Tuesday, May 7, 2013

UPDATE: Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 5-7-13 AM Posts #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



National Teacher Day, May 7, 2013

Wall Street Loves National Charter Schools Week (Big Profits)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools: *Welcome to National Charter Schools Week* Wall Street ♥ charter schools | Muckety - See the news Wall Street ♥ charter schools | Muckety - See the news: Wall Street ♥ charter schoolsBy Laurie Bennett May 5, 2013 at 9:37am [image: Beware of AstroTurf Ed Reformers] Call them cynical, but the widespread involvement of financial firms in the charter school movement raises suspicion among many public school advocates. The map below illustrates just a few entanglements of big league investors in national school-choice organizations. View l... more »

“I Would Prefer Not To”: A Call for Non-Cooperation – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
“I Would Prefer Not To”: A Call for Non-Cooperation – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: “I Would Prefer Not To”: A Call for Non-Cooperation by plthomasedd Writing about a call for a moratorium on implementing and testing Common Core State Standards (CCSS) from union leadership, Anthony Cody ends his blog post with three questions: What do you think? Should we join Randi Weingarten in pushing for one year’s delay in the harsh consequences attached to Common Core assessments? Will this year put the project on sound footing? These questions about CCSS have been joined by two ... more »

Douglas County, CO, we’re worried about you. – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Douglas County, CO, we’re worried about you. – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Douglas County, CO, we’re worried about you. by Chalk Face, PhD [image: Here, we have a Douglas County student climbing into a large cigarette box.] Here, we have a Douglas County student climbing into a large cigarette box. We have many friends in Colorado. Douglas County, a very conservative part of the state, keeps coming up in terms of propagating the worst corporatized education reforms have to offer. We have a document here from the District that discusses Reinventing American Education base... more »

UPDATE: Support our union + IFT on the pension deal. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
IFT on the pension deal. | Fred Klonsky: The in box. Hais says, “Support our union.” I do. by Fred Klonsky Dear Fred (and the IRTA) Fred I have a lot of respect for you and your willingness to challenge …. I understand the IRTA disappointment at not being at the table but they are not a union, they did not want to play the part of a union. I’m sorry they feel slighted. I believe with all my heart that the IEA leadership “did the right thing”. Negotiations is the way to solve these things. “Just Say No” is just not a viable option – except to be run over. Because it is a negotiated ... more »

Modern School: Child Urged to Take Exam From Hospital Bed

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Modern School: Child Urged to Take Exam From Hospital Bed: Child Urged to Take Exam From Hospital Bed by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons In a recent post I pointed out the absurdity of the California Democratic Party’s criticism of the education reform movement because of its commodification of children. As vulgar and impersonal as it may seem to sensitive, liberal ears, in purely economic and political terms students have always been commodified as a consequence of schools’ function in preparing them for their roles as future workers. While the ed reformers have succee... more »

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! XOXO Walmart | EduShyster

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! XOXO Walmart | EduShyster: Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! XOXO Walmart by edushyster2012 Imagine that you are possessed of the surname “Walton” and happen to be sitting on mad coin—say a cool $90 billion. How do you celebrate the occasion that is Teacher Appreciation Day? Do you chip in to give the nation’s teachers a raise, knowing they’ve been hard hit by the recession? Do you send them gift cards to Walmart, the store that hath so enrichethed you? If you are a teacher in Massachusetts, the Waltons have an extra special treat in store for you: a f... more »

Tuesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Tuesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Whole Child Virtual Conference]Tuesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference May 7, 2013 by Whole Child Virtual Conference We invite you to participate in ASCD's third annual Whole Child Virtual Conference. Entitled "Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture," sessions will offer educators around the globe leadership discussions and strategies to support their work to implement and sustain a whole child approach to education. *Change: Making it Happen in Your School and ... more »

To Close the "Opportunity Gap," We Need to Close the Vocabulary Gap - Bridging Differences - Education Week

