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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Last Week's Best Posts on Big Education Ape » PostRank #ows #EDreform #sosmarch #p2 #1u



Last Week's Best Posts on Big Education Ape » PostRank



#PostRank still working on format - sorry no ranking

#edreform - Cream - White Room

Cream - White Room---In the white room with black curtains near the station.Blackroof country, no gold pavements, tired starlings.Silver horses ran down moonbeams in your dark eyes.Dawnlight smiles on you leaving, my contentment.Ill wait in this place where the sun never shines;Wait in this place where the shadows run from themselves.You said no strings could secure you at the station.Platform ticket, restless diesels, goodbye windows.I walked into such a sad time at the station.As I walked out, felt my own ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform 1-13

GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Give tax money to Sears and CME. Freeze employee wages. « Fred KlonskyBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-8 minutes agoGOP House Leader Tom Cross: Give tax money to Sears and CME. Freeze employee wages. « Fred Klonsky:GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Give tax money to Sears and CME. Freeze employee wages.by Fred KlonskyGOP House Leader Tom Cross, who along with Mike Madigan, Governor Quinn and Rahm Emanuel got the massive tax breaks for Sears ... more »

Sac City Unified Faces Dire 2012-13 Budget - Rosemont, CA Patch

Sac City Unified Faces Dire 2012-13 Budget - Rosemont, CA Patch:Sac City Unified Faces Dire 2012-13 BudgetSchool district officials discussed next year's budget this week.By Cody KitauraEmail the author4:25 pm Email Print Comment PHOTOS (1)PDFS (1) Upload Photos and VideosCalifornia's mid-year budget cuts weren't as bad for K-12 education as many expected, but the Sacramento City Unified School District is again facing a grim outlook for the next school year.At Thursday's board meeting, district officials discussed laying off all middle ... more »

Modern School: Wisconsin Worker Sent Home For Wearing Union Shirt to Work

Modern School: Wisconsin Worker Sent Home For Wearing Union Shirt to Work:Wisconsin Worker Sent Home For Wearing Union Shirt to Workby Michael Dunn(Image from Flickr, by Buschap)An employee of the Lincoln Hills School in Irma, Wisconsin, was sent home without pay last week for wearing a union t-shirt on the job, according to the Waussau Daily Herald. The employee was Ron McAllister, a youth counselor, who was wearing a t-shirt and jacket with an American Federation of State, County and ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: The Williamsburg Latino community fights back against Success charter expansion

NYC Public School Parents: The Williamsburg Latino community fights back against Success charter expansion:The Williamsburg Latino community fights back against Success charter expansionby Leonie HaimsonIn yesterday's State of the City, Mayor Bloomberg said he would encourage Eva Moskowitz' Success Academy charter chain and KIPP to accelerate their expansion. He may have a fight on his hands. First, see the stickers being pasted all over the glossy recruiting ads in the Williamsburg subways and bus stops for her new charter, to ... more »

Modern School: Jerry Brown Wants to Kill Transitional Kindergarten

Modern School: Jerry Brown Wants to Kill Transitional Kindergarten:Jerry Brown Wants to Kill Transitional Kindergartenby Michael DunnCalifornia is moving toward an earlier cutoff age for kindergarten, requiring them to be 5 by Nov. 2 for the 2012-13 school year and they must be 5 by Oct. 2 for the 2013-14 school year. Many of the children affected could enroll in a transitional program to help prepare them academically and socially for kindergarten. However, with the California state budget still in ... more »

Teacher pensions under attack? IEA leadership cancels May Lobby Day. « Fred Klonsky

Teacher pensions under attack? IEA leadership cancels May Lobby Day. « Fred Klonsky:Teacher pensions under attack? IEA leadership cancels May Lobby Day.by Fred KlonskyIEA President Cinda Klickna addresses PREA members at last year’s Lobby Day. This year she is telling us to stay home. Lobby Day has been cancelled this year by the IEA “no fight” leadership.Shocking news from an IEA Region meeting last night.The annual Lobby Day, where IEA rank-and-file members head for Springfield to meet with their state ... more »

A Letter from Michael Mulgrew to UFT Members in PLA Schools | Edwize

A Letter from Michael Mulgrew to UFT Members in PLA Schools | Edwize:A Letter from Michael Mulgrew to UFT Members in PLA Schoolsby Michael MulgrewToday, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) filed legal papers with the NYS Public Employee Board (PERB) to declare impasse in the negotiations between the UFT and the NYC Department of Education (DOE) over a teacher evaluation system for schools that had been placed in the Transformation and Restart models of school improvement. We have charged ... more »

GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Give tax money to Sears and CME. Freeze employee wages. « Fred Klonsky

GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Give tax money to Sears and CME. Freeze employee wages. « Fred Klonsky:GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Give tax money to Sears and CME. Freeze employee wages.by Fred KlonskyGOP House Leader Tom Cross, who along with Mike Madigan, Governor Quinn and Rahm Emanuel got the massive tax breaks for Sears and the CME, demanded wage freezes for state employees.The State Journal Register:Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration should push for a wage freeze in upcoming

RheeFirst! » The art of talking simplistically: Rhee talks ed reform and poverty

RheeFirst! » The art of talking simplistically: Rhee talks ed reform and poverty:The art of talking simplistically: Rhee talks ed reform and povertyby adminNote: Rhee has perfected the art of simplistic thinking, shorn of nuances and packaged in bumper sticker prose. See below, for example.And watch this video by D.C. parents and teachers that contradict her simplisms.From this interview by Ida Lieszkovszky for State Impact Ohio.“Q: One of our listeners wants to know what impact on a student’s success or ... more »

DIVERSE Education Headlines

Higher Education Headlines:Policy Study Touts the Expertise, Experience of Minority-Serving SchoolsLatest articles - 3 minutes agoA new policy brief issued this week by the Institute for Higher Education Policy says Minority Serving Institutions should be seen as “experts in the education of low-income, first generation and under-represented students.” in NewsCommentary: CollegeFish.org Helps Net Students for Senior CollegeLatest articles - 3 minutes agoPhi Theta Kappa Honor Society has for the past three years spent over $2 million to design an interactive ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: "Pay Teachers More, But Until We Do..."

Jersey Jazzman: "Pay Teachers More, But Until We Do...":"Pay Teachers More, But Until We Do..."by DukeWe need a name for a certain species of education "reformer." The characteristics of this particular animal are:He believes we really need to pay teachers more.He has no plan for how to raise the revenues to pay teachers more.Until he figures out how to pay teachers more, he thinks we need to fire bad teachers immediately. And replace them with good teachers, who will be ... more »

Money From Donors, iPads for Free: How Is it That Teach For America's Struggling Corps Are Broke? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Money From Donors, iPads for Free: How Is it That Teach For America's Struggling Corps Are Broke? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:Money From Donors, iPads for Free: How Is it That Teach For America's Struggling Corps Are Broke?By Anthony Cody on January 13, 2012 11:18 AMGuest post by Barbara Torre Veltri, Ed. D.The season of giving might be behind us, but non-profits continue to target donors. Teach For America, Inc., attracts major contributions, but TFA teachers (often ... more »

Schools As Collateral Damage: The Price We Pay For A Decade Of Tweed’s Failed Policies | Edwize

Schools As Collateral Damage: The Price We Pay For A Decade Of Tweed’s Failed Policies | Edwize:Schools As Collateral Damage: The Price We Pay For A Decade Of Tweed’s Failed Policiesby Leo CaseyMuch like the brief torrential rain which drenched New Yorkers on Thursday morning, Mayor Bloomberg’s Thursday afternoon State of the City Address received a deluge of media attention. Today, the print and electronic media feature talk of his jeremiad against the UFT, of his attempted resurrection of ‘market ... more »

Seeking the Essence of Unitarian-Universalism | Lefty Parent

Seeking the Essence of Unitarian-Universalism | Lefty Parent:Seeking the Essence of Unitarian-Universalismby Cooper ZaleIn her blog piece “Love is More Important than Freedom”, Unitarian-Universalist minister Victoria Weinstein writes…It has come time for Unitarian Universalists to admit that we have honored free thought over love as an institutional commitment, and to consider the possibility that our obsession with personal freedom of belief has caused our organizations spiritual harm. We have developed a congregational culture that honors intellectual dominance over love and ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 1-13 #ows #edreform #edchat

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 1-12 #edreform #owsBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-3 minutes agoNYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Address « EdVoxBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-42 minutes agoNYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Address « EdVox:NYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Addressby edvoxnyPopout(New York, NY – January 12, 2012) – Mayor Bloomberg delivered his State of ... more »

NH Legislation Votes to Give Parents Control Over their Child’s Education « PWC Education Reform Blog

NH Legislation Votes to Give Parents Control Over their Child’s Education « PWC Education Reform Blog:NH Legislation Votes to Give Parents Control Over their Child’s Educationby pwceducationreformIn overriding the Governor’s veto, Legislators in New Hampshire voted to give parents control over what their children are taught.The bill, HB 542, says “Require school districts to adopt a policy allowing an exception to specific course material based on a parent’s or legal guardian’s determination that the material is objectionable. Such policy shall ... more »

Mother Crusader: Pants on Fire

Mother Crusader: Pants on Fire:Pants on Fireby darciecimaTikun Olam lead applicant Sharon Akman responded to a reporter yesterday for the first time in months. Walt Kane from News Channel 12 did a Kane in Your Corner segment last night as a follow up to Michael Winerip's NY Times Column which detailed the misrepresentations in the application. I guess a guy at your door with a camera and a microphone is more intimidating than a disembodied print journalist sending emails or ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 1-12 #edreform #ows

NYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Address « EdVoxBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-42 minutes agoNYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Address « EdVox:NYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Addressby edvoxnyPopout(New York, NY – January 12, 2012) – Mayor Bloomberg delivered his State of the City address at Morris High School in the Bronx today, including several thousand words on education. Parent leader Zakiyah ...more »

Des Moines Education Association: Summary of Governor's Education Reform Proposals

Des Moines Education Association: Summary of Governor's Education Reform Proposals:Summary of Governor's Education Reform Proposalsby Mr. RThis summary of the education reform proposals was written by DMEA Executive Board member, Andrew Rasmussen:- The governor has now released his final proposals for education reform to the state legislature who will now craft the legislation to put the reforms into effect. You can read the full proposal at the following link…http://www.desmoinesregister.com/assets/pdf/D218358416.PDF- Among the proposals there are several that will have a major ... more »

