ABCFT - YOUnionews - March 6, 2020
ABCFT Health Bulletin - Coronavirus #4
ABCFT is working closely with the District administrators to ensure that students and teachers are prepared for any changes brought about by the Coronavirus situation.
There are discussions across the country about how this will impact the education system, the students, and the communities we serve. ABCFT is working with the administrative cabinet to prepare for any possible changes in how we serve our students. Next Monday, ABCFT will be meeting with ABC’s Director of Information and Technology to discuss the nuances and preparation needed if there is a need to teach remotely if there was a district closure triggered by the COVID-19 situation. We will continue to bring you updates as the situation develops. If you have specific questions or concerns please email us at ABCFT@abcusd.us
Here is the link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it relates to childcare and K-12 plans.
If you are interested in reading any of ABCFT’s or ABCUSD’s past bulletins you can find them below:
California declares coronavirus emergency
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus after a California man died after falling ill with the virus while on a cruise ship. The virus has now been reported in 12 counties in the state and has sickened more than 50 people. Newsom said his emergency declaration is intended to help California prepare for and contain the spread of the coronavirus by allowing state agencies to more easily procure equipment and services, share information on patients and alleviate restrictions on the use of state-owned properties and facilities. “This proclamation, I want to point out, is not about money,” Newsom said of the emergency declaration. “It’s about resourcefulness. It’s about our ability to add tools to the tool kit.”
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Although it may be hard to see at first glance, on Thursday, the Site Reps are making lemonade with the lemons they were given. Each month, Haskell middle school opens their doors and hosts the Rep Council meeting. Like many other sites, they too hosted the primary election. Being the professionals they are, we made the best of the situation, squeezed together and conducted the business of the union. A special thank you to the Reps for adapting to the circumstances.
ABCFT MEMBER NEWS by Tanya Golden
Personal Learning Opportunities:
The Write Stuff Encore is being offered again thanks to an Ed Foundation Grant on Thursday, March 19th from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at Carver Elementary Room 7 - 19200 Ely Ave. Cerritos Click here to register for The Write Stuff Encore!
Finding Balance Encore is being offered again by Kaiser Permenante on Monday, March 23rd from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at Fedde Middle School MPR 21409 Elaine Ave, Hawaiian Gardens.
Committee on Political Education (COPE) Campaign:
The Committee on Political Education (COPE) has kicked off its campaign to spread knowledge of the important political work that we do in ABCFT. COPE educates our members and the ABCUSD community on important issues such as local bond measures and school board elections.
The most critical activity that COPE supports is helping to ensure that we have a local school board that supports the needs of our teachers and students. COPE donates time and money to the campaigns of candidates that ABCFT endorses. For more information on how to become a COPE member see your site rep.
PAL Survey:
Most members have received their site/program PAL survey and should be completed by March 20th. Special Education and SLP members should complete the site survey based on where attendance is recorded. If you have not yet received your site/programs PAL survey be assured that it will be sent shortly. All comments are anonymous and should be focused on site/program issues and improving relationships. Upon completion of the surveys, the PAL survey committee consisting of three ABCFT leadership members and three ABC administrators will be reviewing the surveys for professional and objective comments. Words will not edit other than personal or inappropriate comments. This is your opportunity to provide constructive feedback so your site can reflect on the plan on how to best address the identified issues.
New to the PAL surveys are six questions the same across all sites to demonstrate trends amongst the schools. The intent of these questions is to gather information in one place so it goes beyond anecdotal and shows district-wide trend. For more information about the PAL survey click this link to the PAL Survey FAQ.
YOUnion Social - Save the Date!
Join your fellow union members as we say good-bye to March Madness on Friday, March 27th from 3:00-5:00 pm at BJ’s in Cerritos.
New Resources to Reduce Stress and Improve Job Satisfaction
Every day you strive to be the best for your students. But increased demands and fewer resources can make it challenging to be your best self at work.
Through this resource, you’ll learn how to:
• Identify and combat burnout
• Recognize stress response patterns
• Find balance in your everyday life
• Effectively communicate your needs to others
Once you request the training series, you’ll be able to open the curriculum and launch each training from your Healthier Generation Training Center Transcript.
