Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-24-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

Day of the Teacher 2013 - California Teachers Association

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 55 minutes ago

Day of the Teacher 2013 - California Teachers Association: DAY OF THE TEACHER 2013 *Hover mouse over poster to share.* To download a wallpaper of the California Day of the Teacher poster, select your screen resolution width:1024, 1280, 1600, 1920, 2048. California Teachers: Honoring our past. Guiding the future. On May 8, 2013 we will mark the 31th anniversary of California’s Day of the Teacher. To honor teachers and the 150th anniversary of CTA, we have chosen “*California Teachers: Honoring the Past, Guiding the Future*” as this year’s theme. CTA has been making a positive impact ... more »

Dartmouth Cancels Wednesday Classes After Threats to Activists |

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Dartmouth Cancels Wednesday Classes After Threats to Activists |: Dartmouth Cancels Wednesday Classes After Threats to Activists by Angus Johnston [image: "What's wrong with just not admitting LBGTQ and unappreciative minorities...?"] Last Friday a group of about fifteen Dartmouth students staged an action at an event for prospective students, chanting “Dartmouth has a problem!” The group interrupted the gathering in the middle of a welcome skit, detailing a number of recent anti-gay and racist incidents and sexual assaults, and criticizing the college’s responses to them. As word... more »

The Illinois Charter Commission. An über committee with even less democratic oversight than the CPS board. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

The Illinois Charter Commission. An über committee with even less democratic oversight than the CPS board. | Fred Klonsky: The Illinois Charter Commission. An über committee with even less democratic oversight than the CPS board. by Fred Klonsky The Illinois State Charter Commission can almost be described as an über committee with even less oversight than Chicago’s mayoral controlled school board. If a privately managed charter application is rejected by a local school board, even a board that was democratically elected as all but the CPS board are, than the unelected Charter Co... more »

Let My People Go: Public Education, Jewish Separatism, and School Vouchers | The American Conservative

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Let My People Go: Public Education, Jewish Separatism, and School Vouchers | The American Conservative: Let My People Go: Public Education, Jewish Separatism, and School Vouchers By SAMUEL GOLDMAN • April 22, 2013, 3:18 PM - - - - - - [image: Jukie Bot / Flickr] Jukie Bot / Flickr *New York *magazine has a disturbing story on relations between Ultra-Orthodox Jews and the rest of the population in the western part of Rockland County, New York. The Ultra-Orthodox began moving to the area in the 1970s. Since then, they’ve grown to a majority in the town of Rama... more »

'Nation at Risk' warnings about shortcomings in US education 30 years ago still resonate today | StarTribune.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

'Nation at Risk' warnings about shortcomings in US education 30 years ago still resonate today | StarTribune.com: 'Nation at Risk' warnings about shortcomings in US education 30 years ago still resonate today - Article by: PHILIP ELLIOTT , Associated Press - Updated: April 24, 2013 - 2:34 AM WASHINGTON - U.S. students are falling behind their international rivals. Young people aren't adept at new technology. America's economy will suffer if schools don't step up their game. "A Nation at Risk," the report issued 30 years ago by President Ronald Reagan's Education Depart... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-24-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Paul Barton on Common Core Implementation by dianerav Paul Barton, an experienced analyst of trends in American education, has written this piece to emphasize the importance of appropriate implementation of the Common Core standards. He warns that testing should not begin until teachers are prepared, a curriculum is in place and has been taught, and teachers have the materials they need. A Critical Stage for the Common Core ​The much-anticipated Common Core Sta... more »

School-to-Prison Pipeline: Wrong Lessons From Sandy Hook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

School-to-Prison Pipeline: Wrong Lessons From Sandy Hook: School-to-Prison Pipeline: Wrong Lessons From Sandy Hook by Jeff Bryant By now, there have been plenty of negative reactions to last week’s defeat of sensible gun regulation in the U.S. Senate due to the power of the gun lobby to have more sway with senators than popular opinion has. In his Rose Garden address, President Obama was incredulous that legislation favored by90 percent of Americans couldn’t get 60 votes in the Senate. News stories about the bill’s defeat invariably referenced the origin of the bill in the “trage... more »

John White’s crumbling house of cards – From VAM to worse | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

