Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Won’t Back Down | ruralteacher

Won’t Back Down

Posted on August 8, 2012

WARNING: This is NOT an endorsement for the movie of the same name that will be in theaters in September and that Wal-Mart is celebrating with a deceitful “Teachers Rock” Concert. So, if you landed here looking for a teacher to wholeheartedly support parent triggers, you can stop reading now.

It’s not that I don’t welcome and encourage parent involvement, I do wholeheartedly! I send a weekly newsletter home and encourage questions and comments. Parents are free to visit my classroom to help or observe or join in our activities just about any time they request.

If you are a public school teacher, I’m sure you can relate to ‘standing at the gates of Hell” in the current environment. But, we don’t have to back down. We don’t have to be silently

Pass / Fail : State auditor to look at how schools use anti-bullying laws to protect gay students | 89.3 KPCC

Pass / Fail : State auditor to look at how schools use anti-bullying laws to protect gay students | 89.3 KPCC:

State auditor to look at how schools use anti-bullying laws to protect gay students

by By Tami Abdollah

Students from middle and high schools across LAUSD line up at the Nokia Theatre to watch the documentary "Bully." California lawmakers have requested the state auditor examine how schools implement anti-bullying and harassment laws to protect students targeted for their sexual orientation. Credit: Mae Ryan/KPCC

California lawmakers today approved a request for a state audit on how schools implement anti-bullying and harassment laws after recent incidents in which students were targeted for their sexual orientation.

Democratic state Assembly members Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens and Betsy Butler of Los Angeles jointly

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Happy New (School) Year! I Resolve...

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Happy New (School) Year! I Resolve...:

Happy New (School) Year! I Resolve...

by Lisa M

Have a wonderful 2012-2013!

I resolve to:

treat all students fairly, regardless of race, gender, age, behavior, a parent's nasty attitude, the comments from last year's teachers, or seemingly lack of interest in learning
to realize that all children can learn, but not always at the same pace
stop using sarcasm as a disciplinary tool, no matter how effective it may seem.
speak in a quiet, even,tone, even when

David Gelernter: The Friendly, Neighborhood Internet School - WSJ.com

David Gelernter: The Friendly, Neighborhood Internet School - WSJ.com:

The Friendly, Neighborhood Internet School

We have the technology, the people and the institutions we need to usher an online-education revolution.

BY DAVID GELERNTER

We have big problems with our schools—and need new ideas about how to fix them. Deep changes are needed in our attitude toward teaching, leading education scholar Diane Ravitch wrote recently in the New York Review of Books. We need smarter, better-educated recruits to the profession. We need to value a teacher's experience properly and discard the thought that idealistic college graduates with no experience make brilliant teachers automatically.

Fair enough. But we need other solutions too. We need plans that make direct use of our biggest assets: parental anger, and people's selfish but reasonable willingness to give some time ...

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Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:

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Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges

February 19, 2011 by Larry Ferlazzo | 11 Comments

You can now order the book. Just go to the book’s page on their website. The cost is $29.95.

You can also order it on Amazon.

(You can read the book’s introduction here)

You can read an excerpt from the first chapter here

Transcript Of My Ed Week Chat On Motivation Online

First Chapter of My Book, Hand-Outs & Links Are Now Online For Free

“Finishing the School Year Strong” is the title of another excerpt in Education Week/Teacher.

Recording Now Available Of “Helping Students Motivate Themselves” Interview

I thought readers might be interested in seeing the cover, reading a description, and reviewing the Table of Contents (still in the process of being slightly revised) of my upcoming book, Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges.

The book will be officially published by Eye On Education on April 30th (though it might actually be in-stock prior to that date), and I will be sharing links to how to order the book and to excerpts that will be published in various publications prior to that date.

Here’s a short description from the publisher:

17-year-old boy crowned America’s fastest texter | The Raw Story

17-year-old boy crowned America’s fastest texter | The Raw Story:

17-year-old boy crowned America’s fastest texter

NEW YORK — A 17-year-old boy retained his title as America’s fastest texter Wednesday in a duel of the thumbs staged before yelling fans in New York’s Times Square.

Austin Weirschke took home $50,000 in prize money for the second time in two years when he bested 10 other texting demons in feats of thumb speed, memory and fluency in texting shorthand.

One round was performed with contestants blindfolded and having 45 seconds to type the verse: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.”

