BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS
NYC Educator: Our Tax Dollars at Work
NYC Educator: Our Tax Dollars at Work: Our Tax Dollars at Work by NYC Educator Yesterday I took my 16-year-old daughter to take her driving permit test. It's tough for kids her age to come up with suitable ID, but she has a United States passport, which has proven sufficient to cross the border into foreign countries, so I figured that was pretty good. When we got there we found we needed her social security number. I had no idea, but I thought of calling my accountant, who recognized my voice and helped us out. After waiting on a long, long line, we got to the end and the woman d... more »
What Makes a Public School Public? « Diane Ravitch's blog
What Makes a Public School Public? « Diane Ravitch's blog: What Makes a Public School Public? by dianerav And now we step into a debate about charter schools and public schools: *Pulling public funds together to run public systems, such as public schools, is what communities do. By taking out the “per pupil” funds for the children going elsewhere, the community suffers.* *The public school IS the community’s for better or worse. Therefore, the community MUST take pains to make it the best it can be in order to provide for community success. I think working to improve the public sch... more »
When Policymakers Attack: Two Key Lessons :: Frederick M. Hess
When Policymakers Attack: Two Key Lessons :: Frederick M. Hess: When Policymakers Attack: Two Key Lessons *by Frederick M. Hess • Aug 10, 2012 at 9:22 am Cross-posted from Education Week* Print Send RSS [image: Share] Share Over at This Week in Education, the sharp-penned John Thompson offered his take on Monday's RHSU post(in which I advised educators to get over their policy allergies). Thompson wrote, "When 'smart, talented leaders complain about ill-conceived accountability systems,' Hess tells them to, 'get over themselves.'" He's got that partly right--but not entirely. I'm... more »
Brizard plays Eddie Haskell to the CPS board. « Fred Klonsky
Brizard plays Eddie Haskell to the CPS board. « Fred Klonsky: Brizard plays Eddie Haskell to the CPS board. by Fred Klonsky PopoutFor those of you old enough to remember the old *Leave it to Beaver* show, you will instantly know what I mean when I say that CPS CEO JC Brizard is our town’s own Eddie Haskell. Over the years, Eddie Haskell has become a cultural stereotype, the insincere ass kisser. Beaver Cleaver’ dad
Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent World of Arne Duncan, Part VI (Last)
Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent World of Arne Duncan, Part VI (Last): The Incoherent World of Arne Duncan, Part VI (Last) by Duke I've been breaking down Arne Duncan's interview with Tom Moran of the * Star-Ledger* all week: - Part I: Duncan's signature program, Race To The Top, has little evidence to back it up. - Part II: The real legacy of Duncan, Rhee, and Klein. - Part III: Arne has a lot to learn about what makes teachers tick. - Part IV: Duncan's totally befuddled thoughts about testing. - Part V: Duncan doesn't understand poverty or logic. And so we come to ... more »
Corporate Reformer Bain Capital Much Like Terrible Corporate Education Reformers | Alternet
Corporate Reformer Bain Capital Much Like Terrible Corporate Education Reformers | Alternet: Corporate Reformer Bain Capital Much Like Terrible Corporate Education Reformers Bain Capital has received a lot of negative press lately from President Barack Obama's reelection campaign as it's the corporation once run by current Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. As it turns out Romney made a killing from his time as CEO of Bain, but he was far from a job creator. Through his work thousands of people lost their jobs. The corporation uses a "Corporate Reform" model tha... more »
Schuette sues to oust 7 members of Detroit school board | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
Schuette sues to oust 7 members of Detroit school board | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com: Schuette sues to oust 7 members of Detroit school board - By Shawn D. Lewis and Maureen Feighan - The Detroit News - 20 Comments * * * * * * *Detroit*— Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette asked a Wayne County court Thursday to remove seven of the 11 members of the Detroit Board of Education, as a power struggle over the state's largest school district heated up. Schuette said in a release issued by his office that the seven members were holding office illegally because Det... more »
Robinson, State Board Back Down – Polk Gets its Own Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings
Robinson, State Board Back Down – Polk Gets its Own Charter Schools | Scathing Purple Musings: Robinson, State Board Back Down – Polk Gets its Own Charter Schools by Bob Sikes [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] The curious opposition against Polk county schools desire to open its own at-risk charter schools ended yesterday. Writes Merissa Green in the *Lakeland Ledger*: BARTOW | The Polk County School District got the go-ahead today to open six charter schools for at-risk students. Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson told The Ledger that the B... more »
The Gulen Charter School Teacher Supply Problem « School Finance 101
The Gulen Charter School Teacher Supply Problem « School Finance 101: The Gulen Charter School Teacher Supply Problem by schoolfinance101 There’s been some increased interest in recent months in what are often referred to as Gulen Charter Schools, or those schools affiliated with Fethullah Gulen. I’ve tried to stay off of this topic for the most part because I don’t like to write about “conspiracy theories” or even potentially inflammatory religious/cultural issues – at least on this blog. Here are a few recent video clips/new stories: From Ohio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q... more »
See No Evil… - Wait, What?
