Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 4-12 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

Katehi Writes Letter Thanking Reynoso Task Force - Davis, CA Patch

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

Katehi Writes Letter Thanking Reynoso Task Force - Davis, CA Patch: Katehi Writes Letter Thanking Reynoso Task ForceChancellor Linda P.B. Katehi sent a letter just before the Reynoso Report Task Force presentation on UC Davis pepper spraying ended.ByJustin CoxEmail the author5:18 pmEmailPrintCommentUpload Photos and VideosHere's the letter from Chancelor Linda P.B. Katehi in regard tothe Reynoso Task Forceon the UC Davis pepper spray incident. The report has been widely interpretedas critical of Katehi, the police chief,Lt. John Pikeand thepepper spraysituation ... more »

No Wonder Teachers Are Demoralized

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 hour ago

No Wonder Teachers Are Demoralized: No Wonder Teachers Are DemoralizedI retired in June of 2011 and yesterday I returned to the high school where I had taught social studies for 35 years. The district is one of the wealthiest in Ohio. Many of the residents are well-paid professionals. Our alumni include numerous lawyers (one of whom argued in front of the US Supreme Court a year or so ago), doctors, executives, a current member of the Saturday Night Live cast, ... more »

Charter Schools No Cure-All for Black Students, Says Study | News

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Charter Schools No Cure-All for Black Students, Says Study | News: Charter Schools No Cure-All for Black Students, Says StudyApril 11, 2012AUSTIN, Texas — Despite being promoted as a viable alternative to traditional public schools, privately owned charter schools in Texas have higher attrition rates for black students than comparable urban public schools, says a University of Texas at Austin study.Dr.Julian Vasquez Heilig’s research shows that, although many privately operated charter schools claim that 90 percent or more of their ... more »

Gates Won't Pull ALEC Grant

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Gates Won't Pull ALEC Grant: Gates Won't Pull ALECGrantThe Microsoft founder's foundation promised not to give future grants after a campaign from the left.postedApr 10, 2012 1:28pm EDTBuzzfeed PoliticsBuzzFeed StaffMore from Buzzfeed ›ShareEmail2StumbleGates at an Energy Department conference in February.(Getty Images / PAUL J. RICHARDS)The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, under fire from the left for a grant to the American Legislative Exchange Council, said it won't pull its promised funding from the conservative group.The Gates Foundation last fallawardedALEC a ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Audit&Finance Committee Meeting Round-Up

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: AuditFinance Committee Meeting Round-Up: AuditFinance Committee Meeting Round-UpbyMelissa WestbrookAs if to only reinforce the idea that the real action of the district is at committee meetings, there was the AuditFinance committee meeting yesterday.On the upside, I think this district has made tremendous strides in bringing in some bright and capable people as district staff. Duggan Harmon, head of Finance, Richard Staudt, Risk Management, and Andrew Medina, Internal Auditor, and Ronic Lirio, also in Finance, all come ... more »

Schools Matter: How Do You Shut Down the Most Brutal and Corrupt Charter School in U. S. History? We Don't Know Yet

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Schools Matter: How Do You Shut Down the Most Brutal and Corrupt Charter School in U. S. History? We Don't Know Yet: How Do You Shut Down the Most Brutal and Corrupt Charter School in U. S. History? We Don't Know YetbyJim HornIf you follow our model, you'll be a winner. By the time these kids are in ninth grade, I don't have to call them idiots anymore. --Ben Chavis, founder of AIPCSBen Chavis is the foul-mouthed right wing thug ... more »

Advocate for the Right Tools in Teacher Evaluation « InterACT

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Advocate for the Right Tools in Teacher Evaluation « InterACT: Advocate for the Right Tools in Teacher EvaluationbyDavid B. CohenThe blog post that follows is lifted (and slightly modified) from a lengthy comment I put on the Accomplished California Teachers Ning site, which is our members-only online platform. A Los Angeles teacher asked me to elaborate on a prior comment I’d made suggesting that I think teachers need to fight against the use of value-added measures in teacher evaluation.Okay – ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-11 #edreform #soschat

