Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 3-23-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 3-23-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS

Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans Pull Parent Trigger Bill “Amid Concerns From It’s Own Party” | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 29 minutes ago

Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans Pull Parent Trigger Bill “Amid Concerns From It’s Own Party” | Scathing Purple Musings: Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans Pull Parent Trigger Bill “Amid Concerns From It’s Own Party” by Bob Sikes Parent Trigger died in the Georgia senate after the bill was pulled by it’ republican sponsor because members of his own party raised serious concerns. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta), withdrew the bill when it became clear it wouldn’t pass through the Senate. From Wayne Washington in the *Atlanta Journal Constitution.* If 60 percent of s... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-23-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 31 minutes ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Governor Malloy Abandons Equitable Funding Plan in Connecticut by dianerav In this important article, civil rights attorney explains how Governor Malloy switched sides on the funding formula for Connecticut public schools. What hypocrisy! As mayor of Stamford, he was a plaintiff in the lawsuit. As governor, he now opposes the views he once espoused. Lecker writes: “As Stamford’s mayor, Dannel Malloy was an original plaintiff in the pending school funding case, Th... more »

The in box. Defending the profit model. K-12 Inc. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 31 minutes ago

The in box. Defending the profit model. K-12 Inc. | Fred Klonsky: Every Chicago public school is my school. by Fred Klonsky [image: 544467_10151582208096000_1107337206_n] The in box. Defending the profit model. K-12 Inc. by Fred Klonsky John Laesch When the K12 Inc. executive stammered, Dean Fisher, a Yorkville School Board member repeated his question, “defend your profit model.” The questions came after the K12 Inc. corporate executive had made a 20-minute presentation to the board and administrators of Yorkville District 115. *The real world questions kept coming like a serie... more »

Connecticut concerns about Renzulli Academy segregation makes Washington Post - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 55 minutes ago

Connecticut concerns about Renzulli Academy segregation makes Washington Post - Wait, What?: Connecticut concerns about Renzulli Academy segregation makes Washington Post by jonpelto The Washington Post’s education reporter, Valerie Strauss, reprinted the recent column written by Wendy Lecker on her blog, The Answer Sheet. Strauss writes, “Are schools for “gifted” students promoting segregation? Here’s an argument that they are, from Wendy Lecker, a columnist for Hearst Connecticut Media Group and senior attorney for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity project at the Education Law Cen... more »

Let Kids Know That Failure Is a Normal Part of Life | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 58 minutes ago

Let Kids Know That Failure Is a Normal Part of Life | toteachornototeach: Let Kids Know That Failure Is a Normal Part of Life by aristotlethewise *Let Kids Know That Failure Is a Normal Part of Life* by Livia McCoy As parents, we want to protect our children from failure. What we don’t realize is that failure is an important part of life. If children do not experience failure, they may not learn to struggle through to success. Think about when you watched your child learn to walk. If every time they fell down you rescued them, they may have taken much longer to learn to walk on thei... more »

Daily Kos: Charles Blow: The G.O.P.’s Bachmann Problem

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 58 minutes ago

Daily Kos: Charles Blow: The G.O.P.’s Bachmann Problem: Charles Blow: The G.O.P.’s Bachmann Problem by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) is A *New York Times* op ed that is more than worth your time to read. Blow notes a lot of the internecine rhetorical bashing of Republicans by Republicans - for example, McCain calling the likes of Ted Cruz and Justin Amash "wacko birds" and Anne Coulter taking after Chris Christie in the frame of the smaller CPAC conference this year, “Even CPAC had to cut back on its speakers this year, by about 300 pounds.” He also covers he Palin - Rove conflict ... more »

I Miss Teaching — A Late-Night Musing – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

I Miss Teaching — A Late-Night Musing – @ the chalk face: I Miss Teaching — A Late-Night Musing by Kris Nielsen [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] I saw a tweet from a 24-year veteran teacher today, which brought the final hammer down on my up-and-down kind of day. This was a day where the bad news seemed to outweigh the good. Chicago is being chewed up and chipped away at again. Philadelphia and other cities are traumatized by what the leaders of their cities and states are doing to the children. The governor of my state has decided to put in place a budget that is blatantly a... more »

