Cheating feared after photos of school tests leaked - latimes.com
Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago
Cheating feared after photos of school tests leaked - latimes.com: Cheating feared after photos of school tests leakedHundreds of photos of standardized tests have begun to appear on student social-networking sites in California, raising concerns about cheating and test security that could create thorny problems for schools and school districts.In the worst-case scenario, the photos could lead to invalidation of test scores for entire schools or prevent the state from using certain tests. For the moment, state officials have warned ... more »
Major Bill Actions in Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
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Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: H.R.4628 Interest Rate Reduction ActOpen Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education-14 minutes agoTo extend student loan interest rates for undergraduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans.Bill Introduced: S.2366 A bill to extend student loan interest rates for undergraduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans.Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education-14 minutes agoA bill to extend student loan interest rates for undergraduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans.Bill Introduced: S.2343 Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike ... more »
Appeals, Manifestos, and Statements by Bernardine Dohrn « Bill Ayers
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Appeals, Manifestos, and Statements by Bernardine Dohrn « Bill Ayers: Appeals, Manifestos, and Statements by Bernardine DohrnbybillayersThis article is part ofThe Port Huron Statement at 50, a forum on the document that sparked a generation of activism. From the Boston ReviewAs the 1960s dawned, appeals, manifestos, and statements poured from the pens and typewriters of a new generation burning with the need to trumpet a new morning. These writings have in common a wild impatience, a brassiness required to speak ... more »
Rita, Blocker, Vogel criticism: Orange Superintendent Ron Blocker and Seminole Superintendent Bill Vogel criticize Florida's school accountability. - Orlando Sentinel
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Blocker, Vogel criticism: Orange Superintendent Ron Blocker and Seminole Superintendent Bill Vogel criticize Florida's school accountability. - Orlando Sentinel: Vogel, Blocker: Florida's school accountability system will failByDave Weber, Orlando Sentinel3:14 p.m. EST, April 27, 2012Comments5Share35Florida's runaway school accountability system is destined to fail and take with it the positive goals it was intended to accomplish, the superintendents of Orange and Seminole county schools agreed Friday.Orange Superintendent Ron Blocker and Bill Vogel, superintendent of Seminole schoo... more »
Modern School: Stand for Children Lynch Mob Wants MA Teachers Blood
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Modern School: Stand for Children Lynch Mob Wants MA Teachers Blood: Stand for Children Lynch Mob Wants MA Teachers BloodbyMichael DunnHuck/Konopacki Labor CartoonsRiding the wave of hysteria about our dysfunctional schools and incompetent teachers, Stand for Children (S4C) Massachusetts has acquired enough signatures to get an initiative on the November ballot that would make evaluations more important than seniority in layoff and transfer decisions.S4C says that polls it commissioned in 2011 indicated 85% approval for their initiative,12 Workers are Killed ... more »
Steve Lopez: Cutting schools, cutting opportunities - latimes.com
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Steve Lopez: Cutting schools, cutting opportunities - latimes.com: Steve Lopez: Cutting schools, cutting opportunitiesHundreds of adult education supporters are lining both sides of Van Nuys Boulevard this afternoon at the government center, screaming for the 250,000-student system to be saved and calling for the heads of those who are advocating big cuts or elimination."No Education, No Future," said one man's sign, and while the crowd shouted, "Save our schools," a woman handed me a flier calling for the recall of ... more »
"NYSUT demands end to 'broken' testing structure." April 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org
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"NYSUT demands end to 'broken' testing structure." April 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org: NYSUT demands end to 'broken' testing structureNYSUT Media Relations - April 27, 2012ALBANY, N.Y. April 27, 2012 - Acting decisively to give voice to the pain and frustration that students and teachers are experiencing over state testing, the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers today called for an end to the state's current testing system which it said is harming children and hindering real ... more »
Just Another Unschooling Story – No Big Deal | Lefty Parent
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Just Another Unschooling Story – No Big Deal | Lefty Parent: Just Another Unschooling Story – No Big DealbyCooper ZaleMade my day to get notification from a friend on Facebook that this piece appeared in this week’sPsychology Today magazine, giving credence to the life path for young people known as “unschooling”. It particularly resonated with me because our own kids are peers of the piece’s subject, Kate Fridkis – our son Eric is 27 and our daughter Emma is 22. ... more »
