schools in california http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for schools in california Copyright 2008 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:47:59 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/schools+in+california Fashion Marketing Schools In California: Is The World Of Fashion Marketing In The Golden State Right For You? http://www.artwoo.com/article/fashion-marketing-schools-in-california-is-the-world-of-fashion-marketing-in-the-golden-state-right-for-you http://www.artwoo.com/article/fashion-marketing-schools-in-california-is-the-world-of-fashion-marketing-in-the-golden-state-right-for-you#comments Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:15:00 +0000 fashion marketingfashion schoolsschools in californiafashion industryintimate environmentart industryfashion designer http://www.artwoo.com/article/fashion-marketing-schools-in-california-is-the-world-of-fashion-marketing-in-the-golden-state-right-for-you fashion marketing schools. In California there are many schools that an aspiring or fashion entrepreneur can choose to attend to learn their stuff, if they know where to start looking and if their head is in the right place. Many people think that anybody can afford to go to and get into any of the fashion marketing , but that is not true.

In essence, the is a great deal like the , and art students need to do more than breathe and have a heartbeat to get into art school, don't they? Even so, if anybody could get into fashion marketing schools, there would be a good many failures and drop-outs as the industry is simply not for everyone.

How to Know If California is Right for You

It is not just fashion marketing schools that must be considered but also whether or not the location is right. California is certainly a beautiful state, but it is also jammed full of people, cars, and smog; that paints a pretty nasty picture but anybody who has ever been to California should know that things are quite to the contrary.

It is a beautiful state with a booming economy in the fashion niche, and it is where many artists and designers actually get their start. If you can't deal with a little bit of pollution, some rather strange people, and a whole lot of noise and business then most of the fashion marketing schools in California are probably not going to be the best idea for you.

Choosing the Right in California

If you decide that California is the type of environment that you would do well in, it is just a matter of deciding on the right fashion marketing schools. In California many of the art institutes have fashion divisions and fashion majors that people can get marketing degrees in, but finding the right one for you is the most important thing. If you prefer to learn in a more and get individualized attention, then perhaps a private art schools if for you.

Some of the best fashion marketing schools in California are public colleges that don't have as stringent of an admissions process as the private ones do, yet they still put out graduates. See which colleges graduate the most students and the average cost of attendance as well as other factors that matter to you in selecting a school.

Choosing the right fashion marketing schools is not always the easiest thing to do. Deciding to attend fashion marketing schools in California is a big step, and if you want to be prepared for it you can start now. Do your research and find out which schools best suit your needs and start submitting your application materials. If you can get all of your ducks in a row, this can be one of the biggest steps in your life.

I hope you find this article informative as to decide if choosing this type of career path in the state of California is right for you. Article written by Jessica Bradbury, she has a site dedicated to articles on fashion designer schools at http://www.fashion-school-info.com ]]> A Record 377 California Schools Honored With The Distinguished School Award http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-record-377-california-schools-honored-with-the-distinguished-school-award http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-record-377-california-schools-honored-with-the-distinguished-school-award#comments Wed, 12 Jul 2006 16:27:07 +0000 california department of educationcalifornia schoolscalifornia distinguished schoolcalifornia corporationsstatewide education organizationsacademic performance indexscholastic achievement http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-record-377-california-schools-honored-with-the-distinguished-school-award California Schools created the California Schools Recognition Program in 1985. Its purpose is to publicize and reinforce California schools priorities, which are to improve student and promote students based upon measurable objectives. The program identifies and honors public schools that exhibit exemplary and inspiring achievement. Though participation in the program is voluntary, the Award is highly coveted.

To be considered for the award, California schools must meet a variety of eligibility requirements. These include designated federal and state accountability measures that are based upon the No Child Left Behind, Adequate Yearly Progress, and measurement programs. Approximately, five percent of California schools are selected each year for the award, with no fewer than 40 counties typically being represented.

The program alternates awards yearly between the elementary and secondary California schools. Year 2006 honors elementary schools.

California schools that meet the requirements complete an application and submit it to a team of local educators from across the state, which evaluate and score the merits of each school application. Schools with the highest scoring applications are selected as statewide nominees for the award. Nominated California schools then receive an onsite visit by a team of county school superintendents and members of the , who validate the accuracy of the application data.

Those California schools selected for the Distinguished School Award are honored at a statewide ceremony, where the state school superintendent awards a plaque and flag to each school. The program and annual ceremonies are funded through the generosity of prominent and that believe educational excellence should be rewarded and encouraged publicly.

In 2006, a record 377 public elementary schools were honored with the California Distinguished School Award, surpassing the 302 elementary schools honored in 2004 -- the last elementary school award cycle. They represent the largest number of elementary school awardees in the 21-year history of the program.

The 2006 California schools awardees were chosen from 190 school districts in 40 counties. They were selected from the largest number of eligible elementary schools to date, setting another record for the program. Of the more than 5,000 elementary schools in California, 2,043 were eligible to apply for the 2006 award. California schools are proving that student scholastic excellence can be nurtured and consistently improved. 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/index.html ]]> Top Artists Join Music Project To Benefit The California Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-artists-join-music-project-to-benefit-the-california-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-artists-join-music-project-to-benefit-the-california-schools#comments Thu, 05 Oct 2006 12:27:06 +0000 singer bonnie raittcalifornia musiccalifornia schoolsmusic programsmusic teachersmusic industry executivesmusic professionals http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-artists-join-music-project-to-benefit-the-california-schools California schools. A recent study showed that within the past five years there has been a 50 percent decline in student participation in . Additionally, it showed that one third of all 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.

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.

