Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal:

The corporate big boys have already OK'ed the deal

by Mike Klonsky

Honeywell CEO David Cote OK's the deal

Why am I so sure that the deal has already been done on the so-called fiscal cliff?

Because, according to this report in the NYT, the big boys have already given Obama and Boehner to increase taxes on the wealthiest 4% of Americans in exchange for cuts in so-called entitlements, ie. medicare benefits and social sec. By the big boys, I mean the real power in the country, including CEOs of Goldman Sachs, Honeywell, Dow, Morgan Stanley, G.E. and the rest. 

According to the Times, on Wednesday, several hedge fund managers, including Daniel Och, the billionaire founder of Och-Ziff Capital Management, will meet with Valerie Jarrett, a top adviser to the president, and 

Blue Jersey:: Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching

Blue Jersey:: Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching:

Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching by: A New Jersey Farmer Sun Dec 09, 2012 at 08:55:17 PM EST

Diary rescue. Don't know why this wasn't frontpaged the day it was posted. It's good. - RosiCross-posted at A New Jersey Farmer It's not enough that the Christie Administration has bashed teachers as union mules and the source of New Jersey's fiscal ills. It's not enough that the governor has promoted private partnerships with public schools to avoid paying the state's fair share of education aid to school districts in need of money. It's not enough that he's advocated for merit pay based on an evaluative model that is reliant on faulty research. And it's not enough that he's attacked NJEA officials personally because of their private organization salaries. Now the governor's administration wants to make it easier for charter schools to hire lesser qualified teachers simply, it seems, for ideological reasons. How is he doing this? By proposing that alternate route teachers who want to work in charter schools be able to earn teaching licenses with fewer requirements than those people who want public school teaching certificates. If you ever need any more evidence that the governor hasn't a clue about how to attract and train quality teachers, then here's your proof.

A New Jersey Farmer :: Alternate Route to Undermining Teaching

Let me state from the outset that I have taught the alternate route New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey (NPTNJ) program since 2003. It's a wonderful program that has trained thousands of people in New Jersey to

“Bennett Choice Good for Board of Ed, Not Kids” | Scathing Purple Musings

“Bennett Choice Good for Board of Ed, Not Kids” | Scathing Purple Musings:

“Bennett Choice Good for Board of Ed, Not Kids”

by Bob Sikes

I’m taking myself out of the business of predicting what Rick Scott will do. I predicted he’d say no to JD Alexander on his Poly Tech university and was wrong. I had hoped Scott would stand up to Jeb Bush on Tony Bennett, but he didn’t. Looks like Florida has another dangerous education ideologue in the governor’s mansion who will appear to be reasonable. He’s not, and the man he made no attempt to stop from being our next education commissioner isn’t either. Maybe its just that Scott didn’t have the juice to just say no to Bush – even if he had wanted to. A leading Florida parents group feels the same way.

“What did Florida’s children, taxpayers and voters do to deserve Tony Bennett? Last month, in an astounding non-partisan consensus, 1.3 million Indiana voters removed Tony Bennett and his extreme reform agenda from office. Bennett’s Indiana loss cannot be blamed on the 40,000 members of the teachers union. The people of Indiana spoke loud and clear. Why on earth would the Florida Board of Education select a man who was fired for putting education reform ideology ahead of what’s best for children?” asked Kathleen Oropeza, co-founder, Fund Education Now.
“We are calling on Governor Scott to confirm that Florida’s children are more important than 

Jersey Jazzman: International Test Score Freak Out!

Jersey Jazzman: International Test Score Freak Out!:

International Test Score Freak Out!

by Duke

It's like a reflex: international test scores come out, and reformy types like RiShawn Biddle instantly start bashing our horrible schools and stupid students:

65

The average score gap between the average American fourth-grader and a Singapore peer on the 2011Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, which along with PISA and PIRLS, are the three main assessments of international student achievement. The between the two countries is 11 points lower than in 2003.

A word about Singapore:

Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaires, with one out of every six households having at least one million US dollars in disposable wealth. This excludes property, businesses, and luxury goods, which if included would further increase the number of 

Race to the Top: Mixed Reactions in the Bay Area « InterACT

Race to the Top: Mixed Reactions in the Bay Area « InterACT:

Race to the Top: Mixed Reactions in the Bay Area

by David B. Cohen

Today’s education news includes the announcement of Race to the Top grant recipients, with this round of grants going to districts instead of states.  California had three winning districts, as EdSource Today reports:

Three California school districts are among 16 winners in the latest round of the federal Race to the Top funding competition. The relatively small districts beat out several of the state’s largest districts, which didn’t even make it into the final round.

