BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA
RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST
The Washington Teacher: Journey For Justice
The Washington Teacher: Journey For Justice: Journey For Justice by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson) *Journey for Justice* *"A National Grassroots Education Movement"* *Members:* * * *Atlanta, GA* ** *Project South* * * *Baltimore, MD * ** *Baltimore Algebra Project* * * *Boston, MA* ** *Boston Youth Organizing Project* *Chicago, IL* *Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization* *Cleveland, OH* *Common Good Ohio* * * *Detroit, MI* ** *Keep the Vote/NO Takeover* *Eupora, MS* *Fannie Lou Hamer Center* *Hartford, CT* *Parent Power* * * *Kansas City, MO* ** *Full Potential* * * *Los Angel... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Round-Up
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Round-Up: Supporting the MAP Boycott by Melissa Westbrook From the Solidarity with Garfield Facebook page: *GET READY! THIS WEDNESDAY, January 30 *is a national call/phone/fax day to tell Seattle Public Schools that you, your organization and your union stand with the Garfield test boycotters. Send your message to Seattle Schools Superintendant José Banda: Phone: (206) 252-0180 Fax: (206) 252-0209 Email: superintendent@seattleschools.org Legislative Round-Up by Melissa Westbrook As most of you know, public education, both K-12 and ... more »
Highway to Hell - A Salute to National School Choice Week #EDREform
*Got Choice? Ubetcha! **Celebrating National School Choice Week* *National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Group: 1 in 5 charter schools not doing well enough to stay open* A group that oversees more than half of the nation's 5,600 charter schools said as many as one in five U.S. charter schools should be shut down because of poor academic performance. *http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019784379_charterschools29.html* *CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS WEBSITE* CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS A compilation of news articles about charter schools which have been charged... more »
Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 1-31-13 #soschat #edreform
*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* Central Park East I & II’s Future by debmeier Dear friends, Please support the wonderful, historic, progressive Central Park East I and II elementary schools as they try to expand into a middle school to provide a much-needed progressive middle school alternative in upper Manhattan. Their proposal to open a middle school has been turned down by the DOE four years in a row, most recently because there was allegedly no space for the middle school. But at the same time a new charter school, the East Harlem Scholars’ Academy, was allowed t... more »
School Tech Connect: My Reaction To Tonight's Forum At Truman
School Tech Connect: My Reaction To Tonight's Forum At Truman: My Reaction To Tonight's Forum At Truman by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) *Activist, not a blogger* Yes, it's true. I was an activist tonight at Truman, not a blogger. I felt I had to be because I work with a community that is in jeopardy of being railroaded. And I do feel bad that the people running the event didn't get to have things go their way. They're in an impossible spot--- they've chosen to take jobs for a board that should be elected but isn't elected. In the public sector, if your board doesn't have any d... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Week of December 10-15
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Week of December 10-15: Seattle Schools Week of December 10-15 by Melissa Westbrook Very busy week. *Monday, December 10th* Curriculum & Instruction Policy Committee Meeting from 4-6 p.m. Agenda Some interesting issues but there is not enough detail to know what they are specifically going to cover. Work Session on Weighted Staffing Standards from 6-7:30 p.m. Agenda *Tuesday, December 11th * Work Session on Creative Approach Schools from 5-6:30 p.m. Agenda Special Ed Advocacy & Advisory Council Meeting from 6:30-9:00 p.m., R...more »
Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ | The Raw Story
Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ | The Raw Story: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ By Samantha Kimmey Sunday, January 27, 2013 20:21 EST [image: Print Friendly] Share on facebookShare on redditShare on diggShare on twitterShare on farkShare on stumbleupon2 [image: mhp] Topics: Alliance for Quality Education ♦ D.C. ♦ Melissa Harris-Perry ♦ U.S. Department of Education in Washington On Melissa Harris-Perry on Sunday, s... more »
Video: East Valley Candidates Forum - LA School Report
Video: East Valley Candidates Forum - LA School Report: Video: East Valley Candidates Forum by Samantha Oltman Watch East Valley District 6 candidates Antonio Sanchez, Maria Cano, and Monica Ratliff at the United Way candidate forum on Thursday, where they shared their opinions on big election topics, including classroom resources, Superintendent John Deasy, teacher evaluations, and how to handle teachers accused of misconduct: Popout
Sacramento Press / Opinion: Private money and public schools (Part II)
Sacramento Press / Opinion: Private money and public schools (Part I + II): Private money and public schools: Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. team up part one by Seth Sandronsky [image: DFER Fake Democrats for Education Privatization (click on Picture)] Last December 3, the California Fair Political Practices Commission recommended fining Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a Democrat, $37,500 for improperly reporting donations to his multiple nonprofit groups. The political watchdog agency agreed to this penalty at a Dec. 13 meeting. The donations included a ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: What is a service, a program, and a school
Seattle Schools Community Forum: What is a service, a program, and a school: What is a service, a program, and a school by Charlie Mas The Superintendent has written his procedure for policy 2200, Equitable Access to Programs & Services, and it is a tangled mess. It defines a *service* as: "*A service is required by federal, state or local law and regulations to provide supplementary support to basic education.*" Examples include Special Education and ELL services. It defines a *program* as: "*A program may offer educational opportunities that are not mandated by law or reg... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Breaking News - Alabama Withdraws From Both Testing Consortia
Missouri Education Watchdog: Breaking News - Alabama Withdraws From Both Testing Consortia: Breaking News - Alabama Withdraws From Both Testing Consortia by Anngie We had heard rumors that there was something going on in Alabama. State Board of Education member Betty Peters has been ringing the bell about Common Core for years. Now there is something to celebrate. EdWeek broke the news today that Alabama has withdrawn from both testing consortia, Smarter Balanced and PARCC. The state's assessment director, Gloria Turner confirmed that they will not longer participate in the c... more »
The Case of Kentucky | Truth in American Education
The Case of Kentucky | Truth in American Education: The Case of Kentucky from Truth in American Education by Shane Vander Hart [image: ky-cc-22] [image: ky-cc-11] Matthew Ladner brings up Kentucky as an example that the Common Core State Standards are working. Kentucky was one of the first states to implement them. He said that the Kentucky exams were far more lax than that of the NAEP assessments, and after the Common Core they were brought closer into line saying that Kentucky’s definition of “proficient” was far more lax than NAEP’s definition. He posted these charts below: Ri... more »
UPDATE: Obama's man from G.E. stepping down Schooling in the Ownership Society: Look who's 'leaning' on pols to cut more out of pensions
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Look who's 'leaning' on pols to cut more out of pensions: Immelt, Obama's man from G.E. stepping down by Mike Klonsky *“Adoption of the Common Core by states was a historic event in education and one we believe will **dramatically alter the landscape of education forever,” said Bob Corcoran, president of the GE **Foundation."* Jeffery Immelt is the chairman and chief executive of G.E., the largest corporation in the U.S. and a company that rakes in about $15 billion/yr. yet pays not a penny in U.S. taxes. In fact, in 2010 the company actually r... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Last nigh't school closing hearings
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Last nigh't school closing hearings: Last nigh't school closing hearings by Mike Klonsky Isaiah McNulty, 13, an eighth-grader at May Academy, prepares to speak Thursday night during a public hearing on Chicago Public Schools closings at Friendship Baptist Church in Chicago. | Andrew A. Nelles~Sun-Times MediaI don't know who writes headlines for S-T. But "fiesty" isn't the word I would have chosen to describe the hundreds of parents, teachers, students and community folks who have been turning out for BBB's school-closing hearings.
