Thursday, November 1, 2012

by Jose

NYC schools are officially closed on Friday … for students. For teachers, Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott sent out a memo to all teachers and administrators to go back to school on Friday. The cynical me remembers the few days in the school year when I tell my students they don’t have school but I do and they giggle and point, to which I reply, “It’s OK. We don’t want you here, either.” Gasps from them. “Just kidding.” Exhale. “Kinda.”
The more serious side of me wonders what the heck we’re going to do on a November day. I mean, I had this really awesome unit on scientific notation that ended with us trying to estimate how far the planets were away from each other, and it would have ended with a quiz that I’m sure they would have aced on average. Then, it got me thinking: none of us, and I mean NONE of us, actually knows what we’re going to do tomorrow.
Instead of kvetching about why Bloomberg and Walcott came to this decision, I’ve compiled a list of things

Educación Nominate Your Candidate for the Immigrant Youth Achievement Award - Hispanically Speaking News

Nominate Your Candidate for the Immigrant Youth Achievement Award - Hispanically Speaking News:

Educación

Nominate Your Candidate for the Immigrant Youth Achievement Award

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

The American Immigration Council is now accepting nominations for their 2013 Immigrant Youth Achievement Award. Each year the Council receives hundreds of nominations from around the country lifting up exceptional young people whose accomplishments and dreams inspire others. The Immigrant Youth Achievement Award celebrates high-achieving young immigrants, whose personal accomplishments and contributions demonstrate the important impact young immigrants are having on our nation every day. These nominations serve as a reminder that our country was built by hard-working, forward-think... more »

Latina College Scholarship Opportunities Available, Includes Travel to Israel

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Following a decade of training and developing the next generation of Latina leaders through its unique Washington DC-based program for college-age women, Latinas Learning to Lead (LLL), the National Hispana Leadership Institute, the nation’s premier leadership development organization for Latinas, is taking them overseas in a new continuation of the program. In collaboration with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a global Jewish advocacy organization, and its educational institute Project Interchange, and The David Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and insp... more »

MALDEF Members Named to Newly Formed Education Board

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, has just appointed Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) MALDEF President and General Counsel, Thomas A. Saenz, and MALDEF board member, Jesse Ruiz, among twenty-eight members of the Department of Education’s newly created Equity and Excellence Commission. Composed of education advocates, civil rights leaders, scholars, corporate leaders and lawyers, the commission is tasked with developing ways to close achievement gaps in America’s schools. The body will make recommendations about how federal policies can re... more »

Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for International Photography Announces Grant Opportunity

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for International Photography is currently seeking to award one social documentary photographic project produced in the journalistic tradition of Manuel Rivera-Ortiz. One project based on pressing social issues in the developing world will receive a grant of 5,000 USD to be utilized for the production or completion of a pre-approved project. WHO IS ELIGIBLE Photographers of all nationalities who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to apply. We encourage you to submit your one-page proposal, a portfolio sample of your current work black & whit... more »

AT&T Hosting National High Technology Event for Minority Students

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

AT&T’s Hispanic/Latino Association, HACEMOS, joins forces with Junior Achievement (JA) and its JA Job Shadow® initiative, to host more than 1,400 low-income and at-risk high school students in 22 cities across the country for the 13th Annual HACEMOS National High Technology Day. HACEMOS National High Technology Day is designed to give students a better grasp of the opportunities available in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields—areas where minorities are underrepresented. The sessions and job shadow opportunities will enable minority students to team up with A... more »

Univision Launches 2nd Phase of Education Initiative: Es El Momento

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, today unveiled the second phase of its highly successful, multi-platform education initiative, Es El Momento (The Moment is Now). The initiative’s second phase highlights the importance of children having role models in their lives, encouraging parents to teach by example and instill in their children the importance of education, as the key to their success. “Es El Momento’s second phase illustrates the inspirational journey of Hispanic individuals who were given the support and motivation needed to f... more »

Chicago’s Renaissance 2010: More Success with High Schools

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Nearly seven years ago, Chicago launched a plan to create 100 new schools. On February 17th, WBEZ released a school-by-school update on how well those “Renaissance 2010” schools are performing on state tests. We compared them to neighborhood schools to ask: has the school district been successful in creating better options for families in those neighborhoods. In our first story, we talked about elementary schools. Today we turn to the city’s new Renaissance high schools, which are more likely than elementaries to be an improvement over current neighborhood schools. In 65 percent of c... more »

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Board Chair, Rep. Charles Gonzalez, Education the Key for Latinos

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s new Board Chair, Rep. Charles A. Gonzalez, begins his thirteenth year in Congress with a focus on providing opportunities for young Latinos to achieve the American Dream. Eager to lead the community to greater success and prosperity, Gonzalez shares his vision for the Latino community, the Caucus, and more in an exclusive interview for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) where he noted the following regarding the key role education plays in his vision for the Latino community: What is your vision for the Latino Community? My vision ... more »

Rhythms of Life

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

This time of year, with winter continuing longer that anyone thinks it should, I find myself wanting to do nothing more than stay home curled up with a good book or just puttering around the house doing usually avoided chores. Each year it surprises me; the cold gets to me and I want to stay indoors and almost nothing can lure me out. You would think that by now I would remember that this nesting season comes every year about this time. And, it goes by the time the winds change and the scent of spring is in the air. But each year I honestly have to remind myself that nothing is wrong... more »

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Launches Young Latino Leaders in Washington Program

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Latino youth leadership development and educational organization, today announced its newest leadership development initiative, the “Young Latino Leaders in Washington, D.C. Program.” CHCI also released the 6th Edition of its popular and highly-anticipated National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships for Latino Students. Both projects are supported by State Farm Insurance Companies®. In partnership with the Close Up Foundation, CHCI will launch the “Young Latino Leaders in Washington, D.C. P... more »