This round of funding was the first in the series of Race to the Top competitions to be made available to individual districts. New Haven Unified in Union City, with about 13,000 students, was the largest of the California winners. Lindsay Unified, in the Central Valley midway between Fresno and Bakersfield, and  Galt Elementary District,  south of Sacramento, also won. Each of those districts has around 4,000 students. 

Report: Nearly all of Newark's most disadvantaged students attend failing schools | NJ.com

Report: Nearly all of Newark's most disadvantaged students attend failing schools | NJ.com:

Report: Nearly all of Newark's most disadvantaged students attend failing schools

Mayor Cory Booker and Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson,
 together in an October photo. Jennifer Brown/The Star-Ledger

NEWARK — A report released today by Newark Public Schools details an alarming finding — nearly all of Newark's most disadvantaged elementary and middle school students attend failing schools.

The report, commissioned by the district and prepared by consulting company Parthenon, analyzed student proficiency in math and reading, college readiness and test score growth in 85 charter and district schools across the city. Charter high schools were excluded from the analysis.

It classified about 14,000 K-8 students as "highest need," looking at factors such as poverty, race, language barriers or special needs. Kids were ranked in three groups. Among the neediest group, fewer than 5 percent of students are enrolled in a charter or district school with high test scores and high test score growth, the report found.

Officials from the district, the Newark Charter School Fund and the Foundation for Newark's Future said they hope to use the report's findings as a benchmark to boost learning among targeted groups of students that are struggling the most across the 

Evaluations earn an 'F' - Editorials - The News Herald

Evaluations earn an 'F' - Editorials - The News Herald:

Evaluations earn an 'F'

Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 08:00 AM.

The children of fictional Lake Wobegon from Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” were said to be “above average.” The same can be said of Florida’s public school teachers — if the state’s new evaluation system is to be believed.

It isn’t.

Credit the Florida Education Association for being consistent. Union officials and members didn’t moderate their opposition to the system even after the first round of results released last week showed that an astounding 96.5 percent of the state’s 130,000 teachers rated as being “effective” or better. Indeed, the unrealistically high figure only bolstered the FEA’s contention that the state is using unreliable and inaccurate data to judge teacher effectiveness.

The new system is part of the education reforms passed in 2011. Beginning in 2014, the evaluations will determine teacher salaries 

Modern School: Detroit Wild Cat Strike Shuts Down 2 School Districts

Modern School: Detroit Wild Cat Strike Shuts Down 2 School Districts:

Detroit Wild Cat Strike Shuts Down 2 School Districts

by Michael Dunn

They say Michigan’s new Right to Work (RTW) law is now a done deal. That didn’t stop thousands of teachers and other union members from taking the day off to protest at the state capital this week. In Detroit, so many teachers called in sick that two school districts, (Taylor Public Schools and Warren Consolidated Schools), were closed for the day, according toDetroit News. Detroit Public Schools (DPS) remained open, though Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) President Keith Johnson did urge members to go to Lansing.

The state’s new RTW bills would make it illegal to require employees to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. This would significantly reduce unions’ ability to raise funds to support their members, while allowing freeloaders to reap the benefits of union-negotiated contracts without providing any material support for this service. RTW states have 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 12-12-12 #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

“Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Excellent!” | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago

“Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Excellent!” | EduShyster: “Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Excellent!” by edushyster2012 *Teach for America has raised nearly $1 billion in the last five years to build a pipeline of excellence into the education rephorm movement.* “Don’t hate me because I’m excellent…” Today’s $1 billion question: how much excellence does $1 billion buy? The answer is *muchos, muchos*excellence—if you happen to be Teach for America. $1 billion is roughly the amount that TFA has managed to raise in the past five years, earning it a spot on Forbes list of the 200 largest US chari... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Advanced Learning

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 minutes ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Advanced Learning: Advanced Learning by Melissa Westbrook This thread is for any and all thoughts, concerns, gripes about Advanced Learning. I'm doing this in hopes that people at both ends of the "spectrum" will* QUIT *highjacking other threads with their opinions/gripes about Advanced Learning. And FYI, Advanced Learning is NOT the major issue in our capacity management problems. You are welcome to ask anyone at district headquarters working on capacity management that question. (I will also ask that unless you have definite proof - an e-mai... more »

Former Enron trader and Obama funder is behind public pension privatization. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago

