Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 3-29-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS

Communication and Engagement Pave the Way to School Success | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 28 minutes ago

Communication and Engagement Pave the Way to School Success | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Communication and Engagement Pave the Way to School Success by National School Public Relations Association *By Rich Bagin, APR, Executive Director of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)* Years ago the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) offered a guidebook entitled *Making and Marketing Your School as a School of Choice *. This was even before the charter movement, open enrollment, vouchers, and the home schooling surge began nibbli...more »

Indictments may come today in APS cheating scandal. Grand jury looking at suppressed report on “culture of wrongdoing” at one school | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 28 minutes ago

Indictments may come today in APS cheating scandal. Grand jury looking at suppressed report on “culture of wrongdoing” at one school | Get Schooled: Indictments may come today in APS cheating scandal. Grand jury looking at suppressed report on “culture of wrongdoing” at one school by Maureen Downey The AJC is expecting indictments possibly later today related to the APS cheating scandal first brought to light by the newspaper. When those indictments come down, please be sure to come back to the blog as there will be a lot to discuss about who was indicted and who was not. The AJC ... more »

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: Not very smart or balanced. – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 28 minutes ago

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: Not very smart or balanced. – @ the chalk face: Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: Not very smart or balanced. by Timothy D. Slekar My turn to say it. “The common core is nothing more than a new *product* designed to suck tax dollars from public schools. The tax dollars will be spent on *assessment* systems that do nothing for children, teachers and schools.” How do I know? I received an invitation from the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to review the *Achievement Level Descriptors and College Content... more »

Florida’s New High School Requirements and Alternatives Show Legislators Were Listening | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Florida’s New High School Requirements and Alternatives Show Legislators Were Listening | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida’s New High School Requirements and Alternatives Show Legislators Were Listening by Bob Sikes Some could say that they even offered a mea culpa. From Travis Pillow in the *Tallahassee Democrat:* The expansion of career education has been tied to broader changes to high school graduation requirements in competing proposals advanced by both House and Senate. Right now, students must pass the geometry exam to graduate under a law passed in 2010, which took full ... more »

The Right Leans In | The Nation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

The Right Leans In | The Nation: The Right Leans In Lee Fang March 26, 2013 | This article appeared in the April 15, 2013 edition of The Nation. The mood at the beginning of the meeting matched the weather: gray and dreary. The warm-up speaker told a joke about how local Republicans could merit placement on the endangered species list, which met with polite laughter. Talk of the most recent presidential election elicited audible groans. This article was reported in collaboration with the Investigative Fund at the Nation Institute, where Lee Fang is a reporting fellow. I... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Naison: Why I Won’t Let TFA Recruit My Students by dianerav Mark NAISON is a professor of African-American Studies at Fordham University. In this article, he explains why he will not permit TFA to recruit in his classes. First, he became angry when he discovered that the organization gave preference to Ivy League graduates over his own students, who had grown up in many of the communities where TFA was placing its recruits. But this is what his rejection came ... more »

Your Children For Sale . . . Sold! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Your Children For Sale . . . Sold! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Your Children For Sale . . . Sold! by crazycrawfish There is an insidious plot unfolding all around us that poses a grave danger to our children, and to many adults. Not many people know about this yet, or understand the implications of what is happening, so I thought you would like to know. I’ve seen a few pieces that show both sides of this issue, the good and the bad, but I really don’t think the “bad” has received nearly enough attention. The bad far outweighs the good that is being touted, but most of the articles ... more »

Daily Kos: Paul Krugman: "Cheating Our Children"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Daily Kos: Paul Krugman: "Cheating Our Children": Paul Krugman: "Cheating Our Children" by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) So, about that fiscal crisis — the one that would, any day now, turn us into Greece. Greece, I tell you: Never mind. By now we know, as Krugman has told us before, and as he uses these words to open this *New York Times*column, our situation is for lots of reasons totally unlike that of Greece.After referring to the Chicken Little nature of the arguments we have been hearing, we then encounter the following blunt words at the end of the 2nd and beginning of ... more »