Growing number of educators boycott standardized tests
Growing number of educators boycott standardized tests: Growing number of educators boycott standardized tests Since 2002, standardized tests have taken on more significance because of federal mandates. [image: teacher] (Photo: Greg Gilbert, AP) STORY HIGHLIGHTS - Seattle teachers at forefront of boycotting standardized tests - Rhode Island students join in protest against tests - The Chicago Teachers Union launched a campaign to cancel "non-state mandated tests" from public schools The decision by a group of Seattle teachers toboycott a standardized test this winter co... more »
UPDATE: North shore reps who back pension busting have called a community meeting Monday night. The return of the Skokie chapter. « Fred Klonsky
North shore reps who back pension busting have called a community meeting Monday night. The return of the Skokie chapter. « Fred Klonsky: North shore reps who back pension busting have called a community meeting Monday night. The return of the Skokie chapter. by Fred Klonsky [image: Biss, Gabel and Fine] *Senator Dan Biss. Representatives Robyn Gabel and Laura Fine. Bizarro World Democrats.* Skokie is a suburb north of the City. It’s where an IEA office is. And where a number of IEA Regions meet and where their staff people have offices. If you retire from one of the dozens of scho... more »
UPDATE:FETC 2013 et al + What Box? « My Island View
What Box? « My Island View: FETC 2013 et al by tomwhitby With as many education conferences that I have attended, and continue to attend, I am getting to be quite the expert at least in the ability to compare and contrast the various major education conferences. I hope I am not one of the five blind men describing an elephant, but I did seek out opinions from other experienced conference attendees and presenters finding them in agreement. Unfortunately for educators, most of these conferences are the same old, same old with little focus for the future with the exception of vendor-... more »
UPDATE: Arne Duncan: We need gun control, more early childhood education + A letter to Teach For America’s Wendy Kopp — and her response
A letter to Teach For America’s Wendy Kopp — and her response: Arne Duncan: We need gun control, more early childhood education by Valerie Strauss Education Secretary Arne Duncan made clear in an interview with Bloomberg Radio that he plans to concentrate on early childhood education in President Obama’s second term, and that the country must deal with gun violence now. Here are excerpts provided … Continue reading → A letter to Teach For America’s Wendy Kopp — and her response Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 1, 2013 at 10:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Te... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why You Should Support Steve Zimmer for LA School Board by dianerav The billionaire boys club wants to beat Steve Zimmer so they can proceed with dismantling public education in Los Angeles. Steve had the nerve to say there should be some oversight of charter schools, so the privatizers are out to get him. They raised over a million dollars from corporate types in just a few days. There are many reasons to support Steve Zimmer. His courage, independence, and integrity are good reasons. Another is his passi... more »
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 1-31-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* "$700 billion K-12 ed market is "ripe for disruption" says Klein by Mike Klonsky KleinPW reports: *Asserting that the K-12 education market is “ripe for disruption," Joel Klein, former New York City schools chancellor, now executive v-p at News Corp. and director of Amplify, its education unit, offered a presentation of Amplify’s business model and plans to release hardware and software solutions optimized for a new generation of digitally savvy students and teachers. Klein outlined plans to release an open source tablet device,... more »
BAY AREA EDUCATION TAKES ANOTER HIT: A fond farewell - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools
A fond farewell - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: A fond farewell By Katy Murphy Thursday, January 31st, 2013 at 2:17 pm in Uncategorized. Reporters change beats all the time. We’re not in the habit of telling our readers goodbye unless we’re leaving the paper, and maybe not even then. But given all the time we’ve spent together on this forum – me writing about Oakland school news and you telling me what I missed and what I should look into (or debating something different altogether) – this feels different. I’m going to be covering colleges and univer... more »
A Creepy Student Essay Contest Reflects Wall Street’s War For Young Minds - Richard Eskow
A Creepy Student Essay Contest Reflects Wall Street’s War For Young Minds - Richard Eskow: A Creepy Student Essay Contest Reflects Wall Street’s War For Young Minds by Richard Eskow It may be the creepiest student competition in history, but Foreclosure.Com’s essay contest is trivial compared to what Wall Street’s doing to undermine our educational system and manipulate our values. The Campaign for a Fair Settlement’s Dan Petegorsky commented on the contest, which led us to its entry requirements: “You’ve been tasked with analyzing two foreclosure properties to determine which on... more »
CTU President Karen Lewis on the death of Chicago high school student, Hadiya Pendleton. « Fred Klonsky
CTU President Karen Lewis on the death of Chicago high school student, Hadiya Pendleton. « Fred Klonsky: CTU President Karen Lewis on the death of Chicago high school student, Hadiya Pendleton. by Fred Klonsky [image: chi-6pendleton-20130130-1] *Hadiya Pendleton* Chicago Teachers Union President Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT, today issued a formal statement on the shooting death of King College Prep student Hadiya Pendleton: *“This has been a trying week for our brothers and sisters in Chicago schools and all of us at the Chicago Teachers Union. We had these same feelings after losing Heav... more »
CA Dept of Education - What's New » Grant to Improve Service To Disabled Students - Year 2013 + 2013 SFSP Sponsor Training (CA Dept of Education)
Grant to Improve Service To Disabled Students - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces $11 Million Grant to Improve Services for Students with Disabilities SACRAMENTO—Students with disabilities in approximately 44 middle schools throughout California will benefit from a five-year, $11 million federal grant intended to improve their educational outcomes, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today. "This grant will fund teacher training and academic services that go a long way toward helping all students, including t... more »
Teacher Pensions: Illinois Democrats and Florida Tea Party Republicans are Twins | Reclaim Reform
