A Big Education Ape Nite Cap
Why Due Process (aka “Tenure”) Matters « Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why Due Process (aka “Tenure”) Matters by dianerav From a reader: *Without due process, I would not put it past local school boards to balance their ever-decreasing budgets on the backs of experienced teachers. Allowing Virginia teachers to be fired without cause reminds me of the times when female teachers could not keep their jobs when they were pregnant. These continual attacks on educators is incredibly demoralizing. It is harder and harder to tell my students, “... more »
UseYourTeacherVoice will be at NEA and AFT | The Classroom Sooth: UseYourTeacherVoice will be at NEA and AFT by classroomsooth There’s no better time to make your UseYourTeacherVoice video clip than the month of July! As both major teachers unions set their agendas for the coming year, rank-and-file educators’ voices must be heard. *Do you agree with the actions of your Union? What’ does it take to build a fighting union? Would you like to see something else? Do you want to voice your support for actions taking place around the country?* I will be on location at the NEA conventi... more »
Saying “No” to Transnational corporate Pearson and their privatized testing scams: Parents and children rally against Pearson | Dailycensored.com: Saying “No” to Transnational corporate Pearson and their privatized testing scams: Parents and children rally against Pearson by Danny Weil *Picture of Iris Culver, an 11-year-old fifth-grader, wearing a pineapple costume she made with her friend, Asha Karmen-Chan, 10, who stands to her right. The students were protesting standardized testing outside Pearson’s Midtown office on June 7th, 2012. The parents and children who attended the r... more »
Efforts to Help Struggling Students Pass Exit Exam Are Too Little, Too Late | California Progress Report: Efforts to Help Struggling Students Pass Exit Exam Are Too Little, Too Late by megan *By the Public Policy Institute of California* State-funded support services for students who fail the California High School Exit Exam in grade 10 have helped only a small percentage of students go on to pass the test and obtain their diplomas, according to a report released today by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). The PPIC report assesses the impact of two state laws allocatin... more »
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: UPDATED: A CALL-TO-ACTION FOR YOU FROM BOARDMEMBER KAYSER ABOUT THE IMPENDING ELIMINATION OF BEYOND-THE-BELL YOUTH SERVICES FOR 42,000+ STUDENTS: UPDATED: A CALL-TO-ACTION FOR YOU FROM BOARDMEMBER KAYSER ABOUT THE IMPENDING ELIMINATION OF BEYOND-THE-BELL YOUTH SERVICES FOR 42,000+ STUDENTS June 26, 2012 Dear 4LAKids Reader: I write to express alarm and concern for the safety and well-being of our children. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is proposing to eliminate the Youth Services program (a $6.9 million cut) that provide... more »
School Tech Connect: Putting The Whole Thing Together: Putting The Whole Thing Together As I've said before, I think that in some ways the Rachel Maddow show is linked directly (through its silence on the issue, and the explicit education agenda of its advertiser, Exxon) to the promotion of corporate ed "reform," but there's nobody better in the world right now at explaining issues related to free speech. Here she is explaining how the Supreme Court's ruling in the Montana case affects you, me, the Caterpillar CEO, and the unions. It's really quite something. Visit msnbc.com fo... more »
In The End, The Love You Take Is Equal To The Love You Make [Class of 2012] | The Jose Vilson: In The End, The Love You Take Is Equal To The Love You Make [Class of 2012] by Jose On The Future of Teaching blog, I made a list of the five things I learned this year, a standard writing prompt for writers who can’t for the life of them get a word out about the whirlwind named “The End of the Year.” Every year spins out of control right around the last two weeks, and the staff, prepared for emergency landing, lock their seatbelts extra tightly and enjoy the ride. Some of us, like yours... more »
Geaux Teacher!: REPUBLICAN PARTY BULLIES TEACHER PETITIONERS: REPUBLICAN PARTY BULLIES TEACHER PETITIONERS by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) PRESS RELEASE RECALL BOBBY JINDAL CAMPAIGN P. O. Box 12449 Lake Charles, Louisiana 70612-2449 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE: June 26, 2012 Contact: Lee Barrios, Communications/Media Director 985-789-8304 The initiators of several recall campaigns in Calcasieu and St. Tammany Parishes have received intimidating letters purportedly written on behalf of Jason P. Dore, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Louisiana. The ... more »
FUTURE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS – DON’T READ THIS « Teachers Fight Back: FUTURE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS – DON’T READ THIS by alkleen Chicago Public school officials unveiled revisions to the student code of conduct Monday that eliminated mandatory 10 day out-of-school suspensions for even the most serious cases. They reduced the automatic length of suspension from 10 days to 5 days for the most serious cases, including allegations of arson, sexual assault and use of a weapon. The suspensions will also be the “in school” variety, so these lovely children will not mi... more »
