The Answer Sheet: California and schools


Posted at 11:08 PM ET, 10/14/2012

Rich siblings spend big bucks to affect California education funding

By Valerie Strauss
Molly Munger vs. California Gov. Jerry Brown is this week's case study in our continuing look at how billionaires (and millionaires) are throwing around their money to drive education reform.

By Valerie Strauss  |  11:08 PM ET, 10/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bad Behavior, Education funding; California schools

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 12/21/2010

How a teachers' union actually helped kids (not just adults)
By Valerie Strauss
You've probably heard a lot about how teacher unions are obstacles to meaningful school reforms, but you probably have NOT heard about this remarkable union-involved success story in California.

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:00 AM ET, 12/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Anthony Cody, Anthony Cody, Anthony Cody, Anthony Cody, Anthony Cody | Tags:  academic performance index, achievement gap, api, california schools, california teachers association, qeia, standardized tests, teachers union

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/17/2010

The disaster California schools face, and a teacher's call to action
By Valerie Strauss
California's public schools face a real funding disaster, and a teacher says it is time to fight back.

By Valerie Strauss  |  05:00 AM ET, 12/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Anthony Cody, Anthony Cody | Tags:  anthony cody, budget deficit, california budget deficit, california schools, jerry brown, proposition 13

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 12/14/2010

The 'Parent Trigger' doesn't help schools or parents
By Valerie Strauss
The so-called “parent trigger” law in California, which allows a majority of parents (from a school or from their “feeder” schools) to sign a petition that forces a school to be converted into a charter, is not a genuine parent engagement strategy. The recent effort to apply the law for the first time shows why.

By Valerie Strauss  |  10:45 AM ET, 12/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Charter schools, Charter schools, Charter schools, Charter schools | Tags:  california schools, california's parent trigger, charter schools, larry ferlazzo, parent revolution, parent trigger, parent trigger law

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 05/20/2010

California sued over education funding crisis
By Valerie Strauss
Desperate educators in California are suing the state over a school funding system that has left many districts unable to provide all students with an equal opportunity to meet the state’s academic goals.

By Valerie Strauss  |  01:05 PM ET, 05/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Equity | Tags:  Robles-Wong v. California, california and schools and lawsuit, california budget crisis, california lawsuit, california school crisis, funding lawsuit, funding lawsuit and california, schools lawsuit

Posted at 06:30 AM ET, 04/12/2010

Even Megan Fox knows Calif. has an education crisis
By Valerie Strauss
"Crisis" is an overused word, but it is actually an understatement to explain what is happening in California public education, where massive budget cuts have left many schools without nurses, janitors, librarians and counselors, and sports programs. Teachers are being laid off in droves--and more cuts are in the offing. A video starring Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green tells it all.

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:30 AM ET, 04/12/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Teachers | Tags:  California and schools, California budget crisis, California education cuts, Fox and Green video, Megan Fox, Megan Fox and David Austin Green, Megan Fox and teachers, Megan Fox video