Monday, August 9, 2010

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The arrogant ed reformers reject the wisdom of spiritual leaders, too.

The arrogant ed reformers reject the wisdom of spiritual leaders, too.

by The Perimeter Primate

This is a slightly-belated posting of excerpts from “An Alternative Vision for Public Education, A Pastoral Letter on Federal Policy in Public Education: An Ecumenical Call for Justice,” written by the leadership of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and submitted to President Obama and Members of Congress in May 2010. I hope you can take time to read this loving and beautifully-written, three-page letter.
Excerpts:

We support democratic governance of public schools. Because public schools are responsible to the public, it is possible through elected school boards, open meetings, transparent record keeping and redress through the courts to ensure that traditional public schools provide access for all children. We believe that democratic operation of public schools is our best hope for ensuring that

NYC Public School Parents: Bring Back the Traditional, One-Hundred-Point Exam?

NYC Public School Parents

Independent voices of New York City public school parents

NYC Public School Parents: Bring Back the Traditional, One-Hundred-Point Exam?

Bring Back the Traditional, One-Hundred-Point Exam?

by Steve Koss

Much of the dismay over the recent downscaling of students' ostensible proficiency and academic readiness has come from parents, community leaders, and others who were not intimately familiar with the underlying metrics of the NYSED and Regents tests.

What does a "Level 2" or "Level 3" really signify? What is a 618 ELA score, or a 650? If a child is a 578, what does it mean and what is a parent supposed to do, if anything? How can a child's one-day exam end up with a score of 780? What does a raw score of 28 mean? If a child brings home a 70 on his/her Algebra I Regents exam, isn't that a good thing?

For probably most if not all of the last century, most public school grades have been measured on a scale of 1 - 100, with 65 being the normal "cut score" for passing (i.e., content proficiency, albeit rather minimal at 65). This system has been the height of simplicity, easily understood by virtually one hundred percent of the public. If a son or daughter brought home a test score of 78, every parent know EXACTLY where the child stood on the

What’s the Matter with Wayne State? � The Quick and the Ed

What’s the Matter with Wayne State?

by Kevin Carey

The Education Trust released a report today documenting large graduation rate gaps between white, black, and Latino students at many colleges and universities. It includes a list of the worst offenders, the top of which is below, in descending order of disparity (the first number is the average six-year graduation rate for white students from 2006 to 2008, the second is the rate for black students)
Wayne State: 43.5 / 9.5
Cal State – Fresno: 55.9 / 24.1

The Eternal Stimulus | Intercepts

The Eternal Stimulus

by Mike Antonucci

Click here to read:
1) The Eternal Stimulus
2) Alaska, Arizona and Arkansas District Spending Tables Posted
3) Last Week’s Intercepts
4) Quotes of the Week

CEP tells L&I that it is leaving Philadelphia | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

CEP tells L&I that it is leaving Philadelphia

by Dale Mezzacappa on Aug 09 2010 Posted in Latest news

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Community Education Partners, the for-profit operator of disciplinary schools that ushered in the privatization of alternative education in Philadelphia, has notified the state Department of Labor and Industry that it is closing its remaining four schools as of the end of this month. Its contract with the District was terminated June 30, according to District spokeswoman Lisa Mastoon.

The Nashville-based firm said it would be laying off 74 employees. A company spokesperson did not immediately return a call for comment.

CEP came to Philadelphia in 2000, when David Hornbeck was superintendent, on the urging of State Rep. John Perzel, who was then the House Speaker and a

Principals plot how common standards will change school life | GothamSchools

Principals plot how common standards will change school life

by Maura Walz

School staff reviewed sample student work that meets the common standards for kindergarten writing. More sample student work that meets the new standards is available here(pdf).

What will national standards mean for New York City’s classrooms?

For the past few weeks, groups of principals, teachers and staff members have been gathering with their school networks to begin answering those questions.

Last week, a large group of principals, assistant principals and teachers met in the cafeteria of P.S. 129 in Flushing, Queens. They came in teams of three from each school in a Children’s First Network led by Diane Foley.

