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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 3-20 AM Posts #soschat #edreform


Our Children, Our Future and an EXCELLENT DEAL FOR CA CHARTER SCHOOLS #SOSCHAT

Our Children, Our Future 2012 // Welcome: UR CHILDREN, OUR FUTUREShareOur Children, Our Future willgive Sacramento Charter High, Sacramento, 95817$1,013,7542013-2014$1,763,4742017-2018$2,385,6952023-2024Source MethodologyFind aOur Children, Our Future will raise billions in new, dedicated funding each year to invest in our children, with funds tending to increase over time. These numbers reflect a snapshot of how much new funding a school or district will get in the first full year of OCOF implementation (2013-14), the fifth year of OCOF implementation (2017-18), and the ...more »

NYC Public School Parents: Aggressive marketing by charter schools, soliciting applicants

NYC Public School Parents: Aggressive marketing by charter schools, soliciting applicants: Aggressive marketing by charter schools, soliciting applicantsbyLeonie HaimsonThe Bloomberg administration and the charter school operators always claim that in the rapid proliferation of charter schools across the city, they are merely responding to parent “demand” but this ignores the aggressive recruiting methods they use to build up their “waiting lists.” Eva Moskowitz has hired paid recruiters to “poach” students for her Success Academy charters, as in the video below, ... more »

Modern School: Helping SPED Students by Increasing Their Class Sizes?

Modern School: Helping SPED Students by Increasing Their Class Sizes?: Helping SPED Students by Increasing Their Class Sizes?byMichael DunnFull Inclusion or Full Immersion? (Image from Flickr, byGui Seiz)One of the latest trends in Special Education is “Full Inclusion.” The idea is that all students benefit from being in the “least restrictive” environment. Special day classes (SDC)—where many special needs students were traditionally exposed to much of their curriculum—segregated them from the general student population and relied on special education (SPED) ... more »

Mulgrew spells conditions for backing college loan forgiveness | GothamSchools

Mulgrew spells conditions for backing college loan forgiveness | GothamSchools: Mulgrew spells conditions for backing college loan forgivenessbyPhilissa CramerThe UFT would consider supporting Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to pay back the loans of top college graduates who become city teachers — but only under certain conditions.In a letter to Chancellor Dennis Walcott today, UFT President Michael Mulgrew spelled out what it would take for him to support a loan forgiveness program of the type Bloomberg proposed in January duringhis State of ... more »

Department of Justice WILL NOT be present at meeting to discuss racial bias in hiring and firing of teachers Denver's far northeast - The Denver Post

Department of Justice will not be present at meeting to discuss racial bias in hiring and firing of teachers Denver's far northeast - The Denver Post: Department of Justice will not be present at meeting to discuss racial bias in hiring and firing of teachers Denver's far northeastBy The Denver Post The Denver PostPosted:DenverPost.comThe U.S. Department of Justice this morning said it is neither hosting nor will it send a representative to a meeting planned for 6:30 p.m. tonight at ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 3-19 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Action Alert: Get the charter school clause out of the state budget | Seattle EducationBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 minute agoAction Alert: Get the charter school clause out of the state budget | Seattle Education: Action Alert: Get the charter school clause out of the state budgetbyseattleducation2011Senator Tom with his Republican buddies presented a budget last Thursday which included the K-12 funding that had been agreed to previously but a clause regarding charter schools had been added. It ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ethics Ruling

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ethics Ruling: Ethics RulingbyCharlie MasI filed an Ethics complaint against Director DeBell for his participation in the discussion of the MOU with the Alliance for Education despite the fact that he sits on the Alliance board.The District's Ethics Officer, Mr. Wayne Barnett, dismissed the complaint because Mr. DeBell's service on the board of the Alliance isex officio. That is, he isn't there as himself but as the president of the school board and therefore there is ... more »

On Privatization and Brutalizing Campuses – The New Inquiry #ows #ucdavis

On Privatization and Brutalizing Campuses – The New Inquiry: On Privatization and Brutalizing CampusesByAARON BADY(By Gina Patnaik and Aaron Bady, both graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley)Last November, a few days aftervideos of riot police beating Berkeley student protestorswere blowing up on youtube, an article in theNew York Timesannouncedthat UC-Berkeley’s Chancellor Robert Birgeneau had been travelling to establish a satellite campus within the intimate confines of Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. Because Birgeneau had been in Asia during the ... more »

Best Questions: Good Schools — Whole Child Education

Best Questions: Good Schools — Whole Child Education: Best Questions: Good SchoolsbyMolly McCloskeyDespite the rumors, school improvement is hard. It's not about a single passionate leader. It's not about "fixing" teachers and teaching or parents and parenting. It's not about poverty. It's not about money. And it's not about standards. It's about all of them. And more.In this column, I'll take on the real deal of school improvement—for all schools, not just certain kinds. And for all kids. Because it's ... more »