Former Enron trader and Obama funder is behind public pension privatization. « Fred Klonsky: Former Enron trader and Obama funder is behind public pension privatization. by Fred Klonsky [image: MI-BS985_RHODEl_G_20121211194740] *Former Enron trader and hedge fund manager John Arnold.* The Wall Street Journal is reporting that John Arnold, former trader for scandal ridden Enron energy company as well as a major backer of President Obama, is a major backer of the campaign to privatize public employee pensions. After making a huge fortune as a hedge fund manager, he and his wife have n... more »

Common Core Shouldn’t Offer Classes In Ambiguity | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 minutes ago

Common Core Shouldn’t Offer Classes In Ambiguity | Truth in American Education: Common Core Shouldn’t Offer Classes In Ambiguity by Shane Vander Hart Diane Ravitch opines that David Coleman shouldn’t be surprised by the confusion related to the Common Core ELA Standards guidance on how much informational text should be used compared to fiction. The problem is that, no matter what Coleman may say, publishers and districts believe the standards call for more informational text and less literature and fiction. That is why the only way the sniping will end is if he makes a speech at ... more »

Milwaukee: Does City Hall Have A Clue About What’s Going On At Its Charters Schools? « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Milwaukee: Does City Hall Have A Clue About What’s Going On At Its Charters Schools? « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Milwaukee: Does City Hall Have A Clue About What’s Going On At Its Charters Schools? by millerlf [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] By Barbara Miner Dec. 12, 2012 *View From the Heartland* blog It seemed like a simple idea: follow up on a recent media report about the rise in “independent” charter schools in Milwaukee and get specific lists of such charters overseen by the City of Milwaukee, by the University of Wisconsin-Milwau... more »

Another important facilities update from Jackie Leavy Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Another important facilities update from Jackie Leavy: Another important facilities update from Jackie Leavy by admin Dear Supporters of Great Public Schools for ALL STUDENTS: Jackie L here, with some important updates and developments: WHO’s TELLING THE TRUTH? If you’re skeptical of CPS’ “facts,” you’ve just been vindicated by the data-driven reporting of Chicago’s Public Radio journalists! WBEZ’s “TRUTH SQUAD” reported on December 11th that: “Chicago school officials and the head of an independent Commission on School Uti... more »

D.C. releases results of nation’s first-ever standardized test on health and sex ed - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

D.C. releases results of nation’s first-ever standardized test on health and sex ed - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post: [image: D.C. Schools Insider] D.C. releases results of nation’s first-ever standardized test on health and sex ed By Emma Brown Fifth- and eighth graders in the District are pretty well-versed in emotional-health issues but have a lot to learn about the human body, according to results from the city’s (and the nation’s) first-ever standardized test on health, physical education and sex ed. High school students, meanwhile, correctly answered an average o... more »

NYC Educator: God Bless You, Ms. Weingarten

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

NYC Educator: God Bless You, Ms. Weingarten: God Bless You, Ms. Weingarten by NYC Educator This page has had a harsh word or two for AFT President Randi Weingarten, particularly back when she was UFT President. But we come here today to praise her? Why? Well, yesterday, she said something that startled me. I like being startled sometimes. * Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of Teachers, praised L.A. Supt. John Deasy and union President Warren Fletcher for agreeing to use a rich mix of data to evaluate teacher effectiveness rather than what s... more »

Statement on pending school closings | Parents United for Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Statement on pending school closings | Parents United for Public Education: Statement on pending school closings Posted on December 12, 2012 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a comment [image: (Photo: NewsWorks)] (Photo: NewsWorks) *In anticipation of tomorrow’s announcement of dozens of school closings, Parents United for Public Education posted this statement. We will be attending the PCAPS rally at the School District, 440 N. Broad Street, tomorrow at 4 p.m. The District will announce the school closings list at a 2 p.m. press conference.* *[image: parents_united5.gif]* *Parents United s... more »

Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage - Yahoo! Finance

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage - Yahoo! Finance: Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage[image: Business Wire]*Press Release*: Hoover Institution – 2 hours 19 minutes ago - Email - - - - - Print [image: Corporate Media = Corporate Lies] STANFORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- After a close analysis of education coverage in the general news media during 2012, the Hoover Institution’s Koret Task Force on K–12 Education today released its list of th... more »

No Excuses for Zero Tolerance: Ageism and the Reformist Utopia « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

