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Building Capacity for Connected Educators | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago

Building Capacity for Connected Educators | Connected Principals: Building Capacity for Connected Educators by Joe Mazza *Below is a summary of how connected educators volunteered “on a tweet” to stream into our school and provide a LIVE professional development opportunity for the Knapp staff.* [image: @KnappElementary teachers participate in an interactive panel on what it means to be a connected educator.] @KnappElementary teachers participate in an interactive panel on what it means to be a connected educator. As school leaders, it’s our responsibility to expose our learning com...more »

Candidates for mayor take different tacks on education - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 minutes ago

Candidates for mayor take different tacks on education - latimes.com: L.A.’S RACE FOR MAYOR Candidates for mayor take different tacks on educationEric Garcetti has the backing of the teachers union and wants to unite the union and reformers. Wendy Greuel wants local decision-making. Jan Perry wants a non-voting seat on the board. [image: From left, L.A. mayoral candidates Wendy Greuel, Kevin James, Eric Garcetti, Emanuel Pleitez and Jan Perry attend a United Way panel discussion on improving schools.] From left, L.A. mayoral candidates Wendy Greuel, Kevin James, Eric Garcetti, Eman... more »

The Sunday Mail. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago

The Sunday Mail. | Fred Klonsky: The Sunday Mail. by Fred Klonsky [image: 09ourbodiesblue400] *March 8th is International Women’s Day. Graphic: Meredith Stern/Just Seeds. * *Mike Dumke on how closing schools* destroys neighborhoods. *Remembering Blood Sunday at the Edmund Pettis Bridge.* Fighting for the right to vote. That is what the racist Antonin Scalia calls a* racial entitlement.* ***They say this is a big rich town, but I live in the poorest part. *I know I’m on a dead-end street in a city

Week Six Of Twitter Chat On Student Motivation Using #selfdrivenlrng Hashtag | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 53 minutes ago

Week Six Of Twitter Chat On Student Motivation Using #selfdrivenlrng Hashtag | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…: Week Six Of Twitter Chat On Student Motivation Using #selfdrivenlrng Hashtag My next book, Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies for Student Motivation, was published on March 1st by Eye On Education. It’s a sequel to my book, Helping Students Motivate Themselves. Starting in Feb and continuing for 6 weeks, I’ll be tweeting quotes from both books. 1. You can see tweets from Week One of this Twitter conversation here , Week Two here , Week Three here , Week... more »

the crazy preschool process - my sidewalk chalk blog - nyc school help

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

the crazy preschool process - my sidewalk chalk blog - nyc school help: the crazy preschool process by joyce SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2013 AT 8:33AM First off, let me say that I am so sorry that so many of you are sad. The vast majority of people who are contacting me these days are despondent. That doesn't mean that many, many people didn't get placements. It just means that the ones who didn't, are writing me in the middle of the night. With that being said, I am now going to give you a little tough love (and trust me I do love you). Everyone starts off the conversation with "this is su... more »

Jeb Bush Dodges Questions From Tampa Tribune Reporter in Story on His Foundation | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Jeb Bush Dodges Questions From Tampa Tribune Reporter in Story on His Foundation | Scathing Purple Musings: Jeb Bush Dodges Questions From Tampa Tribune Reporter in Story on His Foundation by Bob Sikes *Tampa Tribune *reporter William March has this: TAMPA – Lobbyists are not allowed to finance perks like trips for state officials, but those at the Foundation for Excellence in Education get around that ban by being registered to another foundation run by Jeb Bush. Former Gov. Jeb Bush’s nonprofit, education reform foundation is taking heat for using donations from for-profit com... more »

Kate Anderson and John Deasy: A Love Story?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

