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	<title>usclettermen.org &#187; special</title>
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	<link>http://www.usclettermen.org</link>
	<description>Providing Information on Getting into the Best Education in California</description>
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		<title>Drivers Education In California</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/50/drivers-education-in-california</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/50/drivers-education-in-california#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:39:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[driving school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education course]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education courses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[high school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[high schools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[private school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[private schools]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.usclettermen.org/?p=50</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A high school student spends over 30 hours each week in a classroom. The State of California requires a student to spend 30 hours in driver&#8217;s education sessions to obtain a learner&#8217;s permit. There are also drivers education courses offered online that allow people to study at home at a pace, schedule and time of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">A high school student spends over 30 hours each week in a classroom. The State of California requires a student to spend 30 hours in driver&#8217;s education sessions to obtain a learner&#8217;s permit. There are also drivers education courses offered online that allow people to study at home at a pace, schedule and time of their choice. A computerized program scores the exams and a DMV Certificate of completion is mailed out to the successful online attendees. The system is designed to work well with PC&#8217;s and Mac&#8217;s and with any Internet connection speed. There is no special plug-ins needed.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A few decades ago, driver&#8217;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&#8217;s education from private driving schools. In California, there are a number of agencies that offer driving education to people.</p>
<p><span id="more-50"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It is considered a privilege for citizens to obtain a California driver&#8217;s license. It ensures that the driver knows the rules of the road and what steps need to be taken to get a driver&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">TeenDriversEducation.com offers online driver&#8217;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&#8217;s license.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">California&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">APS is a unique Internet study and testing system for driver&#8217;s education in California. It provides California driver&#8217;s education, online driver&#8217;s test, California driver&#8217;s test, online drivers education and driver&#8217;s test.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Many organizations offer a way for students to study driver&#8217;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&#8217;s license in California.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Tobey</p>
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		<title>The Unique Challenges That Face California Schools</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/47/the-unique-challenges-that-face-california-schools</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/47/the-unique-challenges-that-face-california-schools#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:38:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california schools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[educational]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[no child left behind]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[public school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public school rankings]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.usclettermen.org/?p=47</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The standards of California schools, once regarded as some of the best in the country have begun to slip in nationwide rankings, not just in comparison to past levels but also in comparison to other states in the country. To understand the reason for this decline in California schools, it&#8217;s necessary to cast an eye [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">The standards of California schools, once regarded as some of the best in the country have begun to slip in nationwide rankings, not just in comparison to past levels but also in comparison to other states in the country. To understand the reason for this decline in California schools, it&#8217;s necessary to cast an eye on what makes the golden state the richly diverse melting pot it is &#8211; it&#8217;s legions of immigrant populations.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;t surprising to find that California schools are beginning to slide down the scale.</p>
<p><span id="more-47"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">School Rankings and California Schools</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;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&#8217;t take into account the vast differences in cultures, family backgrounds, abilities and experiences of children in the California Schools. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s doomed to fail as a measure of a student&#8217;s or child&#8217;s standing in the educational system.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Promoting California Schools: Walk the Walk</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Hawke</p>
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		<title>Northern California Colleges</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/37/northern-california-colleges</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/37/northern-california-colleges#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:10:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california colleges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california community college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colleges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colleges and universities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community colleges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[continuing legal education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[educational]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[higher education]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.usclettermen.org/?p=37</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[California has the nation’s largest educational system. Its wide-variety in campus experiences are what most students like about going to college here. There are over 400 Colleges and universities in the state that offer an increasing number of courses and fields of study. California is divided into the North and South, both of which offer [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">California has the nation’s largest educational system. Its wide-variety in campus experiences are what most students like about going to college here. There are over 400 Colleges and universities in the state that offer an increasing number of courses and fields of study. California is divided into the North and South, both of which offer competitive college education. Northern California Colleges specialize in the fields of engineering, education and the arts.