Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-26-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

Supreme Court strikes down DOMA, dismisses Prop. 8 case - CBS News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago

Supreme Court strikes down DOMA, dismisses Prop. 8 case - CBS News: Supreme Court strikes down DOMA, dismisses Prop. 8 case [image: Gay rights advocate Vin Testa waves a rainbow flag in front of the Supreme Court at sun up in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Justices are expected to hand down major rulings on two gay marriage cases that could impact same-sex couples across the country. One is a challenge to California's voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriage. The other is a challenge to a provision of federal law that prevents legally married gay couples from receiving a range ... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-26-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Philly Student Orchestra Plays Last Concert? by dianerav Watch this video of the Philadelphia All-City High School Orchestra. Because of the budget cuts, this might be their last performance. The governor, the legislature, the business leaders, the foundations of Pennsylvania should hang their heads in shame. Will this be the year the music died in Philadelphia? David Greene: Repeal Race to the Top by dianerav David C. Greene says it is time to restore common se... more »

NYC Public School Parents: UPDATE: No performance evaluations for any Chancellor or top administrator at Tweed since Bloomberg took office

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago

NYC Public School Parents: UPDATE: No performance evaluations for any Chancellor or top administrator at Tweed since Bloomberg took office: UPDATE: No performance evaluations for any Chancellor or top administrators at Tweed since Bloomberg took office by Leonie Haimson UPDATE: Lisa Fleisher of the Wall Street Journal FOILed for the job evaluations of the top leadership at Tweed after I did – but smartly, she asked for all the evaluations back to 2001, when Bloomberg took office. Guess what? There are none. She also shows how this is sharp departure from pre-Bloomberg days and t... more »

6-26-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 29 minutes ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] Evidence? Secretary Duncan, You Can’t Handle the Evidence by plthomasedd Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appears now to be assuming the mantle of self-righteous indignation—a tenuous perch for someone who is leading a field in which he has no experience or expertise. As Valerie Strauss has reported, Duncan has lambasted news editors, berating them for failing to demand evidence for claims against the precious Common […] *6-25-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER* mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago @ THE... more »

Closing arguments end trial against Paul Vallas, Judge to rule by Friday - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago

Closing arguments end trial against Paul Vallas, Judge to rule by Friday - Wait, What?: Closing arguments end trial against Paul Vallas, Judge to rule by Friday by jonpelto Following an incredible day of testimony on Monday, lawyers in the trial seeking Paul Vallas’ removal as Bridgeport’s superintendent of schools brought the trial to an end yesterday with their closing arguments. The differences in approach, style and substance could not have been clearer. The lawyer for Paul Vallas and the City of Bridgeport sought to rationalize the special treatment Paul Vallas has received; te... more »

Should news organizations publish teachers’ value-added ratings?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 34 minutes ago

Should news organizations publish teachers’ value-added ratings?: Should news organizations publish teachers’ value-added ratings? By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 26, 2013 at 6:00 amE-mail the writer [image: valueadded]The Cleveland Plain Dealer just published the “value-added” ratings of teachers that purport to show how effective a teacher is or isn’t. The Los Angeles Times did something similar in 2010 and 2011, and so did The New York Times in 2012. In every case the newspapers came under heavy criticism. Why? Value-added ratings are derived by taking the standardized test sc... more »

Shanker Blog » No Presentation Without Representation

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 34 minutes ago

Shanker Blog » No Presentation Without Representation: No Presentation Without Representation by Matthew Di Carlo I tend to comment on newly-released teacher surveys, primarily because I think the surveys are important and interesting, but also because teachers’ opinions are sometimes misrepresented in our debate about education reform. So, last year, I wrote about a report by the advocacy organization Teach Plus, in which they presented results from a survey focused on identifying differences in attitudes by teacher experience (an important topic). One of my major comments was th... more »

ALEC, Jeb Bush’s Foundation and McCay Scholarship Fraud | Scathing Purple Musings

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 38 minutes ago

ALEC, Jeb Bush’s Foundation and McCay Scholarship Fraud | Scathing Purple Musings: ALEC, Jeb Bush’s Foundation and McCay Scholarship Fraud by Bob Sikes *[image: The Real I.R.S. Scandal]**WE ARE FAMILY**ALEC, Jeb Bush’s Foundation and McCay Scholarship* ** A consortium of progressive organizations released yesterday titled *ALEC v. Kids: ALEC’s Assault On Public Education.* *StateImpact *has the entire report furnished by Progress Florida. Here is the report’s focus on Florida: ALEC’s ties to Florida are reinforced by the connection with Former Governor Jeb Bush and his ALEC membe... more »