School Tech Connect: You Could Do So Much Better With A 401 (k)

School Tech Connect: You Could Do So Much Better With A 401 (k):You Could Do So Much Better With A 401 (k)by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)Pensions are a ripoff for teachers!I almost lost track of this "Guide For Legislators" that Ed Sector put online. It's written by this guy, who sounds charming and knowledgeable, and whose involvement in actual teaching rivals Arne Duncan's. Anyway, I mention it because it's really quite a piece of work. Here in Illinois, I'm used to being ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Massive Charter Malfeasance, Jersey Style

Jersey Jazzman: Massive Charter Malfeasance, Jersey Style:Massive Charter Malfeasance, Jersey Styleby DukeIn case you still wonder why so many people in New Jersey have so many doubts about charter schools, here's one more reason, courtesy of the Star-Ledger:Nearly 200 school board members must "immediately vacate their position" after failing to complete a background check mandated under a new state law, a state Department of Education spokesman said today .Under the state law enacted last year, the only one of its ... more »

Kimble's Corner: Congressman Kimble Investigates Islamic Caliphate in South Carolina

Kimble's Corner: Congressman Kimble Investigates Islamic Caliphate in South Carolina:Congressman Kimble Investigates Islamic Caliphate in South Carolinaby Representative KimbleI've been campaigning hard in South Carolina and I have definitely enjoyed the challenge of campaigning to African-Americans for the first time in my career. The number of black Republicans is small, but substantial and I've relied on everything that I learned from Michael Steele to reach out to them with an urban suburban vibe and good conservative values yo digity.I had ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Bloomberg's State of the City address: an administration that has run out of education ideas -- even bad ones

NYC Public School Parents: Bloomberg's State of the City address: an administration that has run out of education ideas -- even bad ones:Bloomberg's State of the City address: an administration that has run out of education ideas -- even bad onesby Leonie HaimsonThe education proposals in Bloomberg’s State of the City address are being described as “ambitious” in the New York Times and GothamSchools. Not surprisingly, I see it differently. First he claimed that “By almost any measure, students are ... more »

ACLU warns Dallas ISD to "tread cautiously" on loosening restrictions to allow graduations in religious facilities | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com

ACLU warns Dallas ISD to "tread cautiously" on loosening restrictions to allow graduations in religious facilities | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com:ACLU warns Dallas ISD to "tread cautiously" on loosening restrictions to allow graduations in religious facilitiesby Tawnell Hobbs/ReporterThe American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is demanding that Dallas ISD reconsider a proposal that would no longer restrict graduations at churches and other religious buildings. Dallas school trustees are likely to discuss the proposal at Thursday's board briefing. It is ... more »

Modern School: Gates Right For Once? Of Course Not! #edreform

Modern School: Gates Right For Once? Of Course Not!:Gates Right For Once? Of Course Not!by Michael DunnA new study released last week by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation found that rating teachers by watching them teach is possibly the best way to help them improve, the Los Angeles Times reported this week. It also found that observing teachers infrequently (once a year or less) is insufficient, and that the observers, generally school administrators, often don't know what to look for.Huck/Konopacki ... more »

Bush Foundation, Florida Chamber of Commerce Release Simultaneous Spin on State Ranking Drop | Scathing Purple Musings

Bush Foundation, Florida Chamber of Commerce Release Simultaneous Spin on State Ranking Drop | Scathing Purple Musings:Bush Foundation, Florida Chamber of Commerce Release Simultaneous Spin on State Ranking Dropby Bob SikesIf there was any real doubt that Jeb Bush’s faux education foundation and the Florida Chamber of Commerce weren’t in cahoots should be dispelled today by the groups choreographed release of statements in regards toFlorida’s slide in education rankings. The Tampa Bay Times actually found the Chamber to be “cheering.” ... more »

Schools Matter: Nine Years Before Ten Years After

Schools Matter: Nine Years Before Ten Years After:Nine Years Before Ten Years Afterby Jim HornI have been deliberately ignoring the 10th painful anniversary of NCLB-S. I appreciate the grisly work of Lisa Guisbond and Monty Neill in unearthing all those dead bodies and in reminding us that those who don't recall the past. . . .I know. I was looking for something else and came across a Bracey's (may he rest in peace) prophetic pieceposted on the Web on January ... more »

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Riverside Church Speech on April 4, 1967 – “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” | Mr. D's Neighborhood

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Riverside Church Speech on April 4, 1967 – “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” | Mr. D's Neighborhood:Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Riverside Church Speech on April 4, 1967 – “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence”by ldorazio1 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the civil rights activist is well-known. Dr. King the anti-war, anti-poverty and class liberation activist is often overlooked.In many classrooms, Dr. King’s legacy is frozen in 1963, with his now ubiquitous ... more »

NYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Address « EdVox

NYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Address « EdVox:NYC’s Largest Parent Group Responds to Mayor’s State of the City Addressby edvoxnyPopout(New York, NY – January 12, 2012) – Mayor Bloomberg delivered his State of the City address at Morris High School in the Bronx today, including several thousand words on education. Parent leader Zakiyah Ansari of the Coalition for Educational Justice released the following statement in reaction. “Nearly every student in City public schools today ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform 1-12

The Charlotte Post - For-profit charter schools questionedBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-2 minutes agoThe Charlotte Post - For-profit charter schools questioned:For-profit charter schools questionedWith N.C. cap removed, companies apply for approval Published Thursday, January 12, 2012 7:21 amby Sommer Brokaw The emergence of for-profit charter schools is drawing fire in North Carolina.The Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP sent a letter to the North Carolina State Board of Education last month to block the application for Howard and Lillian Lee Scholars ... more »

The Uncertain Future of Public Schools in Florida | Florida Public Employees

The Uncertain Future of Public Schools in Florida | Florida Public Employees:The Uncertain Future of Public Schools in FloridaTopics: Amendment 7, Charter Schools, Ketty Rodríguez, PrivatisacionYour Tax Dollars For Private UseJanuary 11, 2012Translated From Spanish Article Published January 10, 2012By Ketty RodriguezThe public school situation has become more complex and critical in 2012, especially when compared to last year. One only has to look at the laws that have come in to play, as well as the measures voters are ... more »

Why Accountants Should Not Run Schools | OurFuture.org

Why Accountants Should Not Run Schools | OurFuture.org:Why Accountants Should Not Run Schoolsby Jeff BryantThere's a reason why accountants traditionally wore green eyeshades. In their "vision-intensive, detail-oriented" work, they were prone to "eyestrain" caused by scrupulous attention to columns and rows of numbers on a ledger. Now, of course, the strain is lessened by the softer glow of a computer screen. But the accountant's job is the same, nevertheless.Historically, in fact, the practice of "accountancy" has not changed a lot ... more »

RheeFirst! » “Michelle Rhee” is to “Data” as “Counterfeiter” is to “Dollar Bill”

RheeFirst! » “Michelle Rhee” is to “Data” as “Counterfeiter” is to “Dollar Bill”:“Michelle Rhee” is to “Data” as “Counterfeiter” is to “Dollar Bill”by adminWritten by Guy Brandenburg for his blog. Read the entire post here.“There are very few public figures who have a looser connection with the truth, with facts, and with data, than Michelle Rhee.But she’s coming to DC next week as a featured panel member of something called the Data Quality Campaign, along with Arne Duncan, another educational ... more »

Turner Diaries vs Ron Paul — The Answers Revealed! « Student Activism

Turner Diaries vs Ron Paul — The Answers Revealed! « Student Activism:Turner Diaries vs Ron Paul — The Answers Revealed!by Angus JohnstonAbout a week ago I put up a quiz post asking folks to guess whether 25 quotes came from Ron Paul’s newsletters or from the Turner Diaries, a notorious racist novel from the late 1970s.In that original post I said that this:The worldview of the Ron Paul newsletters is the worldview of the late 20th century American rightwing fringe ... more »

Why Is Congress Redlining Our Schools? | The Nation

Why Is Congress Redlining Our Schools? | The Nation:Why Is Congress Redlining Our Schools?Linda Darling-Hammond January 10, 2012 | This article appeared in the January 30, 2012 edition of The Nation.Share|||Recommended by 0|Text Size A | A | AEmail|Print|Share|Single Page|Web Letter (0)|Write a Letter|Take Action|Subscribe NowRedlining was the once-common practice in which banks would draw a red line on a map—often along a natural barrier like a highway or river—to designate neighborhoods where they would not invest. Stigmatized and denied ... more »

Schools Matter: McIntyre's Austerity Plan for Cutting $7M Ignores $30M in the Bank

Schools Matter: McIntyre's Austerity Plan for Cutting $7M Ignores $30M in the Bank:McIntyre's Austerity Plan for Cutting $7M Ignores $30M in the Bankby Jim HornLast Fall Eli Broad's Tennessee transplant, Supt. James McIntyre, laid out his wish list for slashing teachers and privatizing services in Knoxville, Tennessee Schools, all based on a purported shortfall of $7 million from a $384+ million dollar budget:Facing a looming budget deficit of at least $7 million, Knox County Schools' Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre is ... more »

Check it OUT! Parent Organizer -- DPS Schools

Parent Organizer -- DPS Schools:Parent Organizer -- DPS SchoolsUpdated: Thursday, 12 Jan 2012, 11:47 AM ESTPublished : Thursday, 12 Jan 2012, 11:47 AM ESTmyFOX Job Shop - Job Title: Parent Organizer -- Reports To: Project Director Position Summary: The Parent Organizer will be responsible for working with allocated DPS schools to ensure there is a strong parent involvement plan to improve student achievement. Performance Responsibilities:Build and maintain relationships with allocated DPS schools’ principals Recruit and maintain relationships with parent leaders ... more »

The Charlotte Post - For-profit charter schools questioned

The Charlotte Post - For-profit charter schools questioned:For-profit charter schools questionedWith N.C. cap removed, companies apply for approval Published Thursday, January 12, 2012 7:21 amby Sommer Brokaw The emergence of for-profit charter schools is drawing fire in North Carolina.The Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP sent a letter to the North Carolina State Board of Education last month to block the application for Howard and Lillian Lee Scholars Charter School, which is on the fast track to open in August. According to its ... more »

Shanker Blog » Beyond Anecdotes: The Evidence About Financial Incentives And Teacher Retention