US Department of Labor Announces Grant Competition to help Former Offenders Gain Career Skills

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $11.7 million in grant funds to serve adult offenders who are returning from incarceration to high-poverty, high-crime communities. The purpose of these grants is to provide an employment-centered approach to reintegration that improves long-term labor market prospects for ex-offenders. “The Labor Department is committed to getting all Americans back to work and to expanding opportunities for everyone who wants a job,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Stable employment helps ex-offenders stay out ... more »

The President Unveils a Budget to Win the Future for Our Kids (VIDEO)

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

The budget going through Congress can often come off as boring process, one too mired in details and political back-and-forth to be worth following. But the President traveled to Parkville Middle School and Center for Technology in Baltimore to unveil his budget plan this morning in a reflection of the fact that in the tough choices we face as a nation, our kids’ futures are at stake. That’s why the President’s Budget would get our deficits under control, but it’s also why he stands by investments in education, and it has a lot to do with why he supports investments in building a ... more »

Whose Job is it?

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

How do you know when someone has not only heard what you have to say but actually understood your message? Is it your job, the sender of the message, to make sure the receiver of the message has understood your message in the way you intended? The sender encodes the message in language, verbal and non verbal that is appropriate for the situation. The receiver decodes the message using their own personal frame of reference. So the question is Are we sending and receiving messages using the same frame of reference? Probably not. It isn’t absolutely necessary that all our conversatio... more »

Tips for Mid Terms - They’re Just Around the Corner

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Second semester is in full swing, and believe it or not, midterms are right around the corner. Many students can feel extremely pressured right about now, especially when their test-taking anxiety sets in. Expert tutor and co-founder interactive tutoring website Virtual Nerd, Leo Shmuylovich, offers helpful suggestions to assist students through the midterm season. It could mean the difference in students maintaining their grades through the rest of the semester or having to spend extra time digging out. 1.) Be Efficient! When studying for midterms, the key is to use homework and st... more »

SAVE OUR SCHOOLS -SELLING KIDS SHORT: A broken education system threatens America’s growth

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

A good education is the lifeblood of the American dream. For millions of young Americans, that dream is now in jeopardy because the education system is failing them. A group of leading educators and reformers gathered at The Daily recently to talk about what needs to be done to save our schools. In a special five-part series, we report on the staggering dimensions of the problem, the institutions so resistant to change and the remarkable people determined to rejuvenate the system. America’s education crisis goes far beyond our biggest cities and poorest children — even the brightest ... more »

Race to the Top Commencement Challenge: Calling High Schools - Deadline 2/25 (VIDEO)

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Today, the President launched his second annual Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. The 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge invites public high schools across the country to demonstrate how their school best prepares them for college and a career, helping America win the future by out-educating our competitors, preparing today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow, and achieving President Obama’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. Last year, over 1000 schools applied and more than 170,000 people voted on short videos and essay... more »

Challenging Routines and Beliefs

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

It is very easy to get caught up in the rhythms of our day. We get comfortable with the requirements of home and work, family and friends. We know what to do when to do and often with whom. Because it is comfortable, we surround ourselves with the familiar and with people who think and act like we do. So what would happen if we threw all that out and challenged our routines? I am often surprised to read about polls that show some commonly held belief that challenges my beliefs. Like many people I am surrounded with people who generally think like me. We have discussions about the... more »

Turning Around the Nation’s Lowest-Performing Schools

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Across the country, states and school districts are focusing on turning around the nation’s lowest-performing schools. Unprecedented federal Race to the Top and School Improvement Grant funding accompanied by a more prescriptive approach for using the funds has raised the profile of turnaround efforts. This focus on school turnaround, while welcome, is not new. State, district, and school leaders have been trying for years to turn around persistently low-performing schools. But while some schools have made significant gains in student achievement, results overall are decidedly mixed... more »

Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21Century- Harvard Study

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

The American system for preparing young people to lead productive and prosperous lives as adults is clearly badly broken. Failure to aggressively overcome this challenge will surely erode the fabric of our society. The American Dream rests on the promise of economic opportunity, with a middle class lifestyle for those willing to work for it. Yet for the millions of young Americans entering adulthood lacking access to marketable skills, the American Dream may be just an illusion, unlikely ever to come within their grasp. If we fail to better prepare current and future teens and young ... more »

Tips for Applying for Student Financial Aid

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

It’s probably the first test for many going off to college, and they take it without setting foot inside a classroom. Unfortunately for some, they don’t always get an A. The “test” is filling out The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Getting an A means completing it without mistakes, omissions, and within all the deadlines. Marianella Garcia is very familiar with the challenges of filling out the application’s 100 questions that determine whether a student is eligible for scholarships and loans from the federal government. She works for Federal Student Aid, an offi... more »

MassMutual Scholars Program Enters Third Year of Helping Multicultural College Students

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) will offer $5,000 college scholarships to high-achieving students for its third straight year. The company’s annual MassMutual Scholars Program offers a total of $135,000 to college students of African-American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic descent residing or going to school in nine metropolitan areas across the country. “The MassMutual Scholars program provides financial support and guidance to deserving students striving to obtain a college degree,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, Assistant Vice President of Community Re...more »

Playing Games

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

My children learned basic math by playing Bunco with my mother. They perfected their math skills by betting buttons in family poker games, and they learned the combinations of all number and face cards that add up to 15 by playing Cribbage. In addition to these card games, they played countless Gin Rummy and 500 tournaments late into the night on family vacations staying with their grandmother. Kings Corner’s taught them numeric sequencing and overall strategy. As grown women they have fond memories of the moment they realized they won fair and square with no help from Granny. So... more »

