ED News Worth Reading April 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 4-23 #soschat #EDReform
Schools Matter: Is President Obama Listening?
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Schools Matter: Is President Obama Listening?: Is President Obama Listening?byJudy RabinNational School Board Association's Open Letter to President ObamaApril 17, 2012Dear President Obama:The night of your election, in Grant Park, you said, “I will listen to you especially when we disagree.” We are all committed to the best educational future for the children of America. Yet, as the nation prepares for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), school board members and top educational thinkers overwhelming urge ... more »
Standardized test security questioned - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
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Standardized test security questioned - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Standardized test security questionedByValerie StraussTenth-graders in Florida took the state’s standardized test in reading on a staggered schedule because there weren’t enough computers available for them all to take it at the same time, raising concerns that security of test questions could be compromised, theMiami Herald reported.Students took the test in reading, which is part of theFlorida Comprehensive Achievement Test(FCAT), in groups on a few different days last ... more »
The 5-Minute Break | The Jose Vilson
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The 5-Minute Break | The Jose Vilson: The 5-Minute BreakbyJoseLast week, New York State Education Commission decided to give students a mandated 5-minute break in the first book of the English-Language Arts test. When I read about it, I laughed for reasons I rather expand on after the math test. However, I did receive a tape with some recorded dialogue from the closed room where some of these decisions were made. Here’s an excerpt from the dialogue:Official A:What do you ... more »
Educating Our Way to an Economy Built to Last: Stopping the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike | The White House
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Educating Our Way to an Economy Built to Last: Stopping the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike | The White House: Educating Our Way to an Economy Built to Last: Stopping the Student Loan Interest Rate HikebyThe White House Stopping the Student Loan Interest Rate HikeIn his State of the Union Address, President Obama laid out a blueprint for an economy built to last—an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.The ... more »
Schools Matter: Help Chalkface Radio Stay on Air
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Schools Matter: Help Chalkface Radio Stay on Air: Help Chalkface Radio Stay on AirbyJudy RabinOne of the most potent tools of the current education deform movement perpetuated by corporate interests has been the huge amount of money spent on the air war that is demonizing teachers and public education. In order to combat the drumbeat of lies and propaganda around education policy, it is essential that the voices of truth continue to stay on the air. Please publicize this urgent ... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Why are classroom teachers being pulled out of schools to grade ELA exams, right before the math exams?
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NYC Public School Parents: Why are classroom teachers being pulled out of schools to grade ELA exams, right before the math exams?: Why are classroom teachers being pulled out of schools to grade ELA exams, right before the math exams?byLeonie HaimsonFrom a Brooklyn parent who prefers to remain nameless:This past weekend my daughter and I spent several hours going over math problems, preparing for her 5th grade state math exams which will take place Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this ... more »
Save Our Schools Education convention August 3-5 in DC | Save Our Schools: March and National Call to Action | causes.com
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Save Our Schools Education convention August 3-5 in DC | Save Our Schools: March and National Call to Action | causes.com: Save Our Schools Education convention August 3-5 in DCSave Our Schools Education ConventionA People’s Policy Activism Summithttp://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1104247304263-54/Convention+Planks.pdfAugust 3-5, 2012 Washington, DC Marriott Wardman ParkIf you are interested in participating as a delegate for one of the following education issues, please contact us at: info@saveourschools.comPlatforms1. Poverty (including anti-poverty program)2. Ci... more »
Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-23 #edreform #soschat
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Making Myself Useful (and other items) | Mr. TeachbadBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-5 minutes agoMaking Myself Useful (and other items) | Mr. Teachbad: Making Myself Useful (and other items)byteachbad(I’m a bit rushed…driving to Indiana in…36 minutes. More on that in a minute.)Churn ‘n’ Burn and Spin Me to theDoorThere are two short things I read this week that I believe are connected. The first was an article in Education Week from early in April calledWhen Teachers Are Treated ... more »
In Case You Missed It: Testing begins with many complaints; Mayoral candidates go after Mayor’s policies « EdVox
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In Case You Missed It: Testing begins with many complaints; Mayoral candidates go after Mayor’s policies « EdVox: In Case You Missed It: Testing begins with many complaints; Mayoral candidates go after Mayor’s policiesbyedvoxnyHere on EdVox we’re excited to bring you the latest news about education issues and policies affecting our communities. It can be hard to keep up with all of the events and happenings, so – in case you missed it…Here is a recap of the latest stories ...more »
National Teacher of the Year - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)
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National Teacher of the Year - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): California Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwockiis Named America's Top Teacher WASHINGTON, D.C.—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated California's Rebecca Mieliwocki for being selected as the 2012 National Teacher of the Year, the nation's oldest and most prestigious teaching honor."Rebecca Mieliwocki is an inspiration to her students, to me, and to every California teacher. She brings enormous energy, enthusiasm, and optimism to teaching—a career that ... more »
No Conflict, No Conflict, Keep Moving; Nothing to See Here… - Wait, What?
