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
Photos: Ohio is Jazzed About #StopCommonCore | Truth in American Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 minutes ago
Photos: Ohio is Jazzed About #StopCommonCore | Truth in American Education: Photos: Ohio is Jazzed About #StopCommonCore by Shane Vander Hart Ohio had some informational meetings about the Common Core at three different locations throughout the state. Ohioans Against Common Core has an update here. Between 850-1000 attended. The photos below are from Jamie Gass of the Pioneer Institute who was one of the speakers. The speakers for these events were: *Cincinnati *– held April 12th held at the Anderson Twp. Center. Hosted by Anderson. - Emmett McGroarty – American Principles Pr... more »
Jersey Jazzman: NJDOE's Failed Charter Office
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 minutes ago
Jersey Jazzman: NJDOE's Failed Charter Office: NJDOE's Failed Charter Office by Duke In the name of "choice," the NJDOE granted a charter last year to the Newark-based 100 Legacy Academy Charter School. Enormously pleased with themselves, the Christie Administration and the NJDOE nearly dislocated their shoulders from patting themselves on the back so vigorously: Demonstrating the *Christie Administration’s strong support for increasing the number of high-quality school options for New Jersey students*, the Department today approved 9 charter schools to open in September, bringin... more »
Mother Crusader: Newark And Irvington Kids Stuck In Cerf's Charter Revolving Door
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 minutes ago
Mother Crusader: Newark And Irvington Kids Stuck In Cerf's Charter Revolving Door: Newark And Irvington Kids Stuck In Cerf's Charter Revolving Door by darciecima Today John Mooney wrote about the revocation of 100 Legacy Academy's charter. It can't be stressed enough that this charter was just opened in September. This is the schools FIRST year of operation. While I will concede that the charter was granted before Cerf became commissioner, the rest of the decisions to open this charter rest squarely on his shoulders. He could have avoided this at multiple turns. I guarantee the... more »
NYC Educator: Will Union Help You When You Sue Over a Bad Evaluation?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago
NYC Educator: Will Union Help You When You Sue Over a Bad Evaluation?: Will Union Help You When You Sue Over a Bad Evaluation? by NYC Educator Teacher Ken has a great piece about the awful Florida evaluation system. Apparently, a teacher of the year was rated unsatisfactory. One more rating like that and she'll be putting on a Mickey Mouse costume for 8 bucks an hour. And the NEA, as well as the Florida Education Association, are parties in a lawsuit with 7 teachers. Apparently, they're all great teachers, hooked by the VAM monster. Value-added comes to NYC next year. If the intrep... more »
State Democrats decide who's a REAL Democrat - latimes.com
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
State Democrats decide who's a REAL Democrat - latimes.com: State Democrats decide who's a REAL Democrat By Karin Klein April 16, 2013, 5:30 a.m. Real Democrats don’t back school reform, apparently. Or maybe the message is that Democrats don’t let Democrats shake up the school scene. In any case, real Democrats clearly aren’t allowed to disagree with the California Teachers Assn. It’s more than a little disturbing to read that the California Democratic Party voted to condemn groups that lobby for major change in the schools, such as Democrats for Education Reform, and called them... more »
The Business of American Business Is Education | Ideas & Innovations | Smithsonian Magazine
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
The Business of American Business Is Education | Ideas & Innovations | Smithsonian Magazine: The Business of American Business Is EducationFrom corporate donations to workplace restrictions, what’s taught in the classroom has always been influenced by American industry || |SHARE ON REDDITREDDIT|SHARE ON DIGGDIGG|SHARE ON STUMBLEUPONSTUMBLE|SHARE ON EMAILEMAIL|MORE SHARING SERVICES - By Dana Goldstein - Smithsonian.com, April 15, 2013, Subscribe [image: Tuskegee Institute] Industrialist Andrew Carnegie (front row, center) financially supported the Tuskegee Institute and its... more »
2012-13 Academic Achievement Award Recipients - Academic Achievement Awards (CA Dept of Education)
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
2012-13 Academic Achievement Award Recipients - Academic Achievement Awards (CA Dept of Education): 2012-13 Academic Achievement Award RecipientsSchools honored with the Title I Academic Achievement Award for 2012-13. ------------------------------ CountyDistrictSchoolAlamedaFremont UnifiedJ. Haley Durham ElementaryEl DoradoSBC - Aspire Public SchoolsAspire Titan AcademyFresnoClovis UnifiedLincoln ElementaryFresnoFowler UnifiedMarshall ElementaryFresnoSanger UnifiedFairmont ElementaryFresnoSelma UnifiedAndrew Jackson ElementaryFresnoSelma UnifiedJames Garfield ElementaryFresnoCen... more »