Reflections on the State of the Union: Rebuilding America, One Student At A Time

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

Antero Garcia is U.S. Department of Education Classroom Teaching Fellow, a UCLA doctoral candidate, and a high school English teacher at Manual Arts High School in South Central Los Angeles, Calif. Like millions of Americans, I watched President Obama’s State of the Union Address Tuesday. I watched it particularly with hopes that his words and vision would speak directly to me and to the ninth graders I teach every day at Manual Arts High School in South Central Los Angeles. With shootings at two schools in Los Angeles last week, many of my colleagues anticipating being laid off at ... more »

Hispanic Students in Florida Score Higher on Science Tests

Educacion - 11 minutes ago

In Florida, most students received below average scores on the national science test, yet the Hispanic students scored higher than the national average. On the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Florida’s eighth graders scored slightly below average yet for the Hispanic students, scoring almost 10% more than the national average. State Education Commissioner Eric Smith stated that this news demonstrates the state’s achievements as well as bringing attention to the challenges it still must conquer. “Florida has been paving a path of educational progress within our nation... more »

Banda, School Board say charters would hamper efforts to improve Seattle public schools | Education | The Seattle Times

Banda, School Board say charters would hamper efforts to improve Seattle public schools | Education | The Seattle Times:

Banda, School Board say charters would hamper efforts to improve Seattle public schools

School leaders, educators and parents from 260 of Washington's 295 school districts have signed a letter opposing I-1240, warning that charter schools would siphon off millions of dollars from other publicly funded schools with no guarantee they'd be any better.

Modern School: Another Looming Illinois Teachers Strike

Modern School: Another Looming Illinois Teachers Strike:

Another Looming Illinois Teachers Strike

by Michael Dunn

A resident on Kaneville Road shows support for Geneva teachers in their contract negotiations with the school district. The Geneva Education Association Friday said negotiations were at an impasse.

Last week, teachers from Geneva School District 304, in Illinois, gave formal notice that they intend to strike, after a 12-hour bargaining session failed to reach an accord, the Chicago Tribune. Because state law requires a 14-day waiting period, the earliest the strike could begin would be Friday, November 9.

The main issue is salaries. Teachers say that there is plenty of money in the reserves to not only give them a raise, but to also refund some property tax dollars, as the district did last year. The district, not surprisingly, is crying “fiscal uncertainty” and wants to freeze salaries for the next year, including a freeze on step and experience increases. However, they are willing to

California's Prop 32: The Most Dangerous Ballot Measure in the Country | MyFDL

California's Prop 32: The Most Dangerous Ballot Measure in the Country | MyFDL:

California’s Prop 32: The Most Dangerous Ballot Measure in the Country

by Leighton Woodhouse

Popout
If you live in California, thanks to the Electoral College system, the box you check next Tuesday in the section of your ballot for the two presidential candidates won’t make an iota of difference to the outcome of the election. But further down the ballot is the second (if not first) most important vote in the country: Proposition 32.
That’s no exaggeration. If Prop 32 passes, it will warp the landscape of California politics dramatically and permanently, by outlawing voluntary payroll deduction for political spending. That sounds technical and mundane, but the upshot is that Prop 32 would effectively silence the political voice of the labor movement while

BRIBING CLUELESS PARENTS – A CLUELESS EFFORT « Teachers Fight Back

BRIBING CLUELESS PARENTS – A CLUELESS EFFORT « Teachers Fight Back:

BRIBING CLUELESS PARENTS – A CLUELESS EFFORT

by alkleen

Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and Walgreen company have announced a plan to increase parental involvement in Chicago Public schools. Parents who pick up their children’s report cards and participate in teacher conferences will receive one of the drugstore chain’s “Balance Rewards” cards worth $25 in free merchandise at stores. The plan is to be implemented at 70 schools with low parental involvement. The city will track data on parental involvement to measure the effort’s effectiveness.
Here we go again. Has anyone asked teachers if this plan will work ? Of course not. Any veteran teacher could have told these city and business leaders that this plan is just plain ridiculous. Yes, there might be some parents motivated to attend a conference that they otherwise might not. What does picking up a report card and attending a conference have to do with a student’s success ? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING when the parent is

An Urban Teacher's Education: Too Much Structure and Style; Not Enough Content

An Urban Teacher's Education: Too Much Structure and Style; Not Enough Content:

Too Much Structure and Style; Not Enough Content

by James Boutin

Earlier in my career teaching writing, I often found myself focusing on structure and style. It's important to have appropriate conventions, to make your writing move logically throughout its delivery, to consider the way you communicate your ideas.

But in considering the quality of a piece of writing, there is another factor that affects the outcome more: content.

Perhaps I found it easier to focus on structure and style because they seem more teachable. It is difficult, after all, to look at a student and say, "You need better ideas." (How do you scaffold better ideas?) So I can feel as if I'm doing my job when I help them consider ways to communicate the ideas they do have more clearly and intentionally. Ultimately, though, I always felt empty with this teaching focus. Writing would improve, but it was

Idaho's education overhaul: a summary of three propositions | OregonLive.com

Idaho's education overhaul: a summary of three propositions | OregonLive.com:

Idaho's education overhaul: a summary of three propositions

by The Associated Press

In this Sept. 7, 2011, file photo, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna poses for a photo in his office in Boise.AP Photo/Jessie L. Bonner, File

On Tuesday, voters head to the polls in Idaho to weigh in on public schools chiefTom Luna's education overhaul. A "Yes" vote for the three propositions keeps Luna's 2011 "Students Come First" laws in place; a "No" vote repeals them. Here's a brief summary of some of the laws' key provisions.

