Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-18 Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race to the Top - It's Not Just for States Anymore

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 2 minutes ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race to the Top - It's Not Just for States Anymore:Race to the Top - It's Not Just for States Anymoreby Melissa WestbrookSecretary of Education Arne Duncan just came out with a new idea for RTTT: allowing districts to compete as stand-alones (as opposed to just entire states competing). This is interesting because the most recent news on RTTT is that Hawaii was placed on a "high-risk" grant status and may have its award taken away. ...more »

SUPREME COURT OKAYS STUDENT MISBEHAVIOR « Teachers Fight Back

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SUPREME COURT OKAYS STUDENT MISBEHAVIOR « Teachers Fight Back:SUPREME COURT OKAYS STUDENT MISBEHAVIORby alkleenMore news has arrived today that has to do with my post from yesterday. News item : School officials were put on notice Tuesday that they can be sued for violating the First Amendment if they discipline students who make vulgar and malicious postings from their home computers. The U.S. Supreme Court turned down appeals from two Pennsylvania school districts that were successfully sued by students who ... more »

Revision of the Mathematics Framework - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

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Revision of the Mathematics Framework - Letters (CA Dept of Education):Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, Learning Resource Display Centers, and Interested Individuals and Organizations:RECRUITING CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK AND EVALUATION CRITERIACOMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE REVISION OF THE MATHEMATICSFRAMEWORK FOR CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: KINDERGARTEN THROUGHGRADE TWELVEThe California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) are pleased to announce that they are recruiting applicants for the Curriculum Framework and Evaluat... more »

Gates’ millions go to IEA’s reform group. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 2 minutes ago

Gates’ millions go to IEA’s reform group. « Fred Klonsky:Gates’ millions go to IEA’s reform group.by Fred KlonskyYesterday the Illinois Education Association announced that the Gates Foundation has awarded $2 million to the Consortium for Educational Change. The CEC was established by the IEA to work with school districts, both boards of education, administration and union locals, on collaborative projects.Some of the Gates money is also going to TURN, a network of AFT and NEA locals which also works on ... more »

Whistle-blowing teachers to open a charter school - latimes.com

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Whistle-blowing teachers to open a charter school - latimes.com:Whistle-blowing teachers to open a charter schoolThey lost their jobs during a cheating scandal at Crescendo schools. Former union chief and charter foe A.J. Duffy will lead them.Comments2Share0A.J. Duffy, left, former teachers union leader and director of the new charter school, celebrates its approval with teachers Elise Sargent and Tanisha Patel and with David Cunningham Jr., president of the Apple Academy board. (Katie Falkenberg, For The Times / January 17, 2012)By Howard ... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: How Wall Street plundered Philly schools

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Schooling in the Ownership Society: How Wall Street plundered Philly schools:How Wall Street plundered Philly schoolsby Mike KlonskyInterest-rate swapsPhiladelphia, like many cities, has faced serious financial difficulties in recent years. These difficulties have forced the city government to make ends meet by cutting agency budgets, cutting services and raising taxes. The city trimmed almost $100 million off its budget during 2008 and 2009, and the school district faced a $629 million budget hole just this year, which was closed by ... more »

Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws, 2012

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National Alliance for Public Charter Schools:Measuring Up to the Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws, 20122011 has been a significant year for charter school policy across the country.At long last, Maine enacted a charter school law, becoming the 42nd jurisdiction that allows this innovative public school option.Ten states lifted their caps on charter school growth (either partially or entirely). Most notably, North Carolina eliminated its cap of 100 charter schools, Michigan phased out its cap on the number ... more »

Bloomberg's plan to offer great teachers $20,000 bonuses is just what city schools need - NY Daily News

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Bloomberg's plan to offer great teachers $20,000 bonuses is just what city schools need - NY Daily News:Bloomberg's plan to offer great teachers $20,000 bonuses is just what city schools needSo says Michelle Rhee, who implemented a similar program in WashingtonCommentsBY MICHELLE RHEE / NEW YORK DAILY NEWSWednesday, January 18 2012, 9:38 AMStumbleUponTumblrRedditEmailZALCMAN DANIELLAMichelle Rhee says under her leadership, Washington paid the best teachers more — and New York City is right to follow suit.RELATED STORIESFace it, teacher quality matters$24,000 ...more »

Editorial | Charter school mirage | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

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Editorial | Charter school mirage | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com:Editorial | Charter school mirage5:22 PM, Jan. 17, 2012 | 4 CommentsAAFILED UNDEROpinionEditorialsSteve BeshearALike an unwelcome relative at family gatherings, the push for charter schools has returned to Kentucky.Politically, it needs to be taken seriously. Charter schools have had support in the past in the state Senate, and Senate President David Williams supported them during his unsuccessful Republican campaign for governor last year. Previous bids to authorize charter schools have died ... more »

Speaking of censorship: Rahm’s plans for the NATO/G8 meetings. « Fred Klonsky

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Speaking of censorship: Rahm’s plans for the NATO/G8 meetings. « Fred Klonsky:Speaking of censorship: Rahm’s plans for the NATO/G8 meetings.by Fred KlonskyChicago’s police superintendent Garry McCarthy warns of unrestricted drum circles and mic checks.In order to scare away as many protesters as possible from the NATO/G8 protests in May, The Mayor proposed a set of new rules. They included heavy fines of $1000 for “resisting arrest.”Veteran demonstrators like me know that the charge of resisting arrest is what you get ... more »