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Will Gates Foundation ALSO Dump #ALEC owned Michelle Rhee?Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-8 minutes agoRheeFirst!: FEATURED STORYAs the test cheating scandalsheat up around the country, media attention is now increasingly focused on the issue. Viewpointsvary–from the uninformed and superficial tothose that offera deeper scrutiny on the root causes ofcheating. In other words, from the stupid to the sublime. Take your pick. Weare compilinga running list onrecentErasureGate articles. Please feel free [...]WHERE IS RHEE?ACADEMIC REPORTSFalse Choices: the economic argument ... more »

Pell Needs More Thought, Fewer Quick Fixes

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Pell Needs More Thought, Fewer Quick Fixes: Pell Needs More Thought, Fewer Quick FixesbyMandy ZatynskiToday’sdiverse panelof student aid advocates and experts didn’t agree on much, but one thing was for certain: Everyone is tired of one-year fixes. The Pell Grant program needs—and deserves—a more long-term solution to its funding woes.“The whole discussion has become, each year, ‘How do we save the Pell Grant program?’ It would be nice to solve this problem so we can move on and do something ... more »

Task Force Report: Davis Pepper-Spraying Should Have Been Prevented - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Task Force Report: Davis Pepper-Spraying Should Have Been Prevented - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento: Task Force Report: Davis Pepper-Spraying Should Have Been PreventedPOSTED: 1:29 pm PDT April 10, 2012UPDATED: 12:38 pm PDT April 11, 2012EmailPrint1commentsSAN FRANCISCO --The University of California has released a long-awaited report on the pepper-spraying of student demonstrators by UC Davis police last fall, concluding that the incident "should and could have been prevented."Comprehensive Summary Of ReportRead Full ReportThe report also said that the use ... more »

Title I Academic Achievement Awards for 2011-12 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

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Title I Academic Achievement Awards for 2011-12 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces 2011-12Title I Academic Achievement Award Schools SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 117 California public schools have been selected for the 2011-12 Title I Academic Achievement Award."The progress being made at these schools, which serve our neediest students, should serve as a beacon of hope for California. At a time of fiscal crisis and economic uncertainty, ... more »

Education – Zinn Education Project

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Education – Zinn Education Project:Testing, Tracking, and Toeing the Line: A Role Play on the Origins of the Modern High SchoolShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on printMore Sharing ServicesTeaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 13 pages.A role play on the origins of the modern high school.Download PDF.What we don’t teach in school can be more important than what we do teach. When we fail to engage students in thinking critically about their own schooling, the hidden message is: Don’t analyze ... more »

LAUSD: RECALL MONICA GARCIA...IT'S A GOOD START - Perdaily.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

LAUSD: RECALL MONICA GARCIA...IT'S A GOOD START - Perdaily.com: LAUSD: RECALL MONICA GARCIA...IT'S A GOOD STARTbyLeonard IsenbergRecall Monica Garcia F O R I M M E D I A T ER E L E A S EWHAT: Recall Monica Garcia Campaign LaunchWHERE: LAUSD Headquarters, 333 S. Beaudry Ave, LA, CA 90017 (in front of Board of Education entrance)WHEN: Wednesday, April 11, 2012. 11:30AM(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog ... more »

No More Junk in School Foods National Webinar « MomsRising Blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

No More Junk in School Foods National Webinar « MomsRising Blog: No More Junk in School Foods National WebinarbyMonifa BandeleConcerned about junk food in schools? Want to get the inside scoop on upcoming USDA action to improve the nutritional quality of foods sold in schools? Or want to participate in our upcoming blog carnival on school foods and not sure what to write?Bring your questions, comments and concerns to:No More Junk in School Foods National WebinarTOMORROW,April 11, 2012 at 9PM ... more »

Technology Teacher or Teacher? « My Island View

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Technology Teacher or Teacher? « My Island View: Technology Teacher or Teacher?bytomwhitbyFor years I served on the board of directors of The New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education, a group known to most as NYSCATE. One thing that I always had a problem with while working with NYSCATE was the name of that group. The name gave the perception to teachers that this was a group for computer teachers. It is actually a wonderful, professional group ... more »

Connecticut Association of Boards of Education selling its members - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Connecticut Association of Boards of Education selling its members - Jonathan Kantrowitz - Connecticut News: Jonathan KantrowitzPolitical activist, health nutAbout Jonathan KantrowitzConnecticut Association of Boards of Education selling its membersApril 11, 2012 at 12:03 pm byJonathan Kantrowitzby Jon Pelto fromWait, WhatLast week, the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education joined with their coalition of business and “Education Reform” groups to attack the Democratic legislators on the Education Committee for their efforts to remove the worst provisions of Governor Dan Mall... more »