No Excuses for Zero Tolerance: Ageism and the Reformist Utopia « Cooperative Catalyst: No Excuses for Zero Tolerance: Ageism and the Reformist Utopia by Jabreel Chisley Acting as an extension in purview to Zero Tolerance measures, No Excuses is model under the reformist movement that emphasizes academic essentialism and ageist authoritarianism by operating off the general premise that youth in inner city communities have dismal educational systems because they are enthralled in a culture that cultivates “excuses.” Schools who adopt this ideology aim to stray away from “coddling” ... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: *Go Figure!* Tony Bennett Lands on his Feet in Florida by dianerav Tony Bennett, the defeated state superintendent from Indiana, has landed the job as state commissioner in Florida. Bennett is the hero to the rightwing “reform” sector, a champion of privatization, vouchers, charters, online for-profit schools, and the Common Core. His last action in Indiana was to lower standards for new trackers and Pennsylvania Should Veto Every Virtual Proposal by dianerav Pennsylvania has 16 online charter schools for K-12. They all get terrible results. Some are fo... more »

Parents challenge Crenshaw High shake-up - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Parents challenge Crenshaw High shake-up - latimes.com: Parents challenge Crenshaw High shake-up Los Angeles school district officials received a frequently skeptical and occasionally hostile reception Tuesday night when they met with parents and others to explain their plans to restructure low-performing Crenshaw High School. More than 150 community members and others were packed into the school library to hear about how the current school would be closed next summer and reopened in the form of three magnet schools. Under the new format, the Leimert Park campus would retain its ... more »

TFA says 8 Year Claim is an Estimate, "Not Really Appropriate for Publicizing" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

TFA says 8 Year Claim is an Estimate, "Not Really Appropriate for Publicizing" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: TFA says 8 Year Claim is an Estimate, "Not Really Appropriate for Publicizing" by Anthony Cody HUH? "Not Really Appropriate for Publicizing" WTF I am afraid I am a bit bothered by the dance we are being led on this week by Teach For America. First, in an interview on the Huffington Post, TFA founder and CEO Wendy Kopp states, unequivocally, the following: "On average, our corps members stay in the classroom for eight years." I asked in my blog post of two d... more »

There is no mistaking who the enemy is in Michigan. But Democratic Party actions in Illinois undercut their expressions of concern. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

There is no mistaking who the enemy is in Michigan. But Democratic Party actions in Illinois undercut their expressions of concern. « Fred Klonsky: There is no mistaking who the enemy is in Michigan. But Democratic Party actions in Illinois undercut their expressions of concern. by Fred Klonsky [image: th] On a stop in Michigan earlier this week President Obama, commenting on the Michigan Tea Party Republicans plans to pass a bill outlawing the union shop, said,* “We should do everything we can to keep creating good middle-class jobs that help folks rebuild security for their fami... more »

LAUSD board narrowly OKs new parent policy at low-income schools - LA Daily News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

LAUSD board narrowly OKs new parent policy at low-income schools - LA Daily News: LAUSD board narrowly OKs new parent policy at low-income schools By Barbara Jones barbara.jones@dailynews.com 818-713-3710 twitter.com/LADNSchools Staff Writer Posted: 12/12/2012 09:34:53 AM PST Updated: 12/12/2012 09:40:49 AM PST A long-simmering controversy about which parents can have a voice at Los Angeles Unified's low-income schools erupted Tuesday, with boisterous critics accusing a district administrator of bullying and discriminatory tactics. The agenda item seemed fairly routine - upd... more »

How Tuition Hurts Colleges « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

How Tuition Hurts Colleges « Student Activism: How Tuition Hurts Colleges by Angus Johnston Felix Salmon wrote a really worthwhile piece [http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2012/12/05/occupy-cooper-union/] during the Free Cooper Union occupation discussing — among other things — exactly how Cooper Union’s academic reputation and since-forever no-tuition policy are intertwined: *Cooper has a lot of adjuncts and a very small tenured faculty, and if you ask anybody associated with the school how it keeps its quality high, they’ll tell you that it’s a function of the enormous poo... more »

Stateline - State Implementation of Common Core Standards Has Some Nervous

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Stateline - State Implementation of Common Core Standards Has Some Nervous: States Nervous About New Common Core School Standards By Ben Wieder, Staff Writer In Kentucky this year, the percentage of elementary and middle-school students who rated “proficient” or better on statewide math and reading tests declined by about a third. Kentucky high schoolers also experienced a double-digit percentage point decline in both subjects. Those results may sound dismal, but they were better than state education officials had expected. Kentucky is the first state to tie its tests to the new... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Thoughtful Op-Ed on Charters in WA State