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: South Bronx School Gives Governor Cuomo Some Ultimatums

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SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: South Bronx School Gives Governor Cuomo Some Ultimatums:South Bronx School Gives Governor Cuomo Some Ultimatumsby noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)Thank you paid Koch brother's spokesman and current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for doing the bidding of the evil twins, amongst others, and giving the UFT a 30 day ultimatumthat demands we kow tow to Uncle Mike and sign the agreement for the new evaluation system. That's real nice Andy. As a 6 year old does when he doesn't ... more »

Message from Connecticut: do not expect real funding reform « Parents Across America

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Message from Connecticut: do not expect real funding reform « Parents Across America:Message from Connecticut: do not expect real funding reformby leoniehaimsonThe pro-charter organization Conn-Can is expanding nationwide as 50-CAN, including into NY State where it is pushing the Parent Trigger. Wendy Lecker is a public school parent, former president of the Stamford Parent Teacher Council, and was staff attorney at the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, plaintiffs in a school funding lawsuit in New York. She writes below about need ... more »

Capitol Alert: Gov. Jerry Brown to call for less state testing in schools

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Capitol Alert: Gov. Jerry Brown to call for less state testing in schools:Gov. Jerry Brown to call for less state testing in schoolsGov. Jerry Brown will call for less statewide testing and expanding classroom focus beyond math and English in his annual State of the State address tomorrow, according to his top education adviser.Sue Burr, executive director of the State Board of Education, told hundreds of school finance officials today that Brown will seek to reduce student testing and push ... more »

Florida is Most Charter School Friendly State but Charter School Lobby Complains About School Board Oversight | Scathing Purple Musings

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Florida is Most Charter School Friendly State but Charter School Lobby Complains About School Board Oversight | Scathing Purple Musings:Florida is Most Charter School Friendly State but Charter School Lobby Complains About School Board Oversightby Bob SikesWhat better expert on charter-school friendly legislation can there be than a billionaire-funded national charter school lobby? And, of course, its naturally biased, um, researcher. From StateImpact:Todd Ziebarth is the author of the study. He said Florida can do “a better job in holding ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Evening Posts #ows #edreform 1-17

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Public Urged to Observe Korematsu Day - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-8 minutes agoPublic Urged to Observe Korematsu Day - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education):State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson UrgesPublic to Observe Fred Korematsu Day SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today encouraged all Californians to observe the annual Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution on Korematsu's birthday, Monday, January 30, 2012."It's critical for Californians to know the ... more »

Can Schools Solve Societal Problems? | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

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Can Schools Solve Societal Problems? | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights:Can Schools Solve Societal Problems?by obrienaEarlier today a press release for a study in the January 2012 issue of Sociology of Education caught my eye: Study Suggests Junk Food in Schools Doesn’t Cause Weight Gain Among Children.According to the press release (I’m not a subscriber of the journal, so I didn’t have access to the full text of the study), “While the percentage of obese children in ... more »

Modern School: Which Side Are You On—Ruling Elite Turns On Itself

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Modern School: Which Side Are You On—Ruling Elite Turns On Itself:Which Side Are You On—Ruling Elite Turns On Itselfby Michael DunnMy Super PAC Can Beat Up Your Super PAC (Image by Mike Licht, NotionCapital.com)Mitt Romney has recently come under fire by his opponents for the Republican presidential nomination for his record at Bain Capital, where he led the restructuring of numerous companies resulting in hundreds of job losses. His rivals have accused him of being a “job killer,” an epithet ... more »

76 Percent of For-Profit College Students Attend Schools that are Wall Street Owned: Drive-by predatory colleges fueled by private and public debt | Dailycensored.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

76 Percent of For-Profit College Students Attend Schools that are Wall Street Owned: Drive-by predatory colleges fueled by private and public debt | Dailycensored.com:76 Percent of For-Profit College Students Attend Schools that are Wall Street Owned: Drive-by predatory colleges fueled by private and public debtWritten by Danny WeilBusiness, EducationJan 17, 20120diggShareDid you now that 76 Percent of For-Profit College Students Attend Schools that are Wall Street Owned? Did you know that 86 Percent of Revenues Come from Federal Taxpayer Dollars? ... more »

Independent Learning is Out – Group Think is In « PWC Education Reform Blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Independent Learning is Out – Group Think is In « PWC Education Reform Blog:Independent Learning is Out – Group Think is InJanuary 17, 2012 — pwceducationreformOn the lists of “What’s in / What’s out” that I saw at the end of the year, education trends seems to be consistently missing. One trend in particular, group learning, was conspicuously absent.From Susan Cain, author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.” in her op-ed The Rise ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Where Do They Find These Guys?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 17 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Where Do They Find These Guys?:Where Do They Find These Guys?by DukeWould it be OK if the people in charge of ensuring the quality of airline pilots had never flown a plane before?Would it be fine if the folks who made sure dentists maintain high standards had never filled a cavity?Would you be happy if you knew your accountant had been licensed by people who didn't know how to balance a checkbook?Well...The man in charge of New Jersey’s ... more »