more than 200 units in a college career spanning three campuses and nearly a decade. And he's not done yet. CYNDEE FONTANA in the Fresno Bee -- 3/12/10

Feds Delay Education Stimulus Amid Concerns Over State's Accounting -- Up to $200 million in federal stimulus funds could be in jeopardy unless the state answers allegations that it is using accounting tricks to cover up a lack of spending on public education. COREY G. JOHNSON California Watch -- 3/12/10

More California Youth Applying To Out-Of-State Universities, Say Admission Officers -- With the state's higher education system in crisis, more California students are vying for admission at out-of-state universities, applying for seats at campuses from the hills of upstate New York to the snowy flatlands of Ohio to the deserts of Arizona. LISA M. KRIEGER in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/12/10

6% rise in undergrads on California's state campuses predicted Los Angeles Times

San Bernardino Superintendent Defends His Record Amid 'Worst-Schools' Listings -- During his 11 years as superintendent of the biggest school district in the county, Arturo Delgado has dealt with challenges ranging from homeless students to high dropout rates and low test scores. DEBBIE PFEIFFER TRUNNELL in the San Bernardino Sun -- 3/12/10

Local teachers express budget cut devastation
Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror - Noelle Kiely - ‎11 hours ago‎
The same report indicates California ranks 46th in per student spending. Some school sites donned signs in protest while the staff at other schools ...

A Statewide Call to Action Alameda Sun

Budget Cuts Spell Even More Trouble for Low Achieving Schools KCBS

Teachers cry foul as Merced Union High School District considers layoffs
Merced Sun-Star - Jamie Oppenheim - ‎8 hours ago‎
For weeks now, teachers have made comments at board meetings that these budget cuts are unnecessary because the school district has millions of unrestricted ...

State News: 3/12/10

A Tale of Two Initiatives: Why the System Needs Reform. Now.
All Reports by Steven Maviglio  in the California Majority Report   March 12, 2010 @ 9:52 AM
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present Exhibits A and B as evidence of why California’s initiative system is broken.

Trying to Break the Legislative Logjam
Democrats in Sacramento joined forces with the bipartisan group California Forward yesterday to introduce a set of major reforms. One would put an end to monumental budget battles in the legislature by switching to a majority vote instead of the two-thirds  

CFT/AFT  Affiliates In the News: 3/11/10

The Way Forward for the Movement in Defense of Public Education
Bay Area Indymedia - Bill Leumer - ‎4 hours ago‎
... organized by the California Faculty Association (covering the California State University system), American Federation of Teachers Local 2121 (covering

March for California’s Future: 3/11/10

March 11, 2010: Days of Rage
Text by Malcolm Maclachlan California may be ground zero for the clash of governing philosophies fighting it out all around the country right now. That is, should we have a government that does more than provide for police, prisons and (federally speaking) the military? With state revenues in free fall, and with a two-thirds requirement needed to pass new taxes, those who want to slash government currently have the upper hand. This has led to a growing wave of protests, mainly by students and unions—two groups that tend to be younger and browner than the voting (and legislating) population. College student groups held huge protests around the state last Thursday, including a huge rally at the Capitol, opposing budget cuts. On Friday, the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), the American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and other groups began a 260-mile March for California’s Future from Bakersfield to Sacramento.   View 6 photos »

Education News:  3/11/10

Fensterwald: State Replaces 3 Dozen Schools On ‘Worst’ List -- The State Board of Education will be asked today to approve a list of 188 failing schools that is significantly different from those that the State Department of Education proposed on Monday. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/11/10

Panel Proposes Single Standard For All Schools -- A panel of educators convened by the nation’s governors and state school superintendents proposed a uniform set of academic standards on Wednesday, laying out their vision for what all the nation’s public school children should learn in math and English, year by year, from kindergarten to high school graduation. SAM DILLON in the New York Times -- 3/11/10

Fensterwald: Draft Common Core Finally Is Out -- California got its first glimpse of Wednesday of draft common-core standards in math and English language arts that, sight-unseen, the Legislature has put the state on a path to adopting this summer. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/11/10

UC Regents To Look At Changing Policy On Fees -- If professional schools within the University of California want to raise student fees, they might soon be allowed to set new prices by considering what private universities are charging. NANETTE ASIMOV in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/11/10

16% Rise In Undergrads On California's State Campuses Predicted -- Report cites need for funding to cope with the expected enrollment crush. An additional 387,000 undergraduates are expected by 2019. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/11/10

California a leader in after-school programs
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Megha Satyanarayana - ‎13 hours ago‎
SANTA CRUZ -- A group of California crime victims and law enforcement officials released a report Wednesday congratulating schools across the state, ...

UC System Overload: 16 Percent Enrollment Increase Expected
Huffington Post (blog) - ‎9 hours ago‎
The report comes a week after California's Statewide Day of Action, during which thousands of college students protested university budget cuts and tuition ...

UC Lacks Funds, Space For Future Enrollment Daily Californian

Budget Cuts Spell Even More Trouble for Low Achieving Schools
KCBS - ‎3 hours ago‎
The six schools were on the list of persistently low-achieving schools released by the California Department of Education this week ahead of efforts to win ...

Pasadena Unified school board votes to lay off 164 employees in budget-cutting ... Examiner.com

District approves 140 layoffs
San Mateo Daily Journal - Heather Murtagh - ‎6 hours ago‎
Decisions are not yet final; California requires districts to send teachers a preliminary layoff notice by March 15.

MP school board OKs teacher layoffs The Almanac Online

Day of Action: 3/11/10

Education demonstration
Sacramento News & Review - Kari Westerman - ‎14 hours ago‎
Students, faculty and staff from many of California's higher-education institutions demonstrated March 4 at the state Capitol as part of ...

