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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

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BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, September 5, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Husband makes rounds at DNC

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Husband makes rounds at DNC* Education Headlines *Wednesday, September 5, 2012* Twin Rivers selects Foothill High principal as interim superintendentTwin Rivers Unified School District trustees named one of the district's high school principals as interim superintendent for this school year, and indicated they will consider him for the permanent job. Rosenblatt: Survey the hard way to understand hard choicesHow does a school board get constructive input that actually represents the values and ... more »

State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 minutes ago
State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate | EdSource Today: State Board now can wade back into eighth grade math debate - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald [image: Photo by 'ajaxofsalamis'] By ‘ajaxofsalamis’ The State Board of Education will be able to disentangle competing math standards that have been creating confusion over what should be taught in eighth grade, under a bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. SB 1200, written by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and the Department of Education, will remove one of many hurdles that the s... more »

A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 minutes ago
A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. « Fred Klonsky: A f—— conversation between Rahm and Axelrod. by Fred Klonsky “Hello, Rahm. This is David.” “Hey, Axe. How the f— are you? Good speech last night, huh?” “Yeh. Michelle was great. A home run.” “I meant f—— me.” “Oh. Right. You were good. A little rough on the teleprompter reading. But good. Yes. good.” The in box. Chris Ludkowski takes on Representative Elaine Nekritz by Fred Klonsky Lill Ludkowski is a teacher in my old district. A union stalwart. Chris Ludkowski is her son. State Representative Elaine Nekritz is a chief sp... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair: Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair by Mike Klonsky No wait, the headline is wrong. The latest from Charlotte is that Rahm Emanuel hasn't been dumped. He's been promoted. Yes, that's right. He's moving up the party ladder from campaign chair to fundraiser. If you readthe Washington Post (and who doesn't these days?) that's the story line behind Rahm being dropped as honorary chairman of the Obama campaign. You see, he was removed so he could "help raise big-dollar contributions so that Democrats can compete with wh... more »

Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention | The White House: Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention Time Warner Cable Arena Charlotte, North Carolina September 4, 2012 10:38 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! MRS. OBAMA: With your help. With your help. (Applause.) Let me start -- I want to start by thanking Elaine. Elaine, thank you so much. We are so grateful for your family’s service and sacrifice, and we will al... more »

Modern School: Chicago Teacher Strike Deadline Set

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Modern School: Chicago Teacher Strike Deadline Set: Chicago Teacher Strike Deadline Set by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons Last Wednesday, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) House of Delegates gave President Karen Lewis authority to issue a 10-day strike notice. 90% of all CTU teachers (and 98% of those who voted) approved a strike back in June. According to Illinois state law, the union must also give the school board a 10 day notice before walking out. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has been trying to lengthen the school day from 5 hours and 45

Gloria Romero, The Charter Queen: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer - WSJ.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
The Weekend Interview with Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer - WSJ.com: Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic ReformerIn California's capital, union officials 'walk around like they're God.' This pro-labor former legislator wants to bring them back to earth. By ALLYSIA FINLEY *Los Angeles* Former Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson once referred to Sacramento as a "cowtown," but Gloria Romero, a pro-labor Democrat who served as California's Senate majority leader from 2001 to 2008, takes exception to the belittling description. The capitol building in Sac... more »

Support Fades for Healthy Families - Capitol Desk - California Healthline

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Support Fades for Healthy Families - Capitol Desk - California Healthline: Support Fades for Healthy Families by David Gorn The Legislature never had a chance to hear arguments in favor of reinstating the Healthy Families program. The last day of the legislative session came and went on Friday with no movement on the two bills that would have reversed the planned conversion of nearly 880,000 children from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal managed care plans. A statement from the California Children's Health Coverage Coalition -- a collection of six children's advocacy groups in Califor... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-5-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Is Chicago a National Model for School Reform? by dianerav Thanks to loyal reader Prof. W. for forwarding this story. Chicago public schools have been under mayoral control since 1995. Mayor Daley hired Paul Vallas to reform the schools. He went on to reform the schools in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Haiti, and now he is reforming schools in Bridgeport while running a national consulting business on reforming schools. Then Mayor Daley promoted Arne Duncan to reform the schools. Duncan called his reforms ... more »