The event, sponsored by LG Electronics and

Parent and Student Activists – Get Ready. | United Opt Out National

Parent and Student Activists – Get Ready. | United Opt Out National:

Parent and Student Activists – Get Ready.

by admin

The public school year has either begun or will begin shortly for families everywhere. We have an assessment calendar which includes high stakes testing information for each state, allowing students and parents to make informed decisions as they begin to prepare for a year of opting out of corporate education reform by opting out of the state tests, as well as any other tests which do not improve student achievement and take away from authentic learning and teaching.

Questions to ask when looking at the calendar:

When are tests given in your state?

What test prep activities are required?

When will the test prep activities occur and how much time each day is used for test prep?

How is the test data being used and with whom is it being shared?

What content areas will be

U.S. student wrongly denied N.J. tuition grant because of mom's immigration status, court says | NJ.com

U.S. student wrongly denied N.J. tuition grant because of mom's immigration status, court says | NJ.com:

U.S. student wrongly denied N.J. tuition grant because of mom's immigration status, court says

Published: Wednesday, August 08, 2012, 8:06 PM Updated: Wednesday, August 08, 2012, 8:08 PM

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerTwo Democratic state senators, Teresa Ruiz, right, of Essex County, who is chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, and Sandra Cunningham of Hudson County, chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said the ruling reflected the Legislature’s intent to provide equal access to education.

An American-born student waswrongly denied financial assistance for tuition at a state college because her parents are not United States citizens, an appellate court panel ruled today.

The decision clarifies the regulations regarding tuition that the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, a state agency, had intentionally misinterpreted for years, depriving thousands of students of much-needed aid.

The three appellate judges found that after years of adhering to laws governing tuition aid grants, the state authority in 2005 inappropriately began linking students’ residency to their parents’ immigration status.

"In 2005, the agency reversed course without any substantive explanation — instead, inaccurately

Jersey Jazzman: Someone Tell Rhee America Doesn't Suck!

Jersey Jazzman: Someone Tell Rhee America Doesn't Suck!:

Someone Tell Rhee America Doesn't Suck!

by Duke

Jon Stewart points out that Americans are kicking ass in both the Olympics and in space exploration.

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Gosh, this doesn't sound right. I mean, Michelle Rhee told us in her obnoxious, denigrating, and borderline homophobic ad that America sucks so badly at math and science. Yet here we are, landing rovers on Mars before any other country.

Maybe she's wrong. Maybe America is a science and technology powerhouse. Maybe those stupid international

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-8-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best:

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Campaign Launched To Assist Students Applying for Deferred Action - Hispanically Speaking News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago

Campaign Launched To Assist Students Applying for Deferred Action - Hispanically Speaking News: Campaign Launched To Assist Students Applying for Deferred Action [image: Campaign Launched To Assist Students Applying for Deferred Action]A coalition of civic groups launched Tuesday in Washington a national campaign to help thousands of undocumented students avoid deportation by means of a process known as “deferred action.” The idea of the campaign, activists told a press conference, is to help potential beneficiaries apply for a suspension of their deportation and for temporary work... more »

Leading innovative & transformative change: 5 key considerations | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 44 minutes ago

Leading innovative & transformative change: 5 key considerations | Connected Principals: Leading innovative & transformative change: 5 key considerations by sharris This blog follows closely on the back of my colleague’s recent blogpost (http://anneknock.com/2012/08/05/becoming-an-innovative-school-my-top-10-ideas/) as I consider her thoughts and some recent consultancy experience. What are five of the key considerations I can see in leading a learning community down fresh pathways? 1. Cast vision as clearly, concisely and strongly as you can When it comes down to it, vision become... more »

Tragedy that brought police to city schools inspired 1958 series | GothamSchools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 53 minutes ago

Tragedy that brought police to city schools inspired 1958 series | GothamSchools: Tragedy that brought police to city schools inspired 1958 seriesby Philissa Cramer, at 6:58 pm Some city principals would like to see schools reduce their police presence. But in 1958, principals couldn’t even get the police to swing by — a policy that might have driven one school leader to suicide. That’s the story behind a series that appeared that year in the New York World Telegram & Sun. Masquerading as a teacher-hopeful, reporter George Allen landed a job at John Marshall Junior High School in Br... more »

Duncan on the Common Core: “Huge Step in the Right Direction” | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Duncan on the Common Core: “Huge Step in the Right Direction” | Truth in American Education: Duncan on the Common Core: “Huge Step in the Right Direction” by Shane Vander Hart U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan was recently interviewed by AP on recent education reforms that has been implemented. A couple of excerpts: For those in states where the Common Core standards are being implemented, students could see more emphasis on critical thinking and spending a longer time gaining a deeper understanding of a more limited range of concepts in math. *The standards were independentl... more »

