Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 5-22-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 24 minutes ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: DC schools bet the farm and then some on #commoncore. Good luck with that. Chalk Face, PhD at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 6 minutes ago DC loves its reform. Especially those based on faith, not evidence. Education Week writes about what they call the “common core era.” Wow, I thought, you know, at least six months had to pass before we’re officially in an era. In a year, it might be an epoch. How well the school district can reach […] Celebrity Losing Popularity? plthomasedd at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 6 minutes a... more »

Modern School: Data Confirms That Tiger Moms Eat Their Young

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 24 minutes ago

Modern School: Data Confirms That Tiger Moms Eat Their Young: Data Confirms That Tiger Moms Eat Their Young by Michael Dunn A couple of years ago, during the uproar over Amy Chua's book, *Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, *the *Wall Street Journal* asked if a regimen of no play dates, TV or computer games, combined with endless hours of music practice, could create happy kids? The answer, not surprisingly, is no, according to study published in the March 2013 Asian American Journal of Psychology. The study, which followed 444 Chinese-American families for eight years, found that... more »

Uncommon Commonsense Ways to Empower Struggling Students — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 43 minutes ago

Uncommon Commonsense Ways to Empower Struggling Students — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Ryan O’Rourke]Uncommon Commonsense Ways to Empower Struggling Students May 22, 2013 by Ryan O’Rourke [image: Struggling Students - Marygrove College] When we were students, it quickly became apparent who was "smart" and who was "not so smart." This writer happened to find himself in the latter category, especially when it came to math. How did we figure this out? Those who struggled with math, for example, simply interpreted the arrangement of the math groups: Group A, wh... more »

New study weighs risks, opportunities of using test scores to evaluate Pre-K teachers | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

New study weighs risks, opportunities of using test scores to evaluate Pre-K teachers | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: New study weighs risks, opportunities of using test scores to evaluate Pre-K teachers by Deepa Fernandes [image: Dual Language API - 7] *Teacher Susan Lopez reads a story along with her transitional kindergarten students.; Credit: Maya Sugarman/KPCC* Evaluating teachers based on student performance is one of the most controversial issues in education today. Pre-K to 3rd grade teachers have been exempt from this scrutiny, since their students don't take standardized test. ... more »

Public Spending Per Student Drops - Real Time Economics - WSJ

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Public Spending Per Student Drops - Real Time Economics - WSJ: * Public Spending Per Student Drops* * * By Stephanie Banchero U.S. public-education spending per student fell in 2011 for the first time in more than three decades, according to new U.S. *Census Bureau* data issued Tuesday. Spending for elementary and high schools across the 50 states and Washington, D.C. averaged $10,560 per pupil in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. That was down 0.4% from 2010, the first drop since the bureau began collecting the data on an annual basis in 1977, the agency said Tuesday. However... more »

A Consequence of Connectedness. | My Island View

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

A Consequence of Connectedness. | My Island View: A Consequence of Connectedness. by tomwhitby I think I have always been a connected educator even before “Al Gore invented the internets”. I received journals in the mail, signed up for numerous workshops, attended any and all conferences I could get sent to, continually joined school committees, and I taught many in-service courses. With that type of exposure, I developed a fairly evident footprint in my school and district. People knew who I was, and what my educational philosophy was because I lived it. Of course looking back t... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-22-13 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] Join Discussion of Parent Trigger Hoax by dianerav Please join this important discussion about the corporate attempt to trick parents into handing their public schools over to private corporations: The Parent Trigger from California to Florida Sunday, May 26, 2013 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Pacific Time We will be hearing from Lori Yuan, a parent in Adelanto who fought the Parent Trigger at her school, and Parents Across America Founding Member Rita Solnet who, alo... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Divide and rule is a dangerous game

