Singer’s Clips (5-14-14)

Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:

 

California’s state board of education has squashed a request by the San Jose district and its teachers’ union to lengthen some teachers’ probationary period from two to three years, reports John Fensterwald at EdSource. (Education Week)

 

Despite widespread political campaigning on pre-kindergarten education programs, a new study finds the reality doesn’t quite match the rhetoric, with enrollment figures falling and ten states with no programs at all. (TIME)

 

The Broad Foundation’s education initiatives began 15 years ago, but the organization is just now getting its first president, and his surname isn’t Broad. Bruce Reed is tasked with minding the foundation’s investments and its work on K-12 reform, which has shaken the educational apple tree. The foundation spends about $60 million a year on things like training school superintendents and supporting charter schools. Reed, an Idahoan, changed coasts after three decades deeply entrenched in D.C., working on campaigns and/or policy for Al Gore, the Clintons, Barack Obama and, most recently, Vice President Joe Biden. He switched reform teams but didn’t leave the playing field. (LA Times)

 

The bond-rating agency Moody’s warned Monday that Mayor de Blasio’s new $73.9 billion budget would increase the city’s deficits in future years. (New York Post)

 

Ras Baraka, a councilman and fiery community activist who campaigned on the vow to “take back Newark” from outsiders, was elected mayor of New Jersey’s largest city in decisive fashion Tuesday night, declaring victory before the votes were even fully counted. (NJ.com)