Teachers, Staff in UNO Charters Vote to Unionize
From an AFT press release:
CHICAGO—Teachers and staff in the one of city’s largest charter school networks overwhelmingly have chosen the Chicago Alliance of Charter School Teachers and Staff (Chicago ACTS), an affiliate of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, as their bargaining agent.
The decision involves more than 400 teachers and staff in 13 schools operated by the United Neighborhood
CHICAGO—Teachers and staff in the one of city’s largest charter school networks overwhelmingly have chosen the Chicago Alliance of Charter School Teachers and Staff (Chicago ACTS), an affiliate of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, as their bargaining agent.
The decision involves more than 400 teachers and staff in 13 schools operated by the United Neighborhood
Principal: “I Quit”
The Bush-Obama education policies have led to a destructive overemphasis on testing. The very nature of schooling is changed for the worse when higher scores become the goal of education. As we lose sight of the true purpose of education, we lose many fine educators who will not abandon their principals. Here is one whom we have lost due to misguided federal policy.
Trigger-Happy Florida Senators
Just hours after the defeat of parent trigger legislation, some of its advocates moved key portions into another bill.
In this case, this provision was salvaged:
“A bill focused on charter schools (HB 7009) was amended Tuesday afternoon. It now requires that children in classes taught by teachers with an “unsatisfactory” or “needs improvement” ratings during the current school
In this case, this provision was salvaged:
“A bill focused on charter schools (HB 7009) was amended Tuesday afternoon. It now requires that children in classes taught by teachers with an “unsatisfactory” or “needs improvement” ratings during the current school
Jindal “Reforms” Faltering
The legislature in Louisiana is turning a cold shoulder to Governor Bobby Jondal’s plans to demoralize teachers and dismantle public education. The bills that sailed through last year, when Jondal was riding high, are in trouble now.
Only Stand for Children, once thought of as a civil rights groups, insists on firing teachers faster and somehow finding great teachers to replace them .
Only Stand for Children, once thought of as a civil rights groups, insists on firing teachers faster and somehow finding great teachers to replace them .
Why Should Students Care About High Stakes Tests That Don’t Count?
Another one of those zany testing stories.
In California, the staff gets the kids all excited about doing well on the state tests. They ave pep rallies, pizza parties, motivational assemblies, prizes, and anything else that might encourage the students to do their best.
But here is the odd part. The tests have no stakes for the students. Their purpose is to evaluate teachers, principals, and schools. The kids have no skin in the game.
Al Shanker used to say about merit pay (I heard him say it): “Let me get this right. The kids will work harder so
In California, the staff gets the kids all excited about doing well on the state tests. They ave pep rallies, pizza parties, motivational assemblies, prizes, and anything else that might encourage the students to do their best.
But here is the odd part. The tests have no stakes for the students. Their purpose is to evaluate teachers, principals, and schools. The kids have no skin in the game.
Al Shanker used to say about merit pay (I heard him say it): “Let me get this right. The kids will work harder so
Peter DeWitt Calls Out Rhee for Endorsing Anti-Gay Legislator
Peter DeWitt writes a regular blog for Education Week. He is the principal of an elementary school in upstate New York. In this column, he says that Michelle Rhee’s organization does not put all students first. DeWitt describes the Tennessee legislator who was named “Reformer of the Year” by StudentsFirst. This legislator is known for his anti-gay proposals, as well as his efforts to increase the number of charter schools and evaluate teachers by test scores. DeWitt had a Twitter exchange with an official for StudentsFirst, who claims that the organization didn’t notice what else their honoree supported, and had they known, well, they would have done something different.
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] New York’s Evaluation System: Junk Science at Work! by dianerav Arthur Goldstein is a teacher-blogger who terrifies corporate reformers like State Commissioner John King. That is because Goldstein is a career teacher who knows what he is talking about; also, he writes lucidly and has a dry sense of humor. King, on the other hand, taught for two years in a “no excuses” charter school with a high suspension rate (at the same time that he miraculously earned both ... more »