Thousands rally at Chico State, call for lawmakers to invest in education
Mercury-Register - Ryan Olson - ‎14 hours ago‎
Earlier on campus, Chico State President Paul Zingg told the crowd that California needs to restore the earlier promise of higher education.

State News: 3/11/10

Simple-Majority Budget Anchors Democrats' Reform Package -- Targeting California's bitter budget fights, Democratic legislative leaders proposed a wide-ranging overhaul Thursday that would allow lawmakers to pass budgets by a simple-majority vote and would require them to forfeit pay if they are late in passing a spending plan. JIM SANDERS SacBee Capitol Alert -- 3/11/10

Big Money Talks: Special Interest Spending - Capital Public Radio
Wed Mar 10, 2010 — The state’s political watchdog agency has released a new list of the 15 interest groups who’ve spend the most on elections and lobbying over the past decade. The grand total is more than one billion dollars. What are they getting for their money?

CFT/AFT In the News: 3/10/10

The Way Forward For The Movement In Defense Of Public Education
CounterCurrents.org - Bill Leumer, Ann Robertson - ‎1 hour ago‎
... organized by the California Faculty Association (covering the California State University system), American Federation of Teachers Local 2121 (covering ...

March for California’s Future:

Late News 3/9/10:

Entire article:  Bakersfield Californian 3/9/10  
A 48-day march that began in Bakersfield and will end in Sacramento is stomping its way out of Kern County. The marchers are protesting state budget cuts affecting education, among other state budget issues.

The "March for California's Future," sponsored in part by California Federation of Teachers, started late last week at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park here. The marchers -- who include school teachers, a college professor and a probation officer -- are traveling nearly 300 miles to the state Capitol.

On Monday and Tuesday, they traveled through Wasco and McFarland to Delano, where they held a rally at Cesar Chavez Park. Wednesday, they'll leave Delano and travel out of Kern to Allensworth.

For more information, visit www.fight4cafuture.com.

Entitlements and the future of California
Victorville Daily Press - Steve Williams - ‎Mar 9, 2010‎
Calling itself a “March for California's Future,” the trek is being sponsored by the usual suspects: the California Federation of Teachers and various other ...

Education News:  3/10/10

Fensterwald: Stimulus Money On Hold -- The Obama administration has put a hold on approving a second round of education stimulus money for California until Gov. Schwarzenegger responds to questions raised by school districts and parent advocates. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/10/10

Blowback: Cutting California from 'Race to the Top' is bad for the country
Los Angeles Times - Stacy Brown - ‎10 hours ago‎
Everyone in the US should care about the state of public education in California, and here's why: Roughly 1 out of every 8 children in the United States ...

Federal Agency To Investigate L.A. Schools -- The focus of the Education Department probe will be the district's services for students learning English. HOWARD BLUME in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10

Fensterwald: What’s Next For ‘Parent Trigger’? -- In legislation passed in January to strengthen the state’s Race to the Top application, the Legislature included landmark reforms that potentially could give parents a lot more control over their children’s education. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/10/10

LAUSD Expects To Lay Off 6,300 Workers This Summer -- Los Angeles Unified officials said Tuesday they expect to lay off at least 6,300 workers this summer if employee unions cannot agree to deep concessions, including a 10 percent pay cut and 12 furlough days over the next two years. CONNIE LLANOS in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 3/10/10

Manhattan Beach school board to lay off 17 teachers
Daily Breeze - Douglas Morino - ‎15 hours ago‎
Earlier this week, the Manhattan Beach Unified Board of Education trimmed programs and course offerings, which will result in ...

Layoffs on the way to HUSD
Orland Press Register - Lydia M. Harris - ‎16 hours ago‎
The vote was necessary because California teachers whose positions may be lost must be notified by March 15. Superintendent Ray Odom said it is frustrating ...

District to take layoff vote for 127 San Mateo Daily Journal

'It's not going to be fine,' says school superintendent Danville Weekly

PSUSD Board Members Vote to Layoff 62 Teachers KESQ

Millions For Nonexistent Higher Education Enrollment Growth -- The University of California and the California State University system would receive $112 million in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for the state fiscal year beginning July 1 to pay for increased enrollment even though UC, CSU – and the governor’s own spending plan – shows enrollment will decline next year. GREG LUCAS California's capitol weblog -- 3/10/10

Scholar Diane Ravitch: 'We've lost sight' of schools' goal
USA Today - Greg Toppo - ‎20 hours ago‎
It's a far cry from the vision of Albert Shanker, the late American Federation of Teachers leader who championed charter schools in the late 1980s.

Firing teachers: First step to reform or useless effort?
WBIR-TV - Greg Toppo - ‎3 hours ago‎
But Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says the teachers "have been scapegoated" in a school that was showing signs of ...

State News: 3/10/10

Late News 3/9/10:

Steinberg Slams Schwarzenegger on Budget Veto
All Reports by Steven Maviglio March 09, 2010 @ 4:13 PM
Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) blasted Governor Schwarzenegger this afternoon for his veto of $2.1 billion in budget solutions.

Governor Vetoes Chunk Of Budget Solution
Tue Mar 9, 2010 — Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed a big part of the budget package the legislature recently put on his desk. And he’s asking lawmakers to come up with something better.

