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PLEASE NOTE: PostRank and Google are still working on their format: The following Posts are from the Big Education Ape - PostRank Daily Top 10 The Washington Teacher: NO WTU Vice President For You AGAIN!
Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago
The Washington Teacher: NO WTU Vice President For You AGAIN!:NO WTU Vice President For You AGAIN!Written by Candi PetersonMonday was one exhausting day for me. The real sordid details will have to be left for another day and another time and place. First, I must ask you to not to cast judgment on me, at least not at this time. That's what Saunders and the WTU Executive Board did to me- when they denied me my inalienable right to due ... more »
Modern School: Chicago Scab Teachers Volunteer For Longer Hours At Low Wages
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Modern School: Chicago Scab Teachers Volunteer For Longer Hours At Low Wages:Chicago Scab Teachers Volunteer For Longer Hours At Low Wagesby Michael DunnHuck/Konopacki Labor CartoonsJean-Claude Brizard, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel have tried to get longer school days at Chicago schools and they have succeeded at 13 of them.Fiske Elementary Principal Cynthia Miller was quoted in the Chicago Tribune saying "We're all on board," despite the fact that her staff only approved the longer ... more »
Third Way Responds but Still Doesn’t Get It! « School Finance 101
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Third Way Responds but Still Doesn’t Get It! « School Finance 101:Third Way Responds but Still Doesn’t Get It!by schoolfinance101Third Way has posted a response to my critique in which they argue that their analysis do not suffer theegregious flaws my review indicates. Specifically, they bring up my reference to the fact that whenever they are using a “district” level of analysis, they include the Detroit City Schools in their entirety in their sample of “middle class.” They argue that ... more »
SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: When Does Whitney Tilson's Hypocrisy And Ignorance Become Criminal?
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SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: When Does Whitney Tilson's Hypocrisy And Ignorance Become Criminal?:When Does Whitney Tilson's Hypocrisy And Ignorance Become Criminal?by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)Yes, my freaking eyes again. Back in February I questioned whether or not a chimp could write better than Whitney Tilson. I believe the answer was yes, a chimp can write better than Whitney Tilson, I also believe that an inanimate carbon rod could write better than Whitney.As I became a teenager, I heard that there were several ... more »
Lois Weiner: Use Your Teacher Voice!
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Lois Weiner from New Jersey City University, acclaimed author of The Global Assault on Teaching, Teachers, and Unions made a UYTV video. You should too!Teachers, send you video to useyourteachervoice@gmail.com.Join us on fb: http://www.facebook.com/groups/useyourteachervoice/Tweeting: @UseYrTcherVoiceFind Lois: www.loisweiner.org
Don’t Believe the Hype: Obama’s NCLB Waiver More of the Same | Dailycensored.com
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Don’t Believe the Hype: Obama’s NCLB Waiver More of the Same | Dailycensored.com:Don’t Believe the Hype: Obama’s NCLB Waiver More of the SameWritten by Adam BessieEducation, MediaSep 23, 20110digg8ShareIf you’re a casual observer of the education debate, today might seem monumental: George W. Bush’s controversial No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which created a system of extensive high-stakes testing for students and schools nearly a decade ago, is finally being “revamped” by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, ... more »
Plastic bags praised in state text | SignOnSanDiego.com
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Plastic bags praised in state text | SignOnSanDiego.com:Plastic bags praised in state textOfficials note many groups had input on environmental textComments ()Share:TwitterFacebookEmailPrintSaveAnswer key for teacher's manual suggests how students might describe the benefits of plastic bagsPolls »Should the plastics industry have had input in the state environmental curriculum?YesNoResultsAdvantages of plastic bags• Plastic bags require 70% less energy to make than paper bags, take less energy to recycle, and take up less space in landfills than paper bags.• Lightweight plastic bags... more »
President Obama to Deliver Back-to-School Speech September 28 | The White House
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President Obama to Deliver Back-to-School Speech September 28 | The White House:President Obama to Deliver Back-to-School Speech September 28by The White HouseRelease Time: For Immediate ReleaseWASHINGTON, D.C. – As students begin their school year, President Barack Obama will deliver his third annual Back-to-School Speech at 1:30PM EDT on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, DC. The President’s remarks are open to pre-credentialed media, and closed to the public as this event is by invitation ... more »
Students re-tested in Conn. cheating review - Boston.com
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Students re-tested in Conn. cheating review - Boston.com:Students re-tested in Conn. cheating reviewSeptember 23, 2011E-mail|Print|Comments (0)Text size – +WATERBURY, Conn.—Students whose Connecticut Mastery Tests were invalidated because of alleged cheating by adults at their Waterbury elementary school have taken the exam again.Tweet Be the first to Tweet this!ShareThisAbout 160 current and former Hopeville School students re-took the test this week, and results are due in about a month.A state investigation was launched after Hopeville's scores jumped so dramatically last spring ... more »
No Child Left Behind Waivers for States - NYTimes.com
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No Child Left Behind Waivers for States - NYTimes.com:Obama to Waive Parts of No Child Left BehindStephen Crowley/The New York TimesPresident Obama spoke about changes in the No Child Left Behind law Friday during a ceremony at the White House.By SAM DILLONPublished: September 23, 2011RECOMMENDTWITTERLINKEDINE-MAILPRINTREPRINTSSHARECriticizing Congress for months of inaction in updating No Child Left Behind, President Obama on Friday offered to lift the law’s most onerous provisions, including its 2014 deadline for bringing all students to proficiency in reading ... more »
Dancing the Dialectic: For Troy
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Dancing the Dialectic: For Troy:For TroyI feel numb. I feel defeated. I don't want to read any more stories or news reports or even any more calls to action. Then I feel ashamed. I want to be strong. I want to know what the right thing to say is at this moment for this moment."There is nothing to say," Ronnie Kitchen said when we talked on the phone this morning. Ronnie was the twentieth death row prisoner to be exonerated ... more »
The Waiver Wire: Deal or No Deal?