Shanker Blog » Beyond Anecdotes: The Evidence About Financial Incentives And Teacher Retention:Beyond Anecdotes: The Evidence About Financial Incentives And Teacher Retentionby Eleanor FulbeckOur guest author today is Eleanor Fulbeck, who earned her Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2011, and is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.A couple of weeks ago, an article in the New York Times, written by reporter Sam Dillon, took a look at the new incentive ... more »

Schools Matter: Guest Post: Against Oligarchical Roundtables In Education

Schools Matter: Guest Post: Against Oligarchical Roundtables In Education:Guest Post: Against Oligarchical Roundtables In Educationby P. L. ThomasAgainst Oligarchical Roundtables In Education (and really, everywhere else too)by Douglas StormIf they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers. Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s RainbowIt’s that simple really. All we do now is ask the wrong questions and get irrelevant answers because the questions determine the direction we’ll be heading. The Pynchon quote comes from the ... more »

LA study: Poor students stuck with worst teachers - LA Daily News

LA study: Poor students stuck with worst teachers - LA Daily News:LA study: Poor students stuck with worst teachersBy Christina Hoag, Associated Press WriterPosted: 01/12/2012 01:00:00 AM PSTLOS ANGELES - Good teachers are the key to accelerating academic achievement by Hispanic and black students to levels on par with their white and Asian counterparts, but poor, minority children are consistently stuck with the worst instructors, according to a study released Thursday."We know that great teachers have the power to help ... more »

NYC Educator: Teachers and Principals Behaving Badly

NYC Educator: Teachers and Principals Behaving Badly:Teachers and Principals Behaving Badlyby Miss EyreMy brothers and sisters in education, if it wasn't painfully obvious, we are at work in difficult times. Principals and teachers alike are under attack, often due to factors that are well beyond our control. School budgets are bleeding money and that picture is not set to improve. So why, why, why are we still being treated to stories like this one, in which a school principal falsified ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Schools: the Landscape Today

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Schools: the Landscape Today:Charter Schools: the Landscape Todayby Melissa WestbrookThis is the last in the series on charter schools. I will have a final piece on what I think it means and what we need to think about for Washington State. I hope that this has been a helpful series. (I note that I asked the Washington State PTSA about putting up a link about this series and got a busy signal. I will also ... more »

5 Ways Families Can Honor Dr. King & The Dream « MomsRising Blog

5 Ways Families Can Honor Dr. King The Dream « MomsRising Blog:5 Ways Families Can Honor Dr. King The DreamPosted January 11th, 2012 by Homa TavangarI think it’s essential that kids grow up with memories of actively marking the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and birthday. At most schools this is a day off, and a growing movement advocates making this a “day on.” When parents engage with their children on the important matters Dr. King spoke out for, ... more »

Daily Kos: What it feels like to fire people

Daily Kos: What it feels like to fire people:What it feels like to fire peopleby rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)I have had to do it twice, once in the private sector, once in the public sector.My work career before becoming a teacher was in data processing, where at various times I was a programmer, programmer analyst, systems analyst, consultant, supervisor, and manager.The first time I had to fire an employee was while a manager at a private company then the world's largest vendor ... more »

Diane Ravitch will speak to Sac City Teachers Association members - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Diane Ravitch will speak to Sac City Teachers Association members - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee:Diane Ravitch will speak to Sac City Teachers Association membersShareBy Melody Gutierrezmgutierrez@sacbee.comPublished: Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 1B Education historian Diane Ravitch, an outspoken critic of the movement to reward or penalize teachers based on student test scores, will speak to hundreds of teachers at a public event organized by the Sacramento City Teachers Association.Nine ... more »

What does a Vulture Capitalist become when they grow up?

What does a Vulture Capitalist become when theygrow up?AVulture Philanthropist

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform 1-11

A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent Movement | OWSnews.org #OWSBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-10 minutes agoA Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent Movement | OWSnews.org:A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent MovementKevin Zeese at OWSnews.org - 3 minutes agoIn 2012, the Real Conversation will be in the Occupations, while Corporate Candidates have a False Conversation By ... more »

Grumpy Educators: Republicans Put On Notice Over Education Reform

Grumpy Educators: Republicans Put On Notice Over Education Reform:Republicans Put On Notice Over Education ReformFlorida’s legislative session opened with education bills pouring out like MMs.With eyebrow raising speed, on opening day, the Senate Pre-K 12 Education committee considered and passed SB 962, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program on January 9, 2012 by a vote of 4 to 2, and came back on January 10 to revisit some changes, and on January 11, the bill moved to the Budget Subcommittee on ... more »

Supreme Court sides with churches in employment fights - The Washington Post

Supreme Court sides with churches in employment fights - The Washington Post:Supreme Court sides with churches in employment fights Text SizePrintE-mailReprintsBy Lauren Markoe| Religion News Service, Updated: Wednesday, January 11, 2:11 PMWASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday (Jan. 11) unanimously threw its support behind a church school that fired a teacher, using a widely watched church-state case to bolster a legal doctrine that exempts religious institutions from some civil rights laws.Religious groups heralded the ruling as a firm ... more »

So Rick Scott Wants More for Florida Schools, But His Legislative Allies Want More Cash For Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings

So Rick Scott Wants More for Florida Schools, But His Legislative Allies Want More Cash For Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings:So Rick Scott Wants More for Florida Schools, But His Legislative Allies Want More Cash For Charter Schoolsby Bob SikesWhile Rick Scott says that “he cannot budge” on increasing funding for education, he doesnt tell voters that two republican legislators, Sen. Steve Wise and Rep. Janet Adkins are sponsoring legislation that would put more money into the pockets of ... more »

Looking at Education as a Civil Right – SchoolBook

Looking at Education as a Civil Right – SchoolBook:Looking at Education as a Civil Rightby SchoolBookLessons about the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. are presumably going on in classrooms all over the city this week, in anticipation of the holiday on Monday to honor Dr. King.Or maybe not.Some teachers have complained privately about the need to freshen up their approach to this important chapter in American history, and studies have shown that many teachers could use some help: students ... more »

Remarks by the President on Insourcing American Jobs | The White House

Remarks by the President on Insourcing American Jobs | The White House:Remarks by the President on Insourcing American JobsEast Room 12:51 P.M. ESTTHE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Please, please have a seat. Thank you. Well, welcome to the White House, everybody. And Tim, thank you for that introduction.I could not have enjoyed more the meeting that I had this morning, because what these companies represent is a source of optimism and enormous potential for the future of America. ... more »

Support NAACP OneMilwaukee Initiative « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Support NAACP OneMilwaukee Initiative « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:Support NAACP OneMilwaukee Initiativeby millerlfJobs, Jobs, JobsBy Larry Miller from OnMilwaukee.com blog 1/11/2012What’s the real picture on joblessness in Milwaukee?At a conference I attended this past weekend titled OneMilwaukee and sponsored by the NAACP, Mayor Tom Barrett estimated that there are 30,000 people out of work presently and up to 20,000 jobs lost in the city since 2007. He went on to describe the dilemma he faces as mayor. People ... more »

My Love/Hate Relationship with Educational Numbers « Cooperative Catalyst

My Love/Hate Relationship with Educational Numbers « Cooperative Catalyst:My Love/Hate Relationship with Educational Numbersby Kristan MorrisonA few months back, I wrote about how my college was going through the NCATE accreditation process. The outcome of that long event was a report about how we are doing. One area in which we were “dinged” was in our assessments of our graduate programs. As director of one of our biggest graduate programs, this report finding means that I am now under the ... more »

Back to basics | Taking Note

Back to basics | Taking Note:Back to basicsby John MerrowWhat are the basic tenets of education? John takes a stab at four of them -- and how a focus in that direction could be good for American education.Lately I have been lying awake at night thinking about basic skills. To be precise, I am wondering what you — or I — would do if we were in charge of getting America “back to basics” in education. Just what are ‘the ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Why Should You Stand Up Now?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Why Should You Stand Up Now?:Why Should You Stand Up Now?by AnngieThe catalog of dystopian literature that is required reading for middle and high school is quite large; from 1984, to Brave New World, to The Giver. So you would think that with all of us reading these novels, and seeing the wretched outcome which began with the best intentions, we would be on our guard against having any of that happen in our real world. Unfortunately, ... more »

“Believe” the Teachers | Edwize

“Believe” the Teachers | Edwize:“Believe” the Teachersby Christina CollinsMonday’s announcements that all three charter schools in the Believe Network would likely have their charters revoked at the end of the school year were no surprise to those who have been following recent news about these schools and the network which runs them. From security camera footage that showed Believe students were being forced to attend classes in factory space to the photo of Believe CEO Eddie Calderon-Melendezcharging a New York ... more »

Set High School and College Students on a Course for Success

Book Fair information:USA Science Engineering Festival Book FairNot An Ordinary Book Fair at USA Science Engineering FestivalThe first Science, Technology, Education Mathematics Book Fair will be held at the USA Science Engineering Festival April 28-29, 2012. The USA Science Engineering Festival Book Fair will include explosive science experiments, hands-on demonstrations, and explanations of real-life science within the Festival. The Book Fair merges excellent written works from best-selling authors with the actual hands-on science of the Festival. Thirty-five Featured Authors will... more »

Cook-Wissahickon parents to Corbett: 'We desperately need your help' | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Cook-Wissahickon parents to Corbett: 'We desperately need your help' | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:Cook-Wissahickon parents to Corbett: 'We desperately need your help'by Guest blogger on Jan 11 2012 Posted in Community voicesCOMMENTS (0)PRINTEMAILTags:activism budget cutscommunity organizing parent involvement parent organizingIn this guest blog post we are running a letter that parent Rebecca Poyourow and 230 additional supporters of Cook-Wissahickon Elementary in Roxborough recently sent to Gov. Tom Corbettand other elected officials.The letter details the harsh impact of ... more »

A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent Movement | OWSnews.org #OWS

A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent Movement | OWSnews.org:A Culture of Resistance is Born in 2011: the People United in an Independent MovementKevin Zeese at OWSnews.org - 3 minutes agoIn 2012, the Real Conversation will be in the Occupations, while Corporate Candidates have a False Conversation By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers The Occupy Movement that developed in 2011 profoundly shook the foundation of the 1%. Almost instantly a new form of ... more »

RheeFirst! » Watch Michelle Rhee pull a Romney: loves to fire people

RheeFirst! » Watch Michelle Rhee pull a Romney: loves to fire people:Watch Michelle Rhee pull a Romney: loves to fire peopleby adminFrom Michael Winerip’s New York Times article:“Always, she preens for the cameras. Early in her chancellorship, she was trailed for a story by the education correspondent of “PBS NewsHour,” John Merrow.At one point, Ms. Rhee asked if his crew wanted to watch her fire a principal. “We were totally stunned,” Mr. Merrow said.She let them set up the camera ... more »

Alexander Russo Working Hard for the 1% At Scholastic?