CFT/AFT In the News: 3/9/10

UC system agrees with lecturer's union to contract extension
Santa Cruz Sentinel
... and do not receive notices, so it is difficult to quantify their numbers, said Allison Guevara, an American Federation of Teachers field representative. ...
UC system agrees with lecturer's union to contract extension - Santa Cruz Sentinel

Massive Protests Reveal Urgent Need for National Recommitment to Education
By Lillian Taiz  - California Faculty Association - California Progress Report
The March 4th actions in support of public education around California and in 32 other states have fired the imagination of Americans who believe in our public school system.

Three Pajaro Valley schools named among state's 'lowest achieving':...
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Donna Jones - ‎1 hour ago‎
Francisco Rodriguez, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, said the union hoped to "negotiate a smooth transition for whatever changes are .

March for California’s Future: 3/9/10

Educators on march across state for better school funding
Pleasanton Weekly - ‎1 hour ago‎
Two Bay Area educators have embarked on a 260-mile, 48-day march across the state to advocate for reinvestment in public education, budget process reform, ...

Miller: Marching for California's future
SDNN (blog) - Jim Miller - ‎2 hours ago‎
Editor's Note: San Diego City College Professor Jim Miller is on the march — the March for California's Future. ...

Working for “Everyone’s Piece of the Pie”
Lizzeth Henao - Program Assistant, Santa Monica – NRDC Blog
Posted March 8, 2010 in Environmental Justice
In March 1965, the first of three civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery took place to bring awareness to the struggles of disenfranchised African-Americans.  A year later, in March 1966, Cesar Chavez organized a 340-mile march from Delano, in California’s central valley, to Sacramento to bring awareness to the struggles of farm workers.  Last Friday, March 5, 2010, a diverse group of Californians began a 48-day “March for California’s Future” to bring awareness of the plight of working-class Californians affected by the budget crisis, continuing the civil rights tradition of nonviolent, public marching in order to bring about reform.
_______

Education News: 3/9/10

A List Everyone Wants To Get Off – KQED California Report
Some local school officials are taking issue with the state's preliminary list of lowest-performing schools released yesterday. Many of the schools on that list come as no surprise, but some do. Reporter: Mina Kim.
More: Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools

The California Democracy Act Part of Solution to State Education Budget Cuts, Say Demonstrators
By Duane Campbell in the California Progress Report
Over  2000 union faculty, students and their supporters rallied at the California State Capitol in Sacramento today in support of adequate funding for public education, both k-12 and higher education.

Education Activists Need Strategy Beyond Marches
By Randy Shaw in the California Progress Report
Mass protests last week against school funding cuts and tuition hikes spoke powerfully about California’s misplaced priorities. As occurred with campus protests last fall, the media gave overwhelmingly sympathetic coverage (other than to the self-indulgent group who blocked an Oakland freeway, diverting television coverage away from legitimate protests). But activists’ strategy for achieving their goals is far from clear.

Open Forum: What I might have learned from protests
By Nate Gartrell – SF Gate
Last year, I was a student at San Francisco State University. On my final day of regular classes, my teacher decided to set aside the scheduled lesson plan, and instead give our class an overview of California's budget situation, and how it was affecting scho

Editorial: California must press ahead with second-round Race to the Top ...
San Jose Mercury News - ‎13 hours ago‎
California schools could get hundreds of millions more if the state qualifies for a grant under the second phase of the Race to the Top program, ..

Modesto, Turlock schools options grim in wake of state designation
Modesto Bee - Michelle Hatfield - ‎9 hours ago‎
This is the first time California schools are being required to take such drastic actions to turn around student learning. The federal government will ...

CA's Merced High School Librarian Cuts On the Horizon
School Library Journal - Lauren Barack - ‎11 hours ago‎
While Merced Union High School District, which represents nine high schools just north of Fresno, CA., is not alone in its budget crisis, cutting media ...

Red Bluff Superintendent: District staff hit by budget cuts
Red Bluff Daily News - Tang Lor - ‎Mar 8, 2010‎
The California Teachers Association and the California School Employee Association agreed to forfeit three days of pay that had been set aside for ...

Teachers' union gives another $500000 to roll back corporate tax cuts
Los Angeles Times (blog) - ‎20 hours ago‎
The California Teachers Assn. has donated another $500000 to the effort to repeal new corporate tax breaks set to go into effect later this year.

State News: 3/9/10

CFT/AFT In the News: 3/6-8

March for California’s Future:  3/6-8

Great compilation of the Friday Bakersfield TV coverage:

3/6

Thousands protest California education cuts
Los Angeles Times - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎ -

48 day march to Sacramento starts in Bakersfield
Bakersfield Now - James Koh - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎
The march was organized by the California Federation of Teachers with the help of various other unions. Of their many goals, the group hopes to increase ...

Protesters March to Sacramento
KPSP Local 2 - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎
Protesters from around California are marching 400 miles to Sacramento, in an effort to chang what they call the "grid-locked political system. ...

Boarding the Bus to Bakersfield: A Personal Story
By Doug Porter on March 6, 2010.

marching forth
City2.0 (blog) - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎
Yesterday, the California Federation of Teachers, supported by a very broad labor based coalition, started a 48 day march on Sacramento; ...

Central Valley Business Times - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎
The march, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers and a coalition of labor, education, and civil society groups including the American ...

Late News 3/5:

March for California's Future Will Test State's Commitment to Fairness & Equality
By Willie Pelote – AFSCME – in the California Progress Report
A diverse group of Californians acted on the courage of their convictions on Friday, March 5, 2010, by embarking on a 260-mile March for California’s Future in order to highlight the need for quality public services and education in the Golden State.

Marching for the Future
KGET 17 - ‎Mar 5, 2010‎
The march is sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers and a coalition of labor, education and faith groups. They're protesting cuts to education, ...

