BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA
RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST
Dawn Hochsprung Principal, Sandy Hook School RIP
Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett’s Plan to Degrade and Cheapen the Education Profession | Scathing Purple Musings
Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett’s Plan to Degrade and Cheapen the Education Profession | Scathing Purple Musings: Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett’s Plan to Degrade and Cheapen the Education Profession by Bob Sikes In two days, recently ousted Indiana education boss Tony Bennett will sit down for an interview with members of the state board of education at the Tampa Airport Marriott. He’ll find kindred spirits on the board as with the exception of one, all were appointed by either former governor Jeb Bush or current governor Ricks Scott. The loan exception, ... more »
Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children - Press-Telegram
Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children - Press-Telegram: Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children By John Christoffersen The Associated Press Posted: 12/14/2012 08:17:59 AM PST Updated: 12/14/2012 10:09:48 AM PST This satellite image provided by Google shows the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. A shooting at the school Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, left the gunman dead and at least one teacher wounded. (AP Photo/Google) In this photo provided by the Newtown Bee, Connecticut State Police lead ch... more »
"If a man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he is a liar."
Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company, Eugene, Oregon, May 17, 1960 - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum:
For as Abraham Lincoln said of labor:
"All that serves labor serves the nation. All that harms labor is treason to America. No line can be drawn between these two.
"If a man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he is a liar.
"If a man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool.
"There is no America without labor, and to fleece the one is to rob the other."
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal by Mike Klonsky Honeywell CEO David Cote OK's the dealWhy am I so sure that the deal has already been done on the so-called *fiscal cliff*? Because, according to this report in the NYT, the big boys have already given Obama and Boehner to increase taxes on the wealthiest 4% of Americans in exchange for cuts in so-called entitlements, ie. medicare benefits and social sec. By the big boys, I mean the real power in the country, including CEOs of Goldma... more »
Nonprofits seek influence with political giving | California Watch
Nonprofits seek influence with political giving | California Watch: Nonprofits seek influence with political giving Amy Julia Harris 401kcalculator.org/Flickr As executive director of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, Scott Staub raises money to give to the city’s libraries. In his spare time, he raises money to give to politicians. Staub heads a political action committee that is attempting to increase the political clout of the nonprofit sector in federal elections. Most of the committee’s members are affiliated with charitable organizations. “We want to be a politic... more »
Bill Moyers: United States of Alec | www.kochwatch.org
Bill Moyers: United States of Alec | www.kochwatch.org: Bill Moyers: United States of Alec by CD Popout Moyers & Company presents "United States of ALEC," a report on the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of -- ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a “nonpartisan public-private partnership”. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense wi... more »
Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez: Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2011for School Board
*Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez for School Board* * Her Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Kirby-Gonzalez-for-School-Board/140425392775087?fref=ts * An interview with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2011. The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program recognizes excellence in teaching within the county's schools. Participating districts nominate individual teachers to receive this special recognition. At the Teachers of the Year awards recognition dinner, two teachers are identified as the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year and are t... more »
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 12-11-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* What Can We Learn From Today’s Most Depressing Piece Of News? by Larry Ferlazzo Though it could easily fit the label of “today’s most depressing piece of news,” the title of this post is not referring to the Michigan Governor’s signing of awful “right to work” legislation. No, it’s referring to a major new report summarized by Sarah Sparks at Education Week in a post titled Students Who Struggle Early Rarely Catch Up, Study Says. Here’s an excerpt: *ACT found that only 10 percent of students who were far behind their peers in col... more »
For these are all our children - Winnie the Pooh - Wherever you are
Come out moon Come out wishing star Come out Come out Wherever you are I’m out here in the dark All alone and wide awake Come and find me I’m empty and I’m cold And my heart's about to break Come and find me I need you to come here and find me Cause without you I’m totally lost I've hung a wish on every star It hasn’t done much good so far I can only dream of you Wherever you are I’ll hear you laugh I’ll see you smile I’ll be with you just for a while But when the morning comes And the sun begins to rise I will lose you Because it’s just a dream When I open up my eyes I will lose ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Reporting from Education Leadership Team Meeting
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Reporting from Education Leadership Team Meeting: Reporting from Education Leadership Team Meeting by Melissa Westbrook The Mayor had organized an Education Leadership Team awhile back and I finally got to attend a meeting today. The Team is made up of City staff, SPS staff, UW staff, community college reps, business reps and labor reps. It's quite a diverse group (well, in what they do - not so much diversity in what they look like). SPS staff there today included Pegi McEvoy, Duggan Harman and the Superintendent. Most of the meeting was about... more »
Responding to tragedy: Resources for parents - Sacramento City Unified School District
Responding to tragedy: Resources for parents - Sacramento City Unified School District: Responding to tragedy: Resources for parents Tonight, our thoughts are with the families in Newton, Connecticut who endured a terrible a tragedy today. I want to reassure all of our parents that nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students and staff. Over the weekend, your child may have questions about this event, which is likely to dominate the news and the social media for many days to come. Resources to help parents and students at this difficult time can be found ... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years
NYC Public School Parents: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years by Leonie Haimson This year’s class size report continues a tragic trend. Class sizes in grades K-3 and grades 4-8 have increased for the fifth year in a row. In high school, they have increased sharply as well, though the data that the DOE reports is not fully reliable. In Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade, class sizes are now the largest in 14 years, since 1998, when class size data first was reported by the Independent Budget Office. In 3rd g... more »
AFT Statement on Massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School
AFT - A Union of Professionals - AFT Statement on Massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School: AFT Statement on Massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School *WASHINGTON, D.C.—* Statement of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. "The entire AFT community is shaken to its core by this massacre of young children and the educators and school employees who care for and nurture them. Twenty children and six adults were shot and killed today in one of the worst school shootings in history. We grieve for the... more »