I'm a RIF'd teacher who got laid off by LAUSD in June. I am a PUBLIC SCHOOL teacher to my core, and I am determined to fight my way back into the classroom. I feel like Kate Anderson is living in a bubble, completely oblivious to challenges we face in our classrooms and communities. Her mommy persona belies the fact that she worked as corporate lawyer (at a firm founded by Charles Munger, architect of Prop 32) and defended tobacco companies; she has also taken big money from people who want to privatize public education in our city (Eli Broad and his minions). I get the feeling th... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Children’s Privacy: Gone Forever? by dianerav Sheila Kaplan of Education New York is a tireless advocate for the privacy rights of children and families. Those rights are now under serious threat, since the U.S. Department of Education decided to change the regulations that protect them (FERPA). She suggests you read the following: Software Industries NPRM to US ED abou Gary Rubinstein’s Brilliant Idea to Fix TFA by dianerav Gary Rubinstein has a brilliant idea... more »

Mexico: Taking down 'The Teacher': The Lumina Foundation saddles up to privatize education in Mexico

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Mexico: Taking down 'The Teacher': The Lumina Foundation saddles up to privatize education in Mexico Mexico: Taking down ‘The Teacher’: The Lumina Foundation saddles up to privatize education in Mexico by Danny Weil [image: merisotis]An interesting report out of Mexico concerning corruption charges against the head of the Mexican teacher’s union has appeared at Al Jazeera. The report, found below, indicates that the government has arrested and charged Elba Esther Gordillo, the leader of the Mexican teacher’s union with embezzlement and other charges. Known as *La Maestra* or ‘The... more »

Ed Notes Online: Please Join Us on Monday, March 11th for a community screening of 180 Days Well Spent

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Ed Notes Online: Please Join Us on Monday, March 11th for a community screening of 180 Days Well Spent: Please Join Us on Monday, March 11th for a community screening of 180 Days Well Spent by ed notes online Participatory Action Research Center for Education Organizing (PARCEO) In memory of Linda Levine, educator, activist for justice in education, and remarkable human being Please join Participatory Action Research Center for Education Organizing, together with Bloomingdale Family Program; Change the Stakes; Graduate School of Education, Bank Street College of Education; Metr... more »

Misheard ‘Fresh Prince’ song sparks schools lockdown

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Misheard ‘Fresh Prince’ song sparks schools lockdown: Misheard ‘Fresh Prince’ song sparks schools lockdown Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 3, 2013 at 2:14 am 17 Comments More [image: Freshprincelogo]In the you-can’t-make-up-this-stuff category: Schools in a Pennsylvania county were put on lockdown after a receptionist misunderstood the words of the theme song to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which a student had as his cellphone greeting, and thought the teen was going to commit violence. According to the The Times of Beaver, Pa., the receptionist on Thursday called 19-year-old T... more »

Daily Kos: "Disaster Capitalism," "Kids in Prison Program" Justified?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Daily Kos: "Disaster Capitalism," "Kids in Prison Program" Justified?: "Disaster Capitalism," "Kids in Prison Program" Justified? byplthomasEdDFollow - - - 2 Comments / 2 New [image: Mailbox in Flood Waters New Mexico, USA] attribution: © Royalty-Free/CORBIS Once the storm-surge waters receded after Hurricane Katrina plowed through New Orleans, the city has since experienced another flood, one that rushed in to fill the vacuum created by tragedy in order to reap profit: Disaster capitalism. While the impoverished struggled under the natural disaster intensifying ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Video: Auditor Tom Schweich presents his audit of the Rockwood School District

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Video: Auditor Tom Schweich presents his audit of the Rockwood School District: Video: Auditor Tom Schweich presents his audit of the Rockwood School District by dsm Popout Missouri's Auditor, Tom Schweich, reviewed the Rockwood R-VI School District and issued a report grading the district as "Fair" (on a scale of: Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor). The district will have 90 days to implement changes to address Schweich's findings. The complete findings can be found in the auditor's report. A two page summary of the findings appears on pages 2-3 of that...more »

My top 10 most popular posts | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

My top 10 most popular posts | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: My top 10 most popular posts by Gary Rubinstein I’m going to make a few top 10 lists over the coming weeks since I know from reading other people’s blogs that I don’t often go back and read old posts. But some of the older posts from me and others are not ‘stale’ in any way. So in addition to this list, which will be the 10 most viewed posts, I’ll also make some other ones like the 10 that I like the best, or the 10 that generated the most comments, or others. Top 10 Most Popular Posts On This Blog: 1. 10/31/2011 Why I did ... more »