Modern School: Another UTLA Sellout—Evaluations Can Include Test Scores

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Modern School: Another UTLA Sellout—Evaluations Can Include Test Scores: Another UTLA Sellout—Evaluations Can Include Test Scores by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons The United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) recently agreed with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to allow the use of student test scores as part of performance reviews beginning this fall, the Los Angeles Times reported, though a UTLA attorney later said the commitment was contingent on whether the union and LAUSD could negotiate an agreement

Students Last: "Bagel Summit" for Randi and Campbell?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Students Last: "Bagel Summit" for Randi and Campbell?: "Bagel Summit" for Randi and Campbell? *Washington D.C.* - American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and former CNN journalist Campbell Brown received an unexpected invitation today from President Barack Obama. At a press conference, Obama invited both women to the White House for “some bagels and lox” (a nod to the fact that both women are Jews or have lived in New York City we don’t know which). He expressed his hope that the “Bagel Summit” would "cool things off between the two." The women have been digita... more »

Teachers Are Still Leading NBPTS « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Teachers Are Still Leading NBPTS « Diane Ravitch's blog: Teachers Are Still Leading NBPTS by dianerav A reader writes to set the record straight: *My comments are simply to state facts and correct the misconceptions in the responses.**I was a founding member of the National Board in 1987–a classroom special education teacher from Michigan. (Yes, serving with 62 other board members like Deborah Meier, Al Shanker and Mary Futrell but mostly, a majority of teachers) In 1990, I joined the National Board as staff–the first teacher hired by the start up organization. I worked as a Vice ... more »

Common Core Standards Developers Hired to Help Failing Schools in New Jersey | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Common Core Standards Developers Hired to Help Failing Schools in New Jersey | Truth in American Education: Common Core Standards Developers Hired to Help Failing Schools in New Jersey by Shane Vander Hart The Christie Administration just hired the Council of Chief State School Officers to help the New Jersey Department of Education develop school turnaround strategies. They are being paid $1.55 million to do this. The project will be two-pronged: First, help with the establishment of the state’s still-evolving Regional Achievement Centers (RACs), the immediate hubs for school im... more »

Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent World of Arne Duncan, Part V

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: The Incoherent World of Arne Duncan, Part V: The Incoherent World of Arne Duncan, Part V by Duke Arne Duncan's interview with Tom Moran of the Star-Ledger is a fascinating - and dispiriting - journey into the brain of the US Secretary of Education. I'm breaking down this fantastic voyage into a series of posts: - Part I: Duncan's signature program, Race To The Top, has little evidence to back it up. - Part II: The real legacy of Duncan, Rhee, and Klein. - Part III: Arne has a lot to learn about what makes teachers tick. - Part IV: Duncan's totally be... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Is Computer-Based Instruction Making the Digital Divide WORSE?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Is Computer-Based Instruction Making the Digital Divide WORSE?: Is Computer-Based Instruction Making the Digital Divide WORSE? by Duke Yesterday, I outlined the back story of how an expensive, computer-based math instruction program is finding its way to the Perth Amboy district in New Jersey. I'm always watching the connections between public, for-profit, and non-profit interests in this brave new world the reformyists are creating - and there were quite a few *interesting*, shall we say, connections in this particular tale. What I didn't discuss very much were ... more »

This Week In Education: Thompson: Reflections On Save Our Schools 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

This Week In Education: Thompson: Reflections On Save Our Schools 2012: Thompson: Reflections On Save Our Schools 2012 by john thompson [image: Saveourschool]I am so disappointed that I couldn't make the Save Our Schools conference, but James Boutin's blog *An Urban Teacher's Education* gives a great summary of the event. A parent activist, Karran Harper Royal, explained that, "teaching, in and of itself, is necessarily a political act." Dr. James Martinez criticized "deficit thinking." Martinez's and other SOS discussions about race were especially profound, as was Boutin's obser... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Competition and the Public Sector

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Competition and the Public Sector: Competition and the Public Sector by Charlie Mas I often hear folks say that the root problem with public education is that it is a monopoly and that, as such, has no incentive to provide better service. This statement reflects not only a gross misunderstanding of the difference between the private sector and the public sector, but a gross ignorance of the facts. I'm really tired of this foolish talk and I'd like to put an end to it now. You can help by exposing the thoughtlessness of this idea every time the ide... more »