Proposition 1:

Phases out teacher tenure for those who haven't earned it

Call me NaNo… « Teaching Between the Lines

Call me NaNo… « Teaching Between the Lines:

Call me NaNo…

by Laura

It’s Day One of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and my 8th graders wrote for a full hour in class, tap-tap-tapping away on the first chapters of their novels. They wrote in a Google Doc, which they shared with me, so when I should have been working on my own novel, I was taking peeks at theirs. Wow! Some great stuff. Here are just a handful of opening lines that caught my attention:
My favorite sound in the world is the click of a camera shutter, not the crack of a gunshot. (AG)
School sucks. Yet another black eye from yet another dumb brute who plays football. (NB)
We barely slid under the first gate before it was slammed shut. (DH)

Look at those NaNos go! (And hooray for our principal, who worked on her novel with us today!)

My window overlooked New York City and I knew that somewhere past the newly constructed and the

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 11-1-12 #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

THE WAY WE DO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT The Whole Child Newsletter - November 1, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 45 minutes ago

The Whole Child Newsletter - November 1, 2012: THE WAY WE DO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTEvery school has a culture. Some are positive, while others are toxic; many are somewhere in between. A school's culture affects the lives of everyone in the building. Educators working in a positive school culture(PDF) experience collegiality, trust, and tangible support as leaders and peers, creating an environment where there are high expectations, involvement in decision making, and open communication. Students entering a positive school culture feel safe, engaged, and connected and see school as a p... more »

Jane Watson Writes Charters Not NeededSave Our Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 47 minutes ago

Jane Watson Writes Charters Not NeededSave Our Schools: Jane Watson Writes Charters Not Needed by Server Jane Watson, Save Our Schools Information Coordinator Writes*Charters Are Not Needed.* *As published in the Yakima Herald-Republic Charters not needed* November 1, 2012 To the editor — Thank you for the Oct. 24 article and editorial concerning charter schools. Parents and older students do have a variety of school choices, including private schools, public school, home schooling, computer school, EPIC Headstart, Oakridge Montessori, etc. There is a Migrant Education Center in S... more »

Must See Video: Romney Walking Out of an Interview in Iowa « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 51 minutes ago

Must See Video: Romney Walking Out of an Interview in Iowa « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Must See Video: Romney Walking Out of an Interview in Iowa Filed under: Mitt — millerlf @ 5:21 pm *Observe Romney walking out of a radio interview in Iowa in 2007 because of questions about Mormonism, the Second Coming and abortion.* He apparently did not know he was being videotaped.

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Fairly Unified on the Education Front Against I-1240

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Fairly Unified on the Education Front Against I-1240: Fairly Unified on the Education Front Against I-1240 by Melissa Westbrook [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] The No On I-1240 campaign has released an open letter rejecting I-1240. The people listed represent those from 260 school districts across Washington State. That's nearly 90% of the school districts in the state. “The open letter shows that opposition to I-1240 is not bound by geography or income,” said Michael DeBell, Seattle School Board President. “It’s a bad plan for every stu... more »

Preen for America | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Preen for America | EduShyster: Preen for America by edushyster2012 I dedicate this post to my Premium Club readers who simply aren’t excellent enough to Teach for America. Let’s face it: you and I are never going to be Teach for America material. But while we may not have the goods to join Wendy Kopp’s Kidz we can still experience their freshness and innovation vicariously: by watching the Real Housewives of Miami host a benefit for TFA on Bravo this week. No doubt you are wondering how in the world EduShyster could know such a thing…Reader: I fear that mine is a wasted life of de... more »

IEA offers a deal on right-wing pizza. I wouldn’t order it in a million years. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

IEA offers a deal on right-wing pizza. I wouldn’t order it in a million years. « Fred Klonsky: IEA offers a deal on right-wing pizza. I wouldn’t order it in a million years. by Fred Klonsky *Papa John’s John Schnatter. * I have some friends coming over tonight. It’s a book club. Don’t laugh. All my friends at work predicted I would join a book club when I retired and I swore not. But I did. We get together every couple of months. It’s my pick this time. We were supposed to read Anthony Shadid’s*House of Stone.* Shadid was the New York Times correspondent in the middle east. His re... more »

StudentsFirst PAC donates $500,000 to campaign against union-backed Proposal 2 | MLive.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

StudentsFirst PAC donates $500,000 to campaign against union-backed Proposal 2 | MLive.com: *StudentsFirst PAC donates $500,000 to campaign against union-backed Proposal 2* * * GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – StudentsFirst.org’s political action committee has donated $500,000 to the campaign against the union-backed Proposal 2, with the organization’s leaders saying they want to preserve school reforms. The proposal, also calledProtect Our Jobs and Protect Working Families, would enshrine collective bargaining in the state constitution, invalidating existing or future state or local laws tha... more »

L.A. Unified applies for grant without teachers union - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

L.A. Unified applies for grant without teachers union - latimes.com: L.A. Unified applies for grant without teachers union [image: LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy during a meeting of the Los Angeles School Board in February. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times] The Los Angeles Unified School District has decided to submit an application for a high-profile federal grant without the participation of the teachers union. Current federal rules for “Race to the Top” grants require a written commitment to the terms by the local teachers union. But United Teachers Los Angeles officials have... more »

Diane in the Evening 11-1-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: In New Orleans, Students Lead the Way by dianerav Several student groups convened an open forum for candidates running for the local school board. This gave students an opportunity to question candidates about where they stand on issues that affect students. Only one candidate did not appear: Sarah Usdin, who confirmed that she would show but did not. Usdin is the ex-TFA executive director of New Schools for New Orleans. She has received more than $110,000 from generous out-of-state donors like Joel Klein, who sells technology for Rupert Murdoch, and asso... more »

School Funding Part II: More Money Doesn’t Mean More Equity | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