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
To Close the "Opportunity Gap," We Need to Close the Vocabulary Gap - Bridging Differences - Education Week: To Close the "Opportunity Gap," We Need to Close the Vocabulary Gap by Deborah Meier *Today, Michael J. Petrilli, the executive vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, joins Deborah Meier. He will blog with her for the next month.* Dear Deborah, [image: Petrilli_Blog100 (2).jpg]Thanks for inviting me to join you on your blog. Even though we disagree on many issues, I have great respect for you and the work you've done in your career. As I write this, I'm returning ... more »

Obama, defying political base, declares National Charter Schools Week | Strange Bedfellows — Politics News - seattlepi.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Obama, defying political base, declares National Charter Schools Week | Strange Bedfellows — Politics News - seattlepi.com: Obama, defying political base, declares National Charter Schools Week [image: Beware of AstroTurf Ed Reformers (click picture)] President Obama has proclaimed this as “National Charter Schools Week” in the United States, warmly embracing a cause that is anathema to teachers unions as it is in much of the president’s liberal base in this Washington. The president, in praising charter schools, seemed to note the atrophy of the public school system, particularly ... more »

Department Of Education 'Comes Out' On College Aid For Students Of Gay Parents - Forbes

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Department Of Education 'Comes Out' On College Aid For Students Of Gay Parents - Forbes: Department Of Education 'Comes Out' On College Aid For Students Of Gay Parents Comment Now Follow Comments The US Department of Education “came out” last week with changes to its Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that are clearly aimed at the LGBT community. The changes serve more to Students of Gay Parents Can Now List Both Parent's Incomes on the FAFSA College Aid Application; (Mother 1 and Mother 2 or Father 1 and Father 2) recognize this community than to produce results in... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | #thankateacher A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: * #thankateacher* Ripping Off Taxpayers in Pennsylvania by dianerav A new report from the state auditor general shows how charters and cyber charters are overpaid, while the public system–which most children attend–get the short end of the stick. “PA cybercharters avg cost of $10,145 was $3,500 more than national average of $6,500. “PA charters spent avg $13,411 per student, about $3K more than Why VAM Doesn’t Work: A Short Tutorial by dianerav In this video of 23 minutes, you will get a synopsis of why value-a... more »

Glen Brown asks, “What about that pension agreement between the We Are One Illinois Coalition and Senate President Cullerton?” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Glen Brown asks, “What about that pension agreement between the We Are One Illinois Coalition and Senate President Cullerton?” | Fred Klonsky: Glen Brown asks, “What about that pension agreement between the We Are One Illinois Coalition and Senate President Cullerton?” by Fred Klonsky [image: Springfield cropped]*Glen Brown.* Contracts supported by consideration are often one-sided, advantageous arrangements. In Illinois, any agreement with the General Assembly regarding a “guaranteed” funding to the pension systems, for example, may not be a “valid” consideration for public employe... more »

Louisiana Educator: Great News From the Legislature

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Louisiana Educator: Great News From the Legislature: Great News From the Legislature by Michael Deshotels A couple of weeks ago I got a comment to my blog from a teacher who in effect said that she appreciated the support the education profession was getting from this blog, but she said it was a bit depressing to always see so much bad news about education in Louisiana. I responded that when there was good news I would be happy to report it. Well here it is. *Good news for a change!* Yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives voted 102 to 0 to approve HB 160 by Rep. Reyno... more »

The Neglected Purpose of Education | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
The Neglected Purpose of Education | toteachornototeach: The Neglected Purpose of Education by aristotlethewise *The Neglected Purpose of Education* by Jack Jennings *“To prepare all citizens to become responsible members of a democratic society”* “To develop socialization and citizenship skills in children” *“Preparing students for responsible, productive citizenship and imbuing them with values common to one democratic society”* These similar phrases were developed by diverse groups of citizens in three communities — Berwyn, Illinois; Chicago; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, respec... more »