Teacher Pensions: Illinois Democrats and Florida Tea Party Republicans are Twins | Reclaim Reform: Teacher Pensions: Illinois Democrats and Florida Tea Party Republicans are Twins by kenpreviti [image: money grabbed 2]State pension plans differ widely, especially teacher pension plans. The attack on state pension plans is the same because the big money behind the power politics wants it to be. Illinois Democrats and Florida Tea Party Republicans are twins – not identical twins, but twins nonetheless. Neither is trustworthy or completely honest. Pension reform? Florida: “Legislativ... more »
Update: Board Meeting on Interim Plan Seattle Schools Community Forum: Updates for Today's Seattle School Board Meeting
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Updates for Today's Seattle School Board Meeting: Part Two of Interim Meeting by Melissa Westbrook Sorry, having some issue live blogging. Director Peaslee is submitting her amendment. She stated that her amendment was basically what the staff said a week ago with just a few modification. She believes that it does include relief for Eckstein and Hamilton (but just as with the staff's rec, who really knows because there is so much churn that it is near impossible to know what or where students will be enrolled). She also says that Principal Debb... more »
Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 1-31-13 #soschat #edreform
*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* Central Park East I & II’s Future by debmeier Dear friends, Please support the wonderful, historic, progressive Central Park East I and II elementary schools as they try to expand into a middle school to provide a much-needed progressive middle school alternative in upper Manhattan. Their proposal to open a middle school has been turned down by the DOE four years in a row, most recently because there was allegedly no space for the middle school. But at the same time a new charter school, the East Harlem Scholars’ Academy, was allowed t... more »
Opportunity to Learn, Teach, and Lead — Whole Child Education
Opportunity to Learn, Teach, and Lead — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Opportunity to Learn, Teach, and Lead January 31, 2013 by Klea Scharberg What does it mean to be a teacher, a learner, and a leader in today's schools and classrooms? What do we need to be effective? How will the current standards movement affect us, as professionals, and our students? How do we find out the answers to these questions? The Common Core State Standards lead us to focus on the ways students make transitions between grade levels. They provide a new definition of wha... more »
Joy Resmovits: Walmart Founders' Philanthropy Sponsoring Chicago Closure Hearings, Portland Special Ed Lawsuit: Ed Today
Joy Resmovits: Walmart Founders' Philanthropy Sponsoring Chicago Closure Hearings, Portland Special Ed Lawsuit: Ed Today: Walmart Founders' Philanthropy Sponsoring Chicago Closure Hearings, Portland Special Ed Lawsuit: Ed Today by Joy Resmovits *Walmart-Backed Engagement?* Catalyst Chicago has reported that Chicago's community hearings on school closures are being underwritten by the Walton Foundation. Catalyst notes that Chicago Public Schools officials have said they "don't want to link the volatile issue of school closings with the equally volatile issue of charter school open... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-31-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Arizona Plan to Increase Inequality by dianerav Governor Jan Brewer has an idea. It is a bad idea. Someone please explain it to her. She wants all schools to start with the same base funding (perhaps lower than what they have now). Then to give*bonuses* to schools that get an A or B! As this blogger, David Safier, explains, the schools that get high marks are likely to be the school serving the students from affluent families. Governor Brewer’s plan will increase inequity in funding and drag down poor kids... more »
School Tech Connect: I Feel A Protest Coming On
School Tech Connect: I Feel A Protest Coming On: I Feel A Protest Coming On by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) My keyboard has been dodging a lot of vomit lately. I just read this. In a nutshell, a guy wants to open an "arts-based" charter in Rogers Park. Really. Can we just stop the f*cking madness already? Dude, start a private school, start a community arts program, or support your public schools. This opening up of charter after charter after charter? It has to stop. I railed at him in the comments over at DNA, although I had to post it through a friend because of the Fac... more »
Letter from Seattle School Librarians to Superintendent Banda: Scrap the MAP « Seattle Education
Letter from Seattle School Librarians to Superintendent Banda: Scrap the MAP « Seattle Education: Letter from Seattle School Librarians to Superintendent Banda: Scrap the MAP by seattleducation2011 [image: MAP test] Dear Superintendent Banda and Members of the School Board, Since MAP testing was imposed in Seattle Schools in 2009, Seattle school librarians have continually expressed concern about the loss of library resources for students. School libraries are a proven tool to improve student learning. With the onset of MAP testing, however, the libraries in many schools have been... more »
Diane in the Evening 1-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Seattle Parents Support Test Boycott by dianerav A Seattle parent explains why the Garfield teachers have the support of parents like herself. Hi everyone, For his first school-library experience in kindergarten, my five-year-old son was not allowed to check out a book. Instead he was placed in front of a computer with a set of headphones and told to take a test for an hour. That was my family’s introduction to the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP®), a computerized, adaptive Your Favorite Bloggers in One Place by dianerav Tim Slekar is launching a new f... more »
RHODE ISLAND STUDENTS CALL ON GOVERNOR TO STOP HIGH-STAKES TESTING POLICY « Seattle Education
RHODE ISLAND STUDENTS CALL ON GOVERNOR TO STOP HIGH-STAKES TESTING POLICY « Seattle Education: RHODE ISLAND STUDENTS CALL ON GOVERNOR TO STOP HIGH-STAKES TESTING POLICY [image: Microsoft Word - PSU Protest ad.docx] “In just one week, the results of this year’s NECAP test will be released,” said Kelvis Hernandez. “It’s our hope that everyone in Rhode Island passes. But it’s more likely that thousands of students will not score high enough to pass this graduation requirement, particularly among the state’s most vulnerable populations—English Language Learners, students with disabili...more »
Presidential Memorandum -- Coordination of Policies and Programs to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women and Girls Globally | The White House