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The Waiver Wire: Deal or No Deal?:The Waiver Wire: Deal or No Deal?by Anne HyslopIn my last post and in others on this blog, we have commented that requiring states to adopt more rigorous teacher evaluation systems in exchange for getting off the hook on the Highly Qualified Teacher provisions in NCLB is a pretty lousy deal. States will be much more enticed to submit a waiver proposal to escape the 100% proficiency cliff that is looming before them. However, ... more »
Education Research Report
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Education Research Report:Allowing Native Language in School Benefits Mexican-American Students ฮฉ A new University of Missouri study shows that Mexican-American students who identify and practice speaking their native language have higher grades than those who are put in English-only environments in their schools. David Aguayo, a doctoral ...Little concrete evidence that single-sex schools are a better learning environment ฮฉ But there is strong evidence for negative consequences of segregating by sex -- the collateral damage of segregating by sex. Students ... more »
Scathing report blasts Archie, Evans on King charter deal | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
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Scathing report blasts Archie, Evans on King charter deal | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:Scathing report blasts Archie, Evans on King charter dealby Benjamin Herold on Sep 22 2011COMMENTS (7)PRINTEMAILTags:charter schools King High Schoolhigh schools leadershipRenaissance Schools School Reform Commission politicsUpdated 4:10 pmFormer School Reform Commission Chairman Robert Archie has fired back with a statement"emphatically rejecting" Markman's findings.Updated 2:26 pmThe mayor's chief integrity officer has come down hard on state Rep. Dwight Evans and recently-resigned Scho... more »
Wastes of Time in Education: Do I Need an Accreditation Attitude Adjustment? | IDEA
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Wastes of Time in Education: Do I Need an Accreditation Attitude Adjustment? | IDEA:Wastes of Time in Education: Do I Need an Accreditation Attitude Adjustment?Posted in Standards and Evaluation on Sep 22, 2011 - 01:26 PMWhat does the phrase “waste of time” mean to you? To me, it is when I spend time doing something that seems to serve no majorly useful purpose. The “seems to” is a subjective qualifier here - what one person views as a waste of ... more »
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Schools for sale
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Schooling in the Ownership Society: Schools for sale:Schools for saleby Mike KlonskyChicago leads the nation in privatizationChicago leads all other U.S. cities when it comes to the erosion of public space. If it's not nailed down, Mayor Emanuel wants to sell it off or lease it to private corporations.Chicago has been the most aggressive city in the United States in the privatization of public infrastructure. Since 2004, the city has privatized the Chicago Skyway toll road, four downtown parking garages, ... more »
All Education Matters: Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Responds To An Indentured Educated Constituent
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All Education Matters: Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Responds To An Indentured Educated Constituent:Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Responds To An Indentured Educated Constituentby Cryn JohannsenAEM sent a letter to the President on August 10, 2011. I am presently drafting another letter that will praise the president for his work on the American Jobs Act. I urged many of you to send this letter to the President and also to your Senators and Representatives. So many of you got involved and did ... more »
Account. Ability.Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action
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Account. Ability.Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action:Account. Ability.by NancyFlanaganThere’s nothing I hate more than a semantic argument between educators. I invested way too many excruciating hours in ed school in the 1970s listening to people argue about whether some bit of knowledge was a goal or an objective, only to go forth, fully trained, into a real school and discover that nobody there had either goals or objectives. Nor did they have standards, targets or grade level ... more »
The Achievement Gap and its Discontents: Thoughts on Rick Hess' New Essay - Dana Goldstein
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The Achievement Gap and its Discontents: Thoughts on Rick Hess' New Essay - Dana Goldstein:The Achievement Gap and its Discontents: Thoughts on Rick Hess' New Essayby Dana GoldsteinAmerican Enterprise Institute education expert Rick Hess has written a characteristically thought-provoking essay arguing that education reformers focus too single-mindedly on the "achievement gap" -- the difference between the test scores of low-income students of color and their white, middle-class peers. There's a lot to chew on in the piece, but here's my ... more »
Day One Protests at Berkeley Kick Off the New Year « Student Activism
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Day One Protests at Berkeley Kick Off the New Year « Student Activism:Day One Protests at Berkeley Kick Off the New Yearby Angus JohnstonToday is the first day of classes for most of the University of California system, and student activists at UC Berkeley are marking the day with their first student protests of 2011-12.UC generally, and Berkeley in particular, have been a center of American student organizing in the last few years, though administrative crackdowns have quieted the campuses ...more »
Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: TFA Fights Back
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Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: TFA Fights Back:TFA Fights Backby Melissa WestbrookI was wondering where local TFA was all this time.We'll find out out tonight's School Board meeting as it looks like at least five people who signed up to speak are TFA. One, Lindsay Hill, is the executive director of TFA in the Puget Sound area, and another is one of the teachers hired for SPS, Kenneth Maldonado. I note that there are still four places left on the ... more »
School Cuts Hurt! « EdVox
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School Cuts Hurt! « EdVox:School Cuts Hurt!by edvoxnyParents, Students, Teachers, Elected Officials and Community Members Gather on Steps of DOE Headquarters to Protest Schools Cuts, Present Personal Stories Detailing How They’ve Been Hurt by Slashed BudgetsThree weeks into the 2011- 2012 school year, local parents, students, teachers and community members presented personal stories detailing how the recent $1.3 billion cut to public education have impacted their schools. Parents spoke of what it feels like to lose 2600 teachers, 777 school ... more »
Tell President Obama to take action to save the life of Troy Davis
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Tell President Obama to take action to save the life of Troy Davis:Over 8,000 letters sent in first 5 hours to Pres. Obama, Attorney General HolderSave Troy Davis!Let's keep up the pressure! In the first five hours after we issued our appeal, more than 8,000 letters have been sent on behalf of Troy Davis. If you have not sent a letter yet, send one right now. If you've already sent a letter, share this with everyone you know urging them ... more »
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Elizabeth Warren on class warfare, etc.