Key education activists protesting in D.C. next week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Key education activists protesting in D.C. next week: Key education activists protesting in D.C. next week Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 29, 2013 at 6:00 am 0 Comments More [image: testedtodespair]Education activists opposed to corporate-based school reform are converging on Washington D.C. next week for the second annual United Opt Out National event on the grounds of the U.S. Education Department. Among those who will be speaking at the event are education historian Diane Ravitch, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, veteran educator Deborah Meier, and early childhoo... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: DESE States Common Core Effective without Empirical Evidence

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: DESE States Common Core Effective without Empirical Evidence: DESE States Common Core Effective without Empirical Evidence by stlgretchen Missouri DESE released this statement: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro says the new Common Core State Standards are relevant to the real world that would focus on the knowledge and skills in areas such as Mathematics and English Language Arts, that students will need in order to succeed in life after high school. There is no research/data with this statement and it is ... more »

The Educated Reporter: Two Takes on the `Well-Being' of Teachers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Two Takes on the `Well-Being' of Teachers: Two Takes on the `Well-Being' of Teachers by Emily Richmond Teachers rank second only to physicians when it comes to reporting the sense of "well-being" they derive from their chosen profession, a new Gallup Poll has found. The poll asked more than 170,000 people, more than 9,000 of whom were teachers, to create a "Well-Being Index," based on answers to questions about their physical, emotional and fiscal health. So how does the new poll stack up against the recent headlines proclaiming that teacher job satisfac... more »

Blackboard Wars episodes 5 and 6 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Blackboard Wars episodes 5 and 6 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Blackboard Wars episodes 5 and 6 by Gary Rubinstein So the first season of Blackboard Wars has ended and, as I expected, it reached the conclusion it was created to. Yes, ‘reform’ isn’t easy. The community resists radical change, even when it is what is best for it. The early ‘success’ of this school and its teachers validates the idea that all you need to accomplish a ‘turnaround’ is a $1.5 million dollar SIG grant to use, in part, on a charismatic leader and some new teachers who, despite their inexperience, have hig... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 3-28-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* *CORPORATE ED REFORM* What to do with Chicago's Abandonned Schools by Last Stand for Children Assuming that CPS goes ahead with their planned school actions, there will be nearly 60 abandoned schools located mostly in Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. In previous mass closings, the cities wound up losing a lot of money on the schools, which soon became abandoned and derelict. Even The Chicago Tribune has called for the city to sell these buildings to charter schools, but the city has so far refused. Fortunately, there is a way for... more »

Report: cheating on standardized tests in 75 percent of U.S. states | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Report: cheating on standardized tests in 75 percent of U.S. states | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Report: cheating on standardized tests in 75 percent of U.S. states by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez The National Center for Fair & Open Testing issued a report Thursday that tallies cases of cheating on standardized tests in 37 states across the country, including notable cases in Southern California. The manipulation hurts the most needy students, said he center’s president, Bob Shaeffer: “Most of the most significant cases of cheating have occurred in low income communities where students have ... more »

An Urban Teacher's Education: How Do We Retain Excellent Teachers?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

An Urban Teacher's Education: How Do We Retain Excellent Teachers?: How Do We Retain Excellent Teachers? from An Urban Teacher's Education by James Boutin Yesterday, I had the privilege of Skyping with students of Kathleen Nolan (whose book, *Police in the Hallways*, I reviewed on this blog last summer). They are currently studying education reform and the urban teaching experience. One of the students asked about teacher burnout, and it sparked a need in me to write about it. You hear the statistic often: Nationally, one-third of teachers leave after three years, and nearly half... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sun-Times editorial calls the union, 'bomb throwers'

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sun-Times editorial calls the union, 'bomb throwers': Sun-Times editorial calls the union, 'bomb throwers' by Mike Klonsky A funny thing happened to me this morning. I read the Sun-Times. The editorial page that is. What's funny about a S-T editorial, you ask? Well, the title for one thing -- *'CTU, don’t burn down the house'.* But the really funny thing was that the editorial is essentially in agreement with the teachers union in its critique of the announced 54 school closings over the next few months. So why have they resorted to such offensive me... more »