Presidential Memorandum -- Coordination of Policies and Programs to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women and Girls Globally | The White House: Presidential Memorandum -- Coordination of Policies and Programs to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women and Girls Globally January 30, 2013 MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Coordination of Policies and Programs to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women and Girls Globally Promoting gender equality and advancing the status of all women and girls around the world remains one of the gr... more »
Waldorf-Inspired Schools - Sacramento City Unified School District
Waldorf-Inspired Schools - Sacramento City Unified School District: http://www.carverartsandscience.org/Waldorf-Inspired Schools Waldorf-inspired schools are places where imagination, creativity and critical thinking skills necessary for college and careers are fostered in a supportive “whole child” environment. Waldorf education was developed by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) at the beginning of the 20th century. The Waldorf education model is used in 60 countries and there are 44 Waldorf-inspired public schools in the United States. SCUSD opened the country’s first public Waldorf-insp... more »
Invasion Of The Charter Schools - Page 1 - News - New York - Village Voice
Invasion Of The Charter Schools - Page 1 - News - New York - Village Voice: Invasion Of The Charter Schools Former City Councilmember Eva Moskowitz, with Bloomberg's union-busting blessing, is pushing her Success Academy edu-franchise into Brooklyn. The natives aren't buying. Comments (5)By Anya Kamenetz Wednesday, Jan 30 2013 *When the hipsters of Williamsburg,* Greenpoint, and Bushwick are ready to add a little hipster to the family, we inevitably join the Brooklyn Baby Hui. The hui (it's a Maori term for "community," natch) has all the information anxious new parents need on maki... more »
UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: More MAP Boycott Support
Seattle Schools Community Forum: More MAP Boycott Support: More MAP Boycott Support by Melissa Westbrook Via Diane Ravitch's blog: - Australian teachers chime in. - I haven't seen the letter but Ingraham teachers have apparently notified the Superintendent of their support for the boycott. - High school students in Oregon are organizing their own opt-out. “We need more community based schools and better relationships between students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Schools should not be being evaluated based on student’s standardized test scores, but rather a 360 portfoli... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] If I Were Secretary of Education…..(1) by dianerav In response to another post, asking what would you do if you were Secretary of Education: If I were the Secretary of Education, I would take all the money being spent on testing and use a good portion of it to hire aids, reading specialists, nurses, librarians, and all the other support staff needed to truly serve the needs of a school. School boards would consist of teachers and parents. Walton Foundation Awards $158 Million for Privatization by dianerav Th... more »
UPDATE: Fred Klonsky CPS under federal investigation for civil rights violations + John Dillon: Perhaps there are other voices besides the extremists. « Fred Klonsky
John Dillon: Perhaps there are other voices besides the extremists. « Fred Klonsky: Chicago Public Schools under federal investigation for civil rights violations in school closings. by Fred Klonsky [image: image640x480-1] From WBEZ: *National education officials are investigating how Chicago Public Schools has handled closing schools in recent years.* *A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education confirmed Tuesday that CPS is one of six urban school districts being investigated by the department’s Office of Civil Rights. School * John Dillon: Perhaps there are other voices... more »
10 Executive Actions "to our posterity" Dear Mr. President: Thinking About Schools
Thinking About Schools: 10 Executive Actions "to our posterity" [image: My Photo] JHSTLMt. Kisco, New York, United StatesSuperintendent of the Bedford Central School District, NY. Lifetime public school teacher, principal, and superintendent. Blog is solely my opinion.View my complete profile Dear Mr. President: re: Education, please... 1. Read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence and note the word “education” does not appear; whereas words like life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, created equal, unalienable rights, general welfare, blessings of liberty, justic... more »
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 1-29-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
* * *Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* Teacher-led PD on Tech Tuesday by Joe Mazza *Teacher-led PD = the most meaningful and collaborative PD available in education today.* This morning, we held our bi-weekly Tech Tuesday for staff. The topic was on *Skype in the Classroom*. Two local district educators, Glenn Yetter ( @CoachYetter) and Brett Baker (@Bakerbg), Skyped into our before school meeting to teach us about the benefits of Skyping across the school, out to a nearby school or even a country 7 timezones away. We discussed #MysterySkype, Skype bookchats, Skype cultu... more »
Sacramento Press / Opinion: Private money and public schools (Part II)
Sacramento Press / Opinion: Private money and public schools (Part I + II): Private money and public schools: Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. team up part one by Seth Sandronsky [image: DFER Fake Democrats for Education Privatization (click on Picture)] Last December 3, the California Fair Political Practices Commission recommended fining Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a Democrat, $37,500 for improperly reporting donations to his multiple nonprofit groups. The political watchdog agency agreed to this penalty at a Dec. 13 meeting. The donations included a ... more »
Common Core Standards Will Benefit At-Risk Students — Whole Child Education
Common Core Standards Will Benefit At-Risk Students — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Elizabeth Pfiffner]Common Core Standards Will Benefit At-Risk Students January 29, 2013 by Elizabeth Pfiffner As part of the school team, school social workers share the goal of ensuring that all students receive a quality education. We work with students and their families to address personal, family, and societal issues that create obstacles for learning. The adoption of the Common Core State Standards will create a strong foundation for school social workers in our mission ... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Who is Bradley Tusk and why should we care?
