BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS
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 »
Schools Matter: Why All the Khan-troversy?
Schools Matter: Why All the Khan-troversy?: Why All the Khan-troversy? by P. L. Thomas At *The Answer Sheet*, Valerie Strauss has spurred a debate over the definition of slope—not exactly the sort of detailed intellectual stuff we might expect in a newspaper. The discussion of the finer points of mathematics is more akin to the nuanced conversations you may find in a university math department or a scholarly journal. But the source of this controversy is Sal Khan and his Khan Academy—which leads us to our need to pull back from the slope debate and address just why is there a co... more »
Charter Schools Initiative 1240 bankrolled by tech millionaires | UW Election Eye 2012 | Seattle Times
Charter Schools Initiative 1240 bankrolled by tech millionaires | UW Election Eye 2012 | Seattle Times: Charter Schools Initiative 1240 bankrolled by tech millionaires Posted by Kathy Gill *For the fourth time since 1996, Washington State will have a ballot measure on charter schools this November. This one, like its predecessors, is the brainchild of a handful of technology giants.* [image: school bus] Image courtesy Michigan Department of Education SEATTLE — Coming to our ballot in Novemberis a measure, Initiative 1240, asking Washington voters to allocate public tax revenues to al... more »
The Motorless City: @AFT Convention Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: The Motorless City: @AFT Convention *As I got closer to one massive beautiful brick building that in most cities would be a high-priced condo, it was clear that it was a building for cars. Maybe it is a condo of sorts where people get a parking spot and live in their cars.* Thursday, July 26, 10AM All I can say is "Detroit seems to be trying." Parking lots, parking garages seem to be the major industry. I don't get it. Some of the newest and best built buildings are parking garages. Is this the post-post industrial age of a city in its last days - like a white ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Star-Ledger: Privatizers? What Privatizers?
Jersey Jazzman: Star-Ledger: Privatizers? What Privatizers?: Star-Ledger: Privatizers? What Privatizers? by Duke *Star-Ledger Editorial Board meeting* Whatever you think about ACTING NJDOE Commissioner Chris Cerf's nomination, this sentence by the* **Star-Ledger* editorial board is simply absurd: Sen. Ron Rice (D-Essex) started this ball rolling. *He insists that Cerf is at the center of some apocalyptic conspiracy by hedge fund managers to take over public schools and privatize them for profits.* [emphasis mine] Yeah, about that crazy "conspiracy": The three of the four virtual c... more »
How New Orleans Did Not Get Turned Around « Diane Ravitch's blog
How New Orleans Did Not Get Turned Around « Diane Ravitch's blog: How New Orleans Did Not Get Turned Around by dianerav A reader in New Orleans responded to the post about the failure of the school-closing strategy in New York Citywith the following comments. Despite the constant repetition of the story about the “miracle in New Orleans” by Arne Duncan and the media, the New Orleans district continues to be one of the lowest performing in a low-performing state. You may recall that Secretary of Education said that Hurricane Katrina was the best thing that ever happened to the educ... more »
Remarks by the President at the National Urban League Convention | The White House
Remarks by the President at the National Urban League Convention | The White House: Remarks by the President at the National Urban League Convention Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, Louisiana 7:00 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Urban League! (Applause.) Thank you. It is good to be with the Urban League. (Applause.) And it's good to be in the Big Easy. (Applause.) Now, I don’t know if the fact that this is called the Morial Convention Center had anything to do with folks coming down to New Orleans -- (laughter) -- but it is good to be with all of you. And I'm... more »
Jersey Jazzman: That's One Cruel Fairy
Jersey Jazzman: That's One Cruel Fairy: That's One Cruel Fairy by Duke The Merit Pay Fairy is showing some teeth: There's been little evidence that teachers’ performance bonuses have any meaningful effect on student achievement. But a new study out of Chicago took a brand-new tack, dividing 150 teachers into two groups. The first group received a $4,000 advance, with the understanding that if students didn’t do better than average on standardized tests, they would have to pay it back. If achievement did go up, teachers stood to earn as much as another $4,000. The second group of ... more »
Unionized Charter School Teachers Need Your Support | Edwize