Diane in the Evening 4-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: John White’s Budget Tricks in Louisiana by dianerav John White is pulling some fast tricks with public school funding in Louisiana. Fortunately the state has smart bloggers who protect the public interest and blow the whistle. There is no end to White and Jindal’s efforts to transfer public dollars into private hands. He wants to eliminate arequirement that high schools have one guidance counselor for every 450 students. He says they can hire private Who Is Paying to Privatize Public Schools in Los Angeles?... more »
Principals: Reach Beyond the Walls of Your School — Whole Child Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Principals: Reach Beyond the Walls of Your School — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Ken Endris]Principals: Reach Beyond the Walls of Your School April 16, 2013 by Ken Endris For the past five years, Fouke (Ark.) Elementary School has witnessed academic improvement in all six grade levels, K–5. Attendance has also improved over the same time period. These accomplishments have not happened by accident, instead they are the results of the hard work by staff, students, and families. Not I as principal, not one teacher, or not one program alone is responsible for the... more »
PCAPS plans its next steps | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
PCAPS plans its next steps | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: PCAPS plans its next steps by Ron Whitehorne The Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools will hold a general assembly on Wednesday, April 17 to launch new campaigns around school funding, charter school accountability, and community schools. The coalition, formed a year ago, has grown to include 15 labor and community-based organizations, embracing school staff, parents, students, and neighborhood activists. Over the last year, PCAPS developed an alternative to the School Reform Commission's blueprint in... more »
Rather than fess up to a budget shortfall (and make Jindal sad), White chooses to steal money from schools | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Rather than fess up to a budget shortfall (and make Jindal sad), White chooses to steal money from schools | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Rather than fess up to a budget shortfall (and make Jindal sad), White chooses to steal money from schools by crazycrawfish I just read an article on The Lens that tripped my BS meter. (Pretty much anytime John White opens his mouth it goes off these days.) It’s about school counts and funding, which I was in charge of for almost 9 years before John White arrived on this scene with his band of bandits. Only a few months before their fiscal year ends,... more »
Consumed by Manufactured Demons: The “-ism’s” that Blind | the becoming radical
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Consumed by Manufactured Demons: The “-ism’s” that Blind | the becoming radical: Consumed by Manufactured Demons: The “-ism’s” that Blind Posted on April 16, 2013 by plthomasedd Science fiction and horror are two genres that often find themselves intersecting where some form of power reduces humans to mere cogs in the machine. Technology, the future, aliens, and the like, it seems, can be terribly frightening. George Orwell’s *Nineteen Eighty-Four* stands as one of the most comprehensive and enduring examinations of when that power abuse is in the hands of a*totalitarian* governme... more »
UPDATE: Duncan = Failed Testing and Accountability Policies Schools Matter: Michelle Rhee's Situational Ethics
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Schools Matter: Michelle Rhee's Situational Ethics: Duncan Celebrates Three Decades of Failed Testing and Accountability Policies by Jim Horn On April 16, it will have been 30 years since the publication of *A Nation at Risk* (ANAR), the discredited scare document produced by the Reaganites in 1983 to introduce the beginning of the end of public education in America. Now here is your quiz to test your capacity to predict outcomes based on past history. To acknowledge the beginning of fourth decade of failed education policies inspired by *ANAR*, Duncan will meet with a) public ... more »
UPDATE: PSAT for 4-16-13: Get out your smocks and get ready to play! Parents United for Responsible Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 4-16-13: Get out your smocks and get ready to play!: This week’s leg fax: corporate reform not working in Chicago by admin [image: FAX Machine 19]In 2007, FairTest’s Monty Neill and I wrote a report called “Chicago School Reform: Lessons for the Nation,” which strongly cautioned against using Chicago and its mayoral controlled school district as a model for school improvement. Six years later, our concerns have been confirmed by researchers Elaine Weiss and Don Long for the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education grou... more »
D.C. custodial staff were evaluated by student test scores. Really.
