Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-16-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

S.897: Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago

S.897: Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: *S.897 - Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act* 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 be... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Skandera in NM

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago

Jersey Jazzman: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Skandera in NM: Latest "Chiefs For Change" Fail: Skandera in NM by Duke *I always told the boys: "Don't waste your beautiful mind with pesky details like the law!"* Jeb! Bush's "Chiefs For Change" are a group of state-level education chiefs that few educators, administrators, parents or public officials seem to like or trust. The reaction to their autocratic, reformy ways is a pretty good barometer of how the corporate reform movement is being received. Thus, a new series here at the Jazzman: *"Chiefs For Change" Fail*. Let's begin... more »

NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education: *NPE News Briefs* 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 112 Next » Sea to Shining Sea | Yinzercation MAY 16 2013 Did you know that we organized Sunday’s Rolling Rally here in Pittsburgh to coincide with public education actions all over the United States? Starting tomorrow with an information picket line and student walkout in Philadelphia and running for six straight days there will be major actions in cities from coast to coast. Local organizers designed ... read more → **Activism · Parent Issues · Pennsylvania · Student Issues · Teacher Issues... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: If this is the 'civil rights issue of our time,' who's who?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: If this is the 'civil rights issue of our time,' who's who?: If this is the 'civil rights issue of our time,' who's who? by Mike Klonsky In this Oct. 15, 1957 file photo, seven of nine black students walk onto the campus of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., with a National Guard officer as an escort as other troops watch. (AP Photo, Fred Kaufman, File)Education is the civil rights issue of our time. At least that's what the school reformers like to say. The phrase has been repeated so often by the likes of Secretary Duncan, *Michelle Rhee*, *J... more »

Bobby Jindal, the Seabaugh Solution and MFP | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Bobby Jindal, the Seabaugh Solution and MFP | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Bobby Jindal, the Seabaugh Solution and MFP by crazycrawfish [image: Now showing! Courtesy of John White's Department of Education] When I first heard about the “Seabaugh Solution,” a term John White invented to describe a request by legislator Alan Seabaugh to rig the entire teacher evaluation system to favor three teachers that taught at his daughter’s school in Shreveport, something didn’t quite make sense to me. Why would John White risk everything to do something he knew was wrong and probably illegal and un... more »

Kids in High-Poverty Communities: 5 Ways It Affects Us All — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Kids in High-Poverty Communities: 5 Ways It Affects Us All — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Kids in High-Poverty Communities: 5 Ways It Affects Us All May 16, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *Post written by Laura Speer, associate director for Policy Reform and Data at the Annie E. Casey Foundation* Success should be in the grasp of all children, no matter where they live. However, the opportunities available to children based on their neighborhood vary dramatically across the United States. For the 8 million U.S. children living in ... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-16-13 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: *Diane stands on her head for Public Ed* Can Machines Grade Essays? Should They? by dianerav I posted earlier today about a new Xerox machine that is being marketed to “read” and grade student essays. Not to score bubble tests, but to grade essays. Granted, this is not a new idea. There are now different companies selling machines to grade student writing. I have seen demonstrations of this technology, and I can’t shake the feeling that this is not right. Why? I am not opposed to technology. But here is the nub... more »

Does Better Recess Equal a Better School Day? — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Does Better Recess Equal a Better School Day? — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Does Better Recess Equal a Better School Day? May 16, 2013 by Klea Scharberg In a new study released Tuesday, Mathematica Policy Research and the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities at Stanford University rigorously evaluated the Playworks program and found that it improved outcomes in the areas of school climate, conflict resolution and aggression, physical activity, and learning and academic performance. Playworks, a whole child partner organization,... more »

Ed Notes Online: Closing Schools: 3 Day March in Chicago Plus Lee Sustar Analysis

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Closing Schools: 3 Day March in Chicago Plus Lee Sustar Analysis: Closing Schools: 3 Day March in Chicago Plus Lee Sustar Analysis by ed notes online Above, left to right, Al Ramirez, CORE co-chairman, Kristine Mayle, CTU Financial Secretary, Karen Lewis, CTU Preisdent, Michael Brunson, CTU Recording Secretary, Jesse Sharkey, CTU Vice President, and Nate Goldbaum, CORE co-chair. Substance photo by Howard Heath.Three years ago at this time all these guys were teaching. I really think it takes being in the classroom during the ed deform movement to get people to a st... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Had enough of testing? Have your child boycott the upcoming field tests!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Had enough of testing? Have your child boycott the upcoming field tests!: Had enough of testing? Have your child boycott the upcoming field tests! by Leonie Haimson *From Changes the Stakes :* ** Did you think our children were done with this year’s state tests? Next month most schools are scheduled to administer “field tests” to one or two grades in English Language Arts (ELA) or math. See if your child's grade and school is on the list of field tests here. Field tests are used by Pearson, the state’s test maker, to "try out" new questions for future... more »

UPDATE: Hey Legislature - Do Your Jobs! Seattle Schools Community Forum: Finnish Education Leader Offers Some Observations

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Finnish Education Leader Offers Some Observations on Ed Reform: Hey Legislature - Do Your Jobs! Kids are Waiting by Melissa Westbrook That's the basic message from the Washington State PTA and they - are - right. Special Session? Why? It is now costing money to have the session AND costing time. And just like our school districts have discovered, the Legislature knows that parents are ponying up money and time because they won't let their school communities down. *E-mail your legislator today. * I note that many Legislative watchers are seeing... more »

