Big Education Ape 2nd Banana
Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU by Mike Klonsky Obama, Emanuel & AxelrodWell, mercy me! Look who's behind those ads blasting the CTU. Why, it's ASGK Public Strategies and AKPD, David Axelrod's old firms. An embarrassed Axelrod is claiming that he no longer has any connection to the firms since he sold them in 2009, when he became Obama's Senior White House Advisor. But he's still very much connected (the A stands for Axelrod)... more »
Executive Order -- White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans | The White House
Executive Order -- White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans | The White House: President Obama Signs New Initiative to Improve Educational Outcomes for African Americans *Executive Order Establishes the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans* On Wednesday, during his remarks at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans, LA, President Obama announced he would sign an Executive Order today to improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for African Americans. The President has made providing a complete... more »
Charter founder June Brown charged with fraud | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Charter founder June Brown charged with fraud | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Charter founder June Brown charged with fraudby Dale Mezzacappa on Jul 23 2012[image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] - COMMENTS (1)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] June Brown, a longtime School District administrator who jumped on the charter bandwagon early by founding three small charters and then co-founding a cyber school,has been charged in a massive fraud case by the U.S. Attorney. The federal investigation was partly the result of dogged reporting over several years b... more »
OC Register Is Hot for Teacher . . . Salaries - Page 1 - News - Orange County - OC Weekly
OC Register Is Hot for Teacher . . . Salaries - Page 1 - News - Orange County - OC Weekly
OC Register Is Hot for Teacher . . . Salaries
Local educators fume as the daily publishes its latest salary database
Andre Agassi’s group reflect shift toward serving a more affluent demographic The Nashville Ledger
The Nashville Ledger: Charter schools as a west side alternativeGreat Hearts Academy, tennis star Andre Agassi’s group reflect shift toward serving a more affluent demographic By Linda Bryant Updated 11:23AM Print | Front Page | Email this story There was a time when Nashville’s push for charter schools centered on low- and modest- income neighborhoods and the need to rescue children from failing schools. Now, with the help of the state legislature, charters are open to all students, and the focus is shifting to the more affluent west side of town. Discussions of LEAD Academy, Libe... more »
Finalists for National Teaching Award - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)
Finalists for National Teaching Award - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces 2012 State Finalists for Prestigious National Teaching Award SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has named six outstanding teachers as 2012 California State Finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The *mathematics* nominees are: *Jamie Garner*, a sixth grade mathematics teacher at the Walnut Elementary Education Center in the Turlock Unified School District, Stanislaus County;... more »
BLUSHING… - Wait, What?
BLUSHING… - Wait, What?: BLUSHING… by jonpelto *Diane Ravitch, a true American hero and the Patron Saint to all of us who believe in the importance of saving and improving American Education* No, the red in my checks is not a sun burn. And yes, I know our society frowns on grown men blushing… But who wouldn’t blush when confronted by the extraordinarily generous words of Diane Ravitch, a true American hero and the Patron Saint to all of us who believe in the importance of saving and improving American Education. Diane Ravitch’s blog at http://dianeravitch.net/ is the first thin... more »
Invitation to the Schools To Watch Program - Letters (CA Dept of Education)
Invitation to the Schools To Watch Program - Letters (CA Dept of Education): July 26, 2012 Dear District and County Superintendents and Middle School Principals: *INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2012–13** SCHOOLS TO WATCH™—TAKING CENTER STAGE PROGRAM* I am pleased to announce that the California Schools to Watch™—Taking Center Stage (STW™—TCS) application process for 2012–13 is now open. The STW™—TCS program identifies model middle grades schools that are academically excellent, developmentally responsive, socially equitable, and have a culture of strong collaborative leadersh... more »
Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal | Dailycensored.com
Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal | Dailycensored.com: Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal by Susan Ohanian Parents and teachers are faced with a volcanic eruption of curriculum claiming to deliver the Common Core State [sic] Standards. Here’s a look at one coterie (check out the third meaning: *a group of prairie dogs occupying a communal burrow*) gathered under the Verizon Foundation umbrella. Verizon invites Partners to join them at Thinkfinity to bring “thousands” of Common Core standards-based lesson plans from ... more »
Dubious math on charter schools
Dubious math on charter schools: Dubious math on charter schools [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] By Lawrence F. Jones Jr. READER FEEDBACK Post a comment During a recent School Reform Commission meeting, Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky decried the cost of independent charter school expansion under the Philadelphia School District's reform plan, saying district Renaissance Schools have been less costly. We at the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools disagree with the commissioner's math as well as his philosophy on education reform. Dworetzky ... more »
Oops, that old accountability thing again (And again and..) SacPD investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson | Sacramento News - KCRA Home
Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson | Sacramento News - KCRA Home: Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor JohnsonCriminal probe launched, looks at credit card usage UPDATED 5:50 PM PDT Jul 25, 2012[image: Sacramento Police Car] VIEW LARGE SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) - A former top aide to Mayor Kevin Johnson is now the subject of a criminal investigation conducted by the Sacramento Police Department, a spokesman said Wednesday. - MAYOR'S AIDE RESIGNS AMID CREDIT CARD QUESTIONS A top aide to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson resigned amid alle...more »
Schools Matter: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS
Schools Matter: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *"Prior research, then, strongly suggests that charter programs have not lived up to their initial promise of transcending the segregating effects of traditional district boundary lines. In fact, these studies indicate charters exacerbate already rampant school segregation, particularly for Black students." — Erica Frankenberg, Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, Jia Wang* [image: The Smith and Carlos Statue at San José ... more »
2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book - Data Book 2012 - Data Book - KIDS COUNT Data Center
2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book - Data Book 2012 - Data Book - KIDS COUNT Data Center: 2012 *KIDS COUNT Data Book*National and state-by-state data on key indicators of child well-being. download or order book media resources state rankings & interactive wheel create custom data reports Follow KIDS COUNT - *KIDS COUNT:* Join Email List - - - Download or Order the *Data Book* The 2012 *KIDS COUNT Data Book* introduces a new KIDS COUNT index, which provides a detailed picture of how children are faring in the United States. In addition to ranking states on overall child... more »
How Common Core will change testing in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
How Common Core will change testing in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: How Common Core will change testing in schools By Valerie Strauss This *was written by Stephen Krashen, professor of linguistics at the University of Southern California (emeritus), to explain how the adoption of the Common Core State Standards will change testing in the nation’s schools. This first appeared on Diane Ravitch’s blog.* By Stephen Krashen *How much testing?* At first glance, the assessments now being developed to accompany the Common Core standards do not appear to be much more tha... more »
Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing | Scathing Purple Musings
Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing | Scathing Purple Musings: Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing by Bob Sikes Reports James Call in the *Florida Current*: A top lawmaker wants to call a time-out on statewide testing of Florida’s students and grading of public schools. “We’ve got teachers whose lives and students whose lives are impacted by an assessment system which is not accurate,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriation Education Committee. “We’ve got to stop, stop a... more »
RheeFirst! » Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide”
RheeFirst! » Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide”: Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide” by admin Written by Liz Dwyer for Good Education. Read the entire post here. “*The Olympic Games are a time for the world’s nations to showcase their very best, but a new ad from Michelle Rhee’s education reform group Students First has chosen to use the games to shine an unflattering spotlight on America’s public schools. …* *[I]t’s sad that an organization that calls itself Students First would choose to ridicule students and our schools in this way. The messaging of this ad also fee... more »
The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law | Blog | Media Matters for America
The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law | Blog | Media Matters for America: *The Wall Street Journal* Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization LawBLOG ››› 5 HOURS AND 3 MINUTES AGO ››› MELODY JOHNSON 54 [image: Print] The *Wall Street Journal* this morning failed to report ties between the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and controversial "parent-trigger" legislation that would allow parents to take over and convert public schools to charter schools. They also failed to report that the *J... more »
St.Hope Give Me Strength: Sacramento officials begin to react to credit card scandal
City Beat: Sacramento officials begin to react to credit card scandal: Sacramento officials begin to react to credit card scandal Johnson and Serna-Mayorga have been close for many years. She has served on the board of St. HOPE Public Schools - the non-profit founded by Johnson that operates charter schools in Oak Park - worked on Johnson's 2008 mayoral campaign and was one of the mayor's first hires when he was elected. City officials are beginning to react to the news that a mayoral aide resigned last week after it was revealed she allegedly racked up $9,000 in personal charge... more »
Bain Plan for Public Schools: Astonishing News from Philadelphia « Diane Ravitch's blog
Astonishing News from Philadelphia « Diane Ravitch's blog: Astonishing News from Philadelphia by dianerav As readers of this blog know, the School Reform Commission of Philadelphia has recommended a vast expansion of charter schools. It is acting on the recommendation of the Boston Consulting Group, business management consultants with no deep knowledge of education but a deep love of privatization. The business leaders of Philadelphia are pushing hard for the privatization plan. But today, the U.S. Attorney for Philadelphia charged a major charter school leader in Philadelphia wi... more »
“State Blinded By Its Devotion to School Testing” | Scathing Purple Musings
