Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-31-13 #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

Missouri Education Watchdog: My Conversation with Glenn Beck on Data Retrieval. Just Remember The Wizard of Oz.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 minutes ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: My Conversation with Glenn Beck on Data Retrieval. Just Remember The Wizard of Oz.: My Conversation with Glenn Beck on Data Retrieval. Just Remember The Wizard of Oz. AFT Statement on Privacy and Security Concerns about inBloom and Other Data Collection Efforts AFT - A Union of Professionals AFT - A Union of Professionals - AFT Statement on Privacy and Security Concerns about inBloom and Other Data Collection Efforts: AFT Statement on Privacy and Security Concerns about inBloom and Other Data Collection Efforts Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShar... more »

AFT Statement on Privacy and Security Concerns about inBloom and Other Data Collection Efforts AFT - A Union of Professionals

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 minutes ago

AFT - A Union of Professionals - AFT Statement on Privacy and Security Concerns about inBloom and Other Data Collection Efforts: AFT Statement on Privacy and Security Concerns about inBloom and Other Data Collection Efforts *Washington*—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the growing privacy and security concerns regarding inBloom's database and other data collection efforts by parents, teachers and others. The AFT has sent the funders of inBloom a letter requesting clarification on many of these concerns. "Any potential inBloom has to improve and personalize learning i... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-31-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Leading National Groups Support Common Core But Insist on Better Implementation by dianerav A joint statement by the American Association of School Administrators, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National School Boards Association, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals expressed support for the Common Core standards, but called for more time to prepare teachers, students, and schools for the new standards. Their polling showed growing concern about lack of reso... more »

In the News: Privatization promotes inequality: Panel | catalyst-chicago.org

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

In the News: Privatization promotes inequality: Panel | catalyst-chicago.org: In the News: Privatization promotes inequality: Panel - are on windycitizenShare on facebookShare on ema*By: *Cassandra West / May 31, 2013 *Tags: *school closings The ongoing push for charter schools across the Chicago Public School district may infringe upon the fundamental human right to equal opportunity for education, according to a group of panelists who discussed privatization and education at the University of Chicago Wednesday night, Progress Illinois reports. *SEEKING ANOTHER OPTION:* ... more »

Does Anyone Care? | Diane Ravitch’s blog ← NPE News Briefs

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Does Anyone Care? | Diane Ravitch’s blog ← NPE News Briefs: 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 162 Next » With fifth-grade test now revealed, New York’s tougher new reading exams set students up to fail, critics warn | Susan Ohanian Speaks Out MAY 31 2013 by Corinne Lestch and Ben Chapman; posted by Susan Ohanian – If you think you’re smarter than a fifth-grader, consider yourself lucky you don’t have to take this exam. A concerned educator leaked the Daily News a copy of a new, more challenging state reading exam for fifth-graders, and it’s as much of a doozy ... read more → **Common Core · New York · N... more »

Protesters fight to save Philly schools from 'doomsday' budget | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Protesters fight to save Philly schools from 'doomsday' budget | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Protesters fight to save Philly schools from 'doomsday' budgetby thenotebook on May 31 2013 Posted in Latest news ="" style="color: rgb(76, 153, 72); cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on email COMMENTS (1)PRINT *by Mark McHugh* Hundreds of public education supporters gathered outside Philadelphia's School District headquarters Thursday afternoon to protest the proposed bare-bones budget that the School Reform Commission voted to pass later that night. The ensuin... more »

Obama Poses Student Loan Challenge To Republicans

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Obama Poses Student Loan Challenge To Republicans: Obama Poses Student Loan Challenge To Republicans by Joy Resmovits [image: Obama Student Loans] WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Friday stepped into the hyper-partisan fight over student debt, warning about the economic dangers posed by rising debt burdens and urging Congress to pass legislation to prevent interest rates on some loans from doubling as a hard deadline looms on July 1. His speech comes against a backdrop of rising tuition, increasing debt burdens, record relative interest rates on federal student loans and gr... more »

