Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape Nite Cap 3-25-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best:

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Action Alert: Chicago School Closings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago

Action Alert: Chicago School Closings: Volume 1, Issue: #2.5March 25, 2013*In This Special Alert*Chicago School Closings*Greetings!* This is a special action alert. Please read below about the developing situation in Chicago. It is time to support the students, parents and teachers there. *Chicago School Closings Demand a Response* Dear Friends and Allies, Chicago has announced plans to close 53 schools. Philadelphia will close 23. New York City has 22 on the hit list. Atlanta is planning to close 13. Sacramento will close seven. Last year Oakland closed five. These are not the ... more »

California Office to Reform Education District Wai - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 46 minutes ago

California Office to Reform Education District Wai - Letters (CA Dept of Education): March 22, 2013 Deborah S. Delisle, Assistant Secretary Office of Elementary and Secondary Education U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202 Dear Assistant Secretary Delisle: We received your letter dated February 28, 2013, seeking comment from the California State Board of Education (SBE) on the request for a district-level waiver of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) submitted by nine California districts, organized as a consortium called the Calif... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Same-Sex Marriage and Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Same-Sex Marriage and Public Education: Budget Updates for SPS and Washington State by Melissa Westbrook In case you didn't hear, last Wednesday the economic forecast was released for Washington State. It showed flat growth which was actually good news as it means the Legislature doesn't have to find more cuts (in theory). Here's what was stated by Duggan Harman who is the Assistant Superintendent of Business & Finance (aka the budget guy) for SPS at last week's Board meeting. He stated the following: - SPS has an $18M shortfall. Staff has fo... more »

Student Voice: How a Community School Became an Oasis in South Central Los Angeles — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Student Voice: How a Community School Became an Oasis in South Central Los Angeles — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Student Voice: How a Community School Became an Oasis in South Central Los Angeles March 25, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *By Martin J. Blank and Ryan Fox, Coalition for Community Schools* [image: Kevin Valiencia] Walking through the halls of John C. Fremont High School in South Central Los Angeles with senior Kevin Valiencia, one finds an unexpected inner city public school in one of the most maligned neighborhoods in... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: An Astonishing Revelation by dianerav I earlier posted about the decision by Governor Christie to take control of the public schools of Camden, New Jersey. The state has controlled three other districts without “fixing” them. What will be different now? Or in those three other districts still under state control. This teacher in Florida knows what should be done: “I did my student teaching at woodrow wilson high school in camden, nj. those kids don’t need “a government” to The Chalkface Interviews Karen Lewis ... more »

UPDATE: More lies from Tribune + Who’s scarier??? Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Who’s scarier???: More lies from Tribune survey report by admin [image: trappedchild] Thanks to Diane Ravitch for picking up and sharing yesterday’s post about the deceitful Tribune public education survey report. Catalyst picked it up, too: *CHARTER CHEERLEADERS:* A survey commissioned by the Chicago Tribune and the Joyce Foundation finds widespread support—among parents of CPS students and other Chicagoans—formore charter schools in the city. However, Julie Woestehoff, of the group PURE, says the polling wasn’t exactly b... more »

UPDATE: Jersey Jazzman: Mayoral Control Ain't Done Squat For NYC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Mayoral Control Ain't Done Squat For NYC: The Screaming Hypocrisy of Chris Christie by Duke New Jersey Governor Chris Christie really does not care if he gets caught in his contradictions or not: Gov. Christie says the state could intervene in the day-to-day affairs of the Camden school system within six to eight weeks, depending on how quickly the legal process moves. Under the state-run system, the school board will have an advisory role, and the state will choose a new schools superintendent. Christie, the father of four school-age children, expressed what he des... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The continuing Vallas saga in Bridgeport

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The continuing Vallas saga in Bridgeport: The continuing Vallas saga in Bridgeport by Mike Klonsky Vallas*Kathleen Megan *writes in the Hartford Courant: *To hear some tell it, Paul Vallas is the savior of Bridgeport schools, a visionary working to turn around one of the state's lowest-performing districts. Others contend that the schools superintendent is an arrogant reformer, making too much change too quickly, with an agenda to turn education into a profit center.* I'll go with the latter. Says fellow privateer, *Andrew Rotherham*: "He's a disaste... more »