“State Blinded By Its Devotion to School Testing” | Scathing Purple Musings: “State Blinded By Its Devotion to School Testing” by Bob Sikes *Tampa Bay Times *columnist John Romano takes the latest breakdown in Florida’s test-dominated accountability system and leads to where fault really lies. Florida’s education policy-makers are obsessively devoted to standardized tests. The state’s devotion to standardized testing is admirable. It is also foolish, political, expensive, dangerous, maniacal, shortsighted, suspicious, self-serving, arbitrary and unfair But, man, you got to admir... more »
To Senator Kotowski health care for seniors is a sweetheart deal. « Fred Klonsky
To Senator Kotowski health care for seniors is a sweetheart deal. « Fred Klonsky: To Senator Kotowski health care for seniors is a sweetheart deal. by Fred Klonsky In a tweet responding to criticism of his active support for the pension cutting HB1447, Park Ridge Democratic Senator Dan Kotowski goes after state employees. Referring to retirees, seniors living on a state pension and receiving health care insurance subsidies, Kotowski says, “Nobody receives a sweetheart deal like that.” For a member of the Illinois General Assembly, a group which gave massive tax breaks to corporatio... more »
Teachers Are Poor Consumers of Learning « My Island View
Teachers Are Poor Consumers of Learning « My Island View: Teachers Are Poor Consumers of Learning by tomwhitby There are only a few explanations that many educators offer up as reasons not to learn and use any technology as tools for learning. One of the most popular excuses, frequently cited by educators, is that there is not enough time to learn all of the stuff that is out there. It certainly is true that there are a huge number of things to learn out there that are linked to technology. When thought about as a complete package, it most definitely can be overwhelming, and I wh... more »
The Army Occupying America's Public Schools
The Army Occupying America's Public Schools: The Army Occupying America’s Public Schools By Mark Naison [image: michelle rhee The Army Occupying Americas Public Schools]When a nation is invaded by an occupying army, there are multiple responses from those whose communities have been occupied. Some resist openly, at great risk; some decide to collaborate; others grimly go about their business in sullen compliance; still others decide to feign compliance, but take their resistance underground. Such would be a good description of the varied resistance to the corporate takeover of Amer... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Glaring omission from DOE's presentation of latest survey results
NYC Public School Parents: Glaring omission from DOE's presentation of latest survey results: Glaring omission from DOE's presentation of latest survey results by Leonie Haimson 1. The DOE just released the results of the 2011-2012 Learning Environment Survey. For the fifth year in a row – since the survey was first given -- parents said that smaller classes were the change they would most like to see in their children’s schools, substantially topping the field of ten choices at 23 percent. (See the responses to question nine here or below.) *And yet for the first time since... more »
Suburbs and charter schools: More room for innovation | Get Schooled
Suburbs and charter schools: More room for innovation | Get Schooled: Suburbs and charter schools: More room for innovation by Maureen Downey *Interesting post by Fordham Institute’s Michael J. Petrilli* on why charter schools ought to be viable options in leafy, affluent suburbs with great schools. Petrilli says pro charter school forces typically focus on throwing a lifeline to poor kids in failing urban schools rather than their accelerated peers in the suburbs. But he says charter schools could have a strong role in the super zip codes such as Scarsdale, Bethesda or McLean, wh... more »
The Educated Reporter: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau
The Educated Reporter: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau by Emily Richmond Not surprisingly, the repercussions of the nation's student loan debt crisis continue to grow. A new consumer protection agency, in a report to Congress and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, compared private loans to the subprime mortgages which contributed to the housing bubble and the disastrous fallout when it burst. (For a first-rate overview of the newly created Cons... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations by Melissa Westbrook [image: kitten in hat animated gif] From the House Appropriations Committee work of last week, comes these results (via Ed Week): *Winners:* Extension of allowing teachers in alternative certification programs to count as "highly qualified" through the 2014-2015 school year. This would include those "higly qualified" TFA 5-week trained teachers. *Losers*: organizations, many of whom support disabled/Special Ed students,... more »
Update: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog
Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College by dianerav A reader sent me the following press release. It describes how college freshmen who get a scholarship will have an electronic monitoring system, where they are expected to check in and report. It appears that the system relies on the student to check in regularly and interact with his or her electronic tracking system. Maybe this will be helpful. Or maybe it will be like that accursed Microsoft Paperclip that used to pop up uninvited and offer to help you whether you wanted... more »
Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education
Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education: Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US by seattleducation2011 Sharon Higgins, an education activist and a founding member of Parents Across America, has followed the Broad Foundation for several years and is editor of the Broad Report, as well as Charter School Scandals and the Perimeter Primate. Two years ago she began to investigate the Gulen charter schools and to follow is an in-depth interview with Ms. Higgins on that topic: CHARTER SCHOOL... more »
Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!
Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE! by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) This letter from the Public Affairs Research Council dated July 17 to Superintendent John White calls on him to develop REAL accountability for the voucher receiving private and parochial schools. Where was the PAR when this legislation was being debated? Where were our legislators when they voted on legislation that gave John White virtually singular control of most aspects of the law. THEY will be held
Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival
Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival: Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2012, 2:54 pm by GottaLaff [image: Google Gmail][image: Facebook][image: Twitter][image: LinkedIn][image: StumbleUpon][image: Reddit][image: Fark][image: Digg][image: Tumblr][image: Blogger Post][image: Delicious][image: FriendFeed][image: NewsVine][image: Google Bookmarks][image: Google Reader][image: Multiply][image: Posterous][image: Email][... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU: Axelrod's old firm behind 'Infrastructure Trust', Citibank, and attacks on CTU by Mike Klonsky Obama, Emanuel & AxelrodWell, mercy me! Look who's behind those ads blasting the CTU. Why, it's ASGK Public Strategies and AKPD, David Axelrod's old firms. An embarrassed Axelrod is claiming that he no longer has any connection to the firms since he sold them in 2009, when he became Obama's Senior White House Advisor. But he's still very much connected (the A stands for Axelrod)... more »
Executive Order -- White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans | The White House
Executive Order -- White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans | The White House: President Obama Signs New Initiative to Improve Educational Outcomes for African Americans *Executive Order Establishes the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans* On Wednesday, during his remarks at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans, LA, President Obama announced he would sign an Executive Order today to improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for African Americans. The President has made providing a complete... more »
Charter founder June Brown charged with fraud | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Charter founder June Brown charged with fraud | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Charter founder June Brown charged with fraudby Dale Mezzacappa on Jul 23 2012[image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] - COMMENTS (1)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] June Brown, a longtime School District administrator who jumped on the charter bandwagon early by founding three small charters and then co-founding a cyber school,has been charged in a massive fraud case by the U.S. Attorney. The federal investigation was partly the result of dogged reporting over several years b... more »
OC Register Is Hot for Teacher . . . Salaries - Page 1 - News - Orange County - OC Weekly
OC Register Is Hot for Teacher . . . Salaries - Page 1 - News - Orange County - OC Weekly
OC Register Is Hot for Teacher . . . Salaries
Local educators fume as the daily publishes its latest salary database
Andre Agassi’s group reflect shift toward serving a more affluent demographic The Nashville Ledger
The Nashville Ledger: Charter schools as a west side alternativeGreat Hearts Academy, tennis star Andre Agassi’s group reflect shift toward serving a more affluent demographic By Linda Bryant Updated 11:23AM Print | Front Page | Email this story There was a time when Nashville’s push for charter schools centered on low- and modest- income neighborhoods and the need to rescue children from failing schools. Now, with the help of the state legislature, charters are open to all students, and the focus is shifting to the more affluent west side of town. Discussions of LEAD Academy, Libe... more »
Finalists for National Teaching Award - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)
Finalists for National Teaching Award - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces 2012 State Finalists for Prestigious National Teaching Award SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has named six outstanding teachers as 2012 California State Finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The *mathematics* nominees are: *Jamie Garner*, a sixth grade mathematics teacher at the Walnut Elementary Education Center in the Turlock Unified School District, Stanislaus County;... more »
BLUSHING… - Wait, What?
