Big Education Ape: Rise & Shine: Teachers in rubber room skeptical of closure deal

Remainders: “Last-in, first-out” bill loses a sponsor

by Anna Phillips

State Sen. George Onorato is pulling his support from the bill that would end seniority-based layoffs.
Charter school supporters are among those looking for someone to run against Sen. Bill Perkins.
Despite the rubber room deal, there’s no sign the union and city are any closer to a contract agreement.
Norm Scott says there’s enough latitude in the new rubber room deal for abuse.
A UFT member says this is the “first pure win” he’s seen as a part of the teachers union.
P.S. 87 students made a video to prove to Chancellor Klein that their school is overcrowded.
Miss Eyre says she can get behind teacher evaluation reforms, but not with Klein at the helm.
NY’s State Education Department released its report cards for the 08-09 school year today.
Florida Gov. Charlie Christ explains his decision to veto an anti-tenure bill on Facebook.
Andy Smarick: it’s the most disappointing edu policy choice by a Republican in recent memory.
“The NEA just flipped President Obama the bird and used Charlie Crist’s finger to do it.”
Andy Rotherham sees an emerging alliance between unions and states annoyed by RttT.
In the midst of RttT round two, Maine’s schools chief is stepping down.
Jay Mathews singles out two Washington-area education blogs his readers should read.
And a Harvard B-school student has launched a Digg-like site for education news.

by Philissa Cramer

The rubber rooms for teachers under investigation will close. (Times, Post, Daily News, NY1, WNYC, AP)
The Post and Daily News praise the rubber room agreement and note that it’s a win for the union.
Chancellor Klein says the agreement brings needed “sanity” to the teacher discipline process. (Post)
A teacher in a Manhattan rubber room says he doesn’t believe the agreement will help him. (Post)
A Bronx teacher who’s been in the rubber room for 1.5 years hopes he’ll be back to work soon. (Post)
School survey results are accurate because teachers resist pressure, Chancellor Klein said. (Daily News)
Despite its intentions, the city is cutting after-school programs with mostly needy children. (Daily News)
The city says it plans to replace Paul Robeson High School regardless of whether it’s closed. (Post)
In a letter, a former city teacher says city schools could benefit from weeknight proms, too. (Times)
Bucking his party, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a bill that would have tied pay to test scores. (Times)
A local school board deemed a charter school started by Stanford’s education school a failure. (Times)
Hawaii parents are lobbying against the state’s budget-shortened school year. (Time Magazine)
A judge ruled against a company that charged fees to bring Filipino teachers to the States. (USA Today)