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Divide and rule is a dangerous game: Divide and rule is a dangerous game by Mike Klonsky *"Not without a fight..."* -- 9-year-old Asean Johnson t's a desperate, dangerous games that *Rahm *and *Byrd-Bennett *are playing. As today's vote approaches the Mayor's people and CPS "insiders" are having a ball, leaking inside information to from "unnamed sources" about which schools will be closed and which will stay open in the fall. Last night it was *Elizabeth Brackett* on *Chicago Tonight *telling us that, "my sources" say that about 10 schools will be d... more »

UPDATE: People are corporations too + CTU election results Rahm’s team got ashellacking. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

CTU election results. Details released. Rahm’s team got a old-style shellacking. | Fred Klonsky: The in box. People are corporations too, my friend. by Fred Klonsky The Chicago Tribune: So Illinois is in such dire financial shape that it must violate the contractual retirement agreements with teachers and other state workers. I’ve taught at the University of Illinois since 1979 and am one of those who would be cheated by the bills under discussion in the legislature. Why stop there? The crisis should require every company with a state contract get paid 20 percent less, and every c... more »

Senate votes to reduce testing for top students | Education Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Senate votes to reduce testing for top students | Education Blog: Senate votes to reduce testing for top students By Terrence Stutz tstutz@dallasnews.com 7:00 am on May 22, 2013 | Permalink 0 0 0 Continuing a move toward reduced testing in Texas schools, the Senate on Tuesday night approved a bill that would exempt high-performing students from reading and math tests in the fourth, sixth and eighth grades. The measure by Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, would affect thousands of students in elementary and middle schools, but the precise number would be left up to the commissioner of ed... more »

ESPN announces layoffs as part of Malloy’s “Jive Five” Economic Development Program - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

ESPN announces layoffs as part of Malloy’s “Jive Five” Economic Development Program - Wait, What?: ESPN announces layoffs as part of Malloy’s “Jive Five” Economic Development Program by jonpelto *The Urban Dictionary defines “jive” as a “colorful form of speaking” that is “sometimes hard to follow.”* *In the real world here is how it works;* On August 2, 2011 Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that, in return for creating 200 new jobs over the next five years, the taxpayers of Connecticut would give ESPN $17.5 million toward the construction of a new building and at least ... more »

Child mental health experts raise serious concerns about the impact of proposed mass school closings on Chicago students

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education (CReATE): Child mental health experts raise serious concerns about the impact of proposed mass school closings on Chicago students: Child mental health experts raise serious concerns about the impact of proposed mass school closings on Chicago students by CReATE Chicago Today, several notable social workers, counselors, and academic researchers from prominent Illinois and Chicago organizations and universities submitted a set of statements to the members of the Chicago Board of Education detailing their serious co... more »

UPDATE: Jeb Bush’s ‘Chiefs for Change’ attack Weingarten for something she didn’t say

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Jeb Bush’s ‘Chiefs for Change’ attack Weingarten for something she didn’t say: Jeb Bush’s ‘Chiefs for Change’ attack Weingarten for something she didn’t say by Valerie Strauss [image: Randi Weingarten (AFT)] Randi Weingarten (AFT) How’s this for a trick: Jeb Bush’s “Chiefs for Change,” a group of former and current state education superintendents, have attacked American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten for something she didn’t say — without even mentioning her name! She slapped them back. Here’s what happened: A few weeks ago, Weingarten called for a moratorium on... more »

White House to Honor Gay Officials on Harvey Milk Day

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

White House to Honor Gay Officials on Harvey Milk Day: [image: whitehouse]White House to Honor Gay Officials on Harvey Milk Day RYAN DIXON MAY 21 2 1 1 0 The White House has released the list of the 10 openly gay officials it plans [...] The White House has released the list of the 10 openly gay officials it plans to honor on May 22 as “Harvey Milk Champions of Change.” The event coincides with Harvey Milk Day, a commemoration of the first openly gay elected official’s birthday. Established in 2011, the White House “Champions of Change” Program regularly spotlights ordinary citi... more »

