Thursday, May 16, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 5-16-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



Randi Weingarten ain’t “us.” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
Randi Weingarten ain’t “us.” | Fred Klonsky: Randi Weingarten ain’t “us.” by Fred Klonsky [image: 060109Scores3RK.jpg] There were a lot of stunning comments coming from Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, in the course of our Twitter and internet exchanges yesterday. None more stunning than this one on Twitter: *“i rechecked-cola, health benefits intact-if opt for temp -2 year cola freeze-like wage freezes many of us have taken.”* Folks. She rechecked. Illinois retirees covered by state pensions have their COLA and health insurance intact. Except not. ... more »

Standardized Tests Remain Chief Weapon in Class War – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
Standardized Tests Remain Chief Weapon in Class War – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Standardized Tests Remain Chief Weapon in Class War by Jim Horn Just as the incomes of the affluent have grown much more rapidly than those of the middle class over the last few decades, so, too, have most of the gains in educational success accrued to the children of the rich. –Sean Reardon Valerie Strauss has a new piece that reminds us with this chart from OECD that the the richest country in the world has the second highest child poverty rate among economically-developed nations. S... more »

America's Education Spring: A Growing Revolt Against "Reform" Mandates

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago
America's Education Spring: A Growing Revolt Against "Reform" Mandates: America's Education Spring: A Growing Revolt Against "Reform" MandatesThursday, 16 May 2013 09:31By Jeff Bryant, Campaign for America's Future | name. “It’s always hard to tell for sure exactly when a revolution starts,” wrote John Tierny in The Atlantic recently. “I’m not an expert on revolutions,” he continued, “but even I can see that a new one is taking shape in American K-12 public education.” Tierney pointed to a number of signs of the coming “revolution:” - Teachers refusing to give standardized te... more »

How Congress Can Save Education in America

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago
How Congress Can Save Education in America: 13 Ways the 113th Congress Can Improve Education in AmericaBy Lindsey Burke and Rachel Sheffield *May 15, 2013* - Print PDF - Download PDF SHARE - Facebook - Twitter - Email - More Abstract *Every year, taxpayers must send billions of dollars to Washington in order to fund federal education programs through the U.S. Department of Education and other agencies—which then redistribute that money back to individual states through a complex system of formula and competitive grant programs. The largest K–12 educati... more »

BE STILL MY HEART: Obama Speaks Of 'Going Bulworth' In Second Term

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 30 minutes ago
Obama Speaks Of 'Going Bulworth' In Second Term: Obama Speaks Of 'Going Bulworth' In Second Term *The Huffington Post* | By Luke Johnson Posted: 05/16/2013 9:06 am EDT [image: Share on Google+] 69 40 3 1163 *GET POLITICS ALERTS:* SIGN UP FOLLOW: Barack Obama , Video , AP Scandal , Benghazi Attack , HuffPolitics Blog , Obama WHCD , Obama Presidency , Ap Phone Records , Ap Subpoena , Barack Obama Bulworth , Irs Tea Party , Obama Ap Scandal , Obama Benghazi , Obama Bulworth , Obama Criticism , Obama Irs , Obama Second Term ,Politics News The New York Times reported that Presiden... more »

Modern School: Teachers Offer to Work for Free and Get Fired Anyway

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Modern School: Teachers Offer to Work for Free and Get Fired Anyway: Teachers Offer to Work for Free and Get Fired Anyway by Michael Dunn The small Buena Vista, Michigan school district (500 students) closed its doors this week—more than a month early—because it is broke, despite the fact that its teachers agreed to work for free. If the district does not find the money to reopen, seniors may be prevented from graduating. The cause of the district’s financial woes, according to the Huffington Post, was that it spent money provided by the state for running the Wolverine Secure Tre... more »

