Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-27 #edreform #soschat

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

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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-war protesters? How long will the First Amendment of the ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: I Pick Enoch

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Seattle Schools Community Forum: I Pick Enoch: I Pick EnochbyMelissa WestbrookAfter reading and talking and researching, if I had to choose a superintendent, I would choose Steven Enoch.Pros - experienced, enthused, open to new ideas, nothing to prove, not using SPS as a stepping stone to next job, able to claim good academic outcomes for his district, keeps up with new educational ideasCons - had already planned to retire, possible financial issues at one districtFolks, there is no perfect superintendent. ... more »

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Ed Trust just likes tests

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Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Ed Trust just likes tests: Ed Trust just likes testsbyadminThe Education Trust. I’ve seen their schtick before – the 72 power point slides that they run through in 10 minutes, making it seem as though their ideas are heavy on data and research, when they are really allbaloney.Today I saw it again at an otherwise wonderful conference about racial healing in New Orleans put together by the Kellogg Foundation for their ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Best Piece on Education This Year

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Jersey Jazzman: Best Piece on Education This Year: Best Piece on Education This YearbyDukeSeriously, it is, fromPaul Thomas:One distinct flaw in that development has been a trickle-down effect reaching from presidents and governors to state superintendents of education and school board chairs and members:people who have no or very little experience or expertise as educators or scholars attain leadership positions responsible for forming and implementing education policy.The faces and voices currently leading the education reform movement in the U.S. are ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Coming next week to a neighborhood near you

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Mike 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-war protesters? How long will the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution be suspended? These are some questions I have for the Mayor. It appears that members of the ... more »

NJ Spotlight | Opinion: A Tale of Two Cities: Charter Schools in Philadelphia, Camden

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NJ Spotlight | Opinion: A Tale of Two Cities: Charter Schools in Philadelphia, Camden: Opinion: A Tale of Two Cities: Charter Schools in Philadelphia, CamdenThe key to successful charters: keep the focus on the kids, keep the unions happyprint|email|shareByLaura Waters,April 27, 2012inOpinion|Post a CommentThe big education news this week in the Delaware Valley is the Philadelphia Public School District's announcement that it will close 40 of its 250 schools in September 2013.Related Links"A Blueprint for Transforming Philadelphia's Public Schools"Urban Hope ... more »

Compton's "Parent Trigger" Education Fight Heats Up | Mother Jones

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Compton's "Parent Trigger" Education Fight Heats Up | Mother Jones: Compton's "Parent Trigger" Education Fight Heats UpbyKristina RizgaLooks like the"parent-trigger law"debate is heating up betweenCompton' pro-charter parents and the Compton Unified School District.If you haven't been following the news out of Compton, last monthI bloggedabout how parents of kids attending LA's public McKinley Elementary School are trying something new: Shutting down the chronically struggling institution and demanding that it be replaced by a charter school. And yes, they can do ... more »

Education Quote of the Week: Arne Duncan on No Child Left Behind | Mother Jones

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Education Quote of the Week: Arne Duncan on No Child Left Behind | Mother Jones: Education Quote of the Week: Arne Duncan on No Child Left Behind—ByKristina Rizga| Thu Jan. 20, 2011 1:03 PM PST4Photo of Arne Duncan: Department of EducationHere's Education Secretary Arne Duncan on the widelyexpected overhaulof the nine-year-oldNo Child Left BehindAct, formally called the Education Elementary and Secondary Education Law,as quoted by AP:"Everyone I talk to really shares my sense of urgency that we have to do ...more »

The Church Speaks to Public Education Justice #soschat

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Public Education: Public EducationYou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22: 35-39The Church Speaks to Public Education JusticeAs we think about whether American society embodies Jesus' teaching that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, we need to be concerned about public schools, the ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran: Reformy Mind Reader

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Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran: Reformy Mind Reader: Tom Moran: Reformy Mind ReaderbyDukeWhat are we going to do with Tom Moran?Congratulations to the Perth Amboy school board for the double-whammy last night when itvoted to place Superintendent Janine Caffrey on administrative leave.This move will waste money and hurt kids. Nice going.Caffrey did nothing to deserve this. The charge against her was led by the board president, Samuel Lebreault, who is under investigation for trying to get free lunch for his kids ... more »

The Difference Between a Speech and a Lesson [Open Thread] | The Jose Vilson

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The Difference Between a Speech and a Lesson [Open Thread] | The Jose Vilson: The Difference Between a Speech and a Lesson [Open Thread]byJoseI don’t know if I should reveal this, but, oh well. When I was approached months ago about becoming a speaker for TEDxNYED, I did my usual nod of approval and, “Cool.” I felt a certain surprise about being asked to speak to people I consider colleagues about my passions. Plus, I felt honored because, well, at ... more »

Petulant [pech-uh-luhnt] - Wait, What?

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Petulant [pech-uh-luhnt] - Wait, What?: Petulant [pech-uh-luhnt]byjonpeltoPetulant [pech-uh-luhnt]:Adjective: (of a person or their manner) Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.Synonyms: testy – pettish – peevish – irritable – cantankerousIt may very well be the single most shocking development in this entire bizarre situation. Yesterday, Connecticut’s municipal officials came to the State Capitol to talk with the Governor and their legislators about the problems facing Connecticut’s cities and towns.Governor Malloy spoke to these Connecticut’s local elected officials and told them “not... more »

School Tech Connect: The Appearance of a Process

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School Tech Connect: The Appearance of a Process: The Appearance of a Processbynoreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)I have been critical of Elaine Nekritz over time, I admit it. I thought her performance during the committee hearing on SB512 was lacking, and of course her vote there was insane. She voted for a thing the consequences of which were totally unknown.However, she is not afraid of answering questions, so for that, I give her props. I send out a lot of emails and ...more »

