Students at California Schools Need to Have a Well-Rounded Education

When students attending the California schools take a course in drama, they are not just learning about acting. They are also learning how to think creatively and work well with others. They are making connections between their own lives and the experiences of other people. Many students who pursue these types of classes also experience an increase in their self-confidence. All of these factors mean that these students tend to receive better test scores, whether they are attending California schools or not.

Having a broad base of knowledge will only benefit students as they go on to higher education or to work after they have finished their education. Unfortunately, too many California schools have focused their attention (and available funds) on math and reading, since these skills are being measured in standardized tests.

Benefits to Art Education at California Schools Shouldn’t Be Ignored

With this type of tunnel vision about the standardized tests and having students score well on them, it’s easy to see why anything not covered on the test could be discounted at California schools. The fact is that school should be about more than the students’ performance on Test Day. Simply because a student’s performance in art cannot be marked in the same way as a math exam, doesn’t make it any less important to students attending California schools.

Since including the Arts in the curriculum does lead to better test scores, then those young people going to the California schools should definitely be exposed to them. If the goal is to increase student performance on the standardized tests, then let’s encourage the administrators at California schools to use all the resources at their disposal to help the students to perform well. It’s a well recognized fact that multiple learning styles exist, and students who are visual learners thrive and make important synapse connections through creating.

Students who perform well on the standardized tests are more likely to stay in school, and we should be doing everything we can to help them do well. When young people attending California schools get off track and discouraged, they are at risk for dropping out of school. It is in all of our interests to encourage them to stay in school. Kids that drop out have fewer options than those who complete their education.

If the price we have to pay to keep kids in California schools until graduation is to invest in an art or music program, then I would consider that money well spent.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit California School Districts

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Keeping quality educators in the California schools is of primary concern to everyone in the state. Without well-educated California schools youth, the city, businesses and economy of the state will suffer. Thus, when Lionstone Group, a research-based real estate investment firm, announced last month they and CSTRS had formed a discretionary $100 million real estate investment fund, the news was well received by everyone. As with any organization, good benefits will attract and keep quality educators in the California schools.

What makes the announcement so exciting is Lionstone’s track record with another fund it created with the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF). Called the Cash Flow Office One, the fund has consistently exceeded expectations since its inception in December 2002. At that time, OPERF committed $75 million to the fund, expecting Lionstone to invest the capital within 24 months. Lionstone invested over 80 percent of OPERF’s capital within 12 months with excellent returns. OPERF expanded its funding commitment in 2004 and now has over $200 million of equity and owns 20 office buildings around the country that are valued at $550 million.

Like OPERF’s fund, the California schools educators’ fund, known as the Cash Flow Office Two, will target high occupancy office buildings in permanent locations across the United States.

CSTRS has committed $100 million to the fund, which can grow to over $500 million over time. Lionstone contributes one percent of the fund’s total equity. With the combined equity added to debt of up to 50 percent loan-to-value (LTV), the total buying power of the fund is approximately $1 billion.

The Lionstone Group was formed in 2001. It creates national investment strategies using primary research. Dedicated teams execute each investment strategy, including the fund for the California schools educators. Before creating the fund with the California schools educators’ retirement system, Lionstone refined their investment process to target locations that produce buildings with lower risk factors, according to Lionstone Principal Dan Dubrowski.

The California schools CSTRS Portfolio Manager Michael Thompson stated that the Lionstone management team over the Cash Flow Office Two fund is very entrepreneurial. He added that their skill set will enable CSTRS to continue to grow their core real estate portfolio.

This news gives all California schools educators hope for a better future, knowing they have an excellent resource during their tenure with the California schools and in retirement.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more information on California schools visit California Schools

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Traffic school isn’t a commonly discussed topic – that is not until you realize you need it. And when people realize they need or want to take traffic school, like many other ventures, they do their research first. Here are some answers to common searches on the ins and outs of California traffic school.