NYC Educator: The Disappearing Teacher Caf

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

NYC Educator: The Disappearing Teacher Caf: The Disappearing Teacher Caf by NYC Educator I'm in one of two Queens high schools that still has a teacher cafeteria. It's under threat of closure, as not enough teachers are patronizing it lately. A food truck has parked by our school and has become pretty popular. Mayor Bloombucks has decreed if teacher cafes don't make enough money, too bad for the teachers. There's something incredibly callous about this. Teachers don't get a whole lot of luxurious perks, and this certainly isn't one of them. I love the kids I teach, but sometimes I... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 5-21-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Lawsuit Claims New York City School Admissions System Is Racist from NewsTaco » Education by NewsTaco [image: nyc education] [image: nyc school] By Emily Smith, Opposing Views New York City parents and activists filed a federal lawsuit with the Office of Civil Rights on Monday, claiming that the city’s high school admissions process discriminates against black and Hispanic students by storing them away in low performing schools and setting them up for failure. They demanded a federal investigation and an over...more »

OUSD special education legal woes on the rise? - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

OUSD special education legal woes on the rise? - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: OUSD special education legal woes on the rise? By Katy Murphy Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 at 12:48 pm in No Comments *Guest blogger Stacey Smith is an OUSD parent and volunteer who has served on several district committees, including the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education. What she writes about does not reflect the view of any group.* The Oakland Unified School District’s 2011-2016 Strategic Plan calls for “a significant decrease in the number of special educ... more »

California Bill Proposes Adding Community College Classes at Higher Cost - Higher Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

California Bill Proposes Adding Community College Classes at Higher Cost - Higher Education: California Bill Proposes Adding Community College Classes at Higher Cost by cmaadmin SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Students at California community colleges could see additional class options for short summer and winter sessions under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Monday, but those courses would come with a higher price tag. The measure from Assemblyman Das Williams, D-Santa Barbara, would allow community colleges to make courses available between the traditional fall and spring semeste... more »

No Such Thing As Free - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

No Such Thing As Free - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: No Such Thing As Free by Nancy Flanagan I heard Gary Stager speak at a technology conference, a few years back. I'd been following him for some time, via his intelligent blog posts and articles--and was very surprised that the room where he was speaking was virtually empty, with maybe a dozen people in attendance. Nearly everyone in the audience came from the previous packed keynote, held in the ballroom next door, called "Free is Good!" Stager's remarks were provocative and smart. He opened his presentati... more »

Tom Vander Ark is selling snake oil. – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Tom Vander Ark is selling snake oil. – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Tom Vander Ark is selling snake oil. by Timothy D. Slekar Why do Common Core supporters get to make unsubstantiated statements? Why? Look at the latest piece in Huffington Post by Tom Vander Ark. Below are a collection of statements made by Mr. Vander Ark. 1. It’s exciting to see 45 states voluntarily adopting common college and career ready expectations for students — it makes the U.S. globally competitive, is embraced by teachers, and is unleashing an avalanche of innovation. 2. The... more »

Judge says Ridgewood eighth-grader's name-calling violated state's anti-bullying law - NorthJersey.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Judge says Ridgewood eighth-grader's name-calling violated state's anti-bullying law - NorthJersey.com: Judge says Ridgewood eighth-grader's name-calling violated state's anti-bullying law TUESDAY MAY 21, 2013, 8:28 PM BY LESLIE BRODY STAFF WRITER THE RECORD [image: kids-being-bullied4] PAGES: 1 2 > DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE | PRINT | E-MAIL While educators throughout the state strain to interpret New Jersey’s strict anti-bullying law, a judge has found that an eighth-grade Ridgewood boy violated the rules by calling a fellow student a “horse” and “fat.” “A reasonable person should know... more »

Text of S. 744: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (Introduced version) - GovTrack.us

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Text of S. 744: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (Introduced version) - GovTrack.us: *Obama’s Statement on the Immigration Overhaul Bill - Washington Wire - WSJ http://on.wsj.com/11a3Pzr* S. 744: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act 113th Congress, 2013–2015. Text as of Apr 17, 2013 (Introduced). Status & Summary | PDF | Source: GPO S 744 IS 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 744 To provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 17 (legislative day,... more »

