2nd Banana 4-6-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #soschat #p2 #1u

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANA 

RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-5-13 AM Posts

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

How closing schools hurts neighborhoods

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

How closing schools hurts neighborhoods: How closing schools hurts neighborhoods Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 6, 2013 at 6:00 am 0 Comments More [image: (thenotebook.org)] (thenotebook.org) On Thursday, the Philadelphia school district’s governing board, the School Reform Commission, will be voting on the most massive one-time downsizing of the system ever proposed. The district’s recently revised plan, which has encountered widespread community and teacher opposition, calls for closing 29 out of 239 district schools next fall – a step down from the original proposal to shutte... more »

Help! Action Alert! Kate and Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education Needs Your Help!!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

We believe that the Fortune schools should go before the individual districts where the schools are to be located to petition for their charter. Please take a minute to let the *Sacramento County Board of Education *know that you support the Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education and that Fortune Charters must go before the individual districts where the schools are to be located to petition for their charter. Below you will find some of the issues involved with the fight against the Fortune Charter Schools being granted in district service areas without the approval of... more »

DIANE RAVITCH Joins GATES FOUNDATION as HEAD of CORPORATE ETHICS #edchat #soschat #uoodc13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

*CORPORATE ETHICS *

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 4-5-13 

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

California Science Center is sued for canceling a film promoting intelligent design -- latimes.com

"California Science Center is sued for canceling a film promoting intelligent design

The American Freedom Alliance says the center bowed to pressure from the Smithsonian. The science center says a news release hadn't been submitted to the museum, violating the contract."

L.A.'s California Science Center will start the new year defending itself in court for canceling a documentary film attacking Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

A lawsuit alleges that the state-owned center improperly bowed to pressure 

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-1-13 AM Posts

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

The Educated Reporter: State Takeovers: What Loss of Local Control Means for Schools s

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: State Takeovers: What Loss of Local Control Means for Schools s: State Takeovers: What Loss of Local Control Means for Schools from The Educated Reporter by Emily Richmond How bad does a public school system need to be for the state to take over? Are low student test scores alone enough? And what is a realistic time frame for the state to either turn schools around or restore local control? The looming prospects of state takeovers are making headlines from Maryland to Ohio, as lawmakers express frustration with the glacial pace of school improvement and st... more »

UPDATE: current results of the survey Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Big Education Ape: Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm: *The Fish is Back Go Leo!!* Good morning, I have attached the current results of the survey. I appreciate the participation. If you would like to add your response please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GTWLDWW . I will update the results for the regular board meeting tomorrow. For those of us able to attend today's special meeting at 4:30pm (open session/public comment) I have attached details for three operational expectations that I think are important for this evaluation perio... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-4-13 AM Posts

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

BREAKING NEWS!!!! Former NYC Principal Caught On Audio!!!.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: BREAKING NEWS!!!! Former NYC Principal Caught On Audio!!! by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Way back in June of 2012 I reported on my former principal at PS 154, Marsha Elliott, lack of true Christianity. She repeated a lie, and repeated it repeatedly. But first a little back story. In May of 2011 I was teaching character education, which is basically citizenship. I gave up being dean and SAVE room coordinator due to a senior teaching whining and kvetching about filing a grievance. Honestly it is a fantastic curriculum. But needs to be kept a... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Leonie Haimson: American Hero

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Leonie Haimson: American Hero: Leonie Haimson: American Hero by Duke [image: animated waving flag, very cool] Since critical thinking is in such short supply these days (thanks, in part, to the growing bubble test obsession in our public schools), let me explain why the smear against Leonie Haimson is both slimy and illogical: Regular readers here know I have great respect for Haimson, both as a champion for New York City's public schools and for the work she has done with her group, Class Size Matters. She advocates tirelessly for reduced class sizes, a broad an... more »

Obama Tobacco Tax To Fund Preschool Faces Industry Resistance

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Obama Tobacco Tax To Fund Preschool Faces Industry Resistance: Obama Tobacco Tax To Fund Preschool Faces Industry Resistance by Joy Resmovits Though President Barack Obama's administration hasn't formally released its 2014 budget, one component is already facing resistance from the tobacco industry. That's because the president plans to foot the bill for a major new pre-kindergarten program in part with an increase in tobacco taxes, The New York Times first reported Friday and the White House confirmed to HuffPost. The proposal would expand pre-K access to all 4-year-olds whose f... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: When Will Bill Gates Leave Public Education Alone?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: When Will Bill Gates Leave Public Education Alone?: When Will Bill Gates Leave Public Education Alone? by Melissa Westbrook There can be no doubt that Bill Gates is a smart guy. What I have a tough time with is that because he is smart AND has lots of money that somehow that makes him an expert on anything he decides is important. Mr. Gates, like Eli Broad and the Waltons, have created a playbook (probably via our friends at ALEC) for ed reform. Just to be fair, I'm sure it is as frustrating to them as it is to all American citizens at the stubb... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-5-13 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: Diane Ravitch points the finger of blame at the DOE during day 1 of OCCUPY DOE 2. Three more days to go. Come in down, up, or over to join us. Here is Mitzi by dianerav I don’t know how to import photos to the blog. Maybe someone will tell me how. So I took her picture, emailed it to Twitter, and copied the link. http://twitter.com/DianeRavitch/status/320168597035036674/photo/1 Another Photo of Mitzi by dianerav Mitzi was rescued from a kill shelter. http://t.co/IBP5PS8MHN John White’s Deputy Stays Five Months ... more »

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Updates

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Updates: Seattle Schools Updates by Melissa Westbrook A story from KPLU about the Rainier Beach High School's new IB program. It's a good one. From SPS: Seattle Public Schools is seeking applicants for a newly formed Native American Advisory Committee. The committee will advise Superintendent José Banda on implementing Native American Education in Seattle Public Schools. It will be composed of Native families, Native community representatives, Native SPS staff, Native higher education representatives and Native students who re... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: PARENT TRIGGER GROUP RECOMMENDS LAUSD TAKES OVER FAILING LAUSD SCHOOL

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: PARENT TRIGGER GROUP RECOMMENDS LAUSD TAKES OVER FAILING LAUSD SCHOOL: PARENT TRIGGER GROUP RECOMMENDS LAUSD TAKES OVER FAILING LAUSD SCHOOL ●●smf: This article is a-little-more-than-somewhat misleading - *sometimes the spin makes the reporters dizzy.* The recommendation of the 24th St Parents Union is a “recommendation” – *not * the final parent vote. The LA Parent Union is an unholy owned subsidiary of ®eform Inc., *the Broad/Gates/WalMart/Charter School Kool-Aid is dispensed by the hogshead at every meeting!* BY BEAU YARBROUGH | SAN... more »

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-5-13 AM Posts

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-5-13 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] Anthony Cody: Can We Trust Bill Gates? by dianerav Anthony Cody read Bill Gates’ article in the Washington Post, in which he said it is time to reduce the emphasis on high-stakes testing. Anthony wondered if Gates means it. Anthony writes: “No one in America has done more to promote the raising of stakes for test scores in education than Bill Gates….You can read his words…, but his actions have spoken so much more loudly, that I cannot even make sense out of what ... more »

NYC Educator: Who Puts Children First, Always?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

NYC Educator: Who Puts Children First, Always?: Who Puts Children First, Always? by NYC Educator I continue to be amazed at the depths reformy folks will sing when personally attacking their critics. Now, if you send your kid to a private school, you have no right to criticize charters. This is the new paradigm because charters are the "choice" you get if you aren't rich. Some choice. I should send my kid to some heavily regiment test prep factory instead of a public school. I went to a Gotham Schools fundraiser where I watched films by Doug Lemov. One showed the amazing teacher wh... more »

Accountability for Mr. Gates: The Billionaire Philanthropist Evaluation - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Accountability for Mr. Gates: The Billionaire Philanthropist Evaluation - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Accountability for Mr. Gates: The Billionaire Philanthropist Evaluation by Anthony Cody Bill Gates, who is more responsible than anyone for the absurd evaluations by which teachers are now being held accountable, had the gall to write this week in a tone of exasperation about the results of his own advocacy for these very practices. Yesterday I asked when Mr. Gates, the great enthusiast for accountability for others, might hold himself accountable for his own hand... more »

The Educated Reporter: Is Public School Activist's Status as Private School Parent Relevant?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Is Public School Activist's Status as Private School Parent Relevant?: Is Public School Activist's Status as Private School Parent Relevant? by Emily Richmond There are plenty of education activists who aren’t also parents of school-aged children. But when parents opt for private school, does that diminish their standing as advocates for public education? It’s a familiar debate that’s in the spotlight this week in New York City, after it was learned that well-known education activist Leonie Haimson opted to put her younger child in private school. (She has ... more »

Politics K-12 - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Politics K-12 - Education Week: U.S. Dept. of Ed. Protesters Turn Fierce Rhetoric on 'Corporate' Reform *Washington* * * ** * * As they kicked off four days of protests at the U.S. Department of Education, organizers of Occupy DOE 2.0 today used inflammatory—and, in one case, racially insulting—rhetoric to rally opposition against high-stakes testing, "corporate" education reform, and the "dismantling of public education." Standing in front of the Education Department's headquarters in downtown Washington, Miami-Dade County teacher Ceresta Smith referred to former District of Colum... more »

Parents with power over L.A. school weigh their options - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Parents with power over L.A. school weigh their options - latimes.com: Parents with power over L.A. school weigh their options by By Howard Blume Parents with power over L.A. school weigh their options*The Real Question: Is Eli for Public Schools or Will he Privatize?* - By Howard Blume April 4, 2013, 5:46 p.m. About 50 parents on Thursday attended a presentation to help them decide who should run 24th Street Elementary School, a campus whose fate is in the hands of families who are trying to change the management of the school under the controversial parent trigger law.... more »