Slideshow: Anger surges during rally at Phila. School District | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Slideshow: Anger surges during rally at Phila. School District | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Slideshow: Anger surges during rally at Phila. School District by thenotebook Rally-goers gathered outside the School District of Philadelphia headquarters at 440 N. Broad St. yesterday as the announcement was made that dozens of schools were recommended for closure or relocation. If the plan is approved, some 17,000 students might be moving to new schools. The rally was organized by the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools. ="" title="Facebook_like" href="http:/... more »
Connecticut School Shooting: President Obama's Emotional Statement
Statement by the President on the School Shooting in Newtown, CT James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 3:15 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families. We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would -- as a parent. And t... more »
Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope - ABC News
Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope - ABC News: Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope Email0Smaller FontTextLarger Text|Print [image: ap school shooting embrace tk 121214 wblog Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope] (Image credit: Melanie Stengel/The New Haven Register/AP Photo) Every parent trying to come to grips with the scope of the tragedy in Connecticut is wondering how to talk to their kids about it. *LIVE UPDATES: Newtown, Conn., School Shooting* Alan Kazdin, a professor of child psychology at Yale University, offers four tips... more »
Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children - Press-Telegram
Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children - Press-Telegram: Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children By John Christoffersen The Associated Press Posted: 12/14/2012 08:17:59 AM PST Updated: 12/14/2012 10:09:48 AM PST This satellite image provided by Google shows the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. A shooting at the school Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, left the gunman dead and at least one teacher wounded. (AP Photo/Google) In this photo provided by the Newtown Bee, Connecticut State Police lead ch... more »
Ann Schulte: Teacher Performance Assessment Isn't the Answer - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Ann Schulte: Teacher Performance Assessment Isn't the Answer - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Ann Schulte: Teacher Performance Assessment Isn't the Answer by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Ann Schulte.* The edTPA is spreading across the country like wild fire, and I'm feeling burned out. My experience with standardized performance assessment over the past 10 years has given me multiple opportunities both to learn from it as well as critique it, and to that end, I've engaged in a variety of discussions about it initially with other California educators, and more recentl... more »
Probe sought into private influence on public education policy
Probe sought into private influence on public education policy: *Probe sought into private influence on public education policy* Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 14, 2012 at 12:15 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Increasingly policy relating to public education is being made in secret with involvement from private donors or organizations pushing their own agendas. In Philadelphia, where parents have been fighting for years to make public information about how decisions toward the priv... more »
Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Media Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage | Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Media Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage | Hoover Institution: Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Media Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage [image: Education in the Media cast vote image without caption] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STANFORD—After a close analysis of education coverage in the general news media during 2012, the Hoover Institution’s Koret Task Force on K–12 Educationtoday released its list of the five most covered stories (“hits”) and the five most important but neglected stories (“misses”). T... more »
UPDATE: Quinn turns creepy with his pension campaign. « Fred Klonsky
Quinn turns creepy with his pension campaign. « Fred Klonsky: Illinois unions say that they want state revenue issue addressed. “White Paper” to be released on Monday. by Fred Klonsky I’m calling a press conference. I got a dozen friends who agree with me about pensions. by Fred Klonsky And the press falls for this bullshit. CHICAGO — College students are joining Gov. Pat Quinn in calling for pension reform, saying it’s vital to ensuring access to higher education.More than a dozen students appeared at a press conference with Quinn Wednesday.They said they rely on the state’s Mon... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-14-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] School Shooting in Connecticut by dianerav I am in shock. Just heard the news of a mass murder of elementary school children in Newtown, Connecticut. CNN says “close to 20″ were killed. News reports on AOL says it is 27, including at least 18 children and the principal. They say the killer was a parent, who wore a bullet-proof vest and brought guns to the school. I keep thinking that we have huge problems in this society, and our policymakers only want to talk about test scores. It may be time to think a... more »
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 12-13-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* Why Not Teach For America (Guest Post by Robin Lane) by dloitz [image: not teachforamerica]Well, it’s about that time of year — when seniors start frantically applying for fellowships and internships and jobs, the socially conscious among them aching for a career that will allow them to change the world, others looking for something they can put on their application for law school. Then comes along the recruiting powerhouse of Teach for America, to assure college students that yes, you can in fact change the world AND have an in to la... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Jim Devor on how the innovative admission plan of D13 & D15 school was engineered
NYC Public School Parents: Jim Devor on how the innovative admission plan of D13 & D15 school was engineered: Jim Devor on how the innovative admission plan of D13 & D15 school was engineered by Leonie Haimson Recently, the Daily News Editorial Page had the unique occasion to sing the praises of a progressive targeted admissions program that the Community Education Councils for Districts 13 ("CEC-13") and 15 ("CEC-15") wrested from the DoE as part of the new [re]construction of PS 133 in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights. In particular, the Daily News voiced strong approval of the pla... more »
Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 12-13-12 #soschat #edreform
* Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break * Teacher Tips for the Impending Apocolypse by NYC Educator As I'm certain you all know, the world is due to end a week from tomorrow. Not only that, but if the UFT does not agree to an evaluation that AFT President Randi Weingarten just labeled "junk science," Mayor Bloomberg will impose draconian cuts on the school system, just because he can. After all, mayoral control means he can do what he wants, when he wants, how he wants, and if you don't like it, you can just take a hike, pal. Me, I'm giving a test on Friday. This makes perfec... more »
Welcome new Parents Across America chapters! Support PAA! | Parents Across America
Support PAA! | Parents Across America: Philly affiliate files ethics complaint against foundation by pureparents Our Philadelphia founding member, Helen Gym, shared news reports that her group, Parents United for Public Education, and others have filed an ethics complaint against the William Penn Foundation and the Boston Consulting Group, alleging that BCG was acting as a lobbyist when it developed a plan for the School District of Philadelphia including major school closures and charter expansion, funded through and at the direction of the foundation. BCG would have been required... more »
UPDATE: Bad Segregation vs. Okay Segregation - Wait, What?