Advocacy philanthropy and the leveraged buy-out of public schools — Part 2 | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

Advocacy philanthropy and the leveraged buy-out of public schools — Part 2 | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Advocacy philanthropy and the leveraged buy-out of public schools — Part 2 by Danny Weil [image: educap5] *by Danny Weil* [*Note:* This piece concludes the two-part essay. For Part 1, please see: Link] *Ted Forstmann and private advocacy philanthropy as a social movement* When there is an obvious financial pay-off for those promoting public policy changes through ‘advocacy philanthropy’, it behooves citizens to critically examine... more »

California drops a notch in public school spending - latimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago

California drops a notch in public school spending - latimes.com: California drops a notch in public school spending by By Teresa Watanabe California slipped a notch in spending per public school pupil in 2011, falling to 35th among states in a year that marked the first overall drop across the nation in nearly four decades, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Monday. The 50 states and Washington, D.C., spent an average $10,560 per student in 2011, down 0.4% from 2010, according to the report. Most of the top spenders were in the Northeast, while the lowest were in the South and West... more »

Schools Face Tough Choices As A Tornado Nears

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago

Schools Face Tough Choices As A Tornado Nears: Schools Face Tough Choices As A Tornado Nears by Joy Resmovits After the educators at Plaza Towers Elementary School learned that a raging tornado was headed their way Monday, they had few options. The decades-old building -- one of five schools hit in the area -- didn't have a "safe room," or a shelter deemed safe for storms of that size. All hell broke loose. The roof caved in. Teachers carried students out. "They literally were lifting walls up and kids were coming out," Oklahoma State Police Sergeant Jeremy Lewis said, according ... more »

All Out for Oakland Schools! Tomorrow, Wedn., 5:30 @ Board Meeting! | Classroom Struggle

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

All Out for Oakland Schools! Tomorrow, Wedn., 5:30 @ Board Meeting! | Classroom Struggle: All Out for Oakland Schools! Tomorrow, Wedn., 5:30 @ Board Meeting! by ClassroomStruggle Join Oakland parents, teachers, and students in Adult Ed and K-12 tomorrow to demand: Save and rebuild adult education! Grant teachers a fair contract! Reduce Special Ed Case Loads! Rally at 5:30 at the School Board (La Escuelita Elementary: 1050 2nd Avenue, btwn 10th & 12th St). Click the flyer below to download. [image: Save and rebuild adult education][image: Save and rebuild adult education2]

Kaboom! Parent Power! NYC Parents Stop The Department of Education From Announcing Election Results And Conducting Runoffs For Flawed Community and Citywide Education Council Elections | New York City Parents Union

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Kaboom! Parent Power! NYC Parents Stop The Department of Education From Announcing Election Results And Conducting Runoffs For Flawed Community and Citywide Education Council Elections | New York City Parents Union: Kaboom! Parent Power! NYC Parents Stop The Department of Education From Announcing Election Results And Conducting Runoffs For Flawed Community and Citywide Education Council Elections by admin *New York, NY* – On Tuesday, May 20, public school parents squared off against the New York City Department of Education (“NYCDOE”) in a court hearing before Judge Schlomo S. Ha... more »

PSAT for 5-21-13: Do what you do to stand up to the school closings Parents United for Responsible Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 5-21-13: Do what you do to stand up to the school closings: PSAT for 5-21-13: Do what you do to stand up to the school closings by admin Everyone can do something. [image: psat_logo]Today PURE held a press conference with six child mental health experts who spoke out about the damage the proposed school closings may do to children, giving their professional backing to what parents, teachers, students and others have been saying over and over for the past few months. We faxed 11 powerful statementsfrom those six and o... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments In White People Cluelessness