To that end, the California Arts Council spearheaded the Project (CMP), a 401(c)(3) nonprofit, long-term initiative. The California schools, , 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:

• Provide grant funding to music teachers, , and the California schools to bring more music leaning to students;

• Develop joint ventures with universities, businesses, foundations and music-focused organizations to fund, pilot and expand music programs within the California schools; and

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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 on California schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/california/index.html ]]> Desperate Times For Some California Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/desperate-times-for-some-california-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/desperate-times-for-some-california-schools#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:34:59 +0000 california schoolsstudent povertyenglish learnersacademic performance indexcalifornia public schoolsschool district officialschallenges http://www.artwoo.com/article/desperate-times-for-some-california-schools California Schools to demonstrate what works in education. While many are indeed exemplary, there are also many that are struggling. In 1999, the state of California decided that it needed to take a closer look at these struggling schools, and that these California Schools needed help to overcome their problems.

The California Schools in question shared one common characteristic - a relatively high level of . Many but not all of them have high percentages of students who were and/or Hispanic, a statistic that has been correlated with student poverty. Most have very small populations of white students.

These troubled California Schools tended to be larger than average and were much more likely to be on a multitrack, year-round calendar. This type of school calendar allows the school in question to serve a greater number of students by being open all 12 months of the year; with some California Schools teachers and classes sharing rooms with those who are off on a break.

In terms of staffing, these California Schools had a much higher proportion of teachers not fully credentialed and were also more likely to have a high percentage of first- and second-year teachers.

Principals of the California Schools in question were surveyed to determine the differences in the faced by their particular schools. were also able to provide more information.

California has operated its school accountability system for nine years now and the average API () scores for all schools have risen. Elementary schools have shown the most progress. However, as a whole, elementary level California Schools have faced greater challenges than their middle- and high-school counterparts.

On average, they had either similar or more challenging proportions of English learners and students living in poverty. School sizes are modestly large and the proportion of fully credentialed teachers is somewhat lower than middle- and high-school teachers working in California Schools.

Conversely, California Schools in the middle and high school levels have consistently shown less improvement than elementary schools. From a statistical perspective, secondary California Schools often face different challenges than elementary schools do in attempting to meet their API growth targets.

Middle Schools have not had the full benefit of the state's investment in K=9612 education since the mid-to-late 1990s, however. From an instructional perspective, the state has put more focus on improving achievement in the earliest grades, most likely with the belief that if a student's academic success can be improved upon at an early age, they will continue to be successful throughout their school careers.

While there many changes that need to be made to improve the quality of California Schools, it is indeed heartening to see that the state's board of education is up to the challenge of helping schools make the improvements needed to produce successful and vital members of tomorrow's society. http://hubpages.com/hub/California_Public_Schools 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/index.html ]]> The Unique Challenges That Face California Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-unique-challenges-that-face-california-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-unique-challenges-that-face-california-schools#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:29:59 +0000 california schoolsimmigrant populationsstudent populationsstandardized testculturescalifornia school districtsfutile exercise http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-unique-challenges-that-face-california-schools 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's necessary to cast an eye on what makes the golden state the richly diverse melting pot it is =96 its legions of .



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 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 , and across all linguistic divides, to perform equally well on a can be a . 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/index.html ]]> Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Challenge To All California Schools Students http://www.artwoo.com/article/governor_schwarzenegger_issues_challenge_to_all_california_schools92_students http://www.artwoo.com/article/governor_schwarzenegger_issues_challenge_to_all_california_schools92_students#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:35:03 +0000 arnold schwarzeneggerphysical fitness and sportsguiness book of world recordscalifornia schoolsleast three timesschools studentsbodybuilding titles http://www.artwoo.com/article/governor_schwarzenegger_issues_challenge_to_all_california_schools92_students Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for governor of California, physical fitness was at the forefront of his career. He won a succession of from 1964 to 1970. He had been named Mr. Germany and Mr. Universe by the age of twenty. Schwarzenegger brought bodybuilding to the national spotlight, when he won the Mr. Olympia title, holding it from 1970-1975 and 1980.

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 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 for former President Bush.

Is it any wonder that, as governor for the state of California, Schwarzenegger wants ' 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 a week for the next four weeks. The incentive =97 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: http://www.calgovcouncil.org. 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 on California schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/california/index.html ]]> The San Jose Schools Struggle With Charters http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-san-jose-schools-struggle-with-charters http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-san-jose-schools-struggle-with-charters#comments Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:25:02 +0000 california charter schoolseducational research grouppublic education systemurban school districtorganization charterbusiness charterbone of contention http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-san-jose-schools-struggle-with-charters urban school district, you can't say that the San Jose Unified School District hasn't tried a lot of different angles for success. The diversity in the San Jose Schools, with a significant percentage of Spanish and Vietnamese speaking families, can be part of the problem when communicating with parents and building successful schools. That's why the charter schools within the San Jose Schools are such a .

Charter schools are usually public schools which are independently run by a local or independent organization. Charter schools in the San Jose Schools often are freed from some of the constrictions that the regular public schools face. Is this good or bad? Well, there are a lot of opinions. For those who think that the San Jose Schools needs to be taken over privately, and run like a business, charter schools make a lot of sense. For those in the San Jose Schools we are trying to make the current system better, charter schools seem like a drain on funding that get to operate outside of the rule book. What do the results say?

Results of Charters in the San Jose Schools

A recent study of had some interesting results that may impact the San Jose Schools. An independent found that charters are better for middle school students, worse for elementary school students, and there was no consistent pattern for high school students.

What does this mean for students, parents and teachers in the San Jose Schools? A lot more indecision and confusion. Look at the Leadership Charter Schools. There's one in East San Jose, and a few more in outlying areas. Many parents are passionate about sending their children here, but the charter has continually butted heads with the local public schools. That's partially because schools lose money when students leave for another school. So the charters can cost the public schools money.



