CBS programs produced the following video stories, just copy and paste the link to watch this story.
Getting City Kids Into Nature
California's "No Child Left Inside" law is based on the idea that giving students a chance to experience nature will make them healthier and better stewards of the environment. Sandra Hughes reports.
Closing The Math Gap American high school students are lagging behind other countries when it comes to math and science. One billionaire businessman thinks he can fix the problem. http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2445959n
Up To The Minute Computer Consultant John Quain offers suggestions for parents looking to "tech-up" their students for the new school year. http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=637148n
Chinese Language Boom In U.S.
For more than a billion people worldwide, Chinese is the native tongue. In the United States, thousands of students are now learning the language. Barry Petersen reports. http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2783910n
Teen Sleep Relief
Research showing that adolescents have different sleep requirements than adults has caused some parents in Virginia to call for a later start to the school day. Tracy Smith reports. http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2760818n
Healthy Start To School
Your children can face health problems when they go back to class. Consumer Reports magazine's Ronni Sandroff joins Hannah Storm with health and safety tips for kids going back to school. | http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=1964012n
Parent Groups
We will be held our first PTA meeting on Tuesday, June 12th at 6pm in our VMMS Gym.
A Del Norte PTA member will assist us in building our PTA.
PTA programs are created to organize and support parent involvement in children's education. Our programs are created with leading expert organizations on topics of importance to our members, at members' requests. The programs are user-friendly and are free to PTAs. Within each of the programs offered, you'll find fun activities, helpful evaluation tools, and tips to involve all the key players in a school community. No other parent group can offer the credible, complete, and all-inclusive programs to engage successfully families and communities all year round. You can learn more about the following programs on our site:
In 2003-2004 the legislature approved Senate Bill 304 which added responsibilities to the School Site Councils,
The amendments added as a result of SB304 are:
� Site Councils may make recommendations and proposals to the school board regarding budgetary items and school district matters including but not limited to, identify and implementing the best practices for developing efficient and effective administrative and management functions. � Site councils also may help school boards analyze the unique environment of schools, enhance the efficiency and maximize limited resources, including outsourcing arrangements and cooperative opportunities as a means to address limited budgets.
Given the current state of our knowledge about English learners, whose primary language fluency and levels of academic achievement vary greatly, how can the State Board be most influential in helping these students to overcome language barriers quickly and to achieve academically at levels consistent with other students? How can the State Board work most effectively to improve the functioning of the whole of the education system- -county offices, districts, school sites - - to provide high quality educational services to these students?
What does current data tell us about the academic achievement of students? Do we need more data? If so, what type?
Is primary language support needed for some students and their parents at schools with English learners so as to improve communication with students and parents?
Should the state encourage and/or fund local school districts to offer each student the opportunity to learn a language other than English in elementary school?
How might we more clearly focus state and local funds on the academic achievement needs of English learners? This is especially critical for the use of the $60 million for specified additional services for English learners provided in Governor Davis' budget for this current year.
In addition to the basic materials adopted, should the state review supplemental instructional materials, which may be of specific assistance to specific language groups?
Time Required: It is anticipated that the ELAC would meet no more than three times per year for one-half day. They would review a large amount of information and provide the Board with their best collective judgment on improvements needed in services.
Membership: Each member of the State Board of Education will recommend one member. The president of the Board will appoint the chair. The full Board will vote to appoint members and to fill vacancies. Staff will be provided by the Board Office.
Term of Office: The term will be for three years. In 2004 only, six ELAC members will be appointed to three-year terms and five members be appointed to two-year terms. The chair of the committee would be appointed to one of the three-year terms. The term of office for full-term appointments made in 2006 and beyond would be three years. Missing three meetings will result in being removed.
Compensation: Members of the Committee will serve without compensation, but normal travel costs of official meetings will be provided to members.
