The only good news is that since KHSD is building 2 new schools there will be openings for many of those who would have otherwise been laid off.  This means involuntary transfers for most of them (as well as a few months of holding their breath) but still better than waiting tables next year. 

Also, since some of our schools have high numbers of socio-economically disadvantaged students they recieve large sums of Federal money, which will remain relatively stable.

Two of the bad things I haven't been reading much about:

First, we teachers tend to be very sensitive to our job security.  I mean, come on... we go to college for what amounts to a Master's Degree in most states and get paid less than the average 4 year grad.  The relative job security is one of the big perks in this job.  So having to notify valued members of the teaching staff that they are on the chopping block tends to make start writing resumes whether you eventually find a place for them next year or not.  Not to mention the shot to morale.

Second, our own Jean Fuller (of former BCSD fame) has proposed suspending QEIA funding at the state level.  This illustrates the idiocy of the current state of affairs.  QEIA is not a state budget line item, it's a court settlement that the state owes to our poorest schools.  Imagine a private citizen losing a court case and informing the plaintiff  "Sorry, the budget's a little tight this year.  I'm not paying you what the court awarded you." 

Luckily, it's unlikely that the state will be able to suspend QEIA funds even if they vote to in the legislature.  The judiciary still holds jurisdiction over the case.  Unfortunately, it is affecting the way some districts budget for next year which could result in unnecessarily pink slipping (and scaring the witts out of) some teachers.

So, to make a long story short... The Kern High School District has decided to reclassify the lowest-performing sophmores as freshmen for their 10th grade year.  After that, they jump directly to being juniors, then seniors... completely skipping their "sophomore" year.  It is not a 5 year program, it does not change ANYTHING about their class schedules or their graduation prospects.

Why would they do such a seemingly ridiculous thing?  Because if they are never sophomores, they never take the "census" CAHSEE, one of the main factors in calculating the district's API. 

In other words, it's a shell game.  It masqurades as a hard-line approach to slacking teens but it's really about hiding them when test day comes.  The students have figured it out, they laugh about it in class.  The public backs it because like many of us educators, it fools them at first.  On the surface it sounds like something it is not. 

Fortunately, the public is not stupid and they will figure this sham out eventually.  Tell a friend.  Tell two.

It seems that we can no longer mention education in America without a deep sigh and a shake of the head.  I'm curious as to what exactly scares us all so badly about how are children are being educated.  How is it better or worse than the "good ole days"?  When we talk about our children "falling behind", what information are we looking at that justifies this?