Problem vs. Solution: A Response - Bridging Differences - Education Week

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Problem vs. Solution: A Response - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Problem vs. Solution: A Response by Deborah Meier Dear Mike, Let me begin by addressing your underlying question as to whether what you and I are proposing is part of the cure or the disease. The belief that the most promising way to tackle poverty requires frequent standardized tests for all students, breaking up the public school monopoly, imposing accountability measures on teachers, and more "efficient" delivery systems is, in my view, "part of the disease." But let's lower the tone by changing the dich... more »

Shanker Blog » Proposed National Civics Framework Shows Great Promise

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Shanker Blog » Proposed National Civics Framework Shows Great Promise: Proposed National Civics Framework Shows Great Promise by Stephen Lazar *Our guest author today is Stephen Lazar, a founding teacher at Harvest Collegiate High School in New York City, where he teaches Social Studies. A National Board certified teacher, he blogs at Outside the Cave. Stephen is also one of the organizers of Insightful Social Studies, a grass roots campaign of teachers to reform the newly proposed New York State Social Studies standards.* A couple of months ago, I warned, “We cannot possibly cont... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Professor Oyler: An Open Letter to My Students by dianerav The Teachers College community is divided about the institution’s decision to honor Merryl Tisch, chancellor of the New York Board of Regents. Tisch has made her mark as a champion of high-stakes testing and charter schools. Professor Celia Oyler wrote the following message to her graduate students: “An Open Letter to Graduating Master’s Students in the Elementary and Secondary Inclusive Education Programs... more »

Louisiana Educator: Another Major Victory for Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Louisiana Educator: Another Major Victory for Public Education: Another Major Victory for Public Education by Michael Deshotels A Thirty Million Dollar fine is being assessed to State Superintendent White to be paid back to local school systems as part of the recent Supreme Court decision on vouchers and the MFP. Unfortunately that's a fine that must be* paid by taxpayers, not by White*, and it could eventually be assessed back to local school systems as the Jindal controlled BESE prepares to rubber stamp another Jindal/White revision of the MFP. The 2013-14 MFP formula is being ... more »

Why Hasn’t Duncan Be Dumped Already? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Why Hasn’t Duncan Be Dumped Already? – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Why Hasn’t Duncan Be Dumped Already? by John Thompson Secretary of Education Rod Paige, who used his false claims of success in Houston to push for No Child Left Behind, was awful enough. If his statement that we are in an “education recession” was not boo-worthy, it deserved ridicule. But, neither he or the Bush Administration’s other Secretary of Education did the harm that Arne Duncan has done. Reasonable people can disagree over whether it was inappropriate for education researchers at the AERA conv...more »

UPDATE: myth of underutilized schools + Glen Brown: We Are One cannot bargain away the rights of retirees. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Glen Brown: We Are One cannot bargain away the rights of retirees. | Fred Klonsky: The myth of underutilized schools. by Fred Klonsky [image: Classroom-articleLarge] CPS claims they are closing schools that are what they call *underutilized.* WBEZ’s Linda Lutton and Catalyst’s Sarah Karp look at the data. After CPS leaders took pains to counter Raise Your Hand’s criticism, *Catalyst Chicago* asked CPS for class size data in December 2012 and then submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for the data in February. The information was provided in late April and shows that: -... more »

Ed Notes Online: Critic Endorses CORE and Lewis in CTU Elections While Trashing AFT and Randi-like Opposition

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Ed Notes Online: Critic Endorses CORE and Lewis in CTU Elections While Trashing AFT and Randi-like Opposition: Critic Endorses CORE and Lewis in CTU Elections While Trashing AFT and Randi-like Opposition by ed notes online *It's called the inside game - the American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten has worked it well while signing away teachers rights and jobs throughout the recent years of massive education privatization....**CORE came to power doing the exact opposite - to fight the business - political establishment to stop school closings and its massive att... more »

