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Some stories we have been following:
A dispute between the Legislature and Department of Education over how to use $71 million in federal stimulus money for technology has led to much of the money sitting in limbo for a year, according to a
report by Corey Johnson of California Watch.After receiving the one-time funds in July 2009, the Department of Education, assuming it had authority to distribute the money, took applications from school districts.
But state law demanded legislative OK, and in November, a joint commitee of the Legislature rejected the state’s plan. Since then, the Ed Dept., Senate and Assembly members have squabbled over the money. The department said that the funds were granted to help fourth through eighth graders and that school districts should decide how to spend the money. Others argued that they should be spent on pre-school and college career training, the Race to the Top bid or for improving the state data system.
This month, education officials awarded $34 million to school districts that submitted plans to bolster technology programs. Talks on how to spend the rest are under way.
California teachers will be well represented among the U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching Ambassador Fellowships, which were announced this week.
Two of five teachers named to be Washington fellows are from California: Edit Kachatrayan of Clark Magnet school in La Crescenta and Linda Yarson of the Edwards Roybus Learning Center in Los Angeles. They will spend a year working full-time in various offices at the Education Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Two of 10 teachers named Classroom Fellows are from Calfornia: Jeffrey Camarillo from the East Palo Alto Academy, a charter school, and Antero Garcia from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. They will continue teaching but will also work part-time as fellows. The group was selected from 500 applicants.
There’s a lengthy and interesting profile by Gary Shih in The New York Times on Oakland Unified’s new superintendent. One pont: Tony Smith, will attempt to duplicate the success he had in reforming neighboring Emery Unified in Emeryville, where Smith involved parents, local businesses and foundations in the schools.
Partnerships with foundations and businesses to provide social services and internships are key to Smith’s 5-year plan for Oakland Unified, which the board of trustees approved last month. Clorox, Kaiser Permanente, California Endowment and the San Francisco Foundation have pledged their support.
Reports compiled by The Educated Guess intern Annie Shuey.