Ed Notes Online: MORE Elem Ex Bd Cand Jia Lee Helps Sponsor Ed Forum at Earth School on Testing April 8

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: MORE Elem Ex Bd Cand Jia Lee Helps Sponsor Ed Forum at Earth School on Testing April 8: MORE Elem Ex Bd Cand Jia Lee Helps Sponsor Ed Forum at Earth School on Testing April 8 by ed notes online Why MORE has a future? Activists like Jia Lee who doesn't just talk about the problems with high stakes testing. A number of MORE teacher/parents and allies are opting out of tests in increasing numbers. The big events in Washington DC starting tomorrow will spark a national movement. Jia and her school are doing their part. Please join us as we discuss our questions, conc... more »

Bill Gates Dances Around the Teacher Evaluation Disaster He Sponsored - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Bill Gates Dances Around the Teacher Evaluation Disaster He Sponsored - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Bill Gates Dances Around the Teacher Evaluation Disaster He Sponsored by Anthony Cody *No one in America has done more to promote the raising of stakes for test scores in education than Bill Gates.* Yesterday, Mr. Gates published a column that dances around the disaster his advocacy has created in the schools of our nation. You can read his words there, but his actions have spoken so much more loudly, that I cannot even make sense out of what he is attempting to say ... more »

Leveling and Raising the Playing Field — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Leveling and Raising the Playing Field — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Podcast][image: Whole Child Podcast]Leveling and Raising the Playing Field April 4, 2013 by Whole Child Podcast Download Podcast Now [Right-Click to Save] Addressing students' needs levels the playing field. Or rather, addressing students' needs is *only* leveling the playing field. If a child is hungry, then the need can be addressed by providing breakfast, lunch, and assistance as needed. The same applies if the child is unwell. Many schools have made great strides in addressing students' ... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-4-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] TeacherKen: on the Standardized Testing Racket by dianerav The Atlanta cheating scandal has caused some reflection on the system that incentivizes unethical behavior. It is important to say again and again that cheating is wrong. Those who cheat should be punished. But who will correct the system that cheats children of education? This reflection by TeacherKen on a column by Eugene Robinson raises important questions about the misdirection of education by the unre... more »

Bill would protect adult ed, career tech while extending local control | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Bill would protect adult ed, career tech while extending local control | EdSource Today: Bill would protect adult ed, career tech while extending local control - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald School districts would keep discretion to spend billions of dollars of “categorical” funding however they want for five more years under a Senate bill that passed its first hurdle in the Legislature on Wednesday. [image: Sen. Carol Liu] Sen. Carol Liu SB 223‘s provisions on local spending control are similar to Gov. Jerry Brown’s sweeping plan for school finance reform. Both appr... more »

Occupy the Department Of Education Returns to DC | Mother Jones

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Occupy the Department Of Education Returns to DC | Mother Jones: *California Father | @califather Califather all spiffed up and ready to stream Occupy the DoE! #edchat #soschat #uoodc13* coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago California Father | Educating Sullivan: [image: California Father] califather on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free - ON DEMAND - ABOUT OCCUPY THE DEPT OF ED - HOW TO CHAT Occupy the Department Of Education Returns to DC —By Stephanie Mencimer | Thu Apr. 4, 2013 3:20 AM PDT Post - - Protesters from Occupy DOE United OptOut [image: Occupy DO... more »

Student Absences Costing Sacramento City Unified School District Millions « CBS Sacramento

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Student Absences Costing Sacramento City Unified School District Millions « CBS Sacramento: Student Absences Costing Sacramento City Unified School District Millions - CBS Local SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Parents are letting their students stay home and it’s costing the Sacramento City Unified School District millions of dollars. At Leataata Floyd Elementary School, nearly a quarter of the students miss at least 18 days a year, and a new report says parents are a big part of the problem. Parents have heard every excuse in the book when their child wants to miss school, but the sch... more »

New Jersey parents joining nationwide boycott of state standardized tests - NorthJersey.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

New Jersey parents joining nationwide boycott of state standardized tests - NorthJersey.com: New Jersey parents joining nationwide boycott of state standardized tests THURSDAY APRIL 4, 2013, 12:13 AM BY LESLIE BRODY STAFF WRITER THE RECORD PAGES: 1 2 3 > DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE | PRINT | E-MAIL A handful of New Jersey families will join an increasingly vocal national group boycotting state standardized tests this |spring, in the belief that they hinder true learning, fail to measure students’ skills, waste time and squander money. [image: Jean McTavish of Ridgewood is a New York City hi... more »

Who do you believe: Childless carpetbagger John White or a Louisiana public school parent? | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Who do you believe: Childless carpetbagger John White or a Louisiana public school parent? | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Who do you believe: Childless carpetbagger John White or a Louisiana public school parent? by crazycrawfish In response to our campaign to lobby our legislators and Governor to put a leash on John White’s reckless and illegal privacy violations, John White sent out a letter to local superintendents. This letter tries to mischaracterize our objections and goals, while pointedly ignoring the underlying issues and facts. I will set the record straight on a point by ... more »

Identities of the rich who hide cash offshore | UK news | The Guardian

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Identities of the rich who hide cash offshore | UK news | The Guardian: Identities of the rich who hide cash offshore Offshore financial industry leak exposes identities of thousands of holders of anonymous wealth from around the world - Share****1678 - - - inShare10 - Email - David Leigh - The Guardian, Wednesday 3 April 2013 18.59 EDT - Jump to comments (384) [image: British Virgin Islands] The British Virgin Islands, the world's leading offshore haven used by an array of government officials and rich families to hide their wealth. Photograph: Duncan Mc... more »

Alfie Kohn on APS cheating scandal: ‘What if we gave a test and nobody came?’ | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Alfie Kohn on APS cheating scandal: ‘What if we gave a test and nobody came?’ | Get Schooled: Alfie Kohn on APS cheating scandal: ‘What if we gave a test and nobody came?’ by Maureen Downey [image: testing (Medium)]I interviewed education advocate and writer *Alfie Kohn* a while back. *You can read the 2011 interview here*. The APS cheating scandal was in the news at the time, and Kohn told me: The real cheating scandal that has been going on for years is that kids are being cheated out of meaningful learning by focusing on test scores. Standardized tests like the CRCT measure what... more »

Help! Action Alert! Kate and Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education Needs Your Help!!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

We believe that the Fortune schools should go before the individual districts where the schools are to be located to petition for their charter. Please take a minute to let the *Sacramento County Board of Education *know that you support the Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education and that Fortune Charters must go before the individual districts where the schools are to be located to petition for their charter. Below you will find some of the issues involved with the fight against the Fortune Charter Schools being granted in district service areas without the approval of... more »

NYC Educator: Gotham Schools Compares Apples to

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

NYC Educator: Gotham Schools Compares Apples to: Gotham Schools Compares Apples to by NYC Educator * When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.* * **~Jonathan Swift.* I'm very disappointed when I read something like this from Leonie Haimson. Apparently Gotham Schools has seen fit to compare her to Michelle Rhee. This is because she, like Rhee, has chosen to place one of her children in private school. In this space, you have not seen criticism of people for choosing private school for their children. You have... more »

Teachbad, Rhee and Art: A Short Documentary | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Teachbad, Rhee and Art: A Short Documentary | Mr. Teachbad: [image: Logo Mr. Teachbad] Teachbad, Rhee and Art: A Short Documentary by teachbad Popout In this stunning new documentary short film, Mr. Teachbad discusses whether or not he is a visionary, his formal musical training, and the making of “Rhee Came Down the Mountain” with rehearsal outtakes.

Leonie Haimson exits public school parenting but not advocacy | GothamSchools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Leonie Haimson exits public school parenting but not advocacy | GothamSchools: Leonie Haimson exits public school parenting but not advocacy by Geoff Decker [image: DSC_0448EDt] Leonie Haimson’s career as a New York City education activist started when her older child was assigned to a first-grade class with 28 other students. That was in 1996, and since then, Haimson has advocated for public school parents — through her organization, Class Size Matters; the blog and online mailing lists she runs; and the national parent group she helped launch. But her personal stake changed last... more »

Parent-trigger school should work with L.A. Unified, group says - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Parent-trigger school should work with L.A. Unified, group says - latimes.com: Parent-trigger school should work with L.A. Unified, group says by By Howard Blume By Howard Blume April 3, 2013, 12:17 p.m. A parent committee is recommending that a charter school and the L.A. Unified School District should collaborate to run 24th Street Elementary, which was the subject of a successful petition under the controversial parent-trigger law. The recommendation, which will be formally released Tuesday, is for L.A. Unified to partner with Crown Preparatory Academy. The district would run t... more »

Ravitch v. Wolf: The Rise of the Dogmatic Scholar – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Ravitch v. Wolf: The Rise of the Dogmatic Scholar – @ the chalk face: Ravitch v. Wolf: The Rise of the Dogmatic Scholar by plthomasedd Recently, a debate between Diane Ravitch and Patrick Wolf highlights how the dogmatic scholar looks today. Mercedes Schneider examines that debate by first addressing Wolf’s credentials, Endowed Chair in School Choice, Education Reform, University of Arkansas. Both Schneider and Ravitch raise concerns about the conflict of interests when a scholar holds a chair in a department that is heavily funded by school choice advocates, as Schneider explains... more »