Unionized Charter School Teachers Need Your Support | Edwize: Unionized Charter School Teachers Need Your Support by Rob Callaghan [image: AECI teachers need your support] In January 2010, educators at the NYC Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industries (AECI) in the Bronx formed a union at their school to provide a positive and stable school culture for their students. Educators delivered letters to the school’s principal and board of directors that called for a more formal voice in school operations to “strengthen our school community and enhance ... more »
School Tech Connect: The Lazy Lede
School Tech Connect: The Lazy Lede: The Lazy Lede by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I see this phrase more often than I care to: That's from WBEZ's reporting on the press conference yesterday. I've also seen it on *Chicago Tonight.* I think it would be reasonable for a reader to assume from that sentence that prior to 1995, the people of Chicago elected their school board directly, like they do in the suburbs and downstate. The trouble is that it never happened, and I think it's a bit lazy to summarize the situation as its summarized in the example above. It's the sort of thi... more »
NYC Educator: Those Who Can, Teach, Until They Don't
NYC Educator: Those Who Can, Teach, Until They Don't: Those Who Can, Teach, Until They Don't by Miss Eyre I am doing some professional development this summer. At one of these sessions, I heard from a professor at one of our city's great universities, who has done some work with high school students over the summer. This gentleman was lovely and learned, and very respectful of and attuned to his audience, which was composed almost entirely of New York City high school teachers. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but listen to this man's remarks and feel like a bit of a chump. This g... more »
Are Florida Legislators Involved in Stalling Polk County’s At-Risk Charter Schools? | Scathing Purple Musings
Are Florida Legislators Involved in Stalling Polk County’s At-Risk Charter Schools? | Scathing Purple Musings: Are Florida Legislators Involved in Stalling Polk County’s At-Risk Charter Schools? by Bob Sikes In what could turn out to be a bombshell story on Florida’s political battle over charter schools, *Lakeland Ledger *reporter Merissa Green writes that powerful Florida legislators may be stalling Polk counties desire to open its own charter schools to serve at-risk kids. Their reason is to get the business for one of their for-profit cronies: BARTOW | Polk County School Boar... 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 »
Times Higher Education - Speculation links Diane Ravitch's criticism of Romney with thinktank exit
Times Higher Education - Did partisan politics 'terminate' doyenne?: Did partisan politics 'terminate' doyenne? Share on twitterShare on facebookMore Sharing Services1 26 July 2012 By *Jon Marcus* * * Speculation links Diane Ravitch's criticism of Romney with thinktank exit. Jon Marcus writes US politics has become so mean-spirited and polarised that not even the esoteric world of education policy scholarship appears to be safe. So when Diane Ravitch, a high-profile research professor at New York University, was dismissed from her unpaid position as a fellow of the Brookings Institut... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-26-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] The Connecticut Watchdog for the Public Interest by dianerav A reader reminded me of a post by blogger Jonathan Pelto about Hartford, Connecticut, that shows how districts can “game the system” to meet testing target. And that reminded me that Jon Pelto is someone you should know about. Subscribe to his blog if you want an insider’s view of education reform in Connecticut. Pelto was a legislator for several years and cares passionately about public education. He knows how to follow the money and watches for ... more »
What next for Brown’s school finance reform? | EdSource Today
What next for Brown’s school finance reform? | EdSource Today: What next for Brown’s school finance reform? ** July 26th, 2012 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services A termed-out state senator who’s been a leader on education issues offered advice Wednesday to Gov. Jerry Brown on how to get the Legislature to pass significant school finance reform: Don’t try to jam lawmakers; ally yourself with a respected legislator who’s got more than a couple years left to serve; and implement the ref... more »
School Tech Connect: After The Shipwreck
School Tech Connect: After The Shipwreck: After The Shipwreck by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Meet Adrian Rosu, a teacher I met today who was furnishing some Romanian wisdom for the edification of the Board. *The arts are the plank after the shipwreck, that save us.* * --Constantin Brancusi* * * I know it matters very little what I think, but I need to point out that the reason Rahm felt he could just wave a magic wand on the longer school day is that there is segment of the