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
D.C. custodial staff were evaluated by student test scores. Really.: D.C. custodial staff were evaluated by student test scores. Really. Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 16, 2013 at 12:56 pm [image: Ron Hillyer, who retired earlier this year, is getting a hallway named after him at Janney Elementary School in the Tenleytown section of Northwest D.C.] Retired D.C. schools custodian Ron Hillyer had a hallway named after him at Janney Elementary School. How obsessive have school reformers been with linking student standardized test scores to the evaluations of adults in school buildin... more »
Withering "Rhee-form" | CTQ
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Withering "Rhee-form" | CTQ: Withering "Rhee-form" *Posted by Barnett Berry on Monday, 04/15/2013* Over the last week or so, there has been an unusual spate of news reports, research studies, and op-eds published suggesting that the current teaching quality reform—or perhaps better titled “Rhee-form”—agenda may be beginning to wither. The narrow focus on judging teachers by student test-score gains is losing ground. No longer can we use value-added measures (VAM) on once-a-year, bubble-in, multiple-choice assessments, and then pay teachers with higher VAM ratings more and fire th... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Bill Gates and the 2009 Common Core Speech to State Legislators
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Bill Gates and the 2009 Common Core Speech to State Legislators: Bill Gates and the 2009 Common Core Speech to State Legislators by stlgretchen Here is a rough transcription of Bill Gates' comments at the National Conference of State Legislators in 2009. My comments are in parentheses. It is ironic that the legislators said they never knew about it. At least a few did in 2009. And didn't it occur to them that these educational changes circumvented the legislative process? No red flags? Access all the clips from youtube here: http://www.yout... more »
NEA - NEA, FEA file a federal lawsuit over Florida’s teacher evaluation procedure
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
NEA - NEA, FEA file a federal lawsuit over Florida’s teacher evaluation procedure: *NEA, FEA file a federal lawsuit over Florida’s teacher evaluation procedure * [image: NEA Logo] WASHINGTON - April 16, 2013 - The National Education Association (NEA) and the Florida Education Association (FEA) filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the evaluation of teachers based on the standardized test scores of students they do not teach or based on subjects they do not teach. The lawsuit is brought by seven accomplished teachers and the local education associations in Alachua, Escambia and ... more »
Some states forge ahead on common core, CA not alone in struggle to implement SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Some states forge ahead on common core, CA not alone in struggle to implement As California labors to bring the new common core English language arts and mathematics curriculum standards in its classrooms, other states are dealing with similar issues – some further along in the process and some rethinking the whole idea. Take New York, for instance. Students in the Empire State will today begin taking new assessments aligned to the common core despite the fact that many schools have yet to begin teaching content based on the new standards. I... more »
Surprise, Surprise… State Board of Education approves “special school leadership program” for Vallas - Wait, What?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Surprise, Surprise… State Board of Education approves “special school leadership program” for Vallas - Wait, What?: Surprise, Surprise… State Board of Education approves “special school leadership program” for Vallas by jonpelto Paul Vallas doesn’t have the credentials necessary to be a superintendent of schools in the State of Connecticut. Governor Malloy’s “education reform” law included language that would allow Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, to waive Vallas’ certification requirements IF Vallas successfully completed his one year probationary period and com... more »
Insights About The Principalship — Whole Child Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Insights About The Principalship — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Insights About The Principalship April 12, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: The Principalship - ASCD Educational Leadership] In times of increasing expectations, decreasing resources, and rigorous accountability, school principals are faced with complex challenges and a huge array of initiatives to implement. These realities have discouraged many principals from staying on the job. How can schools stop the revolving door of the principalship and energize principal... more »
UPDATE: So, I spent more time than necessary in the #stopcommoncore thread + Reminder of the #edreform Mad Lib you can share and use. – @ the chalk face
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Reminder of the #edreform Mad Lib you can share and use. – @ the chalk face: New Contest: Worst (Best) Test Prep Videos by Timothy D. Slekar Inspiration. You never know when it will hit you. However, I would like to thank Mr. Chris Cerrone. After his last post I decided to see how many “test prep” video’s I could find. Someone has to say it! “Holy Crap!” If we actually spent some time teaching instead of making ridiculous videos imagine the possibilities. Not now though. It’s Game Time Vote for your “favorite” Pennsylvania (PSSA) test prep video below. In the comment section pl... more »