John White’s crumbling house of cards – From VAM to worse | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: John White’s crumbling house of cards – From VAM to worse by crazycrawfish These days John White might be needing a hug. It appears all the ill-will he has sown over the past year is coming home to roost on his doorstep, all at the same time. Support the Louisiana Student Privacy ActRecently we called out White for lying to everyone in the state of Louisiana over carelessly and needlessly exposing all of our school children to unnecessary risks by handing over their some of their most private data ... more »

A Wyoming School’s Common Core Gag Order | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

A Wyoming School’s Common Core Gag Order | Truth in American Education: A Wyoming School’s Common Core Gag Order by Shane Vander Hart [image: wyoming flag]I received this email from a 6th grade teacher in Wyoming whose school placed a gag order on her regarding her opposition to the Common Core State Standards. I’m withholding her name to protect her privacy (and career). I am currently a teacher in a smaller district in Wyoming. I attended a Wyoming Department of Education training for the ELA Common Core Standards in July, prior to starting the 2012/2013 school year. I came to t... more »

UPDATE: #blogtalkradio: A primer of sorts + Thinkers or Test Takers? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Thinkers or Test Takers? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: At the Chalk Face on #blogtalkradio: A primer of sorts by Chalk Face, PhD We have to brag a little bit. The weekly radio show makes us unique because it supports the commentary we do, and vice versa. We work our BEE-hinds off to bring everyone stories and conversations that don’t get covered, related to education and public schools. In addition to our weekly shows at 6PM EST on [...] The palpable racism of school closures by Chalk Face, PhD There I said it. School closure policies are racist. Not necessarily bigo... more »

How private money is driving public education policy

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

How private money is driving public education policy: How private money is driving public education policy Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 24, 2013 at 5:00 am 2 Comments More [image: cash]In this era of school reform, private foundations and wealthy philanthropists have used their money to play a big role in helping to shape public education state and federal policy. Here’s an interesting piece that describes the history of such giving and considers whether it is a good idea. It was written by Stanley N. Katz, who teaches public and international affairs at the Woodrow Wilson Sc... more »

Has Jeb Bush’s Foundation Created a Faux Parents Group to Support Parent Trigger? | Scathing Purple Musings

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Has Jeb Bush’s Foundation Created a Faux Parents Group to Support Parent Trigger? | Scathing Purple Musings: Has Jeb Bush’s Foundation Created a Faux Parents Group to Support Parent Trigger? by Bob Sikes *Scathing Purple Musings *discovered last August that Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future (FFF) had created a petition to support its efforts to pass Parent Trigger. Not many had signed the petition and many of the one’s who did were employees of one of Bush’s two foundations. At the time of the post, top Bush advisor Patricia Levesque even signed the petition twice. Shor... more »

One Teacher's Perspective: Dittoing Diane on School Vouchers

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

One Teacher's Perspective: Dittoing Diane on School Vouchers: Dittoing Diane on School Vouchers by Imagine Wisconsin ** *Yesterday's release of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) choice school data is ditto to what Diane Ravitch has been reporting on Wisconsin's voucher program for some time.* * * *America's premier education historian, Diane Ravitch has been building the case that Wisconsin’s “voucher schools perform no better than public schools.” * * * *For the third straight year since being required to pony up test scores, Wisconsin's voucher schools trail neighb... more »

We Are Chicago Students, and We are Here to Save Our Schools! - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

We Are Chicago Students, and We are Here to Save Our Schools! - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: We Are Chicago Students, and We are Here to Save Our Schools! by Anthony Cody [image: briansturgis.jpg] *Today many Chicago students will not be in their schools. One of them has written this, explaining the reasons why.* * Guest post by Brian Sturgis.* I'm a senior at Paul Robeson high school, and I'm an organizer with Chicago Students Organizing to Save Our Schools (CSOSOS). We are led by students from across Chicago in 25 different high schools and we believe in justice an... more »

Cartoons on Preschool | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Cartoons on Preschool | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Cartoons on Preschool by larrycuban Recently, I posted two pieces on preschools. In writing those pieces, I began collecting cartoons. Cartoonists exaggerate key ideas–thus, the humor–driving the national passion for starting school earlier and earlier, collecting credentials in the race to get into college, pushing toddlers up the ladder of financial success, and giving Mommy and Daddy a break from racing around. Often, they poke at the pretentiousness of middle- and upper-middle class parents seeking t... more »

Why We Need Principals | Connected Principals

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Why We Need Principals | Connected Principals: Why We Need Principals by sleibowitz There are questions that resonate, holding our imaginations and keeping us wondering. There are questions that activate our learning, causing us to reflect and helping us to grow. Do We Need Principals? asked Josh Stumpenhorst in a blog post last May. Do We Need (Great) Principals? responded George Couros replying to a question with a question in a blog post published shortly thereafter. Recently Josh Stumpenhorst may have answered his own question with another post, this time an affirmation rather... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Newark Says "Enough!"