Will the slowdown on Common Core in some states lead to a wider retreat? | HechingerEd Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Will the slowdown on Common Core in some states lead to a wider retreat? | HechingerEd Blog: Will the slowdown on Common Core in some states lead to a wider retreat? by Sarah Garland Much to the frustration of many education reformers, another state could retreat from the Common Core State Standards, which have been adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. A bill was introduced in Michigan this week that would end funding for the standards, meant to increase rigor in English and math classrooms across the nation so that students are more prepared for college, and the test... more »

Take Action: Support Effective Professional Development and Evaluation — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Take Action: Support Effective Professional Development and Evaluation — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Take Action: Support Effective Professional Development and Evaluation May 31, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers The Effective Teaching and Leading Act (S. 1063) was recently introduced by United States Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and we need your help in getting your Senators to support it! The bill would help ensure that teachers and principals are effectively trained, mentored, developed, and evaluated through proven, team-based profe... more »

And yet another Education Reform Group targets Connecticut - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

And yet another Education Reform Group targets Connecticut - Wait, What?: And yet another Education Reform Group targets Connecticut by jonpelto Governor Malloy, Commissioner Pryor, Paul Vallas, Steven Adamowski and Connecticut’s other “education reform” advocates must be jumping for joy thanks to the news that yet another national education reform group has announced that they are targeting the Connecticut market place for their activities. Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is known as one of the most anti-union, anti-teacher “education reform” advocacy groups in the country ... more »

Senate version of school funding restructuring moves to Assembly SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *Senate version of school funding restructuring moves to Assembly* *By Tom Chorneau* Friday, May 31, 2013 The state Senate Thursday set the stage for a confrontation with Gov. Jerry Brown by moving an alternative to his school funding plan on a bipartisan vote of 30 to six. SB 69 would enact many of the same goals contained in Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula except that it would increase the base grant given to all districts and broadens the pot of additional money aimed at educationally disadvantaged students. (A link below provides a ... more »

Fact Sheet: President Obama Fights to Keep Interest Rates from Doubling | The White House

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Fact Sheet: President Obama Fights to Keep Interest Rates from Doubling | The White House: Fact Sheet: President Obama Fights to Keep Interest Rates from Doubling by The White House *“Helping more of our young people afford college should be at the forefront of American’s agenda. It shouldn’t be a Democratic or a Republican issue.”* *--President Barack Obama, University of Colorado-Boulder, April 24, 2012.* Last year the President worked with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to secure a one-year extension to keep the student loan interest rate from doubling to 6.8 percent. A... more »

Bill requires more disclosure from charter schools - San Jose Mercury News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Bill requires more disclosure from charter schools - San Jose Mercury News: Bill requires more disclosure from charter schools The Associated Press Posted: 05/30/2013 07:23:00 PM PDT Updated: 05/30/2013 07:23:00 PM PDT [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California charter schools would be subject to the same open meeting laws and disclosure requirements as school boards and local governments under a bill passed by the Assembly. Lawmakers passed AB913 by Democratic Assemblyman Ed Chau of Monterey Park on Thursday. The bill now moves to ... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, May 31, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991]*Bill requires more disclosure from charter schools* Education Headlines *Friday, May 31, 2013* Ramona district, teachers settle their differencesThe Ramona Unified School District and teachers union have reached a tentative agreement that could put an end to nearly two years of labor strife. Brand: Sweetwater ways 'didn’t seem right'Sweetwater Union High School District Superintendent Ed Brand told a criminal grand jury that the way the district operated in 2011, when h... more »

The way out of the black poverty cycle

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The way out of the black poverty cycle: The way out of the black poverty cycle By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 31, 2013 at 11:00 amE-mail the writer [image: poverty cycle]It is often argued that the low education achievement levels of African-Americans and Hispanics are caused by poverty. Looking at this premise is writer and researcher Michael Holzman, a consultant to the Schott Foundation for Public Education and the author most recently of “The Black Poverty Cycle and How to End It.” By Michael Holzman W. E. B. Du Bois ended his account of the establishment of schooling for Afr... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Glenn Beck On Common Core