Fresno State students, faculty rally against cuts
Fresno Bee - Cyndee Fontana - ‎Mar 5, 2010‎
According to the California Federation of Teachers, the governor and Legislature have cut public education by $17 billion in two years.

Late News:  3/4

"March For California's Future" Kicks Off Today To Demand Fair ...
Mar 4, 2010 ... Following in Caesar Chavez' footsteps a diverse group of public workers are embarking today on a 48-day “March for California's Future”. ...

Guest Blogger: Why I'm Marching Against School Cuts
Posted: Thursday, March 4, 2010 9:26 am | Updated: 9:27 am, Thu Mar 4, 2010.
Jim Miller teaches English at San Diego City College and is the author of several books. His next novel, Flash, is forthcoming on AK Press. He also serves as the vice president of political action for the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. These are his views, not mine, so if you have comments, questions or counterarguments, please post them directly to the blog. -- EMILY ALPERT

Education Activists Need Strategy Beyond Marches - Mar 08
Beyond Chron - ‎5 hours ago‎  ... Pelote's union, the California Federation of Teachers, and a coalition of labor and community groups are sponsoring a 260-mile “March for California's ...

Why did California fail Race to the Top test?
San Francisco Chronicle - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎
Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers, even said he wasn't sorry that California lost the first round.

Education News:  3/6-8

"Day of Action" for Education
Years of pent-up frustration and anger over K-12 funding cuts and rising college tuitions spilled into the streets of California this week. It was part of a National Day of Action for Public Education. Up and down the state, demonstrations targeted larger class sizes, teacher layoffs and higher student fees.

From Anger to Action  
By Robert Cruickshank in the California Progress Report:
Last Thursday’s outpouring of protest against the deliberate decision to destroy California's public education system was characterized by one dominant emotion: anger. And that was exactly as it should be. If you're not angry at the collapse of our schools, colleges, and universities, and the stealing of an entire generation's future, then you're really not paying any attention.

In Wake of Protests, Campus and City Consider Next Steps
UC Berkeley Officials, Student Activists Split On How to Pursue Fight For Public Education
http://www.dailycal.org/article/108584/in_wake_of_protests_campus_and_city_consider_next_

Peter Robinson: The Golden State's Me Generation Wall Street Journal
_____

School districts make layoff lists
89.3 KPCC - ‎4 hours ago‎
A long list of school employees face layoffs. The California Teachers Association says nearly 20000 teachers are on the list, with more to come.

California To List 187 Chronically Low-Performing Schools -- To align with the Obama administration's push to reform failing schools, California today will release a controversial list of the state's 187 "persistently lowest-achieving schools." The schools will be forced to close or adopt other drastic measures to improve. SHARON NOGUCHI in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/8/10

Fensterwald: Teachers Surveyed Agree: End ‘Quality-Blind’ Layoffs -- Civil rights attorneys aren’t the only ones opposed to a teacher layoff system based strictly on seniority. Teachers themselves apparently aren’t crazy about it either. Also “A Smarter Teacher Layoff System” JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/8/10

Fensterwald: Exploring New Pay Plans For Teachers, Principals -- The vice president of the California Teachers Association said last week that he wouldn’t oppose alternative pay plans for teachers, under two conditions: They must be negotiated locally, and they must not tie teacher raises to results on California’s annual, high-stakes standardized tests. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/8/10

Schools' New Math: The Four-Day Week -- A small but growing number of school districts across the country are moving to a four-day week, in a shift they hope will help close gaping budget holes and stave off teacher layoffs, but that critics fear could hurt students' education. CHRIS HERRING in the Wall Street Journal -- 3/8/10
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704869304575104124088312524.html#mod=todays_us_page_one

Proposal Would Ease School Parcel Tax Votes -- A Bay Area group called Californians for Improved School Funding wants to help school districts throughout the state raise money through local parcel taxes. CHERI CARLSON in the Ventura Star -- 3/8/10

3/7/10

Orange County Students Feel Sting Of Millions In Budget Cuts -- It manifests as campus libraries closed multiple days a week, music lessons wiped clean from the school day, the principal treating skinned knees and bloody noses because there's no nurse. SCOTT MARTINDALE and FERMIN LEAL in the Orange County Register -- 3/7/10

3/6:

Fear Of Failure Growing In California's Schools
KTVU San Francisco - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎
The cuts made already are blamed for pushing California's once-esteemed education system to the bottom ranks of all states.

State News: 3/6-8

CFT/AFT In the News: 3/5/10

Locals join protest of state cuts for schools
Manteca Bulletin - Vince Rembulat - ‎6 hours ago‎
The rally was sponsored by California Teachers Association, American Federation of Teachers, California School Employees Association, Association of ...

Californians Demand: 'Educate the State'
New America Media - ‎8 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers, which represents 120000 teachers and support personnel from early childhood through the University of California ...

California misses cut for U.S. education funds
San Francisco Chronicle - Jill Tucker - ‎8 hours ago‎
California Federation of Teachers President Marty Hittelman expressed relief at the state's failure to make the cut. "We believed at that time, and continue ...

Crowds protest public school cuts across county: Hundreds of thousands march ...
San Jose Mercury News - Donna Jones, Megha Satyanarayana - ‎10 hours ago‎
Jenn Laskin, a Renaissance High School teacher, rallied with the Watsonville crowd before leaving for Los Angeles for today's start of a 400-mile, ...

SAN MARCOS: Students, faculty and others protest budget cuts at local rallies
North County Times - Andrea Moss - ‎12 hours ago‎
Poway Federation of Teachers Director Candy Smiley said teachers had planned to wear black T-shirts that read "Excellence Costs" at school Thursday as part ...