Quinn the Governor. « Fred Klonsky
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Quinn the Governor. « Fred Klonsky: Quinn the Governor.byFred KlonskySent by a reader.With apologies to Bob Dylan.Come all without, come all withinYou’ll not see nothing like the Mighty QuinnCome all without, come all withinYou’ll not see nothing like the Mighty QuinnEverybody’s after teachers pension fundsSome are after retirement funds, others are jotting down notesEverybody’s in despair, every Teacher with new pension realityBut when Quinn the Governor gets hereEverybody’s not gonna jump for joyCome all without, come all withinYou’ll not see ... more »
Youth United For Change - YUC launches new campaign | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
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YUC launches new campaign | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: YUC launches new campaignbySamantha CogginA crowd of students, teachers, community activists, parents, and members of Youth United For Change rallied Wednesday afternoon to support YUC's new “Safe to Count on Me” campaign. Supporters gathered at Norris SquarePark's basketball court and sported white, orange, and black campaign T-shirts to kick off the rally with an energetic chant: “It’s safe to count on me. Is it safe to count on you?”Image:Image Caption:Signs from ... more »
Education Perspectives / Measuring Success - Opting Out
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Education Perspectives / Measuring Success - Opting Out: OPTING OUTOpting Out: Families and Advocates Against Standardized TestingCompiled by Education Perspectives for the Central Valley, Inc.Pursuant to California Education Code 60615, parents have the right to opt their children out of the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Assessment. And now for the burning question:What about “Accountability”? Isn’t standardized testing meant to hold teachers and schools accountable and to track progress?These are the sound bites that drive political debates, the phrases that ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Super Search; Fast and Furious News
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Seattle Schools Community Forum: Super Search; Fast and Furious News: Super Search; Fast and Furious NewsbyMelissa WestbrookUpdate: The information below has now disappeared from the website.You pick:1) We are paying some big bucks for Communications that makes huge errors in what they write to the point where they say something that is not true.2) Someone who put this information up originally had to back off because of how incredibly suspicious it looks to say the Committee made a recommendation when ... more »
RheeFirst! » How deceptive is this letter from Rhee’s organization?
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RheeFirst! » How deceptive is this letter from Rhee’s organization?: How deceptive is this letter from Rhee’s organization?byadminRecently, Rheefirst received irate emails about being scammed to sign a deceptive petition from change.org and care2. It turns out this is the chief recruitment ploy of Rhee’s organization. Sign and you become a Rhee “member” for life. One missive enumerated the number of times the inadvertent signer asked to be removed from Rhee’s “membership” list. To no avail.Written by Valerie Strauss for ... more »
Register Today for the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education
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Register Today for the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education: Register Today for the Whole Child Virtual ConferencebyKlea ScharbergWe are excitedly preparing for the2012 ASCD Whole Child Virtual Conferenceto be held May 3–11. This year's theme is "Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture," and focuses on highlighting the great work of ASCD-associated schools, providing a forum in which educators who implement the whole child approach to education can learn from one another and presenters, and expanding awareness ... more »
Sacramento Press / Use arena money to bolster school funding
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Sacramento Press / Use arena money to bolster school funding: Use arena money to bolster school fundingbyJonathan Raymond, published onApril 27, 2012at1:58 PMLike the rest of Sacramento, I have followed the twists and turns of the city’s downtown arena saga with great interest. The Kings have been a valuable and generous partner of the Sacramento City Unified School District. I have attended many of their terrific “Get Fit” events at our schools and come away impressed by the team’s sincere ... more »
Robert Reich (How will you get beyond the outrage? Share your...)
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Robert Reich (How will you get beyond the outrage? Share your...): How will you get beyond the outrage? Share your ideas, actions,...How willyouget beyond the outrage? Share your ideas, actions, and long-term goals on tumblr and Twitter using the hashtag #beyondoutrage or on my Facebookpage.