Daily Kos: Thanks

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Daily Kos: Thanks: Thanks by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) *the text of this diary was first posted during American Education Week, November 16, 2010. Although I did not continue in the classroom until I was 70 as I then expected, as I reread this posting this evening, I felt as what I had to say about teaching was worth repeating. The link in the original piece no longer goes to the same page, so it is not live in this posting* This is American Education Week. It is a time to focus on those who play important roles in education. Were one to go to *this page at the NEA websi... more »

Schools Matter: More from Susan O on Common Core

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Schools Matter: More from Susan O on Common Core: More from Susan O on Common Core by Jim Horn What the Press Leaves out *Susan Ohanian Analysis:*Former police headquarters bureau chief at the *Times,* Al Baker, is still covering the crime scene but now seems to be concentrating on education matters, both city and state. Since he's not letting on that these activities are crimes, I'll fill in some gaps. And I'd emphasize that the crimes represented below are not unique to New York. They apply to schools in every state that has accepted the Common Core straight... more »

The Guerilla Teachers Handbook by Espiritu Makiguchi - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

The Guerilla Teachers Handbook by Espiritu Makiguchi - Perdaily.com: The Guerilla Teachers Handbook by Espiritu Makiguchi by Leonard Isenberg [image: Che Guevara.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Español)* *The term "Guerrilla" is Spanish for "little war." It originated in the Napoleonic Wars. whe the French took over Spain. A "Guerrillero" was a soldier in the Spanish Rebel Army. However, during the Battle of Puebla, in Mexico, the French met a new soldier. This soldier did not fight in the conventional style of standing in straight lines and firing volleys of rifle fire at each other ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Mandated Behavioral Assessments for Connecticut Students? Homeschoolers Included?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Mandated Behavioral Assessments for Connecticut Students? Homeschoolers Included?: Mandated Behavioral Assessments for Connecticut Students? Homeschoolers Included? by stlgretchen CT Senator Toni Harp introduces legislation for ALL children to undergo behavioral assessments. Home schoolers included. Do you think you can keep your children from government mandates if you home school? It is increasingly doubtful you can shield your children from having to submit to governmental data mining of their personal information, even if you don't have your chil... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: VIDEO - ZIMMER’S RESPONSE TO BILLIONARE BLOOMBERG: “If you have enough money you can say anything."

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: VIDEO - ZIMMER’S RESPONSE TO BILLIONARE BLOOMBERG: “If you have enough money you can say anything.": VIDEO - ZIMMER’S RESPONSE TO BILLIONARE BLOOMBERG: “If you have enough money you can say anything." by smf A *SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT AN LAUSD MAGNET WHO BLOGS AS* *TRIESTOBEFAIR ** WRITES:* If students' progress was a concern for the billionaires and right wing zealots who fund Kate Anderson, they would not be privatizing education for profit. They would have been spending their money on reducing class size and investing in early c... more »

H.Res.92: Encouraging people in the United States to recognize March 1, 2013, as Read Across America Day. - U.S.... OpenCongress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

H.Res.92: Encouraging people in the United States to recognize March 1, 2013, as Read Across America Day. - U.S.... OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: H.Res.92 Encouraging people in the United States to recognize March 1, 2013, as Read Across America Day. Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 33 minutes ago Encouraging people in the United States to recognize March 1, 2013, as Read Across America Day. Bill Introduced: S.Res.61 A resolution designating March 1, 2013, as "Read Across America Day". Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 33 minutes ago A resolution d... more »

