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Friday, January 6, 2012

The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:

The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report

The Gates’ funded Measures Of Effective Teaching released their latest studies today. There have been a few posts about it, and I’m sure there will be many more. I thought I’d get a hard start on collecting them in one “The Best…” list.

Here are my picks for The Best Posts On The Gates’ Funded Measures Of Effective Teaching Report:

Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching quality is from Gotham Schools. (thanks to Alexander

Jersey Jazzman: One Study Does Not a Policy Make

Jersey Jazzman: One Study Does Not a Policy Make:

One Study Does Not a Policy Make

And so it begins: one working paper comes out - a study that hasn't even been published yet in an academic journal - and we're supposed drop all the previous high-quality research about the unreliability of using test scores to evaluate teachers and embrace Value-Added Modeling (VAM).

Well, at least that's what Star-Ledger columnist Tom Moran says:
But the teachers union, and many obedient Democrats in the Legislature, are resisting all use of test scores in teacher evaluations.
Perhaps this study can help change their minds. It finds that the kids who attended

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts #edreform #ows


Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching quality | GothamSchools

Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching quality | GothamSchools:Gates Foundation study paints bleak picture of teaching qualityby Elizabeth GreenThe study measured teachers against the criteria in Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Effective Teaching rubric, which is used in New York as a tool for observing teachers. Teachers scored better at classroom management than they did on measures of higher-order instructional challenges, such as asking productive questions.A historic look inside the nation’s classrooms, including some in New York City, painted ... more »

The guy closes libraries. What a shmuck. « Fred Klonsky

The guy closes libraries. What a shmuck. « Fred Klonsky:The guy closes libraries. What a shmuck.by Fred KlonskyFresh from his video appearance promoting yahoo Kyle Olson and Islamophobe Juan William’s Anti-public Schools Week, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel went back to work and closed down Chicago’s libraries. Or at least closed them on Mondays.Remember, it was just a month or so ago he got into it with the Chicago Teachers Union over longer school days.Get it? More hours in school. Fewer ... more »

A big new study: “All else being equal.” Well, that’s the rub, isn’t it? « Fred Klonsky

A big new study: “All else being equal.” Well, that’s the rub, isn’t it? « Fred Klonsky:A big new study: “All else being equal.” Well, that’s the rub, isn’t it.by Fred KlonskyAnne and I were at Peet’s this morning before heading off for a little get away to the land of Recall Scott Walker.“What are you laughing at?” asked Anne.“There’s a big new study of teacher added value reported in the New York Times,” I said.“And you’re laughing because…?”“Well listen.” ... more »

"Educators to King, Regents: 'Stop hurting our neediest students. Restore the SIG funding' ." January 06, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

"Educators to King, Regents: 'Stop hurting our neediest students. Restore the SIG funding' ." January 06, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org:Educators to King, Regents: 'Stop hurting our neediest students. Restore the SIG funding'ALBANY, N.Y. Jan. 6, 2012 - New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi and other educators who are working as partners to design rigorous teacher and principal evaluation systems will join forces Monday to oppose State Education Commissioner John B. King's decision to suspend ... more »

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Meritocracy, testocracy, jobs, and IQ

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Meritocracy, testocracy, jobs, and IQ:Meritocracy, testocracy, jobs, and IQby The Perimeter PrimateAn old news piece, “Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops” (9/8/2000) was circulated a bit last week via internet exchanges relating to ed policy and teacher bashing.A man whose bid to become a police officer was rejected after he scored too high on an intelligence test has lost an appeal in his federal lawsuit against the city.The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New ... more »

NJ's Request for Waivers Draws Criticism from Advocacy Group - State EdWatch - Education Week