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Anti-Bullying PSA Project [LESSON] Best of the Ed Blogs Bill Ferriter April 16, 2013 The New Jersey Kidz Are Alright Best of the Ed Blogs EduShyster April 16, 201... more »
UPDATE: Enrollment Projections Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools and Data Confidentiality
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools and Data Confidentiality: Guess Which One is NOT Like the Others? by Melissa Westbrook Ed News by Melissa Westbrook I actually have a backlog of education news stories but these two from today rose to the top. One story is about teacher evaluations and the other is about a high-profit "education summit" going on this week in Arizona. From Ed Week: The NEA has filed a lawsuit on behalf of several teachers in Florida against that state's education department, saying that the teacher evaluation formula being used violates their cons... more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, April 16, 2013
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Tuesday, April 16, 2013* RIVERSIDE: Schools to get more counselorsRiverside Unified School District will need to hire counselors to fill 3.2 full-time positions for 2013-14 under a tentative agreement with the Riverside City Teachers Association, Deputy Superintendent Mike Fine said Monday, April 15. L.A. school board to consider faster investigation of teachersSexual misconduct allegations at Miramonte Elementary School sparked a surge of investigations of Los Angeles teachers, pushing the ranks of those in... more »
K-12 National Standards for Financial Literacy, New Framework for Teaching Personal Finance in Schools CEE: Leading Organization for Economics and Financial Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
CEE: Leading Organization for Economics and Financial Education: *Council for Economic Education Introduces K-12 National Standards for Financial Literacy, New Framework for Teaching Personal Finance in Schools* * * *National Standards for Financial Literacy Raise the Bar for Financial Literacy Education* *NEW YORK, April 16, 2012* – This week, the Council for Economic Education (CEE) introduces the *National Standards for Financial Literacy*, a framework for the body of knowledge and skills that should be contained in a K-12 personal finance curriculum. Developed by a team of expe... more »
A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground Opposing the Common Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground Opposing the Common Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground Opposing the Common Core by Anthony Cody *In recent months I have written about the growing opposition to the Common Core, from across the political spectrum. I recently connected with two citizens who embody this, and asked them to share their very divergent backgrounds, and the describe how they have found agreement in regards to the Common Core.* * I am Paul Horton.* I am a life long Democrat who attende... more »
Open Letter to NY Ed Commissioner John King: Thank You! – @ the chalk face
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Open Letter to NY Ed Commissioner John King: Thank You! – @ the chalk face: Open Letter to NY Ed Commissioner John King: Thank You! by Kris Nielsen Dr. King, Thank you for mobilizing the parents and students of New York State! As one of my good friends said earlier this week, the two most important people behind the New York testing revolt are Dr. John King and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. If you’re sitting in your office today, wondering how this all came to be, I’d be happy to explain it. It’s been a long couple of months for most of us. Thanks to some very dedicated and well-read parents, w... more »
UPDATE: #StopCommonCore Twitter Rally Today (And We Will Be Broadcast!) | Truth in American Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
#StopCommonCore Twitter Rally Today (And We Will Be Broadcast!) | Truth in American Education: So, I spent more time than necessary in the #stopcommoncore thread by Chalk Face, PhD Wow. Pretty wild. Basically, a very active stream of mainly conservative leaning folks stormed twitter at noon today to show their distaste of the CCSS, egged on mainly by it looks like uber-conservative blogger Michelle Malkin. Let me be clear:* I do not support the common core at all*. But there are some key differences in my arguments against it, as a left of center progressive and advocate for publi... more »
Ed Notes Online: Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve"
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve": Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve" by ed notes online What a story Jesse has to tell as he followed Julie's speech. I'll shut up for a change and let him tell it. Coming next: Janine Sopp from Change the Stakes and Angelo Lugo on the School to Prison Pipeline. Plus a 5th grader with a letter about testing to Walcott. Popout Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve" from Grassroots Education Movementon Vimeo.
