School Tech Connect: Meets and Exceeds
Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 2 hours ago
School Tech Connect: Meets and Exceeds:Meets and ExceedsThe ISAT scores are totally awesome and telling. Except when they don't support the mayor's narrative. Then they're just noise.Emanuel and the new CPS leadership team have repeatedly said the most closely watched category—the one tabulating the percentage of students who “meets and exceeds standards”—is not a good measure. CPS sought to address the issue earlier this year by switching to new school report cards that do not include ISAT scores. Rather, the ... more »
Schools We Can Envy by Diane Ravitch | The New York Review of Books
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Schools We Can Envy by Diane Ravitch | The New York Review of Books: Schools We Can EnvyMarch 8, 2012Diane RavitchFinnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland?by Pasi Sahlberg, with a foreword by Andy HargreavesTeachers College Press, 167 pp., $34.95 (paper) Tuomas UusheimoThe Kirkkojärvi School in Espoo, Finland, which accommodates about 770 students aged seven to sixteen and also includes a preschool for six-year-olds; from the Museum of Finnish Architecture’s exhibition ‘The Best School in ... more »
WE’RE LOSING THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BATTLE « Teachers Fight Back
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WE’RE LOSING THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BATTLE « Teachers Fight Back:WE’RE LOSING THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BATTLEby alkleenEverywhere I go in Illinois I hear people complaining about the State’s indebtedness and how much teacher pensions have contributed to the problem. Where have the teacher unions been in trying to explain to people that the deficit has nothing to do with the pensions of teachers and everything to do with the negligence of state legislators? I haven’t heard one television or radio advertisement ... more »
Psst…it’s hatching! « Failing Schools #edchat #edreform
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Psst…it’s hatching! « Failing Schools:Psst…it’s hatching!by SabrinaPsst…it’s hatching!FEBRUARY 14, 2012by SabrinaNo, not the turtle egg in one of the lower school science classes. It’s our new site, ReclaimingReform.org!Don’t worry; the links and discussion that have happened here will be preserved here, and in the coming days and weeks the best of this site will be archived onto the new one as well. If you haven’t already, please sign up to let us know if and how you’d like to be ...more »
A Teacher Letter to the New York State Dept. of Ed. | United Opt Out National
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A Teacher Letter to the New York State Dept. of Ed. | United Opt Out National:A Teacher Letter to the New York State Dept. of Ed.by adminTo Whom it May Concern:I firmly oppose any initiative that continues (or expands) the current regime of standardized testing. As an educator, I know that standardized tests are not humane, nor developmentally appropriate.We are currently studying and writing non-fiction in my second grade classroom. It is beautiful to hear students teach all about topics ... more »
PSAT for 2-14-12: Call Brizard again! Plan to come see Monty! Waivers!
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Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 2-14-12: Call Brizard again! Plan to come see Monty! Waivers!:PSAT for 2-14-12: Call Brizard again! Plan to come see Monty! Waivers!by adminFor Public Schools Action Tuesday (PSAT) today,1) Parents 4 Teachers is asking you to help keep the pressure on CPS CEO Brizard about school closings and turnarounds. Call today 773-553-1500. I plan to fax my message to him at 773-553-1501. Some points to mention are below.2) Plan to ... more »
Free Webinar: Designing Learning Activities in a Standards-Based System « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education
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Free Webinar: Designing Learning Activities in a Standards-Based System « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:Free Webinar: Designing Learning Activities in a Standards-Based Systemby Klea Scharberg Join Anne R. Reeves, author of Where Great Teaching Begins: Planning for Student Thinking and Learning, for an exciting, free webinar on designing learning activities in a standards-based system.Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 3:00 p.m. eastern timeRegister now!Many teaching practices are “inherited” from previous generations of teachers, but not all of these fit ... more »
Education Research Report: 13 Questions About Education Reform By Diane Ravitch
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Education Research Report: 13 Questions About Education Reform By Diane Ravitch:13 Questions About Education Reform By Diane Ravitchby Jonathan KantrowitzΩDo politicians know anything at all about schools and education? Anything?as first posted here: Nieman Watchdog (Some links added)By Diane Ravitchgardendr@gmail.com1. Both Republican candidates and President Obama are enamored of charter schools—that is, schools that are privately managed and deregulated. Are you aware that studies consistently show that charter schools don’t get better results than regular public schools? Are you ... more »
Recruiting Focus Group Members - Letters (CA Dept of Education)
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Recruiting Focus Group Members - Letters (CA Dept of Education):Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:RECRUITING FOCUS GROUP MEMBERS FOR UPDATING THE ENGLISHLANGUAGE ARTS/ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FORCALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVEThe California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce that it is recruiting members for four focus groups to provide input on the upcoming English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework for California PublicSchools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (... more »
School Tech Connect: Get on the Horn, People