Blind, severely disabled boy forced to take standardized test

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Blind, severely disabled boy forced to take standardized test: Blind, severely disabled boy forced to take standardized test Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 23, 2013 at 8:00 am 7 Comments More [image: fcat]There are many distressing stories about high-stakes standardized tests, but this may be the most hideous I have heard. This involves the issue of who must take state standardized tests, and whether parents have a right to opt out their children from the testing. In Florida, opting out is extremely hard to do. This post was written by veteran educator Marion Brady, who in 2011 ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Another Teacher Questions Common Core Spin

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Another Teacher Questions Common Core Spin: Another Teacher Questions Common Core Spin by stlgretchen An experienced teacher cuts through the phrases bantered around by the CCSS proponents and asks questions on the viability of the initiative to deliver the educational promises it proclaims. From smartblogs.com and Mark Barnes in* Can education reform and the common core coexist?:* My stance on legitimate education reform is clear: testing, standardization and accountability inhibit learning and should be abolished, and teachers should be inspired ... more »

Fighting Testing Madness in North Carolina | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Fighting Testing Madness in North Carolina | Parents Across America: Fighting Testing Madness in North Carolina by pagrundy PAA affiliate MecklenburgACTS.org has launched a North Carolina-wide petition drive aimed at the high-stakes standardized tests that are doing so much damage to our children’s education. The petition builds on our successful campaign against testing madness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools two years ago. It calls on state legislators and school officials to reduce the number of exams required by the state and to remove all high-stakes consequences such as A-... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-23-13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* GOOD NEWS FOR ADULT EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 10 hours ago from the AALA Update | http://bit.ly/166dFHV 21 March 2013 :: Members of the State Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance rejected Governor Brown’s plan to move administrative and financial responsibility for adult education from K-12 districts to the community colleges on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. This vote, by a Democrat-controlled committee, indicates that the INSTEAD... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 3-23-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * The Impact of Chicago's Small High School Initiative Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 20 hours ago This project examines the effects of the introduction of new small high schools on student performance in the Chicago Public School (CPS) district. Specifically, the authors investigate whether students attending small high schools have better graduation/enrollment rates and achievement than similar students who attend regular CPS high schools. The authors show that students who choose to attend a ... more »

The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part VIII: This Shit Can't Be Made Up! southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part VIII: This Shit Can't Be Made Up! by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) It is getting goofier by the day at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School. No one, not even the good Lord himself can make this shit up. Now remember before the tale is told, The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School uses the most awesome as well and most excellent PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)system. The key to this system is the *card.* A student starts at neutral (... more »

Thoughts on a disaster… Save Our Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Thoughts on a disaster…: Thoughts on a disaster… by Server Thoughts on a disaster…*Bob George – Save Our Schools National Director* Have you ever witnessed a disaster? Where you troubled, shaken to your core, reminded of the need to live every day as if it is your last? Would you do anything you could to have found a way to keep what you encountered from happening or happening again? My guess is your answer to all of the above is yes! We are in the midst of a gathering super-storm more powerful than Katrina or Sandy. More lives will be lost; more children harmed irreparably, and more... more »

Torlakson, Kirst write letter supporting nine-district NCLB waiver | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Torlakson, Kirst write letter supporting nine-district NCLB waiver | EdSource Today: Torlakson, Kirst write letter supporting nine-district NCLB waiver - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald * A waiver would give the districts flexibility to use more than $100 million of federal Title I money for low-income children and to propose creative ways to improve their lowest performing schools. It would also free them from other NCLB penalties, such as notifying parents that their schools are failures. The nine unified districts are Los Angeles, Fresno, Long Beach, San Francisco, Cl... more »

S.475: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

S.475: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: S.475 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act A bill to reauthorize the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004, to provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion and development of mentoring programs, and for other purposes. S.475 - Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act A bill to reauthorize the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004, to provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion and development of mentoring programs, and for other purposes. view all titles (2) -... more »

Ed Notes Online: Fighting School Closings, Chicago Style

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Fighting School Closings, Chicago Style: Fighting School Closings, Chicago Style by ed notes online Do you know what Unity Caucus people are going to say? "You see, if only the CTU had not been so militant and struck. This is retaliation. We know how to deal. We know we have to be good boys and girls and they will let us live a little longer. Karen Lewis would say they want to kill us sooner or later. Our only chance is to fight them on all fronts sooner and with all guns blazing. In reality, if CORE had not won the election, the Chicago Teachers Union would be a ... more »

