Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Mayor Launches Education Initiative - Education News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Mayor Launches Education Initiative - Education News Story - KCRA Sacramento


Mayor Launches Education Initiative

Nonprofit Gets $500,000 Grant

POSTED: 6:36 pm PST December 16, 2009
UPDATED: 6:49 pm PST December 16, 2009



Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson wants the city to have one of the finest public education systems in the nation.
That's the goal of STAND UP -- a brand-new initiative that was launched Thursday.

A $500,000 grant will kick start the first phase of the new nonprofit's development.

It will focus on in raising academic achievement and college completion rates by advocating, supporting, and developing excellent public schools.
The seed money comes from a national philanthropy group -- the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.
"They have selected very few cities to invest in, financially. And Sacramento is one that's going to receive $500,000. Our goal is to raise another $500,000 to match that, which will give us a million dollars to do great things in Sacramento," Johnson said.
The mayor said he's looking for a new education liaison -- someone who will work with STAND UP and area superintendents to make sure students benefit.

Students 'suspend' boycott at South Phila. High | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009


Students 'suspend' boycott at South Phila. High | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009:

"After meeting with schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman in Chinatown last night, the 50 Asian students who have been boycotting classes at South Philadelphia High agreed to return to school starting this morning.

The 25 or so students who continued to stay out of class in response to a Dec. 3 incident on campus in which dozens of them had been beaten said last night that they were 'suspending' their boycott while awaiting action from school and district officials. (About half the boycotting students returned earlier this week.)"

Ex-Phila. Academy leader gets prison term | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009


Ex-Phila. Academy leader gets prison term | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009:

"If anyone could have stopped the fraud at Philadelphia Academy Charter School, a federal judge said yesterday, it was the school's former board president.

U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno praised Rosemary DiLacqua as an intelligent and educated police officer, with more than 25 years of distinguished service and a reputation for toughness, who was a specialist in detecting fraud. She could have told school founder Brien N. Gardiner and former chief executive Kevin M. O'Shea 'enough is enough,' Robreno added.

Instead, DiLacqua, 51, accepted $34,000 in secret payments from the two and kept quiet."

Parent tells SRC she was pressed not to testify | Philadelphia Public School Notebook



Parent tells SRC she was pressed not to testify | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

"A parent of a student at the Jackson Elementary School in South Philadelphia told the SRC Wednesday that school and South Region officials tried to intimidate her from testifying before the commission.
Angelica Viceriana, accompanied by Zac Steele, a community organizer from the community organization JUNTOS, said that while she was talking to her daughter's teacher at the school Tuesday, other school staff interrupted and asked specifically to say what she planned to testify about. Staff yelled at her, then repeatedly called her after she went home, she testified.
'They told me to call other parents and not to come to the SRC meeting,' she said in Spanish through a translator. She said she was told that if she complied, 'they would pay more attention to my child’s concerns.'"

The Daily Politics - NY Daily News


The Daily Politics - NY Daily News


Gov. David Paterson derided the coalition that sued him for withholding education aidpayments today, saying they are failing to realize the severity of the fiscal crisis and making a "desperate attempt" to put their needs above everyone else in the state.
If the administration loses this suit, Paterson said, it will be forced to make all of thescheduled $1.5 billion in school aid payments and $2.5 billion in STAR property tax rebate payments, which would require deeper reductions for local governments and service providers.
"So, in other words, these other groups are going to take a 67 percent delayed payment," Paterson said. "They’re going to wipe these other groups out, and I think now that I’ve pointed this out you may see their lawyers in court on Monday.

"Because what these school districts and unions and otherwise have said: 'We aren’t special interests we’re extra special. We’re supposed to get all the money and everybody else can just divide up the crumbs.'...It's clear to me they don't care about anybody but themselves."


Read more:http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/12/paterson-school-aid-plaintiffs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fblogs%2Fdailypolitics+%28Blogs%2FThe+Daily+Politics%29&utm_content=Google+Reader#ixzz0ZvM9zfE0

