Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape Nite Cap 2-1-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Friday, February 1, 2013

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 2-1-13 #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

Highlights from the Jan. 31 issue of New York Teacher | Edwize

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago

New York Teacher | Edwize: New York Teacher by W.J. Levay Highlights from the Jan. 31 issue of *New York Teacher*: [image: New York Teacher, Jan. 31, 2013]At 11th hour, mayor torpedoes evaluation deal At 3 a.m. on Jan. 17, the day of the state deadline, the UFT and the Department of Education had reached an agreement in principle on a new evaluation plan that would have given teachers better working conditions, more voice in how they are evaluated and support for continued professional growth throughout their careers. But the mayor stepped in to sabotage the deal, and in the proces... more »

Carrot Juice Instead Of Coke? USDA Proposes New School Snack Rules : The Salt : NPR

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 26 minutes ago

Carrot Juice Instead Of Coke? USDA Proposes New School Snack Rules : The Salt : NPR: [image: NPR] *Carrot Juice Instead Of Coke? USDA Proposes New School Snack Rules* by ALLISON AUBREY [image: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed new rules for school snacks promote healthier options, like the fruits and vegetables served in this Palo Alto, Calif., cafeteria.] The U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed new rules for school snacks promote healthier options, like the fruits and vegetables served in this Palo Alto, Calif., cafeteria. The Department of Agriculture has pr... more »

Press Conference Introducing Legislation To End Mayoral Control Of Schools « New York City Parents Union

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Press Conference Introducing Legislation To End Mayoral Control Of Schools « New York City Parents Union: Press Conference Introducing Legislation To End Mayoral Control Of Schools by admin *State Assemblyman David Weprin ** and **State Senator Velmanette Montgomery Push Bill To End Mayoral Control of NYC Schools* New York, N.Y., Feb. 1, 2013 – Two New York City-based lawmakers have introduced legislation in their respective chambers to correct mayoral control and restore balance, professionalism, and parental input to the governance of the New York City public school system. The ... more »

Diane in the Evening 2-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Schools Can’t Do It Alone by dianerav Paul Thomas is one of our most eloquent critics of the idea that schools alone can overcome poverty. In this essay, he explains why. The money quote comes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “In addition to the absence of coordination and sufficiency, the programs [addressing poverty] of the past all have another common failing — they are indirect. Each seeks to solve poverty by first solving something else. *“*I am now convinced that the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective — the solution to poverty ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Breaking News - Alabama Withdraws From Both Testing Consortia

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

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 »

Schools Matter: How Jeb Bush's FEE Became the Conduit for Corporate Cash to Make ED Policy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Schools Matter: How Jeb Bush's FEE Became the Conduit for Corporate Cash to Make ED Policy: How Jeb Bush' FEE Became the Conduit for Corporate Cash to Make ED Policy by Jim Horn Through FOIA, In the Public Interest has acquired hundreds of documents that provide the much-needed links between corporate interests and state and federal education policy makers. Below is a commentary from IPIand below that are some page views that offer some graphic evidence of the depth of the sewer, which promises to give corruption in education policy entirely new boundaries. What we find, essent... more »

Ms. Katie's Ramblings: A Shout-Out to Education Activists

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Ms. Katie's Ramblings: A Shout-Out to Education Activists: A Shout-Out to Education Activists by KatieO *This piece was originally posted at ** http://atthechalkface.com/2013/02/01/a-shout-out-to-education-activists/* There are times when I feel overwhelmed by my good fortune to know so many powerful parent, teacher, student, and community activists across the country and the globe. We have come together through the fight against corporate education reform and the call for education justice, equity, and democratically-run schools. I feel lucky to have met so many amazing people... 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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

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 »

Groundbreaking Moment for Students with Disabilities | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Groundbreaking Moment for Students with Disabilities | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Groundbreaking Moment for Students with Disabilities by Special Olympics Project UNIFY *This was written in collaboration with many Project UNIFY staff members.* * Editor’s Note: This post is form our partners at the Special Olympics Project UNIFY. Each week in January, we will feature a new article on a topic related to the social inclusion of youth with intellectual disabilities. Through this effort, we hope to inform the public of the importance of such inclusion as well as... more »

Polarization & Charter/TFA Discussions | K-12 News Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Polarization & Charter/TFA Discussions | K-12 News Network: Polarization & Charter/TFA Discussions by admin Here’s why I think “civility” is a poor frame for discussions about public policy: Michael Petrilli, of the conservative Hoover Institution, has a point that TFA discussions are now very polar. But he remains naive/turns a blind eye to how a flood of venture capital and hedge fund money, newly allied with religious right funders, has made it lucrative for former TFA alums (like Rhee) to push the agendas — deliberately far removed from classroom practice and realities — that ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Last nigh't school closing hearings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