Teachers For Social Justice: Our City, Our Schools, Our Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Teachers For Social Justice: Our City, Our Schools, Our Voice: Our City, Our Schools, Our Voice by sarah-ji Please sign up to march with TSJ-we will be marching on both the South and West sides. And you can march 20 minutes, or the full three days, your choice! And all TSJ marchers get a new, TSJ "activist" t-shirt that looks just like our logo w/ an orange background! Nice! *The march ends with a rally at Daley Plaza, Monday, May 20 at 4 PM!* Final West Side march route and times here; March starting point: Lafayette Elementary, 2714 W Augusta Blvd. Saturday, May 18, 10:00 AM Fina... more »

Kiss Michelle Rhee Goodbye | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Kiss Michelle Rhee Goodbye | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Kiss Michelle Rhee Goodbye by larrycuban [image: images]With the publication of *Radical* and a few years after founding StudentsFirst, a policy advocacy organization, former Washington, D.C. Chancellor of schools continues to push her reform agenda nationally, one that was severely burned when she exited the district after only three years in office. Well versed in being a celebrity, Rhee made the rounds of high profile media (e.g., Jon Stewart show) pushing her new book and the organization that sh... more »

Seattle teachers boycotting test score a victory

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Seattle teachers boycotting test score a victory: Seattle teachers boycotting test score a victory By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 16, 2013 at 3:00 amE-mail the writer 3 Comments More [image: scrap the map]Teachers in Seattle protesting a state-mandated standardized test that they think is useless have scored a victory: The test will, starting next year, no longer be required for high school graduation. Jose Banda, superintendent of schools in Seattle, just told principals of the district’s high schools that it will be up to their school’s leadership team whether or not to giv... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: A Common Core Worksheet from Missouri and a First Grade Social Justice Text from Utah

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: A Common Core Worksheet from Missouri and a First Grade Social Justice Text from Utah: A Common Core Worksheet from Missouri and a First Grade Social Justice Text from Utah by stlgretchen A Missouri parent sent this in from her 3rd grader's workbook. Time for Kids is a Common Core aligned curriculum provider: TIME For Kids is committed to helping teachers meet Common Core State Standards, National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies and National Science Education Standards. Click here to learn more about TIME For Kids and national learning standar... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: That toddlin' town...

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: That toddlin' town...: That toddlin' town... by Mike Klonsky Yesterday at 61st & Cottage GroveStudents 'die-in" to save their schools Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle, an organizer with Southside Together Organizing for Power, and others called the event — in which students blocked traffic in the intersection of 61st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue — a "die-in." Students wore mock-bloody clothes in an effort to show the effect they believe school closings will have: more violence and death for the young students forced to cross new gang territories. *"The messa...more »

NYC Educator: What Do People Remember You For?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
NYC Educator: What Do People Remember You For?: What Do People Remember You For? by NYC Educator I taught special education once. I wasn't very good at it. After teaching for about two years, I drove across the bridge to the Bronx one September morning, only to find my services were no longer required, I decided I would look for a job in Queens, where I lived. Only when I went to the Queens hiring hall, the secretary there showed me a room full of teachers sitting in wooden chairs. She said she had to place every one of those teachers before she could help me. Things looked bleak.... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Gates on Common Core back in 2009

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Gates on Common Core back in 2009: Gates on Common Core back in 2009 by Mike Klonsky In his speech to the National Conference of State Legislatures, on July 21, 2009, Bill Gates outlined a plan of action for legislators to adopt common education standards, which he claimed would help jump-start a sagging economy. “Difficult times can spark great reforms,” he stated, and the stimulus package funds present a great opportunity. With clear, consistent standards and robust data systems to evaluate teacher effectiveness, more students will have the c... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 5-15-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Judge’s Reversal of Bullying Ruling Upheld by State Education Chief Cerf agrees that conflict between two students didn’t meet anti-bullying law’s criteria. Guest Post: Stanford Ed School Dean Claude Steele on Stereotype Threat in Academics by Emily Richmond *EWA's 66th National Seminar, held at Stanford University, took place earlier this month. We asked some of the journalists attending to contribute posts from the sessions. The majority of the content will soon be available at EdMedia Commons. Over the... more »