UPDATE: more Connecticut taxpayer money to out-of-state “education reform” consultants + $1 million in public funds for Bridgeport BOE Chair’s family - without a vote - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

$1 million in public funds for Bridgeport BOE Chair’s family - without a vote - Wait, What?: Oh look, there goes more Connecticut taxpayer money to out-of-state “education reform” consultants by jonpelto Eighteen months ago, on January 5, 2012, Governor Malloy’s sponsored an Education Reform Workshop at Central Connecticut State University. During the first breakout session there was a panel discussion focused on the issue of “Low-Performing Schools and Districts.” The panel was moderated by Justin Cohen, President of the School Turnaround Group at Mass Insight Education com... more »

ACTION ALERT: Big Education Ape: "Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" Sacramento City Unified School District

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Big Education Ape: "Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" Sacramento City Unified School District: Dear SCUSD board members, I urge each of you to search your hearts to find the courage to respond positively to the attached resolution after it has been shared during public comment. The community is counting on continued support from Trustees Rodriguez, Pritchett, Ye and Arroyo. Regrettably we are girding ourselves for a continued negative response from Trustees Cuneo and Kennedy. Trustees Woo and Hansen remain as the hope for a second chance. One more year to insure that we d... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, May 16, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: "Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" Sacramento City Unified School District Education Headlines *Thursday, May 16, 2013* As budget prospects improve, no furloughs expected for Ventura teachersThe Ventura Unified School District's 800 teachers won't get raises, but will have better health insurance coverage and face no furloughs, the School Board decided Tuesday in approving the salary contract for next year. High school district teachers ratify contractTeachers in the Salinas Union High School District voted overwhelmingly T... more »

New autism definition out this week, feds and Congress not yet onboard SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: New autism definition out this week, feds and Congress not yet onboard New autism definition out this week, feds and Congress not yet onboard *By Tom Chorneau* Thursday, May 16, 2013 More than two years in the making, the latest update of the national guide for diagnosing mental disorders – which includes the controversial revision for the definition of autism – is set for release this week by the American Psychiatric Association. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, to be released Saturday at a conve... more »

the 411 on Middle School for parents of babies - my sidewalk chalk blog - nyc school help

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

the 411 on Middle School for parents of babies - my sidewalk chalk blog - nyc school help: the 411 on middle school for parents of babies THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013 AT 8:50AM The information about middle school placements this week may wipe the g&t aggravation off the front pages for a couple days. There is a lot of fear and loathing around the ms choice process. Let me lay it out for you. In suburbia, you have a zoned middle school and that is where your child will attend. We here in NYC have *district-wide middle school choice*. Some very few people will also have a zoned school assoc... more »

Alternative routes to teaching become more popular despite lack of evidence | Hechinger Report

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Alternative routes to teaching become more popular despite lack of evidence | Hechinger Report: Alternative routes to teaching become more popular despite lack of evidence by Jackie Mader INGLEWOOD, Calif.—In the back of a tenth-grade geometry classroom on a recent morning at Washington Preparatory High School, nine miles southeast of Los Angeles, Landon Yurica and Alycia Jones bent over the papers in front of them. At 23 and 24, respectively, the two could almost blend in as students as they tried the assignment the high school students were working on: finding the surface area ... more »

Dystopia: A Possible Future of Teacher Evaluation - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Dystopia: A Possible Future of Teacher Evaluation - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Dystopia: A Possible Future of Teacher Evaluation by Anthony Cody *Picture our public schools in the year 2018.* What follows is an attempt to see a few short years into the future, to understand how current reform proposals may develop. I have been highly skeptical about the proposals from the Gates Foundation regarding teacher evaluation, because they do not correspond with how I have seen teachers collaborate and grow together. There is the language of feedback and growth, but I am... more »

UPDATE: Randi Weingarten gets busted + Randi Weingarten ain’t “us.” | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Randi Weingarten ain’t “us.” | Fred Klonsky: Randi Weingarten gets busted. “Her people” forced to explain (dance) about her ignorance of the pension bill she endorsed. by Fred Klonsky CapitolFax picked up on the Twitter and blog exchange we had with AFT President Randi Weingarten. They questioned her guy about why she didn’t know about the Illinois pension bill she endorsed. AFT: Rich- I wanted to make sure you saw that Randi sent Fred Klonsky a longer comment off twitter to clarify why she and IFT support the pension proposal. He made it a separate post. http://preaprez.wordpress.... more »

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

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours 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 - 8 hours 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 - 8 hours 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 - 8 hours 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 President...more »

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

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours 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 - 9 hours 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 - 9 hours 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 »

MORNING UPDATE 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 - 9 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Seattle Will Drop MAP Test for High Schools by dianerav In a victory for teachers who boycotted the MAP tests this year, the Seattle superintendent Jose Banda said that the leadership team in each high school could decide whether to take it. For other schools it remains mandatory. In Defense of AP Courses by dianerav Jeff Larsen writes: Okay, I’ll bite. There are problems with some AP courses, but I think you’re painting with a broad brush here. My story is obv... more »

Louisiana Educator: Another Major Victory for Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours 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 - 9 hours 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 - 9 hours 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 - 9 hours 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 - 9 hours 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 - 10 hours 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 - 10 hours 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 - 10 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 - 10 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 - 10 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 - 10 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 - 18 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 - 21 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 - 21 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 - 21 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 - 22 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 - 22 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 - 22 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 - 23 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 - 23 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 - 23 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 - 23 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 - 1 day 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 »

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