Bad Segregation vs. Okay Segregation - Wait, What?: Bad Segregation vs. Okay Segregation by jonpelto Remember when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke out so eloquently against the scourge of “BAD” segregation, while clearly delineating the line between “BAD” segregation and OKAY segregation? You know, it was back on June 23, 1963, in the Great March on Detroit… King was speaking to a crowd of more than 25,000 people at Cobo Hall in Detroit. King explained that unlike OKAY segregation, BAD “Segregation is a cancer in the body politic, which must be removed before our democratic health... more »
Hite releases school closing plan | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Hite releases school closing plan | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Hite releases school closing planby thenotebook on Dec 13 2012 Posted in Latest news Superintendent William Hite early this morning announced his school closing planin an email to District personnel. The 12-page document identifies 44 schools that will be either closed or relocated to new buildings; 37 facilities will be shuttered. Full details of the plan are expected to be announced at a 2 p.m. press conference. The final list of closing recommendations includes some schools that were not on a list obtained... more »
Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-13-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Secret Agreement Revealed Between New Jersey and Broad Foundation by dianerav The New Jersey Star-Ledger published news of a secret agreement that was leaked to the paper. The state of New Jersey entered into an agreement with the Broad Foundation to meet the foundation’s demands; the money awarded to the state is available only so long as Governor Chris Christie remains in office. This suggests that New Jersey has outsourced its education policy to the Los Angeles-based Broad Foundation. The foundation is... more »
Why a privatized GED will fail students Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Why a privatized GED will fail students Monty Vyse reports on the fallout from the takeover of GED testing by for-profit Pearson Education--and what it will mean thousands trying to take the exam each year. December 11, 2012-- socialistworker.org SINCE THE 1940s, adult learners who have left high school without a diploma have had the option of taking the General Educational Development (GED) test. Nearly 700,000 people took the GED test in 2011--about half are Black or Latino [1]. Test-takers come disproportionally ... more »
Nonprofits seek influence with political giving | California Watch
Nonprofits seek influence with political giving | California Watch: Nonprofits seek influence with political giving Amy Julia Harris 401kcalculator.org/Flickr As executive director of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, Scott Staub raises money to give to the city’s libraries. In his spare time, he raises money to give to politicians. Staub heads a political action committee that is attempting to increase the political clout of the nonprofit sector in federal elections. Most of the committee’s members are affiliated with charitable organizations. “We want to be a politic... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal by Mike Klonsky Honeywell CEO David Cote OK's the dealWhy am I so sure that the deal has already been done on the so-called *fiscal cliff*? Because, according to this report in the NYT, the big boys have already given Obama and Boehner to increase taxes on the wealthiest 4% of Americans in exchange for cuts in so-called entitlements, ie. medicare benefits and social sec. By the big boys, I mean the real power in the country, including CEOs of Goldma... more »
Blue Jersey:: Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching
Blue Jersey:: Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching: Alternate Route to Undermining Teachingby: A New Jersey Farmer*Sun Dec 09, 2012 at 08:55:17 PM EST* *Diary rescue. Don't know why this wasn't frontpaged the day it was posted. It's good. - Rosi**Cross-posted at A New Jersey Farmer* It's not enough that the Christie Administration has bashed teachers as union mules and the source of New Jersey's fiscal ills. It's not enough that the governor has promoted private partnerships with public schools to avoid paying the state's fair share of education aid to school districts in need of... more »
Race to the Top: Mixed Reactions in the Bay Area « InterACT
