Prior to heading to Sacramento, I taught math for 13 years in L.A. public schools. Ninety-five percent of the kids I taught were low-income, so I saw firsthand how the resources in my classroom either made or broke a child’s pathway to a successful education.To this day, I carry the guilt of my own lack of preparation as a new teacher and how it affected those first few classes of kids. Why? Because they became my students again in later grades and I had to reteach what I failed to teach them the first time. Not for lack of desire, but for lack of adequate classroom experience and training. I’ve studied the limited data. I’ve reflected on my own inabilities as a new teacher and how my students’ outcomes changed as my own skill set was honed. I’ve reflected as that poor brown kid of immigrant parents who attended Title 1 schools for my K-12 education. That’s why this year I introduced Assembly Bill 221 to prohibit underqualified, third-party … [Read more...] about Commentary: Why Teach for America teachers don’t belong in low-income schools
Teach for america
State lawmakers consider banning Teach For America members from most high-poverty schools
State lawmakers voted last week in favor of a bill that would prevent certain California public schools from hiring or paying for educators provided by third-party organizations.The legislation, which was proposed by Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, would ban about 80 credentialing organizations, including Teach for America, from placing educators in Title 1 schools, where more than 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.Teach for America (TFA) is a national nonprofit that recruits college graduates who are not education majors to work for two years in public schools. It currently places educators in four California regions: the Bay Area, California Capital Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego. San Diego County schools employ 42 TFA educators and statewide, there are more than 720 TFA educators in public schools, the group said. TFA officials in a statement called the proposed legislation “misguided,” saying it would strip public school … [Read more...] about State lawmakers consider banning Teach For America members from most high-poverty schools
Educator strikes reignite tensions with Teach for America
Sally Ho, Associated Press Updated 3:30 pm CST, Wednesday, February 13, 2019 FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2014 file photo, AmeriCorps volunteers take a pledge as President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, which promotes volunteerism and community service, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington. Hundreds of Teach for America alumni are slamming the educator placement program for telling members to cross the picket line during a potential teacher strike in Oakland, California, or risk losing thousands of dollars at the end of their service. In partnership with the AmeriCorps, Teach for America members can apply for an education award at the end of their service to help pay off student loans. An AmeriCorps spokeswoman couldn't immediately provide comment but said striking is prohibited. less FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2014 file photo, AmeriCorps volunteers take a pledge as President Barack Obama and former … [Read more...] about Educator strikes reignite tensions with Teach for America
APNewsBreak: Teach for America slammed over Oakland strike
Sally Ho, Associated Press Updated 3:54 pm CST, Tuesday, February 12, 2019 FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2014 file photo, AmeriCorps volunteers take a pledge as President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, which promotes volunteerism and community service, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington. Hundreds of Teach for America alumni are slamming the educator placement program for telling members to cross the picket line during a potential teacher strike in Oakland, California, or risk losing thousands of dollars at the end of their service. In partnership with the AmeriCorps, Teach for America members can apply for an education award at the end of their service to help pay off student loans. An AmeriCorps spokeswoman couldn't immediately provide comment but said striking is prohibited. less FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2014 file photo, AmeriCorps volunteers take a pledge as President Barack Obama and former … [Read more...] about APNewsBreak: Teach for America slammed over Oakland strike
Arkansas GOP Gov. Hutchinson favored in bid for re-election
Andrew Demillo, Associated Press Updated 6:23 pm PST, Monday, November 5, 2018 FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2018 file photo, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks during the panel Economic Development at the National Governor Association 2018 winter meeting in Washington. Hutchinson faces Democrat Jared Henderson in the Nov. 6 election. less FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2018 file photo, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks during the panel Economic Development at the National Governor Association 2018 winter meeting in Washington. Hutchinson faces ... more Photo: Jose Luis Magana, AP FILE - This combination of file photos shows Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, left, and Democrat Jared Henderson, his challenger for the governor's seat in the November 2018 election. FILE - This combination of file photos shows Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, left, and Democrat Jared Henderson, his challenger for the … [Read more...] about Arkansas GOP Gov. Hutchinson favored in bid for re-election