How often can you go to traffic school in California?
Ah, this is for the veteran. According to California Vehicle Code, a traffic course can be taken for every citation received in an 18 month period (18 months from the citation date).

What are the California traffic ticket fines?
This one is a little tricky because it depends on what type of ticket you receive. There are parking tickets, infraction tickets, and misdemeanor tickets. An infraction ticket, most likely assigned to someone who is speeding, running a red light or stop sign, etc., can be as hefty as $370 or more.

Can I go to traffic school for a speeding ticket?
Your “courtesy notice” as the state of California calls it, should tell you whether or not you are eligible. Generally you should be able to take a traffic safety course and have your ticket dismissed if you have not completed a class for a citation received in the last 18 months. When in doubt, contact the county court where you received your ticket.

How long is traffic school in California?
Location, location, location! The California traffic safety programs are technically 8 hours long. However, depending on your county, a time requirement may not be enforced. This means that it all depends on your reading and comprehension skills. But watch out not to skim too much and flunk the end of course exam!

What about California traffic ticket extensions?
Whether it is for the ticket or to meet the traffic school deadline, the Superior Court Traffic Services allows you to request an extension. The extension can be a 60 day extension from the court appearance date on the ticket or a 30 day extension for the traffic safety course completion.

What are my rights for a California speeding ticket/infraction?
Well, and this is if you’ve decided not to fight your ticket, you should not get any points on your record if this is your first ticket AND the court allows traffic school. The court should be able to tell you whether or not this is an option and what schools are approved.

What is the California Traffic Court procedure?
When you’ve been cited for a traffic infraction, you may have to sign a “Notice to Appear”, by signing the ticket. This does not mean you are guilty. It simply means you promise to go to court or pay the fine. If you received an infraction traffic ticket, you most likely can do everything you need by mail. A trial by mail is also called a trial by written declaration.

You can ask the court if you can plead guilty and pay the fine by mail and pay to take a traffic safety course, or have a trial by mail. If you don’t go to court or pay the fine, your license can be suspended and you could be charged with a misdemeanor and have a warrant issued for your arrest.

How do I know what traffic school I can take?
Most California counties allow you to complete online traffic safety courses from approved providers.

Visit http://www.trafficschooltogo.com/ to see if traffic school is approved online for your county and court contact information and locations.

http://www.trafficschooltogo.com/

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The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has been mired in controversy ever since it was introduced by president Bush five years ago. Its proponents insist the bill is the only solution to improve the education system in the country. Opponents argue that it’s a one size fits all option that attempts to micromanage schools with out taking into consideration other factors that are a measure of a school’s success.

California school districts have been vociferous in their opposition to NCLB, and now teachers in the state’s schools are demanding that the state’s politicians do their bit to help block NCLB. Authorities in California schools have appealed to Congress to block the reauthorization plans for NCLB that have been brought forward by two of the state’s most prominent politicians -Democratic senator George Miller of Solano, Chairman of the House Labor Relations and Education Committee, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat from San Francisco. California schools say Miller and Pelosi’s proposed reauthorization continues to focus on school scores on standardized tests as a measure of the school’s ranking and does not take into consideration other factors like attendance rates in California schools and the difficulty of the curriculum. They also propose that NCLB should take into consideration the numbers of students graduating from California schools, and the numbers of students taking part in honors or advanced placement courses in deciding school rankings.

How NCLB Negatively Impacts California Schools

This year NCLB labeled one in every four California schools as “failing.” Among the California schools labeled with this dreaded tag was a distinguished school that had managed to successfully clear 45 out of the 46 components in NCLB. The reason it was labeled “failing”? Ten students did not score high enough on one English language test. It is situations like these that are getting people in the California schools up in arms about a law they feel punishes low performing schools and teachers to the extent that they fall further down the rankings. It also pulls down high performing schools because of low test scores in one isolated subject.