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 »

Education Research Report: Race to the Top Progress Reports

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Education Research Report: Race to the Top Progress Reports: Race to the Top Progress Reports by Jonathan Kantrowitz Today the U.S. Department of Education released state-specific reports for 12 Race to the Top grantees, detailing their progress on transforming education at the local level. The reports highlight the second-year work and accomplishments of states awarded funding through the first two phases of Race to the Top: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Tennessee. The 12 r... more »

UPDATE: North shore reps who back pension busting have called a community meeting Monday night. The return of the Skokie chapter. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

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 »

Hurrah for Subsidiarity « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Hurrah for Subsidiarity « Deborah Meier on Education: Hurrah for Subsidiarity by debmeier William Butler Yeats said, “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” I love and learn from all Larry Cuban’s blogs. Thanks, Larry, for introducing me to the idea of “subsidiarity” It’s at the heart of policy-making at Centrl Park East and Mission Hill and !’d argue, of democracy. I know that it makes change harder and slower–or so “change-agents” would have us believe. But we also know that “see! the data says x, therefore you must do y” is neither science nor art. ... more »

UPDATE:FETC 2013 et al + What Box? « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

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 »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, February 1, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Frey: Poll indicates counselors are more important for school safety than police officers Education Headlines *Friday, February 1, 2013* School police armed with AR-15sThe president of the San Diego school board questioned why the district’s police department authorized the use of assault weapons by its officers after he learned about the weaponry in a newspaper article. Rocketship Education founder John Danner leaves charter school to start online-learning companyRocketship Education founder John Danner is stepping aside to r... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Teaching Career Pathways: Peer Evaluation Best of the Ed Blogs David B. Cohen February 1, 2013 This Week’s “Round-Up” of Useful Posts on Education Policy Issues Bes... more »

Legislative Alert: Grading schools (but not charter schools), 50% of teacher evaluations based on test scores, cashing in on online learning and, of course, ALEC « Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Legislative Alert: Grading schools (but not charter schools), 50% of teacher evaluations based on test scores, cashing in on online learning and, of course, ALEC « Seattle Education: Legislative Alert: Grading schools (but not charter schools), 50% of teacher evaluations based on test scores, cashing in on online learning and, of course, ALEC by seattleducation2011 Unfortunately most of the bills coming from Litzow & Co. are right out of the ALEC playbook. We have watched this happen across the country with tragic effects and nowlegislators with ties to Stand for Children are taki... more »

Unethical, Immoral, Outrageous…Is Special Master Adamowski breaking the law with the Windham STEM Magnet? - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Unethical, Immoral, Outrageous…Is Special Master Adamowski breaking the law with the Windham STEM Magnet? - Wait, What?: Unethical, Immoral, Outrageous…Is Special Master Adamowski breaking the law with the Windham STEM Magnet? by jonpelto According to the State Department of Education, in Connecticut, a magnet school is a “publicly funded school operated by a local or regional school district, regional educational service center or by cooperative agreement involving two or more districts.” The Department of Education goes on to say that the purpose of a magnet school is “to red... more »

Dear Garfield and Seattle Teachers – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Dear Garfield and Seattle Teachers – @ the chalk face: Dear Garfield and Seattle Teachers by Timothy D. Slekar [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Stay strong! As this boycott continues to grow (And I believe it will) advocating for “portfolio and authentic assessment” is absolutely essential. The reality is that *any high stakes standardized test* is ALWAYS going to be an invalid indicator of student learning. Start using the language of *learning* over terms such as “achievement” and “growth.” These terms are embedded in high stakes standardized testing. The reform narrative exp... more »

UPDATE: Arne Duncan: We need gun control, more early childhood education + A letter to Teach For America’s Wendy Kopp — and her response

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

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 »

Trusting Teaching and Doctors | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Trusting Teaching and Doctors | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Trusting Teaching and Doctors by larrycuban When was the last time you heard an elected policymaker tell lawmakers the following about state and federal mandates for curriculum standards, accountability, and testing? *The laws that are in fashion demand tightly constrained curricula and reams of accountability data. All the better if it requires quiz-bits of information, regurgitated at regular intervals and stored in vast computers. Performance metrics, of course, are invoked like talismans. Di... more »

About Those Bar Exams for Teachers... - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