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No Conflict, No Conflict, Keep Moving; Nothing to See Here… - Wait, What?: No Conflict, No Conflict, Keep Moving; Nothing to See Here…byjonpelto What is it about these Malloy appointees and their notion of what constitutes a conflict of interest. Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor seems to be adding to the list on a daily basis and now we’ve got “Special Master” Steven Adamowski.When it comes to conflicts of interests; you’ve got your straight up “conflict of interest”, your “appearance of ... more »
WISCONSIN GOVERNOR DELIVERS A BLOW TO TEACHERS WHO HOLD MASTER’S DEGREES « Teachers Fight Back
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WISCONSIN GOVERNOR DELIVERS A BLOW TO TEACHERS WHO HOLD MASTER’S DEGREES « Teachers Fight Back: WISCONSIN GOVERNOR DELIVERS A BLOW TO TEACHERS WHO HOLD MASTER’S DEGREESbyalkleenThis Wisconsin governor is UNBELIEVABLE ! Gov. Scott Walker has reshaped a rule to lower inflation-based raises that public unions can negotiate for teachers in public schools. The rule change wouldn’t use an individual’s actual salary as a “base salary” to calculate raises and would exclude factors such as a teacher’s higher degree.For instance, a ... more »
What America Owes In Student Loans : Planet Money : NPR #soschat
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What America Owes In Student Loans : Planet Money : NPR: What America Owes In Student LoansTotal student debt has gone through the roof. But the average debt per college grad has gone up much more slowly. See our earlier entries in this series:What America Sells To The World,What America Does For Work,What America BuysandWhat America Pays in Taxes The amount of student debt being taken on every year hasbeen rising rapidlyfor years now. You probably know these things already. ... more »
The Politics of Education – Dueling Budgets
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The Politics of Education – Dueling Budgets: The Politics of Education – Dueling BudgetsMONDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2012 AT 11:46 AMThis weekend, I was on CNN to speak about President Obama’s and Representative Ryan’s dueling budget proposals, and asked to comment on which of the two lighted the surer path to true education reform. See for yourself:
Shanker Blog » The Allure Of Teacher Quality
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Shanker Blog » The Allure Of Teacher Quality: The Allure Of Teacher QualitybyMatthew Di Carlo Those following education know that policy focused on “teacher quality” is by far the dominant paradigm for improving schools over the past few years. Some (but not nearly all) components of this all-hands-on-deck effort are perplexing to many teachers, and have generated quite a bit of pushback. No matter one’s opinion of this approach, however, what drives it is the tantalizing allure of variation in ... more »
Burbank educator named National Teacher of the Year - LA Daily News
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Burbank educator named National Teacher of the Year - LA Daily News: Burbank educator named National Teacher of the YearByBarbara Jones, Staff WriterPosted: 04/23/2012 07:48:56 AM PDTUpdated: 04/23/2012 08:27:28 AM PDTFILE PHOTO: Luther Burbank Middle School teacher Rebecca Mieliwocki teaches a 7th-grade English class in 2011. She was named National Teacher of the Year. (Andy Holzman/Daily News Staff Photographer) ((ANDY HOLZMAN/LA DAILY NEWS))Rebecca Mieliwocki, a 7th grade teacher at Burbank Middle School in Burbank was named today as National Teacher ... more »
FCMAT » California Education Headlines
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FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team: Monday, April 23, 2012Lottery fever not a big windfall for local schoolsLast month's $640 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot ---- and the ticket-buying fervor that led up to it ---- poured big bucks into the state's educational coffers, but won't have much of an effect on local classrooms, officials said.LAUSD chief wants to keep health class as graduation requirementLos Angeles Unified Superintendent John Deasy said Friday that health-education class should remain a requirement ... more »
Departments of Education and Justice Reach Settlement with Boston School Committee to Ensure Equal Opportunities for ELL Students | U.S. Department of Education
