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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Diane in the Evening 1-17-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:





Jersey Jazzman on Rhee’s Memogate

Jersey jazzman dissects John Merrow’s report on the Case of the Missing Memo.
Why won’t DCPS release the memo?
What secret 


Charter School Math in Connecticut

Connecticut has the misfortune to have a bad combination: a significant group of very rich hedge fund managers devoted to charter schools and a state commissioner of education who wants to open more charter schools. The charter schools in the state serve disproportionately small numbers of English language learners. So is it a good idea to open more of them?
Here’s a

Corporate Reformers Waste over Half Million in Bridgeport Election

A reader in Connecticut links to Jonathan Pelto’s report of spending by wealthy supporters of corporate reform in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in their failed attempt to persuade voters to abandon their elected school board. The voters said no.
“Did you see this yet? Over a half a million spent by corporate “education reformers” to persuade voters to 

Can a Teacher in Sacramento Beat the Rhee Machine?

A seat opens up on a school board in West Sacramento.
An employee of StudentsFirst decides to run for it.
A teacher challenges him.
One has big money.
The other has experience as a parent and teacher in the schools. Who will win?

Value-Added Measurement Is Unstable

Data hounds continue to search for a measuring stick to identify teacher quality.
They can’t believe they are on a fruitless hunt, like trying to find a barometer or yardstick to say which piece of art is best, which doctor is best, which…… as though human judgment means nothing.
Here is Matt Di Carlo summarizing the research on the instability of VAM, meaning that the best teacher this year might be only average next year, or vice versa.

John White Is #1, And So Is Louisiana

Crazy Crawfish has a regular blog where he skewers the mighty, the powerful, the phonies, and the masters of data manipulation.
Like EduShyster, CC knows data, and he has humor. And he seems to know more about state school data–and the games people play–than most people.
Read this brilliantly witty report of John White’s statistical legerdemain.
So what if Education Week gave Louisiana an F for academic performance? Michelle Rhee placed it at the top.

NYC Voters Want to End Mayoral Control of Schools

When Mayor Bloomberg was elected in 2001, his first priority was to gain control of the schools. At the time, the schools had a central board with seven members, two appointed by the mayor. Now the mayor appoints a majority and they serve at his pleasure.
In the last decade, the city’s schools have Ben subject to four major reorganizations and three chancellors. One of them lasted only 90 days, a record of sorts.
Now, voters and NYC public school parents oppose mayoral control. In a new poll, only 18% want the mayor to control them.

D.C.: Why the Double Standard for Public Schools and Charter Schools?

D.C. Chancellor Kaya Henderson is set to decide how many public schools to close.
A D.C. teacher and blogger reviews the shifting rationales for closing public schools.
A public school closes if enrollment falls below 350. But more than 70% of charter schools have less than 350 students, and some have less than 50 students, and they are not on the chopping block. Why the double 

Tennessee Legislature Purges Voucher Opponent

Yesterday I posted a comment from Linda Whittington, a member of the state Legislature in Mississippi who was removed from her assignment on the House Education Committee because she opposes charters.
Today a reader in Tennessee posted a comment with these links from Memphis:
http://schoolingmemphis.blogspot.com/2013/01/tn-state-rep-fitzhugh-forced-off.html
http://schoolingmemphis.blogspot.com/2013/01/harwell-shenanigans-confirmed-in.html
You will learn here that Tennessee House Democratic leader, Craig Fitzhugh, was removed from his position on

Bush and Rhee Double-Team Tennessee

Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee are working Tennessee, with grandiose claims about the great results that charters and vouchers can accomplish.
The good news is that the reporter shows skepticism about thei claims.
Why don’t they tell their audiences about Milwaukee, which has had vouchers and charters for 20+ years? On 

EduShyster Commends Prep School Grads Who Want to Reform Public Schools

Elitism may be a dirty word in some circles, but not to EduShyster.
She here commends the graduates of tony private schools who work so hard to see that their lesser brethren can go to “no excuses” schools where they will learn to sit up straight and keep their eyes on the teacher.

UFT Leader Blames Mayor for Failure to Reach Deal on VAM

Apparently the mayor and the union in NYC did not reach a deal on teacher evaluation.
Too bad. VAM Is junk science. It should not be legislated or imposed anywhere.
Here is the UFT press release. Count on seeing the mayor blame the union for not accepting a lousy scheme that has no basis in evidence or experience.
STATEMENT BY UFT PRESIDENT MICHAEL MULGREW:
I am sorry to announce that I have notified Governor Cuomo and other state officials that — despite long nights o

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-17-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] John White Is #1, And So Is Louisiana by dianerav Crazy Crawfish has a regular blog where he skewers the mighty, the powerful, the phonies, and the masters of data manipulation. Like EduShyster, CC knows data, and he has humor. And he seems to know more about state school data–and the games people play–than most people. Read this brilliantly witty report of John White’s statistical legerdemain. So what if Education Week gave Louisiana an F for academic performance? Michelle Rhee *Diane in the Evening... more »