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">North California Colleges provide a wide-range of campus options ranging from private to public and UC, State U, or Community College options. In 2005, funding was increased for the Higher Education Budget and this made North California Colleges admit add more students to its already large enrollment turnout. Among the attractions in taking up College in North California is its proximity to the California wine country, very popular for its scenic vineyards and wine country tours.</p>
<p><span id="more-37"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">North California colleges are less popularly known compared to their southern counterparts. Housing and off-campus housing is very good. A recent research ranks North California among the more livable parts of the State. It provides ambient academic atmosphere especially for students who are not from the state of California.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">To better choose which North California College you want to take up, a prospective student can take a campus tour provided by the colleges for free and by appointment. The beaches of California are flanked by students in spring and summer. And they do get a lot of sun in the Golden State. Californians normally choose to remain in the state for college education.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The North California region is a hub for tourist and travelers who fall in love with the place that they decide to stay after a visit or two. The employment and career opportunities in California are very good. As a student you may work part time at the College Library and other numerous institutions offering part time jobs on campus.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">California Colleges provides detailed information on California Colleges, California Community Colleges, Northern California Colleges, California Junior Colleges and more. California Colleges is affiliated with Continuing Legal Education.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside</p>
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		<title>California Colleges</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/24/california-colleges</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/24/california-colleges#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:55:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california colleges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california community college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college education]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[degree]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[high school]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[university]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.usclettermen.org/?p=24</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The State of California spends one of the largest budget allocations to public education &#8211; in fact, some 40% of its tax revenue is devoted to education.
There are three collegiate level divisions that a college-bound student can get to in California. One is the University of California which has nine general Campuses. It intends to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">The State of California spends one of the largest budget allocations to public education &#8211; in fact, some 40% of its tax revenue is devoted to education.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are three collegiate level divisions that a college-bound student can get to in California. One is the University of California which has nine general Campuses. It intends to accept the upper 12.5% of college-bound students and provides most of the graduate studies and research.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The California State Colleges, on the other hand, is where many of the college-bound population end up. It has 23 campuses and has more than 400,000 students in enrolled. CSU is the largest college system in the United States.</p>
<p><span id="more-24"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The California Community Colleges System, meanwhile, provides vocational education, remedial education, and continuing education programs. There are several certificate and associate degrees that these Community Colleges give. In 2005 it enrolled 2.9 million students in 109 colleges in 72 districts.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Many private institutions of note such as Stanford and University of Southern California (USC) share the remaining, usually elite population of the college-bound students. Aside from these many specialty colleges run by religious and multi-sectoral organizations find their niche in arts and music. Southern California has more competitive choir groups than in any part of the United States.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Campus Life in any of the California Colleges differs from the resources of each Campus. In USC, alcohol use is allowed for students of legal age. If you&#8217;re eyeing yourself on College education, then it is best that you find out about the SAT requirements of each school and try to work hard to achieve a well-rounded lifestyle while in high school. Units in the general education program of any College are recognized by the University of California and transferable in case you&#8217;re planning to shift colleges. The good thing about California Colleges is you can get as much freedom with their extensive choice in housing and offer in Campus employment. Student Organizations are very active in hosting cultural nights and are the forerunners of Campus Activity. In 2005, 20% of male undergrads are members of Fraternity and 15% of female undergrads are members of Sororities. Hazing is prohibited in the state of California.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">California Colleges are a cut above the rest when it comes to funding. The student population is very high and kids going to college are getting higher each year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">California Colleges provides detailed information on California Colleges, California Community Colleges, Northern California Colleges, California Junior Colleges and more. California Colleges is affiliated with Continuing Legal Education.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside</p>