Race to the Top: Mixed Reactions in the Bay Area « InterACT: Race to the Top: Mixed Reactions in the Bay Area by David B. Cohen Today’s education news includes the announcement of Race to the Top grant recipients, with this round of grants going to districts instead of states. California had three winning districts, as EdSource Today reports: Three California school districts are among 16 winners in the latest round of the federal Race to the Top funding competition. The relatively small districts beat out several of the state’s largest districts, which didn’t even make it into t... more »
Another important facilities update from Jackie Leavy Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Another important facilities update from Jackie Leavy: Another important facilities update from Jackie Leavy by admin Dear Supporters of Great Public Schools for ALL STUDENTS: Jackie L here, with some important updates and developments: WHO’s TELLING THE TRUTH? If you’re skeptical of CPS’ “facts,” you’ve just been vindicated by the data-driven reporting of Chicago’s Public Radio journalists! WBEZ’s “TRUTH SQUAD” reported on December 11th that: “Chicago school officials and the head of an independent Commission on School Uti... more »
Statement on pending school closings | Parents United for Public Education
Statement on pending school closings | Parents United for Public Education: Statement on pending school closings Posted on December 12, 2012 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a comment [image: (Photo: NewsWorks)] (Photo: NewsWorks) *In anticipation of tomorrow’s announcement of dozens of school closings, Parents United for Public Education posted this statement. We will be attending the PCAPS rally at the School District, 440 N. Broad Street, tomorrow at 4 p.m. The District will announce the school closings list at a 2 p.m. press conference.* *[image: parents_united5.gif]* *Parents United s... more »
There is no mistaking who the enemy is in Michigan. But Democratic Party actions in Illinois undercut their expressions of concern. « Fred Klonsky
There is no mistaking who the enemy is in Michigan. But Democratic Party actions in Illinois undercut their expressions of concern. « Fred Klonsky: There is no mistaking who the enemy is in Michigan. But Democratic Party actions in Illinois undercut their expressions of concern. by Fred Klonsky [image: th] On a stop in Michigan earlier this week President Obama, commenting on the Michigan Tea Party Republicans plans to pass a bill outlawing the union shop, said,* “We should do everything we can to keep creating good middle-class jobs that help folks rebuild security for their fami... more »
UPDATE: To Representative Elaine Nekritz and the other sponsors of HB6258. Glen Brown in two parts. Today: The law protects our pensions. « Fred Klonsky
To Representative Elaine Nekritz and the other sponsors of HB6258. Glen Brown in two parts. Today: The law protects our pensions. « Fred Klonsky: John Dillon. Let’s hope our leaders don’t take the bait. by Fred Klonsky [image: img_2678] John Dillon: Ellen Schultz warns in *Retirement Heist*, offering options is a ploy used in the private sector quite successfully. “To enhance their chances at success, some companies started to use a strategy…creeping take-aways.“ This involves taking small steps – increase premiums a small amount, or perhaps start charging premiums in the future... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Benefits From Data Collection?
Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Benefits From Data Collection?: Who Benefits From Data Collection? by Anngie *"These datasets have been gathered from various agencies to provide detailed information on the state of education on all levels, from cradle to career and beyond.** - Education Data Community**" * You are your digital footprint. Almost a year ago the White House released a fact sheet UNLOCKING THE POWER OF EDUCATION DATA FOR ALL AMERICANS. The three page document contains the commitments of various partners to collect data on every student in America and make it as easy ... more »
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 12-11-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* What Can We Learn From Today’s Most Depressing Piece Of News? by Larry Ferlazzo Though it could easily fit the label of “today’s most depressing piece of news,” the title of this post is not referring to the Michigan Governor’s signing of awful “right to work” legislation. No, it’s referring to a major new report summarized by Sarah Sparks at Education Week in a post titled Students Who Struggle Early Rarely Catch Up, Study Says. Here’s an excerpt: *ACT found that only 10 percent of students who were far behind their peers in col... more »
Modern School: Will Bar Exam Turn Teachers Into Shysters?