About Those Bar Exams for Teachers... - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: About Those Bar Exams for Teachers... by Nancy Flanagan I'm going to step out on a limb here and declare that I kind of like the idea of a bar exam for teachers. Depending, of course, on what the exam looks like. A targeted content examination? A test of communication skills? Performance assessments in instructional skills? Demonstrated ability to analyze and improve a lesson? Bring 'em on. There shouldn't be anyone entering the field who can't show mastery of content and the ability to wr... more »

Former Whistleblower files lawsuit against the California Commission on Teaching Credentials

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Former Whistleblower files lawsuit against the California Commission on Teaching Credentials: Former Whistleblower files lawsuit against the California Commission on Teaching Credentials by Danny Weil [image: nclb] January 29, 2013 By Steve Zeltzer Producer at KFPA with WorkWeek radio and labor documentary producer. lvpsf@igc.org// with Kathleen Carroll Kathleen Carroll, a former government lawyer turned whistleblower at the California Commission On Teacher Credentialing CTC has filed a potentially explosive suit against CTC officials and the state government that charges that th... more »

School Tech Connect: Dear Barbara Flynn Currie

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Dear Barbara Flynn Currie: Dear Barbara Flynn Currie by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Dear Barbara Flynn Currie, Thank you for sponsoring a legislation allowing Chicago Public Schools to be exempt from the law requiring them to adhere to a school-closing list deadline. You will be happy to know that they have returned this favor by outsourcing community engagement to the Walton Family Foundation, which has spent at least $350m on the creation of charter schools throughout the nation. The Waltons have engaged a marketing firm, Loran Marketing Group, to "han... more »

School is Fun | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

School is Fun | Connected Principals: School is Fun by Kevin Creutz CLS Kindergarten students Skype with kindergartners from Holy Trinity Lutheran School in Bowling Green, KY. [image: CLS Kindergarten students Skype with kindergartners from Holy Trinity Lutheran School in Bowling Green, KY.]As we come to the end of the 2013 National Lutheran Schools Week, we look back on a week of activities, spirit days, service projects, and excitement to realize that one of the great things about Lutheran schools is that we know how to have fun. It was evident that the students here at Central L... more »

Daily Kos: Some miscellaneous thoughts

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Daily Kos: Some miscellaneous thoughts: Some miscellaneous thoughts by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) that have been floating around my mind over the past few days, especially at moments when I watch my wife sleeping in her hospital bed and do not have my focus solely on her. After watching (with her) some of the inanity in the questioning of Chuck Hagel, I really find it hard not to be very judgmental on what I see of Republicans in Congress on both sides of the Hill. The pandering for political positioning is gross and disgusting and does little to advance sensible discussion o... more »

UPDATE: invest in libraries - Schools Matter: Evaluation of Gates Research on Teacher Effectiveness

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Schools Matter: Evaluation of Gates Research on Teacher Effectiveness: Quck and easy way to improve life for children of poverty: invest in libraries from Schools Matter by skrashen A quick and easy way Sent to This Week in Poverty, the Nation Magazine, comment on “This Week in Poverty: Time to Take On Concentrated Poverty and Education” Original article: http://www.thenation.com/blog/172589/week-poverty-time-take-concentrated-poverty-and-education# Missing from This Week in Poverty’s list of projects designed to alleviate the effects of poverty are projects aimed at providing mo... more »

We Hold… | California Father

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

We Hold… | California Father: [image: California Father] We Hold… by California Father Popout We Hold from Vincent Precht on Vimeo. To make this video I downloaded photos from the Library of Congress. I was amazed how diverse public schools have always been. Native Americans, African Americans, Anglo Americans–first in separate schools, then in the

In Race to the Top update, feds express serious concerns with Georgia’s lack of progress on teacher evaluations | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

In Race to the Top update, feds express serious concerns with Georgia’s lack of progress on teacher evaluations | Get Schooled: In Race to the Top update, feds express serious concerns with Georgia’s lack of progress on teacher evaluations by Maureen Downey Troubling news for Georgia today after the U.S. Education Department issued a progress report citing grave concerns about the state’s Race to the Top progress. What has the U.S. DOE concerned is Georgia’s struggles with introducing and implementing a new teacher evaluation, a central piece of the state’s $400 million Race to ... more »

Modern School: Who’s Hurting NY’s Kids? Cuomo's Attack on Collective Bargaining

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Modern School: Who’s Hurting NY’s Kids? Cuomo's Attack on Collective Bargaining: Who’s Hurting NY’s Kids? Cuomo's Attack on Collective Bargaining by Michael Dunn “Do not punish our schoolchildren for the obstructionism of the U.F.T.,” These were the words of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, referring to Governor Cuomo’s decision to cut hundreds of millions of dollars of funding to New York schools because the city and its teachers union, United Federation of Teachers (UFT), failed to come to an agreement on teacher evaluations by the arbitrary January 17 deadline imposed by the... more »