NOTE: You must be logged in to the Healthier Generation Action Center to access the Training Center.
MARCH ACADEMIC SERVICES UPDATE
Each month, Kelley Forsythe and Rich Saldana work with Beth Bray and Carol Castro to provide teacher input about professional development, curriculum changes, and testing changes. ABCFT believes that the biggest working condition impacting teachers are the key curriculum and the professional development being churned out of academic services. Many times the district is implementing changes that are coming from the State of California but rarely do unions get involved in those changes. ABCFT believes that the teacher's voice helps to provide the district office with classroom advice and input that helps to deliver better comprehensive changes. Each month at the ABCFT Representative Council Rich and Kelley give reports and take questions on all things related to academic services.
ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Each week I work with unit members in representations, contract resolutions, email/text/phone call questions, site concerns, site visits, presentations, state/national representations and mediations. Here are some of the highlights of interest. Throughout the year I find articles that are interesting and food for thought;
This week the YOUnionews is late for a number of reasons but much of it has to do with just the volume of situations we are dealing with at the moment. A special thank you for taking the time to read the YOUnionews during this interesting time for our nation. We are trying not to bombard you with too many emails during this time but know that we are trying to push out the most information and newest changes as things develop with the COViD-19 spread.
Here’s what ABCFT has been doing behind the scenes. Joshie Cox in risk management holds a district safety meeting every quarter with district departments and union representatives. Members of the committee had an important conversation about the Coronavirus COVID-19 preparations and what was going to be done about disinfecting classrooms and bathrooms. ABCFT requested that the District assess the availability of soap and hand sanitizers for students and teachers. The District acted quickly and has made those items available in addition to assurance that many other supplies are on order and will be distributed as soon as they are available. Hopefully, you did read Superintendent Dr. Sieu’s Wednesday COVID-19 update which described how the district is preparing and guidelines for employees who find themselves feeling ill.
I’m sure you are starting to hear about the possibility of school closures in infected areas in parts of the country. The topic of school closures is a debatable issue but if we look to the specifics of the COVID-19 virus we have seen that in other countries that children under the age of 18 have a 2.4% chance of actually developing the symptoms of the virus. However, they can be A-symptomatic which means they can be carriers and that poses major problem adults who are more likely to exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
In the event that the state of California begins to look at universal school closures, there are some critical questions that need to be answered by state and local officials. At the state level, I was on a conference call with the leadership of the California Federation of Teachers yesterday and collectively local leaders are demanding that there will be support for employees if there are district or state closures of education institutions if we do get to that decision point. The most important outcome we are pursuing is that no ABCFT member should be negatively impacted financially and there should not be any reduction of benefits during this time. Some of the other questions we are pursuing with the District are focused on other areas that will be impacted if there is a district closure such as will employees get compensated during a district closure?: What financial supports will be offered by the district if your spouse, family member or a person you live with is in quarantine?: How will hourly employees fair during closure and how will they continue to get paid?: How much curricular freedom will teachers have if they are teaching remotely? These are just a few examples of the kind of questions we will be able to answer in the coming weeks.
Say calm and reasonably prepare supplies for your families as if you are getting ready for an emergency or natural disaster. If you are not feeling well, stay home and do what is necessary to regain your health. Keep reading any school or union updates for any changes in this situation so that you are prepared along the way.
Lastly, wash your hands regularly and stay safe.
In Unity,
Ray Gaer
President, ABCFT
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
The latest CFT articles and news stories can be found here on the PreK12 news feed on the CFT.org website.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
American Federation of Teachers and UNITE HERE Call on Federal Government to Introduce Paid Sick Leave and Release Comprehensive Health, Safety and Economic Plan to Fight Coronavirus
WASHINGTON—In the wake of the continued spread of the coronavirus in the U.S., the American Federation of Teachers and UNITE HERE—which together represent educators, healthcare professionals, public employees, hotel, food service, airport, warehouse and casino workers across the country—are calling on the federal government to issue clear national guidance and take decisive action to support these workers and the people they care for, including, among other things, a national policy on paid sick time.