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Thoughtful Op-Ed on Charters in WA State: Thoughtful Op-Ed on Charters in WA State by Melissa Westbrook A.G. Rud, the dean of the College of Education at Washington State University, and Ken Zeichner, professor of Teacher Education at UW, have written a quiet op-ed reviewing the most important ideas in enacting charters in Washington State. They express the concern, based on fact, that some of the more successful charter models have a "stripped down" curriculum that focuses on the basics but has little else for a well-rounded student. *A lean cu... more »

Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett is Florida’s new education commissioner | redefinED

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett is Florida’s new education commissioner | redefinED: Failed Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett is Florida’s new education commissioner He’s in. Tony Bennett, the hard-charging Hoosier with a rock-star rep, is the new face of Florida’s school system and its full-throttle reforms. As expected, the Florida Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday morning to select Bennett, the former state superintendent in Indiana, over two finalists with lower profiles. In doing so, they opted to give a new and bigger stage to a former science teach... more »

Shanker Blog » Egypt's Islamist Government Reaches For Control Of The Unions

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Shanker Blog » Egypt's Islamist Government Reaches For Control Of The Unions: Egypt’s Islamist Government Reaches For Control Of The Unions by Heba F. El-Shazli *Really Dick?* *Our guest author today is Heba F. El-Shazli. Currently a visiting professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Democracy and Civil Society, Prof. El-Shazli has 25 years of international experience in political and economic development, including democracy promotion programs and support for independent trade unions. She has worked with trade unions, political parties, and leaders throughout the Middle... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, December 12, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Wednesday, December 12, 2012* Alisal school district names school after outlawTiburcio Vasquez, born in Monterey on April 10, 1835, and hung for a conviction of murder on March 19, 1875, will be memorialized for his contribution and life in early California by adding his name to the list of schools in the community. Monterey Peninsula USD Superintendent Marilyn Shepherd to retire after school yearMarilyn Shepherd has announced her intention to retire as superintendent of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School... more »

The Washington Teacher: Brightwood Protest and Pushback to DC Public Schools Closings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

The Washington Teacher: Brightwood Protest and Pushback to DC Public Schools Closings: Brightwood Protest and Pushback to DC Public Schools Closings by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson) *By Candi Peterson* The last in a series of educational town hall meetings was held last week at the Brightwood education campus to hear from stakeholders re DC Public Schools consolidation plan to lose 20 public schools. Activist Nathan Harrington, a Congress Heights DC resident blew into the meeting talking over Chancellor Kaya Henderson creating a dramatic start to the meeting and appeared ... more »

APS watchdog delves into charter school chain with history of problems. Yet, APS board considers renewal. | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

APS watchdog delves into charter school chain with history of problems. Yet, APS board considers renewal. | Get Schooled: APS watchdog delves into charter school chain with history of problems. Yet, APS board considers renewal. by Maureen Downey You’ve probably heard the expression that there are two things you don’t want to see being made: Sausages and laws. As a longtime reporter, I’ve often been surprised at how elected officials approve legislation or make critical decisions with very little information or with a complete disregard for the facts. I once sat a three-hour meeting ... more »

UPDATE: To Representative Elaine Nekritz and the other sponsors of HB6258. Glen Brown in two parts. Today: The law protects our pensions. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

To Representative Elaine Nekritz and the other sponsors of HB6258. Glen Brown in two parts. Today: The law protects our pensions. « Fred Klonsky: John Dillon. Let’s hope our leaders don’t take the bait. by Fred Klonsky [image: img_2678] John Dillon: Ellen Schultz warns in *Retirement Heist*, offering options is a ploy used in the private sector quite successfully. “To enhance their chances at success, some companies started to use a strategy…creeping take-aways.“ This involves taking small steps – increase premiums a small amount, or perhaps start charging premiums in the future... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Benefits From Data Collection?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Benefits From Data Collection?: Who Benefits From Data Collection? by Anngie *"These datasets have been gathered from various agencies to provide detailed information on the state of education on all levels, from cradle to career and beyond.** - Education Data Community**" * You are your digital footprint. Almost a year ago the White House released a fact sheet UNLOCKING THE POWER OF EDUCATION DATA FOR ALL AMERICANS. The three page document contains the commitments of various partners to collect data on every student in America and make it as easy ... more »