See No Evil… - Wait, What?: See No Evil… by jonpelto As noted by a Wait, What? reader… *Yesterday’s State Board of Education meeting began with the swearing-in of a new student member…* “Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, so long as you continue a citizen thereof; and that you will faithfully discharge, according to law, the duties of serving on the State Board of Education to the best of your abilities; so help you God.” And then the meeting continued without properly dea... more »
School vouchers lead to strange bedfellows: Why a hard-core Republican group is backing Democratic candidates - JSOnline
School vouchers lead to strange bedfellows: Why a hard-core Republican group is backing Democratic candidates - JSOnline: School vouchers lead to strange bedfellows: Why a hard-core Republican group is backing Democratic candidates By Barbara Miner Aug. 9, 2012 - - - - EMAIL - PRINT - |(1) COMMENTS Two powerful school voucher groups that ordinarily work behind the scenes have made headlines and raised eyebrows in Milwaukee in recent weeks: The American Federation for Children and School Choice Wisconsin. The American Federation for Children is a national ... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-10-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] In China, the Cost of High Test Scores by dianerav *New York Times* columnist Thomas Friedman and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and billionaire Bill Gates and gadfly Michelle Rhee wring their hands over American students’ test scores. They look enviously at Shanghai and wonder why we can’t be like them. But the *Los Angeles Times* had a story explaining that Chinese educators have mixed feelings about those high Why the Koch Brothers Are Disappointed with Corbett by dianerav A columnist in Pennsylvani... more »
Do-or-die time for teacher evaluation bill | EdSource Today
Do-or-die time for teacher evaluation bill | EdSource Today: Do-or-die time for teacher evaluation bill - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald After laying dormant for a year, a bill to overhaul the state’s teacher evaluation law will resurface Monday, subject to continuing negotiations over its cost and some disagreements over its content. [image: AB 5 author Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes] AB 5 author Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes AB 5’s prospects have improved with the support of the California Teachers Association. CTA expressed reservations a year ago, but the bill’s author, ... more »
Viewpoints: State must change way schools are financed - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee
Viewpoints: State must change way schools are financed - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee: Viewpoints: State must change way schools are financed By Jonathan Raymond and Ted Lempert Special to The Bee [image: 5OP10RAYMOND.JPG] Published: Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 13A Californians have reason to worry about the toll that the state's budget problems are taking on our students' education. After enduring years of recession, cuts to educational resources, overcrowded classrooms and fraying infrastructure, our public schools face fiscal disaster if voters reject a tax increa... more »
Why Alabama is going slow on charter schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
Why Alabama is going slow on charter schools - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Why Alabama is going slow on charter schoolsBy Valerie Strauss This *was written by Larry Lee, who led the study “Lessons Learned from Rural Schools,” a look at 10 high-performing, high-poverty rural schools in Alabama. This appeared in the Birmingham News.* By Larry Lee The collective sigh heard across Alabama recently came from educators pleased to hear Gov. Robert Bentley tell the Alabama Association of School Boards he would not include charter school legislation in ... more »
Two Languages Better Than One for Kids' Brains: Study - Hispanically Speaking News
Two Languages Better Than One for Kids' Brains: Study - Hispanically Speaking News: Two Languages Better Than One for Kids’ Brains: Study [image: Two Languages Better Than One for Kids’ Brains: Study] *Bilingual children excel at problem-solving, creative thinking, research suggests.* Children who speak more than one language seem to have a learning advantage: Being bilingual can improve children’s problem-solving skills and creative thinking, a new study suggests. The mental sharpness needed to switch between two languages may develop skills that boost other types of thinking, ... more »
