Schools in Some Southern States Are Giving Parents an 'Opt-Out' for Children Not to Hear Obama's Address to Students
http://twitter.com/utla2009

'WRITE ME A LETTER'.... In 1991, then-President Bush addressed school kids in a speech broadcast live to school classrooms nationwide. Among other things, he promoted his own administration's education policies. But before he wrapped up his remarks, H.W. Bush told students something else:

"Let me know how you're doing. Write me a letter -- and I'm serious about this one -- write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals. I think you know the address."

Wait, kids were being encouraged to send letters to the White House? To quote Minnesota's comically ridiculous governor, "There are going to be questions about -- well, what are they are going to do with those names and is that for the purpose of a mailing list?"

And what's this Bush about wanting America's children to ponder the "ways you can help us achieve our goals"? Can you even imagine what the response would be if President Obama said such a thing in his message to students this week?
It's worth noting, there was, at the time, no public backlash. The right didn't complain about Bush "abusing his power," and the left didn't throw a fit. Some Democratic leaders on the Hill complained about the president using the speech as some kind of pre-election campaign ad, but they didn't push the issue and it barely registered as a story at all. Even after 11 years of Reagan-Bush, and in the midst of a recession, the left had better things to do with their time than throw a tantrum over a presidential pitch to kids.
Politics in 2009 is very silly.
Digg!
Tagged as: bush, gop, obama, school
Steve Benen is "blogger in chief" of the popular Washington Monthly online blog, Political Animal. His background includes publishing The Carpetbagger Report, and writing for a variety of publications, including Talking Points Memo, The American Prospect, the Huffington Post, and The Guardian. He has also appeared on NPR's "Talk of the Nation," MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show," Air America Radio's "Sam Seder Show," and XM Radio's "POTUS '08."
Posted by The CTA's Lack of preparedness Praetorian 0 comments
at 11:54 AM

Conversations vs Presentation

Enterprise Architecture: Conversations vs Presentation
I bet you didn't know that most enterprise architects are delusional in thinking that they have lots of conversations when it reality they simply do lots of presentations...

In order to untwist the usage of these distinct words, it becomes important to understand the distinction between the two. A conversation is to achieve a flow of meaning as compared with breaking down one side of an argument (debate). Having diverse opinions, yet still getting along. A presentation is more about getting all folks on the same page and discouraging diverse opinions.

Practices:


Listen to others. Follow their line of thinking, feel what they feel.
Suspend your certainties. Take a step back, allow yourself to think about both sides of contradictions
Respect opposing views. Redirect the force behind them.


Voice your opinion. Dig deep to find what you have say.


Process:


We have to break out of the initial polite phase to raise conflicts
The conflict phase has to move from debate into self reflection (don't retreat!) controlling egos, leads to generative inquiry then the magic begins, the meaning starts flowing; we are having a conversation.

The letter that started this... Pretty in Pink Friday

Happy to answer your question,

But Melanie you will have to bear with me. It appears I have to establish some evidence of my purpose as well. Its not going to be pretty and I am extremely angry and a bit tired about our situation now and what it will mean down the road. My name is Richard. I am a Middle School Counselor working in a So Cal. School and have been for about 11 years. Understand that I believe in advocacy in any form, for kids and the people who invest their lives and even souls in them. For educators, kids and sometimes even parents. :) Counselors have a similar group of dedicated tireless advocates for us up at state level. But right now at least, it is far too little and far too late. Let me tell you why I believe that.

Before I open this can of worms let me say Melanie, I just realized that you are a student. I am very impressed that you have taken this initiative. Originally, I thought you were young but already employed in a field; DPSS, education or the like. So, what I am about to write here will probably seem unbelievable. Unfortunately, it is the reality for most educators. I don't want to quell your enthusiasm if this is where you heart is. I wish you the best with your endeavor(s). NOW...

