Parents for Educational Excellence in Rocklin

The Dark Side of Charter Schools

2010-07-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

With all the rave reviews about the Charter School movement could there be some downside risk? Are people inadvertently handing control over to the "state" through a backdoor?

The Cato Institute presents a compelling argument that all may not be well with the Charter School movement. Read it at the link below.

Charters Kill Private Schools and Add to Taxpayer Burden

Comments on Western Sierra Collegiate Academy

2009-02-18T15:44:00.001-08:00

The latest Placer Herald includes opinions from Wendy Boyd and Todd Lowell.

Wendy Boyd's OpEd

Todd Lowell's OpEd

Eric Hogue Addresses School Choice Issue in Rocklin and Placer County

2008-11-13T11:30:00.000-08:00

Eric Hogue will be interviewing Dr. David Patterson, Executive Director of Rocklin Academy, and Steve Paul from the Rocklin Unified School District on his "Capital Hour" show at 12:00PM Thursday, KTKZ 1380 AM.

You can also listen online live at:

http://ktkz.townhall.com/ by clicking on the "Listen Live" link in the upper left corner of the KTKZ website.

Important School Choice Meeting

2008-11-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

Two main PEER goals from our mission statement are:

Support Quality Education and School Choice - We will work to
promote high quality educational options for all students.
Advocate - Provide support for parents regarding education issues
in the community.

Today you have a chance to make your opinion about school choice
known. As many of you know, Western Sierra Collegiate Academy has
been petitioning for a new charter college prep 7-12 school in the
local area.

The Rocklin Unified School Board denied the charter twice, and now
the decision has been appealed to the Placer County Board of
Education.

Tonight, November 13th, the Placer County Board will make their
decision. If you want your opinion heard, I urge you to
attend this meeting. It will be held at:

Placer County Office of Education
360 Nevada Street, Auburn

Time: 7:00 PM

You can also send your opinions to:

ggarbolino@placercoe.k12.ca.us County Superintendent
Don Brophy; dabrophy@pacbell.net
Rich Colwell; rcolwell@placer.ca.gov
Scott Gnile; scott@gnitech.com
Lynn Oliver; lynnoliver18@gmail.com
Ken Sahl; ken2007@surewest.net
Ken Tokutomi; kentokcar@sbcglobal.net

Educational Freedom in Rocklin

2008-01-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

Should parents be free to choose what kind of school their children will attend?

Educational Freedom is the question to be answered on Wednesday, January 15, 2008 at 7:00 pm in Rocklin.

The answer to this question will be given by the Rocklin Unified School District Board of Trustees and will have consequences not only for Rocklin, but the entire Placer County area.

If you are involved in your child's education and believe you should have the freedom to choose, you should attend this meeting.

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical"
Thomas Jefferson

School Choice Lessons in Wisconsin

2008-01-15T18:43:00.000-08:00

I ran across an interview with former Milwaukee Mayor John O. Norquist about his experience with school choice.

You can read the interview here.

Are Your Kids Inspired?

2007-12-04T19:28:00.000-08:00

The embedded video below is a speech given by Burt Rutan. If you are interested in technology and the future you will probably enjoy the entire video.

The first few minutes should be interesting to everyone with children, including the children themselves. Are we inspiring future generations to push the limits and achieve their full potential? Will they lead our country and our ever shrinking world or are we willing to settle for a few toys that won't mean much in the long run?

Listen in below!

More School Choice for Placer County

2007-11-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

There are two developments that expand school choice in the Placer County area.

The first is a new IBO elementary program in the Loomis area. We don't have the contact information for this school, so if anyone has a website or any other information please add it in the comment section. Generic information about the program can be found at www.ibo.org.

The next program is for 7-12 from Western Sierra Collegiate Academy. The school plans on starting in Fall 2008 and they have an information signup on their website. There was an information night on November 13th. We will post any future meeting dates.

Both programs are exciting news for school choice in the local area!

Press Release

2007-10-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the Press Release for Not as Good as You Think

Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice

2007-10-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice was just released by the Pacific Research Institute.