Modern School: Will Bar Exam Turn Teachers Into Shysters?: Will Bar Exam Turn Teachers Into Shysters? by Michael Dunn *Proudly Sponsered by http://edushyster.com/* The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has launched *a new initiative* to raise entry standards for teacher-preparation programs, calling it a “bar exam” for teachers. My first thought on hearing the news was that they were trying to turn us into shysters, but then I remembered that we are already considered disreputable and unscrupulous by much of the public. What's black and tan and looks good around a teacher's n... more »
Numbers Can Lie: What TIMSS and PISA Truly Tell Us, if Anything?Education in the Age of Globalization
Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Numbers Can Lie: What TIMSS and PISA Truly Tell Us, if Anything?: Numbers Can Lie: What TIMSS and PISA Truly Tell Us, if Anything? by YongZhao “America’s Woeful Public Schools: TIMSS Sheds Light on the Need for Systemic Reform”[1] “Competitors Still Beat U.S. in Tests”[2] “U.S. students continue to trail Asian students in math, reading, science”[3] These are a few of the thousands of headlines generated by the release of the 2011 TIMSS and PIRLS results today. Although the results are hardly surprising or news worthy, judging f... more »
Sandra Stotsky: The Leading Critic of Common Core « Diane Ravitch's blog
Sandra Stotsky: The Leading Critic of Common Core « Diane Ravitch's blog: Sandra Stotsky: The Leading Critic of Common Core by dianerav I just posted an article written by David Coleman and Susan Pimentel, explaining that the Common Core standards are not antagonistic to literature and fiction, and that they promote a higher quality of both fiction and nonfiction. Within minutes, I received a post from Sandra Stotsky, expressing her vehement opposition to the Common Core standards. Stotsky was in charge of the development of the highly praised Massachusetts standards. The English ... more »
An independent look at the Common Core State Standards Initiative CCSSI Mathematics
CCSSI Mathematics: CCSSI Mathematics An independent look at the Common Core State Standards Initiative 2012-12-10 Mathematical tools – Part 3 On the morning of June 20, 1944, two weeks after D-Day, New York high school students sitting for the Plane Geometry Regents exam were asked to do the following construction:The task posed almost 70 years ago was not difficult, but it also wasn’t rote. It required the test-taker to make connections and to solve a problem: to apply basic construction techniques to notions of similarity and its theorems. Additionally, it required visualizatio... more »
Diane in the Evening 12-11-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Karen Lewis: Where Corporate Reform Is Going by dianerav A Comment from Karen Lewis about the simultaneous deluge of “reforms,” none of which is grounded in research or experience: “Any decent researcher knows that when you change more than one variable in an experiment, you have to do some pretty heavy lifting in order to determine which one had more effect than another. So in Chicago we have a new evaluation, Common Core, a longer day and year, a new contract, school closings and the usual suspects Teacher: Please Hear Me, Mayor Bloomberg by dianerav ... more »
NYC Educator: Recovering ATR and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Difficult School
NYC Educator: Recovering ATR and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Difficult School: Recovering ATR and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Difficult School by NYC Educator *by Recovering ATR * For the first few months of a year I traveled to several different schools as an ATR. Then I got hired for the year in a school. It's large, it's far from where I live, and the students I have are repeaters. Last Friday report cards were given out and the predictable whining about grades ensued. The AP's office had a line of students complaining about their grades. This understandably... more »
SI&A Cabinet Report – Ed Trust-West criticizes state for snail’s pace on common core
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *Ed Trust-West criticizes state for snail’s pace on common core* *By Tom Chorneau* Tuesday, December 11, 2012 *Thought Tank* The state’s much-delayed implementation of common core curriculum standards puts thousands of minority and English learner students at risk of falling further behind, a new report released Monday concludes. The analysis, developed by researchers from Education Trust-West – a nonprofit think tank based in Oakland – criticizes state officials for failing to provide school districts the broad-based professional development, ... more »
WELCOME TO THE TIMSS AND PIRLS 2011 DATA RELEASE TIMSS and PIRLS Home
TIMSS and PIRLS Home: WELCOME TO THE TIMSS AND PIRLS 2011 DATA RELEASE [image: TIMSS and PIRLS 2011 Data - New Landmark Release] Latest Publications from TIMSS and PIRLS ------------------------------ TIMSS 2011 International Results in Mathematics Analysis of data collected for mathematics achievement in 63 countries… TIMSS 2011 International Results in Science Analysis of data collected for science achievement in 63 countries… TIMSS 2011 Encyclopedia Education, policy, and curriculum in mathematics and science… PIRLS 2011 International Results in Reading Analysis of data collect... more »
Jersey Jazzman: The Tall Tales of Wendy Kopp
Jersey Jazzman: The Tall Tales of Wendy Kopp: The Tall Tales of Wendy Kopp by Duke Yesterday, Anthony Cody had a question for Teach For America's founder, Wendy Kopp: he wanted proof that her teachers really do stay in teaching for an average of eight years. I looked at the facts for a bit and came to the conclusion that it's very unlikely Kopp's claim is accurate. Cody asked his question because he is a thinking person with an actual, working brain in his head. When he hears a claim like Kopp's - a claim that stands in contradiction to all of the evidence we have about TFA - he'... more »
Schools Matter: Evidence-Driven versus Evidence-Influenced Education Policy
Schools Matter: Evidence-Driven versus Evidence-Influenced Education Policy: Evidence-Driven versus Evidence-Influenced Education Policy by John Thompson Conservative "reformer" Rick Hess demonstrated the best short-term tactic for dealing with amateurs who feel free to editorialize about public schools without having a clue about what they are pontificating about. Yes, the *New York Times' *Tom Friedman's "man crush" on Arne Duncan is illustrative of way Op Ed writers feel free to pass on educational policy analyses that are the equivalent of cocktail party talk. On the other h... more »
NYC Educator: What's With Mayor Mike?