http://www.southbronxschool.com: When A Strange Principal Calls by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) I loved seeing Uncle Mike not getting his way last week when in a act of having some balls, the state legislature stood up to him and his quest to publicly shame teachers by publishing our evaluations, and made evaluations only to parents on a request to know basis in the principal's office with the Cone of Silenceactivated. Of course Uncle Mike is throwing a tantrum, which Leonie Haimson had a good snark at, by insisting, nay commanding, that principals will harass and harangue ... more »
Schools Matter: Online Testing, and How Pearson Sent Wyoming Back to Paper: Online Testing, and How Pearson Sent Wyoming Back to Paper by Jim Horn WaPo has a story on Delaware's decision to go to online testing, so that now testing can happen all year round. Tests four times a year rather than one, tests to get ready for tests, and tests to prepare for the practice tests: The online format allows states to give standardized tests — once a week-long ordeal in the second half of the school year — as often as four times a year. It’s an opportunity that early adopters such as Delawa... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Just Some Silly Questions to the Missouri State Board of Education...or are they?: Just Some Silly Questions to the Missouri State Board of Education...or are they? by stlgretchen But does the State Board of Education REALLY want you to keep smoking to fund education? Which is it? Here is a post from KC Education Enterprise on the latest and greatest idea from the Missouri State Board of Education to drum up additional funding. *The current $.17 tax on cigarettes will be increased to $.90 if this State Board Initiative is placed on the November ballo... more »
School Tech Connect: Poor, Poor Caterpillar: Poor, Poor Caterpillar by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) One more jab at Caterpillar, then I'll be done. As you know, the Caterpillar CEO recently reiterated his attack on the social contract Illinois holds with its citizens, announcing that because of the fiscal "climate" here (we raised our corporate and state taxes recently, responsibly, and temporarily), Illinois is not in the running for any new factories, or whatever. No factories for you! Caterpillar is enjoying record profits, and its CEO enjoyed a 60% pay increase last yea... more »
Open Letter: Labor Leaders Support the Lakeview Sit-In and People’s School | Dailycensored.com: Open Letter: Labor Leaders Support the Lakeview Sit-In and People’s School by Danny Weil Posted on June 23, 2012 http://saveoaklandschools.org/2012/06/23/open-letter-labor-leaders-support-the-lakeview-sit-in-and-peoples-school/ *Dear Brothers and Sisters,* We are writing to declare our support for the parents, teachers, and community member sit-in and People’s School for Public Education at Lakeview Elementary in Oakland, and to urge full labor support and outreach for this fight to keep a... more »
Schools Matter: Making Life Miserable for Every Politician, CEO, Corporate Foundation, and Hedge Funder that Supports Corporate Ed Reform: [image: Home] Making Life Miserable for Every Politician, CEO, Corporate Foundation, and Hedge Funder that Supports Corporate Ed Reform by Jim Horn Hound them, rebuke them, throw pies in their faces. Scream at them, protest, sit up, sit down, go on strike, opt out, join up, scramble their testing databases, burn their tests, just say no, repudiate every effort to initiate the Common Core, online testing, corporate charters, mayoral takeover, pa... more »
Jersey Jazzman: How to Debate Michelle Rhee: How to Debate Michelle Rhee More like this! The best way to debate Michelle Rhee is to make the topic her own record of failure: her record as a teacher, as a superintendent, as a proponent of testing, as a "reformer," and as arecruiter. The reason this woman is allowed to continue to dominate our nation's conversation about Vouchers Won't "Save" Anyone by Duke Former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio has been making the rounds, speaking out against school vouchers... sorry, "taxpayer funded private school scholarships." More commonl...more »
A Public School Teacher and Student Discuss Democratic Education « Cooperative Catalyst: A Public School Teacher and Student Discuss Democratic Education by germantownauthors *This is a dialogue between Leigh Pourciau, an educator at a public middle school and blogger at www.bestinclassblog.blogspot.com, and Anna Baker, a rising senior in a public high school. Both live in the Jackson, Mississippi, metro area. Anna’s sister, Stacy, is a teacher; Anna has considered becoming one, too, but is deterred by the current system. *It wasn’t the first time a left-brained colleague had com... more »