Book Giveaway: Break The Habit by Tara Betts | The Jose Vilson
Book Giveaway: Break The Habit by Tara Betts | The Jose Vilson: Book Giveaway: Break The Habit by Tara Betts by Jose Hello and welcome to this installment of The Jose Vilson Book Giveaway, where I’ll do my best to offer the latest and greatest books I can scrounge up … and all for free. < whooping and hollering here > This week, I’m offering a very special, exclusive book for any and all contestants who wish to participate. Before I continue, though … The rules are as follows: 1. Leave a comment at the bottom of this post with the words: “Back in ’94 they call me Chi-town’s Nas, Now
Schools Matter: Freedom of Information Act and Education
Schools Matter: Freedom of Information Act and Education: Freedom of Information Act and Education by Judy Rabin The Freedom of Information Act It's time to demand the information on where our tax dollars are going. End education corruption BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana's education chief has refused to provide records from the deliberations over how schools were chosen to participate in Gov. Bobby Jindal's new statewide voucher program, which is using tax dollars to send students to private and parochial schools. The Department of Education isn't claiming an exemption in public
Jersey Jazzman: Broadies Ready To Take Over Camden
Jersey Jazzman: Broadies Ready To Take Over Camden: Broadies Ready To Take Over Camden by Duke The NJDOE paves the way for the Broadie takeover of Camden: Warning that that the school district needs “fundamental and transformational reform” because it is “in crises,” state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf personally delivered an in-depth review of the district’s failings this morning in Trenton to Interim Superintendent Reuben Mills and other district personnel. Cerf told school administrators, who will meet with the board of education tonight during a special meeting, that th... more »
“Dynamic Conservatism” and Stability in Teaching | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
“Dynamic Conservatism” and Stability in Teaching | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: “Dynamic Conservatism” and Stability in Teaching by larrycuban Why has the act of teaching in public schools (including charters) that serve wealthy, middle-class and poor children looked so familiar to generation after generation of journalists, researchers, parents and grandparents who enter classrooms? In short, why has there been so much continuity in teaching over the decades? Surely, things have changed in classrooms. Desktops and laptops are prevalent in schools; teachers ... more »
Friday Finance 101: On Parfaits & Property Taxes « School Finance 101
Friday Finance 101: On Parfaits & Property Taxes « School Finance 101: Friday Finance 101: On Parfaits & Property Taxes by schoolfinance101 Public preference for property taxes stands in perfect inverse relation to the public taste for parfaits. Everybody loves parfaits[i] and everybody hates property taxes.[ii] No, I don’t plan to spend this blog post bashing parfaits. I do like a good parfait. But, even more blasphemous, I intend to shed light on some of the virtues of much maligned property taxes. I often hear school funding equity advocates argue that if we could only get rid ... more »
Reforming School Reform - Philadelphia Writing Project | Journal
Reforming School Reform - Philadelphia Writing Project | Journal: *Reforming School Reform * ------------------------------ *by Matthew L. Mandel, NBCT* It’s not about the children. The education reform movement, at least here in Pennsylvania, may be about a lot of things, but it certainly isn’t about our children. If it were, efforts to bridge the achievement gap and advance opportunities for all children would look a hell of a lot different. If it were about children, each and every public school would be awash in resources and technology. A licensed school nurse would be in ea... more »
Reclaiming the Commons : blue cheddar
Reclaiming the Commons : blue cheddar: Reclaiming the Commons by Worley Dervish Advertisements insidiously worm their way into our hearts and minds despite our best efforts to tune them out (which is why Tom and I don’t watch TV anymore). They must be accomplishing something, or advertisers wouldn’t shell out the big bucks for them, would they? But isn’t there some kind of saturation point? Aren’t we getting to a place where people are just sick to death of always having stuff hawked and pushed at them? Does anyone else ever feel like you spend your whole goddamn life in a marketp... more »