Social and emotional learning gaining new traction under Common Core | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Social and emotional learning gaining new traction under Common Core | EdSource Today: Social and emotional learning gaining new traction under Common Core ** May 15th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By Jane Meredith Adams Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on print More Sharing Services [image: class at aspire] Third graders in Michelle Flores’s class at Aspire Capitol Heights Academy in Sacramento. Photo: Michelle Flores SACRAMENTO – School is nothing if not an intensely social experience, which is why teacher Michelle Flores posed this question to 24 third graders at As... more »

Last Stand for Children First: Last Stand for Children First Makes Endorsement in Chicago Teachers Union Election

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Last Stand for Children First: Last Stand for Children First Makes Endorsement in Chicago Teachers Union Election: Last Stand for Children First Makes Endorsement in Chicago Teachers Union Election by Last Stand for Children Internal union politics is probably the last place that an education group like ourselves should be getting involved. However, sometimes a candidate or a group of candidates come along that you have no choice, but to proclaim your admiration and support for. In the Chicago Teachers Union election, The Coalition to Save Our Union is just such a group. We d... more »

Smarter Balanced Accessibility and Accommodations - Assessment Information (CA Dept of Education)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Smarter Balanced Accessibility and Accommodations - Assessment Information (CA Dept of Education): Smarter Balanced Accessibility and AccommodationsAddresses accessibility and accommodations for students who are English learners and students with disabilities who are taking Smarter Balanced assessments. ------------------------------ Draft Smarter Balanced Accessibility and Accommodations Framework The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium has released its draft Accessibility and Accommodations Framework for public review and comment. This framework explains the conceptual und... more »

Retirement Heist: The Kabuki Puppet Theater of Absurd Greed | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Retirement Heist: The Kabuki Puppet Theater of Absurd Greed | Reclaim Reform: Retirement Heist: The Kabuki Puppet Theater of Absurd Greed by kenpreviti *Pension theft in Illinois simply has puppets with Illinois legislative names and union names mouthing the words and following the steps. The Kabuki Puppet Theater of Absurd Greed.* [image: puppets] [image: scissors] Since a unilateral political decision to cut public pensions is definitely illegal, *unions and their leaders must be part of the cast of characters*. This is essential for an effective retirement heist. All future ease o... more »

All Education Matters: Huffington Post: Obama Student Loan Policy Reaping $51 Billion Profit - This is not news . . .

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
All Education Matters: Huffington Post: Obama Student Loan Policy Reaping $51 Billion Profit - This is not news . . .: Huffington Post: Obama Student Loan Policy Reaping $51 Billion Profit - This is not news . . . by Cryn Johannsen Nevertheless, I am glad to see that pieces from this article are being disseminated widely by mainstream media. For years, AEM has been providing data, analysis, and personal stories to demonstrate the way in which the student loan crisis has been hurting the economy. And here you have it from agencies and Regulators: ** Regulators and officials at a... more »

Ed Notes Online: I Echo Jersey Jazzman in Support for CORE in CTU Election on Friday

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: I Echo Jersey Jazzman in Support for CORE in CTU Election on Friday: I Echo Jersey Jazzman in Support for CORE in CTU Election on Friday by ed notes online Aside from everything else, just look at the ed deformers supporting Karen Lewis' opponents: The soon to be owned by Koch brothers Chicago Tribune and Fox News. And it a group like MORE were to ever seriously challenge Unity you would see the same type of reaction from the local ed deformers to those "anti reform radicals." In Chicago they vote in the schools on one day - Friday May 17. Poll watching is in im... more »

Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools Resolution | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools Resolution | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education: Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools Resolution by Kate_Lenox [image: Home] The following resolution was adopted by the SCUSD District Advisory Committee on May 14th. It will be presented to the SCUSD board at the meeting on May 16th by Leo Cauchon. If you'd like to help him present it in its entirety by attending the meeting and filling our a comment card, meet Leo at the back of the baord meeting room at the Serna Center at 6:15. The item is on the agenda for Public Comment... more »