UFT on School Governance: The first of two ‘Debates’ | JD2718

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

UFT on School Governance: The first of two ‘Debates’ | JD2718: UFT on School Governance: Two ‘Debates’ by jd2718 Last Monday, at the UFT Exec Board, I rose to speak against the recommendations on school governance. They were approved by that body, seventy or so to 3. I posted about the meeting (click here for account), and promised to write up my notes (immediately below). On Wednesday the recommendations, now approved by the Exec Board, were introduced to the Delegate Assembly. There any chance of debate was obscured by a tertiary question: did the MORE reps on the committee vo... more »

Georgia kids can’t touch their toes. Can schools fix that? | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Georgia kids can’t touch their toes. Can schools fix that? | Get Schooled: ' Georgia kids can’t touch their toes. Can schools fix that? by Maureen Downey [image: Schools are being asked to get students moving more. (Vino Wong/AJC)]Schools are being asked to get students moving more. (Vino Wong/AJC) Before I began writing about education, I never thought much about all that we ask of schools, from teaching kids calculus to civics to character to cardiovascular health. As an editorial writer, I would attend meetings where one group after another would tout some critical new skill that ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: US Department of Education Offers Encouraging Quote from Communist Leader Mao Zedong...

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: US Department of Education Offers Encouraging Quote from Communist Leader Mao Zedong...: US Department of Education Offers Encouraging Quote from Communist Leader Mao Zedong... by stlgretchen ...then deletes it. From BuzzFeed.com and* Department Of Education Website Quotes Mao Zedong:* *The “Kids' Zone” of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website, part of the Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, quotes communist leader Mao Zedong.* The NCES is the“primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data relat... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Boys and Girls (Part One)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Boys and Girls (Part One): Boys and Girls (Part One) by Melissa Westbrook A number of news stories have crossed my path this month about boys and girls. This thread is about issues that happen to kids outside of school. One heads up I wanted to give parents of girls is the movie, Spring Breakers. Now, you don't have to get too worried because it's rated R so I would hope most of your students could not just go to see it. Spring Breakers is about a group of college girls who want a spring break, have no money, rob a restaurant and they're off and... more »

School Tech Connect: Some Questions About The Concept Charter

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Some Questions About The Concept Charter: Some Questions About The Concept Charter by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Confusion in my head there is. Plus I've started blogging in Yoda's voice so I've got my hands full here. Here's my question: how does that state charter commission operate? Was there a commission hearing on the new Concept charters, or just a public meeting where they accepted a foregone conclusion? I hate having a full time job; I can never investigate things! Let's review the timeline, shall we? *March 14, 2013: * At 2:34 PM, the princip... more »

Jersey Jazzman: School Closings: The New Apartheid

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: School Closings: The New Apartheid: School Closings: The New Apartheid by Duke Once again, it's time to play "Spot the Pattern!" *Can you find the pattern that emerges from these reformy stories from around the country?* [all emphases mine] Chicago: In what would be the largest public school closing in US history, Chicago officials are proposing to shutter 61 schools, 9 percent of the 681 schools citywide. [...] *A factor deeply embedded in the debate over the closings is race: The majority of students in CPS are either black or Hispanic, and the Sun-Times r... more »

Schools Matter: Watch Karen Lewis Call It What It Is

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Schools Matter: Watch Karen Lewis Call It What It Is: Watch Karen Lewis Call It What It Is by Jim Horn On PBS, nonetheless. If you want to see the fire that will burn down the corporate whore house that is now in charge of our children's education in urban America, watch Karen Lewis on PBS tonight. I am assuming it will be posted later on the PBS site unless Bill Gates intercedes on behalf of the oligarchs that he leads. Protect Karen Lewis: she is only one I have seen who has the courage, the intelligence, caring, and the fire to galvanize an education for democracy movement.... more »

“Take the Test” Action in Providence Sparks Dialogue | The IDEA Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