The rest of what I have to say is the to the other respondents, our union leaders, well intentioned or otherwise and especially ALL the senior teachers who have chosen to sit back and watch the blood letting, as long as the state doesn't touch their retirements. As for advocating, the ineffectual CTA, and the NEA should have been intensely advocating for all of us long before now. Preparing the locals and communicating with us and the parents: most of us saw this coming for two years. What the hell is being done with the money from our dues. Honestly, I don't have a clue what they are doing or have done to prepare or even appear on our behalf maybe a bit of expensive Washington style lobbying perhaps not even that. I have to concede there is little they can do for us now as we approach zero hour. You can use that as an excuse.

In the CTA's system the locals are left almost completely autonomous and mostly defenseless. WHY? In our district, not where I live, a previous union officer said more than 70% (probably closer to 80%) of our dues go straight to the essentially useless CTA. Who knows about the NEA. Both need to account for themselves! CTA NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR BOOKS AUDITED BY AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION! I believe the CTA is the largest Union in the state with regard to membership and yet It's too late to expect help. Those poorly timed TV ads and a monthly magazine (which is an insult to anyone who is both passionate AND realistic about educating and supporting children) that is all I know for sure they do and I used to be a local union rep. That magazine seems more like self promotion than a source of information and a call to arms for the uninformed public. You know - the people that vote based on 30 second attack ads. The parents that we ultimately work with and for. Hell even that evil bastard Carl Rove understood what the entire CTA and our membership hasn't come to grips with. What am I saying, our BIG gun "the magazine" doesn't even go out to the public. I wonder how much it cost to print it? Maybe $1 m.? Maybe $3? If anyone even knows how to contact CTA's management, ask them for me. Oh and tell them to keep my copy and save the money. Tell them just send me an email when or if they do something substantial for educators. We can't take care of kids if we can't take care of ourselves. And WE the union were in sad shape before we hit this wall. Up to this point, if there are members who can't put the peaces of this puzzle together and are forming an argument in their defense. Save it for someone who doesn't know better. May be a pink slipped teacher. You really should be teaching at a private school anyway. I have no more patience. Perhaps an example closer to the bone...

Being a counselor, I am fortunate to work in the district whose counselors pioneered the framework adopted by our school counselors national organization, ASCA as the national standards for all public school counseling programs. I helped with it's initial structure and the presentation to our school board. It was huge and many states have sent reps to see us in action. With all the publicity, accolades and peer support that the endeavor still brings us along with that our own member advocates bring back to us more hope every year. We work harder and happier than ever, we do incredible things for kids, parents and teachers, no discipline, more time for intervention, all with less money. The unknown/unseen countless parent meetings , often on our own time, the follow up phone calls at 7pm from home, the dangerous home visits, working with twice the number of abused neglected kids, we also do meaningful counseling groups and get into the class rooms to do guidance lessons. As someone who has a passion for helping kids I know I am lucky. It empowers me to have the recognition. And we actually protect teachers too. We cover up or gloss over mistakes so teachers are not bothered by the unnecessary criticisms. We also work try to help those few teachers, we all know them, who should never been allowed to enter a class room. Even so, outside the profession and even at our own union office, few know who we are. During negotiations, our union leaders treat us like as cannon fodder. We are the unwanted step child and get the poorest representation. Lets talk about another reality by way of example.

Because we are such a minority numbers wise, we can't sway a union vote for or against a given candidate. So we are easy to ignore. But in the district I work, without trepidation or consultation, our union local president has offered us up, the entire group or counselors, the nurses and to a lesser extent, the psychs; lock and stock as a separate and lesser entity handed to management for whatever cuts they see fit. And in keeping in line with an agenda more hers than even the teaching members(my informed opinion) our local stands by and watches as more teachers get rifted, with more pink slips for the young, motivated, and optimistic new teachers. Some how sounds familiar. Hmmm. This was just the warm up folks HR is trying to break a large task into smaller more manageable visits. But not just the probationary folks, now it is going to be tenured teachers with lesser seniority. After looking at the numbers, probably anyone with five years or less will catch the axe. All to keep with that persons agenda? She has made it clear She will not let salaries be touched regardless. I heard her say it and it was reiterated by another local officer and when the question of lost jobs was raised, she replied with some half-hearted statement about a ploy on the DO's agenda to not give up the money. That we had to battle for their "secret stash" of money well above the mandated two percent prudent reserve. Then it was alluded to that most jobs would be saved. Bullshit and anyone with time in this district knows it. Ok, still lets play the benefit of the doubt game.