But here's what the San Jose Schools should be focusing on. There's a reason why charter middle schools seem to perform better than other middle schools. Let's not wait another 3 years for an independent research team to find out what's going on. The principals and teachers of San Jose Schools should be meeting and brainstorming to find out what the differences are. Charter and public schools on the same team. I suspect the need for preadolescents to have be in smaller and more intimate settings is going to show up as a factor. But why then, would charter elementary schools be in worse shape?

Maybe elementary schools are smaller to begin with so size is less of a factor? Maybe the elementary schools tend to be newer and by the time the kids filter up to middle the kinks are worked out? Lots of questions that need to be answered. At the moment, the San Jose Schools use the charter schools as an alternative, largely for low-income families. And with the state of education, alternatives aren't something we should give up. 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Jose/index.html ]]> Desegregation In San Jose Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/desegregation-in-san-jose-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/desegregation-in-san-jose-schools#comments Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:29:59 +0000 hot topicracial gapurban school districtschool choicesstudent populationpurposelyparents http://www.artwoo.com/article/desegregation-in-san-jose-schools racial gap that's getting so much attention? Well, I'm thrilled that it's on the minds of politicians, because it's a problem. Unfortunately, it's a problem with some pretty deep roots. In 1971, San Jose Public Schools had a dilemma. It seemed to that the schools were knowingly and segregating students. Hispanics were the group most targeted in this segregation. So some parents filed a class action suit with the intention of forcing the district to remedy the situation.

San Jose Schools began to address and remedy the problem. For 18 years =96 from 1985 when the Federal Court Order was settled, to 2003 when they were able to demonstrate that they had complied with it, the district has implemented the changes required by the court order.

A large , San Jose Schools serve approximately 32,000 students. San Jose Schools are located fifty miles south of San Francisco, in the heart of the Silicon Valley. This is a geographic area of over fifty square miles. The eleventh largest urban school district in California, it has thirty-one elementary schools, seven middle schools, and seven high schools.

The is:

31% Anglo 49% Hispanic 13% Asian 3% Black 4% other.

From 1985 to 2003, San Jose Schools followed the plan to desegregate all of its schools in accordance with a Federal Court Order signed on behalf of the Hispanic student population. The decision is based primarily on making available in the San Jose Schools. School choice is another . Frankly, I think that choice pushes all schools to improve. But not everyone aggress.

The court order was modified in 1998 to allow elementary age students to attend their neighborhood schools. As a result of the Federal Court Order, the San Jose School offers parents and students a wide variety of middle and high school program and school choices.

In 1971, when segregation of schools in San Jose Schools was examined, San Jose Schools were the only schools in California to have been found guilty of intentional discrimination. The Court Order consisted of two main goals: 1) to minimize racial isolation by allowing parents to choose their schools; and, 2) to enhance academic achievement of all Latino students.

In 2003, San Jose Schools were found to be in compliance with the order, and were released for Federal Court Oversight. The decision is of historical and national significance, as San Jose Schools are one of the only districts approaching agreement in partnership with plaintiffs rather than through contentious litigation.

But here we are in 2007, and all the desegregation effort find San Jose Schools, and the nations, still struggling with a racial achievement gap. Perhaps the answer doesn't lie in is desegregation. Perhaps it lies in the quality of each school San Jose Public Schools 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Jose/index.html ]]> Tuning Into Orange County Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/tuning-into-orange-county-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/tuning-into-orange-county-schools#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:30:01 +0000 orange county schoolsorange county public schoolsstatewide percentagespoor test scoreswithdrawal painsimmigrant populationdrastic measure http://www.artwoo.com/article/tuning-into-orange-county-schools Orange County Schools in California released state tests scores with the announcement that scores had risen for the fifth straight year in a row. That means that 52% of students tested for English in grades 2-11 passed with a grade of proficient or above. 51% in math. Did you read that correctly? 52% and 51% passing means progress to the Orange County Schools. If you're a parent with children in the this should concern your greatly! The scary thing is that are at 43% and 41%. California Schools are currently failing our children.

So what's a parent to do? Funding is an issue. Teaching the state's huge is an issue. The needs of special needs students are an issue. And no one has a really great answer. But as a parent, there is something that you can do. It's a that could impact the entire population of the Orange County Schools. But it's not an easy fix. In fact, a lot of the Orange County Schools' families will have serious pains from making this move. But it's that important. Parents of Orange County Schools- I challenge you to turn off your television during the school week.

in the Orange County Schools

For the small percentage of you who are still reading, don't throw the remote at your screen quite yet. I know what I'm suggesting is a scary lifestyle change that a lot of Orange County Schools won't ever consider. But for the academic and future success of your children, hear me out.

Television drains energy. It doesn't matter if your Orange County Schools students are seniors or kindergarteners. When they're watching television they're not: interacting with friends and family, getting exercise, fully attending to homework, or using their brains. When children watch television they: get inappropriate messages from shows and commercials, get into a habit of inactivity, eat more junk food, and tend to become grumpier and fussier. All of these factors are seen in and behavior in the Orange County Schools.

How Less Television Can Help the Orange County Schools

Now I know that Governor Schwarzenegger isn't about to pass any initiatives to help me rally Orange County Schools families to watch less television. In fact, you as the parent are the only person who can really make this significant change for your family. But why would you want to do this?

Are you busy? Really, really tired? Most Orange County Schools parents feel overwhelmed and exhausted at the end of the day. Television can be a relaxing escape. But think for a moment about how busy your family is already with homework, dinner, and activities at the end of the day. What if TV was no longer a factor? How would your family spend that time? Would Orange County Schools' children get to bed earlier and get more sleep if they weren't up so late watching television? Would you have to time to read to them more? Take a walk together? Play a card game?