Throughout April: Principal Leadership — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Throughout April: Principal Leadership — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Throughout April: Principal Leadership April 3, 2013 by Klea Scharberg Principals are the key players in developing the climate, culture, and processes in their schools. They are critical to implementing meaningful and lasting school change and in the ongoing school improvement process. Principals who have a clear vision; inspire and engage others in embracing change for improvement; drive, facilitate, and monitor the teaching and learning process; and foster a cohesive cultur... more »

UPDATE: current results of the survey Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Big Education Ape: Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm: *The Fish is Back Go Leo!!* Good morning, I have attached the current results of the survey. I appreciate the participation. If you would like to add your response please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GTWLDWW . I will update the results for the regular board meeting tomorrow. For those of us able to attend today's special meeting at 4:30pm (open session/public comment) I have attached details for three operational expectations that I think are important for this evaluation perio... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, April 3, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm* Education Headlines *Wednesday, April 3, 2013* Pomona Unified officials declare several pieces of district owned land surplus propertyMost of the properties in the two groups of land declared surplus were purchased during a period when the district was experiencing an increase in enrollment. Pomona Unified school board approves field improvements for three district high schoolsThe district's Board of Education unanimously approved resolutions approvi... more »

Common Core "State" Standards Test Items to Get Federal Review - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Common Core "State" Standards Test Items to Get Federal Review - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Common Core "State" Standards Test Items to Get Federal Review by Anthony Cody Neal McClusky at the Cato at Liberty blog highlighted some news yesterday related to the Common Core. Yesterday news came out that made clear just how serious--and unfunny--concerns about a federal takeover are. According to Education Week, the U.S. Department of Education will start a "technical review process" for the Department-selected consortia creating the national tests to go with the s... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-3-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] How Finns View What Matters in Education by dianerav This is a very interesting read about how Finns think about education. They think about education, not just schooling. They think about how different institutions interact to shape young people. As Lawrence Cremin (my mentor and the author’s) taught, education is a network of institutions. Finns care about equality, not as an abstraction but a reality. They make sure that everyone has health care and education. ... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-2-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* *CORPORATE ED REFORM* University of Phoenix to ‘Occupy’ Santa Monica College by Danny Weil It was the former Chancellor of the Community College system, Jack Scott, who proposed that to increase access for students to education, the notorious [...] The post University of Phoenix to ‘Occupy’ Santa Monica College appeared first on DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored... Remainders: Looking for answers in Atlanta’s cheating charges by Philissa Cramer, at 9:02 pm - Three important questions and answers about Atlanta’s sweeping schoo... more »

UPDATE: DFER's 'Education Warrior' Schooling in the Ownership Society: Walton paying for CPS propaganda campaign on school closings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Walton paying for CPS propaganda campaign on school closings: DFER's 'Education Warrior' Sen. Smith, busted trying to rig N.Y. mayor's race by Mike Klonsky Smith, in a conversation with a federal informant, expressed his feelings on the illegal payoffs. “Business is business.” Hedge-fund school reformers at DFER's held up *State Sen. Malcolm Smith*, as their all-time school privatization hero. They describe Smith here as "a proud supporter of public charter schools long before it became popular to do so within the Democratic Party." Smith was e... more »

Letter to the Sacramento County Board of Education: Just Say No to the Fortune School Charter Revision | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Letter to the Sacramento County Board of Education: Just Say No to the Fortune School Charter Revision | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education: Letter to the Sacramento County Board of Education: Just Say No to the Fortune School Charter Revision by Kate_Lenox [image: Home] published by Kate_Lenox on Tue, 04/02/2013 - 1:07pm Dear SCOE Board of Trustees: It has come to our attention that the Fortune School will be coming before the SCOE board to ask for a material revision of its charter. It is proposing a new school in Elk Grove School USD more than three miles from t... more »

Public Schools, Private Agendas: Parent Revolution – Hot Ideas for a Cold Economy – The Frying Pan

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Public Schools, Private Agendas: Parent Revolution – Hot Ideas for a Cold Economy – The Frying Pan: Public Schools, Private Agendas: Parent Revolution by Gary Cohn on April 2, 2013 At first glance, it is one of the nation’s hottest new education-reform movements, a seemingly populist crusade to empower poor parents and fix failing public schools. But a closer examination reveals that the “parent-trigger” movement is being heavily financed by the conservative Walton Family Foundation, one of the nation’s largest and most strident anti-union organizations, a Frying Pan News invest... more »

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform Collapsing Under Its Own Weight - Part One, Assessments

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Ed Reform Collapsing Under Its Own Weight - Part One, Assessments: Keeping Up with Language Usage (Do Keep Up) from Seattle Schools Community Forum by Melissa Westbrook First up today, it was the use of the word "illegals", then it seems "whom" may be on its way out and now the NY Times weighs in on language with this op-ed "*Those Irritating Verbs-as-Nouns.*" Today the Associated Press (via the Huffington Post) sent out a style guide to reporters about using the term "illegals, illegal immigrants and undocumented immigrants." From the AP Styleboo... more »

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: American Indian Model Schools enrollment trends: student retention and demographics

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: American Indian Model Schools enrollment trends: student retention and demographics: American Indian Model Schools enrollment trends: student retention and demographics *STUDENT RETENTION* *American** Indian Public Charter School*** School Code #6113807 3637 Magee Ave., Oakland, CA Total Enroll 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 6th>8th Student retention 2011-12 255 4 121 80 50 71>50 70.4% 2010-11 179 0 82 57 40 66>40 60.6% 2009-10 193 1 71 52 69 77>69 89.6% 2008-09 182 0 66 72 44 62>44 71.0% 2007-08 190 5 77 59 49 2006-07 174 11 62 54 47 200... more »

The Crumbling of Corporate School "Reform" | California Progress Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

The Crumbling of Corporate School "Reform" | California Progress Report: The Crumbling of Corporate School "Reform" by callen *By Randy Shaw* In the past month, 1. Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly rejected a billionaire-backed school board candidate seeking to shift control of the district to anti-union forces; 2. Thirty-five Atlanta educators, including a close ally of prominent "reformer" Michelle Rhee, were indicted for altering students' test scores; 3. Rhee, head of "Students First," was herself caught lying about being a "public school parent" after it was reported that... more »

UPDATE: PSAT Part 1: A parent’s request to stop school closings + Never let a tragedy go to waste Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive »

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Never let a tragedy go to waste: Never let a tragedy go to waste by admin Hadiya Pendleton’s mother, Cleopatra, and brother, Nathaniel, Jr. [image: Hadiya Pendleton's mother, Cleopatra, and brother, Nathaniel, Jr.] Murdered CPS student Hadiya Pendleton’s family is moving forward with plans for an anti-violence foundation in her honor. Bless their efforts – we hope this project gives them some measure of comfort. According to the Tribune, others are looking to see how they can get involved, too, though motivation in some of th... more »

UPDATE: I’m not an educator. I just play one while working at the state capital. Interesting info on data points from #SXSWedu – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

@dianeravitch is talking about @shankerinst who’s talking about MD – @ the chalk face: I’m not an educator. I just play one while working at the state capital. by Timothy D. Slekar Yesterday, Carnegie Mellon University English professor Kathy M. Newman published an opinion piece about high stakes testing in the *Pittsburgh Post-Gazette* that has since gone viral. The title was simple: Why I Won’t Let My Son Take The PSSA. The passage itself was powerful and very well articulated. For example after talking about the problems the PSSAs (NCLB tests in PA) were causing at home, Pro... more »

The Atlanta Cheating Scandal

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

The Atlanta Cheating Scandal: The Atlanta Cheating Scandal by Sam There was a good conversation last night on the new prime time MSNBC Chris Hayes show about the Atlanta Cheating scandal. Still waiting to see if the investigation in DC ever gets as extensive as this — and, if it does, to what extent it exposes similar willful ignorance: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

NYC Educator: UFT's Fake Opposition Hates Being Called Fake Opposition

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

NYC Educator: UFT's Fake Opposition Hates Being Called Fake Opposition: UFT's Fake Opposition Hates Being Called Fake Opposition by NYC Educator Someone just sent me an email received from the New Action Caucus. Most of it is not of any interest, but I was struck by this: *MORE has shifted its campaign - from attacking Unity to attacking Unity/New Action. We weren't really expecting this, but it's not a great surprise either. (Even though they assured us a few months ago that they would not do this). Looks like they panicked when they saw how widely our literature had gotten out. ... more »

Federal Judge Orders Michelle Rhee Suit to Go Forward, will Broaden to Concealment and Fraud Claims

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Federal Judge Orders Michelle Rhee Suit to Go Forward, will Broaden to Concealment and Fraud Claims: Federal Judge Orders Michelle Rhee Suit to Go Forward, will Broaden to Concealment and Fraud ClaimsA US federal judge has denied a Motion to Dismiss by former DC Public School Chancellor Michelle Rhee in a wrongful termination lawsuit over the mass firings of DC Public School teachers back in 2009. Case to be amended to add concealment and fraud claims against Rhee and her CFO Noah Wepman. For nearly three years, efforts by hundreds of DC Public School teachers who were victims of... more »