Obama Executive Order Focuses On Black Educational Excellence | Resurgence | Big Think
Obama Executive Order Focuses On Black Educational Excellence | Resurgence | Big Think: Obama Executive Order Focuses On Black Educational Excellence Kris Broughton on July 26, 2012, 4:55 AM After President Obama's announcement at the National Urban League conventionin New Orleans yesterday of his latest executive order establishing a new White House initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, all I can say is “WOW!” For me this announcement is serendipitous. A week ago, I was in New Orleans, seeing firsthand what my often woefully undereducated African American bret... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: National School Board Association's Concern on Cost of Unfunded Federal Mandates is Valid: "We are Where We've Never Been Before"
Missouri Education Watchdog: National School Board Association's Concern on Cost of Unfunded Federal Mandates is Valid: "We are Where We've Never Been Before": National School Board Association's Concern on Cost of Unfunded Federal Mandates is Valid: "We are Where We've Never Been Before" by stlgretchen Think local school district cost was bad four years ago? Just wait until you find out what those costs are now. Graphic from http://freezethebudget.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/state-mandate-lollapalooza/ The National School Board Association's concern on local district spending... more »
Geaux Teacher!: TESTED: WHY STANDARDIZED TESTS DON'T MAKE SENSE
Geaux Teacher!: TESTED: WHY STANDARDIZED TESTS DON'T MAKE SENSE: RECALL BOBBY JINDAL REASON #3 noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) at Geaux Teacher! - 7 hours ago STUDENT VOICE - ZACK KOPPLIN noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) at Geaux Teacher! - 7 hours ago http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-la-halt-the-implementation-of-louisiana-s-creationist-voucher-program# 19 year-old student Zach Kopplin started this petition. Check it out. Zack testified Tuesday before the BESE board and offered research indicating that at least 20 of the approved vouche... more »
Pension talking points. « Fred Klonsky
Pension talking points. « Fred Klonsky: Pension talking points. by Fred Klonsky As we have battled for our pension rights over the past year, we have used the basic talking points provided by the IEA: - Any changes to TRS must be constitutional. - Any changes must bring financial stability to the system. - Any changes must be fair to members. These have been good. But not enough as we head into an August House session in Springfield and a veto session of the General Assembly following the November election. Following discussions with many TRS members around the state, let... more »
21st Century PLNs for School Leaders | Connected Principals
21st Century PLNs for School Leaders | Connected Principals: 21st Century PLNs for School Leaders by George Couros cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by krossbow *I have to admit that I was pretty excited to write my first post for the Edutopia group that has a great list of educators sharing some of their best practices. I wanted to share the piece in my own learning space, but you can see the original article posted on the Edutopia site.* As many school administrators are enjoying their summer break, we all tend to think of ways that we can make Getting Started with Informa... more »
Florida Legislative Candidates Assail Education Cuts; Urge Testing Reforms | Scathing Purple Musings
Florida Legislative Candidates Assail Education Cuts; Urge Testing Reforms | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida Legislative Candidates Assail Education Cuts; Urge Testing Reforms by Bob Sikes From *Orlando Sentinel *reporter John Busdecker: More than any other issue discussed at Wednesday’s “Florida’s People, Florida’s Promise” forum for legislative candidates, it was education that dominated the conversation. Several of the 16 candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — who spoke called for increased funding of public education and the need to reform the Florida Comprehensive As... more »
LAUSD IS NOT ALONE IN THEIR MILITANT AND DESTRUCTIVE IGNORANCE - Perdaily.com
LAUSD IS NOT ALONE IN THEIR MILITANT AND DESTRUCTIVE IGNORANCE - Perdaily.com: LAUSD IS NOT ALONE IN THEIR MILITANT AND DESTRUCTIVE IGNORANCE by Leonard Isenberg [image: King Kong.jpg] (Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post) I know it's not Halloween yet, but If you want to get a scary vision of the confederacy of dunces that seems to be fungible in public school districts throughout this state and the country, check out belowDr. Mary Sieu, Deputy Superintendent in Cerritos of the ABC Unified School. When asked i... more »