Funny even with all that conviction, there has been no effort (lets remember talking about it does not represent effort) to bring in a forensic accounting team. That would cost both sides a lot of money. And without proof to the contrary she can say anything she wants to distract from other realistic efforts. She has recently had to admit, that the DO had offered a feasible solution, if saving young teachers and counselors careers are important, a percentage pay cut across the board - superintendent to custodial possibly board members too - and in this manner would guarantee no job cuts for members. She told the team a flat no. Well, the budget has been signed and we've been F..... by the people we voted in and payed a salary to represent all of us. By the way, anyone seen the CTA?

Having been a rep. when she was. She strikes me a bit like our former president of the United States "W". She does herself no favors when she speaks. Of course, no right thinking member is going to accept the DOs numbers at face value. But even if she were not exaggerating about the "stash" it would only make a small dent in the loss of jobs we expect. Some of us have done the math based on her own numbers. She is either really bad at math and/or she is lying to gain more time before the lid blows off what is really going on in those negotiations. And there are some leaks. What I can't say now will be evident. Further, she claims maintaining the salary schedule is what majority wants though no vote has been taken on any proposal. It may have been true at one time - we will never know. While this local president makes many of the city mixers, she is seldom available to members with questions. Right now questions to her are because of leakage within the team. It is now apparent She is withholding major offers that could have saved possibly hundreds of jobs in our District. Just ours alone. Though, our president has yet to produce the numbers She's quick with the vague generalities. Now my point. We are on the block and she almost got away without even one meeting with any of us at all. She had to be forced into addressing some questions and the resentment showed. That is not ethical in my opinion keep in mind, some locals are actually supporting all their certificated staff.

I have been a union member all my working life. I have walked pickets in three strike actions and have been a picket captain in two of those. Previously, I have seen two caring and competent presidents at the helm of our local. We used to have one of the most influencial locals in the inland empire, maybe all of So Cal. Not just during the flush times. I saw some preferential treatment but nothing like this. Ultimately this president's agenda became all encompassing, without any discussion. In the past, we were always informed by our union what was going on. If the president didn't like a proposal but it was significant, she brought it to us then visited the reps and sites to explain her position to share with all members. Today, I trust our union management less than the DO's squad of hatchet persons and by talking with educators from around the area I see a trend. Some of our locals are being forced almost out of existance. They carry no clout and walk in to negotiations from a position of weakness. Most small district educators are in even worse shape because their board members are less likely to be educated themselves. Has anyone seen or heard from the CTA?

Counselors are even less significant in the mostly ineffectual CTA as well. But the CTA is hugh in size. Still, the common perception is that the CTA is big in numbers but weak where the rubber meets the road and educators are weakly represented therefore fair game at anytime. Not so with a union like the Teamsters. I am pretty sure they are smaller in California compared to the CTA. But you say teamsters, no one asks the size of the local. The name alone carries more weight than all our TV ads and magazines combined. OK, I have said more than I should have. I have peeled back some of the veil and it will come back to haunt me. But our rank and file have no clue and bottom line is it never would have gotten to this level if we had stronger more pro-active and involved union representation like the teamsters. One that included all of us and all the locals.