Triggers Create Nothing but Chaos and Division - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

Hopes and Feard for Parent Trigger Laws - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com: Triggers Create Nothing but Chaos and DivisionCaroline Grannan is a San Franc isco public school parent and a founding member ofParents Across America.UpdatedMarch 18, 2012, 7:00 PMThe first parent trigger – a ploy born here in California – collapsed amidchaos, controversy, charges and countercharges of fraud and intimidation.The second, also in California, ignited more battles, which are still being fought.There've been no other parent triggers. So it's ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: What's Weak This Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum: What's Weak This Week: What's Weak This WeekbyCharlie MasThere will be a board meeting this week and it's gonna be a doozy.Check out thisincredibly long agenda. Good thing they cut twenty minutes from public testimony. Those twenty minutes were the whole problem that created long meetings. Now the Board meetings will be over in a flash.As you can see from the agenda (and every single previous agenda ever), the board is primarily concerned with property management ... more »

N.J. teacher calls on Gov. Christie, NJEA to 'find a way to work together' | NJ.com full video

N.J. teacher calls on Gov. Christie, NJEA to 'find a way to work together' | NJ.com: N.J. teacher calls on Gov. Christie, NJEA to 'find a way to work together'Published: Monday, March 19, 2012, 1:47 PM Updated:Monday, March 19, 2012, 1:48 PMByJenna Portnoy/Statehouse BureauKEARNY— woman who identified herself as a second-grade teacher on maternity leave today implored Gov. Chris Christie and the state’s largest teachers union, of which she is a member, to “find a way to work together.”“I’m scared ... more »

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: California Schools and Taxes

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: California Schools and Taxes: California Schools and TaxesbyDuane Campbellby Duane E. CampbellCalifornia, like most states,needs additional revenue to fund schools and to invest in the future. Atax plan known as The Millionaires Tax has been proposed bythe California Federation of Teachers and the Courage Campaign to increaserevenues to pay for vital services. It was assigned the officialtitle "Tax To Benefit Public Schools, Social Services, Public Safety, AndRoad Maintenance,". The Sacramento Progressive Alliance has been circulating this initiative... more »

Divisive Michelle Rhee and the 29 Right Wing Stooges v. All The Union’s Men

All The Union’s Men: All The Union’s MenByDean PaganionMarch 18, 2012(Hartford, CT) – It is odd, perhaps inevitable, but certainly noteworthy that organized labor plays such a critical role on so many issues in so many states. Most often, standing in the way of what some elected leaders believe to be progress. Or at the very least, standing in the way of what some elected leaders believe they were elected to do.It could be that with 29 Republican governors trying ... more »

“Working in the Nation’s Lowest-Performing Schools: A Progress Report” | U.S. Department of Education

“Working in the Nation’s Lowest-Performing Schools: A Progress Report” | U.S. Department of Education: “Working in the Nation’s Lowest-Performing Schools: A Progress Report”Remarks of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to the 2nd annual Building a Grad Nation SummitMARCH 19, 2012Contact:Press Office, (202) 401-1576,press@ed.govThank you, Reba, for that generous introduction--and thanks to Target for the commitment and leadership they’ve shown in working to strengthen our nation’s schools.I also want to give a shout-out to Bob Balfanz and John Bridgeland for ... more »

Soulforce » 2012 Equality Ride

Soulforce » 2012 Equality Ride: National “Equality Ride,” Young Activists to Protest Minneapolis’ North Central U’s Discriminatory PoliciesLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Social Justice Bus Tour to Bring Message of Acceptance to AreaMINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, Soulforce’s “Equality Ride” – a national social justice bus tour to discriminatory evangelical colleges and universities – announced that the 17 young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) activists aboard the bus will be visiting the Minneapolis area this week from Tuesday, ... more »

Walton Foundation Releases Details of Grants to Shape K-12 Education in 2011 | Edwize

Walton Foundation Releases Details of Grants to Shape K-12 Education in 2011 | Edwize: Walton Foundation Releases Details of Grants to Shape K-12 Education in 2011byChristina CollinsThe recent release of the Walton Foundation’slist of recipients of grants for K-12 educationin 2011 has gotten someinterest in the blogosphere. Some of the names on the list were old news, particularly the big five-year grants to national groups like Teach for America ($49.5 million) and KIPP ($25.5 million), which werereported last summer.As we ... more »

Extremist Candidate for President of Student Gov’t at Cal State San Marcos Busted for Election Fraud

Extremist Candidate for President of Student Gov’t at Cal State San Marcos Busted for Election Fraud: Extremist Candidate for President of Student Gov’t at Cal State San Marcos Busted for Election FraudbySOURCEonMARCH 19, 2012·0 COMMENTSinCIVIL RIGHTS,EDUCATION,SAN DIEGO,WOMEN'S RIGHTSCSUSM: The results of electing inactionBy Kit-Bacon Gressitt/Excuse Me, I’m Writing/ March 17, 2012Do something. In the face of hatred, apathy will be interpreted as acceptance — by the perpetrators, the public and, worse, the victims. Decent people must take action; if we ... more »