Summer enrichment programs prove their value | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Summer enrichment programs prove their value | EdSource Today: Summer enrichment programs prove their value - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald The organizers of a statewide campaign to encourage school districts to offer quality summer enrichment programs have documented gains in learning and growth in social skills that they anticipated would benefit low-income, minority students in their programs. Through its Summer Matters initiative in a dozen communities, the Partnership for Children and Youth has promoted full-day programs that are more like summer camp than tradition... more »

Actually, Failing Our Children Is What’s Unflippingbelieveable « MomsRising Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Actually, Failing Our Children Is What’s Unflippingbelieveable « MomsRising Blog: Actually, Failing Our Children Is What’s Unflippingbelieveable by Bruce Lesley A few weeks ago, Melissa Harris-Perry appeared in a “Lean Forward” promotional ad for MSNBC and said: We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we’ve always had kind of a private notion of children: Your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven’t had a very collective notion of these are our children. So part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that ... more »

Leave no unwealthy child behind

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Leave no unwealthy child behind: Leave no unwealthy child behind Posted by Valerie Strauss on May 7, 2013 at 4:00 am 5 Comments More [image: unequal]How does growing economic inequality affect student achievement? Here to discuss it is Mike Rose, a highly respected professor at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and author of several books. His latest book is “Back to School: Why Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Education. By Mike Rose Stanford sociologist Sean Reardon wrote an important opinion piece for The New York Times last week, “No Rich Child Le... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: On the removal of Principal Zoila Garcia from Whittier Dual Language School

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: On the removal of Principal Zoila Garcia from Whittier Dual Language School: On the removal of Principal Zoila Garcia from Whittier Dual Language School by Mike Klonsky Parents, teachers, and community members meet to protest the removal Principal Garcia. (Photo: Un-Official Whittier Dual Language School)To the extended Whittier Dual Language School Family Whittier Dual Language School, under the direction of Zoila Garcia, was visited before she was abruptly removed by PLV Network Chief Steve Zrike, with no input from the LSC or Whittier School Commu... more »

National Teacher Day: Instead of coffee mug or flowers,... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
National Teacher Day: Instead of coffee mug or flowers,... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: National Teacher Day: Instead of coffee mug or flowers, teachers want trust By Maureen Downey I have been inundated with statements and releases on National Teacher Day, which is today. I thought this poll was the most interesting of the stuff sent to me. This is from the National Education Association: As part of this year’s celebration, the National Education Association conducted an online poll, asking teachers, “What do you want for National Teacher Day?” Nearly 1,000 ed... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 5-6-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* 'Ted Talks Education': A Sneak Peek of Tonight's Television Debut by Emily Richmond TED Talks makes its first foray into television tonight, and the decision to focus on public schools wasn’t a tough call, said Chris Anderson, curator of the nonprofit organization that built its niche showcasing inspirational speakers in a variety of live and online formats. “Re-imagining education is a topic we love at TED because we think figuring it out will be the key to a more hopeful future,” Anderson said. Co-spons... more »

Navy Steals: The Military’s New Interest in STEM Education | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Navy Steals: The Military’s New Interest in STEM Education | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Navy Steals: The Military’s New Interest in STEM Education by Danny Weil [image: skeleton]Here is a nice piece of news about the military, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education that the Obama Department of Education and its kitchen-cabinet, The Lumina Foundation have been pushing for some years. The military industrial complex have been marketing themselves to the little seven and eight year olds for years. http://comdsd.org/arti... more »

On the need for unions and seniority | InterACT

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
On the need for unions and seniority | InterACT: On the need for unions and seniority by David B. Cohen *This blog post was originally composed as a response to a comment by Kelly Amis, but as the post grew, I figured it could hold its own as a blog post.* Thanks for continuing the dialogue, Kelly. I like a good back-and-forth with people who push my thinking. You wrote: “I’m pro-union (for jobs in which people are nearly powerless and easily replaced, like farm or factory workers, I’m just not sure it is helping teaching as a profession).” Regarding unions, I think it’s not only ... more »