Liberal House Democrats slam ‘cruel and harmful’ cuts to school meals for poor children | The Raw Story

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Liberal House Democrats slam ‘cruel and harmful’ cuts to school meals for poor children | The Raw Story: Liberal House Democrats slam ‘cruel and harmful’ cuts to school meals for poor children By Eric W. Dolan Wednesday, May 15, 2013 18:49 EDT [image: Representative Steven Horsford screenshot] Several Democrats took to the House floor on Wednesday to denounce large cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) described the proposed cuts as “cruel and harmful” because it would “increase hunger ... more »

IRS Scandal: What Is A 501(c)(4)? | WHNT.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
IRS Scandal: What Is A 501(c)(4)? | WHNT.com: IRS Scandal: What Is A 501(c)(4)? Posted on: 4:15 pm, May 15, 2013, by David Kumbroch Controversy swirls around the IRS and its scrutiny of Tea Party groups. The IRS says some of its employees singled out conservative groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status as 501(c)(4)’s. So what qualifies as a 501(c)? Attorney Stephen Wilson explains, “There’s a plethora of subdivisions under 501(c). I think there’s fifteen or twenty of them, and they all deal with separate areas.” So how do you define the specific 501(c) that... more »

VIDEO: United Adult Students’ Gilberta Gonzalez speaks in Sacramento – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
VIDEO: United Adult Students’ Gilberta Gonzalez speaks in Sacramento – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: VIDEO: United Adult Students’ Gilberta Gonzalez speaks in Sacramento by rdsathene Gilberta Gonzalez of United Adult Students speaking at CCAE 2013 Conference in Sacramento. She is introduced here by CCAE Conference co-Chair, Branka Marceta. Holding the 10,000 petition signatures is Teacher and Evans Adult School graduate Juan Noguera. Another gander at the Kindergarten core @sarawottawa by Chalk Face, PhD [image: Another gander at the Kindergarten core @sarawottawa] Can fo... more »

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Meaningless Common Core Executive Order | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Meaningless Common Core Executive Order | Truth in American Education: Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Meaningless Common Core Executive Order by Shane Vander Hart Georgia Governor Nathan Deal issued an executive order to address concerns with the Common Core State Standards. *The Atlanta Journal-Constitution* sees it as an attempt to stave off a GOP mutiny. Based onpushback I’m seeing and hearing about, it could very well be headed toward a repeal and that has to make Governor Deal nervous as he is on the wrong side of this. You can read his ex... more »

Suit accuses Compton school district of abuse, racial profiling - latimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Suit accuses Compton school district of abuse, racial profiling - latimes.com: Suit accuses Compton school district of abuse, racial profilingA group of parents and students have sued the Compton school district, alleging a pattern of abuse and racial profiling of Latinos by school police. [image: Compton school district sued] Victor Lopez, 21, a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the Compton Unified School District, stands near photos related to an incident in the suit. In the incident, school officers allegedly beat, pepper sprayed and used a chokehold on Lopez, who was takin... more »

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The Gulen Movement’s subsidized, guided trips to Turkey

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The Gulen Movement’s subsidized, guided trips to Turkey: The Gulen Movement’s subsidized, guided trips to Turkey by The Perimeter Primate In addition to having acquired the operation of the largest network of privately-managed, taxpayer-funded charter schools in the US (currently 135 in 26 states), members of the Gulen Movement are very active with efforts to recruit sympathizers. One of their approaches is to invite academics, journalists, politicians, public officials, and religious community leaders on one of their subsidized, guided trips to Turkey. The ... more »

Wisconsin Budget Policy and Poverty in Education | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Wisconsin Budget Policy and Poverty in Education | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Wisconsin Budget Policy and Poverty in Education by millerlf Posted on May 15, 2013 Forward Institute Forward Institute has released its new study at a press conference in Milwaukee’s City Hall. The following remarks were made by Chair Scott Wittkopf, highlighting the most important findings of the comprehensive study. Wisconsin has always been a leader in K-12 public education because we have long valued the right of every child to receive a quality public education. The fundamental n... more »