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THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Elizabeth Warren on class warfare, etc.:Elizabeth Warren on class warfare, etc.by The Perimeter PrimateA breath of fresh air.“There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You build a factory out there – good for you.But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because ... more »
Mixed Feelings about CMS’s Broad Prize « Parents Across America
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Mixed Feelings about CMS’s Broad Prize « Parents Across America:Mixed Feelings about CMS’s Broad Prizeby pagrundyPAA co-founder Pamela Grundy has a son in fifth grade in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.So we finally won the Broad Prize. After two stints as a finalist, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools took home this year’s prize, which the Charlotte Observer termed “the nation’s top award for urban education.” CMS leaders celebrated. Our mayor called the prize “a huge shot in the arm.”I have mixed feelings.I don’t care for Eli ... more »
Stimulus money for Florida school districts misused | Extra! Extra!
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Stimulus money for Florida school districts misused | Extra! Extra!:Stimulus money for Florida school districts misusedby BethPresident Obama’s 2009 economic stimulus package granted “millions of federal dollars” to public school districts in Florida. As part of the President’s vision “to accelerate improvement in schools,” the money was meant to provide a means to improve low performing schools and prevent teacher layoffs. However, this investigation by Mc Nelly Torres of the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting reveals that the money was ... more »
What the U.S. Can Learn from China
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What the U.S. Can Learn from China:What the U.S. Can Learn from ChinaWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2011 AT 1:07 PMI just returned from my first visit to China in 15 years, and I still can’t get over howaligned the Middle Kingdom remains around its core “mission statement” – and how misaligned we remain in the United States.In China, the mission that directs the priorities of its private, public and social sectors is the one first laid out by former premier Deng ... more »
Troy Davis Execution Incites Twitter Outrage, Protests Worldwide - ABC News
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Troy Davis Execution Incites Twitter Outrage, Protests Worldwide - ABC News:Troy Davis Execution Incites Twitter Outrage, Protests in Black CommunityMichael Henry and other protesters for Troy Davis gather on the steps of the Georgia Capitol building, Sept. 20, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)ShareCommentPrintText Size-/+By COLLEEN CURRYSept. 21, 2011Hip hop stars used Twitter today to urge their fans to protest and the NAACP has scheduled a news conference in an effort halt this evening's execution of convicted Georgia cop ... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Low poverty rates = high scores on int'l tests
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Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Low poverty rates = high scores on int'l tests:Low poverty rates = high scores on int'l testsAn email from a colleague in California caused me to reflect once again on the results of the 2009 PISA exams. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide evaluation of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance, performed first in 2000 and repeated every three years. It is coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with ... more »
All Education Matters: Congressman DeFazio: "We need to help the next generation to succeed! We need money to pay for it!"
