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The California Teachers Association (CTA) is sponsoring Senate Bill 1263 to eliminate Teaching Performance Assessments (TPAs), which are seen as unnecessary hurdles for aspiring educators. TPAs have been criticized for being long, time-consuming, and full of low-value tasks. It is also claimed that they disproportionately impact educators of color and require candidates to pay $300 out-of-pocket. The CTA argues that aspiring teachers can better learn the craft in real-world settings, working with mentors and developing quality lesson plans. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) recently adopted a secondary passing standard for educators who did not complete the TPA requirement, allowing them alternative paths to a credential. The CTA believes that removing barriers like TPAs will improve the educator pipeline and better equip teachers to serve California's diverse students. Other states, including New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Texas, have already eliminated the TPA requirement.

 

EdSource

A California bill that aimed to ban homeless encampments near sensitive sites such as schools and sidewalks, when local shelter space is available, has failed in committee. The bipartisan bill, SB 1011, authored by State Sen. Brian Jones and co-authored by State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, received early support but did not move forward. The bill would have prohibited camping within 500 feet of schools, open spaces, or transit stops. Those in violation would be given information about alternative locations and services. The Western Center on Law and Poverty opposed the bill, calling for stipends for the homeless and more housing construction. Despite the success of a similar measure in San Diego, the bill failed to exit committee on a 1-3 vote.

 

TTown Media

Gloria E. Ciriza has been appointed as the first female superintendent in the San Diego County Office of Education's history. She will succeed Paul Gothold and is expected to assume the post on July 1st. Ciriza is currently the assistant superintendent of student services and programs at SDCOE. She has been instrumental in advancing the department's goal of reducing poverty through public education. Ciriza holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's in education administration, and a doctorate in educational leadership. As superintendent, Ciriza will oversee programs and services, approve district budgets, and assist with district emergencies. She expressed her excitement and honor at being selected for the role, stating that she aims to provide representation for young women and people of color, and advocate for all students.

 

Sandie Gunion Tribute

After the Hart District Teachers Association ratified its new contract with the William S. Hart Union High School District earlier this month, the governing board is expected to give its stamp of approval at Wednesday’s meeting. The board is also expected to hear from Hart High School Principal Jason d’Autremont on the timeline of events and rationale surrounding the school's mascot change. The teachers' union and the district reached a tentative agreement last month after the two sides were negotiating since last summer. The union agreed to 2% salary increases, retroactive to July 2023, and 2% one-time payments. The new collective bargaining agreement will cost the district approximately $5.4m for this school year and covers 1,134 employees.

 

Signalscv.com

Fort Miller Middle School is one of the five community schools that Fresno USED set up last year with a $7.1m grant from the state. The program aims to remove barriers for children to attend school and enjoy learning. It also provides transportation for students who are late for the school bus, runs a weekly food pantry, offers counseling services, and organizes family and community events. The program has significantly decreased chronic absenteeism and increased average daily attendance. Fort Miller Middle School's program is striving to become financially self-sufficient and is looking for more donations and partnerships to expand its initiatives. Fresno Unified is also planning to build 14 more community schools. The grant decision for the expansion is expected in early May.

 

The Fresno Bee

A lawsuit has been filed against Monterey County agriculture officials and state pesticide regulators, alleging that they disregarded children's health by allowing several farms to use restricted pesticides in close proximity to three elementary and middle schools. The lawsuit claims environmental racism, as the affected communities are predominantly made up of people of color and farmworkers. The fumigants chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene (known as 1,3-D) are used in these fields, which can have severe health effects. The lawsuit aims to address the lack of transparency and regulation in pesticide use near schools and protect the health of children in the area. The plaintiffs are being represented by the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice.

 

East Bay

Mercury News

A mistrial was declared in the case of an Orange man - a former Long Beach USD employee - accused of murder in the killing of an 18-year-old woman near Millikan High School. Jurors deadlocked with a 7-5 vote, leaning towards guilt on second-degree murder. The shooting occurred when the defendant, Eddie Francisco Gonzalez, fired two shots near the school. Mr. Gonzalez has been out of custody since posting bail in July 2022. The victim's family settled a civil lawsuit for $13m.

 

Press-Telegram

With its lease set to expire, Santa Cruz Community Farmers' Market is looking for a new home with the Live Oak School District. The nonprofit has proposed two locations for consideration: Shoreline Middle School and Live Oak Elementary School. The market's current lease will end on April 30th, and the proposed terms of a new lease are not feasible. The partnership proposal comes at a critical time for the school district, which is facing a financial crisis. The district has been working on a fiscal stabilization plan that includes employee cuts. The market and the district have collaborated on various projects in the past. The Live Oak School District Board of Trustees will discuss the partnership proposal at their meeting later today.

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

The University of Southern California (USC) has revoked the valedictorian's ability to deliver a speech at the graduation ceremony due to "substantial" security risks. Asna Tabassum, the valedictorian, faced backlash after it was discovered that she had links to pro-Palestinian sites on her social media. USC Provost Andrew Guzman stated that the decision was made to ensure campus security and safety. Tabassum expressed doubts about the decision, as she was not aware of any specific threats and was not provided increased safety measures. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticized USC's decision, calling it a violation of the school's obligation to protect its students. USC will host its graduation ceremony on May 10, with over 19,000 graduates and around 65,000 attendees expected.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

Code.org, in collaboration with the Piech Lab at Stanford University, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistant that can significantly reduce the time it takes for computer science teachers to grade coding projects. In a limited pilot project, the tool's assessment closely matched that of experienced computer science teachers. Code.org plans to invite an additional 300 teachers to test the tool and hopes to make it widely available by the end of the year. While some educators see the potential benefits of AI in grading, others are concerned about outsourcing subjective tasks. The AI tool is particularly useful for grading coding projects, as it can quickly and accurately determine if certain requirements are met.

 

Education Week News

A new report from UNICEF shows that only 37% of schools across 10 states in Nigeria have early warning systems in place to identify threats such as school attacks. The analysis looked at 6 result areas – strong school system, violence against children, natural hazards, conflict, everyday hazards, and safe school infrastructure – and uncovered significant disparities in the implementation of safe school standards in states. "The kidnapping of the Chibok girls was a wake-up call to the severe risks our children face in their pursuit of education," said Cristian Munduate, a UNICEF representative in Nigeria. "Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s futures must be amplified. Given these alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis. Education is a fundamental right and a crucial pathway out of poverty. Yet, for too many Nigerian children, it remains an unattainable dream.” 

 

The New Telegraph

The second annual VIP Track & Field Day has been held at Adelanto High School. It featured student-athletes with special needs from all throughout the Victor Valley Union High School District. The participants competed on the field and track, accompanied by parents and family members in the seats at Julian P. Weaver Stadium as well as Adelanto High cheerleaders. Superintendent Carl Coles, one of numerous district employees present, remarked: "This is a unique event that exemplifies one of our core values: VVUHSD is a place for everyone."

 

Daily Press