UPDATE: Answers On Hiring Substitutes for SPS Seattle Schools Community Forum: PBS Two-Parter on an American High School

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: PBS Two-Parter on an American High School: Answers On Hiring Substitutes for SPS by Melissa Westbrook There are not further details/information on the Hamilton substitute incident that occurred last week as the investigation is on-going. SPS replied to these basic questions about substitute hiring. *1) *Why did the reporter say the sub wasn't employed by the district? Is that right? We did not tell the reporter that the substitute wasn’t a district employee. We did say that because he isn’t a permanent teacher, he couldn’t be placed on leave. In... more »

The downside of superstar schools - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

The downside of superstar schools - latimes.com: The downside of superstar schoolsIt's no surprise that parents go to great lengths to get their children into the coveted classrooms. But other campuses suffer a loss from such lopsided enthusiasm.[image: Carpenter Community Charter]Carpenter Community Charter has almost 1,000 students, a waiting list and a controversy over parents who lie about their addresses to get their children in. But a generation ago, fewer than 50 of Carpenter’s 450 students were from the neighborhood; most were bused in. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Ti... more »

LAO suggests curtailing accreditation of teacher prep programs by CTC SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Print this article*LAO suggests curtailing accreditation of teacher prep programs by CTC* *By Tom Chorneau* Monday, March 25, 2013 A policy paper from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst released late last week suggests lawmakers consider curtailing the accreditation of teacher training programs by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The proposal was one of several recommendations included in a review of the impacts of the governor’s budget on the state’s primary standards board for educator training and professional conduct. A key elem... more »

Bipartisan on Child Poverty | First Focus

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Home | First Focus: [image: The 2014 Budget Debate] Bipartisan on Child PovertyPublished: March 8, 2013 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS - *To the Editor:* [image: Opinion Twitter Logo.] Connect With Us on Twitter For Op-Ed, follow@nytopinion and to hear from the editorial page editor, Andrew Rosenthal, follow@andyrNYT. Sheila C. Bair is right (“Grand Old Parity,” Op-Ed, Feb. 27): income inequality should concern both parties. In Britain, it does, at least when it comes to children. Ms. Bair also rightly identi... more »

The complex issue of stealing public education…Just ask Malloy’s nominee for the State Board of Education - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

The complex issue of stealing public education…Just ask Malloy’s nominee for the State Board of Education - Wait, What?: Bridgeport Board of Education…and the vote is, once again, five to four by jonpelto Following the sudden announcement that Jacqueline Kelleher is resigning as the chair of the Bridgeport Board of Education (although she will be staying on as member of the Board), the five members of the Board of Education are expected, tonight, to elect Kenneth Moales Jr. to serve as the new Chairman of the Board. Kenneth H. Moales, Jr. has served as vice chair of the Board and ... more »

The Second Annual Dog and Pony Show of Faux Support for Parent Trigger is Tuesday | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

The Second Annual Dog and Pony Show of Faux Support for Parent Trigger is Tuesday | Scathing Purple Musings: The Second Annual Dog and Pony Show of Faux Support for Parent Trigger is Tuesday by Bob Sikes They tried this last year, too. But this time, Jeb Bush’s top lobbyist lieutenant Patricia Levesque will be bringing in an equally loathsome group for a sham press conference. From Florida Watchdog reporter William Patrick in*Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future* website: Florida Watchdog contacted *Nikki Lowery* of *Students First Florida* for comment but received a form lett... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, March 25, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: Corporate Media = Corporate Lies]*Budget gap at Sacramento City Unified School District down to $5.6 million* *School district borrows $50 million to cover projected shortfalls from the state* Education Headlines *Monday, March 25, 2013* Teacher layoff notices see notable slowdownSeveral recent years of March sadness came to a quiet end this month for Stockton Unified and numerous other school districts in California. With the state regaining fiscal health, what had been a deluge of teacher layoffs slowed to a trickle. R... more »