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		<title>Top Artists Join Music Project to Benefit the California Schools</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/18/top-artists-join-music-project-to-benefit-the-california-schools</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/18/top-artists-join-music-project-to-benefit-the-california-schools#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:53:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california schools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.usclettermen.org/?p=18</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Over the past decade, music has been severely declining within the California schools. A recent study showed that within the past five years there has been a 50 percent decline in student participation in music programs. Additionally, it showed that one third of all music teachers have lost their jobs within that same time frame. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Over the past decade, music has been severely declining within the California schools. A recent study showed that within the past five years there has been a 50 percent decline in student participation in music programs. Additionally, it showed that one third of all music teachers have lost their jobs within that same time frame. The study predicts that music education will be eliminated from the California schools within the next ten years, unless dramatic changes occur. Music within the California schools system is at a critical juncture.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Singer Bonnie Raitt said, “It’s a shame we are depriving so many California children of the benefits of music in schools.” She stated that every child deserves the chance to develop their fullest with a well-rounded education, including the arts.</p>
<p><span id="more-18"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">To that end, the California Arts Council spearheaded the California Music Project (CMP), a 401(c)(3) nonprofit, long-term initiative. The California schools, music industry executives, and the council will work together through the CMP to bring much needed revenues and music programs back into the California schools. The goals of the CMP are to:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">• Provide grant funding to music teachers, music professionals, and the California schools to bring more music leaning to students;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">• Develop joint ventures with universities, businesses, foundations and music-focused organizations to fund, pilot and expand music programs within the California schools; and</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">• Serve as an advocate to both the public and private sectors to further music as a core discipline, so that every California schools students has equal access.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed and approved a state budget with the California schools slated to receive an estimated $105 million in ongoing funding for arts education. That is an estimated $17-18 per student. Included is a one-time allocation of $500 million for arts, music and physical education equipment. Yet, it will not be enough to reverse the tremendous, almost ten-year decline of music education within the California schools. The California schools remain underfunded and understaffed in music education.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The CMP plans to heighten awareness and raise funds through all-star music CDs with top California performers, special events, and concerts around the state.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The first CD is scheduled for release in late October. Artists, publishers and labels donate all the songs and performances, with proceeds going to the CMP. It features a variety of genres from 18 California singers, musicians and bands. Included are: Los Lobos, Leela James, Beck, Dwight Yoakam, Warrne Zevon, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and others.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The artists are very passionate about their work and want to see California schools students get some of the same attention they received while growing up around music. Working with the CMP, the artists may get their wish.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Hawke</p>
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		<title>Online University Education in California</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/15/online-university-education-in-california</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/15/online-university-education-in-california#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:51:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colleges]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.usclettermen.org/?p=15</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Online education was a relatively unknown concept till even a few years back. With the advent of computer and especially the Internet technology, the general level of interaction has increased among people. More and more people have engaged a significant part of their time in dealing with the virtual world. In fact, higher education was [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Online education was a relatively unknown concept till even a few years back. With the advent of computer and especially the Internet technology, the general level of interaction has increased among people. More and more people have engaged a significant part of their time in dealing with the virtual world. In fact, higher education was also bound to be affected during such a transitional phase.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Recent researches and surveys undertaken on the college going student population indicate a growing surge in the number of online learners with each passing day. The initial studies are made in California, which being a growing state exhibits a maximum increase in the college participation index. The California University of Technology is one of the few online educational institutes that offer excellent online graduate and undergraduate degree programs to students from all over the world.</p>