Taking a Whole Child Approach — Whole Child Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Taking a Whole Child Approach — Whole Child Education: Taking a Whole Child ApproachbyASCD Whole Child BloggersPost submitted by whole child blogger Caroline Newton, a sophomore at Temple University. Newton is studying journalism and writes forJump: The Philly Music Projectmagazine.Studies show that 30 percent of high school graduates must take some type of remediation at the college level. What is it about the current structure of education that is failing students? TheWhole Child Tenetsaim to assist educators in creating a ... more »

Schools Matter: Cultural Genocide Wins in Arizona

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Schools Matter: Cultural Genocide Wins in Arizona: Cultural Genocide Wins in ArizonabyJudy RabinAs was evident last week in Washington DC when hundreds of protesters camped outside the Department of Education for four days, teachers across the country who speak out or don't comply with oppressive, racist policies find themselves out of a job or with their livelihood threatened unless they are complicit in the cultural sterilization and intellectual neutering of students.Today, we live in a country where public school teachers ... more »

2012 California Student Mock Election - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

2012 California Student Mock Election - Letters (CA Dept of Education): 2012 California Student Mock ElectionJoint letter from the California Department of Education and the California Secretary of State regarding the 2012 California Student Mock Election.CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONTOM TORLAKSON, State Superintendent of Public Instruction1430 N Street, Suite 5602Sacramento, CA 95814-5901916-319-0800CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATEDEBRA BOWEN, Secretary of State1500 11th Street, 6th FloorSacramento, CA 95814-4311916-653-7244April 10, 2012Dear County and District Superintendents, ... more »

Last Chance to Test Personal Finance Knowledge in Annual Challenge | ED.gov Blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

Last Chance to Test Personal Finance Knowledge in Annual Challenge | ED.gov Blog: Last Chance to Test Personal Finance Knowledge in Annual ChallengePosted onApril 11, 2012byGuest BloggerCross-posted from theDepartment of the TreasuryTens of thousands of high school students from across the country have already tested their knowledge about personal finance through theNational Financial Capability Challenge. And this is the final week to take part! The voluntary online exam is available to students through this Friday, April 13.Here’s how it works:Educators ... more »

College Affordability and Why Your Vote Matters

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 11 hours ago

College Affordability and Why Your Vote Matters: College Affordability and Why Your Vote MattersbycynthiaA new report on the troublingamount of money most college students must borrowwas released at the end of February, 2012. Compounding the hurdles for many young people seeking a college education is the double burden of dropping outandbeing in debt. What career prospects do you have when you only have half a degree, but an enormous amount of money you owe and no way to repay it? ... more »

Will Gates Foundation ALSO Dump #ALEC owned Michelle Rhee?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

RheeFirst!: FEATURED STORYAs the test cheating scandalsheat up around the country, media attention is now increasingly focused on the issue. Viewpointsvary–from the uninformed and superficial tothose that offera deeper scrutiny on the root causes ofcheating. In other words, from the stupid to the sublime. Take your pick. Weare compilinga running list onrecentErasureGate articles. Please feel free [...]WHERE IS RHEE?ACADEMIC REPORTSFalse Choices: the economic argument against market-driven education reformBenefits of Bargaining: How Public Worker Negotiations Improve Ohio Communities...more »

Is There A War On Higher Education? | Loop21

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

Is There A War On Higher Education? | Loop21: Is There A War On Higher Education?LOOP 21 COMPOSITELOOP 21 COMPOSITEMinority youth aiming for college degrees are faced with crushing debt and soaring unemploymentSince 1985, the cost of college has increased by 498%. Outstanding student loan debt, as reported earlier this year by Loop 21, has hit$1 trillion. In addition, wages for most Americans have remained stagnant since the 1970s, and some studies, like the one published in 2011 bySentier Research, ... more »

Smoking Toward New Jersey: Education Reform and What I Learned at Taft High School

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

Smoking Toward New Jersey: Education Reform and What I Learned at Taft High School: Education Reform and What I Learned at Taft High SchoolHere's what education reformers like:- Tenure reform, which would end tenure to stop protecting “bad” teachers who supposedly are responsible for “failing” schools.- School turnaround, where lots of teachers at “failing” schools get fired in order to stop the failing.- Closure of “failing” schools. Self explanatory.- Merit pay, where teachers get extra money to teach better, because ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: MN Social Studies Standards Paint a Picture of a Different America