NYC Educator: What's With Mayor Mike?: What's With Mayor Mike? by NYC Educator Mayor4Life is shooting his mouth off again, saying he won't accept any evaluation system that doesn't hold teachers' feet to the fire. He also says he wants all teacher evaluation reports released to the public. This is ironic, because Mayor Mike is currently applying to the Supreme Court to make sure his correspondence with failed Chancellor Cathie Black is not made public. After all, accountability is for the little people. The interesting point, though, is that his combativeness does not actually ind... more »
Sen Durbin to hold hearing on school-to-prison pipeline Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Sen Durbin to hold hearing on school-to-prison pipeline: Sen Durbin to hold hearing on school-to-prison pipeline by admin Testimony is due today for Wednesday hearing. From Dignity in Schools: *Ending the School to Prison Pipeline* *Hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights* For the first time ever, Congress is holding a hearing on the School to Prison Pipeline (12/12/12, 2pm et at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC). If you are anywhere near DC, p... more »
Transitioning to Standards-Based Learning — Whole Child Education
Transitioning to Standards-Based Learning — Whole Child Education: [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers] Transitioning to Standards-Based Learning December 10, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers Cathy Vatterott began her ASCD Conference on Teaching and Learning session, "Not Your Mother's Gradebook: Transitioning to Standards-Based Learning," by asking participants to think about the reasons that conventional tests may not be the best method to assess student learning. Participants shared that - Tests can be rigid, covering only specific goals and objectives as taught in a particu... more »
UPDATE: Connecticut’s Holiday “Budget Deficit Roadmap” uses state credit card for (again) - Wait, What?
Connecticut’s Holiday “Budget Deficit Roadmap” uses state credit card for (again) - Wait, What?: Connecticut’s Holiday “Budget Deficit Roadmap” uses state credit card for (again) by jonpelto On December 19, 2012, the 2011-2012 Connecticut General Assembly will meet one more time, this time for a special session to deal with Connecticut’s growing budget deficit. Call it the Holiday Special Session, or perhaps more aptly, it should be called the, “let’s cut vital human services the week before Christmas” Special Session. In addition to the $123 million the Governor already cut fro... more »
Can This Claim Be True? TFAers in the Classroom for 8 Years? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Can This Claim Be True? TFAers in the Classroom for 8 Years? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Can This Claim Be True? TFAers in the Classroom for 8 Years? by Anthony Cody The Huffington Post this morning features an interview with Teach For America founder Wendy Kopp, focused on how much TFA has to offer the poor of the world. Five years ago, Kopp founded Teach For All, in order to export the TFA model to other countries around the world. In this interview, Wendy Kopp states: "On average, our corps members stay in the classroom for eight years." Honestly, I find this... more »
UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, December 10, 2012
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Darling-Hammond elected new chair of Credentialing Commission | EdSource Today* Education Headlines *Monday, December 10, 2012* Change in the wind as Stockton USD nears 2013A variety of factors appears to make conditions ripe for change in a wide range of central-office and school-site leadership positions in 2013, say several Stockton Unified officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Long Beach USD high school projects will exemplify `smaller is better'For a string of new high schools slated to open in the Long Beach Unif... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-10-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] What’s the Deal with Students for Education Reform? by dianerav Students for Education Reform thinks teachers should promptly agree to be evaluated by student test scores. They like standardized tests and want them to be the determinant of their teachers’ careers. They even held a demonstration at New York City’s City Hall to say so. But not so fast. Bruce Baker has studied and critiqued the New York State educator evaluation plan. He says it is so inaccurate that it should be rejected. He calls SFER “Sockp... more »
UPDATE: The in box. Glen Brown on defending our pensions from a legislative siege. « Fred Klonsky
The in box. Glen Brown on defending our pensions from a legislative siege. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Glen Brown on defending our pensions from a legislative siege. by Fred Klonsky *“[Nonetheless, there are those among us who want to abandon] “the fundamental principle that the rules of the game for contracting parties are not to be changed midstream… This is especially hard to comprehend when public employees have diligently and faithfully paid their contributions while their government employers have failed to pay their required share. Indeed, for decades, states have treated ... more »
Time in school: How does the U.S. compare?
Time in school: How does the U.S. compare?: *TIMMS and PIRLS Results: Center for Public Education Available for Interview* * * * **Contact:* Linda Embrey National School Boards Association Office: (703) 838-6737 lembey@nsba.org Researcher Jim Hull, Senior Policy Analyst at the National School Boards Association’s Center for Public Education, is available to discuss results of the international assessments TIMSS and PIRLS that are being released today. Hull has written reports on how the U.S. compares internationally on a variety of measures: - More than a horse race: A guide to... more »
Common Core for Teachers- Education Experts
- Education Experts: Common Core for Teachers By *Fawn Johnson* December 10, 2012 | 8:30 a.m. - - - - - 2 The American Federation of Teachers proposed a universal "bar exam" for teachers last week, arguing that the profession deserves to be associated with high standards and the rigorous training needed to meet them. "There's this one universal assessment that would be available for adaptation. ...It would be so aligned with what new teachers need to know and be able to do. Just like the Common Core, many, many states would adopt it," said AFT President Randi W... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: WHY Can't Students Read "Catcher in the Rye" in School? Meet David Coleman.