Bridgeport Elects School Board; World doesn’t end… - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Bridgeport Elects School Board; World doesn’t end… - Wait, What?: Bridgeport Elects School Board; World doesn’t end… by jonpelto Following yesterday’s special election in Bridgeport, the reign of Bridgeport’s illegal Board of Education has come to end. Bridgeport now has a democratically elected board of education. The democratically elected board will be made up of six Democrats and three members of the Working Families Party. As reported in the Connecticut Post, “In all, there were nine candidates vying for four open seats in an election that was not only historic but quite poss... more »

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” at the IEA leadership. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” at the IEA leadership. « Fred Klonsky: “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” at the IEA leadership. by Fred Klonsky “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” emailed a retired colleague. Last night a notice showed up on the IEA website. It was dated September 4th. The day *AFTER* Labor Day and the huge teacher support rally in Chicago. The Chicago Teachers Union is on the verge of a strike that could shut down one of the nation’s largest school systems.IEA leaders have reached out to CTU officials to offer support. CTU has asked For all ... more »

Virtual schools and real profits: Industry shapes state policies | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Virtual schools and real profits: Industry shapes state policies | Get Schooled: Virtual schools and real profits: Industry shapes state policies by Maureen Downey [image: computer (Medium)]*The Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram published an impressive investigation on a trend* that we are seeing in Georgia: For-profit online k-12 schools “aiding” legislators in writing laws that create a demand and favorable climate for their product. One of the changes pushed by the for-profit online sector: Statewide requirements that all students take at least one online course. We... more »

Schools Matter: Stop treating 4 and 5 year olds like children

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Schools Matter: Stop treating 4 and 5 year olds like children: Stop treating 4 and 5 year olds like children by skrashen Sent to the Orlando Sentinel, Sept. 5 Pre-K testing is a step in the right direction (“Time for another test — this one for 180,000 pre-K children,” Sept. 3). Required (not “voluntary”) testing is what we need to toughen up pre-school, and make sure it includes a full dose of pre-phonics (phonemic awareness) and math. We should require all children to know the alphabet and be able to spell their names as a condition for entering kindergarten. And let's insist th... more »

Who We Are, And Who We Aspire to Be

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Who We Are, And Who We Aspire to Be: Who We Are, And Who We Aspire to Be by Sam It has been four years — when the promise of an Obama presidency was still just a promise — since I have felt as inspired as I felt tonight, watching Michelle Obama, as First Lady, remind us of who we are on our best days. Back then I produced a short video that tried to capture the spirit of that moment, and to apply it to the particular challenges we face when it comes to improving American public education. To be sure, the prose of governing will always pale in comparison to the poetry of campaigning.... more »

NYC Educator: E-mail from Sarah

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
NYC Educator: E-mail from Sarah: E-mail from Sarah by Miss Eyre Less than 48 hours before the school year began, I got an e-mail from a student I'll call Sarah. Sarah just moved to the U.S. last year, but she knew enough English to get the ball rolling, and she's a bright and hard-working young lady. She did very well at our school. Sarah's e-mail, however, said that her mother wanted her to transfer schools to be closer to her sisters, who would be attending school in Manhattan. Honestly, it made me so upset that I couldn't respond to her right away. Sarah's had quite a bit of... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Walk away from School Districts Striving to have "Distinguished" Teachers Under Bill Gates' LEAP Program.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Walk away from School Districts Striving to have "Distinguished" Teachers Under Bill Gates' LEAP Program.: Walk away from School Districts Striving to have "Distinguished" Teachers Under Bill Gates' LEAP Program. by stlgretchen According to Bill Gates' funded assessments, Denver teachers need to teach social action to become a "distinguished" teacher. Walk away from public education in Denver as fast as possible. Stop the silly talk about how charters, vouchers and education reforms will "save" education. Find other alternatives for your children. ... more »

LAUSD- A COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
LAUSD- A COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com: LAUSD- A COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (VIDEO) by Leonard Isenberg [image: Zeno's Paradox.jpg] *(**Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* *It amazes me just how quickly people forget their own history. Back in 1952 when I first went toLaurel Elementary School in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was a completely different and a measurably better reality than it is... more »