Summer Meal Sites for 2012 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Urges Families to Utilize Summer Meal Sites SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced disadvantaged families may access an interactive 2012 Summer Meal Service Sites - Food Programs Web page to find out where to take their children for free, nutritious meals during the summer recess. "When school is closed for the summer, many low-income children don’t have access to the nutritious and free or inexpensive meals usually offered during the school ... more »
The Washington Teacher: Ignoring DC Public Schools Erasure Gate!: Ignoring DC Public Schools Erasure Gate! by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson) * * *white·wash:* *to whiten with whitewash, to cover up or gloss over the faults or errors of; absolve from blame* *Written by Candi Peterson* Last week, Washington Post education columnist, Jay Mathews and blogger of *Class Struggle** *wrote an excellent piece titled: *"DC Keeps Ignoring its Test Erasure Scandal."* While I don't always agree with Mathews, he certainly hit the nail on the head this time. Two thumbs up to Jay Mathews! M... more »
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: "They Did Not Choose Their Parents!": "They Did Not Choose Their Parents!" by Lisa M These words were spoken at the 2011 PLC Summit I attended in Arizona. "They didn't choose their genetic pool". "They couldn't say I want two college-educated parents who love me, care for me, and make education my priority." I realized after hearing this statement, that many times, I get frustrated with my students about things over which they have no control. When they come to school without school supplies, their parent doesn't sign a form, or misses a s... more »
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 6-26-12: Fight to the Death: PSAT for 6-26-12: Fight to the Death by admin Does that sound too gruesome? It really doesn’t feel that way to me, which is why I was inspired/fired up and not discouraged by Ramsin Canon’s powerful article, “Negotiating with Doom in the Schools Debate.” I’m not even sure what that title means (something about the CPS-CTU contract negotiation), but, as usual, Canon nails the real problem with the involvement of Michelle Rhee’s Schools First, Jonah Edelman’s Stand for Children, Michael Bl... more »
Wait, What? - Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through "perceptive and acerbic" observations about Connecticut Government and Politics: Vallas Speaks… by jonpelto One of the more interesting lines spoken at last night’s meeting of Bridgeport’s illegal Board of Education was a comment made by Paul Vallas who said; “I was invited here by Stefan Pryor to take on this job. And let me just dispel a rumor. Stefan Pryor volunteered in Haiti, okay? Somebody said that he got a contract from me. I didn’t know I was in a position in Haiti to give anybody contracts… “ First off, Mr. ... more »
Geaux Teacher!: UPDATE ON GAROFALO RECALL: UPDATE ON GAROFALO RECALL by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) An update on my previous blog: *REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO ADDED TO RECALL LIST*. http://www.geauxteacher.com/2012/06/representative-raymond-garofalo-added.html *Another recall petition for rep over education* http://blogs.theadvocate.com/politicsblog/2012/06/25/another-recall-petition-for-rep-over-education/ Posted on June 25, 2012 by Capitol news bureau A fourth state representative who aligned himself with Gov. Bobby Jindal’s education revamp has become the subje... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Want to Talk Education with Obama?: Want to Talk Education with Obama? by Melissa Westbrook From the National PTSA: National PTA®, in partnership with the White House and U.S. Department of Education, announced at its 116th Annual Convention and Exhibition an unprecedented opportunity to recognize extraordinary PTA volunteers. Twelve PTA members working to improve the lives of children through involvement in PTA and education will be honored as White House Champions of Change at a special event and policy briefing with PTA leaders from across the ... more »
Seminole, Volusia to Join Resolution on High-Stakes Testing | Scathing Purple Musings: Seminole, Volusia to Join Resolution on High-Stakes Testing by Bob Sikes From Dave Weber of the *Orlando Sentinel*: The Seminole School Board is expected to add it’s endorsement to an anti-testing resolution that is gaining momentum across the state. The board will vote tonight on backing a resolution by the Florida School Boards Association that asks state officials to re-examine how tests are used in the school accountability system. School districts across Florida are signing on to the resolut... more »
Pensions are contracts. « Fred Klonsky: Pensions are contracts. by Fred Klonsky Roger Sanders: Because of the state’s inability to set proper priorities, manage resources, and solve the culture of corruption and collusion, Illinois state government is seeking to push more costs onto local taxpayers. This is with no guarantee that the state will meet its obligations to existing pension liabilities that have amassed due to the legislatures’ and governors’ failures over decades to make the necessary pension payments.