If you are concerned and involved in your child's education you should read this book.

The book is available for purchase, but is also available as a free .pdf download at the link above.

We'll be posting more information soon.

Accelerated Reader: Junk Food for the Mind?

2007-10-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

If you were interested in the Supplementing Education post and your child is involved in Accelerated Reader, take a look at the links below.

Why Read Shakespeare When Clancy Can Get You a Pizza Party?

Reading for Points Only?

Nancy Drew Outpoints Macbeth

The articles highlight some potential shortcomings with the program.

If your child is in Accelerated Reader are you monitoring what books have actually been read or just looking at points gained?

Are you balancing "just for fun" books with some challenging classics?

Please discuss in the comments.

Supplementing Education

2007-10-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

If you're not homeschooling your child but want to ensure a certain level of achievement, supplementing may be for you.

The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to a Classical Education at Home is an excellent book for any parent desiring an academically rigorous, comprehensive education. This is called a "classical education" by the authors, Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer.

If you are not conducting homeschool, the authors suggest the idea of supplementing or reinforcing what your child learns at school.

Supplementing can be a great way to stay involved in your child's education and show your commitment to learning.

School Choice for All?

2007-09-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon an interesting blog post about school choice and politicians.

Stop the bus, my kid is getting off.

Enjoy!

The College Crunch

2007-09-02T14:43:00.001-07:00

Christopher Guttentag wrote a very interesting commentary in the April 16, 2007 issue of BusinessWeek titled "The College Crunch: Why Getting in Has Gotten So Tough"

If prominent universities are becoming more exclusive, what can you do to set your child apart and give them the best chance for admission? Attending a world class high school may help.

A group of Rocklin residents has taken the first steps to creating a nation leading, world class high school in the Placer County area. You can find out more about this effort and what you can do to help at www.wscacademy.org.

How is My School Doing? Similar School Rankings

2007-09-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

Do you want to see how your school compares to other schools with similar demographics?

The first place to look is the similar school rankings provided by the State of California. The naysayers in the crowd complain about this site, so I'll provide another source that has more details.

Just for the Kids California

This website is very comprehensive. Input the school district on the first page, click "go" and you will receive a list of schools in the district. Click on your preferred school and you will be taken to another page where you can select the test subject and grade level (you can even look at past years). Click on "select chart"

The next page will offer up variables based on ethnicity, etc. You can just accept the given data or change some of the variables. The given data is based on the school you have selected (it will make sense when you see it). Select display chart and you will see the results along with comparisons of other schools.

If you click on a chart you will see the actual data for the comparison schools along with their demographic breakdown. It's a great feature.

Beyond API

2007-09-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

The end of August marks the release of STAR test results and API scores. It's a big moment for educators and administrators, but what does it mean to parents?

Problems with API

Can the quality of a schools be reduced to one number? The API score can give us some important insight into a school's performance but there are at least a couple of problem areas, especially for parents.

CBEE has complained about API for several years. One of the primary problems is the "goal" of 800 does not meet grade level proficiency in math, reading and other subjects (it would take 875). This problem was highlighted in a March 28th article by Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee. But beyond this glaring shortcoming is a more important issue for parents.

API may give a snapshot of a school, but it doesn't tell you anything about the most important issue, how your child is doing. This information must be gathered from your individual STAR testing results. Grade level proficiency is the minimum acceptable result.

I had a discussion with a local educator about API scores and the number of children below proficient. I was told the school had until 2013 or 2014 to meet the standard. That may be fine for an administrative benchmark, but it's not okay for your child. Your child doesn't have until 2013/14 to be proficient. They need to be there now. A child below the proficient level is now stuck playing catch up. The longer it takes to get back to proficient, the more difficult their education will be.

I urge all parents to take a close look at their child's STAR testing results. If there is a subject below proficient make sure you make a plan to get them to proficient (or beyond) as soon as possible.

We're back...

2007-09-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

The PEER website and blog are back in service. The web hosting for the site was hacked, and luckily the hosting company noticed the problems and shut down our server. Unfortunately if you attempted to get on the blog or website you were out of luck. The upside is we are back, ready with more content, and on a more robust system.