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Departments of Education and Justice Reach Settlement with Boston School Committee to Ensure Equal Opportunities for ELL Students | U.S. Department of Education: Departments of Education and Justice Reach Settlement with Boston School Committee to Ensure Equal Opportunities for ELL StudentsAPRIL 23, 2012Contact:Education Department, (202) 401-1576Justice Department, 202-514-2007WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Education with the U.S. Department of Justice reached agreement with the Boston School Committee, the governing body of the Boston Public Schools, and its superintendent to... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Superintendent Selection Process
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Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Superintendent Selection Process: The Superintendent Selection ProcessbyCharlie MasIn the end, the Board chooses the superintendent. This is pretty much the Board's most important duty and they are responsible for it. They have to make the choice. Not only that, but they have to determine their process for making the choice. When it comes to everyone else working in the District, the readers and writers on this blog generally support autonomy and oppose micromanagement. We want ... more »
Making Myself Useful (and other items) | Mr. Teachbad
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Making Myself Useful (and other items) | Mr. Teachbad: Making Myself Useful (and other items)byteachbad(I’m a bit rushed…driving to Indiana in…36 minutes. More on that in a minute.)Churn ‘n’ Burn and Spin Me to theDoorThere are two short things I read this week that I believe are connected. The first was an article in Education Week from early in April calledWhen Teachers Are Treated Like Widgets, Education Suffers. It was written by academics who are tired of all their studies ... more »
RIGHT AGAIN :) ! Potter Williams Report: Diane Ravitch Outsmarted by One of Her Own
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Potter Williams Report: Diane Ravitch Outsmarted by One of Her Own: DIANE RAVITCH OUTSMARTED BY ONE OF HER OWNEducation Week published aletterfrom Diane Ravitch to another progressive Deweyian educator Deborah Meier entitled “I Don't Understand Michelle Rhee.”Ravitch can't figure out why Rhee lies, why she blames teachers for everything and how she can reel in die-hard Republicans with ease.I guess education historian Diane Ravitch is not in on the endgame!Or is she? Maybe she's playing devil’s advocate for Duncan’s DOE ... more »
Ed Dept seeks to bring test-based assessment to teacher prep programs - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
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Ed Dept seeks to bring test-based assessment to teacher prep programs - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Ed Dept seeks to bring test-based assessment to teacher prep programsbyValerie StraussThe Obama administration wants to expand the use of standardized test scores as an accountability tool from K-12 into higher education.The Education Department just tried — and failed — to persuade a group of negotiators to agree to regulations that would rate colleges of education in large part on how ... more »
The Innovative Educator: The bad pineapple questions are not the problem with standardized tests
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The Innovative Educator: The bad pineapple questions are not the problem with standardized tests: The bad pineapple questions are not the problem with standardized testsbynoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen)I am disappointed that the mainstream story about testing happens to be a poor a test section about pineapples. While I agree the test question was ridiculous, I think focusing on that diverts us from the real problem which is that even if the test had greatest questions on earth, standardized testing at its ... more »
School Tech Connect: The Single Sound Test
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School Tech Connect: The Single Sound Test: The Single Sound Testbynoreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)CPS's now departed turnaround guy, Donald Fraynd, said he was leaving with a heavy heart to begin a start-up company. He called it something else, I can't remember.This appears to be it.I'll give him one thing ; he's a true believer.Decades of research show one thing – nothing affects achievement as much as the quality of teaching students receive. In fact, teacher attributes may account for more than ... more »
StudentsFirst will be in Seattle | Seattle Education
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StudentsFirst will be in Seattle | Seattle Education: StudentsFirst will be in Seattlebyseattleducation2011…and that isnota good thing.Ms. Rhee (pronounced "re")StudentsFirst is an organization created by Michelle Rhee after her tumultuous tenure as Chancellor of DC public schools. She was supported by Eli Broad who threatened to pull his financial support for the DC public school system and Rhee specifically if she was not selected to continue as Chancellor of DC schools after Mayor Fenty’s failed re-election bid. After Fenty, who ... more »