August 14 Election: Crucial to Milwaukee’s Future « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

August 14 Election: Crucial to Milwaukee’s Future « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: August 14 Election: Crucial to Milwaukee’s Future by millerlf By Larry Miller There are crucial elections occurring on August 14. Private school vouchers are a central issue facing the candidates. While the Republican Party stands firmly behind voucher privatization, too many Democrats stand with them. I hear Democrats say this or that person is good on most issues, just not vouchers. We can no longer say that vouchers and privatization of public education is a secondary or side issue.... more »

Louisiana school voucher program allows kids to learn creationist non-science and pro-slavery revisionism | Pam's House Blend

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Louisiana school voucher program allows kids to learn creationist non-science and pro-slavery revisionism | Pam's House Blend: Louisiana School Voucher Program Allows Kids to Learn Creationist Non-Science and Pro-Slavery Revisionism by Pam Spaulding The Education Governor (photo: Gage Skidmore / flickr) You can thank Republican Veep prospect, Governor Bobby “the exorcist” Jindal for this development. Millions of tax dollars under his voucher program will go to “save” the low-wealth and middle class kids from Louisiana’s horrible public schools to private schools run by fundies teac... more »

Jeb Bush Covers ZZ Top on His US Ed Reform Rock Tour Show in Mississippi | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Jeb Bush Covers ZZ Top on His US Ed Reform Rock Tour Show in Mississippi | Scathing Purple Musings: Jeb Bush Covers ZZ Top on His US Ed Reform Rock Tour Show in Mississippi by Bob Sikes ZZ Top’s tribute to Mississippi blues icon Howlin’ Wolf, *My Heads in Mississippi *opens thus: I’m shufflin’ thru the Texas sand, But my head’s in Mississippi. I’m shufflin’ thru the Texas sand, But my head’s in Mississippi. The blues has got a hold of me. I believe I’m gettin’ dizzy. (Spoken: Help me now.) Who can blame another rock legend, Jeb Bush, he of the education reform rock genre, had thes... more »

Three core values of science, engineering and how ed reform contradicts them - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Three core values of science, engineering and how ed reform contradicts them - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Three core values of science, engineering and how ed reform contradicts them By Valerie Strauss This *was written by Arthur H. Camins, director of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.* By Arthur H. Camins President Obama and countless reports all says that improving scienceand engineering literacy and ensuring a next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers a... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, August 8, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *UC Berkeley* Education Headlines *Wednesday, August 8, 2012* Education roundup: Greenfield poised to borrow money to pay billsThe Greenfield Union School District board on Wednesday is expected to approve a resolution to borrow $15 million from the Kern County Board of Education to help make ends meet, and also review a new board policy that will have trustees pay 10 percent of their medical benefits. Lodi Unified secures energy fundsLodi Unified will take on a $1 million loan from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to pay for energy-s... more »

NYC Educator: The Teacher Olympics

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

NYC Educator: The Teacher Olympics: The Teacher Olympics by Miss Eyre Like many of you, no doubt, I have been enjoying the Olympics for the past week or so, marveling at the feats of strength on display, the hideous interesting choices of uniforms on some of the athletes, and the raw, beautiful power of the human spirit. Which got me thinking, naturally, of another class of superhumans: Teachers. Of course, we'd need our *own* Olympics. It wouldn't be fair to put us up against the Usain Bolts and Gabby Douglases of the world. They would lose and be sad. I propose the following... more »

Private Student Loan Issues Examined in New Report - Student Loan Ranger (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Private Student Loan Issues Examined in New Report - Student Loan Ranger (usnews.com): Private Student Loan Issues Examined in New Report By EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS August 8, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: When borrowing for college, it's important to weigh all your student loan options.] When borrowing for college, it's important to weigh all your student loan options. *Private Student Loans*, the July 20th report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to Congress, is data-driven and understated. It is also compelling and holds the feet of the private loan industry to the fi... more »

White House to Host PTA Day and Honor 12 PTA Members as "Champions of Change" | U.S. Department of Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

White House to Host PTA Day and Honor 12 PTA Members as "Champions of Change" | U.S. Department of Education: White House to Host PTA Day and Honor 12 PTA Members as "Champions of Change" AUGUST 8, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov *Washington, DC* — On Friday, August 10th, the White House will welcome over 150 Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leaders from 41 states, DC, and US military bases overseas for a day-long briefing. PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educa... more »