The police, firefighters, and yes the TEAMSTERS will not be facing the percentages of lost members that we will. (WE LATER FOUND THAT EIGHT DISTRICTS AROUND US LOST NO PERSONNEL) Why? Are they more important to society? We are certainly as important - just weakly represented and we will be fair game next year as well. Instead of pink I am going to buy a tee shirt with a bulls eye on the back. Speaking from experience, these other unions would have put a few preventative tactics in place long before now. Sick outs and after school informational pickets would be common. Parents will understand the issues when they fear for their kids - only substitute teachers in a few classes and other kids being housed in the gym for hours. Many kids will just take off and run the streets. Even the least supportive parents understand our value in keeping their kids off the mean streets. Parents would know and they would voice their demands. Nothing speaks louder for us. Our local president hasn't brought any thing back from the negotiations. For, information in a timely manner we have had to depend on the DO itself to email us the "mutually approved" statements. Still no preemptive action votes. Still no CTA.

Even now, I believe our union local is hiding the true nature of the negotiations. I know the president has the ear of at least one militant board member with their own disguised agendas. As for myself. I wouldn't have to think twice if asked to give up five percent of my salary to save most if not all the jobs. Parents would be secure without fear of their kids running the streets. However, many people with the safety net of seniority would not. More so if they are close to retirement.

As for me it is a simple moral decision. Still, criticize as you like. But PLEASE DON'T BE SO IGNORANT as to state that if we take a step freeze or cut we will never get that money back. The state will withhold that money regardless if it is through fewer school days or classrooms with 45/1 student ratios. We already have 40/1 in a nearby district. Not to mention the hit on our test scores. We are behind and loosing ground. Polititians don't know or care about classroom sizes. But they will still hold educators responsible and parents don't know the difference. CONSIDER THIS! Enough unaddressed discontent and... its Voucher Time baby. How much an hour will we be getting at the local private school of which there will be one on every corner. And those people that "have" won't give a rip if 7-Eleven opens a chain of elementary schools. Their kids won't be there anyway

I have expounded on my statement - and then some. I expect there will be a flood of local presidents rushing in to qualify what I have said. Just like I feel I have to defend certain teachers to parents. Even when I know the parent is right. Professional expectations of sorts. I may read the reply's but I won't be writing back, truth is I have formally requested a meeting with the Teamsters recruiter for a candid discussion about our district. I will post the date and time when I receive it. Who knows what will come from this but it makes me truly sad to have to do this. Still, if I can't back my own words strongly and decisively as an advocate for kids, parents and teachers. I might as well endorse NCLB, prop 13 (remember Warren Buffet warned Arnold about Prop 13) and join growing tax payer opposition to the uniquely American idea of a free, fair and equal education for all children. Regardless of financial status the great equalizer it was thought. If I offended anyone I am sorry. If your employed you should be thankful.

If anyone is interested in a meaningful dialogue. Go ahead and mention it in a reply with your email address. I will do my best to get back to you directly.

Sincerely,

Richard (not M)

P.S. as of Friday the district hatchets have pink slipped ALL our assistant principals and have released all police assigned to our schools. This simply the beginning.

Tags: change, cta, teamsters, unprepared

Mvgordie's Blog - straight forward and always well researched

Mvgordie's Blog - straight forward and always well researched

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Please don't look at the difference ... Please!

I can't believe the difference between the approaches and preperation of the CTA yep ours-the biggest single state union. 70 percent of our dues go directly to them. And the smaller action minded comunity oriented state teachers union the the CFT. Just look at the difference in content and involvement compared with the New Yorker... oops I mean the CTA's blog. Go ahead I dare you. Then I bet you still sit on your ass and tell yourself 'it won't be me.'Let someone else worry about it. It's not my problem. Thanks for the much needed reinforcing of the ranks of the lowest common denominator. Will you ever get up off all fours?