Village of Attachment — Whole Child Education

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Village of Attachment — Whole Child Education: Village of AttachmentbyASCD Whole Child BloggersPost submitted by Bev Ogilvie and Steve CairnsByrne Creek Community Secondary Schoolis committed to its culture of teacher collaboration. A weekly dedicated time slot is used by teams of staff to discuss student achievement and develop support plans. One student support plan was The Village of Attachment. Over six months, a group of staff met to learn the foundations and employ the strategies of this powerful paradigm.Drawing on ... more »

RheeFirst! » The Best Posts About Michelle Rhee’s Exaggerated Test Scores

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RheeFirst! » The Best Posts About Michelle Rhee’s Exaggerated Test Scores: The Best Posts About Michelle Rhee’s Exaggerated Test Scoresbyadmin Dated, but oh so good.Written by Larry Ferlazzo for his blog. Read theentire post here.“The education blogosphere, and parts of the education media, have been abuzz the past couple of days over the discovery that Michelle Rhee’s often-claimed astronomical student test gains when she was a teacher were not true. This, of course, does not mean that Rhee was not ... more »

The superintendent candidates for Seattle Public Schools: The good, the bad and the ugly | Seattle Education

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The superintendent candidates for Seattle Public Schools: The good, the bad and the ugly | Seattle Education: The superintendent candidates for Seattle Public Schools: The good, the bad and the uglyfromSeattle Education 2010byseattleducation2011I will focus on two of the candidates, Enoch and Husk. They are, in a sense, polar opposites. Banda seems “nice enough” but we need more than that in Seattle, particularly now after having to live through Broad and Goodloe-Johnson forcing their will on Seattle Public Schools with ... more »

Public education as a human right | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

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Public education as a human right | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Public education as a human rightbyNijmie DzurinkoPlease help us welcome our newest blogger, Nijmie Dzurinko, former executive director of Philadelphia Student Union.In the blurry world of education reform parents, students, educators, and communities need a guiding light to keep us on track. What could public education look like in our city and state if education was fundamentally a human right guaranteed in our society? How can we proceed in ... more »

Schools Matter: "Support Our Schools" Astroturf Group Rallies With Letter Writing Campaign to County Commissioners

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Schools Matter: "Support Our Schools" Astroturf Group Rallies With Letter Writing Campaign to County Commissioners: "Support Our Schools" Astroturf Group Rallies With Letter Writing Campaign to County CommissionersbyJim HornThe shenanigans going on this spring in Knoxville, TN, offer a powerful case study of corporate control of schools in action.A few weeks before Eli Broad's East TN transplant, Jim McIntyre, delivered his State of the Schools speech in January of this year, a newgrassrootsastroturf group was formed to push the Broadie ... more »

Education Research Report: Lasting Impacts of Effective Teachers

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Education Research Report: Lasting Impacts of Effective Teachers: Lasting Impacts of Effective TeachersbyJonathan KantrowitzTeachers who raise test scores have long-term effects on students’ college enrollment and earnings as adultsA study showing the large impacts that highly skilled teachers have on students’ academic achievement and lifetime earnings is available on the Education Next website, www.educationnext.org. Researchers Raj Chetty and John N. Friedman of Harvard University and Jonah E. Rockoff of Columbia University analyzed school-district data from grades 3–8 for 2.5 mi...more »

My visit to Philadelphia « Diane Ravitch's blog

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My visit to Philadelphia « Diane Ravitch's blog: Diane Ravitch WebsiteDiane Ravitch WebsiteMy visit to PhiladelphiabydianeravYesterday I went to Philadelphia to speak to the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Before I left New York City, the local spokesperson for Parents Across American, Helen Gym, asked if I would meet with some journalists to talk about the “reform” plan just released the day before. She sent me a link to the plan, and as I read ... more »

RheeFirst! » Massive Teacher’s Rally Held at CT State Capitol–Rhee gets a mention

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RheeFirst! » Massive Teacher’s Rally Held at CT State Capitol–Rhee gets a mention: Massive Teacher’s Rally Held at CT State Capitol–Rhee gets a mentionbyadminThis first hand account was sent by Terry Winters of CT, who attended a massive teachers’ rally before the State Capitol yesterday. The State Senate President Pro Tem and other legislators spoke at the rally.“Connecticut teachers converged on the State Capitol to stand up for students and the teaching profession—emphasizing that lawmakers need a meaningful education reform ... more »

PAA Action News Parents Across America

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Parents Across America: Information and action for parents coming together to strengthen our public schools. Comments? Suggestions? Stories? E-mail usinfo@parentsacrossamerica.org.More atwww.parentsacrossamerica.org.Looking for regular updates on key education stories? Join the PAA News list. EmailPAAnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.comPAA Action NewsGO TONational Resolution on High-Stakes TestingPAA Action AlertJoin the Pineapple Rebellion! Sign theNational Resolution against High-Stakes Testing!PAA and our allies raised a powerful challenge to the testing industry this week. First, our ... more »

FairTest to Honor Diane Ravitch with the Deborah W. Meier Hero in Education Award | FairTest

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FairTest to Honor Diane Ravitch with the Deborah W. Meier Hero in Education Award | FairTest: FairTest to Honor Diane Ravitch with the Deborah W. Meier Hero in Education Award Submitted by fairtest on March 26, 2012 - 1:52pmabout us assessment FairTest in the News in house k-12national news whats newDate and Time:Tuesday, 5 June, 5:30-830 p.m.Place: Julia Richman Educational Complex, 317 East 67th St., New York CityDiane Ravitch is an internationally renowned and respected historian of education. Formerly a ...more »