School Funding Part II: More Money Doesn’t Mean More Equity | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: School Funding Part II: More Money Doesn’t Mean More Equity by Tarsi Dunlop There are few things as complicated as funding when it comes to our nation’s public schools. But a basic understanding on the part of policy-makers and voters can be a significant contributor to the vitality of public schools and our democratic society. This week, as much of mainstream media zeros in on the Presidential race and key competitive Congressional races, it’s worth remembering that o... more »

Washington State charter school Initiative 1240 and the lack of accountability | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Washington State charter school Initiative 1240 and the lack of accountability | Seattle Education: Washington State charter school Initiative 1240 and the lack of accountability by seattleducation2011 Washington State charter school Initiative 1240 and the lack of accountability [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] Posted on November 1, 2012 by seattleducation2011 | Leave a comment Since 2007, OII ( U. S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement) has handed over $909,000,000 to state education agencies (SEAs) and others (non-SEAs) to open and run char... more »

Ideas for E.L.L.s | 'Gangnam Style,' Emotion Words and More - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Ideas for E.L.L.s | 'Gangnam Style,' Emotion Words and More - NYTimes.com: Ideas for English Language Learners | ‘Gangnam Style,’ ‘Emotion Words’ and MoreBy LARRY FERLAZZO *“Long Division Style,” a parody of PSY’s “Gangnam Style” made by a Brooklyn teacher and her students. Go to related SchoolBook post »* Each month we post a list of ideas for English Language Learners written by teacher and “edublogger” Larry Ferlazzo. Sometimes, like last month’s on thepresidential election, they focus on a timely theme, while others, like this edition, pull from a variety of Times content. The g... more »

‘Just Let Me Teach’ armbands taking off

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

‘Just Let Me Teach’ armbands taking off: ‘Just Let Me Teach’ armbands taking off Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 1, 2012 at 11:49 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » (www.facebook.com/ JustLetMeTeach) Justin Oakley, 35, is a self-described lifelong Hoosier, who has been a teacher for 10 years and is sick and tired of school reformers telling him and his fellow teachers how to do their jobs. Oakley, who has been president of the Martinsville Classroom Teachers Association, had waged a month... more »

Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson on real parent involvement Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson on real parent involvement: Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson on real parent involvement by admin *An Open Letter to Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s* *on Real Parent Involvement* November 1, 2012 Sent by facsimile Dear Mayor Emanuel and Walgreen’s CEO Greg Wasson: PURE is a Chicago Public School (CPS) parent advocacy organization which has offered exceptional local school council and parent training and support for 25 years. We object to the ... more »

Schools Matter: Earning a Scholarship

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Schools Matter: Earning a Scholarship: Earning a Scholarship by Storm *[The following is excerpted from the first chapter of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Aside from what is obvious regarding the continuation of this particular social "understanding" of the status of the Black American, I would offer that this is the primary perspective we operate within as members of an hierarchically managed society. The narrator is one who has beheld an incoherence. "All dreamers and sleepwalkers must pay the price, and even the invisible victim is responsible for the fate of all." I sup... more »

Shanker Blog » The Structural Curve In Indiana's New School Grading System

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Shanker Blog » The Structural Curve In Indiana's New School Grading System: The Structural Curve In Indiana’s New School Grading System by Matthew Di Carlo The State of Indiana has receive a great deal of attention for its education reform efforts, and they recently announced the details, as well as the first round of results, of their new “A-F” school grading system. As in many other states, for elementary and middle schools, the grades are based entirely on math and reading test scores. It is probably the most rudimentary scoring system I’ve seen yet – almost painfully so. Such ... more »

THE REAL REASON “CHARTER REFORM” FAILED IN HARRISBURG

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

*THE REAL REASON “CHARTER REFORM”* *FAILED IN HARRISBURG* [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] *(**Harrisburg, PA)--*The failed attempt by proponents of charter schools to force legislation through the House last week resulted in legislation that was so lacking in oversight it raised concerns among far-right Republican members, who eventually joined with Democrats to seriously question and ultimately kill the bill. The so-call reforms didn’t go far enough or reform well enough to convince those who questioned the industry-lobbied bill on both sides of the... more »

Remarks by the President and Governor Christie After Surveying Damage from Hurricane Sandy | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Remarks by the President and Governor Christie After Surveying Damage from Hurricane Sandy | The White House: Remarks by the President and Governor Christie After Surveying Damage from Hurricane Sandy Brigantine Marina Brigantine, New Jersey 4:38 P.M. EDT GOVERNOR CHRISTIE: Good afternoon, everybody. And thank you all for coming today. I want to thank the members who are here as well. And obviously, I want to thank the President. We spent a significant afternoon together surveying the damage up and down the New Jersey coastline; we were on Marine One together to be able to sh... more »

Obama’s second-term promises in education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Obama’s second-term promises in education: Obama’s second-term promises in education by Valerie Strauss Arne Duncan and President Obama (YURI GRIPAS/REUTERS ) Here’s what a brochure put out by President Obama’s campaign says he will focus on in education during his next term, assuming he has one: President Obama’s plan for America’s future: Highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020 so we can compete and win in the 21st Century economy: 1. Cutting tuition growth in half over the next ten years. We can make college more affordable by continuing tax credits to he... more »

Real parent involvement not bought at Walgreen’s (memories of Field School) Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Real parent involvement not bought at Walgreen’s (memories of Field School): Real parent involvement not bought at Walgreen’s (memories of Field School) by admin Parents protest Walgreens' opposition to fair school funding (1993) So, Rahm Emanuel went swimming at his health club recently and got a great idea – give parents a $25 gift card from Walgreen’s and solve the parent involvement problem! (I guess the pool had already given him enough great ideas for solving Chicago’s homicide epidemic.) He took this great idea to my ol... more »