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Newark Says "Enough!": Newark Says "Enough!" by Duke Ruh-roh: *The Newark Schools Advisory Commission this evening issued a unanimous no-confidence vote in the leadership of Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson.* The vote was 9-0. The board earlier this month rejected the budget Anderson submitted, and tonight reiterated its assessment that Anderson has not fostered a relationship with board members. The board again complained about what it cited as Anderson's lack of transparency regarding her

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-23-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Resolve by Jose Vilson *[image: dark-classroom]* This morning, after a few sips of my coffee and getting ready for class, a cold sweat developed in the palms of my hand. I rubbed my hands a few times before I put the marker to the whiteboard, hoping the few examples of problems I do today serve less as a lesson and more as a fine tuning. Pacing the room 30 minutes before class made my feet ache, but I didn’t realize it until a few hours after, when my first three periods of class would be done. Besides... more »

Democratic Senators propose alternative to Brown’s local control formula | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Democratic Senators propose alternative to Brown’s local control formula | EdSource Today: Democratic Senators propose alternative to Brown’s local control formula - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald Democratic leaders of the state Senate want to delay Gov. Jerry Brown’s sweeping plan for changing how schools are funded by a year and will recommend significant changes to it in a bill that they will reveal on Thursday. In a news release Tuesday, Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg and chairs of the Senate Budget and Education Committees stated they agree with t... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Who "Created" Michelle Rhee? John Merrow Did.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Who "Created" Michelle Rhee? John Merrow Did.: Who "Created" Michelle Rhee? John Merrow Did. by Duke *It's alive! And soon, it will run an urban school district!* John Merrow, education reporter for PBS, has blown the lid off of the Washington, D.C. cheating scandal. It's quite clear that then-chancellor Michelle Rhee was informed that there were potentially large-scale problems across the district with test scores, and that she did little to address the problem. Merrow is to be commended for his dogged pursuit of the truth; *but it's also true that he, perhaps mor... more »

Guest post. 35 Springfield politicians oppose fair taxation. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Guest post. 35 Springfield politicians oppose fair taxation. | Fred Klonsky: Guest post. 35 Springfield politicians oppose fair taxation. by Fred Klonsky [image: Guns Illinois][image: Illinois Legislature.jpg] Guest post by MiC. In Glen’s post today I read about thirty-five Springfield politicians opposing even the idea of putting an Illinois graduated income tax to a vote of Illinois residents. Writing legislation to oppose something that hasn’t even be put before Illinois’ voters? That seemed odd. So I read the text of the bill. Follow me through this laughable legislation: WHE... more »

Professional Development on Effective Utilization of Google Drive Student Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Student Voice: Professional Development on Effective Utilization of Google Drive by Student Voice Toolkit Organizer *Online Collaboration* With the recent surge in embracing technology to aide our leadership endeavors, many students, teachers, parents and business leaders have shifted in using Online Collaboration Tools as a means to support their work. Clement Coulston, a Student Voice Organizer, is also a Youth Leader with the National School Climate Center. He recently hosted a Google Hangout On Air Professional Development Opportunity in making the case for online collaboratio... more »

Broken Promises for Parents of Autistic Children in CA « MomsRising Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Broken Promises for Parents of Autistic Children in CA « MomsRising Blog: Broken Promises for Parents of Autistic Children in CA by Angelique Roche *http://www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov/Home/default.aspx* *Posted On Behalf of Jennifer, San Mateo County (CA)* As a parent of a child with autism, the most important thing I can do is make sure that my daughter continues to receive critical early-intervention therapy. Medical research clearly shows that early and consistent therapy can make a dramatic difference in the kind of future autistic children can lead. My family, and our whole co... more »

