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Friday, February 10, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 2-10 #edreform #ows


ASCD Inservice: Tell Washington That Education is More Than Test Scores

ASCD Inservice: Tell Washington That Education is More Than Test Scores:Tell Washington That Education is More Than Test ScoresWe need your help. Congress is on the verge of making the same mistakes they made in NCLB: a narrow focus on reading and math at the expense of other subjects, relying on standardized state test scores as the measure of a student's abilities, and paying lip service to the importance of classroom teachers while providing them little support.The Obama administration's Let's ... more »

District eating millions in facilities costs at Audenried, other Renaissance charters | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

District eating millions in facilities costs at Audenried, other Renaissance charters | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:District eating millions in facilities costs at Audenried, other Renaissance chartersby Benjamin Heroldby Benjamin Heroldfor the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks Even while slashing staff, programs, and hours at schools across the city in an effort to close an enormousbudget gap, the School District has been swallowing millions of dollars in facilities-related expenses at its 13Renaissance Schools now run by outside charter operators.Nowhere is the situation more ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Parents - Are You Really Expecting This?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Parents - Are You Really Expecting This?:Parents - Are You Really Expecting This?by AnngieYou know the analogy about battles and the war? It's true. Though we may win battles, the war is far from over.The federal government is determined to get into the lives of the private citizen. Michelle Obama recently told a cafeteria full of airmen that she was proud of them for eating their veggies. Her visit, as the federal face of healthy eating, was ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 2-10 #ows #edreform #edchat

Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Show - NYTimes.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 minute agoEducation Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Show - NYTimes.com:Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies SayBy SABRINA TAVERNISEPublished: February 9, 2012RECOMMENDTWITTERLINKEDINE-MAILPRINTSINGLE PAGEREPRINTSSHAREWASHINGTON — Education was historically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable of lifting less advantaged children and improving their chances for success as adults. But a body of recently published scholarship sug... more »

RheeFirst! » New count could cut high school graduation rates 20 percent: another Rhee “miracle” claim busted

RheeFirst! » New count could cut high school graduation rates 20 percent: another Rhee “miracle” claim busted:New count could cut high school graduation rates 20 percent: another Rhee “miracle” claim bustedby adminMichelle Rhee’s promoters list the rise in graduation rates as one of her key accomplishments. This article refutes that.Written by Bill Turque for the Washington Post. Read the entire article here.“High school graduation rates in the District, long thought to be inflated by generous counting methods, will be adjusted ... more »

“At The Chalk Face” This Sunday with Guest Diane Ravitch | United Opt Out National

“At The Chalk Face” This Sunday with Guest Diane Ravitch | United Opt Out National:“AT THE CHALK FACE” THIS SUNDAY WITH GUEST DIANE RAVITCH

____will not be taking the CSAP/TCAP - Coalition for Better Education

Coalition for Better Education:Welcome to the Coalition for Better Education"Coercion has no place in a democratic society, least of all in school where it flies in the face of everything that quality education should stand for!"Conny JensenThe Coalition for Better Education was started by a group of aspiring educators from the University of Northern Colorado, and has expanded to include teachers, parents and students across the state. Our goal is to expand awareness of the costs and limitations of the ... more »

Creepy push polls. « Fred Klonsky

Creepy push polls. « Fred Klonsky:Creepy push polls.by Fred KlonskyNobody calls anymore except people asking for money for something and polls.My communications are by text or email. And I keep up with the kids and grand kids by Facebook.When the phone does ring, like most folks these days, I check the caller ID.But this time I wasn’t thinking and picked it up.“Anne Klonsky?”Who is calling?“Fred Klonsky?”Who is calling?“This is blah blah research. Do you have a minute to answer

FACT SHEET: Women’s Preventive Services and Religious Institutions | The White House

FACT SHEET: Women’s Preventive Services and Religious Institutions | The White House:FACT SHEET: Women’s Preventive Services and Religious Institutionsby The White HouseThanks to the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans will cover women’s preventive services, including contraception, without charging a co-pay or deductible beginning in August, 2012. This new law will save money for millions of Americans and ensure Americans nationwide get the high-quality care they need to stay healthy.Today, President Obama will announce that his Administration will implement ... more »

A Simple Innovation: Spend The Money Wisely | Taking Note

A Simple Innovation: Spend The Money Wisely | Taking Note:A Simple Innovation: Spend The Money Wiselyby John MerrowWith all the talk of innovation in education, wouldn't it be best to simply the discussion down to a few key points? John Merrow makes that attempt.The New York Times has made official what most of us have known for years: the children of the privileged do better in school than the children of the underprivileged. This matters because the rich-poor gap is ...more »

Another PTA Issues an Anti-Charter School Resolution | Seattle Education

Another PTA Issues an Anti-Charter School Resolution | Seattle Education:Another PTA Issues an Anti-Charter School Resolutionby seattleducation2011ResolutionWHEREAS the Olympic View community believes that a vibrant, fully funded and supported, public education is fundamental to the survival of our democracy, a thriving economy, and our shared well-being.WHEREAS public schools in Washington State are suffering from underfunding, resulting in cutbacks of teaching and support staff, and increasingly inadequate instructional materials.WHEREAS the Olympic View community has done what it... more »

Education fixes, straight from the students - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