NYC Public School Parents: Who is Bradley Tusk and why should we care?: Who is Bradley Tusk and why should we care? by Leonie Haimson On Sunday, there was a front page story about how Bradley Tusk is coordinating the campaign against Obama’s appointment of Chuck Hagel as US Secretary of Defense on the grounds that Hagel was anti-choice and anti-gay (apparently Hagel made an anti-gay comment in 1998). Tusk’s campaign includes TV ads and sending mailers that push Sen. Schumer to oppose the nomination with the mysterious name of “Use your Mandate” as the return address. I’ve receive... more »
Divided We Fail: Replicating the successes and avoiding the mistakes of desegregation | Hechinger Report
Divided We Fail: Replicating the successes and avoiding the mistakes of desegregation | Hechinger Report: Divided We Fail: Replicating the successes and avoiding the mistakes of desegregation by Hechinger Report [image: Divided We Fail] On June 28, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling that officially ended the era of school desegregation that followed *Brown v. Board of Education*. Five of the nine justices declared that race alone could no longer be used to assign students to a school, undermining the biggest civil rights cases of the previous century. Under the new... more »
Scalia berates school children visiting court: Constitution is ‘dead, dead, dead!’ | The Raw Story
Scalia berates school children visiting court: Constitution is ‘dead, dead, dead!’ | The Raw Story: Scalia berates school children visiting court: Constitution is ‘dead, dead, dead!’ By David Edwards Tuesday, January 29, 2013 15:20 EST [image: Print Friendly] Share on facebookShare on redditShare on diggShare on twitterShare on farkShare on stumbleupon1 [image: Antonin Scalia speaks to Fox News] Topics: SMU law professor Bryan A. Garner ♦ Southern Methodist University ♦ supreme court justice antonin scalia Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Monday said the U.S. Constitution ... more »
Ed Notes Online: Teacher Uprising in Seattle: Garfield HS Test Boycott on Democracy Now
Ed Notes Online: Teacher Uprising in Seattle: Garfield HS Test Boycott on Democracy Now: Teacher Uprising in Seattle: Garfield HS Test Boycott on Democracy Now by ed notes online I don't want to lose that kind of money on a teacher's salary. But I'm willing to do it. Because that's the right thing to do. And it's also educational for my students to see me standing up for things that are right. --- Garfield HS Teacher Teachers will not back down in face of Supe threat of 10 day suspension without pay. "Teachers will volunteer their time." This is must see as teacher Jesse Hagopian... more »
Diane in the Evening 1-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Florida’s Nutty Accountability System by dianerav Between the two Bush brothers–George W. and Jeb–the nation’s education system is locked into a regime of endless testing, grading, evaluating, marking, measuring, etc. It doesn’t seem to get us very far. After all, Texas has been in this business for as long as anyone can Australian Educators Thank Garfield Teachers by dianerav Our compatriots in Australia are watching the growing rebellion against high-stakes testing with interest and hope. They are impressed by the courage and unity of teachers at Garfi... more »
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Fensterwald: LAUSD to compete with charters to run ‘parent trigger’ school Education Headlines *Tuesday, January 29, 2013* Lowder asks for contract extensioneven months into his tenure at Stockton Unified, Superintendent Steve Lowder is asking the school board for a contract extension. The 61-year-old Lowder could be offered a longer, higher-paying contract as soon as tonight's school board meeting. School bosses get raises amid troublesWith California’s public school system facing economic uncertainties – even with the passage of... more »
The Evil that Schools Do « PWC Education Reform Blog
The Evil that Schools Do « PWC Education Reform Blog: The Evil that Schools Do by pwceducationreform Anyone who has paid the least bit of attention to education reforms in the past 20 – 30 years knows that rote memorization, or drill and kill, are the single worst things a developing child can be exposed to. Not only does rote memorization take the joy out of learning, it undermines children’s ability to understand numbers and arithmetic operations. Teachers forcing children to memorize math facts to automatic recall are committing what can only be characterized as educational... more »
Joy Resmovits: Scott Walker Wants Merit Pay, Arizona School Funding Screwup: Ed Today
Joy Resmovits: Scott Walker Wants Merit Pay, Arizona School Funding Screwup: Ed Today: Scott Walker Wants Merit Pay, Arizona School Funding Screwup: Ed Today by Joy Resmovits *Scott Walker-Style Merit Pay?* Speaking at a Friday convention, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said he wants the state to begin a program that would pay teachers partially in accordance with their ratings, reports the Badger Herald. "One of the things we're looking to do going forward is to put additional resources into public education over the next two years in this budget in a variety of different ways ... more »
Ed Notes Online: Susan Ohanian: The best rebuttal of the Common Core. The BEST.
Ed Notes Online: Susan Ohanian: The best rebuttal of the Common Core. The BEST.: Susan Ohanian: The best rebuttal of the Common Core. The BEST. by ed notes online Susan has a plethora of common core critiques. Now, not being directly involved in teaching anymore, I really don't pay much attention to the details of common core. "So why are you opposed," I am often asked? Because of the people and orgs who are supporting it: Every ed deformer and the UFT/AFT. When Tweed and the UFT are on the same side, watch out. Susan also highlights an article by MORE candidate for UFT Secretary... more »
School Tech Connect: My Reaction To Tonight's Forum At Truman
School Tech Connect: My Reaction To Tonight's Forum At Truman: My Reaction To Tonight's Forum At Truman by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) *Activist, not a blogger* Yes, it's true. I was an activist tonight at Truman, not a blogger. I felt I had to be because I work with a community that is in jeopardy of being railroaded. And I do feel bad that the people running the event didn't get to have things go their way. They're in an impossible spot--- they've chosen to take jobs for a board that should be elected but isn't elected. In the public sector, if your board doesn't have any d... more »
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 1-28-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* On Writing As Revenge by Jose Vilson What happens when your writing becomes revenge? [image: The Rock, WWE Champion 2013]The Rock, WWE Champion 2013Not the Twilight-Mean-Girls type of revenge, but the revenge that James Brown yells in “The Big Payback“? I get that hate is too big a burden to bear a-la MLK Jr, but this isn’t hate. This harkens back to a remembrance, a devaluing, a necessity to reprove one’s ostensible skill even before it fully blossomed. As with other motivations in life, they’ve asked you to step aside, break out a ... more »
Pat Hermann questions the IEA’s present behavior regarding bargaining the constitutionally guaranteed rights of teachers and retirees | Reclaim Reform
Pat Hermann questions the IEA’s present behavior regarding bargaining the constitutionally guaranteed rights of teachers and retirees | Reclaim Reform: Pat Hermann questions the IEA’s present behavior regarding bargaining the constitutionally guaranteed rights of teachers and retirees by kenpreviti [image: guest20110307004845] The Illinois Education Association has sent signals to the state legislators that on behalf of its members the IEA is willing to make a new deal and grant an additional 2% of current teachers’ incomes (from the present 9.4% to 11.4% of gross) and consider red... more »
Pa. education secretary rejects all 8 proposed cyber charters | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
Pa. education secretary rejects all 8 proposed cyber charters | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Pa. education secretary rejects all 8 proposed cyber chartersby thenotebook on Jan 28 2013 Posted in Latest news ="" style="color: rgb(76, 153, 72); cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on email COMMENTS (0)PRINT *by Benjamin Herold of NewsWorks, a Notebook news partner* * * Con Academy Browse Con Academy library of over 3,100 educational videos... * * Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ronald Tomalis rejected on Monday all eight cyber charter school application...more »
Listen to the 1-27-13 PAA testing webinar | Parents Across America
