Visionary Leadership: Contemporary Educational Issues in CA

Question 1

Name 7 contemporary educational issues in CA

Answer 1

1. Williams Act
2. TK
3. iPads in the classroom
4. School Safety
5. Nutritional Programs and Childhood Obesity
6. Bullying (including cyber-bullying)
7. Immigration Status

Question 2

What is the Williams Act?

Answer 2

Result of a CA Superior Court case, established to ensure that all CA public school students have access to conditions and tools to learn. Words need to be posted in each classroom: in-class and take-home instructional materials, safe learning environments, qualified teachers. This ruling determined that the state is responsible for this, not parents.

Question 3

What is the Kindergarten Readiness Act?

Answer 3

Transitional Kindergarten— The Kindergarten Readiness Act (SB 1381) passed in September 2010 and changed the birth date requirements for kinder from Dec 5 to Sept 1 so all children should enter kinder at 5. It was phased over three years starting in 2012-13. SB 1381 also created transitional kinder for those turning 5 between Sept 2 and Dec 2. All districts must provide transitional kinder, but it is voluntary just as kindergarten is. Must be taught by credentialed teachers. Curriculum is designed to provide experiences children need to be ready for school using curriculum from pre-k and k.