Ed Notes Online: NYCDOE Charter Hits Keep Coming on PAVE Favoratism as DOE to Hold Hearing But Won't Tell Anyone Details

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: NYCDOE Charter Hits Keep Coming on PAVE Favoratism as DOE to Hold Hearing But Won't Tell Anyone Details: NYCDOE Charter Hits Keep Coming on PAVE Favoratism as DOE to Hold Hearing But Won't Tell Anyone Details by ed notes online Please note that if you would like the specific amendment to PAVE’s charter, please file a FOIL request with the DOE’s Records Officer. .... Sonia Park, NYC DOE Charter Schools Accountability & Support, 212.374.6883 The hearing is today. Another Tweedie perpetrating another outrage unreported by the semi-useless NYC Press corps. Remembe...more »

The Tennessean’s Inaccurate Editorial | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
The Tennessean’s Inaccurate Editorial | Truth in American Education: The Tennessean’s Inaccurate Editorial by Shane Vander Hart [image: tennessee state capitol]The editorial board at *The Tennessean* clucks it tongue at parents and citizens who recently showed up to protest the Common Core State Standards being implemented in their state in an editorial yesterday. Apparently Tennessee legislators, parents and citizens are to blindly accept as fact the talking points circulated by those who advocate for the Common Core. They editorial board asks “where have they (the opposition) bee... more »

Buena Vista Michigan Teachers Agree To Work For Free As District Goes Broke

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Buena Vista Michigan Teachers Agree To Work For Free As District Goes Broke: Buena Vista Michigan Teachers Agree To Work For Free As District Goes Broke by Joy Resmovits [image: Buena Vista Michigan] A small school district in Michigan has run out of money to pay its teachers. But the school year isn't over until June 23. The Buena Vista Education Association convened most of its 27 teachers on Monday for what some described as an emotional meeting. They voted to continue teaching, despite learning on Friday that the school district would be unable to pay their salaries starting... more »

Torlakson Notes Contribution of Teachers - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Torlakson Notes Contribution of Teachers - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Notes Contribution of Teachers SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson urged Californians to honor teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week on May 5-11, National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 7, and California Day of the Teacher on May 8. California's Day of the Teacher theme this year is "California Teachers: Honoring our past. Guiding the future." "I believed it when I started my career as an educator, and I'm even more certain ... more »

Major Bill Actions in Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Educational technology and distance education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: Bill Introduced: H.R.1617 Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Educational technology and distance education - 12 minutes ago To create an emergency jobs program that will fund 2,242,000 positions during fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Bill Introduced: H.R.1802 Sandra Day O'Connor Civic Learning Act of 2013 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 3 hours ago To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to promote civic ... more »

Arkansas Governor Approves Whole Child Legislation! — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Arkansas Governor Approves Whole Child Legislation! — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Melissa Mellor]Arkansas Governor Approves Whole Child Legislation! May 6, 2013 by Melissa Mellor Arkansas Governor Michael Beebe signed a new bill into law that promotes a whole child approach to educating the state's children. The legislation (PDF) establishes a Whole Child Whole Community recognition program and aims to measure the comprehensive well-being of children and how well stakeholders are meeting their needs according to the five whole child tenets (healthy, safe, en... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-6-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Egg on Faces of Bobby Jindal and John White by dianerav My, how things change in only one year. Last year, Governot Jindal rushed through his legislation to strip teachers of tenure, base 40% of their evaluation on test scores, make all teachers at-will employees, subject to dismissal with one bad rating, and everything else that Jindal and White could dream up to make it hard on teachers. When challenged in court, the law was declared unconstitutional because it covered too Why Carol Burris Is Disappointed b... more »

