Articles in the issue

• ACSA Membership Matters! Get involved!
  The career-building benefits of ACSA membership usually begin at the charter and region levels, but many new to the association don‘t know how to take that first step. Identifying your region and contacting the president is a great start!
• Legislative inertia trumps sound policy requiring second special session
  After a dismayingly unproductive first special session on the budget ended with a whimper, Gov. Schwarzenegger has declared a fiscal emergency and called for a new special budgetary session with the newly sworn-in Legislature.
• January workshops scheduled to provide crucial budget information
  This year, more than ever, it’s important to attend the 2009 Budget Perspectives Workshops. The workshops will offer the latest information and analysis on the governor’s 2009-10 proposed budget, right after it is released, and its ramifications for K-12 education.
• Forum vets tough negotiations year
  Negotiations are always important to a school district’s financial health, but never more so than now when facing a huge structural deficit in the state budget and a national economy in recession. This is why the upcoming 2009 ACSA Symposium for Negotiators is so critical to attend.
• Achievement gap success stories sought
  ACSA is urging school leaders to share best practices for closing the achievement gap. The Equity, Achievement and Diversity for Success Committee is addressing the need to provide a clearinghouse on schools that are succeeding around the state.
• State defines Response to Intervention philosophy
  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has outlined a vision of how California should implement Response to Intervention, and ACSA is currently gathering input on how it will impact schools and districts.
• CTC seeks applicants for ESL advisory panel
  The Commission on Teacher Credentialing is seeking educators with expertise in English as a Second Language, English as a New Language, English as a Foreign Language or the equivalent to serve on an advisory panel concerning authorizations to teach English learners. Application deadline is Dec. 15.
• Students making progress in PE; additional work needed
  More fifth, seventh and ninth grade public school students have reached the “Healthy Fitness Zone” on this year’s Physical Fitness Test, but SPI Jack O'Connell says, "to get them to take giant leaps instead of baby steps will require additional encouragement from school administrators, teachers and parents."