School Tech Connect: A Festival of Forums

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

School Tech Connect: A Festival of Forums: A Festival of Forums by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Wow--- tons of public forums coming up to talk about the current state of CPS/CTU negotiations and other matters. I stole this list from *Raise Your Hand For Public Education*, which you could join here. It appears to me that none of these forums is sponsored by the school district, although some district people will be at least one of them. I'm going to try to make Hyde Park tonight. *8/8 - Hyde Park Forum* with Julie Woestehoff of PURE and teachers and parents from Hyde Park. “... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: TFA Class of 2012-13: Three

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: TFA Class of 2012-13: Three: TFA Class of 2012-13: Three by Charlie Mas At the August 7, 2012 meeting the Board Executive Committee considered the schedule for the motion to approve the conditional certificates for the Teach for America corps members who were hired for this fall. There are three of them: two hired as elementary teachers at Emerson and one hired as a Special Education teacher at Aki Kurose. The discussion at the Executive Committee meeting was about whether to introduce the motion at the August 15 Board meeting and vote on it at th... more »

FSBA President Says “Accountability Should Not Create Turmoil” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

FSBA President Says “Accountability Should Not Create Turmoil” | Scathing Purple Musings: FSBA President Says “Accountability Should Not Create Turmoil” by Bob Sikes The Florida School Boards Association has emerged as a serious opponent of state legislators and the test-dominated accountability systems they’ve imposed. *Orlando Sentinel* editorial writer Darrel. E. Owens had several key questions for the new president of the FSBA: Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson’s surprising exit came after a year marred by recent controversies over lower-than-expected FCAT writing... more »

Save Our Schools on teacher unions. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Save Our Schools on teacher unions. « Fred Klonsky: Save Our Schools on teacher unions. by Fred Klonsky [image: SOS Save Our Schools] Brother Mike reports from the SOS conference in DC this past weekend: Saturday’s panel of teacher union activists, *Fred Klonsky, Dr. Michael A. Walker Jones, and Xian Barrett, *was over the top. Most of the controversy took place around the so-called*new unionism* or *“results unionism*” now being touted bysome AFT and NEA leaders. There was lots of anger and frustration in the room, over the quick concessions being made by union leaders on issues... more »

Responding to the Gates Foundation: How do we Consider Evidence of Learning in Teacher Evaluations? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Responding to the Gates Foundation: How do we Consider Evidence of Learning in Teacher Evaluations? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Responding to the Gates Foundation: How do we Consider Evidence of Learning in Teacher Evaluations? by Anthony Cody [image: differences.jpg] Follow me on Twitter at @AnthonyCody This post is the second round in a five-part exchange with the Gates Foundation. This is a response to yesterday's post from Vicki Phillips, How do we Consider Evidence of Student Learning in Teacher Evaluations? Vicki Phillips opens her post with a complaint: ... more »

National Education Association: Put students first – USATODAY.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

National Education Association: Put students first – USATODAY.com: National Education Association: Put students first By Becky Pringle Updated 13h 26m ago - Comments - - - - - - With the release of its new report, The New Teacher Project has helped focus attention on one of our nation's most valuable assets: the dedicated professionals who educate our children. The National Education Association agrees that attracting and retaining great teachers must be a top priority, and it will only become more urgent over the next decade, when we'll need 1.6 mi... more »

EARLY UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-8-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Voucher Carnival Gets Even Wilder in Louisiana by dianerav This one takes the cake. John White has approved the Light City Church School of the Prophets to get vouchers, nearly $700,000 a year. The man who runs it describes himself as an apostle or a prophet. Whatever. People can call themselves whatever they like. Please read the linked article to see how low the bar is for getting taxpayer dollars from the state of Louisiana. The state will have no standards for voucher schools. There will be no accountabili... more »

Distinct choice for ‘parent trigger’ families in Adelanto | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Distinct choice for ‘parent trigger’ families in Adelanto | EdSource Today: Distinct choice for ‘parent trigger’ families in Adelanto - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Two nearby charter school operators have expressed interest in running a besieged elementary school in the Mojave Desert town of Adelanto, ending worries of organizers of the state’s first successful “parent trigger” that their invitation for applicants to take over their school might go unanswered. Organizers of the Desert Trails Parent Union announ... more »