About Teach For Us·Our Supporters·About Teach For America·Contact UsCopyright © 2010-2012 Teach For Us·All Rights ReservedBy continuing past this page, you agree to ourterms of service.Teach For Us thanks our national sponsor for its generous supportDiane Ravitch Blocked Me on TwitterI would have blocked you, too

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts #ows #edreform #edchat

Officials call for plan to increase L.A. Unified enrollment - latimes.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-11 minutes agoOfficials call for plan to increase L.A. Unified enrollment - latimes.com:Officials call for plan to increase L.A. Unified enrollmentThe Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday directed staff to develop a plan to increase district enrollment by at least 5%. The nation’s second-largest school system has shrunk rapidly in recent years because of declining birth rates, population shifts and an exodus of ... more »

Civic Learning: Renewing Our Sense of Who We Are | ED.gov Blog

Civic Learning: Renewing Our Sense of Who We Are | ED.gov Blog:Civic Learning: Renewing Our Sense of Who We ArePosted on January 11, 2012 by Cameron Brenchley“Education is more than just book knowledge. It’s about how we engage in a vibrant democracy,” Secretary Duncan said yesterday afternoon at the White House. Duncan joined Obama Administration officials and education leaders at the launch of a national conversation about the importance of advancing civic learning from grade school to graduate school.Image courtesy ... more »

Profiles of For-Profit and Nonprofit Education Management Organizations: Thirteenth Annual Report - 2010-2011 | National Education Policy Center

Profiles of For-Profit and Nonprofit Education Management Organizations: Thirteenth Annual Report - 2010-2011 | National Education Policy Center:Profiles of For-Profit and Nonprofit Education Management Organizations: Thirteenth Annual Report - 2010-2011 Share10by Gary Miron, Jessica Urschel, Mayra A. Yat Aguilar, Breanna DaileyJanuary 6, 2012While past annual Profiles reports have focused on either for-profit EMOs or nonprofit EMOs, this is the first annual Profiles report to cover both categories in a single report which allows for easier comparisons. The 2010-2011 school year ... more »

Student Debt Crisis Isn't Just About Economy - Student Loan Ranger (usnews.com)

Student Debt Crisis Isn't Just About Economy - Student Loan Ranger (usnews.com):Student Debt Crisis Isn't Just About EconomyBy EQUAL JUSTICE WORKSJanuary 11, 2012 RSS Feed PrintWith the Iowa caucus under our belt, the 2012 election year is in full swing and one issue being raised across the country isstudent debt. So far, it seems that a number of candidates propose to address this issue through their plans to "improve the economy." They don't seem to understand the educational debt crisis ... more »

Why Even People Who Think They Don’t Care About Pensions Should Care About Pensions

Why Even People Who Think They Don’t Care About Pensions Should Care About Pensions:Why Even People Who Think They Don’t Care About Pensions Should Care About Pensionsby Kris AmundsonAcross the country, state legislatures are reconvening. As the late, wonderful Molly Ivins noted, legislative politics can often provide the “finest form of free entertainment ever invented.”At the top of many state legislatures’ agenda this year will be the issue of pensions. Although the warning signs have been there for years, legislatures ... more »

Teachers in Bankrupt Pennsylvania School District Pledge to Work for Free - Education - GOOD

Teachers in Bankrupt Pennsylvania School District Pledge to Work for Free - Education - GOOD:Teachers in Bankrupt Pennsylvania School District Pledge to Work for Freeby Liz DwyerWould you still go to work every day if your boss couldn't pay you? That's what 200 teachers and 65 other employees of Pennsylvania's Chester Upland School District have pledged to do after district officials told them that a $19 million budget shortfall meant they wouldn't be receiving salaries.Sara Ferguson, who's been a teacher ... more »

Education Research Report 1-11-12

Education Research Report:State Reports Profiling First-Year Progress Under Race to the TopJonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 26 minutes agoΩ The U.S. Department of Education has released state-specific reports profiling first-year progress on comprehensive education reform under Race to the Top. The reports document reform efforts underway in Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Tennessee, the 12 grantees that secured Race to the Top funding in 2010 through the competition's ... more »

Officials call for plan to increase L.A. Unified enrollment - latimes.com

Officials call for plan to increase L.A. Unified enrollment - latimes.com:Officials call for plan to increase L.A. Unified enrollmentThe Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday directed staff to develop a plan to increase district enrollment by at least 5%. The nation’s second-largest school system has shrunk rapidly in recent years because of declining birth rates, population shifts and an exodus of students to nearly 200 independently managed charter schools.The plan may include an expansion of successful and popular magnet ... more »

AN $80,000 KICK « Teachers Fight Back

AN $80,000 KICK « Teachers Fight Back:AN $80,000 KICKby alkleenChicago Tribune news item: A college student who said he was kicked in the leg by his automotive course instructor during a class is suing the teacher and the college. The student said his teacher kicked him in the shin in class after the teacher saw the student attempting to attach an auto transmission part with a hammer. The teacher allegedly shouted at the student and without any warning or provocation ...more »

But First Him, Always Him | The Jose Vilson

But First Him, Always Him | The Jose Vilson:But First Him, Always Himby JoseAlejandro Luis Vilson Rojas and His DadFor the last four days, I’ve averaged about four hours of consistent sleep, including a a period of 24 hours from Thursday to Friday where I slept nothing. These days have been a haze of semi-consciousness, floating between staring at hospital beds and nurseries and recouping in the disaster area that was my house. Before December 5th, I remember reading a ... more »

What’s wrong with N.J. charter school policy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

What’s wrong with N.J. charter school policy - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:What’s wrong with N.J. charter school policyby Valerie StraussThis speech, given recently at a protest in Maplewood, N.J., against the state’s charter school policy, was delivered by Stan Karp, who taught English and journalism in Paterson for 30 years. He is now the director of the Secondary Reform Project for New Jersey’s Education Law Center and an editor of Rethinking Schoolsmagazine.Read full article

Des Moines Education Association: A DMEA Executive Board Member's Initial Take on Iowa Education Reform Proposals

Des Moines Education Association: A DMEA Executive Board Member's Initial Take on Iowa Education Reform Proposals:A DMEA Executive Board Member's Initial Take on Iowa Education Reform Proposalsby Mr. ROur Executive Board Treasurer, Scott Rieker wrote down his initial thoughts on the education reform proposals to the Iowa Legislature from Governor Branstad. If you have not yet read the proposals in full you can read them at this LINK.Here are Scott's thoughts...."Hi all,The big legislative “bomb” that we’ve been waiting for ... more »

City and State Move to Shut Down Brooklyn Charter Network – SchoolBook

City and State Move to Shut Down Brooklyn Charter Network – SchoolBook:City and State Move to Shut Down Brooklyn Charter NetworkFACEBOOKTWITTERPRINTRelated SchoolsWilliamsburg Charter High SchoolBelieve Northside Charter High SchoolBelieve Southside Charter High SchoolJan. 10, 2012, 6:39 p.m.By ANNA M. PHILLIPSCity and state education officials announced on Tuesday that they plan to close an entire network of charter high schools in Brooklyn that have suffered management and financial woes for years.One day after New York City Department of Education officialsdeclared their ... more »

"NYSUT responds to governor's statement on teacher evaluations." January 10, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

"NYSUT responds to governor's statement on teacher evaluations." January 10, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org:NYSUT responds to governor's statement on teacher evaluationsALBANY, N.Y. Jan. 10, 2012 - New York State United Teachers today respectfully disagreed with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's characterization of New York's teacher evaluation law enacted in 2010 in concert with the state's Race to the Top application."This legislation was not designed to protect unions but, in fact, was jointly supported by NYSUT and the State Education ... more »

Bush Foundation Financial Backer K12 Inc to be Investigated for Securities Fraud | Scathing Purple Musings

Bush Foundation Financial Backer K12 Inc to be Investigated for Securities Fraud | Scathing Purple Musings:Bush Foundation Financial Backer K12 Inc to be Investigated for Securities Fraudby Bob SikesFrom a Yahoo Business story last month:NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Faruqi Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential securities fraud at K12, Inc. (“K12” or the “Company”) (NYSE: LRN – News).The investigation focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose that: ... more »

SBE Numbering and Charter Submission Package - Resources (CA Dept of Education)

SBE Numbering and Charter Submission Package - Resources (CA Dept of Education):SBE Numbering and Charter Submission PackageDeadlines for SBE Numbering and Charter Submission PackageListed below are the deadlines and required documents for submitting a Charter Submission Package in order to receive a charter number from the State Board of Education (SBE).E-mailed numbering requests will not be accepted. All items listed in the Charter Submission Package are to be received by the Charter Schools Division by 5 p.m. on the due ... more »

Schools Matter: With 99% of the People, Why Can't We Get 2/3 of the States

Schools Matter: With 99% of the People, Why Can't We Get 2/3 of the States:With 99% of the People, Why Can't We Get 2/3 of the Statesby Jim HornDuring this political season, corporations are taking their turns lining up to sponsor political debates whose results are then made made entirely meaningless and irrelevant by subsequent unlimited blasts of negative ads that serve to buy the candidate most likely to prostrate himself completely at the feet of American plutocrats. Since the ... more »

Parents – watch out for parent trigger proposals in your state « Parents Across America

Parents – watch out for parent trigger proposals in your state « Parents Across America:Parents – watch out for parent trigger proposals in your stateby pureparentsPAA member Caroline Grannan recently posted this update on the parent trigger, explaining that, despite well-funded propaganda, there are no successful parent trigger programs. The Parent Revolution, which pushed the California parent trigger law, has apparently abandoned the strategy.Yet parent trigger proposals are popping up all over the country, including Florida. Details in this PAA ... more »

RheeFirst! » Are D.C. school officials hiding test data?