May Day Wildcat March Called for 1pm | OccupyWallSt.org #ows
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May Day Wildcat March Called for 1pm | OccupyWallSt.org: May Day Wildcat March Called for 1pmbyOccupyWallStviaSTRIKE EVERYWHERE!:A call has gone out for a massiveWildcatmarch in NYC on May 1st, starting at 1PM. The original call is availablehere. Secondingstrikeisaverb, See you in the streets! Forward and Repost widely.https://www.facebook.com/events/297929263615205/and print and distribute flyers (wildcatmarchflyer-single,wildcatmarchflyer-quarter)CALL FOR A WILDCAT MARCH FOR GENERAL STRIKE PARTICIPANTSMAY 1ST, 2012 1PMWe were told by bosses, by activists, by union leaders we could... more »
NYC Educator: Don't Know Much About History
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NYC Educator: Don't Know Much About History: Don't Know Much About HistorybyNYC EducatorIs NY State right to abolish theGlobal History Regents exam? Lots of us have had our fill of standardized testing, and would like to see far less of it. Of course that's not the case, as the state plans all sorts of nonsense, largely to assess teachers. Kids will be spending hours of potential learning time indulging in nonsensical junk science, to appease those who wish to fire ... more »
Zoning The Poor Out of Good Schools | California Progress Report
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Zoning The Poor Out of Good Schools | California Progress Report: Zoning The Poor Out of Good SchoolsbymeganBy Peter SchragMost of us have long known that in places like Oakland and Berkeley, and probably in a lot of other cities as well, the easiest way to predict a school’s test scores is by the altitude of the building.The higher up the school, the more likely it will be in an affluent neighborhood. The schools in the flats, where the poor ... more »
REASONS NOT TO SIGN GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN'S TAX INITIATIVE PETITION - Perdaily.com
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REASONS NOT TO SIGN GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN'S TAX INITIATIVE PETITION - Perdaily.com: REASONS NOT TO SIGN GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN'S TAX INITIATIVE PETITIONbyLeonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)In the bleak reality of coordinated political and corporate siege against public education, one is tempted to grasp at straws in trying to stop this continued onslaught against teachers and the ever worsening degradation of the essential democracy formative institution ... more »
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? pineapple question stumps ... everyone!
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Captain: Are ya ready kids?Kids: Aye, Aye captain!Captain: I can't heeeaaar yooouuu!Kids: AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!Captain: oooooooooooo...Captain: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?Kids: Sponge Bob Square Pants!Captain: Absorbent and yellow and porous is he.Kids: Sponge Bob Square Pants!Captain: If nautical nonsense be somethin' ya wish.Kids: Sponge Bob Square Pants!Captain: Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish.Kids: Sponge Bob Square Pants!Captain: Ready? Sponge Bob Square Pants,Captain Kids: Sponge Bob Square Pants, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Sponge Bob ... more »
Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 4-22 #soschat #EDReform
Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago
What Do New Studies Say Happens If You Are Treated Unfairly And/Or Feel Controlled? | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-13 minutes agoWhat Do New Studies Say Happens If You Are Treated Unfairly And/Or Feel Controlled? | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: What Do New Studies Say Happens If You Are Treated Unfairly And/Or Feel Controlled?byLarry FerlazzoProf. Armin Falk, a professor at Bonn University, unveiled some very intriguing studies on motivation last week. ...more »
Educator Musing: Real Parent Empowerment is a Rebellion
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Educator Musing: Real Parent Empowerment is a Rebellion: Real Parent Empowerment is a RebellionbyEducator Musing If without medical justification, [your son] is absent fromschool on any dayduring the Assessment period, the District will deem thisabsence as unexcused. Further, if you keep [your son] home from school during theAssessment period,without medical verification, it is within the District’sdiscretion to deemthese absences as indicia of educational neglect, whichwould leave the Districtlittle choice but to contact Child Protective Services(“CPS”). Pursuant to theNew York