New skepticism of for-profit companies managing public schools | Hechinger Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

New skepticism of for-profit companies managing public schools | Hechinger Report: New skepticism of for-profit companies managing public schools by Sarah Carr [image: New skepticism of for-profit companies managing public schools] JACKSON, Miss. — When state officials here tried last year to recruit a for-profit company to manage schools in rural Tate County, the community outcry was swift. Concerned residents spoke out in the media, argued their case to lawmakers and circulated a petition against the “privatization” of Tate County Schools. Patricia Johnson, whose son attends a pub... more »

SI&A Cabinet Report – Feds, CDE offer middle school grants to support students with disabilities

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Feds, CDE offer middle school grants to support students with disabilities *By Tom Chorneau* Friday, February 01, 2013 California middle schools in high needs districts are eligible to compete for a share of an $11 million federal grant awarded to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities. State schools chief Tom Torlakson made the announcement Thursday, noting that an application and evaluation process will take place later this year. “This grant will fund teacher training and academic services that go a long way toward he... more »

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-1-13 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] 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 »

Missouri Education Watchdog: The Wrangling of Taxpayer Money by Jeb Bush and other Education Reformers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: The Wrangling of Taxpayer Money by Jeb Bush and other Education Reformers: The Wrangling of Taxpayer Money by Jeb Bush and other Education Reformers by stlgretchen The Wild West Comes to Your State via Education Reformers looking for Gold. Education is the "Wild West". Scott Joftus was correct when talking about money to be made in education reform: Scott Joftus, closely aligned with Bill Gates and his foundation since the early years of 2000, had this to say about education in an article aptly titled "Is the Stimulus Really "No Consultant Left Behind"... more »

Joy Resmovits: Voucher Expansion Proposed By Ohio Gov. Kasich: Ed Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Joy Resmovits: Voucher Expansion Proposed By Ohio Gov. Kasich: Ed Today: Voucher Expansion Proposed By Ohio Gov. Kasich: Ed Today by Joy Resmovits *Vouchers To Grow In Ohio?* In Ohio, Gov. John Kasich's (R) budget plan would reduce funding gaps between wealthy and poor public school districts and also create a new voucher program, reports the Columbus Dispatch.The new vouchers would give about $4,250 a year toward private-school tuition to any kindergartener whose family is making less than 200 percent of the poverty line. The next year, Kasich would expand the program to include ... more »

From the brilliant Susie Day « Bill Ayers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

From the brilliant Susie Day « Bill Ayers: From the brilliant Susie Day by billayers *Dear All-* *With love from a dirty-blonde feminist:* *Zero Dark Thirty: The Woman’s Guide to Success Thru Torture* *I. The Globe* * See the Globe. More than half the 7 billion people on the Globe are women. Women are different from men. Why are women different from men? Because, according to international humanitarian agencies, women have special percentages that stick out. See women’s percentages:* * • Women make up 70% of the world’s poor.* * • Women do 66% of the world’s work... more »

On the killing of a star student in Chicago

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

On the killing of a star student in Chicago: On the killing of a star student in Chicago Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 1, 2013 at 4:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: COURTESY OF DNAINFO.COM - Undated family photo of Hadiya Pendleton.] COURTESY OF DNAINFO.COM – Undated family photo of Hadiya Pendleton. Here is a moving statement from Chicago Teachers Union President Karen GJ Lewis, t on the shooting death of King College Prep student Hadiya Pendleton, a star student who was gun... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Highlights of Mayoral candidate education debate sponsored by principals union

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Highlights of Mayoral candidate education debate sponsored by principals union: Highlights of Mayoral candidate education debate sponsored by principals union by Leonie Haimson credit: Epoch Times Last night there was a lively education debate sponsored by the CSA, the principals union, with all the Democratic mayoral candidates and Tom Allon, who is running as a Republican. I was busily tweeting throughout. Except for a rather tiresome exchange as to who had the best public school alma mater, it was an interesting discussion, well moderated by Liz W... more »

Public education privatization, - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Public education privatization, - Perdaily.com: ' Privatization of Public Education: Strategies, Players, & Profits Part 2 by Steve Zeltzer by Leonard Isenberg [image: Steve Zeltzer.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español)* *Over the last 30 years, a massive coordinated campaign has been funded to undermine public education through charters, trigger laws and pushing testing scores, and - most recently - online education that will eliminate teachers, which will funnel more profits to computer companies and billionaire entrepreneurs, including convicted felon Michael Milken. * *The aim app... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 1-31-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

*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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

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 »