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Great Moments In White People Cluelessness: Great Moments In White People Cluelessness by Duke From Matt Kramer, Co-CEO of Teach For America: As white person, I thk role of white ppl in ed reform is a fair Q. But, I believe answer lies in allyship, not abdicating responsibility. So please don't get so upset, black parents, when Matt sends privileged, young, white, untrained, unqualified,uncommitted "teachers" into your children's schools, even as TFA racks up a billion dollars and shoves career teachers out on to the street. After all, he's willing to admit it's ... more »

This Is What Equal Opportunity Looks Like « The Core Knowledge Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

This Is What Equal Opportunity Looks Like « The Core Knowledge Blog: This Is What Equal Opportunity Looks Like by Lisa Hansel A few days ago, Marc Tucker of the National Center on Education and the Economy wrote about supporting the Common Core State Standards—and doing whatever it takes to implement them well—simply because they reflect real-world standards. Institutions of higher education and employers have high standards. For many children from disadvantaged homes, rigorous schooling offers the only hope for being well prepared. Tucker recalled: Years ago, I was running a focu... more »

UPDATE: How Safe Are Seattle Schools? Seattle Schools Community Forum: Youth Health/Behavior Survey Results

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Youth Health/Behavior Survey Results: How Safe Are Seattle Schools? by Melissa Westbrook A headline from the Huffington Post - *Oklahoma Schools Lacked Consistent Tornado Shelter Rules. * From the article (highlights mine): The two elementary schools leveled by the deadly tornado that swept through the Oklahoma City area Mondaylacked designated safe rooms designed to protect children and teachers, despite state warnings that the absence of such facilities imperils lives. At least two other schools in Moore -- the epicenter of the disaster -- did ... more »

Implications of the New "Poor" — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

Implications of the New "Poor" — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Implications of the New “Poor” May 21, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *Posst written by Pam Capasso, Sara Gogel, Tracy Knight, and Janine Norris of Holly Glen Elementary School in Williamstown, N.J.* Holly Glen Elementary School serves approximately 580 students with one-third on free or reduced meals. Our school houses English language learners, autistic population, and students from low-income housing. In the past, Holly Glen comprised various socioeconomic levels rangi... more »

“This has seriously been the most indescribable past 48 hours of my life.” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago

“This has seriously been the most indescribable past 48 hours of my life.” | Fred Klonsky: “This has seriously been the most indescribable past 48 hours of my life.” by Fred Klonsky [image: me-2] I met Stephanie Rivera last summer in Washington, D.C. through our mutual friend, Adam Heenan. Stephanie came to Chicago from New Jersey this weekend to take part in the three days of protests against Rahm’s school closings, the largest mass closing of public schools in American history. Visit her blog for the rest of the story of her visit to Chicago. This has seriously been the most indes... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Charter Schools = Wingnut Welfare

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Charter Schools = Wingnut Welfare: Charter Schools = Wingnut Welfare by Duke *Everybody gets a taste...* No one who reads this blog will be at all surprised by this: Last year, I wrote about fake Democrat Cody Bailey who had his ass handed to him by now-State Representative David Knezek. Bailey barely beat a candidate in the Democratic primary who didn’t even run a campaign and got his clock cleaned by Knezek. As I outlined in my expose, Bailey was anything but a Democrat and ran one of the sleaziest, most fact-challenged campaigns in my experience. Imagine my (n... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Learning from Prof. Joravsky about Rahm's latest TIF deal

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Learning from Prof. Joravsky about Rahm's latest TIF deal: Learning from Prof. Joravsky about Rahm's latest TIF deal by Mike Klonsky Rahm's Choose Chicago pals applaud the latest great TIF swidle.I continue to learn from Professor Joravsky about TIF, the Mayor's own taxpayer supported slush fund. Today,the prof schools us on what might be Rahm's greatest-of-all scams, the DePaul Arena TIF swindle, by which he takes millions in taxpayer dollars that should go to Chicago Public Schools and funnels them to his rich pals and corporations. In the late... more »

The Death of Private Schools is Greatly Exaggerated (& Misrepresented!) | School Finance 101