Experts at California schools insist the NCLB has a blinkered approach, and their fears have been compounded by the Miller Pelosi reauthorization proposal which they say will continue to punish teachers in California schools. The state estimates that it will need at least 100,000 teachers in the next 10 years and fears the continuation of NCLB will discourage new recruits. The Miller-Pelosi proposal erodes local control while giving Washington the power to micromanage its schools. California schools are equipped to handle their own affairs and decide what works best for their students, and should be allowed to do so.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit California School Districts

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1) School location – you might not worry where a fashion school is as long as it’s within California. But you should understand that California fashion schools can frequently be gauged by their locations. Find a California fashion school which is near fashion centers. This means you need to find a California fashion school which is situated where all the action is. This will assist you as a student as it will give you exposure to what’s out there in the real world.

Some pupils would favour a California high school that’s situated in a place which would inspire them. Some select to attend California fashion schools which are situated near the sea or close to nature. From the scenery, a student can derive inspiration enough to create a fresh work of couture art.

2) Financial considerations – there’s likewise the cost to think of. California fashion schools cost money. There’s no denying that truth. The question that persists is: “how much money ought it cost you?”

There are, naturally, schools which offer up discounted tuition for assorted reasons. Some are having declines in registration. Some might barely be beginning their operation and are attempting to break into the marketplace. In choosing these schools, you could save a lot of hard currency. Still, you had better consider that you may be sacrificing quality for cost.

You could also consider attending schools which are more esteemed. These schools might require you to pay a good deal of cash in order to learn there. All the same, you should remember that high price does not necessarily equate to high quality. You need to recognize that in some schools you will not be paying for an education but you’ll be paying for the name.

3) Independent or not – should you side with a California fashion school which is a part of a esteemed university, or ought you attend one which stands on its own two feet? There are instances when a California fashion school inside a university is best as the name on your CV will help you get great jobs easier. Even so, there’s likewise something to be said for an independent school which can hold its own versus the big names.

One matter you had better look at is the fact that in a large school, you’re more often than not paying for the name of the school and not for the calibre of training. You’re paying up extra cash to have the name of the university on your resume. This would help you get a job easier.

The fashion cosmos, however, rarely cares for the name of a university if it doesn’t perform well. If you have the name of a great independent school on your listing, you may find it easier to get a job.

Selecting a California fashion school may look like a difficult task. However, by reading these tips and genuinely knowing what you require, you can make it a really easy experience for yourself.

James Hunaban is the owner of http://fashion-school.jims-info.com a site full of fashion school information.

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Of course, the best California law school education that anybody could have is Stanford Law School. Stanford Law School is one of the best California law schools out there as it is one of the finest Ivy League schools that anybody could ever attend. It is located in Palo Alto, California which is what it makes it one of the best schools in California simply because the area is so beautiful. There is sunshine two thirds of the day of the year, and there is never any snow or ice in Palo Alto. It is a California law school paradise!

The thing about this school is that they have over 4000 applications to fill a class of about 200 students each and every year. This makes it one of the more stiffly competitive of the California law schools out there each and every year, as most of the students who have been admitted have above a 3.8 grade point average and a high LSAT score, usually above 160 points.

U.C. Berkeley also has one of the most esteemed of the California law schools. T is one of the heftiest of the California law schools out there, boasting a lovely campus in the San Francisco Bay area and it is considered to be one of the top ten law schools in the entire United States let alone the state of California. They have all types of fields of law to deal with, from intellectual property laws to environmental laws, to child and family law and other things.

The admissions process to this California law school is such a hefty one that many people don’t even submit an application and pays the fee, as it is very difficult to get into the school. All of the applications to this school are hand-read by people, gone over with the intensity that is given to each and every potential student. There are thousands of applications to be read and very few of them are actually admitted into the school, as well as the different letters of recommendation and individual grade point averages and test scores.

Remember that the different California law schools out there are all based on different requirements, and they have a different style of learning than many other schools. Choose your California law school wisely.