Atlanta cheating scandal puts national education policy on trial — MSNBC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Atlanta cheating scandal puts national education policy on trial — MSNBC: [image: All In with Chris Hayes] Atlanta cheating scandal puts national education policy on trial Ned Resnikoff, @resnikoff 1:09 PM on 04/01/2013 - Twitter96 - Facebook412 - 33 [image: In this file photo taken Jan. 18, 2011 Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Beverly Hall, center, speaks with school board member LaChandra Butler Parks, left, and Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, vice chair of the board, right, during the city's specially called public school board meeting in Atlanta. On Friday, Hall wa... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-2-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Julian Vasquez Heilig Adds Graphics to the NEPC Story by dianerav Read here to see the illustrated version of the Wolf attack on me and NEPC. What do we need to protect us from future Wolf attacks? Garlic? A mirror? Maybe just common sense and concern for the commonweal. But what do I know. I am but a humble blogger with a doctorate in history, not a statistician. Texas Leads the Nation in Testing, But Not in Education by dianerav A great post here by Carolyn Hein... more »

UPDATE: News Flash Update: CT Post proves validity of lawsuit with news story about suit against Pryor, Vallas and Bridgeport Board of Education - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

News Flash Update: CT Post proves validity of lawsuit with news story about suit against Pryor, Vallas and Bridgeport Board of Education - Wait, What?: News Review: Vallas’ illegal contract leads to suit against Bridgeport Board of Education, Commissioner Pryor and Vallas by jonpelto As first reported by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas in the CTMirror, Attorney Norm Pattis has filed a lawsuit in Superior Court alleging that Superintendent Paul Vallas’ contract to serve as Bridgeport’s superintendent of schools is illegal. Pattis is the attorney who brought the case that led Connecticut’s ... more »

Why I fight, and why you should too | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Why I fight, and why you should too | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: "Was Abe A RINO Too?" John Boehner Has No Use For Lincoln In Context by crazycrawfish Reblogged from mykeystrokes.com: House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) sent a memo to all House Republicans today, telling them what a great job they're doing. Of particular interest, though, was the Speaker arguing how "noble" he and his party are for trying to balance the budget. From the memo: The book Congressman Lincoln by Chris DeRose, which I recently read, includes a chapter focused on Abraham Lincoln's efforts to help craft a ne... more »

Daily Kos: Eugene Robinson: The racket with standardized test scores

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Daily Kos: Eugene Robinson: The racket with standardized test scores: Eugene Robinson: The racket with standardized test scores by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) It is time to acknowledge that the fashionable theory of school reform — requiring that pay and job security for teachers, principals and administrators depend on their students’ standardized test scores — is at best a well-intentioned mistake, and at worst nothing but a racket. I read that first paragraph of this column by Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Eugene Robinson and found myself wanting to stand up and cheer. F... more »

Criminal indictment of Beverly Hall: Is it illegal to be an overly demanding boss? | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Criminal indictment of Beverly Hall: Is it illegal to be an overly demanding boss? | Get Schooled: Criminal indictment of Beverly Hall: Is it illegal to be an overly demanding boss? by Maureen Downey *Oglethorpe University President Lawrence Schall *doesn’t dodge the hard stuff. Proving it again today, he dons his legal robes — he is an attorney – and discusses the nature of the charges against former APS school chief Beverly Hall. He is not the only one questioning the breadth of the criminal charges facing Hall and other educators as a result of a cheating scandal first expose... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: At City Hall this morning

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: At City Hall this morning: At City Hall this morning by Mike Klonsky Rahm, "no negotiations..."I'm heading down to City Hall this morning for a 9:30 press conference outside the mayor's office. *Wendy Katten* from theRaise Your Hand Coalition and representatives from the research group CReATE will be releasing their latest reports on Chicago's mass school closings and urging Rahm's hand-picked Board of Education to back off the closings. They and the mayor would do well to listen. But it's not likely. Rahm has made it clear that he's done negotiating ... more »

On getting poor kids into “top” colleges – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

On getting poor kids into “top” colleges – @ the chalk face: On getting poor kids into “top” colleges by Chalk Face, PhD Good day this Sunday in the Times for education stories. Food for thought. Still getting through it all. On sending poor kids to college worthy of their potential, giving them greater access to information. The study cited in the article noted packets of information given to low income kids and it increased the rate at which they applied and were admitted to selective colleges. Great. If you look at the study, here’s what they meant by packets of information. From... more »

My Exclusive Interview with The Amazing Robert J. Marzano [Edutopia] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

My Exclusive Interview with The Amazing Robert J. Marzano [Edutopia] | The Jose Vilson: My Exclusive Interview with The Amazing Robert J. Marzano [Edutopia] by Jose Vilson Last week, I got an exclusive interview with Robert J. Marzano, Ph.D on his latest book, *The Art and Science of the Art of Science of Teaching, Leading, and Instructurizing*. Here’s an excerpt: *The Art and Science of the Art and Science of Teaching, Leading, and Instructurizing: How Everyone with a Thought About Education Can Affect Students Even a Little Bit2* takes a hard look at learning from the perspec... more »

All Things Education: In Virginia, an opportunity to undermine the institution of public, democratic education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

All Things Education: In Virginia, an opportunity to undermine the institution of public, democratic education: In Virginia, an opportunity to undermine the institution of public, democratic education by Rachel Levy Virginians who value public schools, local control of public schools, and public democratic institutions should be afraid. This may be the beginning of the end. Governor McDonnell proposed legislation SB1324 (which passed, though in the Senate by the skin of its teeth) that established a new bureaucratic entity, a statewide school division named the Opportunity Edu... more »

How to Privatize 101: For Fun and Profit Temecula Valley Charter changes likely mean new teachers Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Temecula Valley Charter changes likely mean new teachers Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com: Temecula Valley Charter changes likely mean new teachers [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991]*How to Privatize 101: For Fun and Profit * The Temecula Valley Charter community is bracing for change after the school board unanimously approved a cost-saving charter revision last week. With the revision calling for the charter school to hire non-district teachers, all 19 of the school’s instructors are expected to leave the 500-student school in Winchester, school officials sai... more »

H.R.1368: Prepare All Kids Act of 2013 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

H.R.1368: Prepare All Kids Act of 2013 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: H.R.1368 - Prepare All Kids Act of 2013 To assist States in providing voluntary high-quality universal prekindergarten programs and programs to support infants and toddlers. view all titles (2) - Overview - Actions & Votes - News (0) & Blogs (0) - Comments (0) Bill's Views - Today:1 - Past Seven Days:12 - All-Time:21 Introduced House Passes Senate Passes President Signs *03/20/13* * * * * * * Official Bill TextComment on about 17 Pages Sponsor Representative Carolyn Maloney D-NY Vie... more »

A Middle Fish Messed with the Tests in Atlanta | JD2718

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

A Middle Fish Messed with the Tests in Atlanta | JD2718: A Middle Fish Messed with the Tests in Atlanta by jd2718 The smallfry and minnows were the teachers and students. And bigger than those, but still near the bottom: principals. Which makes former Atlanta Superintendent Beverly Hall definitely a “Middle Fish” What of the big fish? The national figures who promote this crud? And the sharks – the hedge fund guys and corporations who make profit off denying kids quality education? Most of the thoughts I’ve had on the Atlanta testing scandal, others have already had them. I sh... more »

#Syracuse Has the Virus – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

#Syracuse Has the Virus – @ the chalk face: #Syracuse Has the Virus by Kris Nielsen I’ve been very busy communicating with parents and teachers in my state, finishing my speech for Occupy DOE 2.0 (Woohoo!), and stuff like that. My contributions to *The Chalk Face* have been a little wanting, but it’s not because I’ve been quiet. Honestly, I’ve felt a little sick. Not because I have an illness or a virus, but because my new city does. Yes, Syracuse, New York, has caught a deadly virus–the Broad Virus. [image: 2011-10-13-db-syracuse1jpg-51f2c8cdb66a6fb5]From Paul Riede at syracu... more »

Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

*Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm * * * https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7wdDUUSR15dMVpGTk55V2lRQ2M/edit?usp=sharing Post navigation← Previous Next →OFFICIAL POSTER FOR OCCUPY DOE IN DC NOW AVAILABLE Please feel free to go to this link and download the file to create a poster and/or t-shirt! There are several options – the first two downloads are for posters and the third one is specifically created to be used on a t-shirt. Enjoy! A big thank you goes to Jay Rivett who designed our poster. Jay can be reached at jayrivett81@gmail.c... more »

A Whole Child Education Transformation — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

A Whole Child Education Transformation — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Walter McKenzie]A Whole Child Education Transformation April 1, 2013 by Walter McKenzie Everyone freeze! Stop right where you are and look around. Survey the landscape. With all the clamoring and commotion in education, have you stopped to notice? Education transformation is already well underway. I know, I know. With all the posturing and politicking going on from your local school board to the state house to the White House, there's a public perception that it's business as usual. Voices o... more »

Schools Matter: Easier, more pleasant, less expensive path

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Schools Matter: Easier, more pleasant, less expensive path: Easier, more pleasant, less expensive path by skrashen SENT TO The State (South Carolina) NOTE: This newspaper typically does not accept letters out-of-state. But I submitted it anyway. NOTE: The State is running a poll: The question and the results: Should South Carolina toughen standards that would hold back more third-graders not reading at grade level? 71% say yes, 29% say no. An easier, more pleasant, less expensive path to high literacy South Carolina is eager to require children to read “proficiently” by grade thre... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Commission to Have First Meeting

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Commission to Have First Meeting: Charter Commission to Have First Meeting by Melissa Westbrook From the Governor's office: *Date:* Thurs. April 4, 2013 *Time: *11 a.m. - 6 p.m. *Location:* Governor's Conference Room Legislative Building, 2nd Floor 416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW Olympia, WA 98501 Printable map of Capitol Campus *Handouts:* Agenda Commission Members - Dr. Doreen Cato - Trish Millines Dziko - Kevin Jacka - Chris Martin - Dr. Margit McGuire - Dave Quall - Steve Sundquist - Cindi Williams - Larry Wright Read c... more »