Missouri Education Watchdog: WHY Can't Students Read "Catcher in the Rye" in School? Meet David Coleman.: WHY Can't Students Read "Catcher in the Rye" in School? Meet David Coleman. by stlgretchen The only item David Coleman requires now is a crown. The big news in education last week was the reduction of fiction reading in schools thanks to Common Core State standards. Many writers bemoaned the fact that *Catcher in the Rye* was being pulled from the approved list of literature by the centralized education system present in the United States. So much for local control. Under re... more »
'No-Excuses' Charters Grapple with Attrition – SchoolBook
'No-Excuses' Charters Grapple with Attrition – SchoolBook: * * *'No-Excuses' Charters Grapple with Attrition* [image: Students at Democracy Prep Harlem Middle School must remain silent when they transition from one classroom to the next, or they could lose points that can spent on rewards.] Beth Fertig Students at Democracy Prep Harlem Middle School must remain silent when they transition from one classroom to the next, or they could lose points that can spent on rewards. Dec. 9, 2012, 10:22 p.m. By *BETH FERTIG* At Democracy Prep Harlem Middle School, a sixth grade math teacher sta... more »
The Conversation: Diane Ravitch | Smiley & West
The Conversation: Diane Ravitch | Smiley & West: The Conversation: Diane Ravitch [image: diane-ravitch] Former U.S. Assistant Education Secretary Diane Ravitch tells Smiley and West why she is now a fierce opponent of privatization within public education. Diane Ravitch’s Official BlogDiane Ravitch’s Official WebsitePost a comment
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Week of December 10-15
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Week of December 10-15: Seattle Schools Week of December 10-15 by Melissa Westbrook Very busy week. *Monday, December 10th* Curriculum & Instruction Policy Committee Meeting from 4-6 p.m. Agenda Some interesting issues but there is not enough detail to know what they are specifically going to cover. Work Session on Weighted Staffing Standards from 6-7:30 p.m. Agenda *Tuesday, December 11th * Work Session on Creative Approach Schools from 5-6:30 p.m. Agenda Special Ed Advocacy & Advisory Council Meeting from 6:30-9:00 p.m., R...more »
Diane in the Evening 12-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: When Sabrina Stevens Crashed the ALEC Meeting by dianerav Sabrina Stevens wanted to tell the ALEC education task force what she thought of their plans to privatize American education and destroy unions. At first, she planned to protest. Instead, she walked right in, sat quietly, fumed, and then spoke out. * ** ** ** ** ** **LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog* coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Letting the Cat Out of the Bag by dianerav With each new ex... more »
Why the List of Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett’s Financial Backers Should Be Important to Floridians | Scathing Purple Musings
Why the List of Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett’s Financial Backers Should Be Important to Floridians | Scathing Purple Musings: Why the List of Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett’s Financial Backers Should Be Important to Floridians by Bob Sikes It’s rare that an elected public servant moves to the same position as an appointed one as former Indiana Superintendent of Public Education, Tony Bennett seeks to do in Florida. Bennett’s hasty, last-minute entry as a candidate for Florida Education Commissioner didn’t allow for proper vetting by state media. But Be... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-9-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Is It Possible to Drink Cereal Crumbs? by dianerav Veteran teacher Arthur Goldstein of New York City analyzes the age-old question: Is it possible to drink cereal crumbs? He offers a video demonstration and asks us to consider the meaning of this experiment: If it is possible, what are the implications for American education? If it is not, will anyone know? And who will take this idea and run with it? Mayor Bloomberg: Beware of Junk Science! by dianerav New York City’s Department of Education (meaning, Mayor ... more »
What real school reform looks like | CharlotteObserver.com
What real school reform looks like | CharlotteObserver.com: What real school reform looks like By P. L. Thomas Special to the Observer Posted: Sunday, Dec. 09, 2012 Michael Petrilli’s recent charge on the Observer’s Opinion page that the elections confirm “[t]eachers unions remain the Goliath to the school reformers’ David” is neither a brave claim to make in a paper serving a right-to-work area of the U.S., nor an accurate portrayal of the balance of power in education reform. First, a question: If teachers unions are the primary causes of public education failures, why do right-... more »
Ed Notes Online: Juan Gonzalez Moderates: Brian Jones, Pedro Noguera, Shael Polakow-Suransky, Diane Zavala: Dec. 10, 6PM
Ed Notes Online: Juan Gonzalez Moderates: Brian Jones, Pedro Noguera, Shael Polakow-Suransky, Diane Zavala: Dec. 10, 6PM: Juan Gonzalez Moderates: Brian Jones, Pedro Noguera, Shael Polakow-Suransky, Diane Zavala: Dec. 10, 6PM by ed notes online *Change the Stakes Sponsors: High Stakes Testing: Helping or Hurting Education?* You know that Change the Stakes, which began life as the testing committee of GEM, is my favorite of all the groups I currently work with, partly because of how productive the people involved in it are. This should be one exciting event. MORE's Brian Jones a... more »
Guest blog. Cost shift is the acid test of independence for Southland Democrats. « Fred Klonsky
Guest blog. Cost shift is the acid test of independence for Southland Democrats. « Fred Klonsky: Guest blog. Cost shift is the acid test of independence for Southland Democrats. by Fred Klonsky [image: 68147_1502068072028_2875202_n] *The following commentary is from the Southland Star. It is written by my good friend and colleague, Jerry Mulvihill, a 5th grade teacher in my old school district. Jerry lives in Alsip, is a former school board member, public school and union activist and father of two students in Southland public schools. * *Legislators have reconvened in Springfield ... more »
15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?