Jersey Jazzman: The Obnoxious Sanctimony of Reformy Types
Jersey Jazzman: The Obnoxious Sanctimony of Reformy Types: The Obnoxious Sanctimony of Reformy Types by Duke Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP! The article asserts that white suburban children actually score the highest on the international assessments—rivaling the the coveted student achievement of Finland and South Korea. *The article blames 35 percent of our student population—poor blacks and Latinos—for pulling down our otherwise stellar scores*, making America's ranking plummet. Lind writes: *"If you look at the facts, then, they don't suggest that the U.S. public K-12 system is a ... more »
Labor and the Community Defend Public Education A Teach-In to Save Our Schools Saturday, August 25th | Dailycensored.com
Labor and the Community Defend Public Education A Teach-In to Save Our Schools Saturday, August 25th | Dailycensored.com: Labor and the Community Defend Public Education A Teach-In to Save Our Schools Saturday, August 25th by Danny Weil *Title:**Labor and the Community Defend Public Education** START DATE:** Saturday August 25** TIME:** 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM** Location Details:**SEIU 1021 Headquarters, 350 Rhode Island St. enter on Kansas St between 16th & 17th Streets Map at http://tinyurl.com/c2gk6ru, # 10, 19, 22 buses** Event Type:** Teach-In* *Labor and the Community Defend Public... more »
NEA - Back to School Guide
NEA - Back to School Guide: Back to School Guide Educator-tested tips, advice, and resources for a successful start to the school year. *Found In*: advice & support [image: founded in 1863] ARTICLE SECTIONS - Classroom Setup - Prepping for the First Week - Classroom Management - Working with Parents - Year-Long Support - Keeping a Sense of Humor Students may still be enjoying their summer vacations, but for educators, the beginning of the next school year is just around the corner. NEA editors have compiled a list of our best articles and resources to help yo... more »
Blue Jersey:: Washington State Dems Welcome Christie
Blue Jersey:: Washington State Dems Welcome Christie: Washington State Dems Welcome Christieby: interested observer*Thu Aug 09, 2012 at 06:59:48 PM EDT* Kudos to the Washington State Democrats, who laid out the welcome mat for Chris Christie today as he campaigns with the Republican candidate for Governor: Today, the Washington State Democrats are releasing "Bad Company," a web-video highlighting New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna's rough relationships with the media. The two have a history of yelling at and running from media membe... more »
Joan Buchanan to chair Assembly Ed | EdSource Today
Joan Buchanan to chair Assembly Ed | EdSource Today: Joan Buchanan to chair Assembly Ed ** August 9th, 2012 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services [image: Joan Buchanan] Joan Buchanan Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, a Democrat from Contra Costa County who served on the board of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District for nearly two decades, will run the Assembly Education Committee, as of tomorrow. Assuming she wins re-election to a third term in November, she’ll chair the committee when t... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform as Viewed by a Teacher
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform as Viewed by a Teacher: ' Ed Reform as Viewed by a Teacher by Melissa Westbrook Via Diane Ravitch's blog, comes this piece from teacher Matt Mandel, a national board certified teacher in Philadelphia public schools. From Diane: *He has figured out reform.* *He explains it here for those who were puzzled.* *The most important thing you need to know is this:* *“It’s not about the children.”* *The reason reformers keep saying that it is “for the children,” is because it’s not.* *They say that to confuse people.* *Read Matt Mandel and learn w... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm sends millions in TIF money to Penny -- not to schools