Students Give Back to Local Elementary School University of Minnesota Morris

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

University of Minnesota Morris | News & Events | Students Give Back to Local Elementary School: Students Give Back to Local Elementary School Posted by Cassie Hall '13, Brookings, South Dakota on Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2013 On April 13, more than 30 volunteers from the University of Minnesota, Morris gathered at St. Mary’s School to complete an “Outreach to Teach” project. Students from the Education Minnesota Student Program (EMSP) chapter and the Studio Art Discipline renovated the school’s teacher’s lounge and painted a mural in a small tunnel connecting the school to Assumption Cat... more »

Senators offer alternative to Brown's LCFF SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *Senators offer alternative to Brown's LCFF* *By Tom Chorneau* Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Senate Democrats have offered an alternative restructuring of state funding for public schools that would kick in a year later than Gov. Jerry Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula. In an announcement made late Tuesday, Senate leader Darrell Steinberg noted the funding bill reflects much of what Brown has already proposed in terms of creating a more streamlined and equitable system. But based on public hearings and a number of closed door study sessions, Sen... more »

Parent Trigger Hits “Local Control” Roadblock in Florida Senate | Scathing Purple Musings

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Parent Trigger Hits “Local Control” Roadblock in Florida Senate | Scathing Purple Musings: Parent Trigger Hits “Local Control” Roadblock in Florida Senate by Bob Sikes From Kathleen McGrory of the *Times/Herald*: As expected, Sen. *Kelli Stargel*‘s parent trigger bill won the support of the Senate appropriations panel Tuesday — and is now headed to the Senate floor. There was, however, one plot twist. At a previous committee stop, Sen. *David Simmons* added language that would give school districts the final say in determining how to improve a struggling school. (That is, they cou... more »

Too Bad For You (and your Child) if You Picked one of these CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: *Got Choice? Ubetcha! **Celebrating School Choice * *National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Group: 1 in 5 charter schools not doing well enough to stay open* A group that oversees more than half of the nation's 5,600 charter schools said as many as *one in five U.S. charter schools should be shut down because of ** poor academic performance. * *http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019784379_charterschools29.html* *CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS WEBSITE* CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS Texas charter school proposals (content copied) The Perime... more »

Resume Enhancement 101: The President Elsa Nunez story - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Resume Enhancement 101: The President Elsa Nunez story - Wait, What?: Resume Enhancement 101: The President Elsa Nunez story by jonpelto When Governor Rell nominated World Wrestling CEO Linda McMahon for a position on the State Board of Education, McMahon claimed that she had a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Thanks to some investigative work, I learned that the degree was really in French. More recently, Wait, What? readers will recall that an aide to Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch listed himself on a national website that he served as Bridgeport’s Deputy Mayor for Education despite... more »

A Double Whammy for New York Students – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

A Double Whammy for New York Students – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: A Double Whammy for New York Students by Chris Cerrone Students in New York State are halfway through the testing madness that has taken away much of their recent instruction time. When you add in test review and preparation, our children have lost so many educational opportunities. Sadly, even after the assessments are over the harm continues. As students await their math exams that will eat up 270 minutes this week, many of their teachers have disappeared. What happened to our teachers? Some teachers ... more »

Improving Schools: Principal Leadership — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Improving Schools: Principal Leadership — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Sean Slade]Improving Schools: Principal Leadership April 23, 2013 by Sean Slade The role of the prinicpal is many things to many people. Maybe we need a name change? - *Principal*? This adds weight to the role of key decisionmaker. - *Head teacher* or *headmaster*? It certainly echoes the need for the "head" of the school to be an overseer of instruction. - *CEO*? Some would agree, but are our schools mini-businesses? Or rather do we want them to be? Add variations of these t... more »

PSAT for 4-23-13: Support the student PSAE test boycott Parents United for Responsible Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 4-23-13: Support the student PSAE test boycott: PSAT for 4-23-13: Support the student PSAE test boycott by admin [image: psat_logo]Tomorrow, CPS high school students organized by Chicago Students Organizing to Save Our Schools and VOYCE will boycott the second day of the state high school exam, the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE). The first testing day includes the ACT test, which many students need for college applications. The students are asserting their right to make up the second day test during a state-s... more »