Are we preparing students for life? « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Are we preparing students for life? « My Island View: Are we preparing students for life? by tomwhitby We are preparing our students for life. I hear so many educators use this sentence when asked, what is the purpose of education? Many years ago I believed that to be true as well. Maybe many generation s back it may have been true. In consideration of all that I observe, even with some great innovation, and a whole bunch of technology integration that is taking place in so many schools across the country, I don’t believe “preparing our students for life” is the focus or goal of... more »

The Price of Uniformity :: Frederick M. Hess

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

The Price of Uniformity :: Frederick M. Hess: The Price of Uniformity *by Frederick M. Hess • Dec 12, 2012 at 8:44 am Cross-posted from Education Week* * * There was a timely conversation yesterday in *New York Times*'s "Room for Debate" about whether it makes sense for standards and funding to vary by state. (You can find it here.) The *NYT'*s query was: "The Common Core State Standards, adopted by the overwhelming majority of states and supported by the Obama administration, have worried liberals who question their quality and conservatives who fear they erode states' traditiona... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] When Silence is Not Golden by dianerav EduShyster gets amazing tips. This is a description of the typical day of a child in a new “no-excuses” school. She answers questions with a programmed response. She walks in silence. She does exactly what she is told. The teacher speaks in scripted language. The child obeys. What did this child do to Will John Dewey High School Survive? by dianerav Gail Robinson writes about education in New York City. This post is about the fate of John Dewey High School in Brooklyn... more »

Achievement First: Expanding discrimination in New Haven - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Achievement First: Expanding discrimination in New Haven - Wait, What?: Achievement First: Expanding discrimination in New Haven by jonpelto [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] The ugly truth about Achievement First, charter schools and discrimination… Yesterday’s Wait, What? blog highlighted the discrimination being perpetrated by Achievement First – Hartford. Achievement First, Inc. is the large charter school management company that was co-founded by Stefan Pryor, Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education. Today, Dacia Toll serves as the organization’s P... more »

Experts Challenge High Schools to Revamp Outdated School Day, Year - High School Notes (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Experts Challenge High Schools to Revamp Outdated School Day, Year - High School Notes (usnews.com): Experts Challenge High Schools to Revamp Outdated School Day, Year By KELSEY SHEEHY December 12, 2012 RSS Feed Print [image: High schools don’t need a longer day, but need to be smarter with the time already allotted, one expert says.] High schools don’t need a longer day, but need to be smarter with the time already allotted, one expert says. Students at select public schools inColorado, Connecticut,Massachusetts, New York, and Tennessee will spend more time in class next school year... more »

Bobby Jindal’s alternative education universe

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Bobby Jindal’s alternative education universe: Bobby Jindal’s alternative education universe Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 12, 2012 at 7:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, architect of a statewide voucher program that sends public money to religious schools which teach that humans and dinosaurs co-existed, ventured to the Brookings Institution in Washington to present his alternative education universe. Jindal, a rising figure in the Republican Party, spo... more »

The Educated Reporter: Measuring Up: District Race to the Top Winners and International Test Scores

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Measuring Up: District Race to the Top Winners and International Test Scores: Measuring Up: District Race to the Top Winners and International Test Scores by Emily Richmond The U.S. Department of Education has announced the 16 district-level winners that will receive between $10 million and $40 million each to fund school improvement efforts. There were 372 applications nationwide. The winners represent 55 school districts (smaller districts were encouraged to join forces), 11 states and the District of Columbia. Among the winners is the Carson City School ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What would Dr. King say about 'Right-to-Work' Michigan?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What would Dr. King say about 'Right-to-Work' Michigan?: What would Dr. King say about 'Right-to-Work' Michigan? by Mike Klonsky Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks at a 1968 strike support rally for public sanitation workers in Memphis seeking recognition under AFSCME. ( Pan-African News Wire File Photos)What would Dr. King tell Michigan's Tea Party Gov. Rick Snyder about the so-called "right to work" bill his party is rushing into law? Here's what he said in 1961:** *“In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by fals... more »

Impressions From a Florida State Board of Education Meeting | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Impressions From a Florida State Board of Education Meeting | Scathing Purple Musings: Impressions From a Florida State Board of Education Meeting by Bob Sikes Yesterday’s live feed of the Florida state board interviews with candidates for education commissioner provided me the first opportunity to see board members unplugged and without the protection of prepared press releases, sound bites or filtered quotes to reporters. Here are some take-aways. * I actually came away liking Charles Hokansons Jr. Although clearly in the camp of the “privatization choicers” (It was clear those ... more »

Ed Notes Online: MORE Says: Raise your voice on the evaluation issue! Bring petition and copies of the resolution to the DA

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: MORE Says: Raise your voice on the evaluation issue! Bring petition and copies of the resolution to the DA: MORE Says: Raise your voice on the evaluation issue! Bring petition and copies of the resolution to the DA by ed notes online Approaching a thousand sigs and a number of school chapters have passed resos in support. MORE will attempt to place a resolution -- see below -- in front of the DA tomorrow. Last time the meeting ended ---cough, cough -- before the opportunity came up. The Unity leadership does not want this reso to see the light of day. I will be the... more »

Teachers Don't Suck !: Why We Should Expect Disrespect !