Gates Foundation Sponsored: Effective Teaching BY VICKI PHILLIPS AND RANDI WEINGARTEN | New Republic

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Gates Foundation Sponsored: Effective Teaching | New Republic: SPONSORED CONTENTMARCH 25, 2013 *Six Steps to Effective Teacher Development and Evaluation*Sponsored by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and American Federation of Teachers BY VICKI PHILLIPS AND RANDI WEINGARTEN - Read Later - Listen - Font Size - Facebook - Twitter *Sponsored content by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and American Federation of Teachers.* Some see us as education’s odd couple—one, the president of a democratic teachers’ union; the other, a director at the world’s largest philanthropy... more »

Mike Pence Needs to Lead Common Core Opposition, Not Sit on the Sidelines | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Mike Pence Needs to Lead Common Core Opposition, Not Sit on the Sidelines | Truth in American Education: A Mental Health Professional’s Perspective on the Common Core by truthed Dear Mrs. Swasey & Mr. Beck: I am writing this note on behalf of your joint request to address issues surrounding the Common Core State Standards Act (CCSS) that is currently in the process of being implemented in the vast majority of our public school systems in the country. By way of background, I’m an African American Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) currently serving as Director of Clinical Trainin... more »

Q&A from Alaska: Teachers sleeping in the classroom and fighting the achievement gap | Hechinger Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Q&A from Alaska: Teachers sleeping in the classroom and fighting the achievement gap | Hechinger Report: Q&A from Alaska: Teachers sleeping in the classroom and fighting the achievement gap by Sarah Garland [image: Q&A from Alaska: Teachers sleeping in the classroom and fighting the achievement gap] The persistence of the Native American achievement gap has stumped educators for decades. Even as black and Hispanic students have made gains in recent years, test scores, high school graduation rates and the college-going rates have stagnated for Native students. On St. Lawrence Islan... more »

The Atrophied Conscience of Apartheid America | California Progress Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The Atrophied Conscience of Apartheid America | California Progress Report: The Atrophied Conscience of Apartheid America by callen *By Mark Naison* Little by little, we have created an apartheid nation, a place where a profound spatial and moral divisions separate the lives of the privileged and the unfortunate. The boundaries are not strictly racial - though those on the lower side of the divide are overwhelmingly people of color - nor are they marked by gates and walls and fences. Rather, they are enforced by a complex set of codes followed by law enforcement authorities who have... more »

Challenging Structural Racism in New York City Schools: Horatio Alger, RIP -- Why Korean immigrants succeed

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Challenging Structural Racism in New York City Schools: Horatio Alger, RIP -- Why Korean immigrants succeed: Challenging Structural Racism in New York City Schools: Horatio Alger, RIP — Why Korean immigrants succeed by Danny Weil [image: images] Still not recognizing minority-majority era is here and it requires quality education for the deprived (even in richest city in the country)…. Meanwhile law suits have to be filed to force states to equalize funding (latest in Texas and Colorado) and still they drag their feet as (New Jersey reveals). How do these test scores lead to dis... more »

Lost in Translation — $=$$=Zero — What Is the Contradiction? Money for Uneducation | Dissident Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Lost in Translation — $=$$=Zero — What Is the Contradiction? Money for Uneducation | Dissident Voice: Lost in Translation — $=$$=Zero — What Is the Contradiction? Money for Uneducation by Paul Haeder *University of Phoenix Dumpster Diving for Dollars* “The education system that was created hundreds of years ago needs to change,” says Michael Clifford, a major education entrepreneur who speaks with FRONTLINE. Clifford, a former musician who never attended college, purchases struggling traditional colleges and turns them into for-profit companies. “The big opportunity,” he says, “... more »

Laid-off Sacramento City teachers win partial court victory - Education - The Sacramento Bee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Laid-off Sacramento City teachers win partial court victory - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Laid-off Sacramento City teachers win partial court victory - Sacramento Bee Laid-off Sacramento City teachers win partial court victory lkalb@sacbee.com PUBLISHED SATURDAY, MAR. 16, 2013 Scores of laid-off Sacramento teachers who sued last year complaining that their school district ignored seniority-based job protections won a partial victory Friday in Sacramento Superior Court. Judge Allen Sumner, in a case closely watched by educators and advocacy groups across the state, concluded... more »