You can get into the law school of your choice. Get your FREE newsletter with the secrets to getting into the Top Law Schools. Simply go to http://www.be-a-lawyer.info for your free report.

Dean Novosat has studied the secrets to getting into Law School. He reveals these secrets on his new website http://www.be-a-lawyer.info

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A few decades ago, driver’s education was traditionally taught in regular high school classes in California. However, shrinking school budgets has limited the availability of driver education classes in these high schools. The Internet has created a low cost alternative to acquire driver’s education from private driving schools. In California, there are a number of agencies that offer driving education to people.

It is considered a privilege for citizens to obtain a California driver’s license. It ensures that the driver knows the rules of the road and what steps need to be taken to get a driver’s license at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (CADMV). Services such as dmv.org have a variety of links that enable people to find out the current answers to CA DMV driver license questions.

TeenDriversEducation.com offers online driver’s education courses to high school students throughout California. The courses are developed by Golden State Private Schools, an institution licensed by the California Board of Education and recognized by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It has helped over 20,000 California residents obtain their driver’s license.

California’s Home Study Drivers Education Class is a service of Pacific High School. This home study correspondence course satisfies the California Vehicle Code driver education requirements for students to obtain a DMV learners permit and drivers license.

APS is a unique Internet study and testing system for driver’s education in California. It provides California driver’s education, online driver’s test, California driver’s test, online drivers education and driver’s test.

Many organizations offer a way for students to study driver’s education on their own, instead taking 30 hours of classes in a local driving school. These online services have proven to be a convenient source of obtaining driver’s license in California.

Drivers Education provides detailed information on driver education, driver education online, driver education classes, driver education schools and more. Drivers Education is affiliated with Truck Driving Schools.

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California School Districts have a racially and ethnically diverse population; more so than in any other state and the numbers of immigrants keeps growing. This diversity is reflected in California schools. Many of the California schools have large student populations that originate from linguistic minorities, or from families that are still in the process of learning English. This fact has led to California schools being high on the national list of schools with limited fluency in the English language. Add cultural and social differences to the linguistic problem, and it isn’t surprising to find that California schools are beginning to slide down the scale.

School Rankings and California Schools

The entire premise of the No Child Left Behind program aims to allow each child the chance at a high quality education. This is admirable, but it doesn’t take into account the fact that not all the children in the country are the same. This is especially true in California schools with their huge ethnic and linguistic minority students. Expecting children of varied cultures, and across all linguistic divides, to perform equally well on a standardized test can be a futile exercise. A standardized test doesn’t take into account the vast differences in cultures, family backgrounds, abilities and experiences of children in the California Schools. That’s why it’s doomed to fail as a measure of a student’s or child’s standing in the educational system.

Promoting California Schools: Walk the Walk

When it comes to the state of California schools, politicians are more than eager to mouth platitudes that sound great on paper but fizzle when it comes to putting them to action. One particular requirement of No Child Left Behind is mandatory testing of at least 95 per cent of students in a school. This requirement means little in California schools, where parents have the right to refuse to allow their children to be tested. What this trickles down to, in effect, is that even good quality schools might not find the required number of students to test, which means a black mark and a possible slide down the public school rankings for a perfectly good institution. Another provision of the program allows students to leave schools that fail any one the program’s requirements. This sounds great in theory until you realize that it is the California school district that has to foot the bill to transfer these students to other schools, adding to the congestion problem in already overcrowded schools. When it comes to implementing the No Child Left Behind program, California schools are finding more stumbling blocks than in other states.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit California School Districts

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His acting career took off with the successful Conan the Barbarian with Schwarzenegger in the lead and chosen specifically for his perfect physique. In 1997, he was proclaimed the greatest bodybuilder of the 20th century, and the Guiness Book of World Records named him “the most perfectly developed man in the history of the world”.

Among his many business ventures, Schwarzenegger owns World Gym Enterprises and All Star Fitness Products, and is co-responsible for the Arnold Classic Pro Bodybuilding and Fitness shows. Additionally, he headed the Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for former President Bush.