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Glenn Beck On Common Core: Glenn Beck On Common Core by Anngie Yesterday, The Blaze TV brought together experts from across the country to discuss Common Core. The thirty people assembled in his audience included legislators, citizen activists, grassroots groups, messaging experts and historical experts like MEW editor Gretchen Logue. You can watch the episode on Roku with a Blaze subscription or on-line here on a free trial if you are not a subscriber. The show focused on the data collection, public private partnership and the lack of local control fo... more »

John Thompson: A Bad Week for Anti-Union Education Reformers - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

John Thompson: A Bad Week for Anti-Union Education Reformers - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: A Bad Week for Anti-Union Education Reformers by Anthony Cody *Guest post by John Thompson.* I first recoiled at Arthur Levine's tired old vision of schools in his Education Week Commentary "The Plight of Teachers' Unions." Levine seemed to argue that resistance against high-stakes testing is doomed. He seemed to believe that the future belongs to a new generation of standards-driven schooling. He implied that unions, for instance, were on the wrong side of h... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-31-13 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] Kids Are Never Too Young to Learn to Make Money by dianerav EduShyster reports here about a charter school in Utah where the goal of schooling is commerce. Starting in kindergarten, the curriculum is all about buying and selling: “HighMark administrators are quick to point out that the school is not a pint-sized business school. Instead, key business concepts and principles are integrated into every aspect of the K-8 charter. For example, “a student wanting to bec... more »

Louisiana Educator: Four Senators Block Evaluation Changes

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: Four Senators Block Evaluation Changes: Four Senators Block Evaluation Changes by Michael Deshotels The vote for HB 160 in the House Education Committee was unanimous and the vote on the House floor was 102 to 0. But yesterday the vote in the Senate Education Committee was 4 to 3 to kill the bill. It was obvious that LABI and the Jindal forces had done a simple math calculation and found that they needed only four votes to kill HB 160 and to move forward with fully implementation of the new Act 54 teacher evaluation system despite all of the flaws and potentia... more »

Finding the Middle Ground on Bullying | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Finding the Middle Ground on Bullying | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Finding the Middle Ground on Bullying by National School Boards Association *By Francisco M. Negrón, Jr., General Counsel/Associate Executive Director of the **National School Boards Association** (NSBA)* The one common thread from the many perspectives on school bullying is that advocates on all sides care deeply about kids. TheNational School Boards Association (NSBA) is determined to protect students' Constitutional rights and their rights to an education in a safe school environment. But ... more »

Students spend year studying Dracula but are tested on Frankenstein instead | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Students spend year studying Dracula but are tested on Frankenstein instead | toteachornototeach: Students spend year studying Dracula but are tested on Frankenstein instead by aristotlethewise *Fangs for nothing! Students spend a year studying Dracula only to find out they should have been reading Frankenstein two weeks before A-level exam* By John Stevens For almost the whole academic year, students at a sixth-form college pored over Bram Stoker’s classic horror story Dracula. Then two weeks before their A-level English exam, they discovered that they should have been learning Fran... more »

The June Fight Over Student Loans

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

The June Fight Over Student Loans: The June Fight Over Student Loans by Dave Johnson Today (Friday) President Obama will join college students at a White House event launching a new push to keep student loan rates from doubling in July. Among the various plans offered Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s plan is the most affordable for students, while the Repubican plan tries to “make money” off of students using fluctuating “market rates.” *Student Loan Rates Set To Double* Student loan rates for more than 7.4 million students with federal “Stafford loans” are scheduled to double July 1 from 3.... more »

Alaska is Bringing Common Core Through the Back Door | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Alaska is Bringing Common Core Through the Back Door | Truth in American Education: Alaska is Bringing Common Core Through the Back Door by Shane Vander Hart [image: Alaska-State-Flag]After former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said no to the Race to the Top money it looks like Alaska may end up with the Common Core State Standards anyway. A reader emailed me to let me know that The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development recently announced that they have joined the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium after adopting new standards. Below is their press release from April ... more »