If you really want to see an improvement in the Orange County Schools, I dare you to try this with your family for one month. No television on school days. Aren't your children worth it? 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/Orange-County/index.html ]]> California Schools' Audit Shows Excessive Spending And Overpayments To Chain Of Charter Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/california-schools-audit-shows-excessive-spending-and-overpayments-to-chain-of-charter-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/california-schools-audit-shows-excessive-spending-and-overpayments-to-chain-of-charter-schools#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:27:12 +0000 california schoolsnepotismoyostateaccountinghollywood high schoolschool exit exam http://www.artwoo.com/article/california-schools-audit-shows-excessive-spending-and-overpayments-to-chain-of-charter-schools California schools, Jack O'Connell, initiated an audit more than a year ago into the fiscal concerns of the Options for Youth and Opportunities for Learning () schools. The OYO is a chain of independent study charter schools within the California schools system, which are privately run but funded by the .

The OYO California schools serve students who have dropped out of the traditional high schools. They currently have about 15,000 students in 40 storefront locations across the state. These California schools students do most of their work at home, meeting with teachers twice a week. According to state records, student achievement test and high scores are above average, as compared to other alternative high schools within the California schools system. According to a Los Angeles Times article of August 10th, only 11 percent of OYO students graduated during the 2003-2004 school year. The remainder of students that left school that year either dropped out, were expelled, or transferred to other schools.

The California schools' audit was conducted by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, who concluded their analysis and presented their findings in a report that was released in August 2006. The audit cites defects, overpayments by the state, conflicts of interest, , excessive compensation, and mixing private business concerns with public schools.

The OYO was founded and still operated by John and Joan Hall, former teachers from . They have fully cooperated with the California schools' audit, but dispute most of the findings.

Some examples from the audit report are:

•Accounting Defects and Overpayments. The Halls count each of their teachers as 1.92 full-time positions. Their spokesperson, Stevan Allen, stated that this is a common practice for charter schools in the California schools system and is a legitimate method for compensating school staff for longer days and year-round schedules. California schools superintendent O'Connell believes teachers should be counted only as one full-time position each. The auditors disagreed, citing that traditional California schools teachers spend much less time working each year than those at OYO. However, the auditors believed the 1.92 amount is inflated. This example, alone, accounts for more than half of the $57 million overpayment.

Additionally, the report noted several questionable expenses. One example of unrestrained spending, given by the Times was an $18,000 staff party held at Disneyland. Allen defended that event as an attempt at relationship building between staff members, who are scattered across the state. He noted that the costs was less than $50 per staff member.

•Conflicts of Interest and Mixing Private Business with Public Schools. Besides the charter schools, the Halls own and operate several private businesses that sell materials and services to schools. The Times noted that the Options in OYO was the nonprofit part of the setup, with the Opportunities part being for-profit. The audit calls this practice and setup into question.

•Excessive Compensation. The audit also questions the combined salaries for the Halls, which is $600,000 annually. The report states that it may be excessive for the amount of time the couple actually works.

•Nepotism. The Halls created a separate charity with $10.8 million of the California schools' funding, called Pathways in Education. The charity is run by their daughter, Jamie Hall. Little money has been spent toward education thus far.

The Halls contend that they previously had requested guidance on their operation from the California schools many times, but never received any response. Thus, they tried to follow California schools requirements as best they could with their understanding of the policies. Even O'Connell conceded that none of the cited practices are illegal.

The audit recommends the California schools should attempt to recover the $57 million in overpayment from the OYO. O'Connell has sent the report to the state's attorney general's office for review and any necessary action. 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/index.html ]]> Vocational Schools That Specialize In Nursing In California http://www.artwoo.com/article/vocational-schools-that-specialize-in-nursing-in-california http://www.artwoo.com/article/vocational-schools-that-specialize-in-nursing-in-california#comments Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:27:03 +0000 bryman collegebachelors of sciencevocational nursing schoolsscience in nursingdisneylandearn more moneyvocational schools in california http://www.artwoo.com/article/vocational-schools-that-specialize-in-nursing-in-california
Given the situation, a lot of have invested a lot of money into advertising in the hopes that many will answer this call.

Here are a few schools worth checking out.

If the person lives near , a great vocational school that will teach everything there is to know about being a nurse is located in Anaheim.

The school has a program called Vocational Nursing Certificate or LVN that can be finished in 18 to 24 months depending on the progress of the student. Those who graduate will have the tools to work in an entry-level position in hospital or clinic.

West Coast University in Los Angeles, California offers students an Associate of . Some consider this to be better than earning a in Nursing that takes 4 years because people who take the 2-year course are able to finish the program faster and .

The California State University in San Bernardino offers advanced training for people who took up the basics in nursing. The student can upgrade to get bachelors or a master's degree in nursing that will prepare the individual to handle a ward or a wing in a big hospital or in a small clinic.

The mentioned are just three of more than 20 campuses stretching from San Francisco all the way down to San Diego. The person should check these places in the Internet to find the most convenient place to go and learn about nursing.

Shifting to another career is an option for many Americans. This is because many people have realized that nurses' get paid more that the salary offered in the current job.

If the individual is thinking of leaving, it will be a good idea to check which school will offer the best program. Should the person not have enough money to hit the books again, the school can accommodate this by allowing the student to work and study part time.