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All Education Matters: Congressman DeFazio: "We need to help the next generation to succeed! We need money to pay for it!":Congressman DeFazio: "We need to help the next generation to succeed! We need money to pay for it!"by Cryn JohannsenFellow activist and author, Nando of Third Tier Reality, was watching C-SPAN Live this morning, and shared this clip with me. Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) took the floor of the House and gave an impassioned speech. The overall talk was about ... more »
Brooklyn College Faculty Condemn NYPD Infiltration of Muslim Student Groups « Student Activism
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Brooklyn College Faculty Condemn NYPD Infiltration of Muslim Student Groups « Student Activism:Brooklyn College Faculty Condemn NYPD Infiltration of Muslim Student Groupsby Angus JohnstonThe faculty council of New York City’s Brooklyn College has unanimously condemned NYPD’s spying on their campus’s Muslim student organization, saying it has a “chilling effect” on academic freedom.Documents made public earlier this month indicate that the New York Police Department has been monitoring Muslim student groups at seven local colleges – City, Baruch, Queens, Brooklyn, LaGuardia ... more »
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District Wins Prestigious Broad Prize - US News and World Report
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District Wins Prestigious Broad Prize - US News and World Report:Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District Wins Prestigious Broad PrizeThe North Carolina district improved the most over the past three years among large, urban systemsBy JASON KOEBLERSeptember 20, 2011 RSS Feed PrintU.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan with officials from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district at the 2010 Broad Prize event. The district won the 2011 prize.The Charlotte-Mecklenburg public school district won the 2011 Broad Prize for Urban Education today for showing ... more »
Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: School Board Races Getting Tough
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Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: School Board Races Getting Tough:School Board Races Getting Toughby Melissa WestbrookIn a hard opening salvo for the School Board elections, the SEA voted no confidence in Board President Steve Sundquist. The word is that it centers around his unwavering support for TFA.In other news, a raft of school board candidate forums have popped up so here's an update (please let me know if I missed anything):Tuesday, September 27th, Special Education PTSA School Board forum, JSCEE, ... more »
Milwaukee Labor Press Article Spells Out Need for Voucher Tax Transparency « Larry Miller's Blog
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Milwaukee Labor Press Article Spells Out Need for Voucher Tax Transparency « Larry Miller's Blog:Milwaukee Labor Press Article Spells Out Need for Voucher Tax Transparencyby millerlfPut truth of voucher tax on city bill, MPS asksBy Dominique Paul NothEditor, Labor PressPosted September 18, 2011The Milwaukee Public Schools board is requesting another group of elected officials, the leaders of the city of Milwaukee, to engage in a flagrant act of truth in advertising and transparency in government.They are asking for city property ... more »
Walmart Family Support of Right Wing and Vouchers in Wisconsin « Larry Miller's Blog
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Walmart Family Support of Right Wing and Vouchers in Wisconsin « Larry Miller's Blog:Walmart Family Support of Right Wing and Vouchers in WisconsinFiled under: Right Wing Agenda,Vouchers — millerlf @ 11:01 am The selling of school choicePosted on September 18, 2011Walmart family heirs and others are changing the face of education in WisconsinHeirs to the Walmart fortune, including Alice and Jim Walton, have given thousands to Wisconsin political candidates since mid-2008. Photo courtesy of Walmart StoresBy Bill LuedersWisconsin Center for ... more »
Education Research Report: Both social media use and First Amendment appreciation are growing among high school students
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Education Research Report: Both social media use and First Amendment appreciation are growing among high school students:Both social media use and First Amendment appreciation are growing among high school studentsby Jonathan KantrowitzWhile social media have been blamed for teen ills from narcissism to cyberbullying, a new study offers an inspiring perspective: as social media use has grown in the United States, so has students’ appreciation for the First Amendment. The national study was released to coincide with the celebration of ... more »
John Thompson: Should Schools Grade Students' Moral Character? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
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John Thompson: Should Schools Grade Students' Moral Character? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:John Thompson: Should Schools Grade Students' Moral Character?by Anthony CodyGuest post by John Thompson. Part two of two.Last week I read Paul Tough's New York Times Magazine article, "What if the Secret to Success is Failure?," about the approach being taken by the KIPP schools and others, inspired by the work of Martin Seligman. Two big issues came up for me. The first were some ... more »
PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership | PTA
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PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership | PTA:PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in LeadershipNational PTA is proud to announce the release of the video, PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership. Each PTA state/congress will receive one DVD copy of PTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership by November 2011. In addition, the video has been uploaded here for PTA members to view and share! Options | MAXILAMBAPTA Advocacy: A Legacy in Leadership can be used by state, council, and local PTAs to ...more »
FL DOE recommends Virtual Schools become District of its own-There goes budget $. | StateImpact Florida
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Florida Education Board Could Suggest Changing School Ratings | StateImpact Florida:Florida Education Board Could Suggest Changing School RatingsSeptember 19, 2011 | 1:23 PMBy John O'ConnorCommentEmailShareFLORIDA DOEThe Florida Board of Education could recommend lawmakers revise the state school performance system at a meeting tomorrow.School districts have complained the system sets higher standards for the state’s lowest-rated schools. For a low-rated school to pull itself off a watch list the district must improve more rapidly than other state districts.The result is that ... more »
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: "Dollars and Cents, & Common Sense" :: Frederick M. Hess
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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: "Dollars and Cents, Common Sense" :: Frederick M. Hess:Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: "Dollars and Cents, Common Sense"by Frederick M. Hess • Sep 20, 2011 at 9:09 amCross-posted from Education Week Print Send RSS ShareL.A.'s straight-talking mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, a former teacher union organizer, one of the nation's most influential Hispanic officials, and very likely a future governor of California, visited AEI yesterday to discuss the challenges of urban school reform. I thought it to ... more »
Do Private Contractors Save the Government Money? - Forbes
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Do Private Contractors Save the Government Money? - Forbes:Do Private Contractors Save the Government Money?by E.D. KainInside of a Private Prison (Image by Sean Davis via Flickr)I’ve written about faux “privatization” before, which typically entails renting out government work to contractors who are said to be cheaper and more efficient. Private prisons are a major example of this. So are mercenary outfits which you hear referred to as simply “private contractors” in reference to private armed forces in Iraq and ... more »
Deion Sanders, former Redskin, to open Texas charter school - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
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Deion Sanders, former Redskin, to open Texas charter school - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Deion Sanders, former Redskin, to open Texas charter schoolby Valerie StraussOnly in Texas.R enowned athlete Deion Sanders has persuaded the Texas State board of Education to allow him to open a charter school — even though some members expressed concerns about just how academically rigorous the school would be.According to The Texas Tribune, the board voted 8 to 4 Friday to approve Sanders’ application ... more »
Teachers unions challenge Florida's merit-pay law in court | jacksonville.com
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Teachers unions challenge Florida's merit-pay law in court | jacksonville.com:Teachers unions challenge Florida's merit-pay law in courtPosted: September 14, 2011 - 7:21pm | Updated: September 15, 2011 - 6:31amFirst Coast FCAT ScoresUse the search below to see how your area school performed. You may enter full or partial school names in schools field. 2010-11 school grades are available for elementary and middle schools.Year: 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Grade Level: Search all 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... more »
EdNews/PBS panel on educator effectiveness | EdNewsColorado
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EdNews/PBS panel on educator effectiveness | EdNewsColorado:EdNews/PBS panel on educator effectivenessfrom EdNewsColorado by adminPanelist Jessica Keigan, a high school English teacher in the Adams 12 School District.Rocky Mountain PBS and Education News Colorado hosted a lively panel discussion Friday on the state’s new educator effectiveness law, which will dramatically change how Colorado teachers and principals are assessed.State officials are still working on implementation of the new legislation, officially known as the Great Teachers and Leaders Law. By 2014, at least ... more »
The Paradox of Wealth - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.