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Governor Chris Christie and Ed Commissioner Cerf Leaving NJ’s Children Behind by freetoteach Funding for New Jersey’s public schools is falling behind and leaving lots of children left behind. After more than a decade of NCLB which was supposed to close the achievement gap, yeah right, Chris Christie and President Obama’s love fest this past week in boosting the tv ratings on the Jersey Shore, is little comfort […] Parents Opt Out . . . of Student Eye Scanning by Jim Horn In the state that spawned Chiefs for Change (and Folding Cash), the ... more »

Jeb Bush’s disdain for public education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Jeb Bush’s disdain for public education: Jeb Bush’s disdain for public education By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 31, 2013 at 5:00 amE-mail the writer 7 Comments More [image: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush-AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, Hector Gabino] Jeb Bush (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, Hector Gabino) It’s always useful to know where people are coming from, so we can thank former Florida governor Jeb Bush for making it so easy to understand where he stands on public education. He has nothing but disdain for it. If you think ... more »

Daily Kos: Leaves on the Current - the progress continues

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Daily Kos: Leaves on the Current - the progress continues: Leaves on the Current - the progress continues by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) I did not post an update last Sunday because there was nothing knew to report about my wife's continued recovery from dealing with her blood cancer. I am posting a bit early this week because I will be leaving this morning for a college reunion, so this seemed like an appropriate time. This is her week off from chemotherapy. Her last dose was taken Monday night. Normally Tuesday and Wednesday of the off week have been her toughest days, with ... more »

UPDATE: Nekritz/Biss dies in the Illinois Senate. SB2404 on life support. One day to go. UPDATED. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Nekritz/Biss dies in the Illinois Senate. SB2404 on life support. One day to go. UPDATED. | Fred Klonsky: Reported here first. Springfield may vote to cut CPS pension contributions by Fred Klonsky As I reported here this morning, the final hours of the General Assembly may see a new attack on teacher pensions emerge. This time the target is the Chicago Teacher’s Pension Fund. A source not only expressed concern about Senate Bill 1920, but also about the continued arrogance and hostility coming from the CPS board. There representatives reportedly walked away from the table in the midd... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Pension thieves fall out once again. SB1 bombs in the Senate

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Pension thieves fall out once again. SB1 bombs in the Senate: Pension thieves fall out once again. SB1 bombs in the Senate by Mike Klonsky Angry Boss Madigan stomped out of the Capitol after his SB1 pension bill blew up. Points finger at Cullerton. If you're a retired teacher, living on fixed income, or struggling to make your health care payments, you can breathe a little easier -- at least for a few months. *Boss Madigan's* unconstitutional pension-busting bill, SB1, bombed in the Senate once again. It fell short by a 16-42 vote, despite an allianc... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Jeb Bush warn Michigan legislators against abandoning Common Core standards | MLive.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Jeb Bush warn Michigan legislators against abandoning Common Core standards | MLive.com: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee, Jeb Bush warn Michigan legislators against abandoning Common Core standards Source: [b]MLive.com[/b] LANSING -- As keynote speakers Michelle Rhee and Jeb Bush endorsed the National Common Core State Standards for education at this week's Mackinac Policy Conference, Gov. Rick Snyder called the controversy over the standards "something we need to work through." Rhee, the former chancellor of District of Columbia schools and he... more »

Another “Big Lie” from Achievement First: “100 percent college acceptance rate.” - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Another “Big Lie” from Achievement First: “100 percent college acceptance rate.” - Wait, What?: Another “Big Lie” from Achievement First: “100 percent college acceptance rate.” by jonpelto In a story entitled *Amistad Sends 30 To College, “Loses” 23, *the New Haven Independent highlights what Wait, What? readers have known for a while; when the charter school management company, Achievement First Inc. claims that they achieve a “100 percent college acceptance rate,” it should not be considered a “statement of fact.” Achievement First, of course, being the charter school management... more »