The person can never be too old to get a vocational certificate. This is because there are students who are in the late 30's and up who have joined the ranks of nurses working in some of the most prestigious hospitals and clinics in the country. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Vocational Schools and other useful information, please visit http://vocational-schools.articlekeep.com ]]> San Francisco Schools' Small Schools Program http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-francisco-schools-small-schools-program http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-francisco-schools-small-schools-program#comments Fri, 18 Aug 2006 06:27:10 +0000 san francisco schoolsstatus quoillegal drugsschool environmentleadership high schooluniversity attendancelocal university http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-francisco-schools-small-schools-program San Francisco Schools' Small Schools are Effective

The Small Schools program in San Francisco Schools was established back in 2000. One successful example of a small school is the San Francisco Schools' . This high school has a total of only 345 students, uses high standards and close relationship with teachers to help at risk students. Leadership High School was established about 5 years ago and now has some of the highest test scores in all of the San Francisco Schools. Mainly the idea is to take large schools, usually high schools, into several smaller schools that can focus on the students needs better.

San Francisco Schools have become a leader in a growing trend that has spread across Northern California. The idea behind breaking up large schools is an attempt to provide an alternative to the . Students in a small school tend to have higher rates of graduation, higher attendance rates, and higher . The small succeeds due to a more personalized learning environment. The small schools of the San Francisco Schools use a mentor system that gives guidance to that they are personally engaged in their work. Students are motivated while being connected to the school community. The National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent Health reports that students in a small school environment were less likely to use alcohol, , become pregnant, or experience emotional distress.

San Francisco Schools' Small Schools for Equity

The Small Schools for Equity program is an innovative partnership between San Francisco Schools and a . This high school has one hundred students from all of the San Francisco Schools. This high school will be housed on the university's campus and be supported by the College of Education while being managed and funded by San Francisco Schools. The students, teachers and administration will have a say in curriculum development. Students who attend the Small Schools for Equity program were chosen by San Francisco Schools' officials. The high school students will study a rigid curriculum that will include high school level math, science, English, humanities, world language, art and Japanese. No college courses will be offered.

The Small Schools for Equity program provides the College of Education with a great opportunity in teacher education. San Francisco Schools has allowed university students seeking teaching credentials to teach and observe in schools throughout the San Francisco School district for years, now the College of Education will have a high school on campus that will benefit from modern educational theory and practices. The high school will be housed in Burk Hall and run a full school day from 8AM to 3PM, the rest of the day Burk Hall will be used by education students.

San Francisco Schools Board of Education Reviews Small Schools

The San Francisco Schools Board of Education is, this summer, reviewing a policy that would support the San Francisco Schools Small Schools By Design. The policy is being introduced by San Francisco Schools Acting Superintendent Gwen Chan and is supported by school board president Norman Yee and San Francisco Organizing Project, a community organization that supports the small schools initiative. San Francisco Organizing Project is a collection of religious congregations, schools and community centers. Those opposed to the program claim that the money spent does not equal the benefits but supporters say that the Small Schools offset the difficulties of declining student enrollment and the flight of families from San Francisco Schools. The current policy up for vote would create a task force to determine the locations and needs of San Francisco Schools which would benefit most from Small Schools. Stacy Andell 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 on San Francisco schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Francisco/index.html ]]> The History Of Sacramento Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-history-of-sacramento-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-history-of-sacramento-schools#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:20:00 +0000 adult education studentsschools campusesschool districts in californiasacramento schoolssacramento high schoolwest of the mississippitransportation work http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-history-of-sacramento-schools Sacramento Schools is 150 years old. The start of Sacramento's school system was February 20, 1854, and began on the corner of 5th and K Streets. There were two teachers, one male and one female, to teach approximately 50 boys and 40 girls aged seven through nine. Because of the new constitution for California written in 1849, which included guaranteed funding for public education and an elected superintendent, the Sacramento Public Schools were able to open. , which opened in 1856, is the second oldest high school . The first kindergarten began in 1895.

Over the years, attendance at Sacramento Schools grew and grew. Now among the 10 largest , Sacramento Schools serve around 50,000 K-12 students, and 20,000 . 3,000 teachers and 3,000 non-classified teaching employees work for the school. (Non-classified employees do clerical/technical, maintenance, classroom support, nutrition, and .)

An interesting turn of events occurred in Sacramento in the summer of 2007. In an effort to protect the campuses, district officials and local law enforcement turned to the public to keep an eye on the unoccupied schools over the summer. The weekends surrounding the Fourth of July were the particular dates that they asked neighbors and community members to keep an eye on schools.

Apparently, in years past, the 4th of July has brought on a rash of fires and vandalism to Sacramento Schools. The celebrations that are held on Independence day is a particularly dangerous time of the year for Sacramento Schools. Not only are they unoccupied, but they are at greater risk from fire and arson, resulting from careless or even malicious use of fireworks. Sacramento Schools have spent literally thousands of dollars after the July 4th holiday to clean up and repair the damage done by vandals and fireworks to Sacramento .

Neighbors of the schools and business owners have been asked to call the city police or sheriff's department if they notice anyone vandalizing Sacramento Schools property. They also want to know if anyone is seen on a campus with lighters, matches or fireworks. In addition, the police department stepped up the patrols around Sacramento Schools in an attempt to discourage would-be vandals from attacking the schools.

It is interesting to see that the police and the leaders of Sacramento Schools are utilizing the community's help in this manner. Community involvement in the schools typically takes the form of donations of time, money, and supplies. How nice for the community to be able to simply use themselves =96 more specifically their eyes and ears =96 to help look out for their neighborhood Sacramento Schools.

It is unknown, at the time this article was written, if the increased police presence and the vigilance of neighbors and business owners helped to discourage the fires and vandalism that had occurred in years past. 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/Sacramento/index.html ]]> The Los Angeles Schools Bond Measure -- Is It Needed? http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-los-angeles-schools-bond-measure-is-it-needed http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-los-angeles-schools-bond-measure-is-it-needed#comments Thu, 05 Oct 2006 10:27:19 +0000 los angeles schoolscalifornia charter schoolsnew charter schoolsbond measurebond measuresstateschool buses http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-los-angeles-schools-bond-measure-is-it-needed Los Angeles schools district will be faced with their fourth proposition, called Measure Y. The $3.985 , which will be paid by property taxes, is for more planned expansion within the Los Angeles schools, allowing them to add another 25 elementary schools to the current list of 160 schools that are scheduled to be constructed by year 2012. Some of the money also is slated for other needs, such as new , repairs and charter schools.