FCMAT » CALI Education Headlines Thursday, November 1, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Thursday, November 1, 2012* Sale of Pacific View Elementary site in Encinitas falls throughA deal to sell the Pacific View Elementary School site to a regional arts group that wanted to create an arts center there has fallen through, after a deadline passed with little progress and group leaders decided not to risk losing their deposit. Online petition supports school yoga programA local yoga enthusiast who runs a website about the practice has started an online petition to try to encourage the Encinitas Uni... more »

Former North Atlanta principal wants hearing to clear his name. Still think this could have been handled better. | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Former North Atlanta principal wants hearing to clear his name. Still think this could have been handled better. | Get Schooled: Former North Atlanta principal wants hearing to clear his name. Still think this could have been handled better. by Maureen Downey *WTF?* Former North Atlanta High principal Mark MyGrant wants to clear his name against what he considers innuendo and character assassination by APS leadership And he has hired education attorney Glenn Delk, fresh off his unsuccessful charter amendment lawsuits against Fulton and Gwinnett, to represent him. According to the... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NJEA Cancels Convention

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: NJEA Cancels Convention: NJEA Cancels Convention by Duke [image: Good News About New Jersey's Public Schools] This really is unprecedented: *For the first time in its 158-year history, the NJEA Convention has been cancelled.* NJEA President Barbara Keshishian announced the decision today, “in light of the natural disaster that has struck New Jersey and Atlantic City in particular. It was a difficult decision, but we believe it was the correct one, considering the statewide impact of this unprecedented storm.” Keshishian also announced that the leadership of NJEA is...more »

Anthony Borrelli owes Carpenter teachers an apology. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Anthony Borrelli owes Carpenter teachers an apology. « Fred Klonsky: Anthony Borrelli owes Carpenter teachers an apology. by Fred Klonsky I’ve written about the wealthy Park Ridge foot doctor Anthony Borrelli before. He is one of two Park Ridge, Illinois school board members who voted no on a 2% raise when the negotiated contract came up for board approval a month ago. The contract was approved and teachers now receive an average $43 a week raise. Although the district is running a 40% budget surplus, the wealthy foot doctor told the press that he thought it was more important to ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Bloomberg Ties Up NYC Just To Torture Teachers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Bloomberg Ties Up NYC Just To Torture Teachers: Bloomberg Ties Up NYC Just To Torture Teachers by Duke El Bloombito* is going to send 1,800 Absent Teacher Reserve members (ATRs) out into the crowded, dangerous, chaotic streets of post-Sandy New York on Friday for no apparent reason other than to torture them: Well my feeling of pointlessness just reached a new high when I heard that schools will remain closed for the remainder of this week for children, but teachers must report to work on Friday. All week I've had an assignment in an unnamed high school, but due t... more »

Ed group discloses donors, including Bloomberg - SFGate

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Ed group discloses donors, including Bloomberg - SFGate: Ed group discloses donors, including BloombergJOHN MILLER, Associated Press, TODD DVORAK, Associated PressPublished 4:45 p.m., Wednesday, October 31, 2012 0 inShare Comments (0)Larger | SmallerPrintable VersionEmail This Font BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho nonprofit group forced to disclose the identity of its donors on Wednesday reported collecting more than $640,000 from a short list of contributors that includes New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Albertson's supermarket heir Joe Scott, according to documents filed w...more »

Trust and Its Misuses - Bridging Differences - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Trust and Its Misuses - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Trust and Its Misuses by Deborah Meier Deborah Meier—visionary teacher and founder of successful small schools in New York City and Boston—and Pedro Noguera—author and director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education—debate issues relevant to schools, teachers, and students. Dear Pedro, Thanks for reminding me that of something I haven't mentioned—why I'm voting for Barack Obama. In part, it's a no-brainer. No matter what issue one addresses. Just consider Ann Romney's recent blithe comments about getting rid... more »

President Obama Talks Child Poverty | First Focus

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

President Obama Talks Child Poverty | First Focus: President Obama Talks Child PovertyBy Bruce Lesley October 19, 2012 *Bruce Lesley is President of First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization committed to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget * One-in-five U.S. kids live in poverty today. Yet candidates for office rarely mention the word "poverty," let alone offer real solutions for our children. That's why I joined a coalition of leading children's advocates in sending President Obama and Governor Romney a letter last month asking how each wou... more »

Schools Matter: Finding 1: OII Did Not Conduct Effective Oversight of Grantees Receiving Charter School Grants

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Schools Matter: Finding 1: OII Did Not Conduct Effective Oversight of Grantees Receiving Charter School Grants: Finding 1: OII Did Not Conduct Effective Oversight of Grantees Receiving Charter School Grants by Jim Horn Late in 2010 near the end of his second term, Gov. Phil Bredesen of TN worked up the courage to suggest shutting down one of Tennessee's unnecessary private prisons run by CCA. When the new governor, Bill Haslam, swept into office with the backing of CCA and ALEC, the plan to shut down the CCA facility in West Tennessee was quickly cancelled, even though Haslam ad... more »

Stealth Islamist Charter Schools Under Investigation | Islam in America Right Side News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Stealth Islamist Charter Schools Under Investigation | Islam in America Right Side News: Stealth Islamist Charter Schools Under Investigation THURSDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2012 05:41 ARNOLD AHLERT [image: E-mail][image: Print] 210 readings The charter school movement associated with Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen is under federal investigation. If one believes that the battle for the nation’s soul is occurring, not just in Washington, D.C., but in schools across the nation, the steady advance of Turkish-Gulen Charter Schools may be cause for alarm. Fethullah Gulen is a Turkish Islam... more »