CTU ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THE WIMPY DISTRICTS HOW IT’S DONE « Teachers Fight Back
CTU ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THE WIMPY DISTRICTS HOW IT’S DONE « Teachers Fight Back: CTU ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THE WIMPY DISTRICTS HOW IT’S DONE by alkleen Hats off to you, Chicago Teachers Union, once again you triumph, when so many other district unions have failed and or not had the courage to stand up to being bullied. So much for the millions of dollars in advertisements that the anti-union forces put in the Chicago newspapers and on the airwaves. Didn’t work. So much for tough guy Emanuel and the miracle worker Bizard, or is it Bizarre ? So much for the Chicago Tribune’s relentless p...more »
Schools Matter: Reduce spelling, grammar, phonics, increase free voluntary reading: Research supports Rosen et al
Schools Matter: Reduce spelling, grammar, phonics, increase free voluntary reading: Research supports Rosen et al: Reduce spelling, grammar, phonics, increase free voluntary reading: Research supports Rosen et al by skrashen Research: Rosen’s writers are right about reading and writing Sent to the Guardian, July 24, 2012 Research supports Michael Rosen and 90 other writers and artists who urged a reduction in spelling, grammar and phonics teaching and testing, and an increased emphasis on reading for enjoyment (“Children must be free to read for fun,” July 24, 2012). Studies do... 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 »
Daily Kos: Support progressive champion Darcy Burner - and maybe win a quilt!
Daily Kos: Support progressive champion Darcy Burner - and maybe win a quilt!: WED JUL 25, 2012 AT 05:49 PM PDT Support progressive champion Darcy Burner - and maybe win a quilt! byteacherkenFollow 3 PERMALINK1 COMMENT Darcy Burner is a true progressive champion. Her primary is now less than two weeks away. She needs to finish first among the Democrats in the top-two primary in orderto advance to the general election. One of her opponents is a former Vice President of Microsoft who has contributed more than $1million to her own campaign, and has made it clear that she will al... more »
Invest in Teachers – The Art of Teaching « Cooperative Catalyst
Invest in Teachers – The Art of Teaching « Cooperative Catalyst: Invest in Teachers – The Art of Teaching POSTED BY LINEDALILE ⋅ JULY 25, 2012 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT * * *A teacher is someone who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework – Lily Tomlin* Let us redefine the word “Teacher”. Teaching is not a job; it is an art. An art hidden behind a load of responsibilities. It lays the foundation of discovering mysteries, solving problems, and training our minds to question, explore, and investigate. To a world where knowledge is a treasure, teaching is a mirror that ... more »
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Media Matters nails WSJ and ALEC on "Parent Trigger"
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Media Matters nails WSJ and ALEC on "Parent Trigger": Media Matters nails WSJ and ALEC on "Parent Trigger" by Mike Klonsky According to Media Matters: 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 Journal's parent company, News Corp, is a member of ALEC. The Journal's treatment of the legislation al... 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 »
Romney goes after the huge and growing US Anglo-Saxon voting bloc. « Fred Klonsky
Romney goes after the huge and growing US Anglo-Saxon voting bloc. « Fred Klonsky: Romney goes after the huge and growing US Anglo-Saxon voting bloc. by Fred Klonsky So you know I’m not exactly this huge Barack Obama fan. But then there is this story out of England where Mittens has started his foreign tour, which will end at the feet of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. One of his people is quoted: “We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and (Romney) feels that the special relationship is special,” the adviser is quoted as saying. “The White House didn’t fully appreciate the shared hi... 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 »
Bronx Educator Grows Organically Engaged Citizens
Bronx Educator Grows Organically Engaged Citizens: Bronx Educator Grows Organically Engaged Citizens By Helen Weatherall / July 23, 2012 10:04 pm [image: Email]Share Stephen Ritz, Founder of The Green Bronx Machine There’s a lot to the Stephen Ritz story. As told in rapid fire by the man himself the whole quickly disperses like an exploding star. He’s a kid from the South Bronx, the world’s oldest 6th grader. As an athlete in a different life he spent time in NBA camps. For a spell he would consume two-dozen eggs a day. Yes, he has had a critical health issue – more than one even. ... more »
School Tech Connect: Jawanza Malone At City Hall