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

The Death of Private Schools is Greatly Exaggerated (& Misrepresented!) | School Finance 101: The Death of Private Schools is Greatly Exaggerated (& Misrepresented!) by schoolfinance101 [image: Slide1] As I’ve explained on previous posts, specific to New Jersey, claims of the dying private sector in education are grossly over exaggerated. These days, such claims are often over exaggerated with the purpose of framing some broad policy interest in supporting private schools. That is, some need for immediate public policy attention to the problem – some reason to consider how to bett... more »

Tornado survivor: Our teacher saved our lives

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Tornado survivor: Our teacher saved our lives: Tornado survivor: Our teacher saved our lives By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 21, 2013 at 2:00 pmE-mail the writer Here’s a video from “Today” about how a teacher saved some children when the massive tornado struck Moore, Okla., and the transcript: *Reporter:* You know, there have been some amazing stories of survival that are starting to emerge from the rubble and I have one of those, Brandi Klein, Damien Klein and Bobby Britain. Damien, you’re a fourth-grader at Plaza Tower Elementary School. Do you remember anything from yeste... more »

Press release from PURE press conference on school closings and child mental health Parents United for Responsible Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Press release from PURE press conference on school closings and child mental health: Press release from PURE press conference on school closings and child mental health by admin Erin Mason speaks at PURE press conference [image: Erin Mason speaks at PURE press conference] Press Release **** For Immediate Release May 21, 2013 Contact: Julie Woestehoff, Parents United for Responsible Education. 773-715-3989 Diane Horwitz, Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education (CReATE). 847-332-2756 Ann Aviles de Brad... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Parents in Western NYS outraged about testing and confidential data sharing

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Parents in Western NYS outraged about testing and confidential data sharing: Parents in Western NYS outraged about testing and confidential data sharing by Leonie Haimson An excellent news story below from WIVB TV news in Western New York State that captures the parent outrage at the NY State Education Department concerning the increase in testing and student data sharing being imposed on our schools, leading to a growing opt out movement. I strongly recommend you watch the whole thing; the section on the state's plan to share confidential student data ... more »

John “002″ Cullerton: Part-Time President of the Senate | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

John “002″ Cullerton: Part-Time President of the Senate | Reclaim Reform: John “002″ Cullerton: Part-Time President of the Senate by kenpreviti John “002″ Cullerton is the Part-Time President of the Illinois Senate at $67,836. What does he do as his full-time job? [image: Cullerton quiz]“Cullerton serves part-time as an Illinois state senator. Fagel Haber merged with Thompson Cobern LLP in 2007, and Cullerton continues as a partner practicing in the areas of government relations, zoning, licensing, real estate tax assessment, and nonprofit law. Cullerton is a lobbyist registered wi... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-21-13 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: Rightwing Superintendents Oppose Randi Moratorium by dianerav http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/common-core-clash-aft-president-fires-back-at-state-ed-officials/2013/05/21/a93321e8-c245-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html Common Core clash: AFT president fires back at state ed officials By Lyndsey Layton, The Washington Post Tuesday, May 21, 3:45 PM The head of a major teachers union fired back Tuesday at state education officials who had dismissed her call for a moratorium on stakes associated with new... more »

Political Payback Sinks Missouri’s Common Core Pause Bill | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Political Payback Sinks Missouri’s Common Core Pause Bill | Truth in American Education: Political Payback Sinks Missouri’s Common Core Pause Bill by Shane Vander Hart State Sen. Tom Dempsey [image: State Senator Tom Dempsey]I learned over the weekend that SB 210 is dead in the Missouri Senate due to a threat of a filibuster. I was told that it had nothing to do with those pushing the bill, the Common Core State Standards or a love of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It was political payback. The sponsor of the bill, State Senator John Lamping (R-Clay... more »