Moms on the Loose: Pam and Carol Meet DFER « Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Moms on the Loose: Pam and Carol Meet DFER « Parents Across America: Moms on the Loose: Pam and Carol Meet DFER by pagrundy [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Diane Ravitch’s headline said it all. *Two Moms Terrify DFER, Students First* If someone had asked you to describe the pair of women standing in bemusement at the corner of First and Tryon on Tuesday afternoon, I doubt that “terrifying” would have come to mind. True, our pencils were quite large, but they were made from pool noodles. We did have signs, but they bore the apple-pie slogans of “Trust Teachers” ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: When Chicago teachers struck in '73

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: When Chicago teachers struck in '73: When Chicago teachers struck in '73 by Mike Klonsky This from a yellowed copy of *The Call *I found*,* from back in March, 1973: CHICAGO *For the third time in four years, Chicago teachers have shut down that city's school system -- the nation's third largest. About...25,000 teachers struck for decent wages and smaller classes as well as a shorter school year with no resulting pay cuts or lay-offs. The striking teachers also asked for more free preparation time for elementary school teachers, so that teachers wou... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Cartoon Of The Year

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Cartoon Of The Year: Cartoon Of The Year by Duke This pretty much says it all: I got this from Facebook. I'd like to give a link for proper credit; put it in the comments if you know the source. Thanks.

Integrating Film into Classroom Lessons: Three Teachers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Integrating Film into Classroom Lessons: Three Teachers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Integrating Film into Classroom Lessons: Three Teachers by larrycuban 8:00 AM in a Northern California charter school. I am observing Mr. Lesser (pseudonym), a U.S. history teacher for the past four years at the school. Students sit in six rows of six movable desks facing the front of the room. Teacher settles the students down and begins a review from the text (Bower and Hart, *History Alive!) *of what happened in U.S. after World War I. In rapid fire fashion, the teach... more »

Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, Redux.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, Redux by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) *What you are about to read is true. The only thing added is the special kind of snarkiness and sarcasm that is so inherent to this blog. But file this under, "you won't believe the shit that I have seen." How ironic that I recycled the name of a previous blog post, yet added "Redux," Like Apocalypse Now, Redux. How very appropriate. * *A Disclaimer... ** * *Oh, one more thing. At no time, or in no way, is this an indictment against any teacher. Past, pre... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Why Is Bill Gates Allowed To Make Policy?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Why Is Bill Gates Allowed To Make Policy?: Why Is Bill Gates Allowed To Make Policy? by Duke I just finished reading Anthony Cody's brilliant rejoinder to the Gates Foundation over their support of market-driven education policy. Read the whole thing - it's well worth your time. I'd just add one thought to what Cody says here: The Gates Foundation funds a tremendous amount of activity in the education sector, and I am not suggesting that every project, or every person who takes funding from the Gates Foundation is a partisan in this campaign. The Gates Foundation... more »

What Backers of the "Parent Trigger"/Parent Tricker Law Don't Want You to Know: Real Democratic Involvement in Public Schools Works | K-12 News Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
What Backers of the "Parent Trigger"/Parent Tricker Law Don't Want You to Know: Real Democratic Involvement in Public Schools Works | K-12 News Network: What Backers of the “Parent Trigger”/Parent Tricker Law Don’t Want You to Know: Real Democratic Involvement in Public Schools Works by admin Around the country, REAL parent heroes are putting the lie to the version of the story told in the movie *Won’t Back Down*. The “parent trigger”, or “parent tricker” law is in the news again, this time with a glossy film starring popular actors Velma Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The engagin... more »

L.A. Unified administrators confident about new evaluation system - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
L.A. Unified administrators confident about new evaluation system - latimes.com: L.A. Unified administrators confident about new evaluation system [image: Firing Squad for Treason]Los Angeles Unified administrators are optimistic they can reach agreement with district officials over a new performance review system in compliance with court-ordered deadlines, according to legal papers filed Wednesday. The progress report was required under a court order by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant, who ruled in June that state law requires evaluations of teachers a... more »

What Democratic platform says on education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
What Democratic platform says on education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] What Democratic platform says on education By Valerie Strauss Here are portions of the Democratic Party’s 2012 platform that discuss education and school reform. The platform was approved Tuesday by convention delegates meeting in Charlotte, N.C., to formally nominate President Obama to seek re-election. You can read the education portion of the Republican Party’s 2012 platform here. From the Democrat Party’s platform: Delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Char... more »