Remarks by the President at Teacher of the Year Event | The White House

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Remarks by the President at Teacher of the Year Event | The White House: Remarks by the President at Teacher of the Year Event Rose Garden 2:10 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, everybody. Please have a seat. I am thrilled to welcome our state and national teachers of the year to the White House this afternoon. People who know me know I’ve just got a soft spot for teachers, partly -- my sister is a teacher, my mom was a teacher for a while. And if there’s one thing we can’t say enough to our nation’s educators, it is "thank you." So today, we’ve got a chance to do that -- ... more »

The Quick and the Ed » Higher Ed Data Central: Tuition Maps

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

The Quick and the Ed » Higher Ed Data Central: Tuition Maps: Higher Ed Data Central: Tuition Maps by Andrew Gillen One of the comments on last week’s post asked for a map of tuition. Below are maps of the enrollment-weighted, average tuition by state for (1) all colleges, (2) four-year colleges, and (3) two-year colleges. There is a lot of interesting information buried in these maps, but three things jumped out at me. First, tuition tends to be highest in the Northeast, particularly at the four-year level, and lowest in the non-coastal West. Second, Wyoming is the only state tha... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-23-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Anti-Privatization Conference in Rhode Island by dianerav A movement depends on public awareness. Here is another important effort to inform the public: ************** Update: The meeting location has been moved to Gaige Hall, room 100. SAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION The Privatization of Public Education High Stakes Testing, Charter Schools and more A Public Forum Saturday, April 27, 10am-2pm Rhode Island College Gaige Hall, Room 100 Join us for this public event on the movement to privatize our public schools. What is beh... more »

The Weekly Update: The Parent Trigger- “It’s a scam”, the charter school waiting list scam in Chicago and elsewhere, the Common Core Standards dumped by the RNC and more | Seattle Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

The Weekly Update: The Parent Trigger- “It’s a scam”, the charter school waiting list scam in Chicago and elsewhere, the Common Core Standards dumped by the RNC and more | Seattle Education: The Weekly Update: The Parent Trigger- “It’s a scam”, the charter school waiting list scam in Chicago and elsewhere, the Common Core Standards dumped by the RNC and more by seattleducation2011 [image: poster] First piece of news is that I’ve been published. Yes, it’s a teeny tiny chapter in a book with some heavy hitters but still, I have something to brag about now. The book is definitely wo... more »

Conflict Creates Better Education Results? - San Jose Inside

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Conflict Creates Better Education Results? - San Jose Inside: Conflict Creates Better Education Results?Posted by Joseph DiSalvo on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Comments (0) [image: image] *Diane Ravitch objects to the infusion of outside, “entrepreneurial” dollars in public education, but local results show competition has had a positive effect.* * * * * The fierce battle for our nation’s schoolchildren is entering a new stage of conflict, and the National School Board Association (NSBA) is reforming itself to take up the fight. Diane Ravitich, a nationally renowned author and keynote ... more »

NYC Educator: Who Chooses Our Choices?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

NYC Educator: Who Chooses Our Choices?: Who Chooses Our Choices? by NYC Educator --> *by special guest blogger Michael Fiorillo* The sadomasochistic ritual known as testing season is upon us, and for some reason that makes me think about Choice and the lack of it. So-called education reformers fervently believe parents should have Choice. By that, they don’t mean parents are members of a community with rights and a voice in the education of their children, but that they are utility-minded consumers in a marketplace, a giant educational supermarket. They’re supposed to be *homo edu... more »

Wrong Lesson From Sandy Hook Shootings

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Wrong Lesson From Sandy Hook Shootings: [image: Education Opportunity Network] News and views for progressive change in education A project of the Institute for America's Future, in partnership with the Opportunity to Learn Campaign JEFF BRYANT, Editor APRIL 23, 2013*SUBSCRIBE* *THIS WEEK:* Feds: Do More To Promote Equity … “Reform” For “Other People’s Children” … New Tests Outpace Lessons … Common Core Standards Attacked By Republicans … Florida Teachers Sue State For Unfair Evaluations TOP STORYWrong Lesson From Sandy Hook ShootingsBy Jeff Bryant “While federal lawmakers hesitated an...more »

UPDATE: Florida Law in Conflict with Common Core?+ Smarter Balanced and PARCC Will Wither Away? | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

A Prediction That Smarter Balanced and PARCC Will Wither Away? | Truth in American Education: New Florida Law in Conflict with Common Core? by Shane Vander Hart [image: rick-scott]Governor Rick Scott (R-FL) This is interesting… Algebra 2 will become an optional course for high school students pursuing a standard diploma under legislation Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed today. Advocates say this and other changes to Florida graduation requirements (only adopted in 2010) aim to give students more flexibility as they prepare for various career paths. But the action seems to raise ... more »