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: MN Social Studies Standards Paint a Picture of a Different America: MN Social Studies Standards Paint a Picture of a Different AmericabyAnngieThough there is plenty of discussion occurring regarding the language arts and math standards that have been drafted for Common Core, there is some solace in knowing that at the end of the day a noun is still a noun and 2+2=4. When it comes to history or, as the progressives have renamed it, social studies, ... more »

As States’ Pre-K Funding Declines, Feds Offer Another Early Learning Challenge Round «

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

As States’ Pre-K Funding Declines, Feds Offer Another Early Learning Challenge Round «: As States’ Pre-K Funding Declines, Feds Offer Another Early Learning ChallengeRoundApril 11, 2012 byIrene SegePhoto: Alessandra Hartkopf for Strategies for ChildrenOver the past decade, pre-kindergarten enrollment across the country has increased, but states’ spending on pre-kindergarten has fallen 15% in real (inflation-adjusted) dollars, according to a report – “The State of Preschool 2011″ – released yesterday in Washington by the National Institute for Early Education Research. State ... more »

We Don’t Judge Teachers by Numbers Alone – The Same Should Go for (Some?) Schools

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

We Don’t Judge Teachers by Numbers Alone – The Same Should Go for (Some?) Schools: We Don’t Judge Teachers by Numbers Alone – The Same Should Go for (Some?) SchoolsbyAnne HyslopIn theHuffington Postyesterday, Fordham’s Mike Petrilli throws his support behind adding a UK-esque school inspectorate system into school accountability – a topic Craig Jerald explored in Education Sector’sOn Her Majesty’s School Inspection Serviceand insubsequent chatteron this blog. Petrilli writes:To the extent that school grades (and consequences linked to them) drive ... more »

Schools Matter: Krash Course #6: Educators Know, Reformers Don't

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

Schools Matter: Krash Course #6: Educators Know, Reformers Don't: Krash Course #6: Educators Know, Reformers Don'tbyP. L. ThomasWhen Diane Ravitch asks"What do teachers want?"we must be diligent to clarify that educators know what reformers do not.As I have noted recently, education has been driven historically by non-educators, and thecurrent self-identified crop of "reformers" have no expertise or experience as educators, resulting in an important inverse relationship between what educators identify as important education reform and what "deformers" claim is reform ... more »

Charter Schools Spend More On Administration, Less On Instruction Than Traditional Public Schools: Study

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

Charter Schools Spend More On Administration, Less On Instruction Than Traditional Public Schools: Study: Charter Schools Spend More On Administration, Less On Instruction Than Traditional Public Schools: StudyPosted: 04/10/2012 4:49 pm Updated: 04/10/2012 4:50 pm Public schools are often criticized and scrutinized for perceived administrative bloat, tied to concerns that those sitting behind desks in district offices are diverting funds away from investment in students. Conversely,charter schools are touted for successesthrough their leaner administrative model, allowing for more r... more »

Divisive Darling of the Right Wing Michelle Rhee Details How Her Ed Reform Group Will Jack The Mayor’s Race [Video] | Politicker

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Michelle Rhee Details How New Ed Reform Group Will Influence The Mayor’s Race [Video] | Politicker: Michelle Rhee Details How New Ed Reform Group Will Influence The Mayor’s Race [Video]ByDavid Freedlander4/10 5:31pmMichelle Rhee, the former chancellor of the Washington DC school system and now the the head of Students FirstNY, a new group dedicated to electing education reformers in New York, appeared on “Good Day New York this morning to lay out her agenda.“We want to make sure that the ... more »

From Diane Ravitch: Stunning statistics and a plea for investing in teachers - News Blog - Rochester City Newspaper

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 16 hours ago

From Diane Ravitch: Stunning statistics and a plea for investing in teachers - News Blog - Rochester City Newspaper: From Diane Ravitch: Stunning statistics and a plea for investing in teachersByMary Anna TowlerComments (0)Total Recommendations (0)Leave A CommentRead Comments (0)I don't always agree with Diane Ravitch, one of the heroes of the anti-testing, anti-charter education activists, buther articlein the March 22 New York Review of Books has a ton of wise reminders about the reality of urban education - and ... more »