School districts hoping furloughs can prevent layoffs

Ojai teachers have voted to take furlough days next school year, with most agreeing that the resulting pay cut is better than the alternative - more layoffs and bigger class sizes.

Governor launches digital textbook initiative in Calabasas

Calabasas High School English teacher Patti Harris doesn’t leave home without it. Harris has traded in some of her textbooks and paperbacks for something much lighter: her 10.2-ounce Kindle, an electronic reader than can store about 200 books downloaded for a fee from Amazon.com.

Stockton USD critics push for Amato evaluation

Superintendent Tony Amato's critics are expected to be out in force tonight before and during a Stockton Unified School District board meeting that probably will feature approval of a plan to evaluate - and possibly discipline or dismiss - the school district's leader.

Poway USD service workers reject salary rollbacks

Bus drivers, maintenance workers and other members of the Poway Service Employees International Union have rejected voluntary pay cuts to help the Poway Unified School District balance its budget.

Capo trustees: Little hope of saving programs, jobs

Capistrano Unified officials on Monday continued to express pessimism about preserving any of the $25 million in programs and jobs that they anticipate cutting this month, saying years of poor budget planning had left them with insufficient rainy-day reserve funds to fall back on.

Graduation rates drop, still top state average

Butte and Glenn county graduation rates fell by about 2 percent from the 2006-07 school year to the 2007-08 year, while California public school graduation rates slipped about 1 percent that same period, according to California Department of Education statistics released recently.

Ed secretary: judge teachers on how students do

Teachers should be judged on student performance, though not solely on test scores, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Monday.

When conflicts arise at Corona school, students resolve the disputes

Citrus Hills Intermediate School's award-winning Peer Assistance Leadership Program is lightening the administration's student discipline load. Trained students have mediated an average of 200 conflicts a year since the school in south Corona opened 11 years ago.

West Contra Costa teachers threatening strike

Heated contract negotiations between the West Contra Costa school district and its teachers union could culminate in a strike, union officials said.

Editorial: Smart choice for California schools

One possible escape route from underperforming schools will be shut off at the end of the month unless legislation is passed to keep it open. The "district of choice" program that has allowed school districts to enroll students from outside areas is scheduled to expire July 1.

UTLA files 14 complaints against LAUSD

Los Angeles teacher union officials filed 14 complaints against the L.A. Unified School District on Monday, claiming it allowed schools to spend too much federal stimulus money on out-of-classroom jobs, which they said would boost class sizes and jeopardize learning.

Pressuring parents helps S.F. slash truancy 23%

San Francisco schools showed a 23 percent drop in the number of elementary schoolchildren skipping classes this year as citywide efforts, including parental prosecution, appeared to be paying off, district officials told The Chronicle on Monday.

Taxes still the way in California budget crisis, some insist

The governor and Republican legislators say they're dead on arrival. But labor and education groups, health care and social service advocates and (a bit more quietly) some Democratic lawmakers continue to insist that tax hikes should be part of California's