UNITE HERE President D. Taylor said:
“It is in our national interest that our leaders take decisive action to protect America’s workers and the general public today and into the future.
“Should some of our members get sick, most have affordable healthcare and adequate sick time, but we are concerned for our many members, friends, family and co-workers in industries who do not. Therefore, it is essential that Congress take decisive action to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and that workers stay home when they are sick. We strongly believe that whatever monies Congress allocates toward virus response must take into account workers’ time and must include paid sick leave. Not everyone can afford to take time off when they’re sick. That’s why there is no better moment to enact national policy on paid sick time.
“UNITE HERE is the hospitality workers’ union, representing hundreds of thousands of people working in hotels, casinos, theme parks, airports, restaurants, university campuses and a multitude of other public locations across the United States and Canada. We are closely monitoring developments surrounding COVID-19 and are concerned for the safety and well-being of all workers.
“We are already seeing the economic impacts of COVID-19 within our industry. Major conventions and business travel have been canceled and postponed coast to coast in North America, and workers are beginning to report reduced work hours or even layoffs. But as the hospitality workers’ union, our members will continue to show up to serve customers in the key travel and tourist industries that will remain open.
“We will be providing UNITE HERE members with information on COVID-19 and local contacts if they are concerned they are ill or believe they have come in contact with the coronavirus. UNITE HERE is also formulating proposals for what steps should be taken if workers become sick or their workplaces are closed temporarily, including job security measures and paid time off. This is essential for the safety of both workers and the customers they serve. We are reaching out to our employers in hopes that our union can collaborate on innovative and broad solutions that can save lives in our industry. These proposals will also include how our members can best protect themselves at work.
AFT President Randi Weingarten said:
“Not surprisingly, we have been bombarded with questions from across our divisions: Nurses, hospital techs, teachers, custodial staff and others are asking for guidance on what equipment to use, how best to prevent the virus’s spread, when to close their facilities, and how best to support workers whose livelihoods may be affected.
“The emergency $8.3 billion from Congress is an important step toward increasing the availability and decreasing the cost of coronavirus tests, developing an affordable vaccine, and increasing aid to state and local health budgets, but the impacted people on the ground are asking for answers—based on science, not supplies—now. The president and vice president must understand: Coronavirus can’t be solved with a tweet or a sound bite.
“This week, we are sending letters to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos seeking evidence-based guidance on the precautions, preparations, and protocols schools and hospitals should be taking both to prevent further cases, and to handle current diagnoses. In the absence of a coordinated national response, too many states and localities are being forced to develop their own.
“But that’s not all. It’s good President Trump finally took notice of the virus when the Dow Jones dropped precipitously, but Main Street is more important right now than Wall Street. We need an economic plan that considers the well-being of communities across America, which includes a national program of paid sick leave in times of public health emergencies, quarantines, school and other potential workplace closures; more increases to unemployment insurance; and additional economic support for businesses that may be affected by a pandemic. For the majority of people in America who live paycheck to paycheck, a day without work means a day without pay, so it’s well past time for a national paid sick leave law to protect them, and the communities they serve.
“In times of crisis, people look to their government for protection and for answers—right now, the federal government is woefully unprepared, and unions and other public institutions are being forced to fill in the gaps. Fighting a public health emergency cannot be a political issue.”
The AFT has been coordinating a response since the virus’s initial outbreak overseas, outlining preparedness plans for K-12 schools; colleges and universities; hospitals and other healthcare facilities; and other public spaces; resourcing members with requests to make of their employers to ensure there are appropriate supplies, training and protocols in place in the event of virus spread and facility closures; and calling on the administration to invest additional resources and increase transparency so people on the frontlines have the information they need to help stop the spread of the disease and care for affected communities.
The union is also offering an extensive collection of materials, including sample letters to elected officials; preparedness plans and fact sheets in several languages; guidelines for requests to employers; and extensive lesson plans, which are all housed on AFT’s website, aft.org/coronavirus and on the AFT’s free Share my Lesson platform. These resources are being updated regularly.