After years of cuts, states investing in early education again | Hechinger Report

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 46 minutes ago

After years of cuts, states investing in early education again | Hechinger Report: After years of cuts, states investing in early education again by Tim Post Minnesota Public Radio News In a little over a year, many of Minnesota’s youngest students will be spending more time in the classroom. State lawmakers this spring approved $40 million in funding for all-day kindergarten and more money for pre-kindergarten scholarships for children from low-income families aiming to close the gap in standardized test scores between white students and students of color. [image: Kindergarten stude... more »

Pension “Committee of Ten” meets tomorrow in Chicago. Come on down. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 48 minutes ago

Pension “Committee of Ten” meets tomorrow in Chicago. Come on down. | Fred Klonsky: Pension “Committee of Ten” meets tomorrow in Chicago. Come on down. by Fred Klonsky After Governor *Squeezy’s* failed attempt at forcing a pension bill out of the legislature a few weeks ago, The Madman and Senate President Cullerton set up a Committee of Ten to try and reach a compromise between the House’s horrible SB1 and the Senate’s SB24o4. SB2404 was the bill that was supported by the *We Are One*coalition of state public employee unions. By most accounts and predictions, nobody really expects S... more »

Daily Kos: worth remembering - Ten Years Ago Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 49 minutes ago

Daily Kos: worth remembering - Ten Years Ago Today: worth remembering - Ten Years Ago Today by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) SCOTUS issued Lawrence v Texas, 539 U.S. 558. In the 6-3 ruling, the Court specifically struck down the anti-sodomy statute in Texas, reversed itself from Hardwicke v Bowersin 1986 which had upheld Georgia's anti-sodomy law, finding that case viewed the liberty interest too narrowly. The Court held that intimate consensual sexual conduct was part of the liberty protected by substantive due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. Five Justices ruled on the ba... more »

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Choice and Competition - Improving or Undermining Public Education?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Choice and Competition - Improving or Undermining Public Education?: Guest Post: Choice and Competition - Improving or Undermining Public Education? by Emily Richmond [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] * We asked some of the journalists attending EWA's 66th National Seminar, held at Stanford University in May, to contribute posts from the sessions. You can find additional content, including video, at EdMedia Commons. Jessica Williams of The Lens in is today's guest blogger. For video of the seminar session, click here. F... more »

Proof LDOE does not fill data requests; Sci Academy faux grad rate; and a prism through which to view the CREDO study | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Proof LDOE does not fill data requests; Sci Academy faux grad rate; and a prism through which to view the CREDO study | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Proof LDOE does not fill data requests; Sci Academy faux grad rate; and a prism through which to view the CREDO study by crazycrawfish John White testified during the last legislative session that he is not aware of people having trouble getting access to LDOE data. This statement is wildly inconsistent with what I, and numerous other researchers have reported. I am a witness in a lawsuit against LDOE where a New Orleans researcher, for alm... more »

Rope-A-Dope Like Muhammad Ali [Collaborateurs] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Rope-A-Dope Like Muhammad Ali [Collaborateurs] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Rope-A-Dope Like Muhammad Ali [Collaborateurs] by Jose Vilson [image: George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali] George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali One of my year-end reflection is now live at The Collaborateurs: This year, I needed this when I went for a whirlwind of a trip this year, shifting roles and attitudes in ways that had me floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee. Perhaps even a little rope-a-dope as I sustained a few blows. As successful as I’ve been outside of school, the frustrations insi... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: TOMORROW! JOIN THE CTU PROTEST AGAINST BUDGET CUTS!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: TOMORROW! JOIN THE CTU PROTEST AGAINST BUDGET CUTS!: TOMORROW! by Mike Klonsky [image: EVENTS] Join parents, students and educators from across the city to demand that Chicago puts our schools first! Fight the budget cuts and help win for our students. Please invite LSC members, parents and students from your school! *CHICAGO BOARD OF ED MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013 Board of Education – 125 S. Clark**8:30 a.m. STAND UP FOR OUR SCHOOLS! CLASSROOMS NEED RESOURCES! **10:30 a.m. Board meeting beginsStand up for your students, your colleagu... more »