Paly Voice - Race to top bill may threaten Palo Alto education standards


Paly Voice - Race to top bill may threaten Palo Alto education standards


"Race to top" bill may threaten Palo Alto education standards

posted December 16, 2009

by Sophie Cornfield of Verde

The standard of education in Palo Alto public school may be threatened in a bill being considered in California legislature. Taken up in the State Assembly on Dec. 9, two versions of "Race to the Top" propose various changes to the California public school system. This emergency education bill would help California secure a much-needed $4.35 billion from the Federal government's "Race to the Top" funds. Among the most controversial potential changes is the Senate's proposal to require open enrollment in all California school districts. This means that, if there is capacity, districts must accept students from other districts.
"It is possible that someone might say that Palo Alto has capacity," said Lauren Janov, advocacy chair for the Parent Teacher Association. "That could mean more students coming from nearby school districts and take with them the money from their struggling school districts." The State Assembly's verision of the bill does not contain this provision. Therefore, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has threatened to veto this verison if it makes it to his desk. Regardless, the Senate has chosen to carry-on with its draft.
Yet another controversial provision, endorsed by Schwarzenegger, is the Common Core State Standards Initiatives in which

Local News | Washington ranks second nationally in 2009 teacher certifications | Seattle Times Newspaper


Local News | Washington ranks second nationally in 2009 teacher certifications | Seattle Times Newspaper



Washington ranked second in the nation this year for the number of its teachers that have achieved certification in a national teacher-certification program.
Seattle Times Eastside reporter
National Board Certified Teachers
Top 5 states by number of new certified teachers in 2009, with percentage increase from 2008.
North Carolina: 1,509, 4% increase.
Washington: 1,248, 36% increase.
South Carolina: 798, 5% increase.
Illinois: 732, 4% increase.
Florida: 651, 5% increase.
Source: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Washington ranked second in the nation this year for the number of its teachers that received certification in a national teacher-certification program.
The state now ranks fifth nationally in the total number of its teachers that are certified under the program, which is run by the private, nonprofit National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
And three of the state's districts — Bellevue, Seattle and Spokane — are among the nation's top 20 in terms of the number of teachers who achieved national board certification in 2009.
To receive certification, teachers must submit four portfolios, including an examination of student work and video recordings from the classroom. Only about half of teachers who make

Academics & Activities | GreatSchools


Academics & Activities | GreatSchools


Sacramento Press / City Council votes to challenge 2nd Amendment


Sacramento Press / City Council votes to challenge 2nd Amendment



Today, December 15th, is Bill of Rights Day. These 10 amendments to the Constitution protect our most basic rights, including: freedom of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, and have a fair trial. Ironically, in this evening's Sacramento City Council meeting our representatives voted to support Chicago in a Supreme Court Case (McDonald v. Chicago) which would allow cities to ignore the 2nd Amendment.
The 2nd Amendment reads:
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
The City Council Proposal
"Discuss and consider whether to authorize the City Attorney's Office to take the necessary steps to have the City of Sacramento join as amicus curiae with various cities in McDonald v. Chicago, United States Supreme Court Case no. 08-1521, in support of the position that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution does not apply to the States and local governments. Contact: Eileen Teichert, City Attorney, (916) 808-5346, Office of the City Attorney."
This proposal was brought forward at the request of Kevin McCarty. After he introduced the item, councilmember Robbie Waters made a statement strongly opposing the proposal. There were three public speakers from the community, all opposing the proposal. After the public comments, Steve Cohn made comments supporting it. It then passed with a majority vote.
After 12/16, you can watch archived video of this decision here: 12/15, agenda item #28.

SAC City DAC Education News & Comment 2010 Parent Leadership Conference


 PARENTS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND 
OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY  COMING TOGETHER TO PLAN FOR THE
SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS  IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS
Go DAC!
Hi everyone,


As you know from my recent e-mail to the Conference Planning Committee, we are actively seeking nominations for Leadership Awards in the following categories for the 2010 Parent Leadership Conference:
· Parent Leadership Awards - 2 parents will be selected
· Staff Leadership Award - 1 staff member will be selected
· Parent Leadership Program Award - 1 parent Leadership Program will be selected
The Submission Deadline for Leadership Award Nominations is December 18, 2009.
The award nomination forms for all three categories are included in one document on the 2010 Parent Leadership web site under the link “Award Nominations.” For your convenience, I have attached three separate documents to make it easier to submit the appropriate nomination forms related to each category.



Also, if you have not yet e-mailed me a description of the donation you or your organization will be making for the Gift Raffle, please make sure to send me this information as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for all your assistance.
Best regards,
Meryl Levine, ACSW, MSSA

Vice President of Development
Parents Anonymous® Inc.