UPDATE: NOTES FROM DIANE + A Report from Chicago | The Network For Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

A Report from Chicago | The Network For Public Education: NOTES FROM DIANE – MARCH 29, 2013 by admin [image: Diane Ravitch President]Diane Ravitch President Dear Friends and Allies, The major issue of the day is the rapid increase in school closings in cities across the nation. The latest and most outrageous example is the decision of the Chicago Public Schools to close 54 public schools and displace some 30,000 students. This is unprecedented in American history. This is the bitter fruit of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. As alarming as the Chicago action is, what is eve... more »

SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 3-28-13 #soschat #edreform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

*Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break* * * *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Update on parent trigger proposal in Texas by pureparents From PAA Houston member Karen Miller: This morning the Senate Ed Comm did pass the parent trigger bill, SB 1263 with some amendments, one, by bill sponsor Sen Taylor would require the school to be defined as low performing for three years rather than two. Sen Lucio was concerned about governing body of open enrollment charter school cannot coerce, bribe or induce a parent to sign a petition for the parent trigger. Intent is to assure this is grassroots pare... more »

The Best-Case Scenario — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

The Best-Case Scenario — Whole Child Education THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]The Best-Case Scenario March 28, 2013 by Klea Scharberg As demonstrated by the tragic events of not only the last few months in Connecticut, Georgia, and California, but also the last 10 years across the nation, school safety is a complicated issue with no single or simple solution. We have read, listened to, and participated in discussions on how to keep our schools safe and secure. From our homes, faculty rooms, school board meetings, and the halls of Congress, we are all moving from shock to... more »

NYC Public School Parents: The pushback begins: my response to inBloom's attorney

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: The pushback begins: my response to inBloom's attorney: The pushback begins: my response to inBloom's attorney by Leonie Haimson The pushback and spin begins. See the WaPost oped today, On the question of student privacy by Steve Winnick, the attorney for InBloom, the Gates-funded corporation that is collecting, storing and sharing the confidential student data from nine states, including NY, *MA, LA, CO, IL, NC, GA, DE, and KY. More states may get added on over time as Gates offers states & districts cash to participate. (See ourfact sheet here.)* ... more »

It is now time to name names in the so-called #progressive media. Join me, will you? #p2 #u1 #FU – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

It is now time to name names in the so-called #progressive media. Join me, will you? #p2 #u1 #FU – @ the chalk face: It is now time to name names in the so-called #progressive media. Join me, will you? #p2 #u1 #FU by Chalk Face, PhD Over the last few days, perhaps longer, I have been engaged in a comprehensive media onslaught of emails and tweets to members of the national media, both in front of and behind the camera. I have sent them this press release for the rather unique UOO Occupy 2.0 event next week and, over time, links to various stories and interviews here, most recent... more »

Schools Matter: The Fight in Chicago to Stop Mass School Closings: Model for the Nation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Schools Matter: The Fight in Chicago to Stop Mass School Closings: Model for the Nation: The Fight in Chicago to Stop Mass School Closings: Model for the Nation by Jim Horn From SubstanceNews:Thousands march, 127 arrested in massive March 27 Chicago Loop protests against school closings, Emanuel dictatorship George N. Schmidt - March 28, 2013 More than 3,000 teachers, parents, students and other citizens rallies and marched against school closings in Chicago on March 27, 2013, and 129 were arrested during civil disobedience to protest the largest number of public school closings in... more »

Californians Prioritize School Counselors Over School Police, Two to One | K-12 News Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Californians Prioritize School Counselors Over School Police, Two to One | K-12 News Network: Californians Prioritize School Counselors Over School Police, Two to One by admin A recent survey from the California Endowment asked parents of school-aged children and other voters in the state what school safety measures were most important to them, and they overwhelmingly chose a school counselor or psychologist in every school as opposed to an armed officer or other security personnel. The LA Times reported additionally that When asked whether hiring a school counselor or a police o... more »

