What You Need to Know About Your Child’s Privacy Rights
Sheila Kaplan is one of the leading authorities on privacy rights of children. She was invited to testify on the issue in Missouri, but was unable to appear due to the weather. She shares here her testimony with readers of this blog.
Here is a key point that she makes: “Given this new landscape of an information and data free-for-all, and the proliferation of data-driven education reform initiatives like Common Core and huge databases of student information, we’ve arrived at a time when once a child enters a public school, their parents will never again know who knows what about their children and about their families. It is now up to individual states to find ways to grant students additional privacy protections.”
Here is a key point that she makes: “Given this new landscape of an information and data free-for-all, and the proliferation of data-driven education reform initiatives like Common Core and huge databases of student information, we’ve arrived at a time when once a child enters a public school, their parents will never again know who knows what about their children and about their families. It is now up to individual states to find ways to grant students additional privacy protections.”
The Failed Charter Schools of Florida
This morning,I posted about a bogus claim (“study”) released by the Florida Department of Education, asserting that the state’s 518 charter schools “outperform” public schools. This was intended presumably to support former Governor Jeb Bush’s claims about a “Florida miracle.”
Except that no study conducted by independent researchers has reached the same conclusion.
Many of the state’s charters operate for profit. Their owners make generous contributions to political campaigns.
Here is a comment by a reader, offering the list of Florida’s failed charter schools. These are schools that were
Except that no study conducted by independent researchers has reached the same conclusion.
Many of the state’s charters operate for profit. Their owners make generous contributions to political campaigns.
Here is a comment by a reader, offering the list of Florida’s failed charter schools. These are schools that were
The Corporate Reform Smear Machine Attacks Gene Glass
Dr. Gene Glass is a distinguished scholar with a long career in educational research and statistics.
He recently co-authored a critical review of virtual charter schools, published by the National Education Policy Center.
In response, an operative from Jeb Bush’s so-called “Foundation for educational Excellence” created a website with Dr. Glass’s name, ridiculing him and impugning his integrity by implying he was bought by teacher union
He recently co-authored a critical review of virtual charter schools, published by the National Education Policy Center.
In response, an operative from Jeb Bush’s so-called “Foundation for educational Excellence” created a website with Dr. Glass’s name, ridiculing him and impugning his integrity by implying he was bought by teacher union
R.I. Students Give the Test to Adults: Can They Pass?
I just received this press release. This is a great action by the Providence Student Union.
Governor Chafee, take the test!
State Superintendent Deborah Gist, take the test!
MEDIA ADVISORY
March 13, 2013
CONTACT: Aaron Regunberg | Aaron@ProvidenceStudentUnion.org | 847-809-6039 (cell)
STUDENTS INVITE LEADERS, POLICY MAKERS TO “TAKE THE TEST” –
WOULD THEY GRADUATE UNDER NEW NECAP POLICY?
WHAT: To lend a deeper perspective to the debate over Rhode Island’s new high-stakes testing diploma system, members of the Providence Student Union (PSU) have invited community leaders and policy makers to put themselves in students’ shoes and take a shortened version of the NECAP exam that is now being used as a make-or-break graduation requirement for the state’s young people. Currently 40 state senators, state representatives, city council members, school board members, non-profit directors, lawyers, reporters, and education officials are planning to participate in this student-administered, student-proctored event.
DATE: Saturday, March 16th
WHERE: Knight Memorial Library, 275 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
WHEN: 12:15 p.m. event begins, test-takers start their exams; 1:25 p.m. suggested time for press to arrive to catch the last minutes of test-taking, see a short PSU presentation to the media, and interview test-takers.
The event will have strong visuals. Students and adult participants will be available for interviews.
###
The Providence Student Union is a youth-led student advocacy organization bringing high school students together to ensure youth have a real voice in decisions affecting their education. Learn
Governor Chafee, take the test!
State Superintendent Deborah Gist, take the test!
MEDIA ADVISORY
March 13, 2013
CONTACT: Aaron Regunberg | Aaron@ProvidenceStudentUnion.org | 847-809-6039 (cell)
STUDENTS INVITE LEADERS, POLICY MAKERS TO “TAKE THE TEST” –
WOULD THEY GRADUATE UNDER NEW NECAP POLICY?
WHAT: To lend a deeper perspective to the debate over Rhode Island’s new high-stakes testing diploma system, members of the Providence Student Union (PSU) have invited community leaders and policy makers to put themselves in students’ shoes and take a shortened version of the NECAP exam that is now being used as a make-or-break graduation requirement for the state’s young people. Currently 40 state senators, state representatives, city council members, school board members, non-profit directors, lawyers, reporters, and education officials are planning to participate in this student-administered, student-proctored event.
DATE: Saturday, March 16th
WHERE: Knight Memorial Library, 275 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
WHEN: 12:15 p.m. event begins, test-takers start their exams; 1:25 p.m. suggested time for press to arrive to catch the last minutes of test-taking, see a short PSU presentation to the media, and interview test-takers.
The event will have strong visuals. Students and adult participants will be available for interviews.
###
The Providence Student Union is a youth-led student advocacy organization bringing high school students together to ensure youth have a real voice in decisions affecting their education. Learn
Charter Hype and Spin from Florida DOE
One of the saddest consequences of the merger of education with partisan politics is that we now no longer can trust pronouncements from many of our state and local departments of education. Instead of accurate data, we are apt to get spin, hype, distortion, and outright lies, all in the service of someone’s political agenda.
One of the worst offenders is the Florida Department of Education. For years, under Jeb Bush and now Rick Scott, the department has been incapable of impartial analysis or self-criticism. Instead, its goal is to parrot the party line of testing, accountability, charters, vouchers, and online learning.
The latest embarrassing public relations stunt from the state DOE is a “study” claiming that charter schools in
One of the worst offenders is the Florida Department of Education. For years, under Jeb Bush and now Rick Scott, the department has been incapable of impartial analysis or self-criticism. Instead, its goal is to parrot the party line of testing, accountability, charters, vouchers, and online learning.
The latest embarrassing public relations stunt from the state DOE is a “study” claiming that charter schools in
The Day the Teachers Said No
If you want to understand why the entire teaching staff of Garfield High School is boycotting the MAP test, watch this excellent video.
The only way to stop the destruction now descending on American education is to stand together–like the Garfield teachers–and say no.
No to pointless testing.
No to the misuse of testing.
No to the collection of students’ personal data for
The only way to stop the destruction now descending on American education is to stand together–like the Garfield teachers–and say no.
No to pointless testing.
No to the misuse of testing.
No to the collection of students’ personal data for
Diane in the Evening 3-12-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Why California Tightened Oversight of New Teachers by dianerav In a post yesterday, I referred to a decision by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to set higher standards for those who teach the state’s neediest students, especiallybEnglish-language learners.. Some readers thought this decision was unfair to Teach for America recruits, who get only five weeks of training before assignment to difficult jobs. However, a reader who closely follows the work of the Commission described the decision, ... more »