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The Paradox of Wealth - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.:The Paradox of Wealth"But what is overlooked in all the shouting is that paradoxically,the people whohave the most to gain from insuring some measure ofeconomic equality and social justiceare the wealthy."The Paradox of Wealthby Joseph Ganem, Ph.D."For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this ...more »
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - “Teach With, Not ‘To” The Test”
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Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… - “Teach With, Not ‘To” The Test”:Larry Ferlazzo“Teach With, Not ‘To” The Test”Filed under teacher resources“Teach With, Not ‘To” The Test” is an article about a short interview with Princeton Neuroscientist Sam Wang.In it, he points out reasons why high-stakes standardized tests are not helpful to learning, including the fact that feedback is not immediate and that they create needless anxiety. He says low-stakes quizzes are useful, however, and suggests they be done in ... more »
Call Your Senators STOP !! HR 2218 Bill to expand charter school moves on to U.S. Senate | SeacoastOnline.com
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Bill to expand charter school moves on to U.S. Senate | SeacoastOnline.com:Bill to expand charter school moves on to U.S. SenateTODAY'S MOST VIEWED ARTICLESIn pursuit of a killer: Suspect has eluded police for 30 years -9/18/2011'HALT' illegal immigration -9/18/2011Developer seeks zoning change in Bartlett St. neighborhood -9/18/2011Kids enjoy a fairy good time -9/18/2011'High-level' concerns for Maine: I-95 span problematic for state's economy - 9/18/2011Growth of poverty spreads across Seacoast - 9/18/2011By Jamie Webbennews@seacoastonline.comSeptember 17, 2011 2:00 AMWASHINGTON —... more »
Ackerman: I was threatened over the King charter deal — NewsWorks
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Ackerman: I was threatened over the King charter deal — NewsWorks:Ackerman: I was threatened over the King charter dealSeptember 17, 2011By Bill Hangley Jr. for Newsworks and the Public School Notebook Rate This: 12345 (6 votes)Ask a QuestionArlene Ackerman claims she was pressured multiple ways to overturn the King charter contract. (AP Photo)Images 1/6Hide CaptionPoll:Should Ackerman continue to speak publicly about her tenure as Philly superintendent? Yes, there's more there than meets the eye. No, enough is enough.View Results »Recent ... more »
ALPHAMOMFIA: The Danger of Special Education Scholarship Vouchers
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ALPHAMOMFIA: The Danger of Special Education Scholarship Vouchers:The Danger of Special Education Scholarship VouchersIn Wisconsin, children who qualify for special education and their families are caught in the middle of a legislative battle over a mostly Republican-introduced bill called AB110. The bill is similar to many private school voucher programs for special education students that are being endorsed predominantly by Republicans in state legislatures throughout the country. AB110 and other bills like it are a result of proposed legislation by ... more »
With Fraud Already Present, Was ALEC Involved in Expanding McKay Scholarships to Florida’s Special Needs Kids? | Scathing Purple Musings
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With Fraud Already Present, Was ALEC Involved in Expanding McKay Scholarships to Florida’s Special Needs Kids? | Scathing Purple Musings:With Fraud Already Present, Was ALEC Involved in Expanding McKay Scholarships to Florida’s Special Needs Kids?by Bob SikesI don’t often use letters to the editor in a blog post, but Loudon, Tennessee’s Joy Pachucki writes something that may be important to Florida families. The expansion of McKay scholarships by Rick Scott and the state’s republican legislators to include any child with ... more »
Broward names new, Michelle Rhee-affiliated school superintendent | Florida Independent
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Broward names new, Michelle Rhee-affiliated school superintendent | Florida Independent:Broward names new, Michelle Rhee-affiliated school superintendentBy Marcos Restrepo | 09.15.11 | 9:32 am0 CommentsShare6Michelle Rhee and Gov. Rick Scott (Pic via flgov.com)The Broward County School Board on Wednesday selected former businessman Robert Runcie as Broward’s next school superintendent. The Broward school system ”is the sixth largest and the largest fully accredited K-12 and adult school system in the country” with “nearly 257,000 students, 230 traditional schools and centers, 68 cha... more »
Getting teacher evaluation right - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
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Getting teacher evaluation right - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Getting teacher evaluation rightBy Valerie StraussHere is an edited version of a briefing on the right way to evaluate teachers that Stanford University Professor Linda Darling-Hammond and other leading education research experts gave this week on Capitol Hill to policymakers.This is long, but I am publishing because the issue of how to evaluate teachers and develop high-quality teaching has become a — if not THE — primary focus of ... more »
Education Research Report: Preschoolers' grasp of numbers predicts math performance in school years
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Education Research Report: Preschoolers' grasp of numbers predicts math performance in school years:Preschoolers' grasp of numbers predicts math performance in school yearsฮฉStudy reveals link between early number sense and elementary math scoresA new study published today in the journal PLoS ONE reports that the precision with which preschoolers estimate quantities, prior to any formal education in mathematics, predicts their mathematics ability in elementary school, according to research from the Kennedy Krieger Institute.Humans have an intuitive sense of number that allows ... more »