Education fixes, straight from the students - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools:Education fixes, straight from the studentsThursday, February 9th, 2012 at 10:59 pm in high schoolsNo Commentsimage from alyssalaurel’s site at flickr.com/creativecommonsEarlier this week, as many of you have been discussing, Michelle Rhee presented her ideas for improving public education in the United States.Tonight, two high school debaters had their chance.In a fancy office building in downtown Oakland, Bay Area Urban Debate League members Kwodwo ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 2-10 Mid Morning Posts #ows #edreform

I want everyone to read this message regarding #rhee and #studentsfirst, the nerve, right @rheefirst? « At the Chalk FaceBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-4 minutes agoI want everyone to read this message regarding #rhee and #studentsfirst, the nerve, right @rheefirst? « At the Chalk Face:I want everyone to read this message regarding #rhee and #studentsfirst, the nerve, right @rheefirst?February 9, 2012I got this little note in an email about Rhee’s crony organization, filling parents’ heads with drivel, getting ... more »

Why Obama’s NCLB waivers aren’t what he says they are - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Why Obama’s NCLB waivers aren’t what he says they are - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Why Obama’s NCLB waivers aren’t what he says they areby Valerie StraussPresident Obama sounded like the king of flexibility when he announced that his administration was granting 10 states the right to ignore the most onerous requirements of No Child Left Behind. “Sounded” is the key word in that sentence.Read full article The loss of solitude in schoolsby Valerie StraussThis was written by ... more »

First round of NCLB waivers | Thoughts on Public Education

First round of NCLB waivers | Thoughts on Public Education:First round of NCLB waivers - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guessby John Fensterwald - Educated GuessIn early March, the State Board of Education will decide whether California will apply for the waiver from the No Child Left Behind law that the federal Department of Education awarded to an initial 10 states on Thursday. While not ruling out that possibility, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson hinted strongly Thursday that he ... more »

Better Test Scores Lead to Better Lives and Strong Economy: Fact or Hunch? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Better Test Scores Lead to Better Lives and Strong Economy: Fact or Hunch? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:Better Test Scores Lead to Better Lives and Strong Economy: Fact or Hunch?by larrycubanIt is rare that a pundit (and ardent reformer) lays out clearly and crisply the core assumption driving the past thirty years of school reform. It is not only rare but startling when that insider then questions the assumption, suggesting that it is a hunch, not ...more »

KUDOS TO UTLA PRESIDENT WARREN FLETCHER, SHAME ON LAUSD'S JOHN DEASY - Perdaily.com

KUDOS TO UTLA PRESIDENT WARREN FLETCHER, SHAME ON LAUSD'S JOHN DEASY (FELICITACIONES A UTLA PRESIDENTE WARREN FLETCHER, LA CULPA A JOHN DEASY DE LAUSD) - Perdaily.com:KUDOS TO UTLA PRESIDENT WARREN FLETCHER, SHAME ON LAUSD'S JOHN DEASY (FELICITACIONES A UTLA PRESIDENTE WARREN FLETCHER, LA CULPA A JOHN DEASY DE LAUSD)by Leonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)It is important for the credibility of this blog to recognize when ... more »

The Educated Reporter: Which States Got Waivers From NCLB?

The Educated Reporter: Which States Got Waivers From NCLB?:Which States Got Waivers From NCLB?by Emily RichmondPresident Obama announced Thursday that 10 states will receive waivers from some of the tougher provisions of No Child Left Behind – including the requirement that all students demonstrate proficiency in reading and math by 2014 – in exchange for implementing specific accountability reforms.The states receiving the waivers are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. In exchange for being ... more »

Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Show - NYTimes.com

Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Show - NYTimes.com:Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies SayBy SABRINA TAVERNISEPublished: February 9, 2012RECOMMENDTWITTERLINKEDINE-MAILPRINTSINGLE PAGEREPRINTSSHAREWASHINGTON — Education was historically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable of lifting less advantaged children and improving their chances for success as adults. But a body of recently published scholarship suggests that the achievement gap between rich and poor children is widening, a development that threatens to dilute education’s ... more »

What This Teacher Means By Whole Child Education | The Jose Vilson

What This Teacher Means By Whole Child Education | The Jose Vilson:What This Teacher Means By Whole Child Educationby JoseOn Monday, I finally handed in my second quarter grades, still dizzy from the desultory amounts of sleep I got the night before. Gasses in a baby don’t have an appointment, so I spend nights either patting my baby’s back or listening to my fiancee do this. As I start looking at my online gradebook, I put in my grades on ...more »

Latino Population,Bilingual education Needed to Keep Kids on Track - Hispanically Speaking News

Latino Population,Bilingual education Needed to Keep Kids on Track - Hispanically Speaking News:

As Latino and Other Immigrant Populations Grow, Bilingual Education is Needed to Keep Kids on Track





The following is a portion of “Caught Between Two Language” written by Rebecca Harris for theCatalyst-Chicago.
In CPS, 12 percent of English-language learners are in the middle grades, and many are at risk of failing in high school. Why? Middle-grades bilingual students present two challenges to schools: teaching adequate English as well as increasingly tough academic content.
As her 7th-grade students bury their noses in the book “Parrot in the Oven,” teacher Elizabeth Carrillo asks a comprehension question that is written in two languages on an overhead