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Teachers Don't Suck !: Why We Should Expect Disrespect !: Why We Should Expect Disrespect ! by Walt S. This memo was distributed to the staff at a local suburban high school was posted on the town's Internet message board. ****** Folks- oversight on my part - but an important piece from Mr. F as we move to the mid-point of the year. Quoting Mr. F "As many of you are aware we have had an inexcusable number of fights and events in our building over the last few weeks. As Dave and I work together to manage discipline I have been experiencing a number of extremely disrespectful stude... more »

It’s good to be King: More Misguided Rhetoric on the NY State Eval System « School Finance 101

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

It’s good to be King: More Misguided Rhetoric on the NY State Eval System « School Finance 101: It’s good to be King: More Misguided Rhetoric on the NY State Eval System by schoolfinance101 Very little time to write today, but I must comment on this NY Post article on the bias I’ve been discussing in the NY State teacher/principal growth percentile ratings. Sociologist Aaron Pallas of TC and economist Sean Corcoran of NYU express appropriate concerns about the degrees of bias found and reported in the technical report provided by the state’s own consultant developing the models. A... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: TFA rakes in the cash

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: TFA rakes in the cash: TFA rakes in the cash by Mike Klonsky Diane Ravitch posts: *TFA may be the most effective fund-raising operation in the education sector. Between 2006 and 2010, TFA raised $907 million dollars in gifts from foundations, corporations, and other sources.* -- Hats off to TFA J. Crew... *is selling a $32.50 cotton t-shirt with a giant orange apple on the front to benefit Teach for America. **(JCPenney has also supported Teach for America; earlier this year, the retailer asked customers to make donations to the group.) Only x-... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 12-11-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* What Can We Learn From Today’s Most Depressing Piece Of News? by Larry Ferlazzo Though it could easily fit the label of “today’s most depressing piece of news,” the title of this post is not referring to the Michigan Governor’s signing of awful “right to work” legislation. No, it’s referring to a major new report summarized by Sarah Sparks at Education Week in a post titled Students Who Struggle Early Rarely Catch Up, Study Says. Here’s an excerpt: *ACT found that only 10 percent of students who were far behind their peers in col... more »

Modern School: Will Bar Exam Turn Teachers Into Shysters?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Modern School: Will Bar Exam Turn Teachers Into Shysters?: Will Bar Exam Turn Teachers Into Shysters? by Michael Dunn *Proudly Sponsered by http://edushyster.com/* The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has launched *a new initiative* to raise entry standards for teacher-preparation programs, calling it a “bar exam” for teachers. My first thought on hearing the news was that they were trying to turn us into shysters, but then I remembered that we are already considered disreputable and unscrupulous by much of the public. What's black and tan and looks good around a teacher's n... more »

Numbers Can Lie: What TIMSS and PISA Truly Tell Us, if Anything?Education in the Age of Globalization

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Numbers Can Lie: What TIMSS and PISA Truly Tell Us, if Anything?: Numbers Can Lie: What TIMSS and PISA Truly Tell Us, if Anything? by YongZhao “America’s Woeful Public Schools: TIMSS Sheds Light on the Need for Systemic Reform”[1] “Competitors Still Beat U.S. in Tests”[2] “U.S. students continue to trail Asian students in math, reading, science”[3] These are a few of the thousands of headlines generated by the release of the 2011 TIMSS and PIRLS results today. Although the results are hardly surprising or news worthy, judging f... more »

Pass / Fail : Parents to hear about future of Crenshaw High School | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Pass / Fail : Parents to hear about future of Crenshaw High School | 89.3 KPCC: Parents to hear about future of Crenshaw High School by Vanessa Romo Crenshaw High School may soon go the way of Dorsey, Manual Arts and Westchester high schools; it could face a district takeover as early as next year. Over the summer, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy suggested Crenshaw, with its persistently low test scores, is eligible for "reconstitution," wherein the district can layoff the entire staff. The district can take over a school when it fails to meet state-mandat... more »