Listen to the 1-27-13 PAA testing webinar | Parents Across America: Listen to the 1-27-13 PAA testing webinar by pureparents Here is the link to PAA’s testing webinar which took place on Sunday, January 27, 2013. Our guests were: *Jesse Hagopian,* teacher at Garfield High School and part of the MAP test boycott *Shaun Johnson,* a former public school teacher, current teacher educator and online radio show co-host ofAt the Chalk Face who is a founder of United Opt Out National. *Monty Neill,* Executive Director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest). Dr. Neill a... more »
School Tech Connect: Divide and Conquer
School Tech Connect: Divide and Conquer: Divide and Conquer by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Check out the media guidance from CPS in advance of tonight's network "hearing" at Truman College at 7PM. If you're new around here--- CPS is having a number of public events where people are purportedly being given a "voice" in the school closing crisis that the district has manufactured through inept planning and a privatization agenda. Here's what they sent out: As many of you are aware, the second phase of community engagement around school utilization begins this evening. These ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Round-Up
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Round-Up: Supporting the MAP Boycott by Melissa Westbrook From the Solidarity with Garfield Facebook page: *GET READY! THIS WEDNESDAY, January 30 *is a national call/phone/fax day to tell Seattle Public Schools that you, your organization and your union stand with the Garfield test boycotters. Send your message to Seattle Schools Superintendant José Banda: Phone: (206) 252-0180 Fax: (206) 252-0209 Email: superintendent@seattleschools.org Legislative Round-Up by Melissa Westbrook As most of you know, public education, both K-12 and ... more »
Diane in the Evening 1-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Are We Hoodwinked by Metrics? by dianerav A reader explains why policymakers and the public are hoodwinked by numbers. Follow the links: *Diane-* *I got to this article in the WSJ through the Naked Capitalism blog I read daily:* Bobby Jindal Backs Down–For Now by dianerav Acting in response to a loud outcry and planned protests, Bobby Jindal has decided not to eliminate funding for hospice care for elderly patients on Medicare. The program has gotten a reprieve until June 30. But the administration is still looking for ways to cut the costs, such as by ... more »
Check it Out!!! United for Public Schools - Real reform starts with us. Let's create a community-driven agenda for public schools.
United for Public Schools: Stop school closures in Philadelphia! [image: Students in Philadelphia love their school] In too many urban areas, “choice” is a code word for takeovers and closures that force students and families out of the school communities they know and love. - facebook - twitter READ MORE > JANUARY 28, 2013 On choices, and schools [image: decisions2] Most Americans believe in freedom, equality, and equal opportunity for all. We believe that everyone should have a say over how their communities and country is run, and we believe that your own talent, skills and... more »
UPDATE: Florida Boondoggle - Schools Matter: Why John DeBerry, Jr. Is Helping Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Create Mob Rule for Memphis Schools
Schools Matter: Why John DeBerry, Jr. Is Helping Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Create Mob Rule for Memphis Schools: Florida Boondoggle by skrashen Posted on http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/time-hardwire-florida-schools-senate-ed-chairman-says Florida Boondoggle The Florida Board is eager to spend nearly a half billion dollars to buy and set up equipment primarily so that children can take tests online. There is zero research support for this kind of testing program. Nor is there any demand for a pilot study to be done. As soon as the equipment is set up, it wi... more »
UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week: State Board of Education Seeks Public Input by Melissa Westbrook The Washington State Board of Education is seeking input via a survey "on how we should measure the performance of Washington's K-12 schools. Your answers will help us improve the Washington Achievement Index." Seattle Schools This Week by Melissa Westbrook A very quiet week in SPS except for the special Board meeting on Thursday, January 31 to address the Interim Plan for 2013-2014. *Thursday, January 31st* Board Work Session on the Budget from 4-5 p.m. ... more »
UPDATE: Glen Brown responds to IEA President Cinda Klickna: It’s not what the petition says. It’s the people who wrote it. Welcome back Joe McCarthy. « Fred Klonsky
IEA President Cinda Klickna: It’s not what the petition says. It’s the people who wrote it. Welcome back Joe McCarthy. « Fred Klonsky: Glen Brown responds to IEA President Cinda Klickna. by Fred Klonsky *Blogger and pension activist Glen Brown responds to President Klickna.* [image: img_2685]*Dear Cinda,* *First, let’s re-read the petition:* *Illinois Revenue and Debt Reform, Not Pension Reform!* *Many Illinois legislators want to challenge both Illinois and U.S. Constitutions instead of addressing the causes of the state’s budget deficits. Illinois public employees have earned the... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Mike Petrilli: Shame on the Garfield Teachers! by dianerav I think the Garfield High teachers are a model for teachers across the nation. They show that collective action works. If one person speaks up, he or she gets fired. When an entire faculty resists, together their voice is heard around the world. Not everyone agrees, of course. Mike Petrilli of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute (where I once a trustee for many years but am no longer) strongly condemns the Garfield teachers. He thinks they... more »
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE LAYS OUT THREE PRONGS OF THE PRIVATIZATION BATTLE PLAN (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE LAYS OUT THREE PRONGS OF THE PRIVATIZATION BATTLE PLAN (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com: SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE LAYS OUT THREE PRONGS OF THE PRIVATIZATION BATTLE PLAN (VIDEO) by Leonard Isenberg [image: San Francisco.jpg] On January 19, 2013 I went up to San Francisco for a conference on the privatization of public education. My part of the presentation at the conference had to do with the nationwide witch hunt to rid LAUSD and districts like it around the country of teachers at the top of the salary scale, about to vest in lifetim... more »
Davos Considers Learning’s Next Wave - NYTimes.com
Davos Considers Learning’s Next Wave - NYTimes.com: Davos Forum Considers Learning’s Next WaveBy ALISON SMALEPublished: January 27, 201 - DAVOS, Switzerland — She may not have been the youngest speaker ever at the World Economic Forum in Davos, but Khadija Niazi, 12, was certainly captivating. Hundreds of the conference’s well-heeled attendees listened intently as Ms. Niazi, of Lahore, Pakistan, described her experience with massive open online courses, known as MOOCs, that are spreading rapidly around the globe. MOOCs are vastly extending the reach of professors at some of ... more »
Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ | The Raw Story
Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ | The Raw Story: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Harris-Perry: Schools targeted for closure have ‘predominantly minority kids’ By Samantha Kimmey Sunday, January 27, 2013 20:21 EST [image: Print Friendly] Share on facebookShare on redditShare on diggShare on twitterShare on farkShare on stumbleupon2 [image: mhp] Topics: Alliance for Quality Education ♦ D.C. ♦ Melissa Harris-Perry ♦ U.S. Department of Education in Washington On Melissa Harris-Perry on Sunday, s... more »
SI&A Cabinet Report – Teachers get hands-on instructing algebra to at risk middle school students
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *Teachers get hands-on instructing algebra to at risk middle school students * *By Tom Chorneau* Monday, January 28, 2013 There was a time when Mike Moser’s math classes at Park Middle School in Antioch would probably have looked a lot like every other in America. Students sitting in straight rows; eyes up front. No talking to neighbors and, certainly, everyone does their own work. Moser, too, would have led the room in a conventional manner, with his back mostly to the kids, scribbling on the board while explaining the problem that some stude... more »
Vallas in Wonderland Part II - Sentence first, verdict afterwards reappears - Wait, What?