Teachers take action to protest education cuts
Ventura County Star - Cheri Carlson - ‎12 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers declared Thursday a "Day of Action," trying to call more attention to the governor's proposed cuts and tax ...

'We have to keep after them'
Daily Pilot - Tom Ragan, Joseph Serna - ‎13 hours ago‎
The district is getting ready to tell everybody,” Kimberly Claytor, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, said during the demonstration ...

Watsonville Teacher Marches For Education
KIONrightnow.com - ‎13 hours ago‎
The March, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and a coalition of labor, education and faith groups, will begin with a Los Angeles ... The administration is cutting custodians, office staff and counselors too," said Jenn Laskin, a reading specialist and teacher in Watsonville. ...

San Diego Professor Marches 400 Miles For Education
KPBS - Ana Tintocalis - ‎1 hour ago‎
SAN DIEGO - Thousands of people embark on a 400 mile-protest march today. The “March for California's Future” is intended to bring ...

"March For California's Future" Kicks Off Today To Demand Fair Taxes And Good Public Services   
Workers Independent News - 03/05/10
Following in Caesar Chavez’ footsteps a diverse group of public workers are embarking today on a 48-day “March for California’s Future”. One of the marchers is Irene Gonzalez , a Los Angeles County probation officer and member of AFSCME Local 685. She’s marching for a fair tax system and to preserve public services.

 Californians Demand: 'Educate the State'97> 
New America Media - 7 hours ago
Meanwhile, education advocates are following Thursday's protests with a "March for California's Future," which begins today. Public workers will start their ... 

Renaissance High teacher to march for education
Register Pajaronian - Todd Guild - ‎Mar 4, 2010‎
As her colleagues are preparing for classes Friday morning, Renaissance High School teacher Jenn Laskin will be preparing for a very different kind of day. ...

Locals marching from Bakersfield to Sacramento to protest cuts
Bakersfield Californian - ‎Mar 3, 2010‎
Irene Gonzalez, a juvenile probation officer from Los Angeles, pointed to the state closure of a fire camp that had been teaching 63 teens how to fight ...
   

Many degrees of graduation
Morgan Hill Times - Lindsay Bryant - ‎14 hours ago‎
All others, according to Theresa Sage of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers, meet the needs of the CSU system. Hickey said that from his own experience ...

California misses cut for U.S. education funds
San Francisco Chronicle - Jill Tucker - ‎8 hours ago‎
California Federation of Teachers President Marty Hittelman expressed relief at the state's failure to make the cut. "We believed at that time, and continue ...

Education News:  3/5/10

Groups protest school cuts here and nationwide
Bakersfield Californian - Jorge Barrientos - ‎16 hours ago‎
The widespread rallying came one day before the start of the "48-day March for California's Future," where school and community l

Video: Millions Protest Education Cuts in CaliforniaThe Associated Press

Photos of Students, Teachers, and Citizens Protesting Tuition Increases, Cuts in Education, Layoffs

Thousands Protest California Education Cuts -- Rallies and walkouts are largely peaceful, but 150 are arrested in Oakland as a freeway is blocked. The demonstrations are part of a nationwide 'Day of Action for Public Education.' CARLA RIVERA, NICOLE SANTA CRUZ and LARRY GORDON in the Los Angeles Times JESSE MCKINLEY in the New York Times MATT KRUPNICK in the Contra Costa Times NANETTE ASIMOV, MATTHAI KURUVILA, JUSTIN BERTON, DEMIAN BULWA in the San Francisco Chronicle LISA M. KRIEGER and KAREN DE SÁ in the San Jose Mercury LAUREL ROSENHALL, MELODY GUTIERREZ and DIANA LAMBERT in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/5/10

Education Protests Throughout The State
Tens of thousands of teachers, students, and parents across the state rallied yesterday, to protest funding cuts to public education. The demonstrations were a collective expression of anger and frustration, directed at lawmakers. Reporter: K. Oanh Ha.

Rally For Education at State Capitol
Thu Mar 4, 2010 — About one-thousand people rallied at the State Capitol Thursday. It was part of a nation-wide effort to protest school funding cuts.

Fensterwald: Big Cuts, High Anxiety In Cupertino -- Families in Cupertino Union School District are anguished over their schools. They thought that they had largely solved their district’s financial problems a year ago when they passed their first parcel tax, raising $4 million. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/5/10

Tax Oil Companies, Not Students  
By Robert Cruickshank in the California Progress Report
As protests unfold across the state and the nation today against cuts to education and fee increases, more attention is finally being drawn to the massive crisis facing our students, our schools, and our future.

Fensterwald: Gas-Tax Bill Holds Schools Harmless -- With teachers and college students taking to the streets to protest budget cuts on Thursday, Democrats in the Legislature took a step toward restoring $900 million of the more than $2 billion that Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed to cut from K-12 schools and community colleges. JOHN FENSTERWALD educatedguess.org -- 3/5/10

Recent hate crimes at Davis mirror others within UC system
By Dan Aiello - California Progress Report
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center on the University of California, Davis campus was the target for a hate crime Friday night when derogatory and profane words were spray-painted across the center’s front entrance.

CalSTRS Funding Gap May Widen -- The CalSTRS board may cut its investment earnings forecast, a small move that could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the current $4 billion annual shortfall needed for full funding. ED MENDEL Calpensions.com -- 3/5/10

State News: 3/5/10

Gubernational Candidate Interviews: Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown launched his campaign for governor this week, and then launched into a series of interviews with political reporters -- including our Sacramento bureau chief. Reporter: John Myers.