Tea party groups rallying against Common Core education overhaul - The Washington Post

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Tea party groups rallying against Common Core education overhaul - The Washington Post: Tea party groups mobilizing against Common Core education overhaul Frank Espich/AP - In this Jan. 16, 2013, photo, concerned grandparent Sue Lile of Carmel, Ind., shows her opposition to Common Core standards during a rally at the State House rotunda in Indianapolis. By Peter Wallsten and Lyndsey Layton, Thursday, May 30, 4:41 PM E-mail the writers Tea party groups over the past few weeks have suddenly and successfully pressured Republican governors to reassess their support for a rare bipartisa... more »

New student testing in common core set to officially begin in 2015 SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: New student testing in common core set to officially begin in 2015 Legislative action Thursday clears the way for California schools to begin statewide student testing based on the new common core curriculum beginning in the spring of 2015. The move comes in the wake of Gov. Jerry Brown proposing in his revised May budget to set aside $1 billion next year to help local school boards buy new instructional materials, provide new training for teachers and fill technology needs in order to support and implement the new common core standards. The... more »

Last Stand for Children First: Day 2 on Mackinac Island

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Last Stand for Children First: Day 2 on Mackinac Island: Day 2 on Mackinac Island by Last Stand for Children Day 2 at Mackinac Island was even more amazing than day 1. This morning we joined with several business and education leaders from around the country to announce a new grant program for urban schools looking to bring yachting, equestrian, and polo to their physical education departments. Then it was off to hear some great speakers. Today, I heard Michelle Rhee talk about the pitiful state of education and several Michigan based entrepreneurs talk about the positive mirac... more »

Emphasize The TEACHER In Teacher Leadership - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Emphasize The TEACHER In Teacher Leadership - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Emphasize The TEACHER In Teacher Leadership by Jose Vilson I wrote a little something here as a thought on teacher leadership. Check it at the Collaborateurs: That’s why I ought to start capitalizing the word “teacher” in the phrase “teacher leader.” The term “teacher leader” is so ubiquitous, you can’t help but wonder if people even know what it actually means, or at least have characteristics in mind when they think of TEACHER leadership. We can knock out a few instances of what’s *not* teacher le... more »

Advocates fear Gov. Jerry Brown's school funding plan could hurt small programs - Education - The Sacramento Bee

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Advocates fear Gov. Jerry Brown's school funding plan could hurt small programs - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Advocates fear Gov. Jerry Brown's school funding plan could hurt small programs By Jeremy B. White jwhite@sacbee.com Published: Thursday, May. 30, 2013 - 5:30 pm Last Modified: Thursday, May. 30, 2013 - 5:37 pm Pregnant at 14, Rhianna Schoon thought she had slender educational prospects. She wasn't sure if the demands of parenting would allow her to finish high school. "I thought that I was going to have to drop out of school," Schoon said, "and at that point I started... more »

New poll showing strong voter support for revised budget gives governor a boost | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

New poll showing strong voter support for revised budget gives governor a boost | EdSource Today: New poll showing strong voter support for revised budget gives governor a boost - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald Voter support is giving Gov. Jerry Brown a tailwind as he heads into negotiations over the state budget and school finance reform with the Legislature. A new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that Californians continue to overwhelmingly back Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula, even though superintendents of suburban districts are very unhapp... more »

Obama Student Loan Speech Signals Renewed Battle With Republicans Over Interest Rates

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

Obama Student Loan Speech Signals Renewed Battle With Republicans Over Interest Rates: Obama Student Loan Speech Signals Renewed Battle With Republicans Over Interest Rates by Joy Resmovits [image: Obama Student Loans]President Barack Obama will deliver a speech Friday urging Congress to pass legislation that would prevent student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1. (Photo by Zbigniew Bzdak-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON -- Even before President Barack Obama personally joins the debate over student loan interest rates on Friday, Republican lawmakers and higher-education p... more »

solidaridad: Los Angeles public education events for the first weekend of June 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