Webinar. “Fire In The Ashes: Keeping Hope Alive” with Jonathan Kozol | | Save Our SchoolsSave Our Schools: Webinar. “Fire In The Ashes: Keeping Hope Alive” with Jonathan Kozol « Back to Events Event:Webinar. “Fire In The Ashes: Keeping Hope Alive” with Jonathan Kozol Start:June 29, 2012 8:00 pmEnd:June 29, 2012 9:30 pmCost:Donations Please Category:Money Cascade,WebinarsOrganizer:Save Our SchoolsUpdated:June 22, 2012Venue:Save Our Schools June 29nd WebinarAddress: A Computer Near You,Select a Country: *Save Our Schools Webinar* *Fire In The Ashes* *Keeping Hope Alive in Kids and Teach... more »
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Montana decision another nail in Democracy's coffin: Montana decision another nail in Democracy's coffin by Mike Klonsky Harold HammYou can bet Harold Hamm has a big shit-eating grin on his face today. Billionaire Hamm, the CEO of Continental Resources is also Mitt Romney's chief energy adviser. Continental Resources is currently drilling in the Bakken shale, located in North Dakota and Montana. He's contributed $985,000 to the pro-Romney super-PAC with more coming. But Hamm himself just got the gift of a lifetime. Yesterday's Supreme Court deci... more »
Hechinger Report | Online testing debacle in Wyoming provides a warning to other states: Online testing debacle in Wyoming provides a warning to other states by Jill Barshay Technical problems erupted as soon as Wyoming switched to online testing in 2010. Students were unable to submit their tests after spending hours taking them. At times the questions wouldn’t load on the screen. And ultimately the scores were deemed unreliable. “We had so many poor kids who had to take the test again,” said Gordon Knopp, technology director of Laramie County School District No. 1, the largest ... more »
Andrew Cuomo, DFER, Ravenel Boykin Curry IV and the Yummy Mummies. « Fred Klonsky: Andrew Cuomo, DFER, Ravenel Boykin Curry IV and the Yummy Mummies. by Fred Klonsky *Celerie Kemble.* New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo attended an early morning meeting with some big money hedge fund managers last month. Nothing unusual about that. Politicians and the one percent share coffee and a donut all the time, I bet. This one was at the Regency Hotel in Manhattan. A popular spot for “power breakfasts,” says the New York Times. I’m not sure what a* power breakfast* is. Maybe it’s a Dunkin’ Donut... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Teachers Unions: Always Assumed To Be Evil: Teachers Unions: Always Assumed To Be Evil by Duke It appears that the only group on Earth that we are allowed to assume have bad intentions are teachers unions: Teacher tenure reform has been among the more delicate and misunderstood issues roiling New Jersey under Gov. Chris Christie. Reduced to its most basic elements, the simple goal is to allow truly bad teachers to be fired, rather than allowing them to enjoy virtual lifetime security after just three years on the job. *Nearly everyone can agree on the wisdom of t... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Who "Won" the NJ Tenure Battle? Part I: Who "Won" the NJ Tenure Battle? Part I by Duke So the Ruiz tenure bill flew through the legislature, and is on its way to Chris Christie's desk, where it will no doubt be signed in a ceremony replete with dancing elephants, a brass band, and several confetti canons. And there will be plenty of crowing from all sides about who "won." Let's try our best to keep score, shall we? *Chris Christie:* When all this tenure brouhaha started, Chris Christie was basically throwing any idiotic idea up against the wall and hoping someth... more »
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Capay Valley CA Almond Festival* Education Headlines *Tuesday, June 26, 2012* Q&A: Chris Evans, Natomas Unified superintendent, faces challengeChris Evans hasn't officially been superintendent of the Natomas Unified School District for a month, but already he's helped to hire a slate of new administrators and presided over a contentious school board meeting. His job won't be easy. San Diego teachers casting votes on contractSan Diego teachers are in the thick of an election that would determine the fate of an agreement with the ... more »
Louisiana Educator: Renewed Perspective: Renewed Perspective by Michael Deshotels [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] *Note to my readers: Just in case you wondered why there has been a pause in posts on this blog I wanted my readers to know that I took a break from blogging to travel out West. I traveled to Yosemite and other great sites and enjoyed this and other wonderful natural wonders in the western part of our country. I believe that an appreciation of the lasting beauty of nature is a great way to remind us that the puny actions of man are often not very ... more »