UPDATE: For the Tribune’s Eric Zorn, calling racism racism is just a bargaining gambit + The in box. What the hell, Furman? | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

The in box. What the hell, Furman? | Fred Klonsky: For the Tribune’s Eric Zorn, calling racism racism is just a bargaining gambit. by Fred Klonsky When I pointed out what a lazy reporter the Trib’s Eric Zorn was, he wrote here and said he was sorry he disappointed me. I think he wasn’t being sincere. See, Zorn’s own daughter goes to Lane Technical College Prep. It was there that the story broke about the CPS ban of *Persepolis*, the hugely popular graphic novel. His daughter came home and told him about it. Typical of the way major Chicago media covers education stories, he dismiss... more »

California Superintendents, Elected Officials Launch Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan Transitional Kindergarten Online Resource - TKCalifornia

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Transitional Kindergarten Online Resource - TKCalifornia: *California Superintendents, Elected Officials Launch** Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan**Pre-K Students Sign, Seal Open Letter to Obama from CA School Superintendents * *Sacramento, CA – April 1, 2013 –* Superintendents, legislators, advocates, civic leaders will join teachers, parents and child advocates to launch “Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan” *at 10am* *on Tuesday, April 2 *at a pre-kindergarten classroom at H.W. Harkness Elementary School in Sacramento. The event kicks ... more »

Gates and Murdoch "Personalize" Learning with Larger Classes and Big Data Systems - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Gates and Murdoch "Personalize" Learning with Larger Classes and Big Data Systems - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Gates and Murdoch "Personalize" Learning with Larger Classes and Big Data Systems by Anthony Cody Do you ever get the feeling that your mind has been boggled once too often? That was my reaction when I readthis enthusiastic report about the way the next generation's educational experience will be "personalized" by the tremendous data systems being developed by Bill Gates and Rupert Murdoch. The Gates Foundation has worked with Rupert Murdoch's Amplify to... more »

"Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Superintendent".

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

*Leo Bennett-Cauchon**ROCKS!!!* Good morning, There is a special board meeting on Wednesday April 3rd starting with open session starting at 4:30pm. http://www.scusd.edu/sites/main/files/file-attachments/april_3_2013_special_agenda_1.pdf The public has a right to comment at 4:35pm prior to closed session on topics listed for closed session. The only topic listed is *"Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Superintendent". * I will be adding my input and urge others to consider joining me. If you like I have created a brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GTWLDWW I wi... more »

UPDATE: Beverly Hall worried about asking too little of inner city students. But is there also a danger of asking too much? | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Beverly Hall worried about asking too little of inner city students. But is there also a danger of asking too much? | Get Schooled: Beverly Hall worried about asking too little of inner city students. But is there also a danger of asking too much? by Maureen Downey [image: downeyart (Medium)]Despite all the cheering on the blog that APS administrators are now facing justice for their roles in the CRCT cheating scandal, an unresolved issue remains: Why was there so much cheating in APS? (And elsewhere in the country, as uncovered by a later AJC investigation?) The Georgia CRCTs are... more »

A Special Message From the President | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

A Special Message From the President | The White House: A Special Message From the President [image: Kori Schulman] Kori Schulman April 01, 2013 10:00 AM EDT President. Watch it here: Related Topics:

How the Kansas House Committee on Education Voted on HB 2289 | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

How the Kansas House Committee on Education Voted on HB 2289 | Truth in American Education: How the Kansas House Committee on Education Voted on HB 2289 by Shane Vander Hart [image: Kansas-State-Capitol] I was able to obtain a breakdown of how the members of the Kansas House Committee on Education voted on their anti-Common Core bill, HB 2289, that was defeated 7-11 in committee on 3/21. *Yes*Kelly (R) Bradford (R) Dove (R) Ghandi (R) Lunn (R) Highland (R) Hedke (R)*No*Cassidy (D) Trimmer (D) Boldra (R) Bridges (D) Dierks (R) Ewy (R) Houston (D) Lusk (D) Meigs (R) Rooker (R) Winn (D... more »

UPDATE: Monday read. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Monday read. | Fred Klonsky: Monday read. by Fred Klonsky [image: pay-to-park-sign] *Rahm Emanuel fires CPS spokesperson Becky Carroll.* “Forty kids in a classroom! Is she nuts?” says the Mayor. *In an exclusive interview the Education Secretary* admitted he doesn’t know the first thing about education. “I was hoping for a career in the NBA,” admits Duncan. “But I was too short.” *“Who is Vladimir Gompers?”* asks Michael Petrilli. “I think maybe he’s the guy everybody avoids in the Fordham cafeteria.” *Michael Bloomberg reflects on the end of his third term as Mayor of New York.* ... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, April 1, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: April Fool's greeting by animated cartoon mime] Education Headlines *Monday, April 1, 2013* USDA snack rules will have indirect impact on schoolsNewly proposed rules on the nutrition of snack foods that Chico schools don't produce and don't directly sell, are having an impact on the district's nutrition program. 11 O.C. districts expect trouble paying billsFinancial reports filed by Orange County's 28 school districts this month show that while fewer schools are facing cash problems than last year, 39 percent of distric... more »

The Selfish Case for the Common Good | educarenow

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

The Selfish Case for the Common Good | educarenow: The Selfish Case for the Common Good Posted on April 1, 2013 | Leave a comment *“Now Tom said ‘Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries Where there’s a fight against the blood and hatred in the air Look for me mom I’ll be there Wherever there’s somebody fightin’ for a place to stand Or a decent job or a helpin’ hand Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free Look in their eyes Mom you’ll see me.’”* Bruce Springsteen *The Ghost of Tom Joad* This is a hard post to write, because… I’m white. I’m male. ... more »

Shanker Blog » A Miracle In The Mid-Atlantic

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Shanker Blog » A Miracle In The Mid-Atlantic: A Miracle In The Mid-Atlantic by Matthew Di Carlo The National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, is often called “the nation’s report card.” Advocates sometimes use the results of the main NAEP tests to argue for their policy agendas. One example (among many) is when supporters of the so-called “Florida Formula,” a battery of market-based reforms that went into effect throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s and are currently spreading throughout the nation, make their case primarily on Florida’s NAEP performance. The basi... more »

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] SC: Just Say No to Florida “Miracle” by dianerav As Jeb Bush’s claims of miraculous powers of education reform spread across the land, South Carolina is considering legislation to flunk third-graders who don’t pass the state’s standardized test. The legislation, introduced by State Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, would cause about 3,000 children to be held back. Research is clear that grade retention is highly associated with dropping out in later grades. L... more »

Lack of dental services a factor in grades, attendance in state schools - Inside Bay Area

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Lack of dental services a factor in grades, attendance in state schools - Inside Bay Area: Lack of dental services a factor in grades, attendance in state schools By Jane Meredith Adams EdSource Today Posted: 03/31/2013 05:46:04 AM PDT Updated: 03/31/2013 05:46:09 AM PDT As California educators struggle to boost student achievement across economic lines, the teeth of poor children are holding them back. Hundreds of thousands of low-income children suffering from dental disease, some with teeth rotted to the gum line, are presenting California school districts with a widespread ... more »

Diane Ravitch: Good Grief! Teachers Get High Marks on New Evaluations | Classroom Struggle

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Diane Ravitch: Good Grief! Teachers Get High Marks on New Evaluations | Classroom Struggle: Diane Ravitch: Good Grief! Teachers Get High Marks on New Evaluations by ClassroomStruggle Some of you might have already seen the shocking results in the New York Times today. Apparently, all the teacher evaluations programs pushed on school districts by Obama’s Race To The Top and the corporate de-formers have found a shocking conclusion: most teachers are, in fact, “highly effective” at their jobs. Diane Ravitch does a great job of poking holes in this “realization” and cites some of t... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Atlanta's testing scandal

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Atlanta's testing scandal: Atlanta's testing scandal by Mike Klonsky I highly recommend these two excellent articles on Atlanta's testing scandal: Atlanta test cheating: Tip of the iceberg? by Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post and Ex-Schools Chief in Atlanta Is Indicted in Testing Scandal by Michael Winerip in the New York Times. Both emphasize the connection between the widespread testing scandals and current policies and practices associated with corporate-style school reform, *No Child Left Behind* and *Race To The Top*. Writes Strauss:... more »

Parent Trigger “Uses Parents Like a Cheap Dinner Napkin | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Parent Trigger “Uses Parents Like a Cheap Dinner Napkin | Scathing Purple Musings: Parent Trigger “Uses Parents Like a Cheap Dinner Napkin by Bob Sikes *The following is an opinion piece from Kathleen Oropeza, co-founder of FundEducationNow.org. She has granted permission to publish it here.* Despite a bruising defeat in the 2012 Florida Legislative session, parent trigger is something proponents are too stubborn to drop. Anointed 2013 sponsors Rep. Carlos Trujillo and Sen. Kelli Stargel, struggling to re-position their brand say, “We want to give parents a seat at the table.” Tha... more »

Schools Matter: Japan dem party wants TOEFL univ. entrance/exit in Japan

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Schools Matter: Japan dem party wants TOEFL univ. entrance/exit in Japan: Japan dem party wants TOEFL univ. entrance/exit in Japan by skrashen Sent to the Japan Times, March 31, 2013. English: A suggestion The Japan Times has it right: Money should be investing in teaching English, not testing it (“Testing English versus teaching it.” March 31). Here is a suggestion that will save money and give excellent results. Instead of investing money on expensive standardized testing, invest in English libraries, filled with interesting and comprehensible reading material that students are re... more »