Daily Kos: Diane Ravitch calls it "the most brilliant post of the day"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Daily Kos: Diane Ravitch calls it "the most brilliant post of the day": Diane Ravitch calls it "the most brilliant post of the day" by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] As she puts it in this brief post at her blog: In a blinding flash of insight, he sees the pattern on the rug of the corporate reform movement. She is referring to A Confederacy of Reformers by the brilliant Louisiana blogger Crazy Catfish. Trust me, he really nails the corporate "reform" movement in education in this post.Here is the conclusion: What I am seeing... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] How Closing Schools Blights Communities by dianerav This writer explains why closing schools blights communities and causes economic Decline. Officials in Chicago assert that hey are saving money by closing 50+ schools,but the ripple effect of school closings will leave devastated communities behind, costing taxpayers far more than any allied savings. Unfortunately, Chicago officials are looking on the schools as if they were chain stores that did not turn a prof... more »

UPDATE Our interview with @ctulocal1 president Karen Lewis + The Gap No One Wants to Talk About – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

The Gap No One Wants to Talk About – @ the chalk face: Our interview with @ctulocal1 president Karen Lewis did a few things for me by Chalk Face, PhD Here’s the interview on Blog Talk Radio. What’s remarkable is that she spent so much time with us considering how busy things are going to be. In any event, I had a few persistent thoughts after the interview. One, the formula for underutilization in Chicago is partly based on square footage. That was a really interesting tidbit. So, is this kid per square foot? If the ratio is low enough, the school gets closed? Well, given that, what... more »

Rand Paul pushes federal school vouchers

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Rand Paul pushes federal school vouchers: Rand Paul pushes federal school vouchers Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 25, 2013 at 10:00 am 0 Comments More [image: Sen. Rand Paul (By Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)] Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). (By Reuters/Kevin Lamarque) Sen. Rand Paul, a rising star in the Republican Party, is pushing for a federal voucher program that sounds similar to one advanced by Mitt Romney when he was running for president. Paul, from Kentucky, co-sponsored an amendment to Senate budget legislation with Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Republican from Tennessee who was once secre... more »

Bring Your Own Tech to School… and Become a Hacker! | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Bring Your Own Tech to School… and Become a Hacker! | toteachornototeach: Bring Your Own Tech to School… and Become a Hacker! by aristotlethewise *Bring Your Own Tech to School… and Become a Hacker!* by John Pavley Getting a new computer is quite a traumatic experience for me. On my personal Mac Mini (vintage 2009) I have all my favorite apps installed and all my folders and files just where I like them. I have all my accounts, system settings, network settings, and fonts customized and optimized. It took me weeks of trial and error to get it set up so I can focus on thinking and p... more »

Modern School: Youth Poverty At An All-Time High

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Modern School: Youth Poverty At An All-Time High: Youth Poverty At An All-Time High by Michael Dunn Empty Pockets (Image by barbaranixon from Flickr) A new report from the Washington DC-based Urban Institute indicates that the overall percentage of wealth of those in their 20s and 30s has been dropping steadily and is now at its lowest level since records have been kept, the WSWS reports. The study, “Lost Generation? Wealth Building Among Young Americans,” found that young people aged 29-37 saw a 21% decline in their accrued wealth over the past few decades, while those who are 74... more »

UPDATE: Tony at the Red Line Tap + Every Chicago public school is my school. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Every Chicago public school is my school. | Fred Klonsky: Tony at the Red Line Tap. by Fred Klonsky [image: tonyattheredline] “Richie Imperial Porter, Marty.” “Comin’ right up, Klonsky.” “Damn. Look who decided to drop by,” said Tony as I saddled up to the bar. “Why do we say *saddled up* when we sit at a bar,” I asked? “We don’t say that we saddled up to a table.” “Why are roads *closed*, but bridges are *out*,” asked Tony? “It’s not like my union president demanded to *saddle up* to the table for pension negotiations.” “That’s okay,” said Tony. “I try and stay away from tables anywa... more »