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School Tech Connect: Get on the Horn, People:Get on the Horn, Peopleby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)It's Virtual Lobby Day. You should get your colleagues to spend five fewer minutes being stressed out over their ten thousand observations or whatever, and shepherd them over to a phone or a computer. They need to do something important.I really like my current representative, although I'm so jittery about going out and campaigning or canvassing. I'd hate to get behind someone who turns out to be ... more »
Occupy V-Day: The Greatest Love Of All | The Jose Vilson
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Occupy V-Day: The Greatest Love Of All | The Jose Vilson:Occupy V-Day: The Greatest Love Of Allby JoseWhitney HoustonThis is part of the OccupyVDay movement, sponsored by Samhita Mukhopadhyay. I found out about it via Jennifer Pozner and didn’t think I would, but Ms. Houston inspired this. Rest in peace.Until a few years ago, Valentine’s Day worsened everything I knew about love.My first crush was this girl named Barbara in the second grade. Whether it was her low key demeanor, ... more »
VEA Protests Bills Passed by General Assembly « PWC Education Reform Blog
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VEA Protests Bills Passed by General Assembly « PWC Education Reform Blog:VEA Protests Bills Passed by General AssemblyFebruary 14, 2012 — pwceducationreformThe VEA has sent out a flyer asking teachers to wear black on Friday Feb 17 2012 to protest what they claim is a “lack of commitment to public education and loss of respect accorded teachers by our elected officials.“ (see 2012BlackFridayFlyer).So what terrible, horrible, awful, no good, very bad things has the VA General Assembly done to cause ... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Two provocative articles for my students
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Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Two provocative articles for my students:Two provocative articles for my studentsby Mike Klonsky Waselenchuk’s judgment of the court’s geometry would make even Euclid wonder.I'm giving my Philosophy of Ed students two provocative articles from the New York Times to consider. They have just finished reading John Dewey's Experience and Education and the articles exemplify the fundamental connection between experience and learning.The first is, "A Field Trip to a Strange New Place: Second Grade Visits the Parking ... more »
LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY'S FAIRYTALE (CUENTO DE HADAS LAUSD Superintendente John Deasy) - Perdaily.com
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LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY'S FAIRYTALE (CUENTO DE HADAS LAUSD Superintendente John Deasy) - Perdaily.com:LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY'S FAIRYTALE (CUENTO DE HADAS LAUSD Superintendente John Deasy)by Leonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)Poor Superintendent John Deasy. He's just trying to do his job and the police wont let him do it. Watch the following video and see if you can spot the contradictions in the statements of truth ... more »
Tell the President What You Know (and He Doesn't) « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education
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Tell the President What You Know (and He Doesn't) « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGTell the President What You Know (and He Doesn't)February 14th, 2012 by Klea ScharbergYou know it’s crucial to prepare students for long-term success rather than short-term achievement. Yet federal education policies like NCLB promote narrow, stopgap reforms instead of comprehensive support for our nation’s youth.Tell Washington leaders to focus on what really matters—our children’s long-term futures—by creating a President’s Council ... more »
Career Readiness Campaign - Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education)
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Career Readiness Campaign - Initiatives Programs (CA Dept of Education):Career Readiness CampaignThrough his California Career Readiness Initiative, SSPI Tom Torlakson has directed the California Department of Education to proceed with 17 key objectives to support, sustain and strengthen Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the State. His Initiative builds upon goals outlined in "A Blueprint For Great Schools."ObjectivesLaunch Career Readiness Initiative Campaign: On February 14, 2012, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Tom Torlakson asked practitioners of Career a... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Teach for America - "The Gift that Just Keeps On Giving"
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Seattle Schools Community Forum: Teach for America - "The Gift that Just Keeps On Giving":Teach for America - "The Gift that Just Keeps On Giving"by Melissa WestbrookWell look at this - a Broad superintendent going behind a School Board's back to hire more TFA (as they lay off more real teachers ). This is in Cobb County Georgia. Unbelievably, they are paying $8k per TFA per year (as opposed to SPS's $4k per year and Federal Way's $3k per year).(Thanks ... more »
Mother Crusader: A Tale of Two Residences (And Offices)
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Mother Crusader: A Tale of Two Residences (And Offices):A Tale of Two Residences (And Offices)by darciecimaOK, so no confirmation hearing for Chris Cerf on Thursday. Like Jersey Jazzman, I am a little disappointed. I was getting geared up to testify about the glaring lack of transparency in the NJDOE under Acting Commissioner Cerf, but I guess it will have to wait. I'm sure it will just give me more ammunition if he ever does get a hearing because I'm not ... more »
Republicans are retreating on No Child, too | The Education Front Blog | dallasnews.com