The Shame of “School Reform” in New York City « Diane Ravitch's blog
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The Shame of “School Reform” in New York City « Diane Ravitch's blog: The Shame of “School Reform” in New York Citybydianerav Once again, a large group of New York City public schools will close their doors, their staffs will be fired and replaced, and new schools will open. Among the schools that will be closed are Flushing High School, reputed to be the oldest school in the city, and John Dewey High School, once highly regarded for its progressivism ... more »
The Common Core: The Technocrats Re-engineer Learning - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
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The Common Core: The Technocrats Re-engineer Learning - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: The Common Core: The Technocrats Re-engineer LearningbyAnthony CodyAs criticism of No Child Left Behind and the associated tests rises, we are hearing more and more about the Common Core Standards (CCS), the next great thing that is supposed to fix all that ails us. When atalking pineapplemade New York tests a laughing stock, state education commissioner John King reassured us,It is important to note that ... more »
What's missing from Bill Gates thinking on education reform?
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Will Small-Part Fixes Save Public Schools?What's missing from Bill Gates thinking on education reform?Published on September 22, 2011 byMarilyn Price-Mitchell, Ph.D.inThe Moment of YouthI've observed Bill Gates' philanthropic work for many years. I admire his passion, stewardship, and laser-sharp focus in a variety of efforts to improve human lives. But something is missing from his approach to Americaneducationreform that causes me concern. Lost in the milieu ofpolitics, power, and the lure of straightforward answers to complex questions are the research, ... more »
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will not approve of making teacher evaluations public - NY Daily News
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will not approve of making teacher evaluations public - NY Daily News: Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will not approve of making teacher evaluations publicCuomo's stance puts him at odds with Mayor Michael BloombergPrintALBANY TIMES UNIONGov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg may be headed toward a fight over teacher evaluations.RELATEDSTORIESTop aides to Mayor Bloomberg, Gov. Cuomo and union leaders reach historic agreement on teacher evaluationsNew ideas on tenure face union hurdleMayor Bloomberg and Gov. ... more »
Philanthropy gets in the ring - Education - AEI
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Philanthropy gets in the ring - Education - AEI: Philanthropy gets in the ringEdu-funders get serious about education policyThe year 2005 seems like a long time ago. That year, I published a hard look at education philanthropy titledWith the Best of Intentions: How Philanthropy is Reshaping K-12 Education, using the dismal experience of the then recently concluded $1.1 billion Annenberg Challenge as a jumping-off point. At the same time, the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation was walking away from the disappointing ... more »
Summer Matters | Summer Matters
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Summer Matters | Summer Matters: SUMMER MATTERSSummer Matters 2012 Kicks-Off in San Francisco with Superintendent Tom Torlakson and Mayor Ed LeeSF City Hall event also features Muhammed Chaudhry of Silicon Valley Education Fund, SFUSD Superintendent Carlos Garcia and parent Michelle Jacques-MenegazSummer began in California on Tuesday, Apr. 17at San Francisco City Hall. Although the calendar says it’s still spring, a celebratory event on the Mayor’s Balcony launchedSummer Matters 2012—a collaborative effort to expand access to quality summer-learning and enrichment programs ... more »
Schools Matter: Opt Out Movement Grows As Resistance to High Stakes Tests Intensifies
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Schools Matter: Opt Out Movement Grows As Resistance to High Stakes Tests Intensifies: Opt Out Movement Grows As Resistance to High Stakes Tests IntensifiesbyJim Hornht to Stan Karp:Opting Out of NJ ASKNJ SpotlightReilly, a former literacy director in Newark and then assistant superintendent in Hackensack as well as Morristown, said it has clearly led to a narrowing of curriculum that is only harming students. She is now a consultant in coaching teachers, including in New York City. “People don’t know ... more »
More Thoughts on Teacher Polls, Tenure, and School Funding - Dana Goldstein
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More Thoughts on Teacher Polls, Tenure, and School Funding - Dana Goldstein: More Thoughts on Teacher Polls, Tenure, and School FundingbyDana GoldsteinOver atThe NationI have anew piecelooking at surveys of public school teachers,one of whichfound job satisfaction at its lowest point since 1989. The most important thing to note is that polling shows teachers arenotunhappy because they resent new accountability policies like the more stringent teacher evaluations instituted in response to President Obama's Race to the Top program.In fact, most ... more »
Weekly Update: First for some fun, and then more fun | Seattle Education
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Weekly Update: First for some fun, and then more fun | Seattle Education: Weekly Update: First for some fun, and then more funbyseattleducation2011First, for some fun check out:The three-dayWorld Rhythm Festivalin Seattle, a weekend of immersion in world music, drum and dance. 3 days packed with an amazing range of world music traditions, including African, Middle-Eastern, Latin, Indian, Brazilian, North American, and more.The World Rhythm Festival, which starts today, is at Seattle Center and the corresponding International Marketplace will be ... more »