The other three were passed for Los Angeles schools new construction and repairs that were long overdue. Classrooms were literally falling apart, and classes were excessively overcrowded with year-round schedules for many schools. The previously passed measures underwrote the current 160 schools on the list for construction.

Many people, however, are asking if this fourth measure is truly needed. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the traditional Los Angeles schools are slowly but steadily losing students from their rolls. Since the 2002-2003 school year, the traditional Los Angeles schools have lost 4,471 students. According to Los Angeles schools officials, they expect another 4,304 to be dropped this year. There are several reasons for these drops in enrollment.

First, one in every 20 students is choosing to attend a charter or private school, rather than attend traditional Los Angeles schools. The 88 charter schools within the now enroll about three percent (about 200,000) of the public school students. About 35,000 of these students attend charter schools within the Los Angeles schools. The number of charter schools within the state continues to increase, with another 20 planned for this fall.

The Association predicts that ten percent of public school students within the state will attend charter schools by the year 2014, with perhaps an even higher percentage in the Los Angeles schools area. They cite that the number of charter schools would need to triple in order to accommodate all of the students currently on waiting lists. With the smaller size and flexibility of charter schools, they can be created and implemented in a very short time, as compared to the large, traditional Los Angeles schools that take years to construct.

The second reason for the drastic drop in enrollment at the Los Angeles schools is birth and lifestyle trends:

• Los Angeles County statistics have shown that hundreds of fewer babies are being born in the county each year. The trend is expected to continue through to the end of the decade.

• Upper income singles and couples with few children have replaced neighborhoods that were once inhabited by large immigrant families. With the rising housing prices in the Los Angeles schools area, most young families or families with many children can no longer afford to live there, opting to move to areas with lower costs of living.

• Additionally, according to researchers at the Public Policy Institute of California, another trend is smaller immigrant families. In their 2002 report, they show that after the first generation, immigrant families successively have smaller families.

Glenn Gritzner, special assistant to the Los Angeles schools, says that the Los Angeles schools have taken the changes in demographics into consideration, but they are not critical enough to change the school building plans. Gritzner states that, if school plans and trends/statistics remain on course through 2012, there still will be 200,000 Los Angeles schools students in portable classrooms and plenty of overcrowded Los Angeles schools remaining. Plus, trends are only current patterns that are subject to change. Measure Y definitely is warranted. 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 on Los Angeles schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/california/los-angeles/index.html ]]> Arts Education Suffering In San Jose Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/arts-education-suffering-in-san-jose-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/arts-education-suffering-in-san-jose-schools#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:30:02 +0000 arts educationeducation courseworkthis also means thatalso means thatstate standardsset standardssocialization skills http://www.artwoo.com/article/arts-education-suffering-in-san-jose-schools This any extra funding is funneled into these basic learning programs in order to meet state and federal-. is one of the standards that should be met by schools within the state of California, yet the state does not impose penalties on schools that do not met these particular standards.

A statewide survey by SRI International concluded that of the 1,123 schools surveyed:

=9589 percent failed to meet for arts education; =95Nearly 1/3 offered no art that met state standards; =9561 percent had no full-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers without adequate training teaching arts education at the elementary level; =95Kindergarten through 12 enrollment in music classes declined by 37 percent over a five-year period, ending last June; and =95Poor schools have the least access to arts education; whereas better income schools (where parents can afford private lessons) are more apt to have it.

Chris Funk is the San Jose schools' principal of Lincoln High School, a stellar magnet arts school. He believes that the more San Jose schools' students are exposed to the arts the better they will do in testing within other coursework.

Studies have proven that a strong arts program can be linked to improvement in everything from math skills to truancy. Arts education in elementary and secondary schools produce skilled sculptors, actors, musicians, singers and so many other arts-related careers. The arts also improve the of students.

Bill Eriendson, assistant superintendent of the San Jose schools, stated that the level of funding for the arts is inadequate. Last year, the state budgeted $500 million for the arts and physical education; however, this amount was a one-time deal. The norm is $105 million, which is about $15 per student. According to Eriendson, the San Jose schools requires about $800,000 to restore just their music programs at the elementary San Jose schools. This figure does not include the purchase of instruments.

San Jose schools are a good representation of the statewide findings. Besides trying to meet state and federal standards in the basic coursework, the San Jose schools were hit with Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978, which imposed tax cuts for Californians and greatly reduced funding for arts education. The arts were first cut in the secondary San Jose schools and then in the elementary San Jose schools. By the late 1980s, arts education was all but gone in the San Jose schools.

According to Funk, there currently is a waiting list of 225 San Jose schools' students. He finds San Jose schools' students are drawn to the dance, theater, music and visual arts programs offered by his school. Without the support of the Lincoln Foundation, which donated $75,000 for this school year, this San Jose schools arts magnet would not exist. Jason Thomas 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 on San Jose schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/california/san-jose/index.html ]]> What Will Help The San Diego Schools? http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-will-help-the-san-diego-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-will-help-the-san-diego-schools#comments Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:19:59 +0000 program improvement schoolshomework helpno child left behind acthave been invitedparentsline homeworkschools students http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-will-help-the-san-diego-schools
It's important to not only identify the students who are struggling, but to get them the help they need to succeed in school without feeling discouraged or stupid. Students attending San Diego Schools are among the millions of students throughout the nation who can take advantage of free services to help them catch up in school. While each individual school district offers a variety of programs to get students back on track when they need the extra help, can these programs alone meet the need?

