March 10, 2010
http://www.arizonaea.org/blog

General Education
Budget overrides lose in Marana, Flowing Wells; Sahuarita's passes
Budget override proposals for two Tucson-area school districts hoping to stave off possible budget cuts were defeated by voters Tuesday.

Voters approve Kyrene, Tempe Elementary school overrides
Voters in Tempe, Chandler and Ahwatukee approved two school override extensions by wide margins.

Southwest Valley voters reject school budget overrides
Southwest Valley voters denied the majority of school district's budget overrides, resulting in the loss of $7.74 million in funding, according to unofficial results Tuesday.

Intel program brings teachers up to date on technology
The father of a student at Galveston Elementary School in Chandler needed to write a letter, but he didn't know how to use a computer.

Education key to attract business
What is important to Yuma business expansion is not merely increasing education funding but convincing residents of the importance of education says a keynote speaker for the Yuma and Business Education Council.

New national math, English standards drafted
Math and English instruction in the United States moved a step closer to uniform - and more rigorous - standards Wednesday as draft new national guidelines were released.

Free help available to AIMS takers
High-schoolers who failed test earlier are eligible
Thousands of Arizona high-school students are still trying to pass AIMS in order to earn their diplomas. For most of them, their last shot this school year will be April 7.

Why We Must Fire Bad Teachers
In no other profession are workers so insulated from accountability.
The relative decline of American education at the elementary- and high-school levels has long been a national embarrassment as well as a threat to the nation's future. Once upon a time, American students tested better than any other students in the world. Now, ranked against European schoolchildren, America does about as well as Lithuania, behind at least 10 other nations. Within the United States, the achievement gap between white students and poor and minority students stubbornly persists—and as the population of disadvantaged students grows, overall scores continue to sag. 

Politics/Politicians
ABCs O-U-T
A state budget-balancing plan likely to pass the Legislature this week echoes an all-too-familiar tune. It will spell disaster for the education system, ironically possibly making it harder for kids to learn how to spell.

Bill would nix Career Ladder for teachers
A bill that would eliminate a state-funded program that provides extra dollars for some Arizona school districts to reward teachers is headed to the House floor. 

Locals in the News
Vocational building for Payson HS will break ground in May
Money comes from voter approved bond fund and vocational institute
The Payson Unified School District’s brand new vocational building could be completed by October.

District OKs $75 early entrance testing fee
Gilbert parents will now have to pay a $75 testing fee if they want their child to undergo a kindergarten or first-grade early entrance screening. 

Gilbert district approves test fee for some 1st grade, K applicants
The Gilbert Public Schools governing board Tuesday approved a $75 screening fee for children registered to start kindergarten early and children new to the district who are entering first grade early.

Gilbert student suspended for knife at school
A student in the Gilbert Unified School District has been suspended after a knife was found Friday at Ashland Ranch Elementary School, said a district spokeswoman. 

Gilbert parents want response to school knife incident
Gilbert Public Schools officials tried to allay Ashland Ranch Elementary parents' concerns raised Tuesday about a child accused of bringing a knife to the school Friday near Lindsay and Ray roads.

Wrightstown School to shut, merge with Henry in the fall
Proposal gets unanimous OK; parents pleased
After a 96-year-run, Wrightstown Elementary School is shutting down.

Voters narrowly approve Glendale Elementary override
Glendale Elementary's special budget override election passed by a close margin, according to unofficial results released Tuesday.

Peoria Unified School District budget cuts discussed
Peoria Unified School District administrators and Peoria United Parent Council members discussed with more than 100 parents and community members the potential impact of budget cuts on the district.

Dysart Unified's school budget override narrowly approved
Voters narrowly approved Dysart's special budget override election, according to unofficial results.

Dysart Unified School District begins energy-efficiency grant process
The Dysart Unified School District recently was approved for an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act energy-efficiency grant project. Under the grant, the district would receive up to $1 million for energy-efficiency projects such as lighting upgrades.

Wickenburg Unified School District struggles to secure sensitive student data
Wickenburg Unified School District has not secured its computer system containing sensitive student data, including student addresses, birth dates and Social Security numbers, state auditors found.