NJ's Request for Waivers Draws Criticism from Advocacy Group - State EdWatch - Education Week:NJ's Request for Waivers Draws Criticism from Advocacy Groupby Sean CavanaghThe Obama administration has yet to make an official decision on states' requests for waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act, the sweeping, and in many districts, deeply unpopular law.But the reviews are in on New Jersey's waiver plan from one advocacy organization, which claims the plan would diminish resources going to needy schools—a charge ... more »

Gates Foundation report says schools need more than just once-a-year teacher evaluations - The Washington Post

Gates Foundation report says schools need more than just once-a-year teacher evaluations - The Washington Post:Gates Foundation report says schools need more than just once-a-year teacher evaluations Text SizePrintE-mailReprintsBy Associated Press, Updated: Friday, January 6, 11:23 AMSEATTLE — Once-a-year evaluations aren’t enough to help teachers improve, says a report by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation.And school districts using infrequent classroom observations to decide who are their best — and their worst — teachers could be making some big mistakes, according ... more »

'National Opt Out Day' Rejects Standardized Tests

'National Opt Out Day' Rejects Standardized Tests:Joy ResmovitsJoy.resmovits@huffingtonpost.comBecome a fan of this reporterGET UPDATES FROM JOY Like725'National Opt Out Day' Rejects Standardized TestsPosted: 1/6/12 04:37 PM ETLast year, stress about Pennsylvania's state standardized tests caused third grader John Michael Rosenblum to start scratching himself so hard in his sleep that he bled. That's when his mother Michele Gray knew she'd had enough.So she opted out. "I realized standardized testing isn't serving our communities or schools," Gray says. "The amount of ...more »

Schools Matter: Ethnic Studies and Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy Under Attack

Schools Matter: Ethnic Studies and Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy Under Attack:'Ethnic Studies and Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy Under Attackby Jim HornPlease take a few minutes to view this film clip from Democracy Now:Text from Democracy Now:An Arizona administrator has ruled that the public school district in Tucson must end its acclaimed Mexican American Studies program for grades K-12, saying it violates a new state law that bans the teaching of any class designed for a particular ethnic group or that "promote[s] resentment toward a ... more »

Last Stand for Children First: Elevating the Teaching Profession with STRIPES

Last Stand for Children First: Elevating the Teaching Profession with STRIPES:Elevating the Teaching Profession with STRIPESby Last Stand for ChildrenOne of the biggest problems that we face in education today is the seemingly endless quest to elevate the teaching profession. Back in 1989, Wendy Kopp had a vision of taking gifted college students who weren't education majors, but wanted to teach and sending them out to learn how to teach on our country's neediest children. The result has been Teach ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts #edreform

Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBookBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-46 minutes agoRally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBook:Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumniby Anna M. Phillips“BS Deserves Better,” said a sign at a rally outside of the Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s most storied high schools that has been at war with itself for years over ... more »

CIP Updates Underway for PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog

CIP Updates Underway for PWCS « PWC Education Reform Blog:CIP Updates Underway for PWCSJanuary 5, 2012 — pwceducationreformPWCS has announced that they will begin updating the CIP shortly and citizen comments are welcomed. Here’s the announcement and link:Capital Improvement Planning Begins; Community Input Opportunities to ComeJanuary 5, 2012Preliminary work is underway on the ever-evolving Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Capital Improvements Program (CIP). School Board Members last night (January 4) discussed staff recommendations for updating the program in the ... more »

NEA Stance on Teach For America Continues to Raise Questions - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

NEA Stance on Teach For America Continues to Raise Questions - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:NEA Stance on Teach For America Continues to Raise Questionsby Anthony CodyThe decision by Dennis Van Roekel to co-author a column with Teach For America director Wendy Kopp continues to generate negative reaction among educators, the latest being the decision by Nancy Carlsson-Paige and her son Matt Damon to reject the union's Friend of Education award. The response by the union has been ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Richard Barr on the glorious Snyder school buildings, too many lost, sold or sitting empty