Posted by Every tenured Educator riffed by our union's (MVEA) deception 0 comments

AMBER Alert Canceled for 5 Year Old Michigan Girl, June 10, 2009

AMBER Alert Canceled for 5 Year Old Michigan Girl, June 10, 2009

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Court to rule on student loan debt

Posted By Lyle Denniston On June 15, 2009 @ 10:07 am In Orders and Opinions |

The Supreme Court, agreeing on Monday to hear four new cases, said it would decide whether an individual who owes on a student loan may wipe out the debt — at least partly — in a bankruptcy without showing that the debt posed an “undue hardship.” The case is United Student Aid Fund v. Espinosa (08-1134).
The Court also said it would spell out the rights of service station operators to sue to challenge the loss, or non-renewal, of their franchises from oil companies. The Court consolidated for review the cases of Mac’s Shell v. Shell Oil (08-240) and Shell Oil v. Mac’s Shell (08-372).
In a third case, the Court will consider putting constitutional limits on states’ authority to restore storm-eroded beaches along the ocean or lakeshores, when such action modifies private property boundary lines. (Stop the Beach Renourishment v. Florida (08-1151).
The fourth new case brought back to the Court an issue it had agreed to decide, but did not resolve, six years ago: when two companies agree to send their disputes to arbitration, may a court order that process to go forward as a class action, if the contract says nothing on that issue. The issue arises anew in Stolt-Nielsen S.A., et al., v. Animalfeeds International Corp. (08-1198).
In two rulings on the merits, the Court struck down, by a 7-2 vote, a tax imposed by the city of Valdez, Alaska, on cargo ships that used its port (Polar Tankers v. Valdez, 08-310), and it issued a unanimous ruling clarifying the findings that an immigration judge must make in order for a conviction of a crime to be used as the basis for deportation (Nijhawan v. Holder, 08-495).
The Court, moving toward a summer recess starting late this month, has 14 decisions to go. It announced Monday that it would sit again on Thursday, and more decisions are expected then.
The Court, in another of Monday’s orders, invited the U.S. Solicitor General to offer the federal government’s views on an issue under the bankruptcy law’s Chapter 13 — what is the formula bankruptcy courts are to use in deciding how much a Chapter 13 debtor has available to pay creditors who hold no security, when a repayment plan is being fashioned. There is no deadline for the S.G.’s response. The case is Hamilton, Trustee, v. Lanning (08-998).
Among the cases the Court refused to hear on Monday was a constitutional dispute over the federal government’s powers to set aside federal and state laws that interfere with the building of the long fence on the U.S.-Mexico border, part of an effort to restrict drug traffic and thwart terrorist movements. The Court had turned aside that controversy a year ago (07-1180). This time, the Justices examined the new case at eight separate private meetings, then still came to the conclusion that it would not rule on it. The case is El Paso County, et al., v. Napolitano (08-751). As usual, the Court offered no explanation for denial of review.
In another denial, the Court refused to hear a claim that anti-Castro sentiment was so rampant in the Miami, Fla., area that a group of five Cubans could not get a fair trial there on charges of spying for that government. The case had stirred a strong international reaction. It was Campa, et al., v. U.S. (08-987).
Filings in granted cases and the CVSG case are below the jump.
Docket: [1] 08-240; [2] 08-372
Title: Mac’s Shell Service, Inc. v. Shell Oil Products Company; Shell Oil Products Company v. Mac’s Shell Service
Issue: Under what circumstances may a service station operator bring suit against an oil refiner or distributor for “constructive termination” under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act?
h

Keep up the good fight Compadres

Soon to say goodbye.... http://mvea-disaster4members.blogspot.com/ Will leave its sworn pupose in August. Too our surprise,myself and several of the most vocal critics of the way our local handled negotiations have been elected to to the union rep council. We see the possibilities of working directly from within are just perhaps better than commentary . So, since it would be in conflict of interest to use inside information on the blog, so at the end of summer I will tentative lay down my sword - as long as the truth stays available to all. I will be removing this site and coverting my other site: http://Disenfranchised. blogspot.com to something more general in scope about education issues in Mo Val and surrounding areas and will contribute when I can. was elected to the Representative counsel again after about 9 years. Now I can better fight the battles from in side.

I started a campaign for democratic transparency of our union local's dealings on our behalf early this year. Now I will be taking that fight inside the unions halls. Several other malcontents who were equally incensed with bargaining this year and the cover-ups that seem to have occurred will be contributing. Yes, we've almost all been voted in as representatives. Well, we shall see.I feel it would be a conflict of interest to maintain a venomous posture. You'll see and hear from me.