Commentary: What BCG “Collective Bargaining Reform” would mean for teachers | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Commentary: What BCG “Collective Bargaining Reform” would mean for teachers | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Commentary: What BCG “Collective Bargaining Reform” would mean for teachers by Ron Whitehorne on Sep 04 2012 Posted in Blogger commentary - COMMENTS (0)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] Tags: - ACTIVISM/ORGANIZING - budget cuts - teacher evaluation - teacher quality - teachers - site selection - Philadelphia Federation of Teachers - School Reform Commission - school closing - teachers' contract Among the recommendations in... more »

What are DFER and Students First afraid of? « Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
What are DFER and Students First afraid of? « Parents Across America: What are DFER and Students First afraid of? by pagrundy For the second day in a row, at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., a handful of moms bearing flyers and large yellow pencils made out of pool noodles were denied admission to an event sponsored and/or featuring the corporate-focused education “reform” groups Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and Students First, headed by Michelle Rhee. On Tuesday, Carol Sawyer and Pam Grundy, co-chairs of the locally based MecklenburgACTS.org, had sig... more »

Two Moms Terrify DFER and StudentsFirst « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Two Moms Terrify DFER and StudentsFirst « Diane Ravitch's blog: Two Moms Terrify DFER and StudentsFirst by dianerav *What are DFER and Students First afraid of?* Activist moms denied admission to events at the Democratic National Convention Contacts: Pam Grundy, 704-806-0410, shamrockparent@earthlink.net Carol Sawyer, 704-641-2009, carolsawyer1@gmail.com For the second day in a row, at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., a handful of moms bearing flyers and large yellow pencils made out of pool noodles were denied admission to an event sponsored and/or featu... more »

PSAT for 9-4-12: Be, see role models Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 9-4-12: Be, see role models: PSAT for 9-4-12: Be, see role models by admin For this “traditional” first day of school, some teachable moments courtesy of excellent role models: Back in 1989, Chicago became a national model for school reform, thanks in part to the late Don Moore, PURE and many others who helped craft the Chicago School Reform law creating local school councils. Then we became a model for what NOT to do in school reform when the mayor took control of the schools in 1995, hiring a non-educator as CEO of... more »

Absenteeism Affects Student Success — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Absenteeism Affects Student Success — Whole Child Education: [image: Kristen Pekarek]Absenteeism Affects Student Success September 4, 2012 by Kristen Pekarek According to the Get Schooled Foundation, between 5 million and 7 million students are chronically absent, which is the best predictor of whether a student will drop out of school. The foundation's most recently released report, *Skipping to Nowhere: Students Share Their Views About Missing School*, digs deeper into the issue, revealing that most kids skipped school because they were bored. In New York City, where 200,000 of it... more »

School Board Elections: Cornerstone of Democracy | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
School Board Elections: Cornerstone of Democracy | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: School Board Elections: Cornerstone of Democracy by Tarsi Dunlop The Democratic National Convention is currently taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Republican National Convention just wrapped in Tampa last week. It’s a presidential election year and the majority of dialogue, consequently, revolves around the national political scene – from the implications of veep picks and endorsements to super PAC contributions and the influence of political ads. Certainly, insi... more »

How President Obama Could Win the Election « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
How President Obama Could Win the Election « Diane Ravitch's blog: How President Obama Could Win the Election by dianerav By all accounts, the election of 2012 will be close. For educators, the stakes are high. Mitt Romney supports every kind of privatization, from charters to vouchers to full-time online schools, and he has no problem with for-profit schooling. His agenda threatens the survival of that most basic of democratic institutions, the public school. Educators supported President Obama when he ran in 2008. They enthusiastically embraced him as a true change agent, expecti... more »

The IEA’s response to being MIA on Labor Day. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
The IEA’s response to being MIA on Labor Day. « Fred Klonsky: The IEA’s response to being MIA on Labor Day. by Fred Klonsky *Photo: Sarah Ji* When retired teacher and IEA member Sig Lisowski emailed IEA President Cinda Klickna and asked her why the IEA was MIA at the huge Labor Day rally in support of Chicago teachers, she responded: *Thank you for your email.**I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I’m currently out of state at the Democratic Convention, but I understand thousands of IEA members participated in Labor Day events all over the state in the last few days, makin... more »