solidaridad: Los Angeles public education events for the first weekend of June 2013: Los Angeles public education events for the first weekend of June 2013 Logan Street Elementary School Celebrates 125th Birthday [image: Logan Street Elementary School LAUSD] Posted by Cheryl Ortega, May 23, 2013 at 10:46 am on Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch *Saturday, June 1, 2013, 10:00 AM* 1711 W. Montana Street Los Angeles, CA 90026 See previous entry for more information ------------------------------ Allesandro and Silver Valley CEJ will be honored on Saturday at CTA at the Bonaventure Hotel[image: C... more »

solidaridad: Parent Trigger: Stop the Lies! Hear the Truth Rally in the Valley 2013-June-04

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

solidaridad: Parent Trigger: Stop the Lies! Hear the Truth Rally in the Valley 2013-June-04: Parent Trigger: Stop the Lies! Hear the Truth Rally in the Valley 2013-June-04 *Stop the lies being told by organizations such as Parent Revolution* Tuesday, June 4, 2013 5:30pm-7:30pm Haddon Avenue Elementary School 10115 Haddon Avenue, Pacoima, CA 91331 Our community our decision: Rally in the Valley by Robert D. Skeels Guest Speakers: Parents from Adelanto Desert Trails Elementary. Principal & Teachers from Weigand Elementary. Parents from Haddon Avenue Elementary. Hosted by Valley Parents A... more »

All Education Matters: What is the most outrageous thing a student loan debt collector has said to you?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

All Education Matters: What is the most outrageous thing a student loan debt collector has said to you?: What is the most outrageous thing a student loan debt collector has said to you? by Cryn Johannsen When I first began speaking to members of the indentured educated class, I was outraged by the things that debt collectors said to them on the phone. So many awful, awful things were said, just to try and squeeze money out of people who made it clear to these loan sharks that they were struggling and simply unable to pay them the amount they were demanding. As many of us are aware,... more »

Divestiture: They vote with their feet, Catherine Ferguson Academy (CFA) Students & Supporters Walk Out to Demand a Real Education, Not Fake Education on the Cheap | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Divestiture: They vote with their feet, Catherine Ferguson Academy (CFA) Students & Supporters Walk Out to Demand a Real Education, Not Fake Education on the Cheap | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Divestiture: They vote with their feet, Catherine Ferguson Academy (CFA) Students & Supporters Walk Out to Demand a Real Education, Not Fake Education on the Cheap by Danny Weil In the past I have written extensively on Detroit schools and especially the Catherine Ferguson Academy (CFA) (google Detroit Schools, Dailycensored.com). Well, Detr... more »

Assembly Approves Overhaul of School Testing - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Assembly Approves Overhaul of School Testing - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): Assembly Approves Overhaul of Public School Testing *State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Applauds Move to College, Career Readiness*** SACRAMENTO—Legislation sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to create a new statewide assessment system using computer-based exams that would measure and promote student progress toward career and college readiness was approved today by the state Assembly. Assembly Bill 484 (Bonilla) would limit the use of outdated Standardized Testing a... more »

Ed Notes Online: DOE Allows Charter Schools to Set Up Stealth Pre-K programs to Further Undermine Public Schools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Ed Notes Online: DOE Allows Charter Schools to Set Up Stealth Pre-K programs to Further Undermine Public Schools: DOE Allows Charter Schools to Set Up Stealth Pre-K programs to Further Undermine Public Schools by ed notes online *DOE is approving over 400,000 thousand dollars to PAVE for their pre-k program. They are getting about 30,000 less than PS 15 does for Pre-K, but we run 4 classes and PAVE will run 3..... **Public school administrators all over this city must fight or beg for every resource they bring to their schools, while charter school operators clearly have people i... more »

The “BIG IDEAS BOX" — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The “BIG IDEAS BOX" — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Fred Zilian]The “BIG IDEAS BOX” May 30, 2013 by Fred Zilian When teaching history, it is very easy to get caught up and lost in all the details of a particular lesson. Especially drawn to political, diplomatic, and military history, I have found myself spending far too much time in my Western Civilization courses on the fine points of the diplomatic maneuverings of the Congress of Vienna or of the tactical skill of Hannibal during the Second Punic War. To ensure that my students have the big picture: 1. At... more »