But please remember, for continuing informed vigilance peek in on MVGordie he writes for several sites and his research is impecable and way ahead of whats happening in the Press Enterprise. Also,"BlakeyHoustonsMorenoValleyBlogspot.com" .THEY BOTH KNOW THEIR STUFF I have learned a lot about what I am trying to do from their tenacity and courage. Thanks,

Regardless, don't stop reading. There's still plenty of good and bad going on behind closed doors that effect our neighborhoods and schools.

L.A. teachers arrested in civil disobedience protest

http://www.cft.org/uploads/news/utlacd2.jpg

Hey! Don't tell the CTA... there really are things to do to make a difference. NOT JUST 11 MILLION IN PANDERING AND PHOTO OPS

May 15 — Several dozen members and leaders of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) were arrested when they sat down in the street in front of the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and refused to leave. UTLA had scheduled a one-day strike to protest budget reductions, layoffs and soaring class sizes, but had to revise their plan when a judge issued a restraining order that would have fined teachers and threatened revoking their credentials if they struck. Instead, teachers demonstrated before school at their sites and staged a sit in.
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UTLA members overwhelmingly approve contract agreement.

UTLA members overwhelmingly approve contract agreement. See:

Win One, Lose One
posted by Mike Antonucci at Intercepts - 5 hours ago
Teachers at three Civitas charter schools in Chicago voted to join the Illinois Federation of Teachers, after a short delay because of a dispute about whether Civitas is a public or private employer. Meanw...

Title One is suppossed to...

On 'Comparability' and Teacher Transfers

Stephen Sawchuk Education Week

I'm told there was a bit of pushback on the concept of "comparability" in Title I schools at a recent New America Foundation event.

In short, Title I funds are supposed to provide additional services for disadvantaged students, so districts must ensure "comparability" of resources between their schools with low and high concentrations of poverty before the dollars flow. But the Elementary and Secondary Education Act basically lets districts exempt teachers' salaries from this calculation. And since seniority provisions allow higher-paid, more experienced teachers to transfer to wealthier schools, there can literally be a difference of tens of thousands of dollars between more- and less-affluent schools in the district. The result, say groups like the Center for American Progress, the Education Trust, and now the New America Foundation, is that Title I has the effect of filling in holes rather than providing additional services for poor kids.

I don't think anyone disagrees that this is a problem; the issue really centers on what would happen if lawmakers closed this loophole by requiring districts to account for teacher salaries when they perform the comparability calculation. Some groups, like the teachers' unions, think it would make things worse. Districts would forceably transfer teachers to different schools to equal out the salaries, they argue.

Others, like the Education Trust say that the differential could be made up by giving the poor schools extra dollars to hire more teachers, supplement classes with coaches, or provide more materials, instead of transferring teachers. But I'm hearing that other experts find that suggestion a bit naive. The provision of materials and resources is typically done centrally, rather than at the school level, for instance. And offering incentives to get teachers to transfer could backfire if the unions don't agree to those in contracts.

This may seem a bit far-off and wonky, but there are good reasons to think comparability is hot on the burner. For one, CAP's John Podesta is said to be fairly tight with the administration. Former CAP policy analyst Robert Gordon, who headed up a lot of the shop's work on comparability, is now at the White House. Mike Smith, over at the Education Department, also referenced the issue in a conversation I had with him about the equitable distribution of teachers.

And you can see the footprints in the recent stimulus legislation, which requires districts to report school-by-school expenditures of stimulus funds. (The Education Department was supposed to release additional guidance on this topic, but hasn't done so...yet.)

Stanford University study shows charter schools can barely compete

Riverside County officials hear appeal of Moreno Valley charter school rejection

Dan Lee The Press-Enterprise

RIVERSIDE - Moreno Valley children would receive more attention from teachers and a better chance to succeed at a proposed charter school that plans to offer an International Baccalaureate program and specialized curriculum in visual and performing arts and for English learners, proponents argued at a Wednesday hearing.