15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC - Wait, What?: 15+ family members and employees of a New York tug boat towing and ferry boat company give to Malloy PAC by jonpelto At least 15 family members and employees of a company that financially benefits from Connecticut public policy is one of the biggest donors to Malloy’s Political Action Committee, according to an article written by investigative reporter Jon Lender, and that will run in tomorrow (Sunday’s) Hartford Courant. Wait, What? readers are already familiar... more »
The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition.southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part V: The Playroom Edition by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Oh, there is fun to be had every day at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, but only if you seek it. The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School has turned into nothing more than a playroom. A place where students, those students that disrupt their classes, throw chairs, run through the halls, punch and kick teachers are punished by being able to finger paint play with dolls, and have ice cream parti... more »
Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing
Ed Notes Online: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing: The cycle of profiteering and privatizing by ed notes online *We know everything about your child* From Robert Rendo*:* First the deformers, Pearson et al for example, push for self interested legislation, they help write the wording of the law even though they themselves are not educators, then they over test the kids, then the tax system prevents any of their profits from trickling down to schools and teachers for better resources, then they push for starving the schools of funding from government, then when the school ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Announces New Appointments
Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Announces New Appointments: District Announces New Appointments by Melissa Westbrook From SPS Communications (bold mine): After six months as your Superintendent, it has been a pleasure to get to know our schools, staff, students and families. I know this has been a time of change, and I am looking forward to solidifying our team to ensure we are all working together in the best interest of our students. Today I am pleased to announce several appointments in our District. I will also be providing you with some additional information regard... more »
Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones | EduShyster
Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones | EduShyster: Joel Klein’s Edu-Cojones by edushyster2012 Today we raise our collective wine boxes to a man who has the biggest, boldest *edu-cojones* in the business. Reader: meet Joel Klein, former NYC schools Chancellor turned edu-preneur—and most definitely turning a profit. When last we encountered Mr. Klein he’d just finished sounding the alarm bell about the greatest national security threat our country faces: our union-stifled public schools. But there is good news, reader. Joel Klein has now figured out the solution to the national security threat o... more »
Jersey Jazzman: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study
Jersey Jazzman: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study: What You Need To Know About the NJ Charter School Study by Duke *Cross-Posted from Blue Jersey* Much ink has been spilled in the last two weeks over the release of the NJ charter schools report, published by Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). Below is an index of commentary on the report. I encourage you to read as much as you can, but let me summarize it here: - The report shows that the "benefits" of charters are almost all concentrated in Newark. *Charters in the oth... more »
Jersey Jazzman: KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network"
Jersey Jazzman: KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network": KIPP: The New "Old Boys Network" by Duke If America is really going to be a meritocracy, admissions into elite colleges has to be blind to socio-economic status. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, gifted students from poor families often don't attend the most selective universities. Part of this seems to that the high achievers who don't have money engage in different patterns of behavior when applying to colleges than the high achievers who do. But there's also the "old boys network." While we regularly hear stories about th... more »
University of California introduces a modern logo - ContraCostaTimes.com
University of California introduces a modern logo - ContraCostaTimes.com: University of California introduces a modern logo By Katy Murphy Oakland Tribune Posted: 12/07/2012 12:06:33 PM PST Updated: 12/07/2012 05:11:02 PM PST The old logo, left, and the new After 144 years with the same old Victorian seal, the University of California has decided to go mod. The university's original logo -- with its open book, 1868 date stamp and "Let there be light" script -- will still be in circulation, appearing on president's letters and official university documents. But marketing material... more »
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Joel Klein: Shameless Best of the Ed Blogs Jersey Jazzman December 7, 2012 un·der·uti... more »
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 12-8-12
*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* CALIFORNIA EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS SCORE FIFTH FROM BOTTOM IN NATIONAL VOCABULARY TESTS smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 7 hours ago By Sharon Noguchi, San Jose Mercury News | http://bit.ly/VSd0nU 12/06/2012 :: California ranks fifth-lowest in the nation in students' vocabulary -- a critical part of reading, according to results of national standardized tests released Thursday. smf: In the chart at the right the blue at the top/red at the bottom trending is interesting –... more »
This Week's Education Research Report 12-8-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * FIT KIDS FINISH FIRST IN THE CLASSROOM Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 1 day ago Fit kids aren’t only first picked for kickball. New research from Michigan State University shows middle school students in the best physical shape outscore their classmates on standardized tests and take home better report cards. Published in the *Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness*, it’s the first study linking children’s fitness to both improved scores on objective tests and better grades, which rel... more »
State appointed administrator of Inglewood school district steps down - latimes.com
State appointed administrator of Inglewood school district steps down - latimes.com: State appointed administrator of Inglewood school district steps down December 7, 2012 | 5:20 pm [image: increase text size][image: decrease text size] 3 0 [image: 1102914_me_1015_inglewood_3] Kent Taylor, the state administrator in charge of the financially troubled Inglewood School District, resigned from the position Friday after the Department of Education learned of a tentative agreement he made with the local teachers union without approval from the state. Taylor’s resignation comes months a... more »