Teaching Rachel Lloyd’s Girls Like Us on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children « Feminist Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Teaching Rachel Lloyd’s Girls Like Us on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children « Feminist Teacher: Teaching Rachel Lloyd’s Girls Like Us on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children by feministteacher [image: My student, Genevieve, interviews Rachel Lloyd, founder and director of GEMS, about her memoir Girls Like Us at our 2011 annual GEMS assembly (photo courtesy, Laura Hahn).] My student, Genevieve, interviews Rachel Lloyd, founder and director of GEMS, about her memoir Girls Like Us at our annual GEMS assembly (photo courtesy, Laura Hahn). In the spring of 2009, ... more »

Sorry, Rahm – “negotiations” are not over Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Sorry, Rahm – “negotiations” are not over: Sorry, Rahm – “negotiations” are not over by admin Mayor Emanuel may want to believe that “the time for negotiation” on school closings is over, but the community has a different plan. As CTU President Karen Lewis told the crowd of thousands yesterday at the school closing rally, “It’s not over until you say it’s over.” Lots of people took much better photos than mine, but I just wanted to point out that we took over the streets outside the Federal Building, the State of Illinois Bui... more »

Parent speaks truth to Texas legislature | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Parent speaks truth to Texas legislature | Parents Across America: Parent speaks truth to Texas legislature by pureparents TX Senate Education Committee Hearing Public Testimony of Lorie Barzano, March 26, 2013 Good afternoon, Committee members, guests. My name is Lorie Barzano, a public school parent, taxpayer and Chair of the Coalition to Strengthen Austin Urban Schools, a local affiliate of Parents Across America. We are a parent led group committed to quality, accessible Public Education for all children. I come here today as a parent to speak on behalf of countless parents wh... more »

Emanuel says 25% of Chicago students can't be helped, according to CTU president - Chicago Conservative | Examiner.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Emanuel says 25% of Chicago students can't be helped, according to CTU president - Chicago Conservative | Examiner.com: Emanuel says 25% of Chicago students can't be helped, according to CTU president - CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS - FEBRUARY 28, 2012 - BY: SCOTT PAULSON - Subscribe [image: Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis says Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel basically has no educational hopes for 25% of Chicago children to learn anything] Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis says Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel basically has no educational hopes for 25% of Chicago... more »

Alternative Education Reform: Among the Invisible and “Preferably Unheard” | the becoming radical

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Alternative Education Reform: Among the Invisible and “Preferably Unheard” | the becoming radical: Alternative Education Reform: Among the Invisible and “Preferably Unheard” Posted on March 28, 2013 by plthomasedd Educators as workers in a profession rendered invisible and “preferably unheard”are increasingly being demonized, marginalized, and challenged as defenders of the status quo and anti-reformers. The Sisyphean hell of being a teacher includes having almost no autonomy or power in educational policy but receiving the brunt of the blame when the outcomes of those policies do ... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: NOTES FROM DIANE – MARCH 29, 2013 by admin Diane Ravitch President Dear Friends and Allies, [image: Diane Ravitch President]The major issue of the day is the rapid increase in school closings in cities across the nation. The latest and most outrageous example is the decision of the Chicago Public Schools to close 54 public schools and displace some 30,000 students. This is unprecedented in American history. This is the bitter fruit of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. As alarming as the Chicago action i... more »

Shanker Blog » Greetings From Due Diligence, New Jersey

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Shanker Blog » Greetings From Due Diligence, New Jersey: Greetings From Due Diligence, New Jersey by Matthew Di Carlo Earlier this week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced that the state will assume control over Camden City School District. Camden will be the fourth NJ district to undergo takeover, though this is the first time that the state will be removing control from an elected local school board, which will now serve in an advisory role (and have three additional members appointed by the Governor). Over the next few weeks, NJ officials will choose a new superinten... more »