School Tech Connect: December At The Latest

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

School Tech Connect: December At The Latest: December At The Latest by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Totally focused on other things today, so in order to come up with a post, I reviewed my epic list of possible topics. It's a little writer's trick that we writers use. It's called "writing things down." Typically we lose our lists for months and months until one of them turns up under a cocktail. My list led me nowhere tonight, trust me. However, in a humorous sidebar, one of the terms on my list is "Donald Fraynd," the former CPS turnaround guy who left the district to start ... more »

Geaux Teacher!: "Don't Back Down" MOVIE DISTORTS PARENT TRIGGER LAWS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Geaux Teacher!: "Don't Back Down" MOVIE DISTORTS PARENT TRIGGER LAWS: "Don't Back Down" MOVIE DISTORTS PARENT TRIGGER LAWS by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) This letter was written by Ruth Rodriguez-Fay of Save Our Schools America. SOS is planning an ACTION to counter the misinformation and Hollywood Version of new laws passed in some states - including Louisiana - called Parent Trigger Laws. Parent Trigger Laws allow a certain percentage of parents to petition for a traditional public school to be shut down and replaced by a charter school. Watch for information ... more »

Dismal report released on boys and men of color - ContraCostaTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Dismal report released on boys and men of color - ContraCostaTimes.com: Dismal report released on boys and men of color By Scott Johnson Oakland Tribune Posted: 08/07/2012 11:00:00 PM PDT Updated: 08/07/2012 11:56:37 PM PDT OAKLAND -- In California, by a 36 to 27 percent ratio, young African-American men without a high school diploma or its equivalent are more likely to be found languishing in prison than working a regular job. Young Latino men are roughly 40 percent more likely than white men to wind up serving time in an adult prison. And African-American kindergartners are ...more »

Opportunities to help our Seattle students | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Opportunities to help our Seattle students | Seattle Education: Opportunities to help our Seattle students by seattleducation2011 *Stuff the Bus!* Councilmember O’Brien’s Office and City Lights are teaming up with Communities in Schools to help Stuff the Bus full of the back-to-school necessities for low-income students. Collect new backpacks, school supplies, and new school outfits for students in grades K-12 in our Seattle schools between now and Tuesday, August 21st. Items may be dropped off in the Legislative Department reception area at City Hall: Seattle City Hall 600 Fourth... more »

Then You’ll Really Know What It’s Like [featuring Xian Barrett] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Then You’ll Really Know What It’s Like [featuring Xian Barrett] | The Jose Vilson: Then You’ll Really Know What It’s Like [featuring Xian Barrett] by Jose Xian Barrett has been one of my favorite education commenters in the last year or so. His commentary can simultaneously crack you up and crack your jaw, swelling and opening eyes unflinchingly. Today, CNN’s School of Thought asked him to contribute to their blog. Good on you, CNN. Observe: Most Chicago teachers give our all in very challenging conditions. A recent Gates study suggests that the average teacher works 53 hours per w... more »

LAUSD TERRORIZES TEACHERS - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

LAUSD TERRORIZES TEACHERS - Perdaily.com: LAUSD TERRORIZES TEACHERS by Leonard Isenberg [image: Terror.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post) After initial denial, if you ever come to the regrettable realization that you have been targeted by your principal for removal and that the institutional bullying orchestrated by him or her at the behest of their superiors at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)- aka Beadry- is not going away, you might think of giving me a call...but I wouldn't tell *

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SOS chatter

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SOS chatter: SOS chatter by Mike Klonsky Keynoters Deb Meier & Nancy Carlsson-PaigeI tried to explain to Teaching Now blogger Liana Heitin who was reposed by Edweek's Stephen Sawchuck, that it was okay that last weekend's SOS Convention was actually smaller and less celebrity-studded than last summer's march and White House rally. Others told Liana (who I find to be an otherwise highly capable and astute ed writer) that a march and a meeting have two different purposes and that one is often smaller than the other and that SOS was fine with that. It ... more »

Opportunities Suspended: The Disparate Impact of Disciplinary Exclusion from School — The Civil Rights Project at UCLA

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Opportunities Suspended: The Disparate Impact of Disciplinary Exclusion from School — The Civil Rights Project at UCLA: Opportunities Suspended: The Disparate Impact of Disciplinary Exclusion from School *Authors: Daniel J. Losen, Jonathan Gillespie, Foreword by Gary Orfield* Date Published: August 07, 2012 The first in an ongoing series of national studies by the Center for Civil Rights Remedies at the Civil Right Project. Related Documents - [image: Attached file] Opportunity Suspended: The Disparate Impact of Disciplinary Exclusion from School - [image: Attache... more »

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