Vallas in Wonderland Part II - Sentence first, verdict afterwards reappears - Wait, What?: Vallas in Wonderland Part II – Sentence first, verdict afterwards reappears by jonpelto The Queen of Heart’s strategy of “Sentence first, verdict afterwards” has reared its ugly head again in Bridgeport. A new week is beginning and more drama has surfaced related to the never-ending saga of the Bridgeport Board of Education’s effort to extend Paul Vallas’ contract as Superintendent of Schools. Almost ten days ago, out of the blue, and just barely meeting the state of Connecticut’s Freedom of... more »
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, ELDORADO, SHANGRI-LA, HOLY GRAIL, FRENCH REVOLUTION, AND EDUCATION REFORMERS « Teachers Fight Back
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, ELDORADO, SHANGRI-LA, HOLY GRAIL, FRENCH REVOLUTION, AND EDUCATION REFORMERS « Teachers Fight Back: THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, ELDORADO, SHANGRI-LA, HOLY GRAIL, FRENCH REVOLUTION, AND EDUCATION REFORMERS by alkleen Oh the excitement, the anticipation, the potential ! Yes, it is now upon us. Beginning on February 1st, the State of Illinois will be launching its new state survey on education. The survey, believed to be one of the largest state surveys of its kind in the nation is supposed to provide crucial information that will lead to improved schools. The sur... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Special Meeting This Thursday for Interim Plan Vote
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Special Meeting This Thursday for Interim Plan Vote: Special Meeting This Thursday for Interim Plan Vote by Melissa Westbrook From President Smith-Blum: SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE ON CAPACITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AT JANUARY 31st SPECIAL MEETING The School Board is expected to vote on the Short Term Capacity Management Plan during a special meeting *at 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 31st at the auditorium* of the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence. On January 23rd, the Board decided to delay the vote by a week to review 2013-14 enrollment project... more »
Florida BOE to Local School Boards: Raise Property Taxes to Pay for Our Charter School Priorities | Scathing Purple Musings
Florida BOE to Local School Boards: Raise Property Taxes to Pay for Our Charter School Priorities | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida BOE to Local School Boards: Raise Property Taxes to Pay for Our Charter School Priorities by Bob Sikes The roll-out of Tony Bennett’s FLDOE budget included capital outlay for charter schools, but none for public schools. Consider this bit of nuance in Jason Shultz’ *Palm Beach Post *story which the FLDOE uses to justify their position : The state’s budget request reflects the Board of Education’s priorities to assist charter schools, said Pam Stewa... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-27-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Exploring the Origins of the Common Core by dianerav Jim Martinez decided to research the sources of the Common Core State Standards. Given their importance as a redesign of the nation’s highly decentralized education system, we can expect to see many more such efforts to understand the origins of this important document. “Engaging the nonsense – a brief investigation of the Common Core” A teacher asked me where the Common Core came from, another suggested that I “teach” the Common Core in my Master’s degre... more »
The Washington Teacher: Journey For Justice
The Washington Teacher: Journey For Justice: Journey For Justice by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson) *Journey for Justice* *"A National Grassroots Education Movement"* *Members:* * * *Atlanta, GA* ** *Project South* * * *Baltimore, MD * ** *Baltimore Algebra Project* * * *Boston, MA* ** *Boston Youth Organizing Project* *Chicago, IL* *Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization* *Cleveland, OH* *Common Good Ohio* * * *Detroit, MI* ** *Keep the Vote/NO Takeover* *Eupora, MS* *Fannie Lou Hamer Center* *Hartford, CT* *Parent Power* * * *Kansas City, MO* ** *Full Potential* * * *Los Angel... more »
Chief Sealth High School’s resolution on the MAP test. « Fred Klonsky
Chief Sealth High School’s resolution on the MAP test. « Fred Klonsky: Chief Sealth High School’s resolution on the MAP test. by Fred Klonsky *SEATTLE EDUCATION * The Battle 4 SEATTLE: Seattle Schools Under Siege Part 2 Seattle Education blog: Chief Sealth High School teachers just issued the following resolution: Whereas, the students, parents, teachers & staff find the MAP test to be negatively costly in the amount of educational time, money and resources required for its administration; Whereas, the Seattle Public Schools and its teachers already administer the HSPE, the End of ... more »
Press conference with Seattle schools’ boss Superintendent Banda. « Fred Klonsky
Press conference with Seattle schools’ boss Superintendent Banda. « Fred Klonsky: Press conference with Seattle schools’ boss Superintendent Banda. by Fred Klonsky *Seattle Schools Community Forum* * * The Battle 4 SEATTLE: Seattle Schools Under Siege Part 1 From Melissa Westbrook’s blog: * Update: I reviewed my notes and realized, based on questions about opting out, that I had missed one answer.* *I had asked the Superintendent about what would happen to the teachers who boycotted MAP and what would they do with students who opt out (given, for example, that word is that at lea... more »
Seattle Community College faculty votes to support Garfield MAP boycott. « Fred Klonsky
Seattle Community College faculty votes to support Garfield MAP boycott. « Fred Klonsky: Seattle Community College faculty votes to support Garfield MAP boycott. by Fred Klonsky Resolution of Seattle AFT local 1789: WHEREAS, the teachers at Garfield High School have spoken with a unified voice against the use of the MAP standardized test, and are refusing to administer it; and teachers from numerous other schools in the Seattle School District publicly stand by their Garfield High School colleagues; and WHEREAS, their refusal to administer the MAP test has drawn national attention... more »
Pass / Fail : Days of small K-3 classes look done for in California | 89.3 KPCC