Daily Kos: Teachers sue to block Florida teacher evaluation system
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Daily Kos: Teachers sue to block Florida teacher evaluation system: Teachers sue to block Florida teacher evaluation system by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) As of this morning, a group of seven Florida teachers from three counties filed suit against the Florida Commissioner of Education, the Florida Board of Education and the school boards of those three counties - Alachua, Hernando and Escambia. The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division today. Perhaps the lawsuit can be explained by looking at pla... more »
Modern School: Obama's Pre-K Boot Camp For All
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Modern School: Obama's Pre-K Boot Camp For All: Obama's Pre-K Boot Camp For All by Michael Dunn The evidence strongly supports the notion that quality preschool programs benefit all children, especially those from low-income families (click here to see some of that evidence). Thus, it is refreshing that President Obama has made this one of his goals and that he is getting some support from both parties. However, Universal Preschool for All is not a panacea that will erase the achievement gap or solve the nation’s economic woes. Larry Cuban highlights some of these problems in his ... more »
UPDATE: Catching Jo in double talk + “I’m going to be 65!” “When?” “Someday!” | Fred Klonsky
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
“I’m going to be 65!” “When?” “Someday!” | Fred Klonsky: Catching Jo in double talk. by Fred Klonsky [image: 110103_arne_duncan_face_ap_328] People often ask me about the IEA leadership. And I try and draw a distinction. I disagree with President Cinda Klickna over many things. I don’t think the decision-making process is very transparent. We don’t have much in common in the way of tactics. I think she is too willing to concede too much too quick. But Executive Director Audrey Soglin is a different matter. She’s a true believer in what passes for school reform these days. She had he... more »
Schools Matter: Evaluations Based on Test Scores Goes to Court in Florida
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Schools Matter: Evaluations Based on Test Scores Goes to Court in Florida: Evaluations Based on Test Scores Goes to Court in Florida by Jim Horn Take heart, teachers. Be brave. Emulate your colleagues in Florida. Go to Court! By the way, Randi and Dennis, you could be using some of those high-priced AFT/NEA lawyers who protect your 400 thousand dollar benefit packages to help these teachers bring this craziness to a halt. See teacher below who won Teacher of the Year holding up her "unsatisfactory" sign. *Story by Valerie Strauss:* [image: Teacher Kim Cook ((By Brian Kuger)] ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Why Isn't Rhee Facing Jail Time? Here's Why:
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Why Isn't Rhee Facing Jail Time? Here's Why:: Why Isn't Rhee Facing Jail Time? Here's Why: by Duke Diane Ravitch points us to the question that begs to be asked: This article asks the obvious question: Why does Atlanta’s disgraced superintendent Beverly Hall face serious jail time for the cheating that happened on her watch–which she ignored or encouraged by demanding higher test scores–while Michelle Rhee continues to fly from state to state, urging legislatures to follow the DC model? The article says that Rhee emerged–so far–unscathed because she has friends in hi... more »
Why Education Advocates Join the Progressive Opposition to Obama’s Budget
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Why Education Advocates Join the Progressive Opposition to Obama’s Budget: Why Education Advocates Join the Progressive Opposition to Obama’s Budget by Jeff Bryant Now that every major media outlet has weighed in on the budget that President Obama introduced last week, the conventional wisdom is that Obama has proposed a “balance” of new revenues and spending cuts with an emphasis on sacrificing “entitlements” enjoyed by old people in order to increase “investments” in children. This sensibility was most obvious in a quote in The New York Times from Virginia Senator Mark Warner wh... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-16-13 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] EduShyster to TFA: Enough Is Enough by dianerav EduShyster writes a personal letter to Teach for America. Please, she says, we know you are excellent. We know you are beyond excellent. We know that there is no one more excellent than you. Please, we get it. Enough. But consider what all this self-praise does: “Every time you toot the horn of triumph, alerting us to the good news that your new teachers are better than our new teachers, even though the evidence is i... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: BBA study shows market-driven reform is a bust