United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

United Opt Out National: [image: leader3] BESS ALTWERGER: WHY I AM COMING TO OCCUPY THE DEPT. OF ED. IN DC How could I NOT come to Occupy the DOE in DC? At this pivotal moment in history when failure to act will mean the virtual collapse of public education there is nothing more important for any of us to do …MORE BESS ALTWERGER: WHY I AM COMING TO OCCUPY THE DEPT. OF ED. IN DC How could I NOT come to Occupy the DOE in DC? At this pivotal moment in history when failure to act will mean the virtual collapse of public education there is nothing more important for any of us to do …M...more »

Daily Kos: The need for reflection and downtime in education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Daily Kos: The need for reflection and downtime in education: The need for reflection and downtime in education by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) I was provoked to offer my thoughts on this topic by reading Puttering, Responsibility, and Beauty, a blog post by Diana Seneschal that I highly recommend. I add to this my friendship with Vicki Abeles who produced the important film Race to Nowhere, about how we overschedule and overburden many of our school students, sometimes with tragic consequences. I will also note that my own teacher training in the Master of Arts in Teaching progra... more »

School Tech Connect: Go Read Something Beautiful

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Go Read Something Beautiful: Go Read Something Beautiful by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) In my northern retreat there's no tv, no in-home internet, so if I post it'll be from this phone. It seems that you really can't escape cell coverage anywhere. I'll never forget the first cell phone I ever saw--a "bag phone" hefted to play rehearsal by Mark Pomerenke, the smartest, nicest kid in Mesa, Arizona, circa whenever. *That* will never catch on, I decided, looking at the contraption. Mark took pity on my provincial ignorance. Anyway, being somewhat addicted,... more »

The Opt Out Update | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

The Opt Out Update | Seattle Education: The Opt Out Update by seattleducation2011 [image: scrap the map6] By the way, the third MAP test which is given in the Fall is solely for the use of NWEA. That’s why it’s “optional”. We’re spending precious resources and time so that NWEA can have more test scores to plug into their database. That’s right people. You will note on the Seattle Public School (SPS) website that the Fall test is optional. It’s not needed by SPS for the purpose of tracking student data. NWEA should be paying *us* for that one. *POP Quiz:* OK Seattleites, look in t... more »

Students Last: Cherry-picking: It Isn't Just For Fruit Anymore

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Students Last: Cherry-picking: It Isn't Just For Fruit Anymore: Cherry-picking: It Isn't Just For Fruit Anymore by Students Last *Philadelphia* - Global Alliance Charter School is scrambling today to respond to questions from the School District of Philadelphia about its complicated and some say overbearing application process. Should charter schools be allowed to have barriers to admission?The application, which is more than 10-pages in length, requires a 3,000-word essay, responses to 20 short-answer questions, proof of citizenship for the child and parents, three recommendation... more »

Crack the CCSS Egg to See What is Inside | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Crack the CCSS Egg to See What is Inside | Truth in American Education: Crack the CCSS Egg to See What is Inside by chascherrie [image: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA]After reading the article* Huntsville, Madison legislators back off of bill to revoke common core standards (updated*), I couldn’t help but think of the saying “There’s a sucker born every minute.” I encourage you to click on the link above and read the article. I don’t know if this is a situation with suckers, fools, people on the take, or something altogether different—possibly succumbing to groupthink. These two legisla... more »

Daily Kos: Revisiting something I wrote 6 years ago

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Daily Kos: Revisiting something I wrote 6 years ago: Revisiting something I wrote 6 years ago by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) What is in the blockquote below is from this February 18, 2007 diary It is my contention that if we lose the battle over public education, it will be that much harder to prevent a fundamentalist takeover of our nation. That fundamentalism may not be specifically religious - in fact many of those driving the process may well use religious terminology as a cover for far more selfish motives, although there are indubitably those who seek to hasten the final... more »

Jersey Jazzman: New Mexico's Reformy Education Chief Gets Her Hearing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: New Mexico's Reformy Education Chief Gets Her Hearing: New Mexico's Reformy Education Chief Gets Her Hearing by Duke There are several surprising parallels between New Mexico's education chief, Hanna Skandera, and New Jersey's head education honcho, Chris Cerf: - Skandera has been the ACTING Secretary of Education in New Mexico for two years, and is finally getting a hearing; Cerf was the ACTING Commissioner of Education for 18 months before his confirmation. - Cerf and Skandera are both members of Chiefs for Change, Jeb Bush's reformy group of state-level educat... more »