CFT/AFT In the News: 3/4/10

The Time to March for California's Future Is Now
By Marty Hittelman, California Federation of Teachers, In the California Progress Report
It is no longer enough to say that "Sacramento politics is dysfunctional," or that the political and legislative processes in the Capitol are stymied by "partisan gridlock." These first impressions have some basis in reality but don't adequately address California's real problems. These impressions only lead to a feeling of inevitability, cynicism, and despair.

Group To March, Rally for Funds
Daily Nexus - Ali Limonadi - ‎9 hours ago‎
Art history professor Carole Paul, a member of the University Council-American Federation of Teachers, said in a press release that the quality of an ...

March for California’s Future:

Renaissance High teacher to march for education
Register Pajaronian - Todd Guild - ‎10 hours ago‎
The march is sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers and a coalition of labor, education and faith groups. She'll be with six other “core ...

Locals marching from Bakersfield to Sacramento to protest cuts
Bakersfield Californian - ‎18 hours ago‎
People march on the state Capitol every day. On Friday, the marchers will begin a 48-day, 260-mile walk they're calling the "March for California's Future. ...
_____

Berkeley Schools, Colleges Gear Up for March 4 Day of Action
Berkeley Daily Planet - Riya Bhattacharjee, Ray Barglow - ‎13 hours ago‎
Cathy Campbell, President of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, said teachers from the Berkeley public elementary and middle schools will be leafleting at ...

Educators, supporters to rally Thursday against more budget cuts
Ventura County Star - Cheri Carlson - ‎19 hours ago‎
“The point is, we can't keep continuing to cut education,” said Jim Rose, president of the Oxnard Federation of Teachers. Oxnard Union High School District ...
____

Layoffs and reductions approved by Santa Cruz City Schools Board
Contra Costa Times - Megha Satyanarayana - ‎12 hours ago‎
Santa Cruz City Schools and the Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers are negotiating a shortened school year by five days.

Education News:  3/4/10

Proposition 98 Fight At Core Of State Budget Debate -- When California voters narrowly approved Proposition 98 nearly 22 years ago, their anger was clear: They wanted to protect education funding from the Legislature’s political infighting and assure a stable source of money from year to year. In good years, the intricate, three-tier, school-funding scheme draws little attention. The item is in Capitol Weekly -- 3/4/10

California doesn't make final cut for Race to the Top funds in the Sac Bee Capitol Report
California didn't make the cut for taking home cash in the first round of the Race to the Top competition for federal stimulus funds for education.

Governor Wants Education Budget Recalculated  KQED California Report
Today is the Day of Action for California public education. Walkouts, teach-ins, and rallies will take place everywhere from kindergartens to graduate schools. Advocates for education have banded together to protest state budget cuts -- and they're also digging in their heels over Governor Schwarzenegger's call to reopen last summer's budget agreement. Reporter: John Myers.

California's Charter Schools Earn a Failing Grade on Civil Rights
Huffington Post (blog) - ‎19 hours ago‎
Both President Obama and the California State Board of Education must enforce civil rights policies. And they should also fairly consider other school ...

Schwarzenegger Meeting Focuses On Higher Ed Cuts -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met Wednesday with leaders of California's colleges and universities to discuss budget cuts that have left higher education in critical condition. ROBIN HINDERY AP -- 3/4/10

As Protests Erupt Thursday, Experts Say California's Higher Education Fee Hikes Actually Help The Poor -- Demonstrations will erupt across California today as students protest the soaring cost of education — but the fury overlooks the fact that fee increases actually help poorer students by providing more money for financial aid. LISA M. KRIEGER in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/4/10

Rallies To Focus On Cutbacks In Education -- Thousands of students, teachers and parents in California and across the country are expected to stage rallies, demonstrations, walkouts and other actions Thursday to decry what they say is an assault on public education at all levels. CARLA RIVERA in the Los Angeles Times Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/4/10

LIVE CHAT: 'Day of Action' education cuts protests Sac Bee Capitol Report
About 2,000 students and teachers are expected to descend on the Capitol today to protest spending cuts, teacher layoffs and fee increases at California's public schools and universities.

AM Alert: Protesting, procuring, protecting education dollars – Sac Bee Capitol Alert
Busloads of students and professors are set to rally at the Capitol to protest budget cuts and fee increases at California's public colleges and universities.

Thousands to gather to protest California education cuts on 'Day of Action'
89.3 KPCC - ‎3 hours ago‎
... our public schools and California's future." On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education authorized sending layoff notices to ...

Thousands expected to rally for education at State Capitol
News10.net - ‎57 minutes ago‎
... over California are converging on the State Capitol Thursday morning for a "day of action" to bring attention to the importance of education funding.

State News: 3/4/10

Eliminating the Two-Thirds Budget Vote Effort Gains Steam
All Reports by Steven Maviglio  Majority Report  March 04, 2010 @ 9:36 AM
California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton is launching a drive to put an initiative on the November ballot to rid the state of the 2/3 vote budget requirement. 

CFT/Affiliates In the News: 3/3

The Time to March for California's Future Is Now
Huffington Post (blog)
By Marty Hittelman President, California Federation of Teachers
This 250 mile march, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers and its diverse allies from labor, the faith community, and other civic supporters, ...

Furloughs a possiblity for LUSD employees
Santa Maria Times
3- to 4-percent salary reduction, according to the Lompoc Federation of Teachers. Principals with the district already had agreed to a five-day furlough for ...

Answering the attack on teachers
Socialist Worker Online
In California, grassroots pressure led both the California Federation of Teachers and California Teachers Association to back the March 4 Day of Action to ...