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: BBA study shows market-driven reform is a bust: Funniest quote of the year by Mike Klonsky HamiltonThis from Rahm's communications director *Sarah Hamilton* in response to CTU prez *Karen Lewis'* call to register 100,000 new voters in time for the 2015 mayoral elections. *“Barbara Byrd-Bennett has proposed a plan for Chicago Public Schools, with Mayor Emanuel’s support, that finally puts our children first. This is simply not the time for politics.” -- *Sun-Times Hilarious! Oh please stop, Sarah. You're killing me. BBA study shows market-driven re... more »
So Where Does a Disgraced Michelle Rhee Show Up First? Florida, Of Course! | Scathing Purple Musings
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
So Where Does a Disgraced Michelle Rhee Show Up First? Florida, Of Course! | Scathing Purple Musings: So Where Does a Disgraced Michelle Rhee Show Up First? Florida, Of Course! by Bob Sikes From Times-Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporter Mary McGrory: Despite mounting criticism over a possible cheating scandal in Washington, D.C., nationally recognized education activist *Michelle Rhee* was in Tallahassee Monday to discuss a flurry of schools-related proposals in Florida. “We’re here to answer questions and lend our support in any way possible,” Rhee said while waiting to meet with... more »
Teachers For Social Justice: Stop School Closings: What You Can Do!
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Teachers For Social Justice: Stop School Closings: What You Can Do!: Stop School Closings: What You Can Do! by sarah-ji [image: StudentsMarch001] TSJers: What You Can Do to Organize Against School Closings: 1) **Petitions for a moratorium on school closings* *(attached, Spanish and English). Each sheet has room for 10 names. These are NOT online petitions, but are old-style real signatures (remember those?). Once done, they need to be delivered or faxed to CTU, or scanned and emailed (all contact info on petitions themselves). *Then email us and let us know how many actual signatu... more »
Though it may not show yet, massive progess is being made about the illegal student data sharing thanks to your efforts! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Though it may not show yet, massive progess is being made about the illegal student data sharing thanks to your efforts! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Though it may not show yet, massive progess is being made about the illegal student data sharing thanks to your efforts! by crazycrawfish *Quick Update:* I and my colleagues have been working with a number of groups behind the scenes, including school district IT directors and superintendents, Tea Party groups, legislators and BESE members. I hear some folks even contacted David Vitter and this issue got his attention. This illegal data ... more »
Ed Notes Online: E4E, John King, the State Ed Department Undermine Parents, Teachers and Students
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: E4E, John King, the State Ed Department Undermine Parents, Teachers and Students: E4E, John King, the State Ed Department Undermine Parents, Teachers and Students by ed notes online MORE handed out this leaflet at the E4E/John King event a few weeks ago. I never published it but did get a chance to make the point to Evan Stone about just how aligned E4E and the UFT leadership were on so many issues: common core, teacher evaluation, trusting John King, just to name a few. No wonder they didn't run in the elections. They already have a caucus representing their vie... more »
Teacher: Yes, the testing culture does contribute to cheating
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Teacher: Yes, the testing culture does contribute to cheating: Teacher: Yes, the testing culture does contribute to cheating Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 16, 2013 at 4:00 am 1 Comments More *[image: test2]I recently published a post by Bill Ayersabout the recent Atlanta test cheating indictments that said the road to the scandal “runs right through the White House.” Ayers is a retired professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago (who may be better known for his radical activism during the 1960s and ’70s). Then, *Michael J. Feuer, dean of the Graduate scho... more »
[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US Dear Parents, Teachers and Community Members, We ask for your support by joining HIP, parents, students and other community members to share your experience in the fall-out of the school closures and map out our next steps to hold the Board accountable. Nearly two months after SCUSD voted to close seven schools in Sacramento's most vulnerable neighborhoods, families continue to struggle with the District's poorly developed transition plans. *Wrong-sizing Fall-out Forum* Wednesday, April 17 6:00 - 8:00 pm Lemon Hill Community Ro...more »