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
California declares coronavirus emergency
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus after a California man died after falling ill with the virus while on a cruise ship. The virus has now been reported in 12 counties in the state and has sickened more than 50 people. Newsom said his emergency declaration is intended to help California prepare for and contain the spread of the coronavirus by allowing state agencies to more easily procure equipment and services, share information on patients and alleviate restrictions on the use of state-owned properties and facilities. “This proclamation, I want to point out, is not about money,” Newsom said of the emergency declaration. “It’s about resourcefulness. It’s about our ability to add tools to the tool kit.”
NYC Teacher Shows Coronavirus Symptoms
The Wall Street Journal (3/4, Honan, Hawkins, Subscription Publication) reports a New York City public school teacher is under self-quarantine after showing symptoms of coronavirus following a trip to Italy. Officials said the teacher spent several days in the classroom before showing signs of the illness. She will undergo testing Thursday, and if her test comes back positive, her entire class of students will be tested.
Chalkbeat (3/4) reports the teacher’s school is expected to be “deep cleaned” and health department “disease detectives” will retrace her steps. NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said at a press conference that there was “no evidence” as of Wednesday that any children were displaying symptoms. Mayor Bill de Blasio “said Wednesday that schools had to be deep-cleaned twice a week” and the education department had “ensured all 1,800 schools have adequate hygiene and cleaning materials.” The city has also “canceled all trips sponsored by the education department to China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan — all countries that have a specific travel notice from the Centers for Disease Control.”
THE CITY (NY) (3/4, Smith, Gonen) reports that “four other New York City public school teachers who reported they’d traveled to coronavirus hot zones in the last few weeks and are displaying potential symptoms have reached out to their union, the United Federation of Teachers. The union told them to seek medical treatment.”
Chalkbeat (3/4, Veiga, Zimmerman) also reports NYC schools “will not consider student attendance and punctuality records in admissions decisions for competitive middle and high schools next year, the city said Wednesday.” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, “Attendance will be frozen as a factor in admissions for the foreseeable future, so as not to allow any impact to this crisis to negatively affect the admissions process.” The announcement came in response to “an outcry from parents and elected officials who argued the policy encouraged sick children to show up to school amid growing concern about coronavirus.”
First Public School District In New York Closes Over Coronavirus Concerns. WABC-TV New York (3/4) reports that “Hastings-on-Hudson School District announced Wednesday that it will close all its schools Thursday and Friday to sanitize” them after its superintendent was “notified a parent whose children attend school in the district was physically present in a location that was closed due to contact with a person under quarantine.”
California School Districts Prepare For Coronavirus Outbreaks
EdSource (3/5, Johnson) reports California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday declared a state of emergency after an elderly patient died from coronavirus. While no children in the state have been diagnosed with the virus, the developments “heighten the urgency for education leaders in California, who have been exploring how to continue instruction in case of an outbreak.” How schools choose to “prepare for the potential impact of the virus, which might lead to quarantines that affect student learning and well-being, is top of mind among parents and district officials across the state.” Health and education officials are “now telling schools to prepare if students and teachers must stay home,” and recommend schools to implement online learning plans as feasible.
----- TEACHER STRIKES -----
UC-Santa Cruz fires 54 graduate assistants in ongoing labor dispute
The University of California at Santa Cruz fired 54 teaching assistants Friday who refused to turn in fall semester grades in an ongoing strike for higher wages. Graduate workers launched a grade strike, withholding final marks for undergraduate students, in December in a bid to force administrators to negotiate a cost-of-living wage adjustment. When that didn’t work, teaching assistants went on a full strike this month with daily protests that led to arrests. “It is extremely disappointing to us that we have to take such a drastic step, but we ultimately cannot retain graduate students as teaching assistants who will not fulfill their responsibilities,” Lori G. Kletzer, the school’s executive vice chancellor, wrote in an email to the campus Friday. University spokesman Scott Hernandez-Jason said the 54 students will not face expulsion and can continue their coursework. Still, their tuition and fees will no longer be covered as a part of their appointment. Strike organizers say it may be impossible for many to remain in school.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
Feds reverse plan to cut rural school funding
The federal administration is backing off a bookkeeping change that would have drastically cut funding for rural schools. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will instead continue to allow states to more easily qualify for funding under the Rural and Low-Income School Program, after hundreds of districts faced cuts when the department abruptly began using eligibility requirements it had not enforced in 17 years. The new requirements would have kicked an estimated 800 schools out of the program next school year, while superintendents were bracing for budget cuts of $30,000 to $100,000. The decision came just hours after 21 senators signed a bipartisan letter urging DeVos to abandon the new methodology as it would “force many rural school districts to forgo essential activities and services.” Separately, U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) has joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia to address the need to pass the Rebuild America’s Schools Act – legislation which invests in the infrastructure of US public schools.