But an attorney representing the Moreno Valley Unified School District, which in March rejected a proposal to open the Gabrieliños Charter Academy, said it requires more than an ambitious curriculum to start a charter school.

"To run a school, it takes fiscal and operational stability," Melanie Peterson told the Riverside County Board of Education.

The board was hearing charter school proponents' appeal of the school district's decision. In order to operate in California, a charter school must be approved, or chartered, by a school district or county office of education.

At a time when public schools are being forced to cut their budgets and Moreno Valley Unified suffers from one of the highest dropout rates in Riverside County, the Gabrieliños Charter Academy would offer parents an alternative for their children, proponents said.

"Gabrieliños wants to help Moreno Valley in its time of need," charter school board President Esperanza Garcia-Arce said. "We're losing these kids when we can keep them in Moreno Valley."

Peterson countered that Gabrieliños supporters did not provide enough information about their financing and have not yet obtained the necessary credentials to offer an International Baccalaureate program.

She also said they have demonstrated that they don't know the workings of a public school, such as requirements to comply with the state's open-meetings law, the Brown Act, prior to making a decision.

The county Board of Education heard both sides at the brief hearing in Riverside without making any comments or asking any questions. The board is expected to make a decision at its July 8 meeting, board President Vick Knight Jr. said.

If the board approves the charter school proposal, the Gabrieliños academy would become a charter school under the county's supervision, but it would not likely be ready for the 2009-10 school year.

If the county board rejects the proposal, proponents would appeal to the state Board of Education, Gabrieliños founder and Chief Executive Officer Alan Louis said after the hearing.

Charter schools are public schools that are allowed to operate free from some of the restrictions in state education law, and therefore have more flexibility in how they serve students. Students must still meet state-mandated educational standards. The goal is to provide parents a choice in how their children are educated.

Like other public schools, charter schools are funded through the average daily attendance of their students; they also can seek grants to supplement their funding.

Thirteen charter schools operate in Riverside County, including one under the supervision of the county Office of Education.

RAND studies point to school readiness gap

RAND studies point to school readiness gap and confirm promise of early childhood education
At the close of last year, the RAND Corporation released the first two of four studies on preschool in California. RAND’s California Preschool Study was requested by the Governor’s Committee on Education Excellence, the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Speaker of the California Assembly, and the President pro Tempore of the California Senate to help them consider options for reforming and expanding preschool education. Following is a summary of the most important findings in the RAND studies.

Readiness gaps mirror achievement gaps in later grades
•Achievement differences evident during t he K–12 years exist at the starting gate, when kids first enter kindergarten. Groups of students who start school behind tend to stay behind.

• According to assessments at kindergarten entry, 61 percent of children enrolled in an early literacy program in 17 California school districts were not proficient in early reading skills like rhyming words, letter recognition, and consonant and vowel sounds.

• Forty-six percent of children in 61 California school districts lacked important social skills like paying attention, eagerness to learn, persistence in finishing tasks, forming and maintaining friendships and showing sensitivity to others.

Significant percentages of children fall short of state standards in early grades

• Almost two-thirds of third-graders did not meet state standards in English language arts and more than 40 percent did not meet standards in math.

• Some groups of students are falling short by even larger margins: English learners, students whose parents did not graduate high school, African Americans, Latinos and economically-disadvantaged children.

Effective pre-K helps narrow the achievement gap by addressing the readiness gap

• Rigorous studies of programs in other states show that children who attend effective pre-K score higher on school readiness measures at kindergarten entry.

• A pre-K program available to Oklahoma’s children showed significant gains for all children, with Latinos showing the most pronounced progress. Children evaluated were months ahead in spelling, early math and letter identification skills, compared to kids who had not attended preschool.

• National research shows that children who attend effective pre-K programs:

• perform better on standardized achievement tests in reading and math;

• are less likely to be placed in special education;

• are less likely to be held back a grade; and

• are more likely to graduate from high school.
—From Preschool California

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