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-15-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE* * * ** *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Iconic L.A. teacher Sal Castro who led East L.A. Walkouts in the 1960s, dies by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez Sal Castro, the Lincoln High School social studies teacher who inspired students to stage mass walkouts from classes to demand better school in 1968, died in his Silver Lake home on Monday. He was 79. Castro was an educator for decades -- and for years he ran an empowerment group for latino youth. A middle school is named after him. But few events were as important to him as the walkouts, said UC Santa ... more »
One Teacher's Perspective: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
One Teacher's Perspective: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew by Imagine Wisconsin *Curiously, George Will, the renowned political columnist, joined the demolition crew hastily trying to tear down Wisconsin’s public school system. *** * * *Over the past two years, Wisconsinites have become accustomed to outsiders trying to raze our public school system proudly built by generations of Wisconsin taxpayers, parents, students, and educators--**conservatives and liberals alike**.* * * *Will joins the ranks of corporate associations ... more »
BAD WEEK FOR Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family business - Yahoo! Sports
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family business - Yahoo! Sports: FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family businessBy STEVE MEGARGEE (Associated Press) | The Associated Press – 2 hours 21 minutes ago KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents on Monday locked down the headquarters of Pilot Flying J, the truck stop business owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and his brother, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. FBI spokesman Marshall Stone told The Associated Press that the move was part of an ongoing investigation, but he would not provide ... more »
Supporting California’s Public Schools
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Supporting California’s Public Schools: Supporting California’s Public Schools by Server Supporting California’s Public Schools Posted on April 14, 2013 by Server *SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS* *and DISPELLING THE CORPORATE “REFORM” AGENDA* At its annual convention this past weekend in Sacramento, the California Democratic Party passed a resolution opposing corporate education reform, specifically naming Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst organization and “Democrats for Education Reform”. Resolution 13-04.47, sponsored by CTA, CFT and CFA, is being lauded by those interested in ... more »
NYC Public School Parents: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents.
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents.: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents. by Leonie Haimson *Here's a sample opt-out/refusal letter you can send with your child tomorrow. * *Here's a report from the press conference by NY1.* **** *NYC PARENTS BOYCOTT HIGH STAKES STATE TESTS* Media Contact: Jane Hirschmann, 917 679 8343 Jane Maisel, 917 678 1913** *3rd THROUGH 8TH GRADE PARENTS IN OVER 33 SCHOOLS REFUSE TO ALLOW THEIR KIDS TO BE TESTED* Parents in New York City as well as across NY St... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LETTER FROM A CHICAGO TEACHER
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LETTER FROM A CHICAGO TEACHER: LETTER FROM A CHICAGO TEACHER by Mike Klonsky Dear Friends, Today I received a letter from my principal informing me that I will not have a job next fall. This was after I received a letter from her dated March 12 confirming that she wants me to teach next year. I've been effectively fired, and it has absolutely nothing to do with my performance. I have tenure and I've received a rating of outstanding" for each of the thirteen years I've been with CPS. I've been observed by principals, teachers and even principals ... more »
Oakland's American Indian Model Schools board members face ouster under pressure from AIMS teachers, parents to save charter - Inside Bay Area
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Oakland's American Indian Model Schools board members face ouster under pressure from AIMS teachers, parents to save charter - Inside Bay Area: Oakland's American Indian Model Schools board members face ouster under pressure from AIMS teachers, parents to save charter[image: Interim AIMS executive director Sylvester Hodges addresses the OUSD board at the public hearing Wednesday. Photo by Lauren Kawana.]Interim AIMS executive director Sylvester Hodges addresses the OUSD board at the public hearing Wednesday. Photo by Lauren Kawana. By Angela Woodall Oakland Tribune Posted: 04/1... more »
NYC Educator: 240 Thousand Bucks
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