How Charter Schools Get a Bad Reputation, part 2 « Diane Ravitch's blog: How Charter Schools Get a Bad Reputation, part 2 by dianerav Yesterday I wrote about Juan Gonzalez’s article on Success Academy, which was seeking a 50% increase in its management fee from the state, even though it has a surplus of $23.5 million and spent $3.4 million last year on marketing. The typical charter management organization in New York City has a management fee of 7%, but CEO Eva Moskowitz wanted to increase hers to 15%. Given her surplus, it is hard to see a case for “need,” especially in light ... more »
The Root of All Evil « Diane Ravitch's blog: The Root of All Evil by dianerav We have known the old maxim for generations. It seems to be truer now than ever. Although maybe they thought that in the past. Remember Jimmy Stewart in the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”? We need Senator Smith now. A reader writes: *The question really isn’t whether Obama or Romney would do worse for education. They have both indicated they will push for privatization and testing.**Understand that those who are running the game have been playing it for 30+ years, infiltrating both sides and playin... more »
Schools Matter: Memphis School Consolidation Means More Segregation, Privatization, and Charter Chain Gangs: Memphis School Consolidation Means More Segregation, Privatization, and Charter Chain Gangs by Jim Horn When Wake County and Raleigh planned and executed a merger in 2000, they consciously adopted a socioeconomic integration plan with the goal of no more than 40 percent free and reduced priced lunch students per school. Without forced busing but, rather, with the creation of large numbers of magnet schools and with a public outreach program that welcomed the community int... more »
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Before you privatize special ed...: Before you privatize special ed... by Mike Klonsky Farming out special ed? First check out New York's experience with privatization. Here's the findings of the first of 18 audits being conducted by the state comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, of the preschool special education program, a $2 billion system that relies almost exclusively on private contractors, many of them for-profit companies, to deliver services to 3- and 4-year-olds. NYT reports that companies employing “special education itinerant teachers... more »
Lake, Lee County School Boards Support Resolutions On High-Stakes Testing | Scathing Purple Musings: Lake, Lee County School Boards Support Resolutions On High-Stakes Testing by Bob Sikes On Lake County from the *Orlando Sentinel’s *Erica Rodriguez: Lake County School Board members said Monday they want to support a resolution aimed at getting Florida to examine and revise its accountability system. The resolution, supported by the Florida School Boards Association, calls for the state to review its accountability system and to stop using test results as a primary basis for evalua... more »
JC Brizard: “Never mind.” « Fred Klonsky: JC Brizard: “Never mind.” by Fred Klonsky Never mind Hello? “Hello. This is Jean-Claude Brizard, CEO of Chicago Public Schools. I understand that many of our parents and community members may have questions about the ongoing contract negotiation process between the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union. “In response to your concern, CPS will host informational community meetings across the city to explain the negotiation process. If you would like someone to contact you with more information about the meetings, please
Voices in Urban Education » Empowering Young People to Be Critical Thinkers: The Mexican American Studies Program in Tucson: Empowering Young People to Be Critical Thinkers: The Mexican American Studies Program in Tucson Curtis Acosta and Asiya Mir Education for Liberation: VUE Number 34, Summer 2012 *A teacher and a student in Tucson’s acclaimed Mexican American Studies program, recently shut down by state and district officials, describe how the program has transformed the lives of its students and teachers.* [image: illustration] *INTRODUCTION* * Curtis Acosta The memories ove... more »
In East Harlem School Building, Uneasy Neighbors - NYTimes.com: [image: The New York Times] ------------------------------ June 25, 2012 An Upstairs-Downstairs Divide at a Public School Building in East HarlemBy MICHAEL POWELL Karen Melendez-Hutt once presided over a fine success story. Early last decade, she became principal of Public School 30 in East Harlem, a school on the critical care list. Scores had spiraled downward. Families felt trapped. The end appeared in sight. She won grants to pull in counselors, and tutored children at lunchtime, during recess, on Saturdays. Test ... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Why Teachers Drink. Pour Yourself a Cold One.: Why Teachers Drink. Pour Yourself a Cold One. by stlgretchen These answers to GED tests are making the email rounds and are purported to be true. If a student doesn't know the correct answer, maybe he/she should get some credit for creativity. ************************************************************ Why Teachers Drink! The following questions were set in last year's GED examination These are genuine answers (from 16 year olds)