RheeFirst! » Are D.C. school officials hiding test data?:Are D.C. school officials hiding test data?by adminNote: Although these tests occurred in 2011, one year after Rhee’s departure from DC, the DC school personnel that administered them are the same personnel and system that she put in place.Written by Jay Mathews for The Washington Post. Read the entire article here.“Is this an intentional effort to deny parents, voters and taxpayers the information they need to judge the integrity of D.C. test ... more »

Misunderstanding & Misrepresenting the “Costs” & “Economics” of Online Learning « School Finance 101

Misunderstanding Misrepresenting the “Costs” “Economics” of Online Learning « School Finance 101:Misunderstanding Misrepresenting the “Costs” “Economics” of Online Learningby schoolfinance101The Fordham Institute has just released its report titled “The Costs of Online Learning” in which they argue that it is incrementally cheaper to move from a) brick and mortar schooling to b) blended learning and then c) fully online learning.http://www.edexcellencemedia.net/publications/2012/20120110-the-costs-of-online-learning/20120110-the-costs-of-online-learning.pdfAccompanying this report is... more »

In Bad Faith | Edwize

In Bad Faith | Edwize:In Bad Faithby Leo CaseyThere is but one conclusion that can be drawn from the NYC Department of Education’s last minute walk out of negotiations over a teacher evaluation system for 33 schools placed in the Transformation and Restart models: it was always Tweed’s intention to refuse to enter into an agreement for teacher evaluations.Part of the evidence for this conclusion comes from the conduct of NYC DOE officials during negotiations. Throughout the month of December, ... more »

Blue Jersey:: Dear NJEA: You Break It, You Buy It

Blue Jersey:: Dear NJEA: You Break It, You Buy It:Dear NJEA: You Break It, You Buy Itby: Jersey JazzmanTue Jan 10, 2012 at 12:30:00 PM ESTLast evening, the New Jersey Senate passed the Urban Hope Act by a margin of 53-3:The charter school pilot bill designates three failing school districts - in Trenton, Camden and Newark - as renaissance school districts. The bill enables one or more nonprofit entities to apply to the state to supplant the existing non-performing schools ... more »

John Thompson: No Excuses Reformers Find Plenty of Them for NCLB - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

John Thompson: No Excuses Reformers Find Plenty of Them for NCLB - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:John Thompson: No Excuses Reformers Find Plenty of Them for NCLB by Anthony CodyGuest post by John Thompson.On the 10th anniversary of "the lost decade," produced by No Child Left Behind, we will read plenty of explanations of why the law did little good, and often did great harm to poor children of color. Ironically, the rationale for NCLB was that educators had ...more »

Selling Schools Out | Corporate Accountability | The Investigative Fund

Selling Schools Out | Corporate Accountability | The Investigative Fund:Selling Schools OutBY LEE FANGTHE NATIONNOVEMBER 17, 2011Under the banner of high-tech progress, corporate lobbyists have rammed through legislation privatizing K-12 education across the country.EmailContact usPrintShareIN CONJUNCTION WITHSee this story at its source »MICROSOFTBill Gates and Rupert Murdoch, two of the tycoons who stand to benefit from a wave of school privatization laws, at a Microsoft CEO Summit in 2009.If the national movement to "reform" public education through vouchers, charters and ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Morning Posts #ows #edreform

Schools Matter: Why not try the obvious first?Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 minute agoSchools Matter: Why not try the obvious first?:Why not try the obvious first?by skrashenWhy not try the obvious first?Sent to the Chicago Tribune, Jan 9, 2012According to one principal, students need a longer school day so they can catch up in reading (“Chicago schools to begin longer days Monday,” Jan 9).We can get much bigger gains spending less money and with much less work, with ... more »

This Week In Education: Video: What The Nation's "Best" Teachers Have To Say

This Week In Education: Video: What The Nation's "Best" Teachers Have To Say: Thompson: Building On Disaggregationby john thompsonNCLB supporters have been celebrating the law's tenth anniversary by savaging the educators who had the temerity to challenge the self-evident righteousness of data-driven accountability. Opponents have been citing NCLB's failure to improve student performance, while recounting the damage it did to the children it was supposed to help. Jack Jennings's take on NCLB in Education Week best exemplifies the retrospectives by ... more »

Parents catching up under No Child Left Behind - Featured Stories - Modbee.com

Parents catching up under No Child Left Behind - Featured Stories - Modbee.com:Parents catching up under No Child Left BehindBy Nan Austin naustin@modbee.com E-Mail Printreprint or license0 CommentsText Size: Parents were supposed to get power under the No Child Left Behind Act to recognize failing schools and choose to leave them or help fix them.But too often all the schools in low-income neighborhoods are on federal watch lists. Few parents move their children to higher performing schools when given the ... more »

State senators pass a teacher effectiveness bill with blessing of Rhee’s group: Are they trying to irk teachers? | Get Schooled

State senators pass a teacher effectiveness bill with blessing of Rhee’s group: Are they trying to irk teachers? | Get Schooled:State senators pass a teacher effectiveness bill with blessing of Rhee’s group: Are they trying to irk teachers?6:18 pm January 9, 2012, by Maureen DowneyI am perplexed why the first official state press release on an education reform bill out of the Georgia Senate quotes an official from StudentsFirst, the education advocacy group created by former Washington school chancellor Michelle ... more »

Diane Ravitch To Discuss NY School Reform in Cobble Hill - Carroll Gardens, NY Patch

Diane Ravitch To Discuss NY School Reform in Cobble Hill - Carroll Gardens, NY Patch:Diane Ravitch To Discuss NY School Reform in Cobble HillThe bestselling author will be speaking at PS 29 on Tuesday, January 10.By Gwen RuelleEmail the authorJanuary 9, 2012 Email Print Comment Upload Photos and VideosDiane Ravitch will be discussing her newest bestseller, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education, tommorrow evening at PS 29 in Cobble ... more »

What’s missing from education reform debate - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

What’s missing from education reform debate - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:What’s missing from education reform debateby Valerie StraussThis was written by Mark Naison, professor of African and African American Studies at Fordham University in New York and chair of the department of African and African-American Studies. He is also co-director of the Urban Studies Program, African-American History 20th Century. This first appeared on the blog With A Brooklyn Accent.Read full article Virginia governor pushes questionable ed reformsValerie ... more »

Schools Matter: Why not try the obvious first?

Schools Matter: Why not try the obvious first?:Why not try the obvious first?by skrashenWhy not try the obvious first?Sent to the Chicago Tribune, Jan 9, 2012According to one principal, students need a longer school day so they can catch up in reading (“Chicago schools to begin longer days Monday,” Jan 9).We can get much bigger gains spending less money and with much less work, with an approach that children will like a lot better than staying in school longer: Invest ... more »

Florida’s budget solution: Ban the kids - Fred Grimm - MiamiHerald.com

Florida’s budget solution: Ban the kids - Fred Grimm - MiamiHerald.com:Florida’s budget solution: Ban the kids BY FRED GRIMMFGRIMM@MIAMIHERALD.COMMiamiHerald.com/columnistsPondering the budget Gov. Scott sent to the Legislature, I’m overcome with something similar to the sentiment suffered by adults in the lobby of Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.One admires the soaring thatched ceiling, huge wooden beams, hard-carved furnishings, faux African artifacts and the wild (or at least wildish) animals roaming the grounds, and lament that this could be one of the ... more »

What’s Wrong With Walcott? « JD2718

What’s Wrong With Walcott? « JD2718:What’s Wrong With Walcott?by jd2718by Lynne Winderbaum, retired ESL teacher, JFK HS, and former Bronx High School UFT District Rep“I’m not going to remove him, but he knows he cannot have any similar type of comments. He is on a very strict line as far as his behavior,” said Walcott, who added that some school staffers want Chase to remain in his post.Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx-principal-fire-outrageous-machine-comments-photocopier-article-1.1002357#ixzz1iy5ky7opFollowing the deplorable moral standards of his predecessors ... more »

Parents’ Rights in Prince William County Schools « PWC Education Reform Blog

Parents’ Rights in Prince William County Schools « PWC Education Reform Blog:Parents’ Rights in Prince William County SchoolsJanuary 9, 2012 — pwceducationreformCan parents review the information the public schools hold about them and their children? Can they access their child’s locker? Can the public schools distribute a student’s information outside the local school district without the parents’ consent, for instance to the state or federal Department of Education or other organizations / institutions?The first, can parents review the information PWCS ... more »

School Tech Connect: Low Morale?

School Tech Connect: Low Morale?:Low Morale?by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)I can't imagine why.Can you imagine trying to teach anything worthwhile while having these stupid pacing guides shoved down your

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform Marches On In Washington State

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform Marches On In Washington State:Ed Reform Marches On In Washington Stateby Melissa WestbrookLisa Macfarlane, who helped co-found LEV, has moved on and is now the head of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) with this modest-sounding goal:"..a political organization focused on encouraging a more productive conversation within the Democratic Party on the need to fundamentally reform public education. DFER operates at all levels of government to educate elected officials and support reform-minded candidates for public ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts #edreform #ows

Still “Lying to Children”: How No Child Left Behind Corrupted Education - The Daily BeastBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-7 minutes agoStill “Lying to Children”: How No Child Left Behind Corrupted Education - The Daily Beast:Still “Lying to Children”: How No Child Left Behind Corrupted EducationJan 9, 2012 6:53 AM ESTExpecting all students to be college ready is a hopeless utopian goal that inevitably produces test-score inflation and bad results.PrintEmailComments (2)When George W. Bush signed No Child Left Behind ... more »

Support PURE! » “Fire Chris Koch”: ISBE chief hid real costs of testing company junkets

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » “Fire Chris Koch”: ISBE chief hid real costs of testing company junkets:“Fire Chris Koch”: ISBE chief hid real costs of testing company junketsby adminThe Pearson junket scandal broke — i.e. was actually reported – a few months ago in New York, and the NY state attorney general is now investigating local education officials, but Chicago media seems uninterested in the fact that Illinois State Superintendent Chris Koch also took advantage of ... more »

RheeFirst! » Unsolved Mystery: DC Public Schools Cheating Scandal– I​s there a cover up?