Action Alert: Get the charter school clause out of the state budget | Seattle Education

Action Alert: Get the charter school clause out of the state budget | Seattle Education: Action Alert: Get the charter school clause out of the state budgetbyseattleducation2011Senator Tom with his Republican buddies presented a budget last Thursday which included the K-12 funding that had been agreed to previously but a clause regarding charter schools had been added. It was yet another attempt at an end run around the democratic process, something that Senator Tom and others around the country have ... more »

Affordable Care Act Tweetup Features Rep. Keith Ellison and Dr. George Askew of HHS

Home | First Focus: Affordable Care Act Tweetup Features Rep. Keith Ellison and Dr. George Askew of HHSWednesday, March 21st, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Time. Hashtag: #InvestInKidsRep. Keith EllisonDr. George AskewWe're excited to partner withMomsRising.orgto host a Twitter "Tweetup" on the big wins for kids in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We're especially excited to be joined by two special guests: U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Dr. George Askew, Senior Health Policy Advisor at the federal Administration for Children and Families. ... more »

Less Sympathy, More Empathy :: Frederick M. Hess

Less Sympathy, More Empathy :: Frederick M. Hess: Less Sympathy, More Empathyby Frederick M. Hess • Mar 19, 2012 at 9:24 amCross-posted fromEducation WeekPrintSendRSSShareEducators and "reformers" have a knack for sympathy. They feel for the kids, decry achievement gaps, and remind us that we need to do better. Champions of reform are intent on building cultures that "put kids first" and that remind everyone "it's about the kids." As one impassioned twenty-something district official told me, "We're doing the right ... more »

Go Rudy! Beat Jonah! « Fred Klonsky

Go Rudy! Beat Jonah! « Fred Klonsky: Go Rudy! Beat Jonah!byFred KlonskyRudy Lozano Jr.In the race for the 21st Illinois House District the names may say Rudy Lozano and Sylvano Tabares.Don’t believe it.The race is really between Rudy and Jonah Edelman and tens of thousands of dollars from Edelman’s Stand for Children.Rudy Lozano Jr. is a long-time progressive political activist from the southwest side. He is the son of assassinated community organizer, Rudy Lozano Sr. (Disclosure: I have known Rudy ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESbyMike KlonskyJoshua Lott for The New York TimesMatt de la Peña’s novel has been banned at Tucson High for containing “critical race theory.”John Huppenthal, AZ state supt.“When we encountered this situation, we did what Hannibal did to the Romans. This is the eternal battle, the eternal battle of all time, the forces of collectivism against the forces of individuality.”--

Shanker Blog » Learning From Teach For America

Shanker Blog » Learning From Teach For America: Learning From Teach For AmericabyMatthew Di CarloThere is a small but growing body of evidence about the (usually test-based) effectiveness of teachers from Teach for America (TFA), an extremely selective program that trains and places new teachers in mostly higher needs schools and districts. Rather than review this literature paper-by-paper, which has already been done by others(seehereandhere), I’ll just give you the super-short summary of the higher-quality analyses, and quickly discuss what ... more »

Why Some Parents Resent the Success Charter Schools – SchoolBook

Why Some Parents Resent the Success Charter Schools – SchoolBook: Why Some Parents Resent the Success Charter SchoolsMarch 19, 2012, 8:24 a.m.ByMARY ANN GIORDANOThe controversy in Brooklyn over the impending arrival of Success Academy charter schools made it onto theOpEd page of The New York Timesthis weekend, when Lucinda Rosenfeld explained just what is making so many middle-class parents so angry.In an opinion article, Ms. Rosenfeld, a writer and the parent of a kindergarten pupil atP.S. 261 Philip Livingstonin Boerum ... more »

Diane Ravitch: Another Battle in the War Against Public Schools - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

Another Battle in the War Against Public Schools - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com: Another Battle in the War Against Public SchoolsDiane Ravitchis a historian of education at New York University.UPDATEDMARCH 18, 2012, 7:00 PMThe “parent trigger” must be understood within the current context of vilifying public education. Today, there is a national effort to privatize public schools by turning them over to privately managed charters. This movement is financed by some of the nation’s richest foundations -- theBill and ... more »

Teach for America’s new partnership with largest for-profit charter network - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Teach for America’s new partnership with largest for-profit charter network - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Teach for America’s new partnership with largest for-profit charter networkbyValerie StraussTeach for Americaloves to expand its reach, and so it has again, this timepartnering withthe controversial Imagine schools, the nation’s largest for-profit charter school network.That’s an interesting pairing.Imagine is based in Arlington, Virginia, with some 75 schools in more than a dozen states, including Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The for-profit ... more »