School Tech Connect: Jawanza Malone At City Hall: Jawanza Malone At City Hall by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) *"We are done having people make decisions for us that don't care about us." * Jawanza Malone from KOCO spoke this morning at City Hall in support of the elected, representative school board. Popout Toward the end there, he says this: Everybody, *everybody* wants their children to grow and develop and be strong, right? Is there anyone who looks into their child's face, and says to that child, "I don't want you to be anything?" Is there any parent up here who believes th... more »
Alyssa Granacki: Until Schools Are No Longer Separate, We Must Strive for Equal
Alyssa Granacki: Until Schools Are No Longer Separate, We Must Strive for Equal: Until Schools Are No Longer Separate, We Must Strive for Equal Posted: 07/25/2012 2:02 pm React AmazingInspiringFunnyScaryHotCrazyImportantWeird Follow Charter Schools , éducation , Education Reform , Segregation , Segregation , Chicago Schools , Public Schools , Race , Racial Segregation , School Reform , Education News SHARE THIS STORY 3 5 0 Submit this story As a first-year teacher, I believed the incredibleresults that my charter school produced couldn't be anything but positive. Then, in Feb... more »
Team Vallas Falsifies Documents to Avoid Competitive Bidding - Wait, What?
Team Vallas Falsifies Documents to Avoid Competitive Bidding - Wait, What?: Team Vallas Falsifies Documents to Avoid Competitive Bidding by jonpelto According to documents provided by City of Bridgeport employees, Paul Vallas, Bridgeport’s $229,000 Part-time Superintendent of Schools, or members of his senior staff, provided false information on official City documents in order to use a technique called “sole-sourcing” to give a major City contract to a company called the Public Consulting Group Inc. Vallas provided the same company with multi-million-dollars contracts when he w... more »
Is the Florida Department of Education Trying to Cover for Mistakes on School Grades? | Scathing Purple Musings
Is the Florida Department of Education Trying to Cover for Mistakes on School Grades? | Scathing Purple Musings: Is the Florida Department of Education Trying to Cover for Mistakes on School Grades? by Bob Sikes Scott Maxwell mocked Florida State University for missing the mistakes in the DOE’s school grades that were released on July 11. But the DOE made no mention of FSU validating the DOE’s calculus in its press release. The involvement of FSU’s role was not made pubic until the DOE’s press release on July 20 when the mistakes and improvements in 213 school grades were announ... more »
Amid rapid charter school growth, and stunning fraud charges, city leaders consider overhaul of District charter office | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Amid rapid charter school growth, and stunning fraud charges, city leaders consider overhaul of District charter office | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Amid rapid charter school growth, and stunning fraud charges, city leaders consider overhaul of District charter office by Benjamin Herold *By Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks*Even as federal investigators were finalizing a massive fraud indictment against one of Philadelphia’s most prominent charter school operators, the School Reform Commission was moving thousands of students andhundreds of millions of... more »
tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - An Interview with The Washington Post
tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - An Interview with The Washington Post: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE WASHINGTON POST [image: Date]MONDAY, JULY 16, 2012 AT 11:12PM | [image: Print Article]PRINT ARTICLE | [image: Email Article]EMAIL ARTICLE | [image: Comment]4 COMMENTS *This interview, conducted by Laura Hambleton, was originally published at The Washington Poston July 16, 2012.* TOM HAYDEN, 1960S RADICAL AND EX-HUSBAND OF JANE FONDA, REFLECTS ON LIFE AT AGE 72 Few symbolized 1960s radicalism as boldly as Tom Hayden: co-founder of Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Rider i... more »
Louisiana Educator: BESE Approves Whitewash on Voucher Accountability
Louisiana Educator: BESE Approves Whitewash on Voucher Accountability: BESE Approves Whitewash on Voucher Accountability by Michael Deshotels Yesterday BESE approved the so called “accountability” rules developed by Superintendent White for private schools accepting public school voucher students under the Act 2 legislation. This was just a formality since White had been given sole authority by the legislature to make the rules. As I have pointed out before, BESE has become irrelevant since it has become clear that all but two of the members are firmly under the direction of Jind... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: This morning at CPS: The struggle continues...