UPDATE: Ed Notes Online: Change the Stakes RALLY Friday, 4PM: CLEANING UP the MESS of HIGH STAKES TESTING

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Change the Stakes RALLY Friday, 4PM: CLEANING UP the MESS of HIGH STAKES TESTING: Fair Test: Testing Resistance & Reform News: April 18-23, 2013 by ed notes online *Every week seems to set a new record for coverage of the rapidly expanding national movement against high-stakes testing overkill. -- Fair Test* Except at Gotham Schools. Read the idiot Gotham Schools piece supporting Pearson tests by Jennifer Borgioli who actually cites George W. Bush to support testing and makes other nonsensical points or as one activist states: *it is one of the worst edited piec... more »

Class Sizes, Slogans, and Leadership | PWC Education Reform Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Class Sizes, Slogans, and Leadership | PWC Education Reform Blog: Class Sizes, Slogans, and Leadership by pwceducationreform As this budget season comes to a close, one unfinished issue stands high above the rest – too large classes in Prince William County Schools. Over the past several years, as the economy crashed and has struggled to come back to life, PWCS has slowly been increasing class sizes to save money. Last year class sizes were pushed to the state’s legal maximum. The net effect is that classes in PWCS are the largest in the state by a significant margin. Many parent... more »

Sheila Resseger: How Testing Impacts a School for the Deaf - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Sheila Resseger: How Testing Impacts a School for the Deaf - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Sheila Resseger: How Testing Impacts a School for the Deaf by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Sheila Resseger.* I recently participated in the inspiring and informative webinar "How to Organize a Grassroots Group" put on by the Network for Public Education and the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education. I am a retired teacher of the deaf, having retired from the Rhode Island School for the Deaf in the fall of 2011 profoundly dismayed by the unreasonable sanctions placed on... more »

A coalition for effective teaching that didn't consult teachers? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

A coalition for effective teaching that didn't consult teachers? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: A coalition for effective teaching that didn't consult teachers? by Timothy Boyle The School District of Philadelphia needs all the help it can get, so I’m happy to see a number of local nonprofits band together to offer their advice. The member groups of the recently launched Coalition for Effective Teaching are calling for reforms to the teachers' contract. As I looked over their list of recommendations, I saw a mix of ideas, some already happening and some that would be help... more »

Advice to Rookies | Taking Note

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Advice to Rookies | Taking Note: Advice to Rookies by John Merrow “My child/grandchild/sister/brother is joining Teach for America. What should she/he do?” I’ve been asked that question about a half dozen times every year for the past few years by friends, acquaintances or strangers. So how do I respond? First of all, I do not say, “Don’t smile until Christmas,” because that’s just plain stupid. Smiles are good. Nor do I say “Remember that you are their teacher and not their friend,” because that equally stupid cliché implies the roles are incompatible. You are teachers first, of... more »

A-to-F accountability systems thrive, college-career readiness still problematic SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *A-to-F accountability systems thrive, college-career readiness still problematic* *By Tom Chorneau* Tuesday, April 23, 2013 California is not alone when it comes to wrestling with new accountability indicators as evidenced by the struggles of lawmakers and educators in several other states also undertaking reviews – some drawn in the wake of federal waivers from No Child Left Behind mandates. One popular approach this spring appears to be focused on simplifying the system by grading schools just as their students have been for generations us... more »

2013 National Teacher of Year: Public education not in crisis

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

2013 National Teacher of Year: Public education not in crisis: 2013 National Teacher of Year: Public education not in crisis Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 23, 2013 at 6:00 am [image: jeff]The newly named 2013 National Teacher of the Year, who is visiting with President Obama at the White House on Tuesday with other award-winning teachers, is not a big fan of all of Obama’s education policy initiatives and believes that some reformers are mischaracterizing America’s public schools. Jeff Charbonneau, a high school science teacher from Zillah, Washington, was tapped as the 63rd N... more »

