Almost 58% of child care workers in CA are on one or more public assistance programs, such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federally funded program that helps pay for food, housing and other expenses. The study also found those who work with infants and toddlers earn less than those who work with…
Monthly Archives: July 2018
By Sean McPhetridge, superintendent of the Alameda Unified School District Throughout the budget review, employees and community members often asked, “Why can’t AUSD pay its teachers more?” Without question, some local factors play a role (including our above-average special education costs and our below-average class sizes). But we mustn’t forget the larger factor too: a…
A bill pending in the state Senate would broaden qualifications for state-sponsored preschool, in hopes more families can take advantage of services already paid for. Although lawmakers provided $46 million two years ago to open some 9,500 new slots in the program, many districts send back money to the state because not enough qualified students…
The decision the union knew would come arrived last week in Janus vs. AFSCME, in which the Supreme Court ruled that labor organizations are inherently political and workers cannot be compelled to support them financially. Now, California public workers have a choice for the first time in decades about whether they want some of their…
Bain v. California Teachers Association was first filed in 2015 by four teachers who wanted the right to belong to their local union but didn’t want their dues to be used for political causes that they don’t personally support. The Janus decision will cut deeply into union coffers and membership, but the issues at…
Editorial by the San Diego Union Tribune Most should welcome the Janus ruling. It will level playing fields in the Legislature and city councils as elected officials deal with the pension tsunami forcing reductions in government services, and in local school boards, as reformers keep trying to end practices such as giving lifetime job protections…
Feds slam CA’s graduate rate as inaccurate
July 7, 2018
The graduation rate among the state’s high school seniors has been steadily gaining since 2010. But a new federal audit suggests it may not be as good as reported. After a two-year review, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General said the California Department of Education failed to provide “reasonable assurances the reported…
Several parents with children in low-performing schools view a child’s academic struggles as an individual responsibility but access to and understanding of school data can help them identify broader problems. Many parents experience educational, technological and language barriers to accessing and understanding data, limiting their ability to make informed decisions about their children. Read the…