School Discipline & Gun Violence | District 299: The Inside Scoop on CPS: School Discipline & Gun Violence by Alexander Russo Today's news includes lots about the proposed new discipline policy and the still high levels of gun violence surrounding Chicago school students' lives. VIOLENCE Spike in CPS students struck by gun violence this school year Tribune: Twenty-four students were fatally shot during the school year that ended June 15, four fewer than in the 2010-11 year. But the overall shooting toll — 319 — was the highest in four years and a nearly 22 percent increase from t... more »
Mayors Support "Parent Tricker" Law - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Mayors Support "Parent Tricker" Law by Diane Ravitch Dear Deborah, On June 18, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously endorsed "parent trigger" laws that would let parents "seize control of low-performing public schools and fire the teachers, oust the administrators, or turn the schools over to private management." I call it the "parent tricker" law for reasons I explain below. Let's be clear what the so-called parent trigger means. If 51 percent of the parents in a public school sign a petition, they... more »
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Can You Negotiate with Corporate Reformers? by dianerav I love Twitter for many reasons. I have met many friends on Twitter, some of whom I will never encounter in person. I learn from Twitter. People from across the country and even from other countries send me news stories, opinion pieces, blogs, ideas. I received one this morning that I thought was, well, awesome. On many occasions, I have had discussions with friends and allies and friendly adversaries about whether there is a middle ground between corpor... more »
Wait, What? - Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through "perceptive and acerbic" observations about Connecticut Government and Politics: Bridgeport’s Illegal Board of Education – Acts as Expected by jonpelto First they extended Bridgeport’s part-time, interim School Superintendent Paul Vallas’ contract through the 2012-13 school year. No limit on consulting and the same salary and benefits that have him making more than the school chancellor in New York City The illegal Board of Education Chairman, Robert Trefry, who will leave the board when the new democratically electe... more »
Audits removed from illegal school fees bill | California Watch: Audits removed from illegal school fees bill U.S. Census Bureau Corey G. Johnson Proposed legislation aimed at ending illegal fees in public schools will no longer require superintendents to audit their schools to ensure compliance. Brooks Allen, director of education advocacy for the ACLU's Southern California office, said Assembly members tweaked the bill – AB 1575 – to overcome concerns raised by Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown vetoed a similar effort to stamp out illegal school fees in 2010, saying* *requiring audits of all... more »
Meeting Wednesday at City Hall on Expansion Policy for City of Milwaukee Charters « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Meeting Wednesday at City Hall on Expansion Policy for City of Milwaukee Charters by millerlf The City of Milwaukee Charter School Review Committee appears to be voting Wednesday, June 27th, at 5 PM in City Hall Room 301-B, on new criteria for allowing new schools to come aboard under city charters granted to other schools that would act as “umbrella organizations.” Milwaukee citizens should be aware of the process for expanding charters and what are ca... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Pro and Con on I-1240 at The Stranger Slog: Pro and Con on I-1240 at The Stranger Slog by Melissa Westbrook Our friends over at The Stranger Slog were kind enough to ask me to write a No on 1240 piece and had another parent write a Yes on 1240 piece. The focus of each piece and the comments (and numbers of) are interesting. One thing I find interesting is The Stranger is becoming a bigger player as a voice of editorial power in this town. I know some of you may disagree - I am not saying they are the Times - but in Seattle, I think many voters w... more »
NYC Educator: Packing Up and Hitting the Road: Packing Up and Hitting the Road by Miss Eyre At my old school, we used to get this memo telling us when we could and could not start packing up our classrooms and what could and could not be packed up. By the time I left, the memo was three pages long. So if any of you are non-teachers, that gives you a sense of the (possibly needless) complexity of the task of packing up classrooms while, theoretically, learning and teaching are still going on. Now that I teach high school and my principal is a sane and reasonable person, one who d... more »