Cooper Union Trustees Vote to Impose $19,000 Tuition |

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Cooper Union Trustees Vote to Impose $19,000 Tuition |: Cooper Union Trustees Vote to Impose $19,000 Tuition by Angus Johnston At a public meeting that began just moments ago, Cooper Union board of trustees chair Mark Epstein announced that the prestigious college, which has been tuition-free for undergraduates for well over a century, will begin charging new students annual tuition of more than $19,000 in the fall of 2014. The tuition charge will replace the college’s longstanding automatic 100% scholarships for all students with a new 50% scholarship. Since the college’s offic... more »

Bill Gates’ $5 Billion Education Plan: Let’s Put Cameras Classrooms

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Bill Gates’ $5 Billion Education Plan: Let’s Put Cameras Classrooms: Bill Gates’ $5 Billion Plan: Let’s Put a Camera in Every Classroom The hope is to evaluate teachers more effectively, and provide them with useful feedback. [image: Bill Gates, gates foundation, teacher evaluations, education reform] *(Just a Reminder that Pot was Legalized in Washington State! )* The way public school teachers are evaluated is complicated—and highly controversial among educators. In fact, two out of three teachers feel that the methods don't accurately capture what they do in their classrooms, acco... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, April 23, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Tuesday, April 23, 2013* Students will read more nonfiction, but schools won't ignore classics under new standardsStudents from kindergarten through high school will soon be reading more nonfiction — biographies, speeches, even a government publication on insulation — under new national standards that are changing what and how children learn. School budgets looking betterThree local school districts that risked being unable to pay their long-term expenses — Calaveras Unified School District, Sonora Union... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: *Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Cheating Scandal **+ A Retrospective - Season of the Witch* mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago *Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Cheating Scandal * *A Retrospective - Season of the Witch* When I look out my window Many sights to see And when I look in my window So many different people to be That it's strange, so strange You've got to pick up every stitch You've got to pick up every stitch You've got to pick up every stitch Mm, must be the season of the witch Must be th... more »

Exploring Moral Development in School - Bridging Differences - Education Week

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Exploring Moral Development in School - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Exploring Moral Development in School by Mary-Ellen Phelps Deily *Elliott Witney continues his conversation with Deborah Meier today.* Dear Deb, I wanted to start by saying that I hope everyone you know in the Boston community through your extensive work there is safe and has been able to weather what must have been an emotional storm over the last several days. I can only imagine how challenging last week was for so many people whose lives you've touched directly or indirectly. In addition to this tho... more »

Modern School: We Don’t Need New Standards

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Modern School: We Don’t Need New Standards: We Don’t Need New Standards by Michael Dunn The standard assumption about standards, regardless of politics, is that standards are a necessary and pedagogically important part of education. After all, if we didn’t have standards for each discipline, then teachers could teach whatever they wanted. There would be chaos. There would be no equity. Some kids would get a better education than others. A recent piece in Good Education adds several other supposedly important benefits, such as providing a vision, or a “destination for learning,” a... more »

Grit: Multiple Intelligences and Instructional Technology — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Grit: Multiple Intelligences and Instructional Technology — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Whole Child Virtual Conference]Grit: Multiple Intelligences and Instructional Technology April 23, 2013 by Whole Child Virtual Conference [image: Whole Child Virtual Conference - 2013] *ASCD's third annual Whole Child Virtual Conference is a free, online event that provides a forum and tools for schools and districts working toward sustainability and changing school cultures to serve the whole child. Built on the theme, "Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Cult... more »

UPDATE: Mayoral Candidates Education Forum Seattle Schools Community Forum: Oversight Work Session: Teaching and Learning

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Oversight Work Session: Teaching and Learning: Tuesday Open Thread by Melissa Westbrook Operations Ctm agenda now available for their meeting on Thursday from 4-6 p.m. Highlights include "growth boundary update" from Enrollment's Tracy Libros, *"resolution that construction projects will not create or aggravate racial imbalance",* and a resolution about the *"sustainability and design and construction of high performance schools." * This is from President Smith-Blum and I believe she means it for greening of schools, not academic achievement. A ... more »

When is Innovation Old News? | My Island View

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

When is Innovation Old News? | My Island View: When is Innovation Old News? by tomwhitby The term “innovation” has been thrown around through the halls of education for several years. Its creation in our education system is a stated goal by our Department of Education. It is a reason, although some would call it a justification, for charter schools being formed. Charter schools were supposed to lead the way to innovation for public education. A problem with innovation however is that we often do not know it when we see it. The whole idea of innovation is that it is something new. ... more »

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