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: This morning at CPS: The struggle continues...: This morning at CPS: The struggle continues... by Mike Klonsky Jesse SharkeyChicago union teachers sent a powerful message to Rahm/Brizard and corporate school reformers this morning when hundreds of them marched outside CPS headquarters. The message was -- *It's not over yet. The struggle continues. * Union Veep Jesse Sharkey made that same point again to rousing applause, in his
Teachers Don't Suck !: What's Wrong Here? Plenty - That's What!
Teachers Don't Suck !: What's Wrong Here? Plenty - That's What!: What's Wrong Here? Plenty - That's What! by Walt S. *Last Month's Ruling on COLA Benefits for Retirees* The most important aspect of this ruling is that it opens up the door to have the state cut all benefits based on the debt limitation clause in the state constitution yet the
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 »
Jersey Jazzman: Update The Problems With Chris Cerf: A Summary
Jersey Jazzman: Cerf's Problems #3: Data Abuse: Cerf's Problems #3: Data Abuse by Duke Here again are the three problems I have with ACTING NJ Education Commissioner Chris Cerf: 1. He plays fast and loose with standards of ethics and transparency. 2. He has accrued too much power to himself. 3. He misrepresents research, data, and facts to push his policies. Time to take a look at #3. Tomorrow, the day of Cerf's long-awaited confirmation hearing, it will have been 507 days since Cerf promised a report on charter schools "as quickly as is humanly possible." Let's rememb... 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 »
Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee | U.S. Department of Education
Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee | U.S. Department of Education: Testimony of Secretary Duncan before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee JULY 25, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov I want to thank the Chairman, the Ranking Member, and other Members of this Subcommittee for your support. Over the past three years, we've protected students at risk while investing in education reform that supports bold and courage... 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 »
Jersey Jazzman: Cerf's Problems #2: NJ's Education Autocracy
Jersey Jazzman: Cerf's Problems #2: NJ's Education Autocracy: Cerf's Problems #2: NJ's Education Autocracy by Duke Once again, I see three problems with ACTING NJ Education Commissioner Cerf: 1. He plays fast and loose with standards of ethics and transparency. 2. He has accrued too much power to himself. 3. He misrepresents research, data, and facts to push his policies. Let's look at #2 now. Where should the control of schools lie? With elected school boards and the elected Legislature? Or with an unelected bureaucrat and his staff in the Department of Education? Chris C... more »
Secretary Duncan Testifies on Across-the-Board Budget Cuts | ED.gov Blog
Secretary Duncan Testifies on Across-the-Board Budget Cuts | ED.gov Blog: Secretary Duncan Testifies on Across-the-Board Budget Cuts Posted on July 25, 2012 by Cameron Brenchley [image: U.S. Capitol Building] Secretary Arne Duncan testified before Congress today on the impact of across-the-board cuts. Photo courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol. Earlier today Secretary of Education Arne Duncan testified on Capitol Hill about the impact of budget cuts called sequestration. Sequestration would mandate across-the-board cuts to the federal budget that will go into effect in January if... more »
Campus Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court « Student Activism
Campus Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court « Student Activism: Campus Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court by Angus Johnston One of the Supreme Court’s first cases when it returns in the fall will be Fisher v. University of Texas, scheduled for argument on October 10. The Fisher case concerns the constitutionality of affirmative action policies in undergraduate admissions at UT. Campus affirmative action has been on shaky legal ground since 2003, when the Supreme Court ruled in the 5-4 Grutter v. Bollinger decision that race-conscious policies could not be used to remedy ... more »
Student Activists Take the Stage at SOS Webinar « Diane Ravitch's blog