RheeFirst! » Unsolved Mystery: DC Public Schools Cheating Scandal– I​s there a cover up?:Unsolved Mystery: DC Public Schools Cheating Scandal– I​s there a cover up?by adminWritten by Catharine Evans and Ann Kane for the Potter Williams Report. Read the entire article here.“The Washington DC school system’s failure to hold higher-ups accountable for their 2008-2010 test cheating scandal has led to more speculation that some are intentionally stonewalling attempts to get at the truth. …… Mayor Gray took the opportunity to ... more »

Schools Matter: Chetty Study: "simpleminded, technocratic, dehumanizing and disturbing"

Schools Matter: Chetty Study: "simpleminded, technocratic, dehumanizing and disturbing":Chetty Study: "simpleminded, technocratic, dehumanizing and disturbing"by Jim HornThe heart of Bruce Baker's first review of the corporate boot-licking conclusions by Chetty Co.:. . . . The authors find that teacher value added scores in their historical data set vary. No surprise. And they find that those variations are correlated to some extent with “other stuff” including income later in life and having reported dependents for females at a young age. There’s ... more »

Talking Title IX on Twitter | ED.gov Blog

Talking Title IX on Twitter | ED.gov Blog:Talking Title IX on TwitterPosted on January 9, 2012 by Cameron BrenchleyThis year marks the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the civil rights law that ensures educational institutions that receive federal funding do not discriminate on the basis of sex. Secretary Duncan has said that Title IX is “one of the great civil rights success stories in education.” To kick off the anniversary year, Secretary Duncan and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn ... more »

No honor among thieves. Wing-nuts defend Romney when it comes to job destruction. « Fred Klonsky

No honor among thieves. Wing-nuts defend Romney when it comes to job destruction. « Fred Klonsky:No honor among thieves. Wing-nuts defend Romney when it comes to job destruction.by Fred KlonskySome of the crazy right-wingers in the GOP would rather lose the White House than elect Mitt Romney, in spite of his claim of being conservative. He’s just not conservative enough for the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.But when Newt Gingrich came out with a blistering video on the ... more »

HechingerEd Blog | The reliability problem in grading teachers

HechingerEd Blog | The reliability problem in grading teachers:The reliability problem in grading teachersby Sarah GarlandA new study underwritten by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation (which is among the funders of The Hechinger Report) tackles the question of whether the new teacher evaluation systems going into effect in school districts across the country are accurate and reliable in identifying which teachers are good and which are not. The researchers found that the new evaluation systems are likely to be more ... more »

In Case You Missed It: A State suspension, A Cuomo commission, and a lot of 2012 tension « EdVox

In Case You Missed It: A State suspension, A Cuomo commission, and a lot of 2012 tension « EdVox:In Case You Missed It: A State suspension, A Cuomo commission, and a lot of 2012 tensionby edvoxnyTuesdayAfter months of back-and-forth, warnings by State officials, and a breakdown in talks about a teacher evaluation system that ended with City DOE refusing to negotiate further with the teachers union, the State education commissioner suspended payments of federal grants to struggling schools across New ... more »

WATCH OUT FINLAND, HERE COMES ILLINOIS ! « Teachers Fight Back

WATCH OUT FINLAND, HERE COMES ILLINOIS ! « Teachers Fight Back:WATCH OUT FINLAND, HERE COMES ILLINOIS !by alkleenI was looking at the wording of the goals for the new curriculum in Illinois, the “Common Core Curriculum”, (which by the way is about the 1,876th curriculum change in the last 40 years), but then again, who’s keeping score? One of the curriculum statements reads, “the standards were developed while considering the standards of top performing countries”. So, one of the goals ... more »

Still “Lying to Children”: How No Child Left Behind Corrupted Education - The Daily Beast

Still “Lying to Children”: How No Child Left Behind Corrupted Education - The Daily Beast:Still “Lying to Children”: How No Child Left Behind Corrupted EducationJan 9, 2012 6:53 AM ESTExpecting all students to be college ready is a hopeless utopian goal that inevitably produces test-score inflation and bad results.PrintEmailComments (2)When George W. Bush signed No Child Left Behind legislation into law 10 years ago this week, it seemed like the perfect expression of his brand of “compassionate conservatism,” while also ... more »

Governors Association Examines Teacher Merit Pay - High School Notes (usnews.com)

Governors Association Examines Teacher Merit Pay - High School Notes (usnews.com):Governors Association Examines Teacher Merit PayGovernors Association Examines Teacher Merit PayBy JASON KOEBLERJanuary 9, 2012 RSS Feed PrintMany pro-reform education experts, including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, will tell you that one of the most important factors in a child's education is the quality of the teacher—and the way to retain the best teachers is to pay them more. But states and teachers unions nationwide are having trouble agreeing ... more »

Education Reform Now’s 2010 IRS 990 Form « DFER Watch

Education Reform Now’s 2010 IRS 990 Form « DFER Watch:Education Reform Now’s 2010 IRS 990 Formby ken libbypEducation Reform Now’s IRS 990 form and audited financial statement were recently posted on the NY Charities Bureau a href=”http://bartlett.oag.state.ny.us/Char_Forms/show_details.jsp?id={D4BB3F84-544C-4371-A9D0-05EB216A4445}”website/a. Below is a summary of relevant information. This post then concludes with a few brief notes./p pstrongSummary:/strong/p pERN’s total revenue and total expenses grew between 2009 and 2010:/p pimg style=”display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-r... more »

NJ Spotlight | In the Suburbs, Charter Schools Raise Concerns About Local Control

NJ Spotlight | In the Suburbs, Charter Schools Raise Concerns About Local Control:In the Suburbs, Charter Schools Raise Concerns About Local ControlCan a local school district block a charter from opening or refuse to fund it? print | email | shareBy Marilyn Joyce Lehren, January 9, 2012 in Education |1 CommentCredit: Marilyn Joyce LehrenLili Meddahi, a Maplewood third grader, decorates a protest sign against charters.When a charter school opens in a gritty urban neighborhood, few parents and officials argue that ... more »

Sacramento Press / "Strong Mayor" Proposal at Secret Public Meeting

Sacramento Press / "Strong Mayor" Proposal at Secret Public Meeting:"Strong Mayor" Proposal at Secret Public Meetingby William BurgOn January 7, 2012, Sacramento city staff held a public meeting about the newest proposal to change the city charter, the “Checks and Balances Act of 2012.” However, this public meeting was not announced to the general public—instead it was directed at a small group of neighborhood leaders.I found out about the meeting via the chair of the Midtown Neighborhood Association, who received ... more »

Application for Hebrew Charter School in New Jersey Raises Concern - NYTimes.com

Application for Hebrew Charter School in New Jersey Raises Concern - NYTimes.com:Rejected 3 Times, School May Still Open Soon, and With a Grant, TooBy MICHAEL WINERIPPublished: January 8, 2012RECOMMENDTWITTERLINKEDINCOMMENTS (4)E-MAILPRINTSINGLE PAGEREPRINTSSHAREIn the last couple of years, Sharon Akman, a real estate agent, applied to the state of New Jersey three times to open a new charter school in the Highland Park area, to be called Tikun Olam Hebrew Language Charter High School.RelatedTimes Topics: Charter Schools |Michael WineripNews, data and conversation ... more »

NYC Educator: A Message from the Mayor

NYC Educator: A Message from the Mayor:A Message from the Mayorby NYC EducatorGood morning, New York. It's me, Mayor Michael Bloomberg. You know, a lot of people ask me what I'm up to nowadays. Well, I've got my eye on this new teacher evaluation system. I'm sure you know that last year I tried to get rid of that seniority clause when firing teachers. I say, let's keep the best teachers. The most effective teachers. And by that, I mean ... more »

Mandated community service: Risks and potential - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Mandated community service: Risks and potential - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Mandated community service: Risks and potentialby Valerie StraussThis was written by Alfie Kohn, the author of 12 books about education and human behavior, including “The Schools Our Children Deserve,” “The Homework Myth,” and the newly published“Feel-Bad Education . . . And Other Contrarian Essays on Children Schooling.” He lives (actually) in the Boston area and (virtually) at www.alfiekohn.com. .Read full article Putting New York’s testing program on ... more »

How weighted funding would work | Thoughts on Public Education

How weighted funding would work | Thoughts on Public Education:How weighted funding would workShare$3,000 more per student in low-income districtsPosted on 1/09/12 • Categorized as Equity issues, Finance, Jerry Brown, Poverty, State Budget, Student spendingBy John Fensterwald - Educated GuessDistricts in which nearly 90 percent of students are either low-income or English learners (such as Long Beach Unified and Los Angeles Unified) will get $3,000 more per student than districts where only 20 percent of students are disadvantaged (like Poway ... more »

Commentary: New paradigm needed for teacher training | EdNewsColorado

Commentary: New paradigm needed for teacher training | EdNewsColorado:Commentary: New paradigm needed for teacher trainingby Mark SassMark Sass, a teacher since 1994, teaches at Legacy High School in the Adams Five Star School District. He is a member of the Denver New Millennium Initiative.Many years ago, as I navigated my way through different careers before settling on education, I was a truck mechanic for Ford. I started right out of high school prepping new cars and then worked my way ... more »

Oregon seeks OK to judge schools on overall performance, not success with small groups that typically struggle | OregonLive.com

Oregon seeks OK to judge schools on overall performance, not success with small groups that typically struggle | OregonLive.com:Oregon seeks OK to judge schools on overall performance, not success with small groups that typically strugglePublished: Sunday, January 08, 2012, 3:00 PM Updated: Sunday, January 08, 2012, 5:14 PMOregon schools that serve a concentration of low-income students will face a distinctly different accountability system this fall if the U.S. Department of Educationapproves the state's plan. Under the federal No Child Left ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Would I Send My Child To This School? by Bari L. Katz

NYC Public School Parents: Would I Send My Child To This School? by Bari L. Katz:Would I Send My Child To This School? by Bari L. Katzby Leonie HaimsonThis article was written by a member of the team that founded the Achievement First charter high school in NYC, cross-posted with minor changes from the WE-CAN website, an organization opposed to the opening of a new Achievement First school in Providence RI. See also the recent articles in the Providence Journal, ...more »

After 10 Years, It’s Time for a New NCLB | ED.gov Blog

After 10 Years, It’s Time for a New NCLB | ED.gov Blog:After 10 Years, It’s Time for a New NCLBPosted on January 8, 2012 by Arne DuncanThe following op-ed appeared in the January 8, 2012 edition of the Washington Post.Ten years ago today, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act. The law has improved American education in some ways, but it also still has flaws that need to be fixed.No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for the first time ... more »

