Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 4-15 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

Best day | Ideas and Thoughts

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

Best day | Ideas and Thoughts: Best daybyDean ShareskiRemember when people used to post videos they liked on their blog? Now we just tweet or post them to Facebook which is fine I suppose.This video is one I'm sure many of seen as it is destined to go viral if it already hasn't. I first saw it on twitter and since have watched it at least 7 times showing it to all members of my family who each watch with ... more »

Real Reform versus Fake Reformy Distractions: More Implications from NJ & MA for CT! « School Finance 101

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Real Reform versus Fake Reformy Distractions: More Implications from NJ MA for CT! « School Finance 101: Real Reform versus Fake Reformy Distractions: More Implications from NJ MA for CT!byschoolfinance101Recently, I responded to an absurd and downright disturbingOp-Ed by a Connecticut education reform organizationthat claimed that Connecticut needed to move quickly to adopt teacher evaluation/tenure reforms and expand charter schooling because a) Connecticut has a larger achievement gap and lower outcomes for low income students than Massachusetts or New Jersey ... more »

Get Rid of Teachers or Encourage them To Stay -- What is Best for our Schools? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Get Rid of Teachers or Encourage them To Stay -- What is Best for our Schools? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Get Rid of Teachers or Encourage them To Stay -- What is Best for our Schools?byAnthony CodyGuest post by Mark Simon.After over a decade of "corporate reform" strategies in many places, we have a chance to compare the results of two drastically different approaches to improving public schools. In some places, such as Washington, DC, we ... more »

Letters to the Reading DCAS(Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System):My Students Write How They Feel! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Letters to the Reading DCAS(Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System):My Students Write How They Feel! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!: Letters to the Reading DCAS(Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System):My Students Write How They Feel!byOldschoolteachWhen my kids were done their DCAS Reading test last month, I had them write letters to the test. I am posting some of the letters they wrote.Dear Reading DCAS,Why do you have to be hard? I know I do your tests in the beginning, middle, and end ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Inslee's Plan for Better Educational Outcomes

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Inslee's Plan for Better Educational Outcomes: Inslee's Plan for Better Educational OutcomesbyMelissa WestbrookI attended a Renton event a couple of weeks ago where Jay Inslee rolled out his ideas for public education. It was held at Talbot Hill Elementary school where they have a student-based governance system and the school's leaders were front and center. (And they were well-behaved and truly seemed to be listening.)It was smallish, held right in the front lobby of the school, ... more »

Did Mavericks Charter School in Palm Beach Ask Teachers to Falsify Grades? | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Did Mavericks Charter School in Palm Beach Ask Teachers to Falsify Grades? | Scathing Purple Musings: Did Mavericks Charter School in Palm Beach Ask Teachers to Falsify Grades?byBob SikesAccording toanother lawsuitfiled by one of three whistle-blowers they did. FromPalm Beach Postreporter Allison Ross-Ferrelli:A former teacher at the new Mavericks High School in Palm Springs has filed a lawsuit alleging that the school falsifies enrollment records and fabricates student grades in classes the students did not take.The lawsuit, filed by Angenora ... more »

Some Inconvenient History for a Teach for America Alum, Jeb Bush and Parent Trigger Advocates | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Some Inconvenient History for a Teach for America Alum, Jeb Bush and Parent Trigger Advocates | Scathing Purple Musings: Some Inconvenient History for a Teach for America Alum, Jeb Bush and Parent Trigger AdvocatesbyBob SikesMatt Minnickwasn’t alone in being less than forthcoming about who he was when he testified before the Florida Senate Budget Committee’sMarch 3rdhearing on SB 1718. An AFL-CIO lobbyist wasn’t either. The one-time Teach for America corps member turned legislative aid for Jeb Bush’s foundation tried to ... more »

New York Teacher Ratings Renew Evaluation Debate : NPR

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

New York Teacher Ratings Renew Evaluation Debate : NPR: New York Teacher Ratings Renew Evaluation DebatebyBETH FERTIGHow do you measure who is an effective teacher?More states are wrestling with that question, now that the Obama administration is encouraging schools to evaluate teachers with a combination of student test scores and classroom observations.The question of whether teacher evaluations are reliable indicators for teacher effectiveness has long been controversial. But New York City reignited the debate when it rated thousands of teachers ... more »

"Let's get ready to rumble! Leaders of New Group Have an "Interest" in Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Gail Robinson: Leaders of New Group Have an "Interest" in Education: Leaders of New Group Have an "Interest" in Education Few people define themselves as being a member of a special interest. That term applies to the folks on the other side -- the people you disagree with. New Yorkers got more evidence of that this month with the formation ofStudentsFirstNY. In a nutshell, the group wants to preserve and extend the education policies of New York City Mayor Michael ... more »

Schools Matter: A promotional video about the organization that created the Parent Trigger

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Schools Matter: A promotional video about the organization that created the Parent Trigger: A promotional video about the organization that created the Parent TriggerbyRobert D. Skeels * rdsatheneThe Parent Trigger, or Parent Empowerment Law, was crafted by the fringe-right-wing group American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).Popout"I wrote the nation's first parent trigger law in California." —Sen. (Ret) Gloria J. RomeroMs. Romero really means is theAmerican Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) wrote the charter trigger lawand she put her name on it.This is ... more »