Stay tuned for some "back to school" posts!

Newsweek 2007 Best High Schools

2007-05-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

Newsweek just released their Best High Schools 2007 list. You can read the information here.

Cultural Awareness

2007-03-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

“The World is Flat” by Thomas Friedman discusses many of the realities of our shrinking world. This paradigm shift results in two core themes for education: technical skills and cultural awareness.

“I was born the citizen of a free state and a member of the sovereign, and, however feeble an influence my voice may have in public affairs, my right to vote on them suffices to make it my duty to inform myself on such matters.”

– Rousseau

Air travel and the telecommunications revolution have brought us closer than any time in history. In a matter of hours we can cross continents and oceans, and in less than a second carry on a conversation with someone on the other side of the globe. As the world shrinks we are in constant contact with foreign countries and we are increasingly dependent on each other. We must ensure our children are taught world history and gain cultural awareness to thrive in this new world.

As the citizens of a free Republic it is in the words of Rousseau our “duty.”

I hope this sparks discussion in the community and it will be the foundation of articles to follow. In the coming weeks we will discuss various aspects of the “educated child.” There are some exciting education options being created in Rocklin along the above themes, and we will be highlighting them in the future.

Technical Skills

2007-02-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

Thomas Friedman’s best selling book, “The World is Flat” discusses the reality of our time. "Flat" is our shrinking, increasingly connected world. The elimination of trade and political barriers coupled with technical advances enable us to do business instantaneously with the rest of the world. This reality brings us to the first necessity of a “good” education – technical skills.

“It is a truism, but the more educated you are, the more options you will have in the flat world.” – Thomas Friedman

Technical Skills

Myriads of studies tell us how the U.S. is behind the rest of the world in science, reading, and math. I will refer to these subjects as technical. Reading, math, and science are core competencies that lead to academic success. If we want to remain competitive and maintain a healthy economy it will be paramount for us to have the best educated people in several fields. Technology is transforming our world, both in the electrical and biological sense. For our country and children to thrive in the future, they must receive world class instruction in these technical areas.

“Offshoring is when a company takes one of its factories that is operating in Canton, Ohio, and moves the whole factory offshore to Canton, China.” – Thomas Friedman

Geographical barriers continue to erode and if we can find a less expensive, more proficient person in a foreign country, we will lose that job. Our technical skills will have to lead the world to ensure a bright future for our children.

Globalization and the shrinking world have also brought about the necessity for another skill: cultural awareness.

Goal Setting in Education

2007-02-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

2007 is Well Underway

We’re very excited about 2007 and have a lot of projects in the planning stages. E-mail messages will be sent for big news, but some of the other topics will only be discussed on the blog so visit often!

By now you’re all back in the routine following the holidays. I thought this would be a perfect time to talk about two important topics that will serve as the foundation for the next several articles/blog posts.

Goal Setting

In almost everything we do we have a desired outcome or goal in mind at the start. When we don’t have a goal the end result is often something we're not happy with. Education is no different. Have you ever sat down and really thought about the education you want your child to receive? I don’t mean in a vague sense, but very definite. Saying a “good” education is not “good” enough.

Do you want your child to go to college?

Are you looking for a vocational oriented program?

What do you expect and desire out of elementary versus high school and college?

Without an answer to these questions our children’s education is left to the prevailing winds, and like a feather in the breeze we can’t be surprised when they arrive at a very different place than we imagined.

Over the next few weeks I will be discussing a couple of core areas that comprise an "educated child." I will be posting every couple of days, so please visit the blog and join the discussion.

Posts and Comments on the Blog

2006-11-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

Posts and comments on the PEER blog are the opinions of the individual writers and not official policy statements of PEER. To read official statements from PEER, visit the home website at www.rocklinedu.org.

International Baccalaureate - Primary Years Programme

2006-11-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

We received news from Principal Bob Capp that the RUSD is proceeding with funding for the International Baccalaureate - Primary Years Programme at Sierra Elementary. Principal Capp states the program will include all students attending Sierra. He also adds final certification will take 3-4 years. If you would like to read more about this program, you may visit the official sites at http://www.ibo.org and http://www.ibo.org/ibna.