The Politicization Of Educational Research | Edwize

The Politicization Of Educational Research | Edwize:The Politicization Of Educational Researchby Leo CaseyLast Friday, an analysis of the “value-added” contributions of public school teachers authored by a trio of economists, Harvard’s Raj Chetty and John Friedman and Columbia’s Jonah Rockoff, was unveiled with great fanfare, receiving prominent coverage by both the New York Times and the PBS’ Newshour. By all accounts, this study (hereafter, CFR) is both substantial, employing a database unprecedented in such work by its sheer size, and ... more »

The “$4700 value added” study: Why no peer review? « Fred Klonsky

The “$4700 value added” study: Why no peer review? « Fred Klonsky:The “$4700 value added” study: Why no peer review?by Fred KlonskyWe’ve been following the response to the report of a massive $2.5 million, 20 year study of teacher value added measures that appeared in Saturday’s NY Times.The United Federation of Teachers leader Leo Casey asks why was the study released now, without the usual peer review?Good question.The choice of this particular moment, with the NYC DoE walking out of ... more »

School Tech Connect: You Need To Read

School Tech Connect: You Need To Read:You Need To Readby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)I'm just going to come out and admit this. Last night, I got to page 404 in Stephen King's 11/22/63 and I was so scared that I walked around the flat to make sure all the windows were locked. I also spot-checked the readiness of my self-defense kit, if you know what I mean. What a magnificent, touching, and occasionally terrifying story this is!Need a good book? Go get ... more »

Shanker Blog » The Persistence Of Both Teacher Effects And Misinterpretations Of Research About Them

Shanker Blog » The Persistence Of Both Teacher Effects And Misinterpretations Of Research About Them:The Persistence Of Both Teacher Effects And Misinterpretations Of Research About Themby Matthew Di CarloIn a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper on teacher value-added, researchers Raj Chetty, John Friedman and Jonah Rockoff present results from their analysis of an incredibly detailed dataset linking teachers and students in one large urban school district. The data include students’ testing results between 1991 and 2009, as ... more »

Race To Utopia: How A Public Servant Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Free Market | Dailycensored.com

Race To Utopia: How A Public Servant Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Free Market | Dailycensored.com:Race To Utopia: How A Public Servant Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Free Marketby Adam BessieNo Child Left Behind just celebrated it’s tenth anniversary: while educators, children and parents have generally loathed President George W. Bush’s signature legislation, and while studies have shown that it has failed to improve learning despite its immense cost, NCLB’s free-market policies – high-stakes standardized testing, ... more »

Teen who killed bully to go free under ‘Stand Your Ground’ law - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Teen who killed bully to go free under ‘Stand Your Ground’ law - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Teen who killed bully to go free under ‘Stand Your Ground’ lawby Valerie StraussA judge has dropped a second-degree murder charge against a 15-year-old who fatally stabbed another teenager after he was attacked, citing a law in Florida that allows an individual to meet force with force if they fear for his/her life.The “Stand Your Ground” law says that a person ... more »

A Letter to Marquette Elementary School Teachers from a Former Colleague | The Classroom Sooth

A Letter to Marquette Elementary School Teachers from a Former Colleague | The Classroom Sooth:A Letter to Marquette Elementary School Teachers from a Former Colleagueby classroomsoothRecently I visited a teacher friend of mine who used to work at Marquette Elementary School on the southwest side of Chicago. Upon hearing the news that Marquette was to be turned around by AUSL, she felt compelled to write the following letter.Adam On Behalf of my Former Colleagues at Marquette Elementary, I am a ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts #edreform #ows

The $4700 teacher. Some comments on the $2.5 million study. « Fred KlonskyBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-2 minutes agoThe $4700 teacher. Some comments on the $2.5 million study. « Fred Klonsky:The $4700 teacher. Some comments on the $2.5 million study.by Fred KlonskyWhen the NY Times wrote a story yesterday on the 20 year study by some Harvard and Columbia University economists on the worth of a value-added teacher here were some comments to the Times:I teach 12th grade. ... more »

Save the Date: ON JAN. 17, JOIN UTLA FOR A SPECIAL EVENT WITH EDUCATION EXPERT DIANE RAVITCH

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Save the Date: ON JAN. 17, JOIN UTLA FOR A SPECIAL EVENT WITH EDUCATION EXPERT DIANE RAVITCH:Save the Date: ON JAN. 17, JOIN UTLA FOR A SPECIAL EVENT WITH EDUCATION EXPERT DIANE RAVITCHRenowned author Diane Ravitch is taking part in a three-city speaking tour in California. Dr. Ravitch will speak to UTLA and community members on January 17 at 5:00 pm. Don't miss out!FROM UTLA WEBSITE | HTTP://BIT.LY/ZQ0CGCOn Tuesday, January 17, ... more »

Ron Paul vs The Turner Diaries: The Toughest Quiz You’ll Take Today « Student Activism

Ron Paul vs The Turner Diaries: The Toughest Quiz You’ll Take Today « Student Activism:Ron Paul vs The Turner Diaries: The Toughest Quiz You’ll Take Todayby Angus JohnstonRon Paul’s various publications from the 1980s and 1990s have gotten a lot of attention recently, due to various bigoted statements that appeared in their pages. But it’s not until you sit down and read the originals at length, as I’ve done over the last few days, that the full scope of their ... more »

Peg with Pen: Reflections on National Opt Out Day

Peg with Pen: Reflections on National Opt Out Day:Reflections on National Opt Out Dayby PeggyI was proud to be in Denver today. I love the educators inthis state.There were quite a few at National Opt Out Day. During my last few years ofteaching while I supported teachers, there was nothing more amazing then to getto peek in to another Colorado teacher’s classroom. These teachers aresmart. They are creative. They are funny – you have to be to juggle 30or more ... more »

The Seattle Public School Brand and Charter Schools | Seattle Education

The Seattle Public School Brand and Charter Schools | Seattle Education:The Seattle Public School Brand and Charter Schoolsby seattleducation2011This was written by a Parents Across America, Seattle member:‘Reform’ is a positive word in the American vocabulary, but in educational circles since No Child Left Behind, it has been a sheepskin clothing the proverbial wolf. It has meant, by and large, the agenda of business interests, mega foundations, and their surrogates to remake the American education system in their corporate image. ... more »

The $4700 teacher. Some comments on the $2.5 million study. « Fred Klonsky

The $4700 teacher. Some comments on the $2.5 million study. « Fred Klonsky:The $4700 teacher. Some comments on the $2.5 million study.by Fred KlonskyWhen the NY Times wrote a story yesterday on the 20 year study by some Harvard and Columbia University economists on the worth of a value-added teacher here were some comments to the Times:I teach 12th grade. My student score high on college entrance exams. I wish I would take credit, but I know that their 11h ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Report from last night's hearing on the closing of Crane High School

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Report from last night's hearing on the closing of Crane High School:Report from last night's hearing on the closing of Crane High Schoolby Mike KlonskyHearing on Chicago school closing. (M. Ritter)I couldn't make it to the hearing at Malcolm X College last night. So I asked Martin Ritter to send Small Talk a report. Here it is. -- M.K.Unreal event tonight.Donald Fraynd was the MC and Jesse Ruiz of the Board was present. Around 200 rental ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-2 hours agoThe Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Reportby Larry FerlazzoThe Gates’ funded Measures Of Effective Teaching released their latest studies today. There have been a few posts about it, and I’m sure ...more »

Was Hugo Schwyzer’s Confession Embellished? « Student Activism

Was Hugo Schwyzer’s Confession Embellished? « Student Activism:Was Hugo Schwyzer’s Confession Embellished?by Angus JohnstonEarly last year, women’s studies professor Hugo Schwyzer disclosed on his blog that he had attempted to murder an ex-girlfriend in the course of a 1998 suicide attempt. That admission first attracted broad attention a few weeks ago, and has since sparked considerable controversy regarding Schwyzer’s position in the feministmovement.In his 2011 account, Schwyzer said that he called a friend to warn her of his plans before ... more »

Latino student struggles challenge Conn. reformers - Boston.com

Latino student struggles challenge Conn. reformers - Boston.com:Latino student struggles challenge Conn. reformersIn this Friday, Dec. 2, 2011 photo, bilingual teacher Millie Vera, left, hugs parent Blanca Salas at the end of a parent-teacher conference for Salas' daughter Lizbeth at Windham Center School in Windham, Conn. Connecticut's investment in teaching of English as a second language declined steadily over the last decade despite a 50 percent increase in the Latino population. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)By Michael MeliaAssociated Press / January 7, ... more »

Will 'National Opt Out Day' Spark a Testing Backlash? - Education - GOOD

Will 'National Opt Out Day' Spark a Testing Backlash? - Education - GOOD:Will 'National Opt Out Day' Spark a Testing Backlash?by Liz DwyerCan a grassroots movement "end the reign of fear and terror promoted by the high-stakes testing agenda"? That’s the hope of today’s National Opt Out Day, an effort organized by United Opt Out, a group seeking to eliminate standardized tests from public education.The day of action is strategically timed one day before the 10th anniversary of No Child ... more »

Shackles! « Cooperative Catalyst

Shackles! « Cooperative Catalyst:Shackles!by @DrJackKingKids in America, by and far, have no choice but to go to school; it is COMPULSORY. While there, they have no choice but to have adults TEACH them every thing they need to know … that’s on the TEST. The kids quickly lose interest and find themselves wishing they were somewhere else, anywhere but here. So they leave for the afternoon. After all, there’s got to be something to learn somewhere.It’s all too soon before ...more »

beautiful school libraries from colleges and robin hood - my sidewalk chalk blog - nyc school help

beautiful school libraries from colleges and robin hood - my sidewalk chalk blog - nyc school help:beautiful school libraries from colleges and robin hoodby joyceI can't stop thinking about the photos of libraries that I saw on FlavorwiresMost Beautiful College Libraries in the World. I want the slideshow on my desktop. I want to send them to all 9th graders to encourage them to aspire to the life of the mind. I want to send them to all first year ... more »

Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky

Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky:Saturday coffee.by Fred KlonskySaturday’s coffee was at a small inn about twenty minutes east of Madison, Wisconsin.Anne and I decided to get away for a few days before I head back to work on Monday. When we made these plans we expected it would be a snowy weekend. But we arrived yesterday afternoon to 55 degree temperatures and a sunny sky this morning.We’ve been to Madison several times. Usually with a purpose. We would come to ... more »