Pass / Fail : Days of small K-3 classes look done for in California | 89.3 KPCC: Days of small K-3 classes look done for in California by AP [image: Joanna Ramos Memorial]*Ricardo Quintanar waits for his brother to get out of school at Willard Elementary School in Long Beach. Credit: Grant Slater/KPCC* California embarked on an ambitious experiment in 1996 to improve its public schools by putting its youngest students in smaller classes. Nearly 17 years later, the goal of maintaining classrooms of no more than 20 pupils in the earliest grades has been all but discarded— a casualty ... more »
More #edweek #propaganda for #commoncore. « @ the chalk face
More #edweek #propaganda for #commoncore. « @ the chalk face: More #edweek #propaganda for #commoncore. by Timothy D. Slekar Here’s the deal. Someone has to say it and it’s going to be me! Other than some of the blogs, EdWeek’s so called “news” is nothing more than propaganda for the corporate reformers. I pointed it out before, EdWeek and its reporters either are clueless about the difference between advocacy organizations that push propaganda and peer review research outlets or they (EdWeek and its reporters) have been purchased by the corporate reformers and have sold out thei... more »
In North Carolina, school resegregation by charter?
In North Carolina, school resegregation by charter?: In North Carolina, school resegregation by charter? [image: Graph from the UCLA Civil Rights Project report, "Southern Slippage."] Graph from the UCLA Civil Rights Project report, "Southern Slippage." Appreciate this post? Please donate & share below. [image: tweet this] [image: submit to reddit] North Carolina could soon see a dramatic increase in the number of charter schools, with as many as 150 of the public-private hybrids opening across the state next year. But new research from Duke University suggests the charter school ... more »
Diane in the Evening 1-26-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: If Kaya, Dennis, and Rahm Played Basketball by dianerav A loyal reader thought about the way that school leaders like Kaya Henderson, Dennis Walcott, and Rahm Emanuel cheer for the side they are NOT in charge of. And he tried to imagine school reform as a basketball game. Here goes: The charterites/privatizers love sports analogies. Here’s one for you: you are the owner of a professional sports team, let’s say, basketball. Your main historic rival is in the same state, not far away. You hire a coach who wears that team’s jersey to televised games, refuses to... more »
Highway to Hell - A Salute to National School Choice Week #EDREform
*Got Choice? Ubetcha! **Celebrating National School Choice Week* *National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Group: 1 in 5 charter schools not doing well enough to stay open* A group that oversees more than half of the nation's 5,600 charter schools said as many as one in five U.S. charter schools should be shut down because of poor academic performance. *http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019784379_charterschools29.html* *CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS WEBSITE* CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS A compilation of news articles about charter schools which have been charged... more »
Teacher boycott of standardized test in Seattle spreads
Teacher boycott of standardized test in Seattle spreads: Teacher boycott of standardized test in Seattle spreads Posted by Valerie Strauss on January 26, 2013 at 11:39 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: teset1]A boycott of Washington state’s mandated standardized test by teachers at a Seattle school is spreading to other schools and winning support across the country, including from the two largest teachers’ unions, parents, students, researchers and educators. The decision by teachers... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Updates
Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Updates: District Updates by Melissa Westbrook From the Times about the West Seattle robberies of Denny students: S*eattle police believe they may have caught at least one teen connected to the armed muggings and beatings of West Seattle middle-schoolers earlier this week.* * **When officers approached a dozen teens hanging out around 4 p.m. today near Roxhill Park, where the armed robberies took place, several of them took off running. Officers chased after them and caught eight, all between 14 and 18 years of age.* * **One 18-year-old ... more »
Wendy Lecker: Revisiting charter school 'successes' (A Must Read) - Wait, What?
Wendy Lecker: Revisiting charter school 'successes' (A Must Read) - Wait, What?: Wendy Lecker: Revisiting charter school ‘successes’ (A Must Read) by jonpelto Hearst Newspaper commentary writer and fellow pro-public education Wendy Lecker has another must read piece on the Stamford Advocate website: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-Revisiting-charter-school-4224349.php Wendy Lecker: Revisiting charter school ‘successes’ “Every legislative session, charter school lobbyists proclaim how successful privately run charter schools are compared to “failing” pu... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-26-13 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why Will Massachusetts Lift the Cap? by dianerav State Senator Barry Finegold has thrown in his lot with the powerful charter school industry. Some charters get high test scores; some get low test scores. Some skim off the best students in the poorest communities. Some have few or no disabled students, and few or no ELLs. What is Senator Finegold doing to support public education, where 90% of the children are enrolled? Does he What Was Better About Schools in the Past? by dianerav Anyone who attended pub... more »
Daily Kos: Reflections at the midpoint of the school year
Daily Kos: Reflections at the midpoint of the school year: Reflections at the midpoint of the school year by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) yesterday was the final day of 2nd quarter. The students were there for only half a day, as the afternoon was reserved for teachers to do grades and catch up on things. Most of us had completed our grading. I had, although I will head to school this morning to give some students a chance to raise their grades so that either they will not fail or they can achieve a higher letter grade. I have been with my students for almost all of the last ... more »