The state won’t begin to use the core standards to test students until 2014.

But, as Foley and her staff reminded principals, the

State officials trim, but not gut, high school testing program

Rise & Shine: Obama set to call for new college graduation push

A way to get around the Doggett/Perry dispute | THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | dallasnews.com

A way to get around the Doggett/Perry dispute

by William McKenzie/ Editorial Columnist

The House is going to pass a $26 billion stimulus bill tomorrow. That much, everyone knows. But the bulls-eye that Rep. Lloyd Doggett has placed on Texas in the bill need not end up denying funds to the state.
The Austin Democrat inserted an amendment into the measure that puts Texas into its own special category when it comes to getting money from the legislation, which will help states with their Medicaid budgets and keep schools from laying off teachers. Doggett's amendment says that in order to receive its share of the stimulus money Texas must commit to spending the same amount on education in its 2013 budget that it will spend in its 2011-2012 budget. In other words, the 2011 Legislature must bind the 2013 Legislature to spend at least the

Fewer teachers, but few teacher layoffs, for Portland Public Schools | OregonLive.com

Fewer teachers, but few teacher layoffs, for Portland Public Schools

Published: Monday, August 09, 2010, 2:31 PM Updated: Monday, August 09, 2010, 2:53 PM

Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian
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Portland schools have cut roughly 120 teaching positions to balance the district budget, but retirements and resignations created enough vacancies that nearly every teacher who lost his or her position will get another teaching assignment in Portland this fall, district leaders say.

At this point, among teachers who had permanent teaching positions last year, only a handful of music teachers and one or two career-technical teachers are in serious jeopardy of being laid off, district officials told principals in a memo issued Friday.

In fact, in high-demand areas such as language immersion, counseling, Spanish and special education, the district plans to hire teachers this month.

Music is the biggest trouble spot, for teachers trying to keep their jobs and for schools trying to find the right match. An experienced music teacher whose job is eliminated is eligible to claim a music teaching job in another school. But the difference between what's needed to excel at teaching elementary vocal music versus to lead a high school band can be considerable.

As of Friday, the school district's human resources department had 54 teachers who had lost their

Hard work turns around Bridger School of Southeast Portland

By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian

August 06, 2010, 12:10PM

The small Portland school, serving students living east of SE 82nd Avenue between Stark Street and Powell Boulvevard, found itself faced with a largely poor student body, many of whom speak Spanish, Chinese, Vietmanese or Chuukese at home. The school wasn't serving them well -- but boy, did that change last year. Full story »

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Beaverton's Southridge High among success stories in hitting federal 'No Child Left Behind' targets

By Melissa Navas, The Oregonian

August 06, 2010, 12:00PM

In Hillsboro and Forest Grove school districts, success rates remain flat compared with last year. Full story »

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Five Oaks teacher runs 216-mile relay -- solo -- in honor of former Beaverton student with leukemia

By Eric Florip, The Oregonian

August 06, 2010, 9:00AM

Tigard resident Eric Salkeld runs the Cascade Lakes Relay to raise money for Children's Cancer Association, a charity picked by 14-year-old Levi Seed. Full story »

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North Clackamas, Oregon City school districts raise student fees to cope with budget problems

By Nicole Dungca, The Oregonian

August 06, 2010, 8:00AM

The North Clackamas and Oregon City school districts have increased student athletic fees for the 2010-11 school year, saying the new rates are still lower than those at a number of area schools. Full story »

Obama speech ties U.S. need for more college graduates to the economic recovery

By Michael D. Shear

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 9, 2010; 3:05 PM

AUSTIN -- Saying that the country's long-term economic recovery depends on a wholesale improvement in education, President Obama on Monday pledged his administration's best efforts toward increasing the number of college graduates.

"Lifting graduation rates. Preparing our graduates to succeed in this economy. Making college affordable. That's how we'll put a higher education within reach for anyone who wants it," Obama said in prepared remarks for a speech here Monday. "That's how we'll reach our goal of once again leading the world in college graduation rates by the end of this decade."