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm sends millions in TIF money to Penny -- not to schools: Rahm sends millions in TIF money to Penny -- not to schools by Mike Klonsky I'm still on the road but trying to keep up on Chicago happenings. Stunned but not surprised to see that Rahm isdelivering millions from his TIF slush fund to his billionaire pal Penny Pritzker for her new Hyatt Hotel. Pritzker sits on the mayor's hand-picked school board. She's also Pres. Obama's chief campaign fundraiser. Pritzker is also an anti-union hard-liner who's trying to bust the union at Hyatt. She's cl... more »
Modern School: Debit Card Financial Aid Scam Hits Thousands of California Students
Modern School: Debit Card Financial Aid Scam Hits Thousands of California Students: Debit Card Financial Aid Scam Hits Thousands of California Students by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons Close to half of California’s community colleges and numerous other colleges and universities are now disbursing financial aid through debit cards contracted through Higher One, the Bay Citizen reports. According to the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Higher One is the largest player of its kind in the U.S., with 520 partner campuses, enrolling over 4.3 million students nationwide. Not only ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Mayoral Control Ain't Awesome
Jersey Jazzman: Mayoral Control Ain't Awesome: Mayoral Control Ain't Awesome by Duke The *Star-Ledger's* Tom Moran loves mayoral control of schools: The real resolution of this conflict should come in November, when four of Caffrey’s leading critics on the board face re-election. This case perfectly illustrates the hazards presented by the toxic politics that all school reformers face. *It is a screaming argument in favor of mayoral control of urban schools.* [emphasis mine] It's because, even though school boards are elected, they just can't be trusted - like in Newark: There ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Tea Partyin' = Teacher Bashin'
Jersey Jazzman: Tea Partyin' = Teacher Bashin': Tea Partyin' = Teacher Bashin' by Duke Maureen Castriotta is no ordinary suburban school board member. Castriotta serves on the Roxbury, NJ Board of Education, a high-performing system in Morris County. She urged the defeat of her own board's budget in 2011, and supported a slate of anti-union, cost-cutting board candidates (they lost). Castriotta got into hot water with her fellow board members back in 2010 during Chris Christie's War On Schools. At the time, high school students in some districts were organizing protests against ... more »
Disaster Capitalism, K-12 Education, and Corporate Takeovers of Progressive Organizations | Crooks and Liars
Disaster Capitalism, K-12 Education, and Corporate Takeovers of Progressive Organizations | Crooks and Liars: Disaster Capitalism, K-12 Education, and Corporate Takeovers of Progressive Organizations 43 comments By karoli This is how fundamental democratic institutions and progressive organizations get co-opted by corporate interests. Find an issue like, say, education reform, partner up with right-wing interests to undermine public education as a fundamental right of every child in this country, and let billionaires direct the flow of dollars into competing efforts. Along the way,... more »
Expresso :: Issue of the Week: National Voucher Group Meddles in Milwaukee Democratic Primaries
Expresso :: Issue of the Week: National Voucher Group Meddles in Milwaukee Democratic Primaries: Issue of the Week: National Voucher Group Meddles in Milwaukee Democratic PrimariesPlus: Hero of the WeekBy Shepherd Express Staff It's happened before and it's happening again. The American Federation for Children (AFC)—a Washington, D.C.-based pro-school-privatization group funded by some of the wealthiest Republican activists in the country—is supporting some Milwaukee candidates in the Democratic primaries. This year, AFC is spending thousands of dollars on independent expenditur... more »
Chicago Teachers Union Update on Contract Negotiations| www.ctunet.com
Chicago Teachers Union | www.ctunet.com: *Update on Contract Negotiations**:* *“Contract is not Settled; …We Continue To Bargain In Good Faith* *and Members Continue to Prepare For A Work Stoppage”* *CHICAGO –* The Chicago Teachers Union is currently in contract negotiations with the Chicago Public Schools and has been since November 2011. While much has been made of the *interim agreement* in which the Union was able to successfully stop the threat of a 7 hour and 40 minute work day as well as force the District to hire displaced (tenured) teachers in over 500 new positions, the ... more »
Why Are All the Smart Kids Cheating?