The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Reportby Larry FerlazzoThe Gates’ funded Measures Of Effective Teaching released their latest studies today. There have been a few posts about it, and I’m sure there will be many more. I thought I’d get a hard start on collecting them in one “The Best…” list.Here are my picks for The Best ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: One Study Does Not a Policy Make

Jersey Jazzman: One Study Does Not a Policy Make:One Study Does Not a Policy Makeby DukeAnd so it begins: one working paper comes out - a study that hasn't even been published yet in an academic journal - and we're supposed drop all the previous high-quality research about the unreliability of using test scores to evaluate teachers and embrace Value-Added Modeling (VAM).Well, at least that's what Star-Ledger columnist Tom Moran says:But the teachers union, and many obedient Democrats in the ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts #edreform #ows

Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching quality | GothamSchoolsBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoGates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching quality | GothamSchools:Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching qualityby Elizabeth GreenThe study measured teachers against the criteria in Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Effective Teaching rubric, which is used in New York as a tool for observing teachers. Teachers scored better at classroom management than they did on measures of higher-order instructional challenges, ... more »

Why I Am A Liberal | Addicting Info

Why I Am A Liberal | Addicting Info:Why I Am A Liberalby Justin "Filthy Liberal Scum" RosarioWhy I Am A LiberalJanuary 6, 2012By Justin "Filthy Liberal Scum" Rosario“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” ~ Greek proverbI saw this posted on a reader’s page (thanks, Rita!) and I realized it perfectly summed up why I am a Liberal. Conservatives like to paint liberals as lazy, greedy people intent on ... more »

School Tech Connect: I'm With Michelle On This One

School Tech Connect: I'm With Michelle On This One:I'm With Michelle On This Oneby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)I was going to skip this story about Michelle Obama until I realized it's pretty much the story of how she can't stand Rahm Emanuel.The first lady never confronted the advisers directly — that was not her way — but they found out about her displeasure from the president. “She feels as if our rudder isn’t set right,” Mr. Obama confided, according to aides. Rahm ...more »

“The message is to fire people sooner rather than later” | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

“The message is to fire people sooner rather than later” | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:“The message is to fire people sooner rather than later”by Larry FerlazzoThe headline for this post is from a researcher quoted in today’s front page article in The New York Times headlined Big Study Links Good Teachers to Lasting Gain.Here are some quotes from this ringing endorsement of using value-added measures to evaluate teachers:Replacing a poor teacher with an average one would raise a ... more »

Sticks, carrots, and familiar policies in state’s NCLB waiver plan | GothamSchools

Sticks, carrots, and familiar policies in state’s NCLB waiver plan | GothamSchools:Sticks, carrots, and familiar policies in state’s NCLB waiver planby Geoff DeckerNew York will get new terms for high- and low-performing schools — and new ways to define good and bad performance — under a proposed accountability plan designed to replace the requirements of No Child Left Behind.The proposal, which was released in draft form late today and will be discussed by the Board of Regents on Monday, is ... more »

Here We Go Again « InterACT

Here We Go Again « InterACT:Here We Go Againby David B. CohenBig news today in education policy and research – or was it?The Gates Foundation-funded Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project continues to update its research findings, and continues to argue that standardized tests and value-added measurement would be useful in teacher evaluations. (Washington Post article).A study by Harvard and Columbia researchers uses value-added measures to quantify the effects of good teaching in various outcomes for students, well into adulthood. ... more »

Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching quality | GothamSchools

Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching quality | GothamSchools:Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching qualityby Elizabeth GreenThe study measured teachers against the criteria in Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Effective Teaching rubric, which is used in New York as a tool for observing teachers. Teachers scored better at classroom management than they did on measures of higher-order instructional challenges, such as asking productive questions.A historic look inside the nation’s classrooms, including some in New York City, painted ... more »

The guy closes libraries. What a shmuck. « Fred Klonsky

The guy closes libraries. What a shmuck. « Fred Klonsky:The guy closes libraries. What a shmuck.by Fred KlonskyFresh from his video appearance promoting yahoo Kyle Olson and Islamophobe Juan William’s Anti-public Schools Week, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel went back to work and closed down Chicago’s libraries. Or at least closed them on Mondays.Remember, it was just a month or so ago he got into it with the Chicago Teachers Union over longer school days.Get it? More hours in school. Fewer ... more »

A big new study: “All else being equal.” Well, that’s the rub, isn’t it? « Fred Klonsky

A big new study: “All else being equal.” Well, that’s the rub, isn’t it? « Fred Klonsky:A big new study: “All else being equal.” Well, that’s the rub, isn’t it.by Fred KlonskyAnne and I were at Peet’s this morning before heading off for a little get away to the land of Recall Scott Walker.“What are you laughing at?” asked Anne.“There’s a big new study of teacher added value reported in the New York Times,” I said.“And you’re laughing because…?”“Well listen.” ... more »

"Educators to King, Regents: 'Stop hurting our neediest students. Restore the SIG funding' ." January 06, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

"Educators to King, Regents: 'Stop hurting our neediest students. Restore the SIG funding' ." January 06, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org:Educators to King, Regents: 'Stop hurting our neediest students. Restore the SIG funding'ALBANY, N.Y. Jan. 6, 2012 - New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi and other educators who are working as partners to design rigorous teacher and principal evaluation systems will join forces Monday to oppose State Education Commissioner John B. King's decision to suspend ... more »

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Meritocracy, testocracy, jobs, and IQ

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Meritocracy, testocracy, jobs, and IQ:Meritocracy, testocracy, jobs, and IQby The Perimeter PrimateAn old news piece, “Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops” (9/8/2000) was circulated a bit last week via internet exchanges relating to ed policy and teacher bashing.A man whose bid to become a police officer was rejected after he scored too high on an intelligence test has lost an appeal in his federal lawsuit against the city.The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New ... more »

NJ's Request for Waivers Draws Criticism from Advocacy Group - State EdWatch - Education Week

NJ's Request for Waivers Draws Criticism from Advocacy Group - State EdWatch - Education Week:NJ's Request for Waivers Draws Criticism from Advocacy Groupby Sean CavanaghThe Obama administration has yet to make an official decision on states' requests for waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act, the sweeping, and in many districts, deeply unpopular law.But the reviews are in on New Jersey's waiver plan from one advocacy organization, which claims the plan would diminish resources going to needy schools—a charge ... more »

Gates Foundation report says schools need more than just once-a-year teacher evaluations - The Washington Post

Gates Foundation report says schools need more than just once-a-year teacher evaluations - The Washington Post:Gates Foundation report says schools need more than just once-a-year teacher evaluations Text SizePrintE-mailReprintsBy Associated Press, Updated: Friday, January 6, 11:23 AMSEATTLE — Once-a-year evaluations aren’t enough to help teachers improve, says a report by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation.And school districts using infrequent classroom observations to decide who are their best — and their worst — teachers could be making some big mistakes, according ... more »

'National Opt Out Day' Rejects Standardized Tests

'National Opt Out Day' Rejects Standardized Tests:Joy ResmovitsJoy.resmovits@huffingtonpost.comBecome a fan of this reporterGET UPDATES FROM JOY Like725'National Opt Out Day' Rejects Standardized TestsPosted: 1/6/12 04:37 PM ETLast year, stress about Pennsylvania's state standardized tests caused third grader John Michael Rosenblum to start scratching himself so hard in his sleep that he bled. That's when his mother Michele Gray knew she'd had enough.So she opted out. "I realized standardized testing isn't serving our communities or schools," Gray says. "The amount of ...more »

Schools Matter: Ethnic Studies and Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy Under Attack

Schools Matter: Ethnic Studies and Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy Under Attack:'Ethnic Studies and Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy Under Attackby Jim HornPlease take a few minutes to view this film clip from Democracy Now:Text from Democracy Now:An Arizona administrator has ruled that the public school district in Tucson must end its acclaimed Mexican American Studies program for grades K-12, saying it violates a new state law that bans the teaching of any class designed for a particular ethnic group or that "promote[s] resentment toward a ... more »

Last Stand for Children First: Elevating the Teaching Profession with STRIPES

Last Stand for Children First: Elevating the Teaching Profession with STRIPES:Elevating the Teaching Profession with STRIPESby Last Stand for ChildrenOne of the biggest problems that we face in education today is the seemingly endless quest to elevate the teaching profession. Back in 1989, Wendy Kopp had a vision of taking gifted college students who weren't education majors, but wanted to teach and sending them out to learn how to teach on our country's neediest children. The result has been Teach ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts #edreform

Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBookBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-46 minutes agoRally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBook:Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumniby Anna M. Phillips“BS Deserves Better,” said a sign at a rally outside of the Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s most storied high schools that has been at war with itself for years over ... more »

CIP Updates Underway for PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog

CIP Updates Underway for PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog:CIP Updates Underway for PWCSJanuary 5, 2012 — pwceducationreformPWCS has announced that they will begin updating the CIP shortly and citizen comments are welcomed. Here’s the announcement and link:Capital Improvement Planning Begins; Community Input Opportunities to ComeJanuary 5, 2012Preliminary work is underway on the ever-evolving Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Capital Improvements Program (CIP). School Board Members last night (January 4) discussed staff recommendations for updating the program in the ... more »

NEA Stance on Teach For America Continues to Raise Questions - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

NEA Stance on Teach For America Continues to Raise Questions - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:NEA Stance on Teach For America Continues to Raise Questionsby Anthony CodyThe decision by Dennis Van Roekel to co-author a column with Teach For America director Wendy Kopp continues to generate negative reaction among educators, the latest being the decision by Nancy Carlsson-Paige and her son Matt Damon to reject the union's Friend of Education award. The response by the union has been ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Richard Barr on the glorious Snyder school buildings, too many lost, sold or sitting empty

NYC Public School Parents: Richard Barr on the glorious Snyder school buildings, too many lost, sold or sitting empty:Richard Barr on the glorious Snyder school buildings, too many lost, sold or sitting emptyby Leonie HaimsonMorris High School in the BronxMayor Bloomberg’s invitation to his State of the City speechfeatures a photo of the glorious Morris High School building in the Bronx where his address will be given. Morris High School was designed by the NYC Superintendent of schools, Charles B.J. ... more »

Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBook

Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBook:Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumniby Anna M. Phillips“BS Deserves Better,” said a sign at a rally outside of the Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s most storied high schools that has been at war with itself for years over the pedagogical policies of its principal, Valerie J. Reidy.On Thursday, roughly two dozen current students and recent alumni gathered on ... more »