Manatee Adopts High-Stakes Tests Resolution; Meanwhile Bushies Become the New Status Quoers | Scathing Purple Musings: Manatee Adopts High-Stakes Tests Resolution; Meanwhile Bushies Become the New Status Quoers by Bob Sikes From Chritine Hawes in the *Bradenton Herald*: MANATEE — With an extra nod toward “accountability,” the Manatee County School Board Monday approved its own version of a resolution approved by 12 other Florida school boards that objects to the importance placed on standardized tests like the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Manatee’s resolution was written... more »
Not one, but two 160-day minimum years | Thoughts on Public Education: Not one, but two 160-day minimum years Share Trailer bill permits cutting 3 more weeks Posted on 6/26/12 • Categorized as 2012 election, Jerry Brown, State Budget , Student spending, Taxes, Uncategorized By *John Fensterwald - Educated Guess* * * Call it a last-minute clarification or a June surprise, another piece of bad news: A trailer billthat the Legislature will vote on Wednesday permits districts to slash the school year by an additional three weeks for the next two years, if voters reject Gov. Brown’s tax in... more »
Mission accomplished? OUSD’s structural deficit, closure savings and other budget questions - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: Mission accomplished? OUSD’s structural deficit, closure savings and other budget questions By Katy Murphy Monday, June 25th, 2012 at 5:06 pm in Uncategorized. This spring, Oakland Superintendent Tony Smith heralded the elimination of a $40 million structural deficit that he had inherited when he came to OUSD in 2009. Soon thereafter, his financial services team discovered a multimillion-dollar shortfall, which was followed by ma... more »
School Tech Connect: On Our Most Disappointing Governor: On Our Most Disappointing Governor by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) From Roger Sanders: Perhaps Governor Quinn should be looking to these school districts to learn how to effectively manage a budget instead of vilifying their superior management capabilities. One Term Quinn just has no idea of how to lead or how to solve complex problems, and clearly has no idea of the important role of cash reserves. He’s more interested in pushing his problems off onto others rather than finding real solutions to problems created by ... more »
Bloomberg Is The System | The Jose Vilson: Bloomberg Is The System by Jose Today, Greg Kristof of the Huffington Post reported that Michael Bloomberg has announced that he wants to have schools call up parents and deliver teacher evaluations directly to parents. This comes on the heels of the passing of a bill that clearly delineates guidelines for parent-school interaction when it comes to teacher evaluations. Michael Bloomberg, in his usual pomp, went on the radio to reaffirm his disappointment in the bill and the compromises made to pass it. A quote: “Let me tell you what we’r... more »
Fordham Institute Comments on the first draft of the Next Generation Science Standards | Truth in American Education: Fordham Institute Comments on the first draft of the Next Generation Science Standards by chascherrie The Thomas B. Fordham Institute provides *Commentary & Feedback on Draft I of the Next Generation Science Standards*. The commentary is dated June 25, 2012 and is authored by Paul R. Gross with Lawrence S. Lerner, John Lynch, Martha Schwartz, Richard Schwartz, and W. Stephen Wilson. The forward is written by Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Kathleen Porter-Magee. The com... more »
Geaux Teacher!: COMMUNITY ACTION JULY 4: RECALL BOBBY JINDAL: COMMUNITY ACTION JULY 4: RECALL BOBBY JINDAL by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) COMMUNITY ACTION: RECALL BOBBY JINDAL will be on the Capital steps Wednesday, July 4th from 2 - 5 PM. You are invited to join us with family and friends to help save our state from Jindal and his corporate raiders. Come sign to help return LA to the people. Learn more about the governor's destruction of public education and transfer of public institutions to corporate friends by linking to our website www.recallbobbyjindal... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's Monday Massacre at Clemente: Rahm's Monday Massacre at Clemente by Mike Klonsky When the board announced that Roberto Clemente High School was to be the city's third public high school, (along with Senn and the new Back of the Yards H.S.) converted into a wall-to-wall International Baccalaureate (IB) school, many Clemente teachers were thrilled by the news. Teacher teams began preparing to implement the new plan and think about how they could make a contribution to the new Clemente. Unlike most early CPS school restructuring efforts, the new IB... more »
Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-24-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