Disagreement over who should make coronavirus decisions for schools
Noelle Ellerson Ng, associate executive director for policy and advocacy at AASA, the School Superintendents Association, has asserted that responses to the coronavirus outbreak should be decided at the local level - where leaders know their situation best. While the National Governors Association said its members held a conference call with Vice President Mike Pence this week to talk about coordinating state and federal responses to the coronavirus, Donna Mazyck, executive director of the National Association of School Nurses, says: “The reality is that outbreaks happen at the local level and the state level and there needs to be coordination there as well.” Over 290m students from prekindergarten through 12th grade globally have had their education disrupted by school closures amid the continuing spread of a new coronavirus, an unprecedented figure according to UNESCO. On Wednesday, congressional negotiators reached agreement on an $8.3bn emergency spending bill to fight the virus and are working to have legislation ready for President Trump to sign by the end of the week.
VP backs U.S. school closures in fight against coronavirus
President Donald Trump would "respect any decisions that are made at the state and local level" on actions to combat the novel coronavirus, including school shutdowns, Vice President Mike Pence told NBC in an interview yesterday. “But other than in areas where there are individuals that have been infected with the coronavirus, people need to understand that for the average American, the risk does remain low,” he continued. Widespread moves in the U.S. to shutter schools would follow school closures introduced in Japan, as well as parts of Italy, in addition to parts of China that were first hit by the virus. Schools across the country are canceling trips abroad, preparing online lessons and even rethinking “perfect attendance” awards as they brace for the possibility that the new coronavirus could begin spreading in their communities. Many are making plans to teach students online in case the virus spreads so widely that schools are forced to close.
----- STATE NEWS -----
Newsom seeks overhaul of California child care programs
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plans to consolidate California’s array of childcare programs, which are run by multiple state agencies, have been praised and criticized in equal measure. The governor’s proposal would see up to $10m spent to create a new Department of Early Childhood Development. California’s early childhood services are routed through at least five different state agencies: the departments of Social Services, Education, Public Health and Developmental Services, and First 5 California. Mary Guiterrez, campaign director for the Service Employees International Union and Child Care Providers United, said her union is waiting for more details from the governor’s office about its consolidation plan before commenting on the proposed new agency. However, Valley Oak Children’s Services executive director Karen Marlatt has questioned the wisdom of spending millions to create a new bureaucracy while thousands of children are stuck on waiting lists for services. “I think we’ve got to help families first and change the government second,” she said.
How did California’s bond proposals fare with voters?
As the state tallies the returns from Tuesday’s bond elections, a clear picture is emerging of a loss of appetite among California’s voters for new measures to boost school district income. Proposition 13, the sweeping $15bn bond for school construction, was trailing late Thursday with only 44.6% approval and looks set to become the first state bond measure to be rejected by voters in nearly three decades. Meanwhile, at the district level, some 70% of the 100-plus local K-12 school bond measures appeared bound for failure or too close to call, according to a CalMatters tally of early results. The author of the Prop. 13 legislation, Democratic Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell of Long Beach, said that it was too soon to discuss next steps should Prop. 13 fail, but expressed confidence that the measure would have fared much better had it been assigned a different number: “Traditionally, voters in the state of California have supported school bonds because they recognize the need to upgrade school facilities across our state.” A quirk in state law requiring sequential numbering of ballot measures led to its name, which it shares with a 1978 property tax cut.