BLUSHING… - Wait, What?: BLUSHING… by jonpelto *Diane Ravitch, a true American hero and the Patron Saint to all of us who believe in the importance of saving and improving American Education* No, the red in my checks is not a sun burn. And yes, I know our society frowns on grown men blushing… But who wouldn’t blush when confronted by the extraordinarily generous words of Diane Ravitch, a true American hero and the Patron Saint to all of us who believe in the importance of saving and improving American Education. Diane Ravitch’s blog at http://dianeravitch.net/ is the first thin... more »
Invitation to the Schools To Watch Program - Letters (CA Dept of Education)
Invitation to the Schools To Watch Program - Letters (CA Dept of Education): July 26, 2012 Dear District and County Superintendents and Middle School Principals: *INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2012–13** SCHOOLS TO WATCH™—TAKING CENTER STAGE PROGRAM* I am pleased to announce that the California Schools to Watch™—Taking Center Stage (STW™—TCS) application process for 2012–13 is now open. The STW™—TCS program identifies model middle grades schools that are academically excellent, developmentally responsive, socially equitable, and have a culture of strong collaborative leadersh... more »
Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal | Dailycensored.com
Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal | Dailycensored.com: Look at Who’s Partnering with Verizon to Deliver Common Core Offal by Susan Ohanian Parents and teachers are faced with a volcanic eruption of curriculum claiming to deliver the Common Core State [sic] Standards. Here’s a look at one coterie (check out the third meaning: *a group of prairie dogs occupying a communal burrow*) gathered under the Verizon Foundation umbrella. Verizon invites Partners to join them at Thinkfinity to bring “thousands” of Common Core standards-based lesson plans from ... more »
Dubious math on charter schools
Dubious math on charter schools: Dubious math on charter schools [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] By Lawrence F. Jones Jr. READER FEEDBACK Post a comment During a recent School Reform Commission meeting, Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky decried the cost of independent charter school expansion under the Philadelphia School District's reform plan, saying district Renaissance Schools have been less costly. We at the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools disagree with the commissioner's math as well as his philosophy on education reform. Dworetzky ... more »
Oops, that old accountability thing again (And again and..) SacPD investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson | Sacramento News - KCRA Home
Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor Johnson | Sacramento News - KCRA Home: Sacramento police investigate former aide to Mayor JohnsonCriminal probe launched, looks at credit card usage UPDATED 5:50 PM PDT Jul 25, 2012[image: Sacramento Police Car] VIEW LARGE SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) - A former top aide to Mayor Kevin Johnson is now the subject of a criminal investigation conducted by the Sacramento Police Department, a spokesman said Wednesday. - MAYOR'S AIDE RESIGNS AMID CREDIT CARD QUESTIONS A top aide to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson resigned amid alle...more »
Schools Matter: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS
Schools Matter: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS: Obscuring history and human agency through NCLB, RTTT and CCSS by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene *"Prior research, then, strongly suggests that charter programs have not lived up to their initial promise of transcending the segregating effects of traditional district boundary lines. In fact, these studies indicate charters exacerbate already rampant school segregation, particularly for Black students." — Erica Frankenberg, Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, Jia Wang* [image: The Smith and Carlos Statue at San José ... more »
2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book - Data Book 2012 - Data Book - KIDS COUNT Data Center
2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book - Data Book 2012 - Data Book - KIDS COUNT Data Center: 2012 *KIDS COUNT Data Book*National and state-by-state data on key indicators of child well-being. download or order book media resources state rankings & interactive wheel create custom data reports Follow KIDS COUNT - *KIDS COUNT:* Join Email List - - - Download or Order the *Data Book* The 2012 *KIDS COUNT Data Book* introduces a new KIDS COUNT index, which provides a detailed picture of how children are faring in the United States. In addition to ranking states on overall child... more »
How Common Core will change testing in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
How Common Core will change testing in schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: How Common Core will change testing in schools By Valerie Strauss This *was written by Stephen Krashen, professor of linguistics at the University of Southern California (emeritus), to explain how the adoption of the Common Core State Standards will change testing in the nation’s schools. This first appeared on Diane Ravitch’s blog.* By Stephen Krashen *How much testing?* At first glance, the assessments now being developed to accompany the Common Core standards do not appear to be much more tha... more »
Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing | Scathing Purple Musings
Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing | Scathing Purple Musings: Key Florida Democrat Lawmaker Calls for Time-Out on Statewide Testing by Bob Sikes Reports James Call in the *Florida Current*: A top lawmaker wants to call a time-out on statewide testing of Florida’s students and grading of public schools. “We’ve got teachers whose lives and students whose lives are impacted by an assessment system which is not accurate,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriation Education Committee. “We’ve got to stop, stop a... more »
RheeFirst! » Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide”
RheeFirst! » Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide”: Rhee’s new ad called “shameful”, “snide” by admin Written by Liz Dwyer for Good Education. Read the entire post here. “*The Olympic Games are a time for the world’s nations to showcase their very best, but a new ad from Michelle Rhee’s education reform group Students First has chosen to use the games to shine an unflattering spotlight on America’s public schools. …* *[I]t’s sad that an organization that calls itself Students First would choose to ridicule students and our schools in this way. The messaging of this ad also fee... more »
The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law | Blog | Media Matters for America
The Wall Street Journal Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization Law | Blog | Media Matters for America: *The Wall Street Journal* Covers Up ALEC Link To Anti-Union School Privatization LawBLOG ››› 5 HOURS AND 3 MINUTES AGO ››› MELODY JOHNSON 54 [image: Print] The *Wall Street Journal* this morning failed to report ties between the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and controversial "parent-trigger" legislation that would allow parents to take over and convert public schools to charter schools. They also failed to report that the *J... more »
St.Hope Give Me Strength: Sacramento officials begin to react to credit card scandal
City Beat: Sacramento officials begin to react to credit card scandal: Sacramento officials begin to react to credit card scandal Johnson and Serna-Mayorga have been close for many years. She has served on the board of St. HOPE Public Schools - the non-profit founded by Johnson that operates charter schools in Oak Park - worked on Johnson's 2008 mayoral campaign and was one of the mayor's first hires when he was elected. City officials are beginning to react to the news that a mayoral aide resigned last week after it was revealed she allegedly racked up $9,000 in personal charge... more »
Bain Plan for Public Schools: Astonishing News from Philadelphia « Diane Ravitch's blog
Astonishing News from Philadelphia « Diane Ravitch's blog: Astonishing News from Philadelphia by dianerav As readers of this blog know, the School Reform Commission of Philadelphia has recommended a vast expansion of charter schools. It is acting on the recommendation of the Boston Consulting Group, business management consultants with no deep knowledge of education but a deep love of privatization. The business leaders of Philadelphia are pushing hard for the privatization plan. But today, the U.S. Attorney for Philadelphia charged a major charter school leader in Philadelphia wi... more »
“State Blinded By Its Devotion to School Testing” | Scathing Purple Musings
“State Blinded By Its Devotion to School Testing” | Scathing Purple Musings: “State Blinded By Its Devotion to School Testing” by Bob Sikes *Tampa Bay Times *columnist John Romano takes the latest breakdown in Florida’s test-dominated accountability system and leads to where fault really lies. Florida’s education policy-makers are obsessively devoted to standardized tests. The state’s devotion to standardized testing is admirable. It is also foolish, political, expensive, dangerous, maniacal, shortsighted, suspicious, self-serving, arbitrary and unfair But, man, you got to admir... more »
To Senator Kotowski health care for seniors is a sweetheart deal. « Fred Klonsky
To Senator Kotowski health care for seniors is a sweetheart deal. « Fred Klonsky: To Senator Kotowski health care for seniors is a sweetheart deal. by Fred Klonsky In a tweet responding to criticism of his active support for the pension cutting HB1447, Park Ridge Democratic Senator Dan Kotowski goes after state employees. Referring to retirees, seniors living on a state pension and receiving health care insurance subsidies, Kotowski says, “Nobody receives a sweetheart deal like that.” For a member of the Illinois General Assembly, a group which gave massive tax breaks to corporatio... more »
Teachers Are Poor Consumers of Learning « My Island View
Teachers Are Poor Consumers of Learning « My Island View: Teachers Are Poor Consumers of Learning by tomwhitby There are only a few explanations that many educators offer up as reasons not to learn and use any technology as tools for learning. One of the most popular excuses, frequently cited by educators, is that there is not enough time to learn all of the stuff that is out there. It certainly is true that there are a huge number of things to learn out there that are linked to technology. When thought about as a complete package, it most definitely can be overwhelming, and I wh... more »
The Army Occupying America's Public Schools
