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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Judge: Teachers cannot be judged solely on students' standardized test scores

Judge: Teachers cannot be judged solely on students' standardized test scores:

Judge: Teachers cannot be judged solely on students' standardized test scores

Wednesday, August 24th 2011, 7:49 PM

A state judge ruled that students poor standardized test scores cannot be the sole factor in rating teacher performance.
Juan Silva/Getty
A state judge ruled that students poor standardized test scores cannot be the sole factor in rating teacher performance.

State teachers can't be labeled as lousy based solely on their students' poor performance on state standardized tests, an Albany state Supreme Court judge decided Wednesday.

Other measurements like principal evaluation were not given proper weight in ratting teachers under new rules passed this Spring, Judge Michael Lynch ruled.

State teachers union officials, who had filed the suit, called it a big win. "Today's ruling is good for students and for



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2011/08/24/2011-08-24_judge_teachers_cannot_be_judged_solely_on_students_standardized_test_scores.html#ixzz1W06tqDre

Michelle Rhee’s “Kittens and Puppies” Bait and Switch | Scathing Purple Musings

Michelle Rhee’s “Kittens and Puppies” Bait and Switch | Scathing Purple Musings:

Michelle Rhee’s “Kittens and Puppies” Bait and Switch

From Kathleen Kosobud:

It was all over in an instant: a couple of clicks of the mouse, and I had the “too late—oops” reaction when I realized I’d made a truly regrettable error. The innocent subject line was something in the vein of “kittens and puppies”, and so I clicked… and confirmed that I supported “kittens and puppies”. Another window opened asking if I’d support some other worthy “kittens and puppies” cause (click), and another (click)…and another (click). And suddenly, there it was…the wolf in sheep’s clothing, the Trojan horse of all Trojan horses: Join the Fight to Save Great Teachers, a petition initiated by Students First, the education policy lobby run by faux education expert,

Highlights of the separation agreement | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Highlights of the separation agreement | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

'

Highlights of the separation agreement

by Paul Socolar on Aug 24 2011 Posted in Latest news

The separation agreement between the School District and Arlene Ackerman was signed by the former superintendent on Saturday and by School Reform Commission Chair Robert Archie Wednesday following the adoption of a resolutionapproving the agreement.

Here are some key points from the eight-page document:

  • Ackerman is no longer superintendent, effective with the signing of the agreement, but is available for consultation until Friday, August 26, her formal separation date.

  • She will receive health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits through June 2013 in addition to the previously disclosed lump-sum $905,000

Schools Matter: Open note to LA's Promise former CEO Mike McGalliard regarding what he terms my pithiness

Schools Matter: Open note to LA's Promise former CEO Mike McGalliard regarding what he terms my pithiness:

Open note to LA's Promise former CEO Mike McGalliard regarding what he terms my pithiness

"The results are eye-opening, that conventional schools display stronger results," said Bruce Fuller, a UC Berkeley education professor. — Los Angeles Times

California is the only state that does not tax oil extraction, we need to fund education.
Mr. McGalliard:

I am the author of the "pithy" comments in question that you discuss in your Howard Blume & My Thoughts about the Corporate Takeover Hysteria essay. While I agree with you in part that the premise of the Times article was based on marginal differences in AYP/API gleaned from CST, we need to bear in mind that those in the corporate "reform movement" are the ones that have fetishised standardized test scores and used them as a bludgeon to privatize schools in the case of Green Dot Charter Corporation seizing Locke. Alternatively scores have been used as way to justify Los Angeles Unified School District "partnering" with outside groups featuring unelected boards stacked with slick business and finance types in the case of your

Kim Bowsky speaks to students about Class Size UseYourTeacherVoice on Aug 24, 2011

Partial win for state union on evaluations, but appeal is likely | GothamSchools

Partial win for state union on evaluations, but appeal is likely | GothamSchools:

Partial win for state union on evaluations, but appeal is likely

A State Supreme Court Judge partially sided with the state teachers union today over how big of a role standardized test scores should play for teacher evaluations.

Overturning a key state regulation that was approved by the Board of Regents in May, Judge Michael Lynch ruled that local districts could only double the weight of test scores in evaluations – from 20 percent to 40 percent – if the local union signs off on the arrangement.

The New York State Education Department criticized the decision and pledged to appeal it, further complicating the future of an evaluation system that was originally slated to take effect this year.

The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by New York State United Teachers in June. In the suit,

Big Education Ape: 8-24-11 PM Seriously What Did YOU Ask ARNE EDition #AskArne

Big Education Ape: Ed News Now:
Big Education Ape: Ed News Now
Published by Coopmike48 – 7 news spotters today

Want to #AskArne a Question? Tweet Today

ed.gov - The response to ED’s first-ever #AskArne Twitter Town Hall has been overwhelming. The questions and comments on Twitter are rolling in, and Arne looks forward to addressing the important issues you...

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nypost.com - Nearly 800 school aides, family workers and other public-school support staffers are set to get pink slips this fall, education officials said yesterday. The layoffs are part of wider personnel cut...

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Loophole let DOE take years to test toxic site

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Forbes Power Women | Forbes 100 Media | Gallery

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Home - Inside Higher Ed

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Two Fat Men Walk Into a Bar…And Meet Chris Matthews

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