Free Programs at San Diego Schools

San Diego Schools offer two interesting programs; tutor provider fairs, and live, on-line . The homework help for students attending San Diego Schools is provided in conjunction with the San Diego Public Library, the City of San Diego, and http://tutor.com. of students attending in San Diego Schools to attend one of seven tutoring provider fairs scheduled in July and August. This is key, because reaching out to parents of struggling students is often the answer.

The service provider fairs give San Diego Schools parents the opportunity to meet and speak with the tutoring providers and choose the one that best fits their students' needs.

Schools That Need Help

In many cases, entire San Diego Schools are the case in need. The federal provides options to parents of San Diego attending campuses that have been categorized as "Program Improvement" for a minimum of one school year. Under the act, schools in program improvement for 2 years more must offer these San Diego Schools students supplemental educational services, which include free tutoring. San Diego Schools parents of students in affected schools received a booklet by mail detailing the program. More than 30 education providers are expected to attend. These programs are approved by the California Department of Education.

Live Homework Help is a free, live, one-to-one online tutoring service connecting students in San Diego Schools to qualified tutors from any Internet-enabled computer. English and Spanish-speaking tutors are available. San Diego Schools students, parents and teachers can connect to online tutors -- seven days a week any time between 1:00 - 10:00 pm. Students can use Live Homework Help whenever they need assistance. Currently, the service is only accessible on computers running Microsoft Windows. Work is underway to provide the service across other computer platforms, as well as within San Diego Schools themselves. Of course, that asks the question- do low-income students have access to computers?

To use Live Homework Help and connect with a live online tutor, a San Diego Schools student needs either a valid San Diego Public Library card number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or a San Diego Public Library Access Card. 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Diego/index.html ]]> Special Education Needs Causing Financial Crisis In California Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/special-education-needs-causing-financial-crisis-in-california-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/special-education-needs-causing-financial-crisis-in-california-schools#comments Sun, 30 Jul 2006 06:27:08 +0000 special educationcalifornia schoolseducation programanxiety attacksappropriate public educationeducation caseseducation expert http://www.artwoo.com/article/special-education-needs-causing-financial-crisis-in-california-schools 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 , according to Nanette Asimov, staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.

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 , 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.

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 . The mother said that smaller classrooms and a smaller campus were more important than a special education program. Since the possibility of was mentioned in the article, no one can truly judge the merit of this situation except the child's physician and/or psychologist.

After the child was placed into the private school, the parents then hired an attorney, who specializes in special , 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/index.html ]]> San Francisco Schools Fight Fat http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-francisco-schools-fight-fat http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-francisco-schools-fight-fat#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:15:01 +0000 san francisco schoolslunch faresan francisco unified schoolsan francisco unified school districtfatty mealschildhood obesitysafe bet http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-francisco-schools-fight-fat Childhood obesity is at alarming levels in this county. Children in the are no exception. Too much television and video games, and too little time spent playing outside has led to an epidemic of juvenile health issues. It sure doesn't help that the San Francisco Schools have had to cut funding for physical education over the years. But the 2007-2008 school year does have something positive going for it. Several San Francisco Schools will provide fresh salad bars, whole grain options, and whole fruits and vegetable in their cafeterias.

Twenty six San Francisco Schools from elementary to high school will benefit from a half a million dollar grant from the mayor's office and the Department of Children, Youth, and their families. This is a big deal. The fact that a school district has actually recognized the importance of nutrition in education is enormous. For the past few decades public education has acted as if the only aspect of learning we should worry about are test scores. The District has been forced to slash the arts, physical education, and anything not seen to directly affect standardized tests.

How Does Nutrition Affect San Francisco Schools Students?

Teachers in the San Francisco Schools know that a child's academic success lies in several factors: home environment, proper nutrition, and a good night sleep greatly impact a student's ability to pay attention and retain information. The fast food generation currently attending the San Francisco Schools needs to be made aware of how nutrition choices will affect their health. But it's a pretty that the San Francisco Schools don't have much extra time to teach daily health classes. That's OK, what they're doing now might be even better.

Schools need to lead by example. Just think of the message that it sent to children to have soda in vending machines and options like chips, ice cream and for . The San Francisco Schools are setting an example that the rest of the nation needs to emulate. It's high time that schools look at the messages they are sending to our children.

What Else Can the San Francisco Schools Do?

While healthier school lunches are a huge improvement to the San Francisco Schools, the reality is that every public school district in the country is struggling to succeed. The San Francisco Schools experimented with the salad bars with pilot programs in a few of the schools last year. Hopefully more San Francisco Schools will follow this example next year. It is more costly for the San Francisco Schools to provide this fresher fare than canned vegetables and mystery meat? I'm sure it is. But the San Francisco Schools will recoup the cost in children who are more likely to pay attention (maybe less ADD diagnoses), higher test scores, children who are less fussy, and who appreciate the taste of fresh foods. 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 http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Francisco/index.html ]]> California Speeding Ticket - Eliminate Your Ticket Today! http://www.artwoo.com/article/california-speeding-ticket-eliminate-your-ticket-today http://www.artwoo.com/article/california-speeding-ticket-eliminate-your-ticket-today#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:36:20 +0000 california state lawscalifornia speeding ticket costsinsurance premiumssunny statetraffic schoolsspeeding tickettraffic school http://www.artwoo.com/article/california-speeding-ticket-eliminate-your-ticket-today sunny state of California holds one of the highest penalties for speeding violation, not to mention sky rocketing insurance rates as well. Generally, a costs, in rounded off amounts, $150 for speeding of 1-15 mph over the limit, $270 for 16-25 mph, and $380 if it is more than 26 mph. Getting flagged by an officer for this violation can cause you much time and effort, not to mention money if handled incorrectly. Upon answering the officer's interrogation, remember that any statement of guilt or otherwise can be turned against you in court. Since the officer is naturally tasked by law to provide evidence for the charges, don't give in easily by blurting out your offence when there is none.