Our New Education Landscape Needs New Solutions — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Our New Education Landscape Needs New Solutions — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Dianna Minor]Our New Education Landscape Needs New Solutions May 21, 2013 by Dianna Minor The landscape of American education has changed. Since 2011, more minority children are being born in U.S. households. As a result of this growing trend, we must look at the disparities within the education system which are having implications for schools across the country. Once thriving communities are seeing population shifts with students coming from inner-city, urban areas as well as stude... more »

NEA Mourns for Oklahoma in Wake of Tornado Tragedy | NEA Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

NEA Mourns for Oklahoma in Wake of Tornado Tragedy | NEA Today: NEA Mourns for Oklahoma in Wake of Tornado Tragedy by clong *By Edward Graham* A massive tornado ripped through Oklahoma yesterday afternoon, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds more as it carved a 22-mile long path of destruction across parts of southern Oklahoma City and its surrounding suburbs. Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, on May 20. In the city of Moore, the almost two-mile wide twister heavily damaged Briarwood ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The real Civil Rights Movement

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The real Civil Rights Movement: The real Civil Rights Movement by Mike Klonsky Heroics in OK Hardest thing to watch was the news coming out of OK this morning. Total devastation of two elementary schools with terrified children, some of whom died. What caught my attention were stories of teachers covering students with their own bodies. At least one gave up her own life doing so. Other acts of selfless humanism by regular people before and after the tornado, people who see and feel disaster for what it is -- not as "an opportunity." Not news to mos... more »

UPDATE: Springfield stand-off. + “Just laying my body on top of as many kids as I could.” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

“Just laying my body on top of as many kids as I could.” What kind of person would actually vote to put children in a Danger Zone? | Fred Klonsky: Why I love teachers and am proud to call myself one. by Fred Klonsky Why I love teachers and am proud to call myself one: *“Briarwood, where the teachers put their bodies over the children and told them to hold their backpacks over their heads—mini-rooftops. At AgapeLand Learning Center, according to the Times, teachers “hustled some 15 children into two bathrooms, draping them with a protective covering.” The roof of was blown off, and... more »

School Closure Opponents Arrested at City Hall Demonstration Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: * School Closure Opponents Arrested at City Hall Demonstration* *Several demonstrators blocked elevators in loop protest* By Mary Ann Ahern and BJ Lutz| Monday, May 20, 2013 View more videos at:http://nbcchicago.com. The Chicago Board of Education is expected to vote Wednesday on the planned closure of more than 50 schools. Mary Ann Ahern reports. Roughly two dozen protesters were arrested Monday afternoon during a demonstration at City Hall aimed at preventing the planned closure of more than 50 Chicago schools. T... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, May 21, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *California won't try again for No Child Left Behind waiver* Education Headlines *Tuesday, May 21, 2013* Frey: May budget revise offers funding reprieve to some Regional Occupational CentersSome California Regional Occupational Centers – the primary providers of career technical education for high school students in the state – have been given a reprieve from Gov. Jerry Brown’s original plan to eliminate any future dedicated funding for them. New form of discipline aims to keep students in schoolIn the Newport-Mesa Unified School... more »

UPDATE: Civil Rights Lawyers Sign Open Letter to Stop Chicago Schools Closure and Privatization Scheme – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Civil Rights Lawyers Sign Open Letter to Stop Chicago Schools Closure and Privatization Scheme – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Being Jeb...a pretend interview. by Chalk Face, PhD Reblogged from Blue Hat Movement: Hi, my name is Charlie and I want to present to you a scenario. For the sake of explaining a portion of what is happening to our public schools, I am going to perform a little magic and transport you to a world where I am Jeb Bush. But first, […] Sent by Jon Lubar, a few words on chronic absenteeism by Chalk Face, PhD I invited a guest speaker to come into one... more »

LA and the Recovery School District approach (SB1718): A P.T. Barnum Circus | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