NYC Public School Parents: Richard Barr on the glorious Snyder school buildings, too many lost, sold or sitting empty:Richard Barr on the glorious Snyder school buildings, too many lost, sold or sitting emptyby Leonie HaimsonMorris High School in the BronxMayor Bloomberg’s invitation to his State of the City speechfeatures a photo of the glorious Morris High School building in the Bronx where his address will be given. Morris High School was designed by the NYC Superintendent of schools, Charles B.J. ... more »

Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBook

Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumni – SchoolBook:Rally Against Bronx Science Principal, This Time By Students and Alumniby Anna M. Phillips“BS Deserves Better,” said a sign at a rally outside of the Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s most storied high schools that has been at war with itself for years over the pedagogical policies of its principal, Valerie J. Reidy.On Thursday, roughly two dozen current students and recent alumni gathered on ... more »

Modern School: Online Ed: Trojan Horse for Destroying Teachers Unions

Modern School: Online Ed: Trojan Horse for Destroying Teachers Unions:Online Ed: Trojan Horse for Destroying Teachers Unionsby Michael DunnBeware of Capitalist Bearing Gifts of Cheap Canned Curricula (Image from Flickr, by Perfecto Insecto)Idaho teachers and parents are pissed off: Last year, their state Legislature passed a law requiring all high school students to take some online classes to graduate, according to theSan Francisco Chronicle. They also mandated that students and teachers be given laptops or tablets to take and manage ... more »

Final HQT “Highly Qualified Teacher” Workshop for 2011-12 - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Final HQT Workshop for 2011-12 - Letters (CA Dept of Education):Final HQT Workshop for 2011-12The California Department of Education is hosting the finalElementary and Secondary Education Act“Highly Qualified Teacher” Workshop for 2011–12Presented byLynda NicholsEducation Programs ConsultantMonday, April 2, 2012East End Complex1500 Capitol Avenue, Room ABCSacramento, CA 9581410:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.This workshop will focus on the “Highly Qualified Teacher” requirements related to theElementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Topics will include an overview ofthe ESEA teacher comp... more »

Jersey Jazzman: REPOST: OK, Smart Guy - What Would YOU Do?

Jersey Jazzman: REPOST: OK, Smart Guy - What Would YOU Do?:REPOST: OK, Smart Guy - What Would YOU Do?by DukeFor all of my new, trollish freinds: here's the Jazzman Reform Plan from September, 2011. I may change a few things now, but I still think most of it is solid.Over at Blue Jersey, I recently spent a week demolishing the corporate "reform" argument. Well, no, that's not quite right; I'd spent the last week bringing together a bunch of research ... more »

Would I announce my bargaining position before bargaining? No. But that’s me. « Fred Klonsky

Would I announce my bargaining position before bargaining? No. But that’s me. « Fred Klonsky:Would I announce my bargaining position before bargaining? No. But that’s me.by Fred KlonskyThere was some concern about the way I reported Senate President John Cullerton’s statement yesterday.On the video I posted, Cullerton said plainly that the state employee unions, our leadership included, had expressed a willingness to negotiate adjustments in the pension benefits of union members.I wan’t shocked by Cullerton’s statement because our union leadership ... more »

Why I Am A Liberal | Addicting Info

Why I Am A Liberal | Addicting Info:

Why I Am A Liberal

School Tech Connect: I'm With Michelle On This One

School Tech Connect: I'm With Michelle On This One:

I'm With Michelle On This One

I was going to skip this story about Michelle Obama until I realized it's pretty much the story of how she can't stand Rahm Emanuel.
The first lady never confronted the advisers directly — that was not her way — but they found out about her displeasure from the president. “She feels as if our rudder isn’t set right,” Mr. Obama confided, according to aides.
Rahm Emanuel, then chief of staff, repeated the first lady’s criticisms to colleagues with indignation, according to three of them. Mr. Emanuel, in a brief interview, denied that he had grown frustrated with Mrs. Obama, but other advisers described a grim situation: a president whose