Teaching with Integrity! « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Teaching with Integrity! « Deborah Meier on Education: Teaching with Integrity! by debmeier I’m re-reading an ancient book–”Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feynman”. Well, its 27 years old and some readers weren’t born yet. None of my grandchildren, in fact. But I didn’t remember it’s wonderful final chapter–on what science vs junk science is. All the data we collect these days re school deform is clearly of the latter variety. But I’m reminded that so is a lot of what my side promotes too. Not everything good, I used to say, has to be labeled science. But Richard Feynman is making a di... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The 'Elephant in the Room' at the DNC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The 'Elephant in the Room' at the DNC: The 'Elephant in the Room' at the DNC by Mike Klonsky Rahm: "Unions are trouble." IEA: "Unions don't want to cause trouble." ( Fred Klonsky) Which side are you on? Which side are you on? This is the question tearing at the very fabric of the Democratic Party as tonight's DNC opens up with Rahm Emanuel at the speaker's podium. *"The threat of a Chicago teachers strike is the elephant in the room at delegation meetings," writeS-T staff reporters Natasha Korecki and Fran Spielman. "Everybody is aware of it and co... more »

Resources By Teachers, For Teachers | Edwize

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Resources By Teachers, For Teachers | Edwize: Resources By Teachers, For Teachers by W.J. Levay [image: sharemylesson]ShareMyLesson.com, a new teaching resource site developed by the AFT and TES Connect, the digital arm of the UK’s long-running *Times Educational Supplement*, was officially launched at the AFT convention this summer. But as teachers and students head back to school here in NYC, it’s a good time to check out what the site has to offer. From the AFT: Developed by teachers, for teachers, Share My Lesson already includes more than 250,000 resources, and that collectio... more »

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Visit Sacramento, Calif., as Part of 2012 Cross-Country Back-To-School Bus Tour Promoting Education | U.S. Department of Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Visit Sacramento, Calif., as Part of 2012 Cross-Country Back-To-School Bus Tour Promoting Education | U.S. Department of Education: U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Visit Sacramento, Calif., as Part of 2012 Cross-Country Back-To-School Bus Tour Promoting Education *“Education Drives America” to Spotlight Education Successes, Engage Communities in Conversations about School Reform, College Affordability, and Link Between Education and Economy* SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov As a part of t... more »

Annual paid teacher leave: Average is 13.6 days for veterans. Fulton gives teachers 20 days. | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Annual paid teacher leave: Average is 13.6 days for veterans. Fulton gives teachers 20 days. | Get Schooled: Annual paid teacher leave: Average is 13.6 days for veterans. Fulton gives teachers 20 days. 3:02 pm September 4, 2012, by Maureen Downey [image: Of Georgia's largest systems, Fulton offers the most teacher leave, according to a new study. (AP Images)] Of Georgia's largest systems, Fulton offers the most teacher leave, according to a new study. (AP Images) The print AJC offered several provocative education stories over the past few days, including one on the paid leave affor... more »

Teaching to the Test in Suburbia | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Teaching to the Test in Suburbia | United Opt Out National: Teaching to the Test in Suburbia by admin *Please read and share the following post by Stefanie **Fuhr**. Stefanie ** Fuhr** has been in the classroom for close to twenty years. She has a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and is a member of the National Writing Project. Stefanie’s concerns about public schools has led Stefanie to become an advocate for public education. She states, “Schools which once supported inquiry and learning have become solely data/number/measurement collectors.” **Staying home to raise her t... more »

Expansion of School Advisory Councils: Popular idea, but devil is in the details | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Expansion of School Advisory Councils: Popular idea, but devil is in the details | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Expansion of School Advisory Councils: Popular idea, but devil is in the detailsby thenotebook on Sep 04 2012 Posted in Latest news - COMMENTS (0)PRINT - EMAIL[image: ""] Tags: - ACTIVISM/ORGANIZING - budget cuts - parent involvement - parent organizing - student activism - School Reform Commission *By Paul Jablow* * * For supporters of extending School Advisory Councils (SAC) to all schools in the District - and there is vir... more »

Shanker Blog » Five Recommendations For Reporting On (Or Just Interpreting) State Test Scores

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Shanker Blog » Five Recommendations For Reporting On (Or Just Interpreting) State Test Scores: Five Recommendations For Reporting On (Or Just Interpreting) State Test Scores by Matthew Di Carlo From my experience, education reporters are smart, knowledgeable, and attentive to detail. That said, the bulk of the stories about testing data – in big cities and suburbs, in this year and in previous years – could be better. Listen, I know it’s unreasonable to expect every reporter and editor to address every little detail when they try to write accessible copy about complicated issues,... more »