The Army Occupying America's Public Schools: The Army Occupying America’s Public Schools By Mark Naison [image: michelle rhee The Army Occupying Americas Public Schools]When a nation is invaded by an occupying army, there are multiple responses from those whose communities have been occupied. Some resist openly, at great risk; some decide to collaborate; others grimly go about their business in sullen compliance; still others decide to feign compliance, but take their resistance underground. Such would be a good description of the varied resistance to the corporate takeover of Amer... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Glaring omission from DOE's presentation of latest survey results
NYC Public School Parents: Glaring omission from DOE's presentation of latest survey results: Glaring omission from DOE's presentation of latest survey results by Leonie Haimson 1. The DOE just released the results of the 2011-2012 Learning Environment Survey. For the fifth year in a row – since the survey was first given -- parents said that smaller classes were the change they would most like to see in their children’s schools, substantially topping the field of ten choices at 23 percent. (See the responses to question nine here or below.) *And yet for the first time since... more »
Suburbs and charter schools: More room for innovation | Get Schooled
Suburbs and charter schools: More room for innovation | Get Schooled: Suburbs and charter schools: More room for innovation by Maureen Downey *Interesting post by Fordham Institute’s Michael J. Petrilli* on why charter schools ought to be viable options in leafy, affluent suburbs with great schools. Petrilli says pro charter school forces typically focus on throwing a lifeline to poor kids in failing urban schools rather than their accelerated peers in the suburbs. But he says charter schools could have a strong role in the super zip codes such as Scarsdale, Bethesda or McLean, wh... more »
The Educated Reporter: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau
The Educated Reporter: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau: Student Loan Crisis Needs Congressional Intervention: Consumer Protection Bureau by Emily Richmond Not surprisingly, the repercussions of the nation's student loan debt crisis continue to grow. A new consumer protection agency, in a report to Congress and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, compared private loans to the subprime mortgages which contributed to the housing bubble and the disastrous fallout when it burst. (For a first-rate overview of the newly created Cons... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations: Winners and Losers (So Far) in House Appropriations by Melissa Westbrook [image: kitten in hat animated gif] From the House Appropriations Committee work of last week, comes these results (via Ed Week): *Winners:* Extension of allowing teachers in alternative certification programs to count as "highly qualified" through the 2014-2015 school year. This would include those "higly qualified" TFA 5-week trained teachers. *Losers*: organizations, many of whom support disabled/Special Ed students,... more »
Update: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog
Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College « Diane Ravitch's blog: Microsoft Paperclip Goes to College by dianerav A reader sent me the following press release. It describes how college freshmen who get a scholarship will have an electronic monitoring system, where they are expected to check in and report. It appears that the system relies on the student to check in regularly and interact with his or her electronic tracking system. Maybe this will be helpful. Or maybe it will be like that accursed Microsoft Paperclip that used to pop up uninvited and offer to help you whether you wanted... more »
Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education
Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US | Seattle Education: Charter schools, the privatization of education & the Gulen schools In The US by seattleducation2011 Sharon Higgins, an education activist and a founding member of Parents Across America, has followed the Broad Foundation for several years and is editor of the Broad Report, as well as Charter School Scandals and the Perimeter Primate. Two years ago she began to investigate the Gulen charter schools and to follow is an in-depth interview with Ms. Higgins on that topic: CHARTER SCHOOL... more »
Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!
Geaux Teacher!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!: PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL - TOO LITTLE TOO LATE! by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) This letter from the Public Affairs Research Council dated July 17 to Superintendent John White calls on him to develop REAL accountability for the voucher receiving private and parochial schools. Where was the PAR when this legislation was being debated? Where were our legislators when they voted on legislation that gave John White virtually singular control of most aspects of the law. THEY will be held
Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival
Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | The Political Carnival: Guns, Rick Santorum, the Koch brothers, Islamophobia and Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2012, 2:54 pm by GottaLaff [image: Google Gmail][image: Facebook][image: Twitter][image: LinkedIn][image: StumbleUpon][image: Reddit][image: Fark][image: Digg][image: Tumblr][image: Blogger Post][image: Delicious][image: FriendFeed][image: NewsVine][image: Google Bookmarks][image: Google Reader][image: Multiply][image: Posterous][image: Email][... more »