Jersey Jazzman: File Under: "Shameless"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: File Under: "Shameless": File Under: "Shameless" by Duke Gloria Bonilla-Santiago was a guest columnist in yesterday's *Star-Ledger*. Here's how the paper describes her (all emphases in this post mine): *Gloria Bonilla-Santiago is the founder of the LEAP University Academy Charter School, which has a STEM curriculum, in Camden. She is also a Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Rutgers University. * *Let me intersperse Bonilla-Santiago's words in her op-ed with some other stories about her and LEAP Academy that have been uncovered this pas... more »

Inside the Black Box of the Classroom Practice: Change without Reform in American Education | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Inside the Black Box of the Classroom Practice: Change without Reform in American Education | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Inside the Black Box of the Classroom Practice: Change without Reform in American Education by larrycuban [image: insideblackbox_223]Readers who have been with me from August 2009 know that I have mentioned writing a book on the linkages between policy and practice in technology, curriculum, and accountability; I posted pieces of my research, for example, on laptops in a school fictitiously-named Las Montanas (see here, here, and here).... more »

Racial bias feeds the school-to-prison pipeline | The Raw Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Racial bias feeds the school-to-prison pipeline | The Raw Story: Racial bias feeds the school-to-prison pipeline by The Christian Science Monitor By The Christian Science Monitor Monday, April 1, 2013 0:54 EDT [image: An African-American man behind bars. Photo: Shutterstock.com, all rights reserved.] Topics: Manhood Development Program ♦ Oakland High School [image: Temp Headline Image]Oakland High School sophomore Barry Williams answers a question from instructor Tiago Robinson during the Manhood Development Program at Oakland High School on March 12 in Oakland, California. This ... more »

State still has a role in supporting and holding districts accountable | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

State still has a role in supporting and holding districts accountable | EdSource Today: State still has a role in supporting and holding districts accountable - by Erin Gabel / commentary by Erin Gabel / commentary With the passage of Proposition 30 and almost nine out of 10 local ballot measures last November, the voters of California gave our schools an almost unprecedented chance to begin rebuilding after years of budget cuts. With his budget proposal, Governor Brown kept the promises we made to voters and made education funding his top priority. But his proposal does more th... more »

DIANE RAVITCH Joins GATES FOUNDATION as HEAD of CORPORATE ETHICS #edchat #soschat #uoodc13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

*CORPORATE ETHICS *

The Educated Reporter: State Takeovers: What Loss of Local Control Means for Schools s

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: State Takeovers: What Loss of Local Control Means for Schools s: State Takeovers: What Loss of Local Control Means for Schools from The Educated Reporter by Emily Richmond How bad does a public school system need to be for the state to take over? Are low student test scores alone enough? And what is a realistic time frame for the state to either turn schools around or restore local control? The looming prospects of state takeovers are making headlines from Maryland to Ohio, as lawmakers express frustration with the glacial pace of school improvement and st... more »

VERT INTERESTING BUT...NBC Learn K-12 makes thousands of historic videos, current events, and original resources available to K-12 teachers and students, all aligned to state standards and mapped to curriculum

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

K-12: < > See more > - Visit NBC Learn K12 - Get a Free Trial - Take a Tour - Schedule a Webinar - NBC Learn Toolkit NBC Learn K-12 subscription includes: - *Over 10,000 resources* - short 2 to 5 minute videos are engaging, relevant and inspiring, and help students develop critical thinking skills. - *Current events* - updated daily Monday-Friday, use these resources to help connect the real world to the classroom. - *Aligned to state standards and the common core* - search titles by state, subject, and grade level. - *Mapped to curriculum* - ... more »

Daily Kos: There is a truly remarkable Facebook Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Daily Kos: There is a truly remarkable Facebook Post: There is a truly remarkable Facebook Post by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) by Robert Valvano, brother of the late coach Jimmy V. He is a broadcaster for the Louisville basketball team. This post is written in the aftermath of today's game, including the horrifying injury to Kevin Ware. Here is the beginning: Okay violating my self imposed Facebook abstinence here just one time before June 1, but I hope you will understand... Today was that exceptional...I have broadcast games for 17 years, 12 on radio with Paul Rogers for the... more »

The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part IX: No Library Allowed!.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part IX: No Library Allowed! by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) All is not happy, least of all the books in the library at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School, where learning, reading, and writing supposedly come first. For several months now, The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School has been without a professional in the library for several months. For years there had been a professional in the library, but alas, there is a professional no more. What is the Th... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-31-13 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: Kevin Huffman Refuses to Meet Nashville School Board by dianerav Kevin Huffman, Tennessee’s State Commissioner of Education, taught for two years as a member of Teach for America. Then he was the TFA “communications director.” That is, the PR guy. Somehow he got picked to be head of education in a whole despite his minimal experience and his lack of any More Details on Tennessee Scrooge Plan by dianerav Here’s more about the Tennessee proposal to cut the welfare benefits of families if their children don’t make ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: List of Common Core Corporate Sponsors and State Chiefs

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: List of Common Core Corporate Sponsors and State Chiefs: List of Common Core Corporate Sponsors and State Chiefs by stlgretchen Common Core Chief State Officers had 2013 Legislative Conference March 17-19 in Washington DC. *It's interesting that it is listed as a legislative conference as state legislatures (and Congress) have had no idea on what these state chiefs and private interests have decided for states and local school districts.* On page 2/48 of the conference material (the first page) it states CCSSO is: *Supporting states in transforming ... more »

With A Brooklyn Accent: A Jam for Occupy DOE 2.0- The Battle for Public Schools, from Notorious Phd

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

With A Brooklyn Accent: A Jam for Occupy DOE 2.0- The Battle for Public Schools, from Notorious Phd: A Jam for Occupy DOE 2.0- The Battle for Public Schools, from Notorious Phd Teachers and parents don’t be blue Its Occupy DOE Number 2 Duncan must have hoped we’d disappear But we’ve come from all over to bend his ear From New York ,Virginia, Cali and Mass We're taking no prisoners And we're moving fast Because k-12 testing just won’t cut it A young mind needs stirring tests just shut it To the best of our teachers You’ve said “Goodbye M’am” You don’t make the grade According to VAM We'... more »

YouTube Is Shutting Down 2013 Official Video

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

YouTube Is Shutting Down 2013 Official Video

Schools Matter: New York's Race to Implement Common Core Before Revolt Breaks Out

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Schools Matter: New York's Race to Implement Common Core Before Revolt Breaks Out: New York's Race to Implement Common Core Before Revolt Breaks Out by Jim Horn Corporate ed reform schoolers across the country are in emergency mode to try to implement the latest testing deliver system, the Common Core, before parents and teachers and students can force a halt to the madness. In doing so, deformers make their desperation apparent as their agendas take precedent over learning or the opportunity to learn. In New York, high stakes decisions will be made this year based on test score... more »

No reprimand for the MAP boycotting teachers in Seattle | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

No reprimand for the MAP boycotting teachers in Seattle | Seattle Education: No reprimand for the MAP boycotting teachers in Seattle by seattleducation2011 [image: Teachers at Orca K8 in Seattle who boycotted the MAP test.] Teachers at Orca K8 in Seattle who boycotted the MAP test. Excerpts from the Scrap the MAP website: *Superintendent Banda promised that teachers who boycotted the MAP test would be disciplined, but because of the overwhelming solidarity from around the nation, he was forced to back down. In his letter he tries to save face by saying that no test coordinators or t... more »

Indiana Wants Me, Lord I can't go Back There!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Indiana Wants Me, Lord I can't go Back There!: Indiana Wants Me, Lord I can’t go back there! by Danny Weil Friday, March 29, 2013 From Advance Indiana http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com Indianapolis Islamic School Accused Of Cheating On ISTEP Exam The Indiana Supreme Court this past week held that Indiana’s Choice Scholarship program did not violate the Indiana Constitution’s prohibition on the drawing of funds from the state’s treasury for religious purposes. Under the school voucher program, parents are permitted to send their children to a private school of their choice instea... more »

How 2 Send Your Child 2 a Rheely Expensive (and Excellent) Private School | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

How 2 Send Your Child 2 a Rheely Expensive (and Excellent) Private School | EduShyster: How 2 Send Your Child 2 a Rheely Expensive (and Excellent) Private School by edushyster2012 It’s a conundrum faced by nearly every public school parent. You run an organization that puts students first, but sending your own personal student to an elite private school costs a flippin’ fortune. Twenty two thousand large to be exact. And that’s just the start of it. As any public school parent who also sends her child to an elite private school with an annual tuition bill of $22,000 knows all too w... more »

Closing Schools: Why it’s not a good idea | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Closing Schools: Why it’s not a good idea | Seattle Education: Closing Schools: Why it’s not a good idea by seattleducation2011 [image: chicago closing2] Two ALEC style education bills that Washington State Senator Steve Litzow sponsored,SB5328 and SB 5329. The first bill would grade schools and the second bill would either close the “low performing” schools permanently, convert them into charter schools, have the principal fired or replace half of the teaching staff. These two bills represent what has become the favored process for privatizing our public schools; label schools as ... more »

PD: Will It Float? | My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

PD: Will It Float? | My Island View: PD: Will It Float? by tomwhitby I have long been a David Letterman fan on any of the shows he has hosted. Over the years one of my favorite Letterman bits has been when he and Paul Shaffer would discuss the possible ability of a specific item to float in water. After their predictions the item would be tossed into a giant, transparent vat of water to determine who was correct. The results were apparent and immediate. Professional Development has long been an element in American education. At one time things changed slowly so that the need for ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Transportation Changes May Be Coming