NYC Educator: Was Cathie Black a Victim of Sexism?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
NYC Educator: Was Cathie Black a Victim of Sexism?: Was Cathie Black a Victim of Sexism? by NYC Educator With the release of the Cathie Black emails, I'm reading a lot of speculation on how attacks against her were sexist. After all, she is a woman. We didn't know a whole lot more about her at the time of her nomination, other than the fact she had virtually no educational experience, a big plus for Mayor Bloombucks, who apparently met her at the Rich Folks Galas they sipped champagne at. And yet, many spoke of what a brilliant choice it was at the time. Well, hindsight is 20/20, ... more »

Search Delayed for New Memphis Superintendent Until Dirty Work Wrapped Up – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Search Delayed for New Memphis Superintendent Until Dirty Work Wrapped Up – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Search Delayed for New Memphis Superintendent Until Dirty Work Wrapped Up by Jim Horn *Broad Academy Graduates* All the pieces were in place for the installation of Eli Broad’s choice for the new Shelby County/Memphis superintendent when suddenly someone in the office of the search firm, PROACT, called a time out. Over the next few months, there is plenty of dirty work to be done, and no one at PROACT wants their new Broadie tainted by the anti-public and anti-teach... more »

Bridging Campus and Classroom Divides: The Mutual Benefits of Partnerships | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Bridging Campus and Classroom Divides: The Mutual Benefits of Partnerships | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Bridging Campus and Classroom Divides: The Mutual Benefits of Partnerships by American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education *By Sharon P. Robinson, Ed.D., President and CEO of the **American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education** (AACTE)* AACTE's recent report *The Changing Teacher Preparation Profession: A Report From AACTE's Professional Education Data System (PEDS)* tells of the rapidly shifting work of preparing U.S. teachers. The rep... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Rules - Public Input

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Rules - Public Input: Charter Rules - Public Input by Melissa Westbrook *Wall Street ♥ charter schools | Muckety - See the news* Here are the documents that school districts will use regarding charter school applications. One is a letter of instructions. Another is an application (I-V). Still another is a statement of assurances. This one had one thing that I hadn't really seen before - that districts not only have to solicit applications for *new *charter schools but for *conversion* ones as well. To me, any district that says "hey we ... more »

Student Study: An Inquiry on Teacher Strikes – Kush Mukerjee Student Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Student Voice: Student Study: An Inquiry on Teacher Strikes – Kush Mukerjee by Editor Admin *Introducing the Student Study! Student Studies are extended blog posts written by students on a variety of different education related topics, all using a scholarly format. They’re longer pieces, so if you have the time, sit down, give it a read, and appreciate the keen insights of one of today’s students. * In my experience, teacher strikes are ineffective and prolonged. In my senior year of high school, the teachers union had all of the teachers strike against the Board of Education in ... more »

Randi Weingarten to speak at YUC awards ceremony | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Randi Weingarten to speak at YUC awards ceremony | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Randi Weingarten to speak at YUC awards ceremony by Wendy Harris Youth United for Change will hold its 22nd Annual Award Ceremony and reception on Tuesday, May 7. The theme for this year’s event is “Defending Public Education.” American Federation of Teacher’s President Randi Weingarten will be the keynote speaker. Weingarten, a union leader, has advocated for partnerships with parents and students around reforms that improve public school education nationwide. In March, she joined hundreds of... more »

It’s a d*am shame. (Just a rant about STPP and whatnot) | Cooperative Catalyst

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
It’s a d*am shame. (Just a rant about STPP and whatnot) | Cooperative Catalyst: It’s a d*am shame. (Just a rant about STPP and whatnot) by Jabreel Chisley The United States will criminalize itself off a cliff at the pace it is working to institutionalize this nation’s youth. It makes no sense that over 10 million youth are rotting away in this nation’s jails and prisons when half of them do petty crimes that can be addressed with conflict mediation or restorative justice. It is unfathomable that such depravity can exist, especially when it is wrapped in context with racism and c... more »