Mother Crusader: NJ's Charter Closures; Ideology Trumps Kids

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Mother Crusader: NJ's Charter Closures; Ideology Trumps Kids: NJ's Charter Closures; Ideology Trumps Kids by darciecima In a post today Jersey Jazzman searches for the logic behind the charter closures announced last week. In a follow up post he unveiled the common denominator between the shuttered schools. They have the highest percentages of special ed kids. This should come as no surprise. More special needs kids = lower test scores, and nowadays lower test scores = closure. Pretty simple. Gross, but simple. This is what happens when you allow ideology to guide your ac... more »

Is Your School Mascot Insulting Someone? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Is Your School Mascot Insulting Someone? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Is Your School Mascot Insulting Someone? by Nancy Flanagan I am pretty much the walking embodiment of political correctness. I think that a lot of what's sarcastically labeled "PC" is also, deep down, morally correct. *When it comes to school mascots,* however--and the ongoinglawsuit-based drive to rid high schools of their Native American/Tribal/American Indian mascots and nicknames--*I find myself wondering if this battle isn't the elevation of form over substance.* Don't get me wrong... more »

Why Are Walmart Billionaires Bankrolling Phony School ‘Reform’ In LA? | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Why Are Walmart Billionaires Bankrolling Phony School ‘Reform’ In LA? | toteachornototeach: Why Are Walmart Billionaires Bankrolling Phony School ‘Reform’ In LA? by aristotlethewise *Why Are Walmart Billionaires Bankrolling Phony School ‘Reform’ In LA?* by Peter Dreier For years, Los Angeles has been ground zero in an intense debate about how to improve our nation’s education system. What’s less known is who is shaping that debate. Many of the biggest contributors to the so-called “school choice” movement — code words for privatizing our public education system — are billionaires w... more »

Georgia Religious Schools Skirt Constitution to Access Taxpayer Funds - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Georgia Religious Schools Skirt Constitution to Access Taxpayer Funds - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Georgia Religious Schools Skirt Constitution to Access Taxpayer Funds by Anthony Cody The constitution of the state of Georgia is clear. *"No money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly, or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect, cult, or religious denomination or of any sectarian institution."* In 2008, state legislators passed the Qualified Income Tax Credit, which allowed married couples to make deduct from their state taxes contributions up to $... more »

Daily Kos: A very brief thought on teaching, writing and more

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Daily Kos: A very brief thought on teaching, writing and more: A very brief thought on teaching, writing and more by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) A woman with whom I became friends had once told me that I brought out the gentleness in her. In fact, as I told her recently, because she reminded me of my own gentleness, all I did is provide a space in which she could be free to bring it out of herself. In a sense that is how I see the teaching role, both in the classroom and through my writing. All I can do a provide a space for the other person to bring out what is in him or her,... more »

#Pearson propaganda – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

#Pearson propaganda – @ the chalk face: [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] #Pearson propaganda by Chris Cerrone So I am clearing out some files and emails today and come across this screen image grab from last spring. Pearson was circling its wagons from numerous mistakes and errors in its first year in creating the New York State Assessments, including the famous 8th grade talking pineapple reading passage. [image: PEARSON MEMO] As a result of the disastrous spring testing season for Pearson the corporate giant created a propaganda website and facebook page. Occasionally public... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-2-13 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: What Do the State Commissioners of New Jersey and New Mexico Have in Common? by dianerav A good question, no? Both have had trouble getting confirmed. Both are members of Jeb Bush’s Chiefs for Change. Both are committed to privatization. Read here to see what else. Oregon: Fight to Protect Student Privacy Rules by dianerav This parent warns that BIG DATA is working its way into the schools, not only in Oregon but across the nation. Why do they want to know everything about your child? The most likely reason: for m... more »

IEA returning to Springfield this year for Lobby Day. May 15th. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