Silence from Finch as his campaign treasurer embarrasses himself and his allies - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Silence from Finch as his campaign treasurer embarrasses himself and his allies - Wait, What?: Silence from Finch as his campaign treasurer embarrasses himself and his allies from Wait, What? by jonpelto The fact that Mayor Finch hasn’t spoken out against Kenneth Moales is almost as disturbing as Moales’ behavior. As reported in the Wait, What? post, *And in Bridgeport, the winner is Finch’s Campaign Treasurer, Kenneth Moales, Jr.*, earlier this week the five Democratic Board of Education members loyal to Mayor Bill Finch elected Reverend Kenneth Moales Jr. as the new chair of th... more »

The Value and Necessity for Collaborative Partnerships Student Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Student Voice: The Value and Necessity for Collaborative Partnerships by Student Voice Toolkit Organizer How often do we hear phrases such as, *a working partnership* or *a team-orientated approach*, but the implications of these into practice are frequently equivocal? While I believe one may understand the significant value of initiating and sustaining partnerships with colleagues, the implementation of these ideals can be challenging. I urge one to consider how they perceive the values and corresponding practices that promote *Collaborative Partnerships*. Below are some chara... more »

National School Board group seeks curbs on U.S. Ed Secretary SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *National School Board group seeks curbs on U.S. Ed Secretary* *By Tom Chorneau* Thursday, March 28, 2013 The National School Boards Association and its 90,000 members are sponsoring legislation aimed at curbing the authority of the U.S. Secretary of Education – an outgrowth likely stemming from the group’s chilly relationship with the Obama administration during the president’s first term. HR 1386 by Congressmen Aaron Schock, R-Illinois and Patrick Meehan, R-Pennsylvania would prohibit the U.S. Department of Education from adopting any ne... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, March 28, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Thursday, March 28, 2013* Buyouts for teachers already retired The San Diego Unified School District has expanded its offer of $25,000 buyouts to hundreds of veteran educators - including two dozen who already are retired. Yucaipa school board hires Fontana superintendentThe Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District board has voted unanimously to offer Fontana Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks its top job. School staffers pack Tam district board meeting amid labor disputeMembers of a school staffers union...more »

UPDATE: Most Disturbing + Seattle Schools Community Forum: Assessment Taskforce Update

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Assessment Taskforce Update: Most Disturbing by Charlie Mas I am deeply disturbed by Seattle Times editorials regarding education. It's not because the Times Editorial Board, and Lynne Varner in particular, doesn't share my perspective. I'm okay with that; I have a lot of good relationships with people who disagree with me. I am disturbed by the disingenuous, thoughtless, or deceitful tone of Seattle Times editorials about education which create contradictions. The Times often calls for additional education services, such as summer school, or pr... more »

NYC Educator: Students First and Governor 1%--Perfect Together

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

NYC Educator: Students First and Governor 1%--Perfect Together: Students First and Governor 1%--Perfect Together by NYC Educator A new piece at Gotham Schools makes plain what was already obvious to many--there's precious little difference between stone-cold opportunist Andrew Cuomo and the GOP. Otherwise, why would he take a "principled stand" to kill the millionaire tax, while ripping off city children to the tune of a quarter billion dollars? And why would anyone need to sue the state torestore over 5 billion in aid promised to poor schools? There are a few interesting points th... more »

Caught on tape: School officials laughing as they talked about hiding millions of dollars | KDVR.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Caught on tape: School officials laughing as they talked about hiding millions of dollars | KDVR.com: Caught on tape: School officials laughing as they talked about hiding millions of dollars Posted on: 8:48 pm, March 27, 2013, by Josh Bernstein, *updated on: 10:09pm, March 27, 2013* * * * * * * * * * * * * (KDVR) — Hours of secretly recorded conversations obtained exclusively by FOX31 Denver News indicate school officials in the Adams 12 Five Star School District may have been intentionally hiding tens of millions of dollars in retirement benefit payments from the public. “We did ... more »