Is it any wonder that, as governor for the state of California, Schwarzenegger wants California schools’ students to exercise more, eat better, and be more physically fit. To that end, he has issued a challenge to all California schools’ students in order promote an increased level of physical activity.

He wants all kindergarten through 12th grade California schools’ students to run, jump and squat for 30-to-60 minutes a day, at least three times a week for the next four weeks. The incentive — the school with the highest percentage of participation at the end of the four-week challenge wins a new fitness center/gymnasium. The next eleven school runner-ups will each receive $1,000 with which to purchase fitness equipment.

Schwarzenegger’s promotion of healthy California schools’ students doesn’t end there. Two bills have been introduced to improve school nutrition, effective July 2007. One bill requires all foods sold in California schools’ vending machines to meet high nutritional standards, regulating the number of calories for both fat and sugar. The second bill limits the type of drinks sold at California schools to water, milk, and some fruit and sport drinks that are low in sweeteners.

Not only is Schwarzenegger big on physical fitness and its benefits to California schools’ children, who are among the nation’s growing obese statistics, but a statewide review on physical fitness within the California schools was released last November 2006. The findings were atrocious.

The study found that nearly half of the California school’s ninth graders could not briskly run one mile. Almost 1.4 million California school’s students were tested in fifth, seventh and ninth grades. Less than a third met all minimum benchmarks for body fat, abdominal strength, and flexibility.

Governor Schwarzenegger is doing what it takes to help California schools’ students become and stay physically fit. If children do not do it while in school, it can affect their entire adult life with obese-related illnesses and health problems.

Parents, teachers and California schools interested in participating can register online and track their schools’ progress against other California schools at: www.calgovcouncil.org.

Patricia Hawke is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations and education for relocating families. For more information please California Schools

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The First 5 Initiative of California Schools focused on early care and education, parenting and support services, health and social services, school readiness for children/school capacity, and program infrastructure, administration and evaluation. Ending in 2006, this initiative completed its purpose and was followed by other California School readiness initiatives. California Schools are invested in the idea that preschools have tremendous influence and power.

The First 5 Initiative Of California Schools has formulated a task force that also branches into other areas of student help. California Schools have earned an A on their childhood obesity report cards, owing in part to the California First 5 obesity prevention campaign. The group constructed ads targeting parents and warning of the dangers accompanying obesity. Physical education programs have become more prominent in California Schools in keeping with the struggle against obesity, particularly in young children. First 5 California is attempting to stop the obesity trend in California Schools through student, parent and community awareness.

In the hopes that children of migrant workers might receive equally well-grounded educations in California Schools, the California First 5 has undertaken the challenge of funding the California First 5 Children of Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers project, which has targeted 3 and 4 year old children since its inception in 2003. This program helps struggling families in California Schools receive educational childcare, enroll more students, find transportation and improve test scores.

In October 2005, California First 5 found that a serious percentage of students entering kindergarten lack the necessary skills to succeed in California Schools. In an effort to allow children the chance to begin on equal footing in grade school, the California First 5 has acknowledged that all previous student preparation is simply the groundwork of what must eventually be achieved. California Schools’ children who participate in early childhood programs are more successful than those children that don’t. Therefore, the California First 5 has doubled their dedication and hopes to alert more parents to the seriousness of childhood education. California First 5 encourages parents to read regularly to their children and be aware of the benefits of preschool.

California Schools recognize the geographic sprawl of their state. In order to unify and aid incoming students, progress must be made in the partnership between parents and the school systems. California First 5 works to comprehensively alert parents and makes efforts to keep them aware of urgent trends, such as the youth obesity crisis in America. As shown in the results of past initiatives, California Schools have succeeded in their agendas primarily due to parent involvement and the success of upcoming programs will continue to depend upon parental participation.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools.

For more information please visit California Schools

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