Testing creating crisis in student mental health Parents United for Responsible Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Testing creating crisis in student mental health: PSAT for 5-7-13: Say no to 36! by admin When it come to class size, research shows that less really is more. [image: psat_logo]Raise Your Hand Illinois came to prominence in the spring of 2010 with their “Say No to 37″ campaign, a protest against CPS plans to balance the budget by raising class size. Now RYH is sponsoring a petition against the Chicago Public Schools space utilization formula used to declare dozens of schools “underutilized” and therefore in danger of closure ... more »

Shanker Blog » About Value-Added And "Junk Science"

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Shanker Blog » About Value-Added And "Junk Science": About Value-Added And “Junk Science” by Matthew Di Carlo One can often hear opponents of value-added referring to these methods as “junk science.” The term is meant to express the argument that value-added is unreliable and/or invalid, and that its scientific “façade” is without merit. Now, I personally am not opposed to using these estimates in evaluations and other personnel policies, but I certainly understand opponents’ skepticism. For one thing, there are some states and districts in which design and implementation has bee... more »

Will a Year's Delay Save the Common Core? A Response to Weingarten's Proposal - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Will a Year's Delay Save the Common Core? A Response to Weingarten's Proposal - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Will a Year's Delay Save the Common Core? A Response to Weingarten's Proposal by Anthony Cody A week ago, Randi Weingarten gave a speech expressing some strong views on the Common Core. Her plea is that leaders across the country give schools a one year reprieve before the harsh consequences attached to new assessments linked to the Common Core begin to take effect. She also shared the results of a poll that shows that most teachers WANT the standards to s... more »

Mother Crusader: My 52 Views on High-Stakes Tests

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Mother Crusader: My 52 Views on High-Stakes Tests: My 52 Views on High-Stakes Tests by darciecima *WE ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, AMERICA!!!!* Today marks the second week of NJASK testing here in New Jersey. Grades 5 and 6 began testing this morning, and make-ups are being conducted for 7th and 8th graders that weren't tested last week. Last week parents were told that if they insisted on opting out their child's test would be scored a zero and their child would be placed in remedial classes next year. Reports are coming in today that students are being forced to sit th... more »

The “Dirty Dozen” Ways Charter Schools Influence Student Enrollment - Jonathan Kantrowitz

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
The “Dirty Dozen” Ways Charter Schools Influence Student Enrollment - Jonathan Kantrowitz: A a moratorium on the stakes associated with Common Core assessments? by Jonathan Kantrowitz American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has called for a moratorium on the stakes associated with Common Core assessments until the standards are properly implemented and field-tested. Weingarten said a moratorium is necessary on the consequences of high-stakes tests to allow for midcourse corrections, as needed, in aligning the standards, curriculum, teacher training, instruction ... more »

UPDATE: PWCS Inflating Construction Costs? + School Board Report – April 3, 2013 | PWC Education Reform Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
School Board Report – April 3, 2013 | PWC Education Reform Blog: Is PWCS Inflating Construction Costs? by pwceducationreform Loudoun County awarded a bid to build their next high school for $64 million. Stafford County awarded a bid to build their next high school for $59 million. PWCS projects that it will cost $100 million, excluding the pool, to build their next high school. The schools will house approximately the same number of students [...] School Board Report – April 3, 2013 by pwceducationreform School Board Report for April 3, 2013. All members were present. *Consen... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Two Events to Note

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Two Events to Note: Two Events to Note by Melissa Westbrook Both events are on Wednesday, May 15th. One is the *Seattle Foundation's Give Big day*, the one-day online event to prod/inspire people to give to one (or more) of 1400 non-profits. It goes from midnight to midnight. Seattle Foundation then gives "*a pro-rated portion of the matching funds. The amount of the "stretch" depends on the size of the stretch pool and how much is raised over the day."* Last year's total? $7.43M. That's big. If you are going to give, make it go farther. ... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, May 6, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Wall Street ♥ charter schools | Muckety - See the news* Education Headlines *Monday, May 6, 2013* Suspensions drop sharply in Stockton USDThe use of suspensions as a form of discipline is under scrutiny in the state Assembly, and Stockton Unified changed some of its conduct codes in 2011, taking suspensions off the table in many nonviolent situations where a student shows "defiance" to staff. Schools lose $$Tuolumne and Calaveras county schools lost out this spring on more than $1 million in funding for after-school programs. Boa... more »