Why Are All the Smart Kids Cheating?: Why Are All the Smart Kids Cheating? by guest blogger Image via onlinedegrees.org This video by the New York Times illustrates just how much faster sprinter Usain Bolt is than Olympic medalists of yore. The video’s key takeaway is that the crème de la crème of athletes have over the years pushed themselves to consistently higher standards. Whereas breaking 10 seconds used to seem nearly impossible, it is now all but a requirement of medaling in the 100m sprint. While the Olympics has a comprehensive drug testing program to keep its athlete... more »
Local Control = Real Freedom | Truth in American Education
Local Control = Real Freedom | Truth in American Education: Local Control = Real Freedom by Shane Vander Hart I was shocked – *SHOCKED *to read this in a newspaper editorial because most have, by and large, embraced the centralization of education at the state and federal levels. I almost wanted to cry, ok I’m exaggerating, but it is great to see that the editorial board of *The Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel* *gets it*. An excerpt: There is a need, of course, for input from all levels of government on maintaining superior public education. The greatest need is for local input, but th... more »
Secret teacher evaluations part of 'compromise' | The Asbury Park Press NJ | APP.com
Secret teacher evaluations part of 'compromise' | The Asbury Park Press NJ | APP.com: Secret teacher evaluations part of 'compromise' [image: Senate President Steven Sweeney Senator Teresa Rui] Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf speaks after Governor Chris Christie signed the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHN) Act at Von E. Mauger Middle School in Middlesex, N.J. on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012. (Governor's Office/Tim Larsen) / Office of the Governor Gov. Chris Christie, along with legislators and leaders of teacher unions, has lined up to k... more »
Cover up: Erase to the top. « Fred Klonsky
Cover up: Erase to the top. « Fred Klonsky: Cover up: Erase to the top. by Fred Klonsky USA Today: A 17-month investigation into possible cheating on standardized tests at Washington, D.C., public schools focused on only one school and did not expand to any other school with rising test scores and suspiciously high rates of wrong answers changed to right ones. In a report issued Wednesday, city investigators said they found no reason to probe more than one elementary school, Noyes Education Campus, whose principal resigned in the wake of a USA
Missouri Education Watchdog: Why You Should Read The FERPA Form This Year
Missouri Education Watchdog: Why You Should Read The FERPA Form This Year: Why You Should Read The FERPA Form This Year by Anngie Many parents are busy filling out dozens of school forms right now. Mixed in that paperwork is the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) form that indicates your approval for the school to share your child's data. In years past most people paid little attention to this form as it seemed to apply mostly to sharingtranscripts with colleges, military recruiters and school ring companies. They were most critical to families with messy domestic... more »
LAUSD/UTLA Pushing Value Added Model VAM Allowing: Neo-instrumentality and zombie functionalism | Dailycensored.com
LAUSD/UTLA Pushing Value Added Model VAM Allowing: Neo-instrumentality and zombie functionalism | Dailycensored.com: LAUSD/UTLA Pushing Value Added Model VAM Allowing: Neo-instrumentality and zombie functionalism by Danny Weil I read this earlier this week and had to agree with much of what is stated. The Value Added Model of Education (VAM) — notice the clever use of the words ‘value’ and ‘added’ — this would have made Orwell’s head jerk for it is this type of doublespeak that we find throughout the poisonous educational ‘debate’. There is clearly little value in removing litera... more »
For African American Students: An Election Year Promise | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights
For African American Students: An Election Year Promise | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: For African American Students: An Election Year Promise by Tarsi Dunlop President Obama recently established an education initiative for African American students. The goal: Provide them greater access “to a complete and competitive education from the time they're born through the time they get a career.” There is little doubt that the timing of such an announcement coincides with November’s election, yet to suggest that such an initiative is merely politically symbolic i... more »
The Stonewall to Protect Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Teach for America | Scathing Purple Musings