IEA returning to Springfield this year for Lobby Day. May 15th. | Fred Klonsky: IEA returning to Springfield this year for Lobby Day. May 15th. by Fred Klonsky Popout . Every once in a while it seems that somebody up there is listening. Last year the IEA called off their annual Lobby Day – a day in which several thousand IEA members jam the Capitol and legislative offices to push for public education issues. Why? It is still a mystery to me. They claimed it was because the Capitol was under construction. But that simply wasn’t true. We in the Park Ridge Education Association decided ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Charters: Leaving Special Ed Kids Behind

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Charters: Leaving Special Ed Kids Behind: NJ Charters: Leaving Special Ed Kids Behind by Duke The Christie Administration has just issued its decisions on New Jersey charter school renewals. Some have been approved and allowed to expand, some have been approved with no expansion allowed, some are on probation, and three must shut their doors at the end of the school year. As I wrote earlier, *there doesn't seem to be much correlation between each school's performance on state tests, relative to its student population, and whether or not it was approved*: a rela... more »

Why Are Walton Billionaires So Interested in Los Angeles Schools? | Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Why Are Walton Billionaires So Interested in Los Angeles Schools? | Diane Ravitch's blog: Why Are Walton Billionaires So Interested in Los Angeles Schools? by dianerav [image: Mayor Bloomberg Your Money Sucks! (Learn More click picture)] The big school board race is this week in Los Angeles, and we know that the billionaires have lined up behind their slate. We know that Eli Broad wants to own his hometown’s school board and Mayor Michael Bloomberg has tossed $1million into the race to help the same candidates that Eli wants. What is less well known is that one of the biggest foun... more »

How Much Does it Cost to Build a High School? | PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

How Much Does it Cost to Build a High School? | PWC Education Reform Blog: How Much Does it Cost to Build a High School? by pwceducationreform PWCS is looking at incurring $505 million in debt in the next 5 years for new school construction and renovations and expansions of existing schools. That’s a lot of money, money which will have to be paid back by taxpayers as debt service over the next 20 years. Debt service money, which is the interest and principal on the bonds we issue to pay for school construction, comes from the school division’s annual allocation of tax receipts fro... more »

Campaign: Final Push for Candidates - LA School Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Campaign: Final Push for Candidates - LA School Report: Campaign: Final Push for Candidates by LA School Report With only three days to go before the March 5 election, School Board candidates are hitting the pavement all over Los Angeles this weekend, hunting for votes. But judging from their campaign websites, some are more active than others. In downtown’s District 2, School Board President* Monica Garcia* is asking volunteers to sign up for a dawn to dusk GOTV (get out the vote) effort between now and Tuesday. One of her four opponents, *Robert Skeels* is holding an all day pr... more »

The Incredible, True (and Not at All Excellent) Adventures of a Teacher in Charterland | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

The Incredible, True (and Not at All Excellent) Adventures of a Teacher in Charterland | EduShyster: The Incredible, True (and Not at All Excellent) Adventures of a Teacher in Charterland by edushyster2012 Meet Norah. Two years ago, this artist and professional story teller landed her dream job teaching performing arts at a Massachusetts charter school. But as Norah quickly discovered, dreaming is impossible when you don’t have time to sleep. Armed with a sense of humor and a prescription for Adderall, Norah works 100+ hour weeks and does her best to carry out an ever-changing a... more »

Civics 101: School Finance Formulas & the Limits of Executive Authority | School Finance 101

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Civics 101: School Finance Formulas & the Limits of Executive Authority | School Finance 101: Civics 101: School Finance Formulas & the Limits of Executive Authority by schoolfinance101 [image: CRAP Adjustment] This post addresses a peculiar ongoing power grab in New Jersey involving the state school finance formula. The balance of power between state legislatures and the executive branch varies widely across states, but this New Jersey example may prove illustrative for others as well. This post may make more sense if you take the time to browse these other two posts from the p... more »

BREAKING: First Lady Michelle Obama Addresses MomsRising.org’s Food Power Conference « MomsRising Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