Sandra Stotsky: The Leading Critic of Common Core « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Sandra Stotsky: The Leading Critic of Common Core « Diane Ravitch's blog: Sandra Stotsky: The Leading Critic of Common Core by dianerav I just posted an article written by David Coleman and Susan Pimentel, explaining that the Common Core standards are not antagonistic to literature and fiction, and that they promote a higher quality of both fiction and nonfiction. Within minutes, I received a post from Sandra Stotsky, expressing her vehement opposition to the Common Core standards. Stotsky was in charge of the development of the highly praised Massachusetts standards. The English ... more »

Bobby Jindal Defends Louisiana School Vouchers, Says Equal Education Opportunity Is A Lie

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Bobby Jindal Defends Louisiana School Vouchers, Says Equal Education Opportunity Is A Lie: Bobby Jindal Defends Louisiana School Vouchers, Says Equal Education Opportunity Is A Lie by Joy Resmovits WASHINGTON -- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) took to the nation's capital on Tuesday to make the case for school vouchers. "To oppose school choice is to put the wishes of the adults who control the status quo ahead of the needs of our children," Jindal said. "To oppose school choice is to oppose equal opportunity." As the Republican Party tries to reconnect with voters, and as Repub... more »

“UNCLE AL’S CABIN” « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

“UNCLE AL’S CABIN” « Teachers Fight Back: “UNCLE AL’S CABIN” by alkleen Illinois retired teachers need to continue to fight the media and powerful interest groups that are trying to convince the public that the average retired teacher’s pension is quite lucrative. We need to have a blockbuster public relations campaign and or some extremely influential periodical. A best-selling book that shows a retired teacher in financial difficulty would be ideal. We need to get everyone in Illinois feeling sorry for Illinois retired teachers. What better way than to produce a best-selling ... more »

Florida Parent Groups United in Urging Scott to Reject “Political Applicants” for Ed Commissioner | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Florida Parent Groups United in Urging Scott to Reject “Political Applicants” for Ed Commissioner | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida Parent Groups United in Urging Scott to Reject “Political Applicants” for Ed Commissioner by Bob Sikes *et al.* Jeff Solochek has this in *Gradebook*: Nine parent leaders representing advocacy organizations across Florida sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott today urging him to reject all three of the finalists for the education commissioner job. The group appeals to the governor’s recent attempts to build relationships with parents and other educatio... more »

The Civil Rights Issue of Our Time? | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The Civil Rights Issue of Our Time? | EduShyster: The Civil Rights Issue of Our Time? by edushyster2012 Today’s topic is civil rights. As in those things that you are not supposed to violate. Unless, of course, you are part of an effort to *crush* the achievement gap—otherwise known as the civil rights issue of our time—in which case you may apparently violate civil rights with impunity. The first stop on our tour is Fall River, Massachusetts, where the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has just announced an inves­tigation into allegations that the city’s schools ... more »

Charter networks win Race to the Top-District

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Charter networks win Race to the Top-District: Charter networks win Race to the Top-District Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 11, 2012 at 2:26 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Charter school networks are now official “districts,” at least by the rules of the Department of Education’s Race to the Top-District competition, which just announced that 16 applicants had each won a share of nearly $400 million in the latest sweepstake... more »

Giving teachers more power helps in turnaround of Boston schools | HechingerEd Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Giving teachers more power helps in turnaround of Boston schools | HechingerEd Blog: Giving teachers more power helps in turnaround of Boston schools by Jackie Mader Six low-performing Boston schools participating in a pilot program that gives teachers more training, support, and leadership roles are showing higher growth on state tests than other low-performing city schools according to a report released Monday by the non-profit Teach Plus. The T3 Initiative program, a collaboration between Boston Public Schools and Teach Plus, began training and placing groups of experienced tea... more »

Pension Call Tuesday. Send your legislator a holiday card with a pension message. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Pension Call Tuesday. Send your legislator a holiday card with a pension message. « Fred Klonsky: Pension Call Tuesday. Send your legislator a holiday card with a pension message. by Fred Klonsky [image: 1353358186-wacky_photobooth] So you’ve called your IEA Regional office and made a reservation on the bus to Springfield, January 3rd. Or, you just can’t make it to Springfield (you better have a real good excuse), but you want to do something. Here’s the plan. Send the sponsors of of the Nekritz bill a holiday card. Rep. Elaine Nekritz - Daniel Biss - David Harris - Chris Nybo, Kell... more »

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