<p><span id="more-15"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With the increasing pace of daily life time had become one of the most crucial and valuable assets. A fairly large number of people are getting interested in online degree programs in order to avoid the time consuming registration hassles for getting admitted to a regular on site course facility offered by the universities and colleges throughout the state. The picture is not only true for California but is also applicable to a number of other states throughout United States of America.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The second most important factor that makes online system of instruction so important in California itself is the gradually growing trend of work study culture. In order to keep pace with the increasing expenses for daily sustenance a number of professionals are seeking online education portals as the only solution for getting academic training for upgrading their careers. Such fulltime working candidates are a considerable part of the total student population in California and they are satiated by these effective online programs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">California University Online Degrees reinforce students with the necessary knowledge resource, helping them not only to foresee but also to fulfill their career aspirations. Actually, these online degree programs that are offered by the California University of Technology are well customized as per the regular course standards, providing the students with the desired academic and research exposure, necessary for their future achievements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The California University online degree programs offer simulated online class sessions that the students can attend by just sitting in front of their computer terminals in the privacy of their own homes. The classes are well organized and have open ended discussion sessions through interactive chats between the students and the instructors. An online class session at the California University of Technology is overall a thoroughly enriching experience for the students as it has all the attributes of a real time on site class taken at any conventional graduate or undergraduate program offered by an accredited university or college.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The main degree programs offered at the California University of Technology include online Bachelor of Business Administration, the online Master of Business Administration and the online Doctorate of Business Administration. Apart from these, there is also an online dual degree program that caters to the needs of prospective candidates with a joint MBA &#8211; DBA degree.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The credit hours are such organized that they perfectly provide the students with a thorough retrospect of the past and present works in their field of interest. The class sessions are backed by group discussions, projects, seminars and workshops with the help of modern online educational software, iPODs, PDAs, etc. The courses are synchronized keeping in minds the regular University level course standards and are regularly monitored by Graduate Advisors through student- faculty interactive chat sessions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The California University of Technology therefore provides the students and researchers with an excellent interactive platform for getting an in depth training in both academic and professional aspects for future prospects in those fields.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">To know more on online degrees visit http://www.onlinedegreeshub.com/online-degrees-available-places/california/</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ritz_White</p>
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		<title>Special Education Needs Causing Financial Crisis in California Schools</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/12/special-education-needs-causing-financial-crisis-in-california-schools</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/12/special-education-needs-causing-financial-crisis-in-california-schools#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:50:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Now, I am all for special education for children with disabilities. I attended school at a time when such children were either put into “special” schools or thrown in with the general student population to sink or swim on their own. It was a terrible inequity. It finally was addressed in the 1970s with a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Now, I am all for special education for children with disabilities. I attended school at a time when such children were either put into “special” schools or thrown in with the general student population to sink or swim on their own. It was a terrible inequity. It finally was addressed in the 1970s with a law designed to correct such discrimination by giving these children the civil right to an equal opportunity to learn. The law covered children from birth to age 22, guaranteeing them the right to a free and “appropriate” public education. It is the ambiguous word “appropriate” written into the law that is creating a crisis for the California schools, according to Nanette Asimov, staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The article cited a situation of one California schools child with a disability. The assigned public middle school offered special college prep classes, daily help from a special education expert, a laptop computer, extra time for tests, the opportunity to temporarily leave class if the child’s had an anxiety attack, and a special advocate to smooth over any problems with teachers.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">The parents hired a special consultant instead, who found alternative schooling opportunities — all were private schools and all were out-of-state. They settled on a boarding school in Maine, outside the main city, that had one-tenth of the enrollment of the California schools. The one thing this school did not offer was a special education program. The mother said that smaller classrooms and a smaller campus were more important than a special education program. Since the possibility of anxiety attacks was mentioned in the article, no one can truly judge the merit of this situation except the child’s physician and/or psychologist.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">After the child was placed into the private school, the parents then hired an attorney, who specializes in special education cases, to file papers with the court demanding the California schools pay four years of tuition and family travel costs between California and Maine. Tuition was $30,000 annually. The California schools met the demands.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is only one such case in the California schools, which may or may not have been justified. The problem is that it is not the only case. In 2005, there were 3,763 California schools children with disabilities that were the focus of formal complaints — the vast majority of which came from parents. This is triple the number of only ten years ago, and the numbers are growing.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With a cost of almost $40,000 to go to a court hearing and the possibility of an expensive judgment, the California schools attempt to settle cases before they get that far. In 2005, ten percent of the California schools’ cases went to a full hearing — 386 in all. The remaining 90 percent were resolved through confidential settlements. With 700,000 special needs students currently in the California schools and already paying hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for private placements, the school system is headed for a financial crisis.