2010 PARENT LEADERSHIIP CONFERENCE -

Oakland middle school to get a plug on the “Today” show tomorrow | The Education Report


Oakland middle school to get a plug on the “Today” show tomorrow | The Education Report

Urban Promise Academy

Oakland middle school to get a plug on the “Today” show tomorrow

By Katy Murphy
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 4:58 pm in English learners, achievement gap, middle schools, small schools.
Urban Promise Academy, a small middle school in East Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, will be one of three schools in the nation to be featured tomorrow morning onNBC’s “Today” show for a segment on innovative schools in low-income communities.
Because the show will be filming live from UPA for its East Coast broadcast, a group of teachers, parents and students will get to the school by 5 a.m. Mark Triplett, the school principal, said he’ll probably be there by 4.
Hey, if tonight’s board meeting goes late enough, maybe I can pull an all-nighter! (That was actually Triplett’s suggestion. I’m SURE he was only half-serious.)
It is scheduled to air after 8 a.m. Pacific Time, likely around 8:30, Triplett said.

New DOE Tech Czar Promises "Transformative Agenda" | Scholastic.com


New DOE Tech Czar Promises "Transformative Agenda" | Scholastic.com


New DOE Tech Czar Promises "Transformative Agenda"


Cator: new technology plan due next month

Karen Cator is expected to hit the ground running in her new position as DOE director of education technology. After all, as Apple's former director of education leadership and advocacy, she certainly knows the ed tech landscape. What has amazed her, she said in an interview this week, is how the entire department is pushing to show accomplishments.
"I was surprised to find how action-orientated everybody is," she said in her first interview since taking the new job in November. "It's a leave-your-ego-at-the-door atmosphere. Everybody wants to make progress."
Speaking at the Software & Information Industry Association's Ed Tech Business Forum on December 1, Cator promised a new draft technology plan by January. The plan is her first priority and she expects it to clearly articulate how technology is critical to the four assurances of the Obama education stimulus plan: learning, teaching, assessment, and productivity.
In mentioning one specific point, Cator called for finding effective teachers in every zip code. "We need to leverage the best of technology to have access to that high level of teaching," she said.
The education veteran said the challenge was to create "student-centered learning" that pays attention to individual goals and aspirations while still allowing students to collaborate and leverage their prior experience. "We need to connect formal and informal learning to raise efficiency and save costs," she said. She also called for the creation of a digital portfolio for each student that can be shared with parents and mentors.
Responding to questions after her talk to 200 ed tech industry people in New York City, she said her office will look for funding across all levels of the DOE to help implement this plan. She said she didn't expect the new plan to carry a mandate with

This Week In Education: Millot: E/CMOs - Bakke Memo Suggests Bad Actors, Bad Oversight, Bad Law


This Week In Education: Millot: E/CMOs - Bakke Memo Suggests Bad Actors, Bad Oversight, Bad Law


Millot: E/CMOs - Bakke Memo Suggests Bad Actors, Bad Oversight, Bad Law

[They] will believe that they are responsible for making big decisions about budget matters, school policies, hiring of the principal and dozens of other matters…. Before selecting board members we need to go over the voting process and our expectations that they will go along with Imagine…. It is our school…. 

Denis Bakke, President, to Imagine Schools developers, directors and principals (Sep. 4, 2008)

A lot of times, we’re not involved. Sometimes a group comes together and doesn’t approach us until they’ve decided to move ahead with the charter... We ask questions, but as I said, it’s not always ideal.

Larry Gabbert, Director, Office of Charter Schools, Ball State University to reporter (Nov. 1, 2009)

Even though (Imagine) formally doesn't control the charter or the charter board, the school would really not exist if Imagine doesn't stay, and that's the leverage Imagine has over a board… That's basically the same model Imagine uses everywhere.

Troy Bell, former Director of Development, Imagine Schools to reporter (Nov. 2, 2009)
Last month, Ft. Wayne, Indiana Journal-Gazzette reporters Dan Stockman and Kelly Soderlund built a superb investigative series on the inner workings of Imagine Schools around an outrageous memo from the CMO's President Denis Bakke. The memo (excerpted above) was first unearthed by David Hunn of the St Louis Post Dispatch and printed with his story October 25.) It's the kind of work edubloggers expected from education journalists in our great national newspapers after Tom Toch's original report on CMOs surfaced.

Education Research Report


Education Research Report


Adding technology to geometry class


A new study co-written by a University of Illinois expert in math education suggests that incorporating technology in high school-level geometry classes not only makes the teaching of concepts such as congruency easier, it also empowers students to discover other geometric relationships they wouldn’t ordinarily uncover when more traditional methods of instruction were used.