Website Updates

2006-10-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

There have been several updates to the website and more are being added every few days. Check back often. Recently updated pages:

PEER Report Cards

2006-10-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

The school report cards are now posted in the mailing list members section. Each school has an individual webpage. You can view the reports at:

www.rocklinedu.org/members/reportcard.htm

Test scores are only one part of the education equation. Please post comments on the discussion forum pages for each school.

Clarification of Placer Herald Article

2006-10-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

The following letter was submitted to the Editor of the Placer Herald in response to the article "Rocklin schools show room for improvement":

I would like to clarify the position of Parents for Educational Excellence in Rocklin (PEER) in response to the article "Rocklin schools show room for improvement. " PEER did not attend either press conference held by the Board of Trustees candidates or their agents. PEER is not affiliated with nor do we endorse any candidate. PEER is dedicated to an open, honest discussion about education options and quality to ensure our children will be equipped to excel both nationally and internationally.

Sean Jones, PEER President

The State of Rocklin Education Survey is Online

2006-08-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

The State of Rocklin Education Survey is now online along with the first half of the Rocklin Education Report Card.

We invite you to participate in the survey - your input is valuable.

If you would like to view the report card or take the short survey please click here.

Why You Matter - The Importance of Parental Involvement

2006-08-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

Increasing parent involvement in the education of their children is a necessary component of any successful school. The degree that teachers and administrators can actively involve parents in the educational process will be the degree of success of the school. When parents understand that there are concrete strategies they can easily employ to help their children learn, they are more likely to become involved. If parents become involved in supporting the classroom effort, teaching becomes easier and learning more effective.

“Researchers, school administrators, teachers, and parents overwhelmingly agree that the more parents get involved with education, the more likely their children will excel in school.”

-Phillip Vasallo, Empowering Parents Through School Choice

There is no doubt that parental involvement is one of the cornerstones of academic achievement. A major part of this includes the amount of input you have into the education they receive. Ideally, each child will receive instruction appropriate to their situation, and parental involvement is a key element of their education.

Each year we read the statistics about our poor performance versus the rest of the developed world. Instead of accepting this situation we must demand higher achievement. We must work with our children, teachers and elected officials to reverse this course. Our involvement as parents is a key part of this equation.

How are we different? For instance, in Japan when a child turns six his education becomes the parent’s top responsibility; when our children turn six they are turned over to the education system and their future is more likely than not entrusted to the teachers.

Parents can turn the trend in America around. The importance of parental involvement is clear. Some examples:

“When schools, families, and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more.”

- Study from the National Center for Family and Community Connections

“The evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: families have a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and through life.”

- National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools, A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement

We owe it to our children and community to make sure our schools are the best they can be, and that our children excel and use their talents to the best of their ability. We must remain vigilant to ensure we are not placed at the sidelines, but are active participants in the education of our children. The danger is best summed up by education writer Phillip Vasallo:

“During the past 20 years, researchers have published dozens of studies documenting what common sense has long held: there is a clear link between parental involvement in a child’s studies and student achievement. However, the government-run system of K-12 schools has done little to put that important research in practice. In most areas, government still assigns children to particular schools, and school boards and bureaucrats control textbooks, curriculum, and other central aspects of a child’s education. Perhaps for that reason, teachers, administrators, and education journalists have tended to view parents as little more than monitors for class trips, coordinators of cookie sales, and boosters for athletic events.”

- More Than Grades: How Choice Boost Parental Involvement and Benefits Children

Don’t stand on the sidelines – click here to join P.E.E.R. and support your child’s education today.

The Importance of School Choice

2006-07-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

Newsweek has an interesting article highlighting many positive aspects of school choice. Click here to read the article.

P.E.E.R. Blog is Here!

2006-07-14T00:16:00.000-07:00

The P.E.E.R. Blog is live! Rocklin's only education Parental Advocacy group is online and important topics relating to our schools are forthcoming. Please add your comments and take part in ensuring educational excellence in Rocklin!