First book with transgender theme makes it on CA schools reading list Education | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Education | 89.3 KPCC: Education [image: First Female Unrestricted Line Officers Qualify In Submarines] U.S. Navy/Getty Images Obama signs law that reinstates tuition assistanceMARY PLUMMER MARCH 27, 01:41 PM President Barack Obama has signed the spending bill that reinstates the military's tuition assistance program into law, but troops remain without the benefit. Comments (1) First book with transgender theme makes it on CA schools reading listADOLFO GUZMAN-LOPEZ Author Cris Beam was inspired by her time as a volunteer at a school for gay and transgender kids. [image: Monica Garc... more »

UPDATE: Scary reading in charter school bill +Former TFAer: Teach For America didn’t prepare me for troubled kids

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Former TFAer: Teach For America didn’t prepare me for troubled kids: Scary reading in charter school bill by Valerie Strauss [image: nc]A bill in the North Carolina Senate is highly revealing about how much concern its Republican sponsors really have for accountability in education. Short answer: apparently none. Longer answer: A bill titled “NC Public Charter School Board,” introduced by two Republicans, calls for a new board to approve and oversee charters. The State Board of Education would no longer have the job of overseeing charter schools, and charter school applicants wo... more »

Why I Will Occupy the Department of Education…Again | emPower magazine

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Why I Will Occupy the Department of Education…Again | emPower magazine: Why I Will Occupy the Department of Education…AgainWritten by Denisha Jones inShare Photo credit: Pete Rosos This year will mark the second anniversary of Occupy the Department of Education (Occupy the DOEd). April 4-7 teachers, parents, students, and educators will gather in front of the U.S. Department of Education to protest what we feel is an unethical and dangerous corporate education reform movement. Last year, I participated in Occupy the DOEd and although the turnout was small, the energy was high. For f... more »

New Tools for Student Loan Borrowers | ED.gov Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

New Tools for Student Loan Borrowers | ED.gov Blog: New Tools for Student Loan Borrowers Posted on March 27, 2013 by Kelsey Donohue [image: Federal Student Aid image] Spring is here, college finals are looming, commencement speakers are being announced, and before long, a new group of college graduates will need to start thinking about paying back their student loans. Earlier this week, the Department of Education announced new tools that will help recent college grads better understand their loan debt and stay on track in repayment. These two new features include a Complete Counsel... more »

UPDATE: Hesitancy to Change on HS Graduation Requirments Say About Bush Foundations? + Politifact Finds Trujillo’s Parent Trigger Claim False | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Politifact Finds Trujillo’s Parent Trigger Claim False | Scathing Purple Musings: What Does Hesitancy to Change on HS Graduation Requirments Say About Bush Foundations? by Bob Sikes Patricia Levesque was against bipartisan support for changing Florida’s high school graduation requirements before she was for it. Writes Mary McGrory in the *Tampa Bay Times:* Earlier this month, Patricia Levesque, executive director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, tried to dissuade a House panel from dropping geometry from the graduation requirements. She urged lawmakers not to lower the st... more »

John Thompson: Garland and Carr Remind Us of the Perils of Segregation - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

John Thompson: Garland and Carr Remind Us of the Perils of Segregation - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Garland and Carr Remind Us of the Perils of Segregation by Anthony Cody *Guest post by John Thompson.* * * * * * * One of the greatest flaws of the contemporary accountability-driven school reform movement is its lack of historical awareness. Two great books, Sarah Garland's *Divided We Fail*, and Sarah Carr's *Hope Against Hope*, offer a corrective. Garland's *Divided We Fail* recounts the rise and fall of school desegregation in Louisville. She reco... more »

Over 100 Arrested Protesting Mass School Closings In Chicago Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Over 100 Arrested Protesting Mass School Closings In Chicago Popout This is the start of a powerful movement that involves a partnership between Chicago parents, educators and students using nonviolent civil disobedience on a massive scale. This level of struggle- if sustained -can wrench power away from the Rahmbo Privateers and set an inspiring example for all of us around the country who are fighting to save, improve and democratize public education.