Gloriana González, a professor of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education at Illinois, says when students used dynamic geometry software they were more successful in discovering new mathematical ideas than when they used static, paper-based diagrams.

The study, published in a recent issue of the International Journal of Computers for Mathematical Learning, analyzed how students solved geometry problems over four days, with two days spent using static diagrams and the other two with dynamic diagrams drawn using a calculator with dynamic geometry software.

“There’s been a big push to have teachers use technology in the classroom, and there’s a lot of incentives for them to use it, the chief one being the motivation kids get from using technology,” González said. “But the powerful thing is that integrating technology in the classroom allows teachers to provide students more opportunities for learning, which gets students thinking about mathematical ideas in a new light.”
González, who co-wrote the study with Patricio G. Herbst, of the University of Michigan, said that teachers like to use technology in the classroom not only because it’s stimulating for students, but also because it’s a more efficient use of resources for teachers.

For example, instead of drawing 20 different diagrams on a chalkboard by hand, teachers can create one diagram on a computer and manipulate it using the dynamic geometry software.
Without the software, the teacher is drawing 20 different variations of the same diagram, “which can get very boring very quickly,” González said.

“The technology allows teachers to do many things that they couldn’t ordinarily do or would be very hard to do by hand, such as call attention to a particular geometrical pattern or

Congressman Chaka Fattah : News Articles : FATTAH INTRODUCES RESOLUTION SUPPORTING COMMON CORE EDUCATION STANDARDS


Congressman Chaka Fattah : News Articles : FATTAH INTRODUCES RESOLUTION SUPPORTING COMMON CORE EDUCATION STANDARDS


FATTAH INTRODUCES RESOLUTION SUPPORTING COMMON CORE EDUCATION STANDARDS


Washington, DC – Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives today championing the state-led development of common standards in core subjects for students in grades K-12.

The initiative is being coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The initiative presents a significant opportunity for states to collectively develop and adopt a core set of academic standards in mathematics and English/ language arts. Forty-eight states and three territories have joined the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

At present, each state operates under its own set of academic standards, with no uniform guidelines. Consequently, students in each state are held to widely varying standards.

Fattah introduced H.Res. 979, which supports the common core standards because he firmly believes all students should be prepared at the same ambitious academic level. “From a child’s first day in Kindergarten to his or her last day in high school, instruction must be in alignment with peers not just across town, but across the nation and around the world,” said Congressman Fattah. “Our goal is college readiness for every child, and this will help us measure our progress to that goal.

“Algebra in Philadelphia, Mississippi, should look like algebra in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” Fattah stated. “It’s important to educators, policy-makers and the business community that we can look across schools, districts and states to see who is learning what.”

States, each of which have historically been responsible for developing their own academic standards, have come together to develop standards that are comparable, useful and rigorous. Experts believe consistent standards will help students better understand what is expected of them and allow for more self-directed learning.

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, past president of the National Governors Association and a nationally recognized advocate for education praised the Congressman and Congress for their support of this governors-led initiative saying, “Congressman Fattah and the entire United State Congress have effectively persuaded governors to take a more hands-on approach to improving public education. We are doing just that and we are doing it in a way that will ensure students in the Keystone State are afforded as rigorous an education as students in any other state – or nation, for that matter. This effort is long overdue and key to our national competitiveness.”

Local News | Washington ranks second nationally in 2009 teacher certifications | Seattle Times Newspaper

Local News | Washington ranks second nationally in 2009 teacher certifications | Seattle Times Newspaper:

"Washington ranked second in the nation this year for the number of its teachers that received certification in a national teacher-certification program.

The state now ranks fifth nationally in the total number of its teachers that are certified under the program, which is run by the private, nonprofit National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

And three of the state's districts — Bellevue, Seattle and Spokane — are among the nation's top 20 in terms of the number of teachers who achieved national board certification in 2009."

ODEPO - Open Education Community


ODEPO - Open Education Community


ODEPO
Open Database of Educational Projects and Organizations
ODEPO (Open Database of Educational Projects and Organizations) is an interactive semantic database for individuals and organizations involved in education. Currently, ODEPO includes more than 1,000 sites affiliated with various organizations, the majority of which were provided to us by educational repositories involved in the creation and expansion of Open Educational Resources (OER). If you find that a project or organization is missing, we invite you to create a wiki account and add your own page.

"What status for open? An examination of the licensing policies of open educational organizations and projects," ccLearn's licensing report, and related supplements, were based on data compiled in ODEPO. You can find data related to this data supplement on the OER Data page.



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