Alliance stresses value of the art of educationAll students deserve a high quality, well-rounded education. That much is clear. The question is, how can we be sure they receive it? And how can we hold ourselves accountable for it, and for the success of every child? Integrating arts into classroom learning is central to answering these questions. ... Read more…

Educational success hinges on preschoolTwo similar children enter kindergarten on the same day. One quickly learns to read, will graduate from high school and likely go on to college. ... Read more…

Support bill to protect students from militaryAs the number of GIs killed in Iraq passes 2,000, and more than 10 times that many young American men and women have been sent back wounded and maimed, parents are taking a harder look at military recruiting in our schools. … Read more…

This plan will drive away teachersOur state will need 100,000 new teachers over the next 10 years just to keep up with population growth and retirements. This is not the smartest moment to make a teaching career less attractive and to drive some of our best and brightest teachers out of the profession. … Read more…

Avoid the blame game: Prop. 74 won’t workWe all know that good teachers are crucial for a child’s success in school. Prop 74 in November’s special election is designed to appeal to nearly all parents who at one time or another in their child’s education, come across a teacher who seems inadequate or unprepared. … Read more…

School districts forced into deficit spending State controller Steve Wesley’s recent report on the fiscal health of California school districts reveals a shocking fact: More than a third have been forced into deficit spending due to inadequate funding and declining enrollment. … Read more…

Charter School Task Force has recommendationsLast winter, I formed a 21-member Charter School Policy Task Force comprised of individuals on both sides of the charter debate: charter experts, parents educational leaders and labor leaders, to examine and analyze the conflicts between charter schools and school districts. … Read more…

The arts are critical in a child’s educationEvery child has a story to tell, and in March throughout Alameda County, there were thousands of those stories. … Read more…

You may contact Superintendent Jordan at 510-670-4144 or by e-mail, acoesuperintendent@acoe.org.