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Republicans are retreating on No Child, too | The Education Front Blog | dallasnews.com:Republicans are retreating on No Child, tooby William McKenzie/ Editorial ColumnistIn my column today about President Obama's move away from No Child Left Behind, I raised some concerns about what could happen with his revisions. (I also pointed out several positives likely to come from his plan.)But let me be clear; The president isn't the only one walking away from No Child. Congressional Republicans also are in ... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Student protests hit Rahm's favorite charter chain
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Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Student protests hit Rahm's favorite charter chain:Student protests hit Rahm's favorite charter chainby Mike KlonskyJulie Woestehoff, of Parents United for Responsible Education, speaks at a rally and march to call for an end to what they call “appalling” disciplinary policies at some schools. | Brian Jackson~Sun-TimesThe mayor's favorite charter school franchise was the target of a parent and student protest yesterday. An FOIA report obtained by PURE, the Advancement Project civil rights group and a student ...more »
Teachers Don't Suck !: Cooked Up Schemes and Catchy Titles
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Teachers Don't Suck !: Cooked Up Schemes and Catchy Titles:Cooked Up Schemes and Catchy TitlesI got to thinking about all the educational schemes that are constantly cooked up in Trenton, Washington and throughout the U.S. What really impresses me is not the results they yield but the grandiose sounding names that are dreamt up for these fruitless projects. The ability to continuously conjure up such pretentious titles (and of course, the catchy sounding acronyms) is astonishing especially in light of ... more »
Schools Matter: Resistance begins with organizing: Social Justice Schools Conference Report Back
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Schools Matter: Resistance begins with organizing: Social Justice Schools Conference Report Back:Resistance begins with organizing: Social Justice Schools Conference Report Backby Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene"How do we help students and teachers to stop blaming ourselves and each other and start working together to change the system?" — CEJ Student Activist Photos by Robert D. Skeels, see the entire set.We're beginning to see scattered resistance to the corporate school privatization agenda of the Billionaire Boys Club, ALEC, and Arne Duncan. ... more »
Sac City Unified May Close A.M. Winn After All - Rosemont, CA Patch
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Sac City Unified May Close A.M. Winn After All - Rosemont, CA Patch:Sac City Unified May Close A.M. Winn After AllElementary school students just east of Rosemont may have to find a new school next year, despite a previous decision by the Sacramento City Unified School District not to close their school.That campus, A.M. Winn Elementary School, is under-enrolled and could save the district $181,000 if closed.Potential budget cuts for the 2012-13 school year are forcing the district to choose ... more »
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Learning from Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee #edchat
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THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Learning from Rhee:Learning from Rheeby The Perimeter PrimateThis is a guest post by Joanna A. Bujes, an Oakland public school parent and supporter of public education. She has taught at U.C. Berkeley, University of Santa Clara, and SUNY Plattsburgh, and she has been a volunteer teacher and tutor in the Oakland public schools (poetry, drama, math) whenever she could find the time.RHEE'S FRAMING OF THE DEBATE ON EDUCATIONOn the evening of February 7, Michelle Rhee, former chancellor ... more »
Opening the Door to a Private Education with Public Money | Uppity Wisconsin
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Opening the Door to a Private Education with Public Money | Uppity Wisconsin:Opening the Door to a Private Education with Public MoneySubmitted by Sen. K. Vinehout on Mon, 02/13/2012 - 11:48amBuried in the state budget is a little known provision that opens the door to using state money for private schools.Under the “voucher program” parents in Milwaukee can send their children to private schools with money from the state. A ‘voucher’ is like a coupon. Parents use state money pay ... more »
Cory Booker and Chris Christie: Teachers Should Live in Downtown Newark | The Nation
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Cory Booker and Chris Christie: Teachers Should Live in Downtown Newark | The Nation:Cory Booker and Chris Christie: Teachers Should Live in Downtown NewarkDana Goldstein on February 10, 2012 - 5:56pm ETFuture site of the Teachers’ Village development in downtown Newark, New JerseyYesterday Newark Mayor Cory Booker, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and several private developers and investors—including Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein—converged on a vacant lot in Newark’s historic downtown for the groundbreaking of Teachers’ Village.The mixed-use development, a ... more »
When Educators Reflect as Parents… | Connected Principals
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When Educators Reflect as Parents… | Connected Principals:When Educators Reflect as Parents…by Scott ShawAs a principal, one of my favorite things to do is listen to success stories shared by the teachers. As a father, one of my favorite things to do is listen to success stories shared by other parents. When the two worlds collide, the moment is even more special.One of our brilliant educators recently shared the following (names have been changed):Last night, Tommy was excited to share ... more »
solidaridad: ALL OUT: Tuesday, February 14 Rally “Stop the Insanity”! 1-5pm at LAUSD (Beaudry)
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solidaridad: ALL OUT: Tuesday, February 14 Rally “Stop the Insanity”! 1-5pm at LAUSD (Beaudry):ALL OUT: Tuesday, February 14 Rally “Stop the Insanity”! 1-5pm at LAUSD (Beaudry)ALL OUT: Tuesday, February 14 Rally “Stop the Insanity”! 1-5pm at LAUSD (Beaudry)