Budget detail shows almost all districts returning to prerecession funding levels SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Print this article*Budget detail shows almost all districts returning to prerecession funding levels* *By Kimberly Beltran* Tuesday, June 25, 2013 Gov. Jerry Brown’s finance department has released estimated payment amounts for districts based on the new education funding system adopted earlier this month by the Legislature as part of the 2013-14 state budget. Under terms of what’s being called a “compromise” on Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula, districts will receive an average of about $537 more per student than was proposed in May by... more »

Math, Science, Literacy, and Empathy Are Not Mutually Exclusive — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Math, Science, Literacy, and Empathy Are Not Mutually Exclusive — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Start Empathy]Math, Science, Literacy, and Empathy Are Not Mutually Exclusive June 25, 2013 by Start Empathy [image: Neon Tommy - Creative Commons] *Post written by Sharon Lazich for Ashoka's Start Empathy Initiative, a whole child partner organization* In February President Obama laid out an ambitious agenda to invest in our young people, calling for early childhood education for every child in America. In his own words: "Every dollar we invest in high-quality early... more »

Oregon Save Our Schools: Dr. Crew's Office: To Serve the Governor or the Public?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Oregon Save Our Schools: Dr. Crew's Office: To Serve the Governor or the Public?: Dr. Crew's Office: To Serve the Governor or the Public? by Oregon SOS *Oregon Save Our Schools met with Dr. Rudy Crew last year, a few months after he was hired in Oregon. We wanted to open a dialogue with him to share concerns of the voice of the public to include parents, teachers, and community members. After meeting for over an hour, which Dr. Crew and his staff graciously stayed longer than what was scheduled, it was obvious that the voice of the public was not in his job expectations. It was... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Anyone Can Teach, Right? by dianerav Dennis Hong has written an essay that is spreading like wildfire across the Internet. It is called “The Hardest Job Everyone Thinks They Can Do.” He used to be a molecular biologist. When he told his friends about his frustration with a failed experiment, no one told him how to do it right. Then he became a teacher. Now everyone knows his job–or thinks they Oh, Those Overpaid Teachers in Tennessee! by dianerav A reader posted this comment: *I am a teacher in TN. I have 6 years o... more »

Pitiful --- Vallas and Pryor “performance” on the witness stand in the Bridgeport superintendent case - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Pitiful --- Vallas and Pryor “performance” on the witness stand in the Bridgeport superintendent case - Wait, What?: Pitiful — Vallas and Pryor “performance” on the witness stand in the Bridgeport superintendent case by jonpelto Yesterday, Paul Vallas and Stefan Pryor took the stand in the case about the fact that Paul Vallas lacks the educational and legal standing to serve as Bridgeport’s superintendent of schools. The case was brought by former Connecticut Judge Carmen Lopez and a Bridgeport parent. Their legal team is headed by the renowned trial attorney, Norm Pattis, as wel... more »

Georgia State GOP Committee Passes Resolution Against Common Core | Scathing Purple Musings

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Georgia State GOP Committee Passes Resolution Against Common Core | Scathing Purple Musings: Georgia State GOP Committee Passes Resolution Against Common Core by Bob Sikes From *Marietti Daily Journal *reporter Lindsay Field: MARIETTA — The chess match over Georgia’s involvement in a controversial program to create nationwide educational standards got deeper over the weekend.The State Committee of the Georgia Republican Party adopted a resolution Saturday that recommends the state withdraw from participation in the Common Core standards and the national tests that are tied to ... more »

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 6-25-13: Sign Xian’s petition to return the public schools to the public

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 6-25-13: Sign Xian’s petition to return the public schools to the public: PSAT for 6-25-13: Sign Xian’s petition to return the public schools to the public by admin [image: psat_logo] The good news is that my son and daughter-in-law are expecting a baby and have signed a contract on a new house in Chicago. The bad news is that as of yesterday, there is no neighborhood elementary school in their area. As someone who has fought for high quality schools for every child in Chicago for 25 years, I find this a hard pill to ... more »

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Supreme Court Ruling Strikes Key Provisions of the Voting Rights Act

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Supreme Court Ruling Strikes Key Provisions of the Voting Rights Act: Supreme Court Ruling Strikes Key Provisions of the Voting Rights Act by L. Jablonski *This law covers many pages. But the heart of the act is plain. Wherever, by clear and objective standards, states and counties are using regulations, or laws, or tests to deny the right to vote, then they will be struck down. If it is clear that State officials still intend to discriminate, then Federal examiners will be sent in to register all eligible voters. When the prospect of discrimination is ... more »