A march to fight the budget crisis
Talon Marks (subscription)
By Tiffini Thigpen The California Federation of Teachers will lead a six week march through the Central Valley to Sacramento for the purpose of three goals ...

Fight to fund CSU
StateHornet.com - Timothy Sandoval - ‎9 hours ago‎
As for specific solutions, Fred Glass, communications director of the California Federation of Teachers, said the rallies will address the need for

Why we're protesting, part three
Socialist Worker Online
Due to protests by the coalition and members of the Peralta Federation of Teachers, approval of the budget had been postponed three times. ...

Pajaro Valley teachers, management reach tentative deal
San Jose Mercury News
Francisco Rodriguez, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, said winning binding arbitration was key to ending the stalemate. ...

Statewide Education Rallies Go Viral
By Alice Sunshine
California Faculty Association - in the California Progress Report
Plans for this Thursday’s rallies and marches to protest deep cuts to public education are gathering momentum in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach and Northridge. Local actions are planned on or near campuses and schools all over the state.

CSUN participating in a 'Day of Action'
Daily Sundial - Juana Esquivel - ‎12 hours ago‎
The event, which is being sponsored by various organizations including the California Faculty Association (CFA), A Coalition of Students and Teachers (COST) ...

Education News:  3/3

The Nation: Student Protest Education Cuts
NPR - ‎4 hours ago‎
Massive cuts to balance the state budget have squeezed education funds in California. UCLA students and supporters protest budget cuts.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124268234

Viewpoints: State's higher education system is worth fighting for – and we will
Sacramento Bee - Joseph A. Palermo - ‎9 hours ago‎
Our elected representatives in Sacramento believe that California's higher education system is worth only 40 cents?

Restore democracy, end two-thirds rule
San Francisco Chronicle - George Lakoff - ‎14 hours ago‎
I celebrate the demonstrations this week to support public education in California, both K-12 and higher education. But those demonstrations will mean ...

School Beat: Mobilizing Support for Public Education - Mar 03
Beyond Chron - Lisa Schiff - ‎5 hours ago‎
Some of the major events include the following: Across California, supporters of public schools from Kindergarten through higher education will be engaged ...

Guest Column: Fighting to save higher education in California
StateHornet.com - Alberto Torrico - ‎12 hours ago‎
California can fee. Texas, for instance, generates $400 million for higher education through a similar fee. colleges with a 12.5 percent tax on oil ...

Improving education for all students
Times-Standard - ‎8 hours ago‎
Most importantly, Race to the Top demonstrates that California is ready to break away from the status quo and work to truly improve education for all ...

State News: 3/3

Dan Morain: To play initiative game, you must pay
By Dan Morain, Senior editor
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Published: Wednesday, Mar. 3, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 15A
No matter who wins this year's governor's race, much of the real power in California still will reside with a clique of self-interested insiders who promote initiatives. 

CFT/Affiliates In the News: 3/2/10

Novato teachers to protest state cuts Thursday
Contra Costa Times - Rob Rogers - ‎14 hours ago‎
"We're now $2000 below the national average in per-pupil spending for grades K-12," said Fred Glass, a spokesman for the California Federation of Teachers.

Calif. Unions Step Up Opposition to Public Education Gutting
In These Times - ‎3 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers, which represents 120000 teachers and support personnel from early childhood through the University of California, ...

Schools rouse district-wide rally against state budget cuts
Morgan Hill Times - Lindsay Bryant - ‎15 hours ago‎
Donna Ruebusch, a Federation of Teachers staff representative, said the teacher's union is very appreciative of the parental support and while the union ...

Students prepare for rallies against cuts
The Guardsman Online - Alex Emslie - ‎18 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers will begin “The March for California's Future” in Bakersfield on March 5. The march is planned to consist of a core ...

Audit of UC by state officials begins spring
Highlander Newspaper - Eric Gamboa - ‎15 hours ago‎
Among the identified testifiers (listed on Yee's personal website) were members of the California Federation of Teachers, University Council-American ...

Education News: 3/2/10

March 4:

Editorial: We understand the protest for California education, but...
Contra Costa Times - ‎3 hours ago‎
Critical attempts to save California's education system depend on rational discussion, not the sort of destructive vandalism we saw last week on the UC ...

Calif. Unions Step Up Opposition to Public Education Gutting
In These Times - ‎3 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers, which represents 120000 teachers and support personnel from early childhood through the University of California, ..

Education Community Prepares To March Forth – KQED California Report
Five University of California students were arrested yesterday in Sacramento for refusing to leave an Assembly member's office. They were there as a prelude to a mass march planned for Thursday, when thousands of students and teachers around the state are expected to make an unprecedented show of support for public education. Reporter: Tara Siler.

March 4 Day of Action: Historic day for education?
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Megha Satyanarayana - ‎Mar 1, 2010‎
... tens of thousands of students, teachers and their supporters march on Sacramento and in their communities in protest of California's education crisis.

ACUSD to 'Stand Up for Schools and California's Future'
Amador Ledger-Dispatch - ‎20 minutes ago‎
Amador County Unified School District will participate in the Stand Up for Schools and California's Future on March 4 as part of a statewide day of action ...

Rally for education funding set for Thursday in Salinas, Monterey
The Salinas Californian - maria ines zamudio - ‎3 hours ago‎
Salinas teachers, students, parents, school staff and administrators will flood the ...

Day of action for education
Monterey County Herald - Claudia Meléndez Salinas - ‎7 hours ago‎
Colton Hall, California's first publicly funded school and the site of its first constitutional convention, will be the backdrop ...

Calif. education leader Jack O'Connell, John Laird to join massive rally in ...
The Salinas Californian - Ria Megnin - ‎20 hours ago‎
On Thursday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and former Assembly member ...