BREAKING: First Lady Michelle Obama Addresses MomsRising.org’s Food Power Conference « MomsRising Blog: BREAKING: First Lady Michelle Obama Addresses MomsRising.org’s Food Power Conference by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner *BREAKING NEWS:* First Lady Michelle Obama shared a warm video welcome to the MomsRising.org “Food Power” Conference. For this “Food Power” Conference, MomsRising.org, the online and on-the-ground grassroots organization with more than 1.1 million members, is bringing together moms, dads, bloggers, community activists, filmmakers, and artists to discuss action steps to ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Charter Closings: Where's the Logic?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Charter Closings: Where's the Logic?: NJ Charter Closings: Where's the Logic? by Duke I am just starting to look at the New Jersey charter schools that either had their charters renewed or will be forced to closed in this latest approval round. But already, I fail to see any logic in the NJDOE's decisions: Oceanside opened in 1999, and Middleton has poured her heart and soul into the school. She acknowledged that test scores were not where they should be, but said she wished the state had given more consideration to the children she teaches; they come from so... more »

Schools Matter: WaPo Editorializes on KIPP Study and Forgets to Report the Findings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Schools Matter: WaPo Editorializes on KIPP Study and Forgets to Report the Findings: WaPo Editorializes on KIPP Study and Forgets to Report the Findings by Jim Horn When Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. presented the final piece of a study commissioned by KIPP, Inc. the other day (*"KIPP Middle Schools: Impacts on Achievement and Other Outcomes"*, WaPo’s Editorial Board was quick to announce “KIPP Doubters Proven Wrong.” OFFICIALS OF KIPP(Knowledge Is Power Program) have become accustomed to the doubters who think the success of the fast-growing charter-school network is too goo... more »

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: 69633_10200529817345930_754724205_n] *Fundraiser for Raise Your Hand last Wednesday night. Photo: Mike Klonsky* Does this happen to you? Some weekends you have nothing. No movies are playing that you want to see. No friends have invited you to dinner. Nothing on TV. Just nothing going on. And then there are the weekends that are packed. Everyone you know is having people over. And you have tickets to the Bulls and the Nets. And there is someone at the Old Town School that is really great. That’s tonight. My ni... more »

Things are about to get real, real around here… NYC peeps take note, at 92Y – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Things are about to get real, real around here… NYC peeps take note, at 92Y – @ the chalk face: Things are about to get real, real around here… NYC peeps take note, at 92Y by Chalk Face, PhD [image: Image] That’s me on the roster. I am a Black Sheep, indeed.

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-2-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why Are Walton Billionaires So Interested in Los Angeles Schools? by dianerav The big school board race is this week in Los Angeles, and we know that the billionaires have lined up behind their slate. We know that Eli Broad wants to own his hometown’s school board and Mayor Michael Bloomberg has tossed $1million into the race to help the same candidates that Eli wants. What is less well known is that one of the biggest founders of school choice–AKA, privatization–i... more »

Ed Notes Online: UFT Defends Its Charter Co-loco

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Ed Notes Online: UFT Defends Its Charter Co-loco: UFT Defends Its Charter Co-loco by ed notes online Really, there is nothing left to say. For once even I am speechless. For now. [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] From Gotham Schools. NEWS: In a twist, UFT gets attacked over its charter school co-locationThe strength of the United Federation of Teachers’ opposition to contested co-locations is being tested. The union has been so hostile to the city’s controversial space-sharing arrangements within school buildings — particularly those involving charter ... more »

Loaded question on a student survey | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Loaded question on a student survey | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Loaded question on a student survey by Gary Rubinstein In New York City schools get an annual ‘progress report’ grade from A to F. Schools with an F, D, or three consecutive Cs can be slated for closure, and many school have suffered this fate, with about twenty more fighting for their lives this year. The progress report is based on test scores and, in part, on parent, teacher, and student surveys. I came across this poster recently with an example of one of the questions from the student survey. This is the problem, ... more »

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Sunday, March 3, 2013

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