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Transportation Changes May Be Coming: Transportation Changes May Be Coming by Melissa Westbrook In starting this discussion, I will make a point about transportation in SPS that was made at the Work Session on the Budget. Overall, SPS transports many more students than the average district does. My understanding of that meaning is that many other districts do not provide transportation to schools outside of your neighborhood and the amount of transportation available to middle/high school students is far less in other districts. I understand th... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Bill Gates Promises More Money for Accelerated Common Core Implementation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Bill Gates Promises More Money for Accelerated Common Core Implementation: Bill Gates Promises More Money for Accelerated Common Core Implementation by stlgretchen Teachers, don't worry that your accountability will be based on assessments not yet written to be taught from curriculum not yet available and tests mandated to be taken on computers that are non-existent. Bill Gates wants you to buy into his vision. He's "here to help you". It's sort of like "it's for the kids". From foundationcenter.org: Gates Foundation Seeks Proposals to Accelerate ... more »

50 ways adults in schools ‘cheat’ on standardized tests

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

50 ways adults in schools ‘cheat’ on standardized tests: 50 ways adults in schools ‘cheat’ on standardized tests Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 31, 2013 at 2:51 pm 0 Comments More [image: test2]Here’s a list of 50-plus ways that schools manipulate standardized test scores to make the results look better than they actually are. They were compiled by the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, or FairTest, a nonprofit dedicated to ending the misuse of standardized test scores, and were taken from actual cases documented in government and reports. You can learn more here about t... more »

California Father | @califather Califather all spiffed up and ready to stream Occupy the DoE! #edchat #soschat #uoodc13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

California Father | Educating Sullivan: [image: California Father] califather on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free - ON DEMAND - ABOUT OCCUPY THE DEPT OF ED - HOW TO CHAT

Chesar Chavez, Jesus Christ, and Commitment to Eradicating Poverty [To The Foolish] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Chesar Chavez, Jesus Christ, and Commitment to Eradicating Poverty [To The Foolish] | The Jose Vilson: Chesar Chavez, Jesus Christ, and Commitment to Eradicating Poverty [To The Foolish] by Jose Vilson [image: Cesar Chavez Day Google Doodle]I’m Feeling Lucky Dear critics of Google’s choice for their Google Doodle of the Day: What part of “serving the poor” is not aligned with today, a celebration of Jesus’ renewal and purpose in life? In no way am I saying Cesar Chavez is Jesus, but are Chavez’s (and Dolores Huerta, by the way) works not aligned with the auspices of serving the poor... more »

City College of San Francisco (CCSF) fights back against the corporate raiders and enemies of education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

City College of San Francisco (CCSF) fights back against the corporate raiders and enemies of education: City College of San Francisco (CCSF) fights back against the corporate raiders and enemies of education by Danny Weil [image: images-1] Recently, students, faculty and community supporters rallied to save the *City College of San Francisco* (CCSF), once known as a “junior college” or “community college” ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ohmyNueU94&feature=youtu.be). However, the names ‘junior college and community college” no longer find resonance in the snaky plans of the pr... more »

New York Times Easter Puzzle: Too Many Effective Teachers | InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

New York Times Easter Puzzle: Too Many Effective Teachers | InterACT: New York Times Easter Puzzle: Too Many Effective Teachers by David B. Cohen The New York Times has a front-page story on teacher evaluation, and the connundrum faced by reformers who came up with misguided attempts to use test scores and cut scores and all manner of quantification and formulation in their efforts to find the “bad teachers.” But now, it turns out their systems aren’t working as intended. A couple of quick reactions here. First, as Randi Weingarten suggests in the story itself, perhaps there aren’... more »

Google Doodle: Cesar Chavez | Photos - ABC News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Google Doodle: Cesar Chavez | Photos - ABC News: Google Doodle: Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez Day is celebrated on March 31 in California, Colorado and Texas. Share 93 Share on emailEmail Print More Sharing ServicesMore Google Doodle1 of 30 [image: Previous][image: Next] [image: Google Doodles Cesar Chavez] [image: Google Celebrates Mary Leaky] [image: Google Honors MLK] [image: Google Doodle: A Zamboni Machine] [image: Google Doodle: Zamboni machine] [image: Google Doodle: Ada Lovelace] [image: Google Doodle: Ada Lovelace] [image: Google Doodle: Thanksgiving 2012] [image: Google ... more »

School vouchers don't work | Arkansas Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

School vouchers don't work | Arkansas Blog: School vouchers don't workPosted by Max Brantley on Sat, Mar 30, 2013 at 5:15 AM You just have to follow* Diane Ravitch* if you live in this land of Stepford legislators who accept pronouncements from the Billionaire Boys Club school reform lobby as holy writ. If a Walton says it — or somebody paid by the Waltons — it must be so. There is another side. Speaking of the Waltons: They finance a school up at the *University of Arkansas*'s Walton branch campus in Fayetteville dedicated to churning out support for the BBC's anti-union, pro-vo... more »

Daily Kos: 40 Years After Watergate, It's Almost Impossible to Hold Government Accountable

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Daily Kos: 40 Years After Watergate, It's Almost Impossible to Hold Government Accountable: 40 Years After Watergate, It's Almost Impossible to Hold Government Accountable by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) is the title of this piece by Michael Winship. I am linking to an Alternet version of the piece. It is written in the context of a recent conference on Watergate with many important participants present. Winship had himself been a journalist at the time. to give a quick sense of his attitude, let me quote the following: Yet make no mistake — for all the general hilarity (an... more »

Poison seeds: The bitter harvest of the APS cheating scandal | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Poison seeds: The bitter harvest of the APS cheating scandal | Get Schooled: Poison seeds: The bitter harvest of the APS cheating scandal by Maureen Downey [image: downeyart0401]In 2009, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education featured Atlanta’s Parks Middle School on its annual bus tour of high-achieving schools, and I joined the visit. I arrived early in my own car, beating the bus and getting a chance to chat with students for an hour. The enthusiastic students expressed pride in their school, which was decorated with banners announcing its awards and distinctions. An... more »

Louisiana Educator: Parents and Educators Object to LDOE Takeover Policies

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: Parents and Educators Object to LDOE Takeover Policies: Parents and Educators Object to LDOE Takeover Policies by Michael Deshotels Please click on this link to view an open letter written to New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu, Steve Barr and the Oprah Winfrey Network by the John McDonogh advisory committee. I believe this advisory committee is made up of dedicated community leaders who would like to see a much better future for the students of John McDonogh High School. Their letter expresses legitimate concerns about the unfair negative depiction of the school ... more »

Is Scientology Sneaking Into Classrooms?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Is Scientology Sneaking Into Classrooms?: Is Scientology Sneaking Into Classrooms? Applied Scholastics, a teaching method explicitly linked to L. Ron Hubbard, has put a group of Phoenix charter schools in the hot seat. [image: Is Scientology Sneaking Into Classrooms?]Actor Tom Cruise attends the grand opening of Applied Scholastics International's new headquarters on July 26, 2003, in St. Louis, Missouri. Applied Scholastics is an international teacher training centre utilizing the learning methods developed by L. Ron Hubbard. (Photo: Getty Images) Scientology could be creeping in... more »

Schools Matter: Grammar/spelling instruction fever in the UK

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Schools Matter: Grammar/spelling instruction fever in the UK: Grammar/spelling instruction fever in the UK by skrashen How to improve grammar and spelling Sent to the Telegraph (UK) According to the Telegraph, Kent County “Teachers (are) 'to be given lessons in spelling and grammar'” (March 31) so they can better prepare 11-year-olds to take tests in grammar and spelling. Neither the Kent County Council nor the UK Department of Education appears to be aware that there has been extensive research on this topic, and the results are very consistent: (1) Direct instruction in grammar a... more »

Daily Kos: King Cotton’s Long Shadow

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Daily Kos: King Cotton’s Long Shadow: King Cotton’s Long Shadow by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) is the title of this piece in the Opiniator section of the *New York Times* website. It was written by Walter Johnson, a professor of history and African and African-American Studies at Harvard. It is not long, and definitely worth the read. A couple of things caught my eye. He posits that the normal viewpoint that the Civil War represented the victory of capitalism over slavery is incorrect: In actual fact, however, in the years before the Civil War, there was no capitalism witho... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Happy Birthday To Me: 3 Years of the Jazzman!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Happy Birthday To Me: 3 Years of the Jazzman!: Happy Birthday To Me: 3 Years of the Jazzman! by Duke *Since March 30, 2010:* - 1,905 posts - 7,868 tweets. - Approx. 15,000 dangling prepositions. - 3,142 uses of the phrase "*massive hypocrite*." - 76 spreadsheet files. - Easily 50 separate downloads of the same damn file from NJDOE. - Untold tables built at the Common Core of Data. - Weekly astonishment at how much you Facebookers *love* posts about Michelle Rhee. - Great inspiration from all the writers at the left. - Great inspiration from all the commenters... more »

Education programs funding - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Education programs funding - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: H.R.1303 School Nutrition Flexibility Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 13 seconds ago To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide flexibility to school food authorities in meeting certain nutritional requirements for the school lunch and breakfast programs, and for other purposes. Bill Introduced: H.R.1258 Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Development Act of 2013 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 13 seconds ago To... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: When Learning is the Last Thing on a Student's Mind!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: When Learning is the Last Thing on a Student's Mind!: When Learning is the Last Thing on a Student's Mind! by Lisa M I decided to fast on Fridays for Lent. I have never fasted before, so this was as big deal for me. I decided that I would eat something in the morning, and then eat at sunset. I was hungry. My stomach started growling a little before lunch.Food was on my mind the entire day. It was hard for me to concentrate on anything but my empty stomach.But here's the difference between myself and some of the kids we teach. I had a mea... more »