NYC Educator: 240 Thousand Bucks: 240 Thousand Bucks by NYC Educator We're going to hear an awful lot about how great the Common Core is. That's because some unidentified rich person, maybe Bill Gates, is putting up a bunch of cash to advertise it as though it were Coca Cola or Ex-Lax. And that is, indeed, how to sell stuff to people. That's how they sold New Coke, the Edsel, or the great new Windows phone that everyone is clamoring for. Is Common Core an Edsel? No one really knows, because it hasn't been tested anywhere at all. They just got a bunch of very smart fellers to whip ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer by Melissa Westbrook [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] In a somewhat old-school turn of events, Yakima School District has been added to the list of 12 districts that have filed letter of intent to become charter school authorizers. Now the State Board of Ed didn't specify how the letter was to come to them so, according to their office, most of the districts send their letter via e-ma... more »
D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times: D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed the certification of a class in a sprawling lawsuit against the District of Columbia over the provision of special education services, a setback for the plaintiffs more than a year after a judge found the city liable. In the April 12 ruling, the appeals court vacated the liability finding, ordering U.S. District Chief Judge Royce Lamberth to reconsider class certification under... more »
Education "Reform": Naming and Shaming - BlueOregon
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Education "Reform": Naming and Shaming - BlueOregon: Education "Reform": Naming and ShamingKyle Curtis [image: Education "Reform": Naming and Shaming] Previously, I provided a Econ 101-ish perspective as to how funding for Oregon's public school districts--which are perennially in a budget "crisis mode"--were devastated by the 2008 economic crash. As a result, there has developed an expectation that schools need to "make do with less," an expectation that is failing the state's school kids. This situation is not unique to Oregon, as the collapse in revenues of the past few years has... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform by Melissa Westbrook Man, did they ever. From the LA Times: *The clash over education had been building throughout the three-day convention, underscoring a larger debate taking place in education circles. * * **California Democrats on Sunday condemned efforts led by members of their own party to overhaul the nation's schools, arguing that groups such as StudentsFirst and Democrats for Education Reform are fronts for Republicans and corporate interests.*... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Great Disconnect
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Great Disconnect: The Great Disconnect by Mike Klonsky Pasi SahlbergI went over to the Hilton this morning to take part in the Reframing Reform Conference. Aside from getting to hang out with some of my favorite school activists, I was interested in hearing the conference keynoter, Pasi Sahlberg, Director General of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. In Finland, that's roughly the equivalent in rank to *Arne Duncan*, although the comparison stops there. Pasi is a real thinker and a man of action. I've been a fan of his ever since I s... more »
2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon - NorthJersey.com
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon - NorthJersey.com: 2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY APRIL 15, 2013, 4:31 PM *Photos: Explosions rock Boston Marathon finish line* [image: In this image from video provided by WBZ TV, spectators and runners run from what was described as twin explosions that shook the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2013, in Boston.] AP/WBZ-TV In this image from video provided by WBZ TV, spectators and runners run from what was described as twin explosions that shook the ... more »
How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? - State EdWatch - Education Week
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? - State EdWatch - Education Week: How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? by Andrew Ujifusa The biggest national education story of the past week was John Merrow's discussion of a memo about possible, even likely cheating in D.C. Public Schools under former Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and how she may have swept the issue under the rug, or just passively let it get buried and lost under other paperwork, depending on how you look at it. (As my colleague Lesli Maxwell documents, Rhee claims not to... more »
NYC Public School Parents: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
NYC Public School Parents: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies by Leonie Haimson Today, Walcott announced there will be a "Common Core" public campaign to justify the new more difficult and developmentally inappropriate standards and the much harder tests. This campaign will include ads placed on subways, buses, and the Staten Island ferry, costing $240,000, paid for by an anonymous donor. All Walcott would ap... more »