Randi Weingarten responds to my blog post on pensions. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Randi Weingarten responds to my blog post on pensions. | Fred Klonsky: Randi Weingarten responds to my blog post on pensions. by Fred Klonsky [image: A2cvXITCYAAXN4P] *NY UFT President Michael Mulgrew and AFT President Randi Weingarten.* The following statement was sent to me from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. From Randi Weingarten: Illinois’ pension system is facing huge financial hurdles; the right wing was having a field day using that as a reason to dismantle it and with it, retirement security for today and tomorrow’s retirees. To ensure a solvent ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Byrd-Bennett under wraps? Rahm supports the 'thrust..."

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Byrd-Bennett under wraps? Rahm supports the 'thrust...": Byrd-Bennett under wraps? Rahm supports the 'thrust..." by Mike Klonsky “I support the thrust of what Barbara said. We’re 100 percent hand-in-glove ...The glove metaphor is an appropriate one. *Barbara Byrd-Bennett* is under wraps again, like she was a year ago. We've hardly heard a peep from her since her comical and embarrassing comments which followed months of school closing hearings. You may remember, 20,000 Chicagoans spoke in one voice at those hearings---"Fix 'em. Don't close 'em!" But ... more »

Malloy visits Jumoke at Milner: Says don’t confuse me with the facts: - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Malloy visits Jumoke at Milner: Says don’t confuse me with the facts: - Wait, What?: Malloy visits Jumoke at Milner: Says don’t confuse me with the facts: by jonpelto According to the Hartford Courant’s Vanessa De La Torre, Governor Malloy joined former Hartford Mayor Thirman Milner yesterday in the library of Jumoke Academy at Milner to celebrate the success of Malloy’s “education reform” proposals. Milner explained, “You walk in the school, you can see the difference.” And Malloy was all too happy to take credit for the changes claiming that it was the privatization effort of h... more »

Lessons from Finland and Wisconsin – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Lessons from Finland and Wisconsin – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: How many times do we have to remind reform apologists like @alexanderrusso? by Chalk Face, PhD *Alexander Russo Boot Licker Alert * According to Mr. Russo, 2013 may be the year of teacher preparation. Too bad it’s half over. To wit: Since 2009, the California-based NewSchools Venture Fund, with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, has been convening Learning to Teach, a 40-member group of teacher prep organizations that includes both ­traditional and alternative providers. A coalition ca... more »

Massive Bradley Foundation Education Privatization Campaign Exposed - One Wisconsin Now

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Massive Bradley Foundation Education Privatization Campaign Exposed - One Wisconsin Now: *Massive Bradley Foundation Education Privatization Campaign Exposed* One Wisconsin Now Report 'P is For Payoff' Reveals $31 Million Plus Privatization Propaganda Campaign Madison - New research from One Wisconsin Now reveals a web of right-wing groups are part of a $31 million plus propaganda campaign pushing a massive privatization of public education in Wisconsin. Underwriting the effort is the Milwaukee based Bradley Foundation, headed by Gov. Scott Walker's campaign co-chair, Michael Gre... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Fort Wayne: Besieged by Charters by dianerav A reader describes the situation in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a community with good public schools: “Further to the point about GREAT home-grown administrators, Fort Wayne Community Schools has another bit of good news today: Two genuinely abysmal local charter schools lost their certification and their appeal today! http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/education/two-fort-wayne-schools-lose-charter-contracts (These are the folks who won’t scoop up one of our empty school buildings ... more »

Whiteboard Insider Results on Common Core | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Whiteboard Insider Results on Common Core | Truth in American Education: Whiteboard Insider Results on Common Core by Shane Vander Hart Whiteboard Advisors did a poll this month of “education insiders.” They define an education insider as people who “influential leaders who are shaping federal education reform, including individuals who or are currently serving as key policy and political “insiders,” such as: - Current and former White House and U.S. Department of Education leaders; - Current and former Congressional staff; - State education leaders including state sc... more »