Pass / Fail : Out-of-state students surpass Calfornians vying for entry to USC | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Pass / Fail : Out-of-state students surpass Calfornians vying for entry to USC | 89.3 KPCC: Out-of-state students surpass Calfornians vying for entry to USC by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez [image: California v USC]*The USC Trojans enter the field. For the first time in the school's history, out-of-state applicants surpassed in-state. Credit: Jonathan Moore/Getty Images* The University of Southern California is pushing to attract students from all over the country and the world. And it's paying off. For the first time in its 133 year history, a majority of applications for admission this year... more »

CTU President Karen Lewis on the death of Chicago high school student, Hadiya Pendleton. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

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)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

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 »

Hite stands firm on closures plan, but hints at possible changes | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Hite stands firm on closures plan, but hints at possible changes | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Hite stands firm on closures plan, but hints at possible changes by thenotebook *by Bill Hangley, Jr.* * * * * The last of the Philadelphia District’s school-closure meetings wrapped up quietly at Northeast High Wednesday night, where District officials made plain once again their intention to stay the course on a plan to close or relocate 44 schools by September. School Reform Commission member Feather Houstoun told the audience that despite a recent City Council votein favor of ... more »

U.S. Department of Education Releases School-Level Assessment Data in Reading and Math for All Schools for 2008-09 to 2010-11 | U.S. Department of Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

U.S. Department of Education Releases School-Level Assessment Data in Reading and Math for All Schools for 2008-09 to 2010-11 | U.S. Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Releases School-Level Assessment Data in Reading and Math for All Schools for 2008-09 to 2010-11 JANUARY 31, 2013 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov The U.S. Department of Education announced today the release of student performance data in reading and math for all schools in the country for school years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. This is the first time the Department ... more »

A double dose of algebra improves math and verbal skills as well as college enrollment | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

A double dose of algebra improves math and verbal skills as well as college enrollment | Get Schooled: A double dose of algebra improves math and verbal skills as well as college enrollment by Maureen Downey Doubling up on algebra classes in high schools has big payoffs, according to a new study. [image: Doubling up on algebra classes in high schools has big payoffs, according to a new study.]Interesting study out of Texas A&M on the impact of increased algebra exposure in high school: When students’ time learning algebra is doubled, both their math and verbal skills improve and t... more »

Update: Board Meeting on Interim Plan Seattle Schools Community Forum: Updates for Today's Seattle School Board Meeting

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

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 »

Petition | Sacramento City Unified School District: Vote NO on the school closures! | Change.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Petition | Sacramento City Unified School District: Vote NO on the school closures! | Change.org: *Petitioning Sacramento City Unified School District Board Members * ** *Sacramento City Unified School District: Vote NO on the school closures* Too many questions, too little time! On January 17, 2013, the Sacramento Unified School District proposed to close 11 elementary schools. The District plans to take a vote on February 21, 2013 on a finalized closure plan, providing parents, students and the community with very short notification of this sweeping proposal and little-to-no inv... more »

Diane in the Evening 1-31-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: If I Were Secretary of Education…(2) by dianerav From a reader: 1, Dispose of Teach for America and alternative certification (except for vocational courses) or revise it completely as follows. Hire TFAs as paraprofessionals to work under experienced teachers for their first year. 2. Require a commitment of 5 years, not 2, so the schools get full benefit from them 3. Do not place them in schools with high percentages of disadvantaged and disabled students. Instead, put them in middle class schools and create incentives for the best teachers to go to the di... more »

Big Education Ape - SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 1-31-13 #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

*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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

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 »

Schools Matter: New from CREDO: Charter Schools are No Better than Public Schools, and Don't Expect Them to Change

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Schools Matter: New from CREDO: Charter Schools are No Better than Public Schools, and Don't Expect Them to Change: New from CREDO: Charter Schools are No Better than Public Schools, and Don't Expect Them to Change by Jim Horn A new analysis of charter schools in the U. S. is out from CREDO, the Stanford-based outfit that found in 2009, when there were 4,700 charters across 40 states, that 17 percent of the nation’s charter schools were scoring better on standardized tests than the public schools they were created to replace: While the report recognized a robust national demand ... more »

Do parent trigger laws fire blanks? Is it parents who really take over schools or management companies? | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Do parent trigger laws fire blanks? Is it parents who really take over schools or management companies? | Get Schooled: Do parent trigger laws fire blanks? Is it parents who really take over schools or management companies? by Maureen Downey In explaining the impetus for his parent trigger bill, House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, cited the need to get parents and school boards talking. “It creates an additional avenue of communication directly from the parents to the school board, which I think is critically important.” Lindsey told a media assemblage earlier this mo... more »