Diane Ravitch cuts check for local school board candidate | NOLA.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Diane Ravitch cuts check for local school board candidate | NOLA.com: Diane Ravitch cuts check for local school board candidate It would be hard to find a more obscure election, overshadowed as it is by city council races, not to mention a multi-billion dollar presidential contest. Yet some of the country's biggest names in education are cutting checks to influence the outcome in the 3rd District of the Orleans Parish School Board. [image: diane-ravitch.jpg]Education historian Diane Ravitch. The latest celebrity contributor: New York University historian Diane Ravitch, the leading cr... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-1-12 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] The Strange Disappearance of “Won’t Back Down” by dianerav I decided that I had to see “Won’t Back Down.” I had read so many reviews that I felt I knew every line. But I still wanted to see it. Morbid curiosity. But it is not showing anywhere in the New York City metropolitan area. The producer of the movies owns a 12-plex only a few blocks from my home America’s Largest Charter Chain Is…? by dianerav No, it is not KIPP. It is the Gulen charters, a group of nearly 150 charters located in many states and loosel... more »

Daily Kos: Liberty to Lie

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Daily Kos: Liberty to Lie: Liberty to Lie by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) This election may go down in history as the moment when truth and lies lost their honor and stigma, respectively. That is the opening line of Liberty to Lie, this morning's *New York Times column* by Charles Blow. As is usually the case, it is something you should read and pass on.Blow goes on to point out what those paying attention should already know, which is Mitt Romney's " willingness to say anything and everything to win this election." Then after noting his performance in the national polls, run... more »

Student fees will remain a conundrum, even with a new law | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Student fees will remain a conundrum, even with a new law | EdSource Today: Student fees will remain a conundrum, even with a new law - by Seth Rosenblatt by Seth Rosenblatt [image: Seth Rosenblatt] Seth Rosenblatt Administrators and parents alike have long waited for clarity on what fees schools could and could not charge students. With Governor Brown signing legislation that settles a lawsuit over public schools charging students for educational activities and materials, that day has come, right? Think again. Intended to clarify the law around what fees school districts can charg... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm is the master of division

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm is the master of division: Rahm is the master of division by Mike Klonsky *There is no surer way of corrupting the citizens, and to divide the city against itself, than to foment the spirit of faction that may prevail there; for each party will strive by every means of corruption to secure friends and supporters.* -- Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517. Rahm is the master of division. No, I don't mean he could ever teach an elementary level math class. He wouldn't last a day. I mean that everything he does in a school system that he person... more »

Ad concerning schools teaching about gay marriage only half true | Local News | The Seattle Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Ad concerning schools teaching about gay marriage only half true | Local News | The Seattle Times: Ad concerning schools teaching about gay marriage only half true A new television ad by the campaign opposed to same-sex marriage warns Washington voters that if same-sex marriage is legalized in Washington state, schools could teach kids about such unions. *The Claim:* A television ad by opponents of same-sex marriage claims that if Referendum 74 is approved, "same-sex marriage could be taught" in Washington schools. The spot features parents in Massachusetts who say their son's sc... more »

Another big donation to Great Oakland Public Schools PAC - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Another big donation to Great Oakland Public Schools PAC - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: Another big donation to Great Oakland Public Schools PAC Tuesday, October 30th, 2012 at 6:45 pm in 41 Comments » This week’s campaign filings show another major donation to the Great Oakland Public Schools PAC – $49,995 from the California Charter Schools Association. That brings the group’s fundraising total to $184,980 — a staggering amount for local school board races. I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago, when the total was about $123,000. The GO PAC is ... more »

The value of a college degree vs. the debt it takes to earn it

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

The value of a college degree vs. the debt it takes to earn it: The value of a college degree vs. the debt it takes to earn it Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 1, 2012 at 4:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » - Facebook - Twitter - StumbleUpon - Digg - Delicious The cost of a college education and the debt that many students are saddled with when they get out of school are the biggest issues in higher education. Here is a... more »

Save Our Schools; Rebuild the American Dream Through EducationSave Our Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Save Our Schools; Rebuild the American Dream Through EducationSave Our Schools: Save Our Schools; Rebuild the American Dream Through Education by Server Save Our Schools; Rebuilds the American Dream Through Education*By Betsy L. Angert* Save Our Schools [SOS] is an organization devoted to fair and equitable education for all. We work to preserve and transform public education. We are a venue for active, people-powered, grassroots education innovation. In cyberspace and in communities throughout this country we advance solutions that bring learning back to our children, education ... more »

NYC Educator: An ATR Reports Friday to Help 80,000 Union Brothers and Sisters Accomplish Diddly Squat

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

NYC Educator: An ATR Reports Friday to Help 80,000 Union Brothers and Sisters Accomplish Diddly Squat: An ATR Reports Friday to Help 80,000 Union Brothers and Sisters Accomplish Diddly Squat by NYC Educator *by fabulous and wonderful new ed. blogger Suddenly ATR* One of the hardest parts of being an ATR is the fact that I have to travel to a different place every week. Since I don't have a car, this often means standing at 6 in the morning waiting for my first of three bus transfers. Now, if I had a permanent position the long commute would be worth it, because I'd have my own grou... more »

Thinking about School Reform, Teaching, and “Great” Teachers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Thinking about School Reform, Teaching, and “Great” Teachers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Thinking about School Reform, Teaching, and “Great” Teachers by larrycuban *Writing about school reform from a historical perspective can be, well, depressing. So many examples of hype-on-steroids, past and present, of school reform solving community and national problems. So much policy talk, past and present, that overestimates success while underestimating the difficulties of converting words into classroom deeds. But melancholia and teaching a seminar twice a we... more »

Mayor Bloomberg Is a Spiteful Little Man.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: Mayor Bloomberg Is a Spiteful Little Man by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) The Crack Team got the phone call today at around 3 PM. We had been monitoring Uncle Mike's news conference yet briefly called away when the Chinese food had arrived. On the other end of the phone was one of SBSB's news stringers. He called to share that the mayor had made a proclamation in concern to the remainder of the week about the schools. The mayor, our stringer reported, had declared that not only were students not to report to school on Thursday and Friday of th... more »