Receiving a California speeding ticket actually offers a lot more options nowadays. Many do not opt for paying the penalty upfront especially when they think they have chances of presenting enough evidence that they are not guilty or if they are willing to be subjected to alternative options. According to , if the officer was not able to present much evidence of the charges, the case is dismissed. If, on the other hand, you are found to be over the speed limits indeed, you can go to a .

What is a traffic school?

A traffic school can be treated as a correction institution, if you may. The decision to be able to get this option is subject to a judge's decision which prevents your offence a California speeding ticket violation from showing up in your driver's record. Have a lawyer request and process this for you, especially for serious ticket offences, without having to go to court personally. Another upside of this is, since the violation is not reflected on your record, you will not have to welcome an increase rate in your . Rather than have a bad record and pay a large amount for it, taking a class once every 18 months is a more convenient choice. The for those with California speeding ticket are now even open for online classes.

There are exemptions for the enlistment of these online or onsite traffic schools, however. These are the truck drivers, exceeding 15 mph over the speed limit, unsafe distancing from other vehicles and changing of lanes that are dangerous and improper, carrying unlawful equipments or violation of vehicle capacity which you can further check on their official site. Offences such as these are classified under the serious tickets. A California speeding ticket which is labeled serious or found guilty is filed and reported to other states, and even Canada, as well. This means that a speeding violation in California is almost like a speeding violation in another state as well. What you need to do then is look for alternatives, and seek out for the best option. If, even before the trial, you can request for enlistment in a traffic school, then by no means do so. If not, it is best advised to have a vivid recollection of the situation and a good understanding of California laws. Beat a California speeding ticket with proper knowledge and information.Got a California Speeding Ticket? Learn how to get out of it with NO FINE and NO POINTS on your record.

Go to www.TrafficTicketSaver.com now!]]> Ten Major High Schools in California http://www.artwoo.com/article/ten-major-high-schools-in-california http://www.artwoo.com/article/ten-major-high-schools-in-california#comments Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:01:25 +0000 sports illustrated magazinegarfield senior high schoolbelmont senior high schoolteacher student ratiolong beach polytechnic high schoolhigh schools in californiabixby knolls http://www.artwoo.com/article/ten-major-high-schools-in-california high schools in California are mostly located in Los Angeles.

California has a total number of 13,014 schools and out of this there are 2079 high schools.
1. is the largest high school in California due to the heavy population of Westlake district. It has total enrollees of 5,336 in 2006. It is located in downtown Los Angeles and caters to students from grades 9 to 12. It was established in September 11, 1923 and is now led by Gary Yoshinobu as their District Principal. Team members represent the school as Sentinels. Heavy enrollment will soon be distributed to another center, the Belmont Learning Center now known as Vista Hermosa Learning Center.

2. Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School is the second largest school in California with a total number of 5,126 students and 220 full time teachers. A regular school that belongs to the Los Angeles unified district, which caters to grades 9-12 and a of 1:23. Ethnicity is composed of Asians, American Indians, Non-Hispanics, Hispanics, and the Whites. As of date, the school is populated the most with Hispanics.

3. is the third largest school in California. It is located in Long Beach. It accommodates high school students from not only Long Beach but also , Signal Hill and Lakewood. It was founded in 1895 and was formerly known as Long Beach High School and now more popularly known as Poly it belongs to the Long Beach Unified District. It is populated with more than 5000 students. This school is not only geared towards the academics but also in athletics because of which named it as "Sports School of the Century" in 2005. It has also won multiple Grammy awards for its music program. Famous alumni include Snoop Dogg, Tony Gwynn, Billie Jean King, and Cameron Diaz.

4. James A. is the fourth largest high school in California. It caters to grades 9-12 with a total of 4569 students.

5. John H. Francis Polytechnic High School is the fifth largest high school in California. It is a comprehensive school from the Los Angeles Unified District, which is located in the Sun Valley of Los Angeles. It was founded in the 1900's and a known rival of North Hollywood High School. It has a parrot mascot named Joe Poly.

6. John Marshall Senior High School is the sixth largest high school in California. It is a public school, which caters to students in grades 9-12 and has a total population of 4561 students. It was founded in 1931, named after the Great Chief Justice John Marshall who built the American system of constitutional law. The motto of the school is veritas vincit or truth conquers. Students are known as barristers since the school's mascot is Johnny Barrister. Recently, it launched programs to help supply school funds one of which is Parent Involvement. This mandate indicates that parents are required to actively participate in planning and evaluation of school budgets and programs.

7. Bell High School is the home of the mighty eagles and is the seventh largest high school in California. It is another member of Los Angeles Unified District, which caters to students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1925 and has 4778 number of students as of the last survey.

8. Los Angeles Senior High School is the eight largest high schools in California. It's a public school, which caters to students in grades 9-12 and has a population of 4405 students.

9. James Monroe High is the ninth largest high school in California. It is also under the Los Angeles Unified District. It is popular for its small learning communities and magnet schools. It was founded in 1958 and it located in North Hills California.

10. Wilson High School, the tenth largest high school in California is another member of the Los Angeles Unified District, which was established in 1937. Popularly known as Woodrow Wilson High School, it is a public school, which includes students in grades 9-12. It is open to students from Hillside Village, El Sereno, and University Hills, plus City Terrace and Ramona Gardens. It has a population of 3000 students with a Seymour mascot called Mule.For more information on High Schools List please visit our website.]]>