----- DISTRICTS -----
High school cancels active-shooter drill with sound of gunfire
San Marino High School canceled an active shooter drill on Friday, following a complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union that its use of blank cartridges could be too traumatic for teenagers. The gunfire portion of the drill was to have included three officers stationed at two on-campus parking lots firing about 15 rounds of blank cartridges into the ground for about 11 minutes, said San Marino Police Sgt. Tim Tebbetts. “It’s really to acclimate people to what gunfire would sound like in a safe environment. “It’s so they don’t panic,” he said. Melissa Reeves, former president of the National Assn. of School Psychologists, said in the report that “what these drills can really do is potentially trigger either past trauma or trigger such a significant physiological reaction that it actually ends up scaring the individuals instead of better preparing them to respond in these kinds of situations.”
California’s largest district rolls out seal of approval for STEM schools
As California leaders push for more math and science education through new K-12 standards, Los Angeles USD wants to ensure high-quality instruction by expanding a seal of approval process for schools that specialize in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. “Some schools were really embracing the whole STEM framework, and then I saw others where there was no engineering and little technology,” said Los Angeles Unified school board member Nick Melvoin, who has pushed for the certification. Melvoin says he sees a huge level of variance among the STEM schools that he has visited in the district. The certification lasts for four years and is not mandatory for schools to call themselves STEM- or STEAM-focused. Those that pass the certification receive a badge they can put on their school website, but no additional funding. Proponents of the certification say it helps e xplain what parents and students can expect from these schools, and offers school leaders a chance to seek help from the district on how to improve their STEM courses if they are unable to meet the criteria.
Ross Valley school board approves spending cuts
Facing $900,000 in deficit spending, the Ross Valley School District board approved a package of budget cuts this week. The board voted 4-0 in favor of $465,000 in budget cuts and provisional layoffs for three certified elementary school teachers for the 2020-21 school year. Warning notices, or pink slips, for those are due by March 15 but can be reversed later. The savings include $60,000 in professional development costs, $100,000 by eliminating vacant or unfilled posts for instructional assistants, $200,000 from a restructuring in student services and special education, and $45,000 from a restructuring of staffing duties at White Hill Middle School in Fairfax. The district also expects to save $60,000 through promoting Assistant Superintendent Marci Trahan to superintendent and resetting her current salary.
----- HEALTH AND WELLBEING -----
Skateboarding improves mental health, helps build diverse relationships
USC researchers have found multiple benefits in skateboarding, ranging from mental health to education and careers. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found the sport improves mental health, fosters community and encourages diversity and resilience. Researchers created a survey that targeted 13- to 25-year-olds and received more than 5,000 responses, including a significant number from skaters who identified as female and/or as a person of color. Neftalie Williams, a researcher and co-author on the project, said: “Skaters are excellent critical thinkers and problem-solvers who view success from a more communal perspective. They bring that insight into other areas of their lives, which is valuable to any university or organization.”
FDA bans electric shock machine
The U.S. government has banned an electric shock machine that is used to zap children and young adults with special needs in a school outside Boston – the only institution in the world known to practice the controversial punishment “treatment”. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken the extremely rare move of imposing a total ban on the production and use of the electric shock machines, known as electrical stimulation devices. It said the ban – only the third such comprehensive prohibition of a medical device in FDA history – was necessary to “protect public health”. Washington Post
----- CLASSROOM -----
System not allowing teachers to improve time management
Teachers are not being allowed to effectively utilize the benefits of time saving strategies like pushing back school start times, hitting math and reading early in the day for elementary school students, or even just making sure that students get a break to process their learning. Despite a wealth of research studies championed by prominent organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 41% of school leaders surveyed by Education Week said their district had examined what academic research says about learning and used that information to guide or inform scheduling or start times. Under 15% said their schools lacked the resources to shift start times, but participants cited busing schedules, sports schedules, and extra-curriculars among key reasons for the status quo, suggesting that the system itself is to blame.