An Attorney's Observations of LAUSD's Rubber Rooms by Ron Lapekas, esq. - Perdaily.com
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An Attorney's Observations of LAUSD's Rubber Rooms by Ron Lapekas, esq. (Observaciones de un abogado de habitaciones de goma LAUSD por Ron Lapekas, esq.) - Perdaily.com:An Attorney's Observations of LAUSD's Rubber Rooms by Ron Lapekas, esq. (Observaciones de un abogado de habitaciones de goma LAUSD por Ron Lapekas, esq.)by Leonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Espaรฑol)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)I am an attorney who was a whistleblower in the 70's. I ... more »
Blue Ribbon Schools for 2010-11 - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)
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Blue Ribbon Schools for 2010-11 - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education):State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates CaliforniaWinners of the National Blue Ribbon Schools ProgramSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson congratulated 20 California public schools and one private school that were named today by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as national Blue Ribbon Schools for 2010-11.The list of schools is attached."Congratulations to all 21 schools, and the students, teachers, school employees, administrators, and parents who worked hard to ... more »
Michelle Rhee spent nearly one million in ad buys to defeat due process and collective bargaining rights for Michigan teachers: outspent all MI lobbyists
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Michelle Rhee spent nearly one million in ad buys to defeat due process and collective bargaining rights for Michigan teachers: outspent all MI lobbyists:Michelle Rhee spent nearly $1M in ad buys todefeat due process and collective bargaining rights for teachers in Michigan.Rhee’s group outspent all other Michigan lobbyists in 2011. She teamed up withultra-right wing legislators, Gov. Rick Snyder, and her billionaire funders, launching a Madison Avenue-style advertising campaign that bought her resultsWritten by Eclectablog for the DailyKos. Read theentire ... more »
New Orleans Liberation Academy: Multiple Lines of Defense
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New Orleans Liberation Academy: Multiple Lines of Defense:Multiple Lines of Defenseby New Orleans Liberation AcademyLast Friday, New Orleans Liberation Academy student Anthony Johnson had the opportunity to go on a boat tour with the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, the Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED), the Gulf Restoration Network, and other local community leaders.It was his first time ever on a boat and he says that at first it was a little scary, but eventually had ... more »
Marco Rubio Breaks with Jeb Bush, Says Arne Duncan Does Not Have the Authority to Grant NCLB Waivers | Scathing Purple Musings
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Marco Rubio Breaks with Jeb Bush, Says Arne Duncan Does Not Have the Authority to Grant NCLB Waivers | Scathing Purple Musings:Marco Rubio Breaks with Jeb Bush, Says Arne Duncan Does Not Have the Authority to Grant NCLB Waiversby Bob SikesIn a stunning development, Republican Senator Marco Rubio broke from the influence of Jeb Bush’s desires on education and informed Arne Duncan he did not have the power to grant waivers to states from NCLB guidelines. Here’s some of the ...more »
Local News | Tacoma teachers defy judge, stay on picket line | Seattle Times Newspaper
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Local News | Tacoma teachers defy judge, stay on picket line | Seattle Times Newspaper:Tacoma teachers defy judge, stay on picket lineTacoma teachers defied a judge's order to return to teaching and instead returned to picket lines Thursday morning. The next step likely will be a compliance hearing on Friday.By Dana Rebik and James LynchMcClatchy-Tribune news servicesRelatedStriking Tacoma teachers ordered back to classroomsTop comments Hide / Show commentsDefying the judge's order? Ok. Contempt of court, fine and / or jail ... more »
New Orleans Liberation Academy: A Time to Speak
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New Orleans Liberation Academy: A Time to Speak:A Time to Speakby New Orleans Liberation AcademyEssential QuestionsWhen is the right time to take action and/or speak up?What can we learn from the past to help us be better citizens today?What does it mean to be an ally? Can an individual really make a difference?How has being an activist changed over time?On Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963, four young girls—Addie Mae Collins (14), Denise McNair (11), Carole Robertson (14) and Cynthia Wesley (14)—were ... more »
New Orleans Liberation Academy: Building Literacy in the Lower 9th Ward
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New Orleans Liberation Academy: Building Literacy in the Lower 9th Ward:Building Literacy in the Lower 9th Wardby New Orleans Liberation AcademyDuring June of 2011, through the initiative of our student Anthony Johnson, New Orleans Liberation Academy engaged in partnership with ATD Fourth World Movement, the Backyard Gardeners Network and Jude's Grove to develop the Lower 9th Ward Street Library to support intergenerational literacy and offer opportunities for rigorous, thought-provoking, value-centered humanities experiences for children and their families. Our format is ... more »
An Open Letter from Secretary Arne Duncan and Karen Duncan to Their Children | ED.gov Blog