NYC Educator: Getting Ready for Reformy John King's Plan

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

NYC Educator: Getting Ready for Reformy John King's Plan: Getting Ready for Reformy John King's Plan by NYC Educator The administrators in my building are hard at work figuring out just what the hell they are going to tell us at PD next week. They're looking at Danielson, and figuring out how we can meet whatever requirements the DOE has told them Danielson demands. Now the geniuses at the DOE, because they know everything about teaching and learning, have determined that observations should take only 15 minutes. Therefore, if Danielson demands kids turn and talk, you'd better have... more »

Hart, Weingarten, and Power Point Deception | deutsch29

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Hart, Weingarten, and Power Point Deception | deutsch29: Hart, Weingarten, and Power Point Deception by deutsch29 Randi Weingarten really wants to promote the illusion that teachers have bought into the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). She hired Hart Research Associates to conduct a survey of AFT membership regarding perceptions about CCSS, and Hart did so March 27 – 30, 2013. Weingarten has used this survey as a platform to proclaim that “75% of AFT teachers surveyed support the Common Core.” But it is a lie, and I can prove it using a single Power Point slide composed by Hart... more »

How to File a Freedom of Information Request | The Network For Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

How to File a Freedom of Information Request | The Network For Public Education: How to File a Freedom of Information Request by admin [image: FOI]*By Jonathan Pelto (www.jonathanpelto.com)* When it comes to standing up to the education reform industry and their allies in state and local government, one of the most powerful tools for edu-bloggers and advocacy journalists is to utilize state-level freedom of information laws. Freedom of Information requests, or FOIAs, give us the power to see into the dark places. While opponents to open government and honesty are hard at work trying... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Rick Hess Just Makes Stuff Up

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Jersey Jazzman: Rick Hess Just Makes Stuff Up: Rick Hess Just Makes Stuff Up by Duke *Rick Hess (artist's conception)* * * How do you rise to the top of the eduwonky world? *Make stuff up*. Look at Rick Hess: since returning from his "hiatus," he's posted ten times on his blog. The posts include: - A made up interview with an "insincere reformer," lamely attempting to mock the critics of corporate reform. - A made up Twitter exchange between several known voices in the reform debate; none of the quotes appear to be verbatim. - A made up conference call transcript between the Chie... more »

Principal removal and REAL parent empowerment | Parents Across America

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Principal removal and REAL parent empowerment | Parents Across America: Principal removal and REAL parent empowerment by pureparents Last week, a Parent Revolution-backed petition drive collected enough signatures to force out the well-respected principal of Weigand Avenue Elementary School in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. According to the article, 21 out of 22 teachers at the school have asked for transfers in protest. That’s parent empowerment? We’re sceptical, in part because of the many deceptive tactics used by the well-funded Parent Revolution astroturfers – most rec... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-30-13 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: Where Is the Support for Our Children? by dianerav This teacher describes how the testing mania–the evil spawn of No Child Left Behind–has consumed his school without changing the odds against the students. They are still behind and certain to remain far behind. He writes: I teach fourth grade in a Philadelphia public school. Though the school has made AYP for the past two years, most of the students are not performing at grade level in math or reading. So, at this school, like most urban schools, the standardi... more »

2nd Banana 5-25-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 5-18-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 5-11-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 5-4-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 4-27-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 4-20-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 4-13-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 4-6-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-30-13 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-29-13 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-28-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-27-13 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-26-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-25-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-24-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-23-13 

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 5-22-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-21-13 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-20-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-19-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-18-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-17-13 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-16-13 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-15-13 Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-14-13 Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-13-13Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-12-13Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-11-13 #thankateacher 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-10-13 #thankateacher

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-9-13 #thankateacher

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-8-13 #thankateacher

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-7-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-6-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-5-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-4-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-3-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-2-13

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-1-13