US students lag international peers in math
The United States has ranked ninth in reading and 31st in math literacy out of 79 countries and economies in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment. One likely reason, suggests Erin Richards, is that U.S. high schools teach math differently than other countries. Classes here often focus on formulas and procedures rather than teaching students to think creatively about solving complex problems involving all sorts of mathematics, she says. Students in Estonia, however which offers high-quality early childhood education to all kids, small class sizes and little high-stakes testing, ranked first among European countries in mathematics, as well as reading and science.
-----CHARTER SCHOOLS -----
Private school choice falls short on accountability
While almost 30 states have private school choice programs which either directly pay students’ tuition at private schools or provide generous tax-credits to incentivize businesses and individuals to do so, few states actually require private schools to follow standard policies used to ensure transparency and accountability. According to an EdWeek Research Center survey of states on how private school vouchers and similar programs are regulated, just six states require that all participating private schools admit students regardless of their religion, while only three require participating private schools to admit students regardless of their sexual orientation. Only 14 mandate that schools conduct criminal background checks on all staff before accepting tuition paid with the help of state aid, just 11 require that all teachers in participating private schools have a bachelor’s degree and only six states require schools to publicly report their graduation rates.
Orange County School of the Arts severs ties with Santa Ana Unified
The Orange County Department of Education has voted to take the Orange County School of the Arts (OSCA) under its umbrella, granting the charter school a five-year renewal. The move means that the school has cut its ties with Santa Ana USD, which has served as OSCA’s home district for 20 years; the two parties have been in dispute over $19bn for special education services that the charter allegedly owed the district. The case is awaiting trial in civil court. The new arrangement “makes more sense because we’re a regional program,” said Ralph Opacic, the school’s founder and director. He noted that the charter school is attended by students from more than 100 cities in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties. More than 200, he said, travel by train to Santa Ana every day to attend.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
Classroom tech beats lectures
Brian Consiglio-Missouri details research which describes how activity-based learning, rather than lecture-based learning, enhances student creativity by allowing students to use technology to develop their own original ideas. The researchers found that professors who allowed their students to use technology in a team setting to come up with a novel product or idea most enhanced student creativity. “This research is useful for professors to rethink how they design their existing courses,” says Isa Jahnke, associate professor in the University of Missouri College of Education’s School of Information Science and Learning Technologies.
Schools’ tracking trials prompt concerns from privacy advocates
Several schools across the US are looking at installing location-tracking company Inpixon's radio frequency scanners, which pick up on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals from students' phones and track them with incredible location accuracy. Privacy advocates warn that as this technology finds its way into schools, children could suffer developmental issues from the constant surveillance. "Over time, surveillance of students makes them feel like everything they do is going into a permanent record held by people or entities they don't know about. It makes them less likely to step outside the box or bring up an idea in class," comments Amelia Vance, director of youth and education privacy at the Future of Privacy Forum.
----- INTERNATIONAL -----
Educators travel across the world to learn about Northern California schools
Secondary school educators from countries all around the world traveled to Butte County as part of the Fulbright fellowship program to spend the month of February learning at local schools. Twenty-two teachers, from countries including Algeria, Mozambique, Tajikistan and Zimbabwe were distributed to the county’s high schools, including Las Plumas High and Oroville High in Oroville, Paradise High in Paradise and Pleasant Valley High and Chico High School in Chico. Elvio Malawene, of Domingos Fondo Secondary School in Zavala, Mozambique, said: “We have been taken to several places and have seen how people are trying to do their best to preserve it and fight against climate change. We say everything here is big - big spaces, big houses, big hearts.”
----- OTHER -----
NTA Life Insurance - An ABCFT Sponsor
About three years ago ABCFT started a working relationship with National Teachers Associates Life Insurance Company. Throughout our partnership, NTA has been supportive of ABCFT activities by sponsorship and prizes for our various events. This organization specializes in providing insurance for educators across the nation. We have been provided both data and member testimonials about how pleased they have been with the NTA products and the opportunity to look at alternatives to the district insurance choice.
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