1. San Diego Tribune-Union reports that California community schools’ fees will drop on Jan. 1. The fee decrease – from $26 to $20 per unit – was approved this fall over concerns about falling enrollment in the state community college system.

http://tinyurl.com/vkyzu

2. The San Francisco Chronicle lists the obituary of Jerry Kenney, the former principal of Hillcrest Elementary School and a graduate of Mission HS.

http://tinyurl.com/ykc92o

3. The BBC reports that the Queen honored a school clerk and paraprofessional in this year’s New Year’s Honors List. Both were made Members of the Order of the British Empire. (MBE) Way to go, Elizabeth II!!

http://tinyurl.com/yxf4jt

4. The Boston Globe reports that the Massachuetts Teachers Association released its report, “Fulfilling the Promise of Education Reform, ” the union’s action guide for the coming year. In 2007, the organization will push for legislation and funding for more early childhood programs, full-day kindergarten for all, as well as reduced class sizes.

http://tinyurl.com/y54ms8

5. The Milwaukee Journal reports that the Racine Unified School District debates neighborhood schools versus segregation with a study of the district’s demographics and a community advisory group.

http://tinyurl.com/yzf67l

6. The Daily Mail reports on a British government’s efforts to provide subsidies to encourage students to bike to school.

http://tinyurl.com/yzakpq

7. The New York Times does an end-of-year editorial on the results of “No Child Left Behind”
legislation.

http://tinyurl.com/yjc96l

8. The New York Daily News reports that Randi Weingarten, the president of the United Federation of Teachers (the teachers’ union in New York) was stumped on fractions on a live radio show.

http://tinyurl.com/y4pcl5

9. The York Dispatch reports on a growing controversary of cyber schools among the school districts in Pennsylvania. School districts are required to cover the tutition of students living in the district who are attending cyber schools-but the districts are complaining that the cyber schools are not meeting Pennsylvania’s curriculum standards.

http://tinyurl.com/uk7bx

10. The Christian Monitor reports on a Teacher of the Year who moved to one of Alabama’s poorest elementary schools. It hasn’t been a bed of roses, but Betsy along with the school’s teachers, administrators and parents, are making a difference.

http://tinyurl.com/vrsb3

11. The Seattle Times reports that Gary Ray of Ray and Associates who is the consultant for Seattle Public School’s superintendent search, is stating that Seattle Public Schools should have a list of finalists in April. Ray is also urging the Seattle School Board to raise the superintendent’s salary from $178,000 to $240,000.

http://tinyurl.com/yep5qt

12. The Arizona Republic reports that an autistic 10 year old won a spelling bee for his elementary school. Round after round, Theo Vermaas correctly spelled the words he was given, never asking for them to be repeated or for their meaning: “exhume,” “mentor” and, for the win, “durable.”

http://tinyurl.com/yc5fbo

13. San Jose Mercury reports that Los Gatos High School students will be given random Breathalyzer tests at school functions, starting in January 2007.

http://tinyurl.com/ymelrf

14. The SF Chronicle reports that LAUSD staff will be asking the LA School Board to make some reforms with middle school education, including longer school days, extra classes during winter and summer break for failing students and more counselors for LAUSD’s middle schools.

http://tinyurl.com/y37v9h

15. SF Examiner reports that the U.S. Dept. of Education praised Gateway High School in upcoming report on charter schools.

http://tinyurl.com/y28qkb