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An Open Letter from Secretary Arne Duncan and Karen Duncan to Their Children | ED.gov Blog:An Open Letter from Secretary Arne Duncan and Karen Duncan to Their ChildrenPosted on September 14, 2011 by Arne DuncanCross-posted from Parenting.comSeptember 2011Dear Claire and Ryan,We always enjoy the joy and excitement you show when you go back to school. It’s comforting for us to know that you love learning and go to a great public school that challenges and supports you.Now that you’ve been ... more »
Chicago Rally to Save Troy Davis. « Fred Klonsky's blog
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Chicago Rally to Save Troy Davis. « Fred Klonsky's blog:Chicago Rally to Save Troy Davis.by Fred KlonskyTomorrow 5:00pm at Prudential Plaza, Chicago, IL**RALLY TO SAVE TROY DAVIS** Prudential Plaza (Barack Obama’s 2012 Reelection Headquarters) 130 East Randolph Street.Troy Davis has received an execution date of September 21st. Troy has no appeals left, so his life lays in the hands of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. We don’t have much time, but the fight is far from over.Troy has ... more »
SAT Results for 2010-11 - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)
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SAT Results for 2010-11 - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education):State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on 2010-11 SAT® ScoresSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today commented on the results of the SAT® for the California high school class of 2011 that were part of this morning's national release by test administrator, The College Board."I am pleased that more than half of California seniors took the SAT in 2010 and that the participation of minority students set a new ... more »
Da Bears? Da Bulls? Go by da Jewels? Not in Arizona. « Fred Klonsky's blog
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Da Bears? Da Bulls? Go by da Jewels? Not in Arizona. « Fred Klonsky's blog:Da Bears? Da Bulls? Go by da Jewels? Not in Arizona.by Fred KlonskyI may never see the Grand Canyon.Unless things change in Arizona, I’m not going there. The anti-immigrant stuff is just to0 crazy.The latest news is that the Feds have dropped their civil rights suit against the state of Arizona in the case where Arizona was monitoring teachers for mispronunciation of English language words in ... more »
Class Warfare | Edwize
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Class Warfare | Edwize:Class Warfareby Leo CaseyClass Warfare: that’s the title Stephen Brill gave to his recent book on the state of American education.With such a title, one might think that that Brill’s book would investigate how the deep class divisions between America’s wealthy class and our poor and working class, a gap that has grown immensely over the last four decades, has harmed our schools and our students. After all, educational research has shown that greatest challenge our schools ... more »
GOP senators introduce rewrite of No Child to make it more flexible | Get Schooled
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GOP senators introduce rewrite of No Child to make it more flexible | Get Schooled:GOP senators introduce rewrite of No Child to make it more flexible11:34 am September 14, 2011, by Maureen DowneyI am about to get on a conference call on a new Senate initiative to fix the federal No Child Left Behind Act. But here is the official statement about a series of GOP bills designed to increase the state role and decrease the federal one. Georgia Sen. ... more »
"Where's my Title I ?"
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Education News Comment: SACS ScholarsConnecting Spending to Student Outcomeshttp://sacs-scholars.blogspot.com/Title I goes by more than 1 name. On your Fiscal16 SACS report (you got Monday) find RESOURCE 3010. You will see that goes by the name:IASA1Low. That is your Title I money. It is the single largest "categorical" pot of money your site - and the district - get. All of your 3010 must be detailed in your SPSA.The amount showing in your site budget right not all that your site ... more »
Teamster Nation: Guess what? Public sector does it cheaper
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Teamster Nation: Guess what? Public sector does it cheaper:Guess what? Public sector does it cheaperThe federal government pays private contractors billions of dollars more than it costs for government workers to do the same job.It's what we've been saying all along, and a study by the Project on Government Oversight backs us up. CBS News, reporting on POGO's study, says...in 33 of the 35 occupational categories it reviewed, federal government employees were less expensive than contractors. On average, the federal ... more »
An independent, pro-teacher vote in the IL House? « Fred Klonsky's blog
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An independent, pro-teacher vote in the IL House? « Fred Klonsky's blog:An independent, pro-teacher vote in the IL House?by Fred KlonskyA crush of people at Cole’s for Will Guzzardi’s campaign for IL House.I promised I would attend the opening of Will Guzzardi’s campaign for the state House seat from Logan Square’s 39th District. And I did.I joined a crush of people at Cole’s bar on Milwaukee in the heart of Logan Square.The incumbent is Toni Berrios, daughter
The Honeymooners | The Jose Vilson
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The Honeymooners | The Jose Vilson:The Honeymoonersby JoseHoneymoonersEveryone calls this period the “honeymoon” on purpose. We lay the ground rules for the first few periods we encounter each other, get to know each other a bit, and make connections based on things we might have already observed. From there, we play nice, engaging in a light display of tug-and-pull, a diluted version of tug-of-war, sure to appear sometime later in the episode. Now isn’t the time for that, though. Right ... more »
Schools Matter: Some NOLA KIPP Schools Lagging Behind State Average