If You Build The Relationship, The Network Will Come [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

If You Build The Relationship, The Network Will Come [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson: If You Build The Relationship, The Network Will Come [Future of Teaching] by Jose An excerpt from my latest at the Future of Teaching: Nowadays, people have little qualms about making friends online and meeting them in person. To wit, the Teaching 2030 team still has strong ties, even though we rarely get to see each other collectively. Part of that came from having a common goal and vision, but another part of it is building the right conditions to assure that everyone *can* come togethe... more »

Portland Public Schools gives up on Race to the Top efforts | OregonLive.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Portland Public Schools gives up on Race to the Top efforts | OregonLive.com: Portland Public Schools gives up on Race to the Top efforts by Nicole Dungca, The Oregonian *Not ONE Drop!* The district in August filed an intent to apply for a Race to the Top grant but has dropped its efforts after officials failed to obtain the union's approval to proceed, an important factor in obtaining the grant. Portland Public Schools has given up its chance to compete for up to $30 million in federal funds after failing to reach an agreement with its union about using test scores in teacher... more »

LAUSD bracing for severe cuts if Prop. 30 loses - LA Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

LAUSD bracing for severe cuts if Prop. 30 loses - LA Daily News: LAUSD bracing for severe cuts if Prop. 30 loses By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer Posted: 10/31/2012 07:00:14 PM PDT Updated: 10/31/2012 07:17:45 PM PDT If voters reject Prop. 30 on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, when they head to the polls, Los Angeles Unified will face severe budget cuts. The district is bracing for the worst. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer) *POSSIBLE FALLOUT* The defeat of Proposition 30 would trigger budget cuts that could force Los Angeles Unified and other school districts to shorten this year's ... more »

Ohio high school students disciplined for pro-LGBT shirts | The Raw Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Ohio high school students disciplined for pro-LGBT shirts | The Raw Story: Ohio high school students disciplined for pro-LGBT shirts [image: LGBT flag via AFP] Topics: Celina High School ♦ Celina High School Superintendent Jesse Steiner ♦ Ohio high school Students at an Ohio high school were threatened with suspensions for refusing to remove shirts that contained messages supportive of LGBT individuals, according to HyperVocal. About twenty students wore the shirts to Celina High School after two other students were told to remove shirts that read “Lesbian 1″ and “Lesbian 2.” C... more »

NYCoRE; El Pueblo Unido — A People UnitedSave Our Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

NYCoRE; El Pueblo Unido — A People UnitedSave Our Schools: NYCoRE; El Pueblo Unido — A People United by Server NYCORE’S 4TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE;*EL PUEBLO UNIDO. THE PEOPLE UNITED* *Location:* Vanguard High School 317 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10065 *Date:* Saturday, March 16, 2013 Conference Overview*Keynote Address* *Karen Lewis*, President of the Chicago’s Teachers Union accompanied by *DJ ULTRAMAN*, Benji Chang, Post-Doctoral Fellow with IUME Teachers College A school should be the center of a community — a place that feeds the minds and hearts of its young people, a place tha... more »

Washington state charter schools advocates raise $10.8 million | OregonLive.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Washington state charter schools advocates raise $10.8 million | OregonLive.com: Washington state charter schools advocates raise $10.8 million [image: No on 1240 (click on picture)] The campaign to bring charter schools to Washington has now raised $10.8 million in cash contributions. According to filings posted with the Public Disclosure Commission on Tuesday, those donations to Yes on 1240 includes another $1.5 million from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which was reported as a pledge in the campaign's previous report. The biggest donor to the campaign is Allen's friend and M... more »

Video: Romney Locks Up 1980s Lying Car Salesman Vote | Mother Jones

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Video: Romney Locks Up 1980s Lying Car Salesman Vote | Mother Jones: Video: Romney Locks Up 1980s Lying Car Salesman Vote —By Adam Weinstein | Wed Oct. 31, 2012 10:36 AM PDT 2 - - Screenshot courtesy of YouTube It's an October surprise—October 1988, maybe: Reagan-era TV pitchman "Joe Isuzu" has endorsed Mitt Romney! In a series of iconic commercials, Joe Isuzuwas the Japanese car company's ballyhooed on-air spokesman through the late '80s, as well-known and zeitgeisty as later ad stars like "the most interesting man in the world" and the "Can you hear me now?" guy. Playe... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Will My Teacher Rating Have a Sandy Variable?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Jersey Jazzman: Will My Teacher Rating Have a Sandy Variable?: Will My Teacher Rating Have a Sandy Variable? by Duke So we're looking at missing at least a week of school where I am. That's a solid five days of test prep learning my students won't have compared to other students who are their "academic peers." Well, if I'm going to be missing out on a merit pay bonus because my score doesn't take this into account, I think I'll have no choice but to sue! So let's find a place in here somewhere: To put in a "Sandy variable." It's Insane Ideas I Have! by Duke Just had a crazy thou... more »

Pass / Fail : Beyond Props 30 & 38: Education ballot measures you need to know about before voting | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Pass / Fail : Beyond Props 30 & 38: Education ballot measures you need to know about before voting | 89.3 KPCC: Beyond Props 30 & 38: Education ballot measures you need to know about before voting by By Vanessa Romo [image: Pennsylvania Voters Take Part In The State's GOP Primary]*Credit: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images* This week Gov. Jerry Brown launched a media blitz supporting Proposition 30. If we can glean anything from the commercial breaks between the wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Sandy, Molly Munger has also stepped up her TV ad campaign for Prop 38. But a lot of ot... more »

Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 10-27-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

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Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Banda, School Board say charters would hamper efforts to improve Seattle public schools

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