Ed-Buzz

Monday, April 11, 2005 | Two community meetings for San Diego superintendent search

Also on Wednesday is another SDUSD superintendent search meeting, this one organized by a group called Parent Voices for Education, or P.A.V.E. The forum, titled “Beyond the Politics: Choosing a New Superintendent,” will present former superintendents and school board members from other school districts who will discuss the qualities of a successful district leader. This forum begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at the Harold J. Ballard Parent Center at 2375 Congress St., in Old Town. To RSVP, call (619) 688-0054 or e-mail P.A.V.E. at

G.A.T.E. meeting scheduled

Workshop on autism

Special education orientation for parents

EdSource offers three new services for parents and students

A 15-minute EdSource video, “California’s Commitment: Raising Academic Standards for All Students,” helps explain why some schools meet California’s academic standards while others struggle. The video, available by ordering online, discusses California’s K-12 standards, how high expectations for California’s children are affecting teaching and learning, how the state’s testing and accountability systems reinforce and support those expectations, and other issues and concerns.

EdSource is also offering resource material that provides background on the state budget and school funding, topics dominating the news. The comprehensive list of materials includes explanations of the current budget situation, how the state’s public schools are funded, and how Proposition 98 affects school funding.

New national education Web site

In addition to student achievement information, financial data and demographic breakdowns, the service includes powerful analytical tools and objective analyses provided by Standard & Poor’s that provide education leaders with important information about schools and school systems. Educators can use this Web site to find schools with similar demographics and higher academic performance. This can be useful for developing comprehensive improvement programs.

The Web site provides:

Student proficiency results on statewide reading and math tests, broken down by student subgroups and grades, for every public school, district and state.

Student demographic information including socioeconomic, special education and English language-learner populations at the school, district and state levels.

District and state financial data like spending allocations, revenue streams, staff compensation and long-term debt.

Community demographic data, such as income levels, housing values, household parental status and adult educational attainment levels.

Standard & Poor’s unique ratios that simultaneously examine academic and financial performance in demographic context.

Live online discussions available for educators

The topic for Friday, April 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., is “Dealing with Cell Phones, Cameras, and Other 21st Century Intrusions in the Classroom.”

Saturday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to noon, hear “How to Teach Lawfully about Religion in the Public Schools.”

On Sunday, April 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., participants will discuss “Exploring Strategies to Combat the Obesity Epidemic among Children.”

On Monday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to noon, the topic will be “Creating Safe Schools for Sexual Minority Students.”

– MARSHA SUTTON, Voice Education Writer

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