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The Stonewall to Protect Michelle Rhee and Teach for America | Scathing Purple Musings: The Stonewall to Protect Michelle Rhee and Teach for America by Bob Sikes One time Michelle Rhee apologist, Jay Mathews, predicted a cover-up. He got one. Wrote Mathews in June of the snail’s pace of the DC inspector generals investigation of test-cheating which occurred on Rhee’s watch as DC chancellor: What about all those erasures? (Current) D.C. schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson seems uninterested in the question. “I am pleased that this investigation is complete and that the vast majorit... more »
Great parent teacher discussion in Hyde Park Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Great parent teacher discussion in Hyde Park: Great parent teacher discussion in Hyde Park by admin That's me in the middle Last night’s forum at the United Church of Hyde Park seemed to help everyone feel better about whatever comes out of the ongoing teacher contract negotiations. I shared the front table with several teachers from HP and other areas, and was impressed along with the rest of the listeners about the passion the teachers expressed as well as the amount of excellent information that was shared about such topi... more »
Letter: To improve education, start by tackling poverty | NJ.com
Letter: To improve education, start by tackling poverty | NJ.com: Letter: To improve education, start by tackling povertyPublished: Thursday, August 09, 2012, 10:25 AM [image: arne-duncan.JPG]Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesEducation Secretary Arne Duncan is pictured in this file photo. He spoke with Star-Ledger editorial page editor Tom Moran about school reform. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan shamefully promotes the myth that America’s education problem is its teachers and their associations, when the data are clearly contrary. (“Better education starts with best educators,” ... more »
Bad Teachers Can Get Better After Some Types Of Evaluation, Harvard Study Finds
Bad Teachers Can Get Better After Some Types Of Evaluation, Harvard Study Finds: Bad Teachers Can Get Better After Some Types Of Evaluation, Harvard Study Finds by Joy Resmovits The question of what to do with bad teachers has stymied America's education system of late, sparking chaotic protests in state capitals and vitriolic debate in a recent congressional hearing. It has also stoked the movementknown as 'education reform,' which has zeroed in on teacher quality by urging school districts to sort the star teachers from the duds, and reward or punish them accordingly. The ide... more »
Truly Confounding Data | Mr. Teachbad
Truly Confounding Data | Mr. Teachbad: Truly Confounding Data by teachbad Can somebody help me? I can’t make heads or tails of this little bar graph I put together. It’s obvious that we have an unfortunate concentration of Bad Teachers in Wards 7 and 8. That’s the big story here, but is there anything else? PLEASE HELP!! *Note on the data:* *School data* is average combined proficiency in reading and math for all traditional public schools in each ward of the city (no charters) on the DC CAS, our ‘state’ NCLB test. This average combines elementary and seco... more »
Shanker Blog » The Louisiana Voucher Accountability Sweepstakes
Shanker Blog » The Louisiana Voucher Accountability Sweepstakes: The Louisiana Voucher Accountability Sweepstakes by Matthew Di Carlo The situation with vouchers in Louisiana is obviously quite complicated, and there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue, but I’d like to comment quickly on the new “accountability” provision. It’s a great example of how, too often, people focus on the *concept* of accountability and ignore how it is actually implemented in policy. Quick and dirty background: Louisiana will be allowing students to receive vouchers (tuition to attend private... more »
RheeFirst! » DC OIG whitewashes ErasureGate in narrow report
RheeFirst! » DC OIG whitewashes ErasureGate in narrow report: DC OIG whitewashes ErasureGate in narrow report by admin The DC Inspector General has concluded its investigation into widespread test cheating during Rhee’s reign at DCPS. A 14-page report, focused on only one of the 103 schools flagged for possible cheating, surfaced yesterday. The report concludes—based on the findings at one of the 103 schools—that there is no evidence that cheating was widespread. Veteran DC schools reporter Jay Mathews wrote two months ago that he was expecting a cover-up. By all accounts, ... 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
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-9-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-8-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-7-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-6-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-5-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-4-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-3-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-2-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-1-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-31-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 7-31-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