“Take the Test” Action in Providence Sparks Dialogue | The IDEA Blog: “Take the Test” Action in Providence Sparks Dialogue by Dana Bennis in *Blog* * * Last weekend, the Providence Student Union (PSU) held a "Take the Test" action, where several dozen community leaders, policy-makers, scientists, and professors took an abbreviated form of the Math NECAP exam, the passing of which is required to earn a high school diploma in Rhode Island. From the PSU press release announcing the event (thanks to Diane Ravitch for posted it in full): “We expect this event to prove that people are mo... more »

All Things Education: Terriblus Tyrantus

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

All Things Education: Terriblus Tyrantus: Terriblus Tyrantus by Rachel Levy *Blogger's note:* *This is the third in a series of posts that I wrote in February of 2012 as part of a writing fellowship application. See the introduction to this series here. All of the school closing announcements of late--in DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and of course, New York reminded me of this post.* Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York sees himself as the “Education Mayor.” But lately New Yorkers seem to wish he weren’t. While a recent poll (more coverage here) shows they approve of some of his edu... more »

Daily Kos: Review: "American Winter" (HBO)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Daily Kos: Review: "American Winter" (HBO): Review: "American Winter" (HBO) by rss@dailykos.com (plthomasEdD) Toward the end of HBO's documentary *American Winter*, Brandon is finally offered a job after viewers have watched him and his wife Pam struggle against Brandon losing his job, resulting in their being unable to pay their rent and having to live with Pam's mother. When Brandon is told he has the job, his new boss notes Brandon is overqualified, but Brandon eagerly explains that he is thankful for the work and committed to do whatever he can to be a good worker—despite the ... more »

Introducing Student Voice Live! Keynote Speaker: Jaxson Khan. Student Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Student Voice: Introducing Student Voice Live! Keynote Speaker: Jaxson Khan. by admin Named one of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 young leaders and a global One Young World Ambassador, Jaxson is a second year student at Western University double-majoring in Global Development at Huron University College and Business Administration through the Richard Ivey School of Business. Jaxson is an established social activist, and has spoken before audiences of over 5000 youth on positive change-making. In high school, he founded the Student Wellness Committee, running multiple awareness campaigns... more »

Senate considering vouchers | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Senate considering vouchers | Parents Across America: Senate considering vouchers by pureparents One of our eagle-eyed members has alerted us to the fact that the Senate may be voting this afternoon on an amendment to the FY14 budget to divert some Title 1 money to private and religious schools in the form of vouchers. Please consider calling or e-mailing your Senators as well.You can watch the vote here on C-Span. Here’s the fax we just sent to the members of the Senate education committee voicing our opposition to vouchers. *Parent Voices Emergency Education Fax* March 22, 2013 *O... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Why Steve Barr Did Not Get Venice High School by dianerav I received an urgent message from a parent of a student at Venice High school in Los Angeles. She was desperate because had just learned that the privatization-friendly LA school board was about to vote on whether to give half of Venice High School to Steve Barr, eduentrepreneur (founder of Green Dot charters but now running a new charter chain). He wanted to start a “pilot school,” and this parent was outraged because, she said, Venice is a good school ... more »

#ASCD13 Whole Child Tweet Roundup — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

#ASCD13 Whole Child Tweet Roundup — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]#ASCD13 Whole Child Tweet Roundup March 22, 2013 by Klea Scharberg [image: ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show] Last weekend at ASCD's 68th Annual Conference and Exhibit Show in Chicago, Ill., thousands of educators from around the world shared their stories, made discoveries, laughed and cried, and learned how to enrich themselves and engage their students. Throughout the coming months, we will be sharing lessons and learning from selected sessions on this blog and further con... more »

UPDATE: Which Pot Should Pay for the Pool? | PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

School Board Report – March 20, 2013 | PWC Education Reform Blog: Which Pot Should Pay for the Pool? by pwceducationreform For more than a month now followers of this blog and of the school division have been embroiled in a debate over whether a pool should be part of the 12th high school. BOCS and members of the county parks and recreation department are rumored to be in talks with the school division about the planning and funding for the pool, talks which have reportedly happened without the knowledge of my BOCS member or the school board. Prince William County’s Chief Exec... more »

Jake Frackson – A New Interpretation on “No Child Left Behind” Student Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Student Voice: Jake Frackson – A New Interpretation on “No Child Left Behind” by Editor Admin Every weekend I spend an hour volunteering with a boy who has cerebral palsy. Together we go to the local pool and together we swim. Because he needs the extra support, I spend my hour helping support him so that he can exercise. We always have a great time and that’s because we are both gaining something from our time together. An hour a week is an insignificant commitment; but over time, its impact builds. Every time I’m with him, I get to experience a new perspective. Rather than bei... more »