LA and the Recovery School District approach (SB1718): A P.T. Barnum Circus | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: LA and the Recovery School District approach (SB1718): A P.T. Barnum Circus by crazycrawfish Reblogged from Cloaking Inequity: [image: Click to visit the original post] - [image: Click to visit the original post] - [image: Click to visit the original post] - [image: Click to visit the original post] I suspect P.T. Barnum would be proud of the showmanship eminating from Louisiana— an educational policy circus. The Recovery School District has been acclaimed as *“a game ch... more »

Why ability grouping in schools is a mistake

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Why ability grouping in schools is a mistake: Why ability grouping in schools is a mistake By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 21, 2013 at 10:00 amE-mail the writer [image: groupings-300x127]Many elementary schools to create ability-group classrooms in an attempt to better prepare kids to meet the Common Core State Standards. In the following post, Joanne Yatvin explains why this is a problem. She is a past president of the National Council of Teachers of English and now she supervises student teachers for Portland State University and writes books for teachers. By Joanne Yatvin Over... more »

Modern School: The Real STEM Crisis

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Modern School: The Real STEM Crisis: The Real STEM Crisis by Michael Dunn Contrary to the hysteria being whipped up by President Obama, Congressional leaders and the media, there is no shortage of competent Science, Technology, Engineer or math (STEM) graduates. There is, however, a crisis in funding of STEM research—a crisis that is causing record numbers of young scientists to lose funding and their jobs, while preventing many more from obtaining jobs in the first place. Declining research funding at the University of California system, for example, has prompted several UCLA ne... more »

Bad to Good and Good to Great - Bridging Differences - Education Week

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Bad to Good and Good to Great - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Bad to Good and Good to Great by Deborah Meier *Michael J. Petrilli writes to Deborah Meier once again today.* Dear Deborah, I want to say more about a topic that interests us both: How to create an accountability system that empowers excellent educators to create top-notch schools while ensuring a basic level of quality for everyone. It's a real dilemma, because what might work in a hothouse setting (especially lots of professional autonomy) has tended to disappoint when taken to scale. That's not easy for me t... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: A Clinical Psychologist's Concerns With Student Data Gathering

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: A Clinical Psychologist's Concerns With Student Data Gathering: A Clinical Psychologist's Concerns With Student Data Gathering by Anngie Last week during the House Education Committee hearing on SB210 Representative Margo McNeil asked witness Gretchen Logue what she was so worried about with the data gathering. Specifically she asked, "What is your worst case scenario with the data gathering?" Perhaps this article, written by a clinical psychologist, can offer a perspective on the dangers of gathering individual student data that Rep. McNeil could not... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Scandal Deepens in Louisiana: Will Anyone Investigate? by dianerav Tom Aswell, investigator journalist and blogger, is covering and uncovering evidence of fraud in the Louisiana Course Choice program. Hundreds of students were somehow registered for online courses without the knowledge of the students or their parents. How did this happen? This would mean a massive transfer of funds from Louisiana taxpayers to online Michigan’s Bad Ideas, In Step with Race to... more »

Louisiana Educator: The Unlimited Threat of Vouchers and Course Choice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Louisiana Educator: The Unlimited Threat of Vouchers and Course Choice: The Unlimited Threat of Vouchers and Course Choice by Michael Deshotels From yesterday's disastrous Oklahoma tornadoes: *“We had to pull a car out of the hallway that was on top of a teacher. She had three little children under her. Good job teach!”* This is a direct quote from one of the rescue workers about a teacher and her students caught in a school hit by one of the devastating Oklahoma tornadoes yesterday. It brings tears of pride to my eyes every time I read it. Just another example of the spontaneous... more »

It’s time to fix school discipline practices and policies | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

It’s time to fix school discipline practices and policies | EdSource Today: It’s time to fix school discipline practices and policies - by Sarah Omojola / commentary by Sarah Omojola / commentary *Fix School Discipline* All students can learn. That’s a simple but profound starting place for talking about changing school discipline policies. As a former teacher in New Orleans public schools, I am well aware of the difficulty of teaching students who have varying backgrounds, abilities and learning styles in an ever-changing school system, inundated with countless internal and exter... more »