UPDATE: warped mind of Dr. Dan Paterno + Interview with myself. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Interview with myself. | Fred Klonsky: Interview with myself. by Fred Klonsky [image: 296388_10150464425422067_1751428610_n] Q: What’s your prediction? A: Miami Heat in four. Q: No. About the pension vote in the Illinois General Assembly. A: I remain convinced that the two chambers will not be able to agree on anything major this session. Unless… Q: Unless what? A: Unless they do. And if they do, it will go to court. Q: Madigan says he has four votes on the court. A: Madigan’s bluffing. Unless… Q: Unless what? A: Unless he’s not. The Illinois Supreme Court is elected and is a supremely... more »

Vallas “no bid” special education software deal in Bridgeport continues to be a disaster - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Vallas “no bid” special education software deal in Bridgeport continues to be a disaster - Wait, What?: Vallas “no bid” special education software deal in Bridgeport continues to be a disaster by jonpelto It was one of the first non-bid contracts that Bridgeport’s “Superintendent of Schools,” Paul Vallas pushed through. Using a half-baked “sole-source” rationale, Vallas hired a company that he had worked with in Chicago and Philadelphia without using any bidding process. The contract promised Bridgeport a state-of-the-art special education software program “for free,” as long as ... more »

The Opt Out Update: Student Walkout in Denver, New York parents suing the state and much, much more. | Seattle Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The Opt Out Update: Student Walkout in Denver, New York parents suing the state and much, much more. | Seattle Education: The Opt Out Update: Student Walkout in Denver, New York parents suing the state and much, much more. by seattleducation2011 First up, the students speak up. From *Students4OurSchools:* *On May 10th, we the students will be standing up for our education. We advocate for an authentic education where we are evaluated by portfolios, self-directed projects and self-written evaluations. We will also be asking for a passion-driven curriculum. * *We encourage student...more »

Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Alonso Announces Retirement | Re:education in Baltimore

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Alonso Announces Retirement | Re:education in Baltimore: Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Alonso Announces Retirement by Edit Barry From my inbox: Monday, May 6, 2013 Dear City Schools Partners and Friends, I am writing to you today to let you know that at the end of the current school year, I will retire and leave Baltimore City Public Schools and this great city to return to my home in New Jersey to care for my aging parents and begin an academic position at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It has not been an easy decision, because wh... more »

UPDATE: Honoring Veteran Teachers Inducted into the Hall of Fame + Celebrating Our Nation’s Teachers | ED.gov Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Celebrating and Listening to Our Nation’s Teachers | ED.gov Blog: Honoring Veteran Teachers Inducted into the Hall of Fame Posted on May 6, 2013 by Laurie Calvert Although Teacher Appreciation Week begins today, officials at the Department of Education started celebrating early by honoring the five experienced teachers who were inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame last Friday. [image: Teacher Hall of Fame] Secretary Duncan spoke at a ceremony honoring teachers inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame last week. The teachers were also invited to ED to talk about edu... more »

Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week | NEA Today #thankateacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week | NEA Today: Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week by twalker *By Anita Merina* It’s *Teacher Appreciation Week *and around the country thousands of communities are taking time out to honor local educators and acknowledge the crucial role our nation’s teachers play in making sure every student receives a quality education. NEA Board members took to Capitol Hill last week to ask members of Congress last Thursday to support and co-sponsor Senate Resolution 126 and House Resolution 167 recognizing National Teacher Appreciation Week and Tuesday, M... more »












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