IEA leaders slam Illinois Retired Teachers Association. IRTA leaders stand with retirees, the law and justice. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
IEA leaders slam Illinois Retired Teachers Association. IRTA leaders stand with retirees, the law and justice. | Fred Klonsky: IEA leaders slam Illinois Retired Teachers Association. IRTA leaders stand with retirees, the law and justice. by Fred Klonsky I received these two letters today that I thought you would be interested in. Dear IEA-Retired members,We know many of you are members of both IEA-Retired and IRTA. We ask for your help in talking to your IRTA colleagues about the path they are taking as it will jeopardize getting a fair and constitutional bill passed. IRTA has come ... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the Washington Post | Taking Note

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the Washington Post | Taking Note: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the Washington Post by John Merrow The disturbing news of yet another testing scandal comes from Columbus, Ohio. Kudos to the Columbus Dispatch for its reporting on erasures and the ‘scrubbing’ of attendance records, and to the paper’s editorial pages for demanding action. The paper’s editorial on May 7 quotes Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as follows: *In a visit to Columbus last month, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan was emphatic that this district lacks stro... more »

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends: Give Big Day Going on Now by Melissa Westbrook Have you given to your favorite charity today? Through the Seattle Foundation's Give Big Day you can see that donation increased (from their "stretch pool"). If you are going to donate sometime this year, make it now. Lots of great supporters of public education on the list. Why Do School Leaders Allow this to Happen? by Melissa Westbrook This comes from a reader whose child is at Washington. I am appalled at the poor judgment on the part of these teachers. *Why, in 2013, does anyo... more »

Summer Meals Programs Help Stretch Summertime Food Budgets — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Summer Meals Programs Help Stretch Summertime Food Budgets — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Summer Meals Programs Help Stretch Summertime Food Budgets May 15, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: No Kid Hungry - Share Our Strength] *Post written by Kim Caldwell with the No Kid Hungry Center for Best Practices* Teachers, parents and kids tell us all the time that childhood hunger doesn't take a vacation during the summer months. That's because kids who normally get a lunch or breakfast at school lose access to those meals when clas...more »

"Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" Sacramento City Unified School District

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
*Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools* * "Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools"* Good morning, Attached please find attached the "Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" resolution. I am very appreciative of the DAC for voting its approval last night. On behalf of the DAC, I will have the honor of presenting it to our School Board this comingThursday May 16th at about 6:55 PM. It would be appreciated if folks would consider joining me in this presentation. Please send me an e-mail response or find me in the back of the meeting room at about 6:15 PM. I will wear a name tag :)... more »

Letter to Obama: We need data on ‘highly qualified’ teachers

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Letter to Obama: We need data on ‘highly qualified’ teachers: Letter to Obama: We need data on ‘highly qualified’ teachers By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 15, 2013 at 11:08 amE-mail the writer [image: abc]Should students still learning how to be teachers be considered “highly qualified teachers“? Should new college graduates with only five weeks of teacher training (that’s what Teach For America gives its recruits before sending them into high-poverty schools) be considered highly qualified? Well, Congress, which was lobbied by Teach For America and other organizations, said “yes... more »

Monty Neill: Building Effective Campaigns for Testing Reform - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Monty Neill: Building Effective Campaigns for Testing Reform - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Monty Neill: Building Effective Campaigns for Testing Reform by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Monty Neill.* *Part three of a three part series. Read part one here and part two here.* It will take public education, incessant pressure, and massive public resistance to win reforms to our current damaging test policies. We need to define clear, widely supported goals. And we need to offer a compelling vision of effective alternatives to high-stakes testing. In this post, I'll dig ... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, May 15, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Fensterwald Brown commits $1 billion for Common Core, sticks with funding formula Education Headlines *Wednesday, May 15, 2013* Fillmore schools chief expects more money for district next yearThe Fillmore Unified School District would benefit from additional funding if legislators pass Gov. Jerry Brown's revised California budget proposal, which calls for nearly $3 billion more for K-12 schools and community colleges. San Juan district superintendent to be placed on administrative leaveSan Juan Unified Superintendent Glynn Thom... more »