Student Activists Take the Stage at SOS Webinar « Diane Ravitch's blog: Student Activists Take the Stage at SOS Webinar by dianerav A reader sent the following notice. I often correspond with Nikhil Goyal, whom I met on Twitter. If these young people raise their voices and rally their peers, they can drive the conversation and stop the obsession with testing and the monetizing of schooling. Please join the Webinar to talk to them and give them encouragement. *I am glad to see students participation in the education process because after all, it is THEIR future. I believe the students ... more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, July 25, 2012
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Located in Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is a complex of historic facilities and unique attractions. Widely regarded as North America's most popular railroad museum, there is something here for everyone! Throughout the year, experience lavishly restored trains, engaging exhibits, and unique special events. Every weekend April-September, ride behind a real locomotive! Education Headlines *Wednesday, July 25, 2012* A school of their ownA new academy will help academically, socially and emotionally troubled ... more »
To drop out you have to first drop in « Deborah Meier on Education
To drop out you have to first drop in « Deborah Meier on Education: To drop out you have to first drop in by debmeier “I get so tired of reading about the “decline’ and ‘failure’ of American education. It is not true….” (Thanks Diane R and Kathy DuPois) And it’s been going on forever. Read Richard Rothstein’s classic: “The Way Things Were.’ Then weep or laugh. I think Al Shanker’s excuse was probably part of the misguided “game”. He thought that getting attention paid to the sorry state of our educational system was bound to be a good idea, regardless, he explained to me. The mor... more »
Geaux Teacher!: 90-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR VOUCHER ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSAL
Geaux Teacher!: 90-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR VOUCHER ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSAL: 90-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR VOUCHER ACCOUNTABILITY PROPOSAL by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) Voucher accountability a sham? *Tuesday’s vote sets in motion a 90-day comment period during which the public may suggest changes in the policy to BESE. After that period, the rules will become part of a department policy bulletin. People who wish to suggest changes can contact BESE at 225-342-5840.* This post by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers reveals a fact that completely passed my sphere of a... more »
Charter school billionaire charged with massive fraud
Teamster Nation: Charter school billionaire charged with massive fraud: Charter school billionaire charged with massive fraud Don't forget union-busting.As the blogger Atrios says, we'll find out soon what happens when all the public schools are shut down and all the charter school owners go to jail. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported yesterday, A charter school mogul was charged today in a multimillion-dollar fraud case by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Dorothy June Hairston Brown, who received accolades for students' test scores and gained notoriety for collecting large salaries a... more »
When Youth Get Involved « Diane Ravitch's blog
When Youth Get Involved « Diane Ravitch's blog: When Youth Get Involved by dianerav A reader in Louisiana points out that the research I cited this morning was prepared by a 19-year-old who is fighting for quality education and real science education, not religious indoctrination. This is an uphill battle in Louisiana today, in light of the state’s decision to give public funding to schools that teach creationism as science. * The young man whose blog you cited, Zach Kopplin – 19, is a shining example of the ability and power that our youth have when they speak out and take act... more »
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-21-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-14-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-7-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-30-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-23-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-16-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-9-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-2-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
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