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Schools Matter: Some NOLA KIPP Schools Lagging Behind State Average:Some NOLA KIPP Schools Lagging Behind State Averageby Jim HornKIPP, Inc. offers a draconian test factory model that specializes in its own patented varieties of behavioral sterilization and cultural neutering. KIPP's Madison Avenue advertising campaign focuses on KIPP test scores, which are often higher than public school scores. But then spending 60 percent more time in school drilling within a total compliance regime that regularly shoves out low performers has its ... more »
Peg with Pen: United Opt Out: Action for Week of September 11th - Sharing Parent Flyer
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Peg with Pen: United Opt Out: Action for Week of September 11th - Sharing Parent Flyer:United Opt Out: Action for Week of September 11th - Sharing Parent Flyerby PeggyOur action at United Opt Out for the week of September 11th is to become familiar with the parent flyer listed here, at our website and on our Facebook group page – and then share it with ten or more people (Facebook, email and/or print out). We need to be able to ... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Thursday's arguments in our charter co-location lawsuit, & what Tisch and Klein said to Brill about this issue
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NYC Public School Parents: Thursday's arguments in our charter co-location lawsuit, what Tisch and Klein said to Brill about this issue:Thursday's arguments in our charter co-location lawsuit, what Tisch and Klein said to Brill about this issueArguments in our lawsuit vs. charter co-locations will be heard this Thursday, Sept. 15 at 10 AM ; 60 Court St, 2ndfloor, Judge Feinman’s courtroom. Please join us to show your support at our press conference beforehand and in the courtroom afterwards.Where: the Plaza ... more »
The Ticking Time Bomb in San Diego School Finances - voiceofsandiego.org: Pounding The Pavement
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The Ticking Time Bomb in San Diego School Finances - voiceofsandiego.org: Pounding The Pavement:The Ticking Time Bomb in San Diego School FinancesStoryCommentsImageShareSharePrintCreate a hardcopy of this pageFont Size:Default font sizeLarger font sizeSharePhoto by Sam HodgsonIn March 2010, the San Diego Unified school board inked a deal with the teachers' union that shaved costs from the budget in the short-term but was also a bet on increased state funding in later years. Above, former school board member Katherine Nakamura, board member ... more »
The Middle Class Is Dead
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The Middle Class Is Dead:USABY HAMILTON NOLAN SEP 12, 2011 11:48 AM27,285 305ShareThe Middle Class Is DeadHistorians tell us that the United States of America once boasted a fabled "middle" class of residents. They were not too poor; they were not too rich; they were just right. Crazy—but allegedly true.That all seems so distant now. The socioeconomic distribution-of-wealth curve has gone from being a smooth one-hump camel to a gnarled two-hump camel. The idea that the bulk of the benefits ... more »
2012-13 Student Board Member Application - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education)
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2012-13 Student Board Member Application - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education):2012-13 Student Board Member ApplicationThis State Board of Education packet explains the application and selection processes, and contains a copy of the application for student members.2012-13 Student Board Member Application Form (Posted 12-Sep-2011; DOC; 108KB; 9pp.)Every summer, the Governor appoints one high school senior to the State Board of Education (SBE) for a one-year term. The student member functions as a regular voting member of the SBE. ... more »
What Happened to My Grade Book?: Essential Questions for Standards-Based #Edreform
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What Happened to My Grade Book?: Essential Questions for Standards-Based #Edreform:Essential Questions for Standards-Based #Edreformby DellaEverybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." Albert EinsteinI have a few essential questions before going further any further in the name of standard-based reform.1) Are standards expectations?2) Are standards limitations?3) Should the practice of standardizing performance and quality in the business world be
Representative Toni Berrios. Ripe for picking. « Fred Klonsky's blog
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Representative Toni Berrios. Ripe for picking. « Fred Klonsky's blog:Representative Toni Berrios. Ripe for picking.by Fred KlonskyGreen Party candidate Jeremy Karpen got a surprising 34% against the Machine last time.I live in the 39th Representative District of Illinois.My House Representative is Machine Democrat Toni Berrios, daughter of County Assessor and shady character, Joe Berrios.Last election I voted for Green Party candidate Jeremy Karpen who ran a losing if amazingly active campaign, garnering 34% of the vote.I don’t usually vote Green, ... more »
Friday Afternoon Maps: New Orleans, Race & School Locations « School Finance 101
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Friday Afternoon Maps: New Orleans, Race School Locations « School Finance 101:Friday Afternoon Maps: New Orleans, Race School Locationsby schoolfinance101A few weeks back, I noticed several tweets about this recent article in Harvard Education Review which takes a look at racial politics and the rebuilding of New Orleans in the Post-Katrina era.Here’s the dropbox link tweeted by Diane Ravitch:http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11116752/Buras_2011-Race_Charter_Schools_Conscious_Capitalism.pdf.pdfThe article is by Kristen Buras of Georgia State University. Buras, like at least a few others, poi... more »