Arne Duncan tells newspaper editors how to report on Common Core

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Arne Duncan tells newspaper editors how to report on Common Core: Arne Duncan tells newspaper editors how to report on Common Core By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 25, 2013 at 4:19 pmE-mail the writer It seems that a big part of Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s job now is giving impassioned defenses of the Common Core State Standards, which he did Tuesday to a convention of American news editors (some of whom may not have even known it needed defending). A few months ago, Duncan told Chamber of Commerce leaders that they had to be more supportive of the Common Core because it was ... more »

TODAY's Education Research Report 6-25-13

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Education Research Report: Language Intervention Levels Playing Field for English Language Learners Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 hours ago A new approach to teaching pre-kindergarten could take a bite out of the achievement gap and level the playing field for America’s growing population of English language learners, according to a recently published study by researchers at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of education and human development. “We are excited that we have helped teachers develop ways of teaching that result in such remarkable gains among children,... more »

Arne Duncan To Defend Common Core, Call Tea Party Critiques 'Outlandish'

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Arne Duncan To Defend Common Core, Call Tea Party Critiques 'Outlandish': Arne Duncan To Defend Common Core, Call Tea Party Critiques 'Outlandish' by Joy Resmovits Over the last few months, the louder critics of the Common Core learning standards have associated the initiative with varying degrees of evil: vampires, zombies, brain tracking, Hitler. In a Washington, D.C. speech to the American Society of News Editors Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is expected to add one more to the list. "Traditionally, this event has been an opportunity for federal leaders to ta... more »

Common Core is “Conservative” to the Core? | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Common Core is “Conservative” to the Core? | Truth in American Education: Common Core is “Conservative” to the Core? by Shane Vander Hart There is an orchestrated push on the part of Common Core advocates to publish nonsense in local papers and other publication. We can’t respond to each and every piece here, but this particular post should cause a collective eye roll. Chester Finn and Michael Pretrilli of the Fordham Institute wrote a piece published in the* Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel* that must be addressed. They say the Common Core State Standards should make conservatives happy... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Who Will Live In Newark's Teachers Village? TFAers

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Who Will Live In Newark's Teachers Village? TFAers: Who Will Live In Newark's Teachers Village? TFAers by Duke *"I am!" says the state's most popular Republican.* *"Me too!" says the state's most popular Democrat.* - See more at: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/who-will-live-in-newarks-teachers.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JerseyJazzman+%28Jersey+Jazzman%29#sthash.aUSAt1mM.dpuf Teach For America looks like it wants to expand its presence in New Jersey: Dear Greater Philadelphia Alumni, I hope this letter finds you well an... more »

BREAKING NEWS: Student Voice Press Release Student Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

Student Voice: BREAKING NEWS: Student Voice Press Release June 25, 2013 Uncategorized No Comments [image: Wallpaper 3] *BREAKING NEWS: *Student Voice Press Release “Students have leveraged social media to form a fully functioning, recently incorporated organization, which is seeking non-profit status. The organization, Student Voice, is uniquely positioned as a student-led organization working to activate the student voice through building community and opportunity.” - See more at: http://www.stuvoice.org/2013/06/25/breaking-news-student-voice-press-release/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium... more »

The real union haters. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago

The real union haters. | Fred Klonsky: The real union haters. by Fred Klonsky In a few days I will be heading for Atlanta, Georgia for the national convention of the National Education Association. The first three days I’ll be at the retired conference and then five days of debates over budgets and policies. I’ve been doing this for twenty years. I can’t say it is fun. But there is a lot to like about spending a week with 10,000 union educators. Although there are some who want to paint a picture of me as being disagreeable, I have voted with the majority of delegates more often than... more »

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Dissecting the Data on Charter Schools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Dissecting the Data on Charter Schools: Guest Post: Dissecting the Data on Charter Schools by Emily Richmond [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] *A new study from Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) concludes that charter school students in some states are making respectable academic gains while others are falling behind their peers at traditional public schools. (You'll find a handy aggregation of the media coverage at EdMedia Commons.) The new CREDO report, like much of the charter schoo... more »

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Education Headlines *Tuesday, June 25, 2013* New school funding plan will ask for community inputThe Local Control Funding Formula, which will be enacted into law when Gov. Jerry Brown signs the budget, not only means more money for schools educating low income students and English learners. It will also mean a lot more community involvement will be asked for to ensure the money goes to the children it is intended to educate. Raise... more »