School shootings and lessons learned Page 1 of 3 | UTSanDiego.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

School shootings and lessons learned Page 1 of 3 | UTSanDiego.com: Krugman suggests Cyprus could be the start of something positive by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) which is the restriction of the free flow of capital across borders. In Hot Money Blues, his *New York Times*column this morning, he says one thing seems certain: for the time being, and probably for years to come, the island nation will have to maintain fairly draconian controls on the movement of capital in and out of the country. He further suggests that if shaped properly such a move might well have the support o... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Murdoch wants FCC to change rules so he can grab L.A. Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Murdoch wants FCC to change rules so he can grab L.A. Times: Murdoch wants FCC to change rules so he can grab L.A. Times by Mike Klonsky Rupert Murdoch's criminal media empire could expand even more wildly in the U.S. if he's able to get the F.C.C. to get rid of some of its basic regulations. Murdoch's NewsCorp company is stepping up lobbying efforts revise a media ownership rule that would prevent the company from acquiring The L.A.Times and other newspapers in markets in which it already owns television stations. British billionaire Murdoch is... more »

Parent/Teacher Conferences–More Cartoons* | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Parent/Teacher Conferences–More Cartoons* | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Parent/Teacher Conferences–More Cartoons* by larrycuban If readers following this blog have not yet guessed it, I am a sucker for cartoons about school reform policies, classroom practice, and larger education issues. Cartoonists have the knack of getting to the basic point, albeit, with exaggeration, even caricature. Sometimes, they hit the bullseye and say what needs to be said even if it makes the reader wince. Getting the viewer to smile, maybe chuckle, and mutter: “how true” is the... more »

The Educated Reporter: Common Core State Standards and STEM: Raising the Bar for Student Learning

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Common Core State Standards and STEM: Raising the Bar for Student Learning: Common Core State Standards and STEM: Raising the Bar for Student Learning by Emily Richmond *EWA recently held a one-day seminar focused on STEM education at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. We invited some of the journalist attendees to contribute blog posts from the sessions. Today's entry is from **education reporter Erica Green of the Baltimore Sun. You can find additional resources from the seminar, including materials from many of the presenters, here.* The new C... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Bye-Bye Ben Chavis

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Bye-Bye Ben Chavis: Bye-Bye Ben Chavis by Duke Diane Ravitch reports the latest news about one of the darlings of the reformy, Ben Chavis: Politicians and pundits flicked to the school to sing its praises and to heap honor and recognition on Ben Chavis, its leader. Chavis flaunted his “no excuses” style and his disdain for liberal softies. His schools had some of the highest scores in the state so it was hard to argue with success. As the media took turns lionizing Chavis, they failed to notice that he had managed to lose the American Indians and to tilt the en... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Student Data Privacy Lawsuit Against DOEd. FERPA = Tracking from Cradle to Grave

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Student Data Privacy Lawsuit Against DOEd. FERPA = Tracking from Cradle to Grave: Student Data Privacy Lawsuit Against DOEd. FERPA = Tracking from Cradle to Grave by stlgretchen From Washington Post and *Lawsuit charges Ed Department with violating student privacy rights*: The U.S. Education Department is being sued by a nonprofit organization for promoting regulations that are alleged to undercut student privacy and parental consent. The rules allow third parties, including private companies and foundations promoting school reform, to get access to ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky Trumbull Elementary student Daqueeta Holland, 10, left, sobs as she and friend Dyanna Davis, 10, lament that they'll be separated next year when Trumbull closes. (Chicago Tribune)CTU Pres. Karen Lewis *“Performance has creeped back in the conversation. Every time you look up, they’ve changed the bar on what this is going to be about.”* -- Sun-Times Ald. Bob Fioretti *"I think they set them all up for failure. And then what they set up even worse was the communities and the parents and the faculties... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Democracy Dies In Camden

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Democracy Dies In Camden: Democracy Dies In Camden by Duke And so it finally comes to this: *Gov. Christie plans to announce Monday that he is taking the extraordinary step of putting the educational and fiscal management of the Camden School District under state control*, The Inquirer has learned. As part of the takeover of what the state considers the worst-performing district in New Jersey, Christie will appoint a new superintendent and leadership team, shifting the school board to an advisory role, according to administration officials briefed on the plan. ... more »