UPDATE: Governor attempts to prevent Common Core mutiny + New report: Can't judge pre-K to third grade teachers on how... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
New report: Can't judge pre-K to third grade teachers on how... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: Governor attempts to prevent Common Core mutiny by his GOP colleagues By Maureen Downey Apparently in an effort to stave off a repeal of the Common Core State Standards, *Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order today *affirming state sovereignty **in education, prohibiting a federal curriculum to be imposed in Georgia and banning collection of identifiable student data for the feds. The carefully worded order still allows Common Core to continue in Georgia since it i... more »

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública:

Chicago parent on school closings: “I cry a lot…Nobody wants their school closed.” | Hechinger Report

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Chicago parent on school closings: “I cry a lot…Nobody wants their school closed.” | Hechinger Report: Chicago parent on school closings: “I cry a lot…Nobody wants their school closed.” by Sarah Garland The Chicago school system plans to shutter 54 schools next year to save money and improve academics. Among them is Lafayette Elementary in Humboldt Park on the West Side of the city, a school with a treasured school orchestra and a program for autistic children. Valerie Nelson, 43, is a home health care worker who sends her two daughters there. A frequent volunteer at the school an... more »

Modern School: In Response to Valerie Strauss’ Criticism of Stephen Hawking

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Modern School: In Response to Valerie Strauss’ Criticism of Stephen Hawking: In Response to Valerie Strauss’ Criticism of Stephen Hawking by Michael Dunn Last week, Valerie Strauss wrote, “Why Stephen Hawking made a mistake backing Israel boycott,” in her Answer Sheet blog in the Washington Post. Here is my extended response: Academic boycotts may be ineffective forms of protest and it is certainly difficult to maintain philosophical consistency—both legitimate reasons for not using this tactic. However, Strauss’ claim that “Academics is [sic] supposed to be about the pursuit of... more »

The thanks they get for voting Obama | SocialistWorker.org

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The thanks they get for voting Obama | SocialistWorker.org: The thanks they get for voting Obama Barack Obama is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "adding insult to injury." May 15, 2013 [image: President Obama on the campaign trail (Christopher Dilts)] NATIONAL TEACHERS Appreciation Week, traditionally the first full week of May, passed this year without even a token statement from Barack Obama. Instead, the White House issued a presidential proclamation honoring the same weeklong period as...National Charter Schools Week. Yep, you read that right. Barack Obama--who got the v... more »

Stemming the Flow of the School-to-Prison Pipeline | NEA Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Stemming the Flow of the School-to-Prison Pipeline | NEA Today: Stemming the Flow of the School-to-Prison Pipeline May 15, 2013 by twalker Filed under Featured News, Top Stories Leave a Comment [image: Email][image: Share] *By Cindy Long* There’s a disturbing trend taking place in our public schools, especially in high poverty neighborhoods – where hallways and grounds are patrolled by police and disciplinary problems are no longer handled by counseling and detention but by suspension and arrest. Known as the school-to-prison pipeline, the trend is turning our adolescent students i... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Watching the DESE Countdown Clock. Citizens Still Waiting for Answers to Questions from the May 2 Hearings.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Watching the DESE Countdown Clock. Citizens Still Waiting for Answers to Questions from the May 2 Hearings.: Watching the DESE Countdown Clock. Citizens Still Waiting for Answers to Questions from the May 2 Hearings. by stlgretchen Time elapsed since DESE Common Core May 2 meetings: We've installed a DESE clock to determine how long citizens have to wait for the answers to questions DESE promised to answer from its May 2 Common Core standards statewide meetings. Citizens were told questions/answers would be listed within a week on the DESE website.... more »













at