Please Post Your Responses on Gates’ Blog « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Please Post Your Responses on Gates’ Blog « Diane Ravitch's blog: Please Post Your Responses on Gates’ Blog by dianerav Earlier today I posted Anthony Cody’s searing critique of the Gates Foundation’s support for profiteering and privatization. (“When Profits Drive Reform”) Cody pulled no punches. He went right into the house of the Emperor to tell him that he has no clothes. His post is now posted on the Gates Foundation’s own blog. They call it “Impatient Optimists.” Please leave your comments on the Gates’ blog so that the foundation staff is sure to read them. They need to hear... more »

New York City Fair Student Funding reform? Not so fair: exclusive analysis - NY Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
New York City Fair Student Funding reform? Not so fair: exclusive analysis - NY Daily News: New York City Fair Student Funding reform? Not so fair: exclusive analysisThe analysis shows that schools opening in the last 3 years — Bloomberg’s ‘pets’ — get more dough than those getting shut down by city.Comments (4)BY RACHEL MONAHAN / NEW YORK DAILY NEWSTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012, 3:21 AM Facebook 0 Twitter 3 StumbleUpon Tumblr Email Print [image: Shenia Rudolph, with her twins, seventh-grader daughter, Capri Brown, 12 and eighth-grade, son, Coby Brown, 12, who both attend Junior High ... more »

Teachers unions' alliance with Democratic Party frays - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Teachers unions' alliance with Democratic Party frays - latimes.com: Teachers unions' alliance with Democratic Party fraysPublic efforts toward school reform have some Democrats questioning the party's support of guarantees that school districts have made to teachers for decades. - [image: print] - Comments 59 - Email Share - - - [image: Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers] Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says parent-trigger laws actually gave power to for-profit organizations, not parents and ... more »

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks to 18,000 supporters on Labor Day | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks to 18,000 supporters on Labor Day | Seattle Education: Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks to 18,000 supporters on Labor Day from Seattle Education 2010 by seattleducation2011 Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis spoke to 18,00 supporters yesterday in Chicago’s Daley Plaza and she did not mince her words. Chicago was the birthplace of education reform as we know it with then CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan, and his failed Renaissance 2010 program to p... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, September 4, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Pelosi kicks off roster of speakers to California delegation Education Headlines *Tuesday, September 4, 2012* Local students boost test resultsStatewide, just over half of students -- 51 percent -- scored proficient or advanced in math. In English, 57 percent scored proficient or above. That's up by a percentage point in math and three in English over last year. Chino Valley USD reveals 4 teachers had sex with studentsThree of the four teachers allegedly involved in sexual relationships with students were ... more »

Teacher’s Unions in Tension With Democrats in Charlotte | FDL News Desk

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Teacher’s Unions in Tension With Democrats in Charlotte | FDL News Desk: Teacher’s Unions in Tension With Democrats in Charlotte by David Dayen Teacher in classroom with students (photo: Temari 09 / flickr) The Democratic platform on education includes the passage, “We Democrats honor our nation’s teachers, who do a heroic job for their students every day. If we want high-quality education for all our kids, we must listen to the people who are on the front lines.” However, it’s also perhaps the first education platform plank that tentatively dips its toe in the water of using student... more »

School Tech Connect: Obama, Are You Listening?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Tech Connect: Obama, Are You Listening?: Obama, Are You Listening? by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) I know I riff on this a lot, but... If I were a certain sitting Democratic president, I would be reaching out to the people who lifted me up. I would be looking in the mirror and asking myself, *Who got me here? What was it that people saw in me that I need to rekindle this time around?* * *This is the great Jitu Brown, speaking at Daley Plaza today. Like I say, if I were a certain someone facing re-election, I wouldn't be hitching my star to bland technocratic chamele... more »

The solution to everything: More Standardized Testing! - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The solution to everything: More Standardized Testing! - Wait, What?: The solution to everything: A. More Standardized Testing! by jonpelto Public education experts Diane Ravitch and Gary Rubinstein write about a recent letter from 30 plus “education reform” groups to Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. The “education reformer’s” message; standardized test scores should be used to measure the effectiveness of teacher training programs in the United States. No don’t laugh, these people are for real. Here is what they want. Colleges graduate teachers; teachers get hired; the teacher... more »







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