Fail - Test scores are mixed, costs are high and teachers are pissed - Sacramento News & Review
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Fail - Feature Story - Local Stories - November 17, 2011 - Sacramento News Review: FailTest scores are mixed, costs are high and teachers are pissed. Why critics say Sacramento city school reform could …ByCosmo Garvincosmog@newsreview.comRead 8 reader submitted commentsThis article was published on11.17.11.Full disclosure:Reporter Cosmo Garvin’s wife is a teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District.School districts all over the country are struggling to turn around “failing schools.” It’s a harsh label, but the pressure to raise student ... more »
"Weingarten to leaders: Stay strong, stay together." April 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org
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"Weingarten to leaders: Stay strong, stay together." April 27, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org: Weingarten to leaders: Stay strong, stay togetherBy Sylvia Saunders - RA 2012 - April 27, 2012AFT President Randi Weingarten says anti-labor forces are using the economic downturn to weaken worker protections. Photo by Andrew Watson.At a time when activists are fighting for the very survival of the labor movement and public education, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten urged local union presidents to ... more »
LAUSD names 10 to lead its new regional offices - LA Daily News
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LAUSD names 10 to lead its new regional offices - LA Daily News: LAUSD names 10 to lead its new regional officesByDaily NewsPosted: 04/26/2012 09:06:10 PM PDTUpdated: 04/26/2012 09:09:51 PM PDTTen administrators were named Thursday to lead LAUSD's newly formed Local Education Service Centers, part of a reorganization designed to focus more attention on classroom instruction.The new structure consolidates Los Angeles Unified's eight local district offices into four regions, with a fifth office supervising struggling campuses. Each region will have ... more »
The Educated Reporter: For California, the SIG Program Has Shown Some Success, Study Finds
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The Educated Reporter: For California, the SIG Program Has Shown Some Success, Study Finds: For California, the SIG Program Has Shown Some Success, Study FindsbyEmily RichmondAnew studyfound student test scores improved in California’s lowest-achieving campuses that implemented aggressive reform measures, suggesting the federal School Improvement Grant program is showing early promise in the Golden State.The federal SIG dollars – with more than $4.6 billion awarded nationally since 2009 -- are earmarked for schools ranking in the bottom 5 percent for ... more »
Pearson and how 2012 standardized tests were designed - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
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Pearson and how 2012 standardized tests were designed - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Pearson and how 2012 standardized tests were designedbyValerie StraussThis was written by Fred Smith, a retired New York City Board of Education senior analyst who worked for the public school system in test research and development.By Fred SmithTherecent Pineapple and the Hare fiascodoes more than identify a daft reading passage on New York State’s 8th grade English Language Arts test. Education Commissioner John King ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Phony Precision in Teacher Evaluations
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Jersey Jazzman: Phony Precision in Teacher Evaluations: Phony Precision in Teacher EvaluationsbyDukeLet's talk more about phony precision in teacher evaluations:As I said before, using standardized test scores for even a small part of teacher evaluations is problematic, because the test is only part of the evaluation, but it's all of the decision. Because the rest of a teacher's evaluation is based on imprecise measures like observations, the very precise score a teacher gets on his or her students' tests takes ... more »
Teaching Practices and Smaller Classes | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
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Teaching Practices and Smaller Classes | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Teaching Practices and Smaller ClassesbylarrycubanLarge classes of 50-plus students were commonin early 20thcentury schools, especially in cities.Class size fell throughout the past century to around 30 students in elementary and secondary classrooms, dipping to 25 and rising to 35 in times of budgetary retrenchment. Beginning in the 1980s, state efforts to reduce class size to 20 students or less per classroom, especially in primary grades, led ... more »
Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 4-27 AM Posts #soschat #edreform
Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 20 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Coming next week to a neighborhood near youBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Coming next week to a neighborhood near you: Coming next week to a neighborhood near youbyMike KlonskyWas this version of The Surge, Rahm's idea or John McCain's? Will the troops be stationed here permanently? Will they be using drones along with boots on the ground, to attack anti