“The Corner Office” for Schools: Teamwork, Fun, and Getting Stuff Done | InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

“The Corner Office” for Schools: Teamwork, Fun, and Getting Stuff Done | InterACT: “The Corner Office” for Schools: Teamwork, Fun, and Getting Stuff Done by David B. Cohen [image: Promoting Quality Teaching: New Approaches To Compensation and Career Pathways] Here’s another post based on “The Corner Office” feature in Business section of the Sunday New York Times. This weekly interview with business leaders provides insights into the philosophies and practices of successful individuals in various industries. I always find it interesting to see what people in other fields are sayi... more »

Last Stand for Children First: We're giving CPS a "B+" on School Action Plans

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Last Stand for Children First: We're giving CPS a "B+" on School Action Plans: We're giving CPS a "B+" on School Action Plans by Last Stand for Children With *CPSmaking the courageous decision to close 54 schools *- we wanted to dig in, look at the schools, and see if the outcomes were in line with the position we announced last fall calling for CPS to abuse students this year and get it out of their system. Below is our press release on our position. We think the plan merits a "B+". Bottom line, while CPS is heading in the right direction, there is always room for improvement an... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Will Common Core Allow Pearson to Dictate Curriculum?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Will Common Core Allow Pearson to Dictate Curriculum?: Will Common Core Allow Pearson to Dictate Curriculum? by stlgretchen From Alan Singer in Huffington Post, *Cuomo, Common Core and Pearson-for-Profit: * If it has its way, Pearson will soon be determining what gets taught in schools across the United States with little or no parental or educational oversight. Pearson standardized exams will assess how well teachers implement Pearson instruction modules and Pearson's common core standards, but not what students really learn or whether students... more »

Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Nancy Flanagan is an education writer and consultant focusing on teacher leadership. She spent 30 years in a K-12 music classroom in Hartland, Mich, and was named Michigan Teacher of the Year in 1993. She is National Board-certified, and a member of the Teacher Leaders Network. She welcomes feedback on her sharp-eyed perspectives on the inconsistencies and inspirations, the incomprehensible, immoral and imaginative, in American education. She is a digital organizer for IDEA(Institute for Democratic Education in America). You can f... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools News: Precursor to Seattle Schools DOE Investigation by Melissa Westbrook From Ed Week comes this story of a district in Mississippi and the measures they must take for their disciplinary measures for all students. This may end up being what Seattle Schools is told they must do. *Among other things outlined in a consent decree signed Thursday between the district and the DOJ:* - *The district cannot use suspension, alternative school settings, or expulsion for minor misbehavior and has to limit these types of consequences a... more »

Why my grandson, 4, won’t be taking a gifted ed test - Class Struggle - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Why my grandson, 4, won’t be taking a gifted ed test - Class Struggle - The Washington Post: Why my grandson, 4, won’t be taking a gifted ed test By Jay Mathews My eldest grandson, Ben Mathews, just turned four. According to the New York Times, that is a perilous age in that big city. Many four year olds are toiling through exercises designed by their parents and tutoring companies to prepare for kindergarten gifted program entrance tests. It gets worse. Adults are fighting over the very nature of those exams. Should they, as they do now, measure how much academic preparation pre... more »

UFT on School Governance: the second (and stranger) of two debates | JD2718

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

UFT on School Governance: the second (and stranger) of two debates | JD2718: UFT on School Governance: the second (and stranger) of 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 (click here for the write up). 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 terti... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-24-13 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: *To infinity ... and beyond!* When Democracy Died in Camden, NJ by dianerav Jersey Jazzman reports that Governor Christie has decided to take control of the Camden school district. Camden is the fourth school district in the state to be taken over. Paterson, Newark, and Jersey City are already controlled by the state. JJ writes: *“Let’s be clear: Paterson has been under state control for 24 years, Jersey City for 22 years, and Newark for 18 * NYC Parents and Students Mobilizing for Real Reform by dianerav As the m... more »