Louisiana Educator: The Common Core Is So Wrong for Louisiana

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: The Common Core Is So Wrong for Louisiana: The Common Core Is So Wrong for Louisiana by Michael Deshotels In February I wrote a post for this blog predicting that the common core would be a disaster for Louisiana. This opinion piece in the New York Times confirms my conclusion that this standard is wrong for most of our public schools and particularly wrong for Louisiana. This untested elitist curriculum is sure to make our students and teachers look like failures when really it is the standard that is wrong. The reformers love to say that if we just "raise th... more »

Daily Kos: some quick thoughts on VRA case

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Daily Kos: some quick thoughts on VRA case: some quick thoughts on VRA case by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) 1. I think there are votes in the H to pass a fix, but Boehner might punt using Hastert rule, and refuse to bring it up without majority support in Republican caucus 2. Potentially this decision is VERY DANGEROUS for the Republican party, because of the fact that Section 5 is still there. It is this I want to briefly explore Congress needs to draw a new map of which states/jurisdictions would be covered. Some that were previously covered might not be, while others previ... more »

Education Reform in the New Jim Crow Era | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Education Reform in the New Jim Crow Era | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Education Reform in the New Jim Crow Era by millerlf Friday, 17 May 2013 By P.L. Thomas, Truthout *[image: OFFICERS SCHOOLS CRIME 7 main]Officer Craig Davis, a former municipal policeman now with the Houston school district force, monitors a hallway at E.L. Furr High School in Houston, March 20, 2013. (Photo: Michael Stravato / The New York Times)There are significant parallels between the war on drugs and market-oriented education reform, and both create an underclass – especially among Africa... more »

Jonathan Hage’s Selective Memory of Charter Schools USA Indianapolis Venture | Scathing Purple Musings

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Jonathan Hage’s Selective Memory of Charter Schools USA Indianapolis Venture | Scathing Purple Musings: Jonathan Hage’s Selective Memory of Charter Schools USA Indianapolis Venture by Bob Sikes Well Duh! As part of his spirited defense of Charter Schools USA and their role in the takeover attempt of seven Pembroke Pines schools, CEO Jonathan Hage pointed to CSUSA’s takeover of Indianapolis schools: Last year the State of Indiana invited Charter Schools USA to partner on turning around the lowest performing schools in Indianapolis. We diagnosed each school’s symptoms and developed... more »

China’s new education reform: Reducing importance of test scores

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

China’s new education reform: Reducing importance of test scores: China’s new education reform: Reducing importance of test scores By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 25, 2013 at 9:42 amE-mail the writer [image: china_specialec_97]China just began a major education reform effort that is aimed at reducing the importance of standardized testing in determining school quality and including factors such as student engagement, boredom, anxiety, and happiness. It also seeks to cut back on the amount of school work students are given. As scholar Yong Zhao notes in the following post, the app... more »

NYC Educator: City Teachers--Guilty Until Proven Innocent

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

NYC Educator: City Teachers--Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Guilty Until Proven Innocent by NYC Educator That's what legal expert Campbell Brown says about city teachers. She's still running around spouting preposterous stereotypical nonsense, with theabsolute cooperation of the NY Daily News. Witness this chilling statistic: *Data obtained by Brown and the Daily News show that officials tried to fire 128 school staffers for sexual misconduct or inappropriate relationships with students since 2007 — but only 33 educators were actually fired.* What's missing here? I'm gonna go out o... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Colorado Virtual Academy Severs Association with K12 Inc. by dianerav The Colorado Virtual Academy, one of K12 Inc.’s biggest schools, has severed its association with the publicly traded corporation. They may continue to use its curriculum but not its management services, starting in 2014. “The Colorado school has been criticized for its low graduation rates (22 percent in 2011-12, according to state education statistics) and a discovery by state auditors that t... more »

6-25-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] CREDO v. Kids Count by plthomasedd I make a predication, about the fact that kids still don’t count. Please read HERE about CREDO’s new charter study and the 2013 Kids Count report. Tagged: CREDO, Kids Count Meaningless Debates by Activism in paradise - Voices from down under by David Hood Retired after 50 years in education Career includes 25 years as teacher and principal, Department of Education official, senior manager of Education Review Office, establishment CEO of New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and consultant ... more »

Charter School Performance Study Finds Small Gains

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Charter School Performance Study Finds Small Gains: Charter School Performance Study Finds Small Gains by Joy Resmovits [image: charter school performance study] Charter school students on average slightly outpace comparable public school kids in reading and tie them in math, according to a large study of academic performance that shows slow but steady charter school improvement in some states since 2009. Charter students on the whole end the school year with reading skills eight instructional days ahead of public school kids, and perform at about the same rate as public school st... more »

2nd Banana 6-22-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

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

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