Torlakson Applauds Healthy Lunch Record - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Torlakson Applauds Healthy Lunch Record - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Torlakson Applauds Push for Healthy Lunch Record SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement in support ofCalifornia Ag Day 2013 [image: External link opens in new window or tab.], where the California Department of Food and Agriculture is attempting to serve a record 750 healthy school lunches from the world's largest lunch tray to students at the State Capitol. "California's farmers and the healthy food they produce are ess... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: A calamity of seismic proportion

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: A calamity of seismic proportion: A calamity of seismic proportion by Mike Klonsky Students arrive for school at Garrett A. Morgan Elementary, only to find out their school is being closed. *"You know, schools are community anchors. They're social centers. They're part of a community's identity. The closings are going to take place almost entirely within the African-American community, and given the problems we already have with violence, I think it's very problematic." *--County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Make no mistake. This is a crime again... more »

Most Brown special ed proposals clear finance subcommittee SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *Most Brown special ed proposals clear finance subcommittee* *By Kimberly Beltran* Friday, March 22, 2013 A legislative finance panel on Thursday recommended adoption of a majority of Gov. Jerry Brown’s special education funding proposals, including revisions to the formula used to determine how much money each district receives to provide services to students. But the Senate subcommittee on education finance proposed adding to the mix a recommendation from the Legislative Analyst that would further adjust the funding formula to provide supp... more »

UPDATE: The zombies have left the building + The big noise from Springfield. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The big noise from Springfield. | Fred Klonsky: Illinois Senate adjourns until April. No pension deal. You can let the children out now. The zombies have left the building. by Fred Klonsky Ten minute drawing. Every public school is my school. by Fred Klonsky [image: dewey] Click on drawing to enlarge. The in box. Jackson Potter, CTU Staff Coordinator. by Fred Klonsky *You probably heard yesterday that the school district plans to close, co-locate and turnaround 70 schools this year. Your sisters and brothers in the CTU will stand tall with you during these difficult times. You... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, March 22, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *THE NETWORK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION (CLICK PICTURE)* *[image: The Network for Public Education (click picture)] * ** *WE ARE MANY. THERE IS POWER IN OUR NUMBERS. TOGETHER, * *WE WILL SAVE OUR SCHOOLS. THE NETWORK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION* Education Headlines *Friday, March 22, 2013* Oxnard School District superintendent will retire after less than two years on the jobChancer submitted his letter of intent Thursday to all the employees of the Oxnard district. Oakland to close 3 charter schoolsThree of the state's highest-performing scho... more »

Budget cuts to hit Native American schools the hardest

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Budget cuts to hit Native American schools the hardest: Budget cuts to hit Native American schools the hardest Greg Toppo, @gtoppo, USA TODAY12:10a.m. EDT March 22, 2013 STORY HIGHLIGHTS - Children on Indian lands account for nearly half of federal school aid - Districts could get a little relief as the federal budget process plays out - Districts have to trim staff and consolidate schools The mandatory, across-the-board budget cuts from the federal sequestration are causing little noticeable effect on most school campuses, but schools for Native Americans are already... more »

Instead of closing schools, how about this?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Instead of closing schools, how about this?: Instead of closing schools, how about this? Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 22, 2013 at 11:17 am [image: closed-300x233]When Michelle Rhee told D.C. school residents that she, as chancellor of public schools in the nation’s capital, was closing 23 under-enrolled schools, she promised that a lot of money would be saved that could be plowed back into academic programs in remaining schools. It didn’t happen; an audit years later found that the closings actually cost the city $40 million. It remains to be seen how the most recent round of ... more »

UPDATE: Pesticides: A school child’s best friend + Windham area superintendents of schools - Please intervene before it's too late... - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Windham area superintendents of schools - Please intervene before it's too late... - Wait, What?: Pesticides: A school child’s best friend by jonpelto In 2010, New York State passed the Child Safe Playing Field Act, legislation that banned the application of pesticides on the play areas of all schools, pre-K through 12th grade. The New York bill started out as a ban on all outdoor school grounds, but it was narrowed to cover only school playgrounds and playing fields. It also allows “emergency application of pesticides for infestations.” Here in Connecticut, pesticides have been... more »