Marching on Sacramento, Berkeley students make the case for higher ed to ... UC Berkeley

Beyond The Riot:Looking Toward March 4
Daily Californian - John Stehlin - ‎7 hours ago‎
They will stand or fall on whether our numbers convey the grave urgency of the status of public education in California and the broken budgeting process ...

UC Students Protest To Legislators Over Cuts -- Five UC students were arrested Monday at the office of Assemblyman Jim Nielsen after refusing to leave unless the Gerber (Tehama County) Republican pledged to preserve funding for higher education and increase student diversity. NANETTE ASIMOV in the San Francisco Chronicle LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee ROBIN HINDERY AP -- 3/2/10
_________

Maintain the University of California ‘s Vision
By Brook Haley on Mar. 1, 2010
Last fall, University of California President Mark Yudof concluded in a New York Times interview that because “the shine is off” our university in the eyes of the public, and state funding was dropping, which in turn necessitated “fee” increases of over 40 percent in one year.

Federal Intervention To Stem Dropouts
KCBS - ‎20 hours ago‎
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS/AP) -- Nearly 200 California schools could qualify for federal money to combat dropouts announced by President Barack Obama on Monday.

College costs often present major hurdle
Contra Costa Times - Sarah Rohrs - ‎8 hours ago‎
The study is based on interviews with 500 high schools students nationwide, including many in California. Foundation chairman Peter Mazareas said fewer ...

State budget cuts cleave community colleges' enrollment
Enterprise-Record - Ryan Olson-Staff - ‎9 hours ago‎
BUTTE VALLEY — California's 110 community colleges will see a slight drop in the number of students enrolled for the current ...
http://www.chicoer.com/news/oroville/ci_14496666

SDSU’s Admissions For Local Students Fall By More Than 50% -- A new admissions policy at San Diego State, which is slashing enrollment, has reduced by more than half the number of high school graduates from the university’s local service area who will join the next freshman class. KEITH DARCÉ in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/2/10

LAUSD Expected To Approve 4,700 Layoff Notices -- Los Angeles Unified officials are expected to approve a mass mailing of nearly 4,700 layoff notices for teachers, administrators, counselors and nurses Tuesday as they work to close a crippling $640 million budget deficit. CONNIE LLANOS in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 3/2/10

Federal Intervention To Stem Dropouts
KCBS - ‎21 hours ago‎
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS/AP) -- Nearly 200 California schools could qualify for federal money to combat dropouts announced by President Barack Obama on Monday.

Obama Backs Rewarding Districts That Police Failing Schools -- President Obama said Monday that he favored federal rewards for local school districts that fire underperforming teachers and close failing schools, saying educators needed to be held accountable when they failed to fix chronically troubled classrooms and curb the student dropout rate. JEFF ZELENY in the New York Times -- 3/2/10

State News: 3/2/10

California: the golden state of special interests
By Peter Schrag In the California Progress Report
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger likes to complain about the pernicious influence of “the special interests” (almost always with the definite article). If you parse the context carefully, he seems mostly to mean public employee unions – the teachers, the prison guards, maybe the nurses and firefighters who’ve beaten him in some costly ballot fights and wag a lot of tails in the legislature.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/7497

Field Poll: More California Voters Prefer Spending Cuts, Not Taxes, To Close Deficit -- Half of California voters believe the state should close its $19.9 billion deficit mostly or entirely through spending cuts rather than tax increases, according to a Field Poll released Tuesday. KEVIN YAMAMURA in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/10

CFT In the News: February 27-March 1

Education Protests On Tap This Week In California -- The protests, teach-ins and walkouts that swept through University of California campuses this fall are scheduled to come back this week. But this time the activism is moving beyond UC – to include Cal State, community college and K-12 campuses – and beyond California to other states as well. Student and labor activists have planned a week of events to draw attention to school budget cuts from the elementary through university levels. More events are expected throughout the month...

Friday:
Union workers and students begin a 48-day march through the Central Valley from Bakersfield to Sacramento. Sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers – the union representing community college instructors – the march will include firefighters, nurses, in-home care workers and police officers.
LAUREL ROSENHALL in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/28/10

CSUS students to defend public education
Modesto Bee - Patty Guerra - ‎4 hours ago‎
The California Federation of Teachers plans to follow Thursday's demonstrations with a six-week march from Bakersfield to the state Capitol in Sacramento.

Education News:  February 27-March 1

March 4 Day of Action:

Protests Scheduled to Fight for Education
KMJ Now - Margaret Carrero - ‎1 hour ago‎
The fight to save education will reach a fever pitch later this week as a nationwide protest takes shape -- one that began right here in ...

CSUS students to defend public education
Modesto Bee - Patty Guerra - ‎4 hours ago‎
Public education advocates will take to the streets and campuses across the state Thursday for a Day of Action, designed to highlight cuts ...

CSU faculty mobilizing for large protests
89.3 KPCC - ‎4 hours ago‎
The faculty union at the California State University plans four major protests in California this week to oppose further budget cuts to public education. ...

Why we're protesting, part one
Socialist Worker Online - ‎11 hours ago‎
March 4 will be a day of strikes and protests to defend public education for students, teachers, faculty, campus workers and members of the community in

Schools In State Fired Up Over Day Of Action -- March 4th has gone viral. The upcoming Day of Action to Defend Public Education - rallies, marches, teach-ins, even political theater - began as an idea on the UC Berkeley campus last fall and has caught fire up and down California, from elementary school to graduate school, and across two dozen states. NANETTE ASIMOV in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/10

 

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