Alabama Accountability Act will devastate public schools without improving education (Guest column) | al.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Alabama Accountability Act will devastate public schools without improving education (Guest column) | al.com: Alabama Accountability Act will devastate public schools without improving education (Guest column) [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] *By Dr. Diane Ravitch* The Republicans in the state legislature pulled a fast one on the Democrats. They pretended to negotiate in good faith, but then passed a bill that the Democrats never saw. The Republicans also pulled a fast one on the citizens of Alabama by passing the so-called "Alabama Accountability Act" that wil... more »

Kimble's Corner: An Easter Gift for my Constituents and Friends

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Kimble's Corner: An Easter Gift for my Constituents and Friends: An Easter Gift for my Constituents and Friends by Representative Kimble There are two huge pieces of news on the book front. First, Profiles in Courageousness will be coming out in paperback form and secondly, it's been proofread and copy edited. The new version will be appearing in the eBook stores soon and when that happens, I will make sure that anybody who bought the first version will be able to get the proofread copy free of charge. In addition, I am as always on a crusade to save Easter from the Communists,... more »

Scathing excerpts from Atlanta indictment in test cheating scandal

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Scathing excerpts from Atlanta indictment in test cheating scandal: Scathing excerpts from Atlanta indictment in test cheating scandal Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 30, 2013 at 5:00 pm 0 Comments More [image: test1]Here are some excerpts from the 96-page indictment returned in Fulton County, Ga., against former Atlanta Schools superintendent Beverly Hall and 34 others in a massive cheating scandal. The indictment portrays Hall as the head of a corrupt organization that used standardized test scores to financially reward and punish employees, and it alleges that those involved ag... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: How will Common Core/National Science Standards Address Climate Change?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: How will Common Core/National Science Standards Address Climate Change?: How will Common Core/National Science Standards Address Climate Change? by stlgretchen A recent post by MEW reported on a parent's delight about the forthcoming national science standards and her belief they would teach climate change is primarily due to humans. She wrote: *Federal science standards coming later this month will recommend that public schools educate students about climate change. Once students understand, they may just educate their parents. * * Oops. From Hot... more »

List of charges against 35 in Atlanta test cheating indictment

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

List of charges against 35 in Atlanta test cheating indictment: List of charges against 35 in Atlanta test cheating indictment Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 30, 2013 at 4:00 pm 0 Comments More [image: atlanta]Here is the release from the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney, Paul L. Howard Jr., about a grand jury indictment of 35 administrators and educators in a massive test cheating scandal in Atlanta. (The misspellings are in the original): *GRAND JURY INDICTS 35 IN CONNECTION WITH ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHEATING SCANDAL* *Former Superindent Beverly Hall Accused of... more »

All Education Matters: Taegan Goddard's Coverage on Mounting Defaults

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

All Education Matters: Taegan Goddard's Coverage on Mounting Defaults: "increase in student loan defaults," Taegan Goddard's Coverage on Mounting Defaults by Cryn Johannsen This subject, that of an increase in student loan defaults, has been covered for several years on AEM. So, this won't come as a surprise to most of my readers, but student loan defaults are worsening. Over at Political Wire, Taegan Goddard provided a short brief about the increase in student loan defaults. Here's a snippet: The Department’s Office of Inspector General… blames a system installed in 2011 by Xer... more »

Thinking About Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Thinking About Schools: Atlanta: We're All A Little Responsible In 1999, many of my colleagues and I began writing about the perils of excessive standardized testing. I guess we should have anticipated the unanticipated consequences. If only we’d been bolder and more courageous. In 2002, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was enacted under the shadow of 9/11 when no Presidential initiative would be contested. If only we’d been outraged when we learned the “Texas Miracle” upon which NCLB was modeled was fraudulent. In 2003 small groups of Massachusetts parents and students boycott... more »

Ten Things Legislators Should Know and Do When Making Education Policy - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Ten Things Legislators Should Know and Do When Making Education Policy - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Ten Things Legislators Should Know and Do When Making Education Policy by Nancy Flanagan A couple of days ago, I had coffee with Betsy Coffia, who ran last November--unsuccessfully--for a seat representing the 104th district in the Michigan House of Representatives. Coffia and I had never met, although we have several mutual friends. We found each other on-line, in a Facebook argument over Detroit Public Schools' Emergency Manager. She liked what I had to s... more »

Daily Kos: I know I am getting old

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Daily Kos: I know I am getting old: I know I am getting old by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) We recently put a new XM radio into my wife's car. I tuned to the 50s station, which covers music of Rock's first decade, which means into the early 60s, or roughly the period of my school days. I graduated from high school 50 years ago this June, but I am not sure how much that reality hit home until I was listening to songs of my younger days. It shocks my spouse that I remember the lyrics from songs from the 1950s. Perhaps it shouldn't - I am a musician by background and by training,... more »

Teaching Beyond the Transmission of Knowledge | Education | M.A.Escotet

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Teaching Beyond the Transmission of Knowledge | Education | M.A.Escotet: Teaching Beyond the Transmission of Knowledge by Miguel Angel Escotet “Teaching to the test at the expense of teaching to the heart is wrong and reduces education to a very superficial acquisition of knowledge and values. Standardized testing for measuring knowledge, skills and attitudes goes against learning styles and individual differences.”“One of the most important rules of teaching is to preach by example. Are all faculty in teacher preparation programs practicing what they preach?” --------------------... more »

solidaridad: Monica Ratliff for LAUSD at Empress Pavilion Fundraiser

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

solidaridad: Monica Ratliff for LAUSD at Empress Pavilion Fundraiser: Monica Ratliff for LAUSD at Empress Pavilion Fundraiser by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene Hello Friend, I am happy to let you know about a marvelous young candidate, a teacher, for LA School Board in a run-off in the area I served for 8 years in the East San Fernando Valley. She grew up with a single mom who went back to school to help her daughter go to College at Columbia University. Well her daughter, Monica Ratliff, won a National Hispanic Scholarship to Columbia and then went on to Columbia Law School. After ... more »

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: IMG_0225] * * *Photo: J. Gunderson (Klonsky). Age 4.* * * * * This is the third cloudless day since Anne and I arrived in Anna Maria Island on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The first day was a little on the chilly side. Not Chicago chilly. Florida chilly. It is a whole different category of chilly. Chicago chilly is 50 mile an hour gusts off the Lake and temperatures listed as a number with a “-” in front of it. Anna Maria Island chilly means putting on a sweater and being undecided about whether to change out o... more »

Atlanta’s former schools chief charged under law used against Mafia

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Atlanta’s former schools chief charged under law used against Mafia: Atlanta’s former schools chief charged under law used against Mafia Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 30, 2013 at 11:09 am 5 Comments More [image: Paul Sakuma / AP / File] Beverly Hall (Paul Sakuma/Associated Press) In 2009, Beverly Hall was tapped as the National Superintendent of the Year, hailed for driving up standardized test scores in the Atlanta Public Schools and turning the system “into a model of urban school reform. But the scores were illusory, and Hall wasjust indicted under a law used against Mafia lea... more »

NYC Educator: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

NYC Educator: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh?: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh? by NYC Educator These are very tough times for teachers. We're facing an evaluation system that I am personally convinced to be based on nonsense. Mayor Bloomberg openly discusses his desire to hold teachers' feet to the fire, and when he says fire, that's certainly what he wishes to do to us. Governor Cuomo is now buying Bloomberg's argument that junk science agreements ought not to sunset, and stating they ought to remain in effect until and unless they are renegotiated. Unity/ New Action's Mike Mulgr... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-30-13 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] Teacher:Preparing My Students for Failure by dianerav By now, everyone has been duly warned that the new Common Core tests will be “harder.” The passing rates are expected to drop by 30%. Advocates of privatization are excited and hoping the bad news will encourage parents to abandon their community schools. Entrepreneurs are poised to sell stuff when everyone is desperate for the latest new thing. But what about the kids? This teacher describes what she sees in h... more »

Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace | Firedoglake

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace | Firedoglake: Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace by Phoenix Woman Popout Well, well, what have we here? A grand jury on Friday indicted Beverly L. Hall, the former superintendent powerhouse of the Atlanta School District, on racketeering and other charges, bringing a dramatic new chapter to one of the largest cheating scandals in the country. The grand jury also indicted 34 teachers and administrators in addition to Dr. Hall, who resigned in 2011 just before results of an i... more »

Schools Matter: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Schools Matter: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away by Jim Horn *"The best practice is to record data in the moment. Why? Because it will be immediately available to your colleagues, and it ensures that no behaviors-good or bad-go unrecognized." --LiveSchool promotional material* * **How does a KIPP or other corporate reform school teacher, with a 60-80 hour work week, keep track of every word spoken, every snort or snicker, every fake fart, every... more »

The Battle for Public Schools – last minute details United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

United Opt Out National: Please read here for all details regarding the occupation. The event will take place at the Dept. of Education, 400 Maryland Ave, SW , Washington, DC 20202. We will be outside, in the plaza on the north side of the building. If possible, bring your own camping chair and be prepared for any kind of weather. Official schedule for our second occupation of the Dept. of Ed. in D.C. from April 4-7, 2013, is available *HERE.* Official press release is *HERE*. Donations are accepted *HERE.* Official poster* HERE*. Livestream is *HERE*. RSVP* HERE.* Rules and parameter... more »