UPDATE: Teacher Common Core Survey Results Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Editorials and PR Pieces: Give us "Just the Facts". No More Spin.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Editorials and PR Pieces: Give us "Just the Facts". No More Spin.: Teacher Common Core Survey Results by stlgretchen From Utah: Utah teachers speak out against *common core* --anonymously-- on this survey just released today. http://fb.me/11JPpZLWm Some comments from the survey: I opposed Common Core Standards and assessments because they are poorly considered. The language standard is based upon whole language methods which have a long history of being ineffective and even harmful to developing language skills. The math standards are... more »

The Future of Teaching is 4 Bad Asses | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

The Future of Teaching is 4 Bad Asses | EduShyster: The Future of Teaching is 4 Bad Asses by edushyster2012 Good news lovers of excellence. The future of teaching has arrived and it is for *bad asses* only. What is a bad ass, you ask? Chances are, if you have to ask the question, you are not one and hence not remotely qualified to apply for the following actual job that I have merely copied and pasted verbatim. Lest you think that is something that I am making up, I refer you to the actual job posting here. But don’t delay—bad asses move fast. They know that excellence never rests ... more »

Schools Matter: Urban Schools: Failure by Design

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Schools Matter: Urban Schools: Failure by Design: Urban Schools: Failure by Design by Douglas Storm GUEST POST: John Harris Loflin, Education-Community Action Team * **Urban schools are not broken: Moving to a 21st century vision of urban education* *The crisis is not about education at all. It’s about power.* ~ James Baldwin The idea that the Indianapolis Public School System (IPS) is broken and needs fixing is the basis for the current local school reform debate. (See Indy *Star* 03.16.12, “A broken sys... more »

It’s over. – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

It’s over. – @ the chalk face: It’s over. by Chalk Face, PhD This will perhaps be one of my most depressing posts on education in recent years. It’s over. This is on the heels of massive and unprecedented school closures in Chicago. It is now officially over. Are you familiar with the myth of Cassandra, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba, who was cursed with accurate predilection, but the total inability to convince others of the veracity of her claims? Despite her best efforts, Troy still fell. What hath blogging wrought? Nothing. What hath editorials, commentary, and cute graphics... more »

UPDATE: The Flase Narrative Florida House Republicans Are Using to Defend Parent Trigger + How Parent Trigger Puts Florida’s Fine Arts Education at Risk | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

How Parent Trigger Puts Florida’s Fine Arts Education at Risk | Scathing Purple Musings: The Flase Narrative Florida House Republicans Are Using to Defend Parent Trigger by Bob Sikes The phrase of the day was “give parents a seat at the table.” Watching today’s meeting of the House Education Committee for HB 867 on The Florida Channel revealed the clear philosophical divide between the two sides on Parent Trigger. Under sharp questions from Democrats, bill sponsor Carlos Trujillo was forced to affirm that the concerns of opponents are justified. 1. An out-of-state group like Paren... more »

A challenge to Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | SocialistWorker.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

A challenge to Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee | SocialistWorker.org: A challenge to Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Jesse Hagopian, a teacher at Garfield High School, where teachers have refused to administer MAP standardized tests, responds to the criticisms of a school deformer. March 21, 2013 [image: Michelle Rhee]Michelle Rhee MAYBE I shouldn't have stood up and said, "Welcome to Seattle," while wearing my Garfield High School hoodie when Michelle Rhee took the stage at a recent town hall event in Seattle. Rhee--the prominent corporate education reform advocate, former Was... more »

Alabama sex education law requires teachers to say that being gay is illegal - Salon.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Alabama sex education law requires teachers to say that being gay is illegal - Salon.com: Alabama sex education law requires teachers to say that being gay is illegalStudents and lawmakers want to repeal a 1992 law that claims being gay is a crime and "not publicly acceptable" VIDEO [image: Alabama sex education law requires teachers to say that being gay is illegal] (Credit: YouTube) Two Alabama high school students and an unlikely team of state legislators want to repeal a 1992 law requiring educators to teach that being gay is a crime and “not a lifestyle acceptable to the gen... more »