Rockford teachers settled. Now another big Illinois school district heading for a walkout? « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Rockford teachers settled. Now another big Illinois school district heading for a walkout? « Fred Klonsky: Rockford teachers settled. Now another big Illinois school district heading for a walkout?byFred KlonskyTwo weeks ago it was Rockford. Teachers there hit the bricks for several days before reaching an agreement.Last week Elgin teachers rejected a dealworked out between the Elgin Education Association and the Elgin school district.In a echo of issues separating teachers and management in Chicago, one of the issues that resulted ... more »

Check out new reports to see if your state is considering ALEC bills! « Parents Across America

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Check out new reports to see if your state is considering ALEC bills! « Parents Across America: Check out new reports to see if your state is considering ALEC bills!byleoniehaimson Exchange Council, the secretive, right-wing group that produces and disseminates legislation in state houses throughout the nation.PAA wrote about ALECmore than a year ago, in March 2011, after being alerted by our eagle-eyed parent advocate/ legislative expert, Karen Miller of Texas.A few months later, a website calledALEC Exposedposted a massive ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Should Freedom of Expression be Allowed in a Public High School if it Could Incite Violence?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Should Freedom of Expression be Allowed in a Public High School if it Could Incite Violence?: Should Freedom of Expression be Allowed in a Public High School if it Could Incite Violence?bystlgretchenShould this shirt be banned from public school?Should wearing a shirt proclaiming "RIP" for a gunned down young man be allowed to be worn in an Omaha high school or banned?AsktheJudge.info writes:Did the t-shirt constitute “. . . a respectful display of their feelings for a ... more »

Engaging Parents In School… » “School Reformers” Steal PTA’s Name

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

Engaging Parents In School… » “School Reformers” Steal PTA’s Name: “School Reformers” Steal PTA’s NamebyLarry FerlazzoI have a lot of issues with what some people do in the name of school reform — like stealing the PTA’s name.A group of hedge fund managers — I’m not kidding, that’swho’s on their board— started a New York City organization called… PTA Now. Here’s their flyer:Thanks toEd Wizefor the tip.It appears they might havejustchanged their name to “FTA” (Families Taking Action) because of ... more »

Guest Post: Tennessee Lawmakers Must Abolish School Corporal Punishment

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

Guest Post: Tennessee Lawmakers Must Abolish School Corporal Punishment: Guest Post: Tennessee Lawmakers Must Abolish School Corporal PunishmentbycynthiaThis guest post comes to us from a staunch advocate in support of removing corporal punishment as an option for discipline under state education laws. Julie Worley is President ofTennesseans for Non-Violent School Discipline. Her full bio follows the op-ed._______________Tennesseans for Non-Violent School Discipline hosted a National Protest Against School Corporal Punishment of Students at the Tennessee State Capitol on Thursday, A... more »

Editorial: A parent trap for public education | StarTribune.com

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

Editorial: A parent trap for public education | StarTribune.com: Editorial: A parent trap for public educationApril 13, 2012 - 7:03 PMGive parents more control over school operations, and student performance will improve. That's the false premise behind a legislative proposal for a "parent trigger'' law.Minnesota can do without it. There is little evidence that similar laws have worked elsewhere. And parents in Minnesota already have a number of ways to exert their influence when they're dissatisfied with their schools.Under the ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: How to Sell BEX IV?

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

Seattle Schools Community Forum: How to Sell BEX IV?: How to Sell BEX IV?byMelissa WestbrookThe Times has two stories about levies/bonds that make me wonder how the district, via the Schools First group who does the levy/bond campaigns, is going to sell BEX IV.The firststoryis a round-up of Eastside capital bonds on the ballot Tuesday.Mercer Island wants to renovate ALL its schools - 3 elementaries, 1 middle and upgrades at their only high school. Interestingly, opponents think they should build ... more »

Why Rick Scott Has to Veto JD Alexander’s USF Poly Split | Scathing Purple Musings

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

Why Rick Scott Has to Veto JD Alexander’s USF Poly Split | Scathing Purple Musings: Why Rick Scott Has to Veto JD Alexander’s USF Poly SplitbyBob SikesWhile its doubtful Rick Scott cares even a little bit what the editors of theTampa Bay Timesthink, they may be onto the reason why Florida’s governor will have to veto the bill which will make USF Poly an independent institution. As CEO of a major hospital chain he wouldn’t have dreamed of doing something ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-14 #edreform #soschat

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

Don’t Drink the Water | Dissident VoiceBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-5 minutes agoDon’t Drink the Water | Dissident Voice: byDavid MacarayDon’t Drink the WaterOne of the biggest con games going on right now is the sustained attack on the U.S. public school system. It’s being orchestrated by predatory entrepreneurs (disguised as “concerned citizens” and “education reformers”) hoping to persuade the parents of school-age children that the only way their kids are going to get a decent education is ... more »

Modern School: Land of the Free, Home of the Ch*ckenshit?

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

Modern School: Land of the Free, Home of the Chickenshit?: Land of the Free, Home of the Chickenshit?byMichael DunnMiami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended for five games for saying he idolized Fidel Castro, theNew York Timesreported this week. He said he respected Castro for his ability to endure, despite numerous attempts on his life. In previous interviews, he said he did not admire Castro’s philosophy, but the man himself.Guillen has also gotten in trouble in the past for making ... more »