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 2004, the California schools received $4.1 billion for special education from the government and local sources. It was still not enough to pay these extra settlement costs, and the California schools had to take $1.6 billion from the regular class budget. Twenty-eight percent of the special education expenditures that year came from the regular education budget.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">California schools educators complain that parents who are able to afford an attorney are assured more opportunities for their children than those who cannot afford to do so, creating an inequity between the haves and have-nots. Additionally, special education teachers see benefits to special programs, such as horseback riding therapy, but acknowledge that such parent demands are not education related. California schools parents and educators are at odds.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Parents are making tuition payment demands of the California schools for such programs as private day schools, boarding schools, summer camps, horseback riding therapy, and aqua therapy. Additionally, the California schools are expected to pay for computers, airfare, car rental, hotel stays, meals, new clothing and tailoring for the children, cell phone calls, stamps, gas and tolls, and future round-trip visits from time of enrollment until the children graduate from high school.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In all, the California schools are paying billions of dollars each year for private placements and auxiliary costs. It is creating an inequity for children the civil rights law was passed to protect and a financial crisis for the California schools.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I have to admit that I wanted every opportunity possible for my child to live a happy and normal adult life. I had a special needs child and spent many hours sitting in principals’ offices and at the school board demanding that his needs be met. I was thankful that he received access to the available offerings within the public school system.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In my view, however, it is not a question of right or wrong, justified expenditure or not. It is a question of the legislators going back and specifically defining the word “appropriate”. Until then, the California schools are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, which means less opportunities all the way around.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This information on California schools is brought to you by http://www.schoolsk-12.com</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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 on California schools visit California Schools.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Hawke</p>
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		<title>Studies Find Multiple Strategies Needed to Improve California Schools</title>
		<link>http://www.usclettermen.org/3/studies-find-multiple-strategies-needed-to-improve-california-schools</link>
		<comments>http://www.usclettermen.org/3/studies-find-multiple-strategies-needed-to-improve-california-schools#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:46:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[California Education News]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.usclettermen.org/?p=3</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For the past three years California Schools have been the subject of an in-depth analysis of school reform. The study, Beyond the Mountains: An Early Look at Restructuring Results in California, conducted by the Center on Education Policy (CEP), is part of a multi-year review of the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">For the past three years California Schools have been the subject of an in-depth analysis of school reform. The study, Beyond the Mountains: An Early Look at Restructuring Results in California, conducted by the Center on Education Policy (CEP), is part of a multi-year review of the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) on Maryland, Michigan and California Schools.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The examination concerns specific restructuring methods used by California Schools and their success. According to CEP founder and president Jack Jennings, “While it is still too early to tell whether restructuring is working, it is clear from the experience of California and Michigan, the two states we have studied in-depth, that simply requiring schools to replace staff does not guarantee increased student achievement. Rather, success is linked to implementing multiple improvement strategies.”</p>
<p><span id="more-3"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is of critical concern to California Schools for a couple of reasons. California Schools have more schools facing restructuring than most other states for several reasons. School restructuring is mandated by the NCLB act for any schools unable to meet its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) markers for five or more consecutive years. One reason that California Schools saw the number of its schools facing this mandate double to 8% in the last year is because of its massive size. Also, California Schools implemented AYP markers a year before it was federally mandated. Of the California Schools facing restructuring, over 60% are in urban areas.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The numbers don’t look good. 207 of the California Schools in the implementation phase of restructuring failed to meet AYP standards for seven consecutive years. That’s why the CEP study has such import. The study concluded that the California Schools that were most successful in raising student achievement were those that analyzed school data and implemented initiatives designed to meet those specific needs. This is important because the US Department of Education previously recommended replacing staff rather than other forms of restructuring.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Other reform methods in California Schools include instituting English Language Learner programs, direct coaching for teachers and principals, changes in scheduling and the hiring of a district-level coordinator. The California Schools that used the above methods, without replacing staff or changing to a charter system, were generally more successful than the other schools studied. What will this mean for the future of California Schools?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It’s likely that funds for teacher planning time, instructional coaches and special instruction for at-risk students will appear on coming legislation. As noted by Jennings, the California Schools still have a long road ahead before the success of many programs can be fully evaluated. That’s why California Schools need the quantifiable results of a study like this one.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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 Public Schools</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Hawke</p>
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