Big Education Ape: Big Education Ape Nite Cap 6-6-13 #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

Common Core supporters back moratorium on new tests’ high stakes

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 minutes ago

Common Core supporters back moratorium on new tests’ high stakes: Common Core supporters back moratorium on new tests’ high stakes By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 6, 2013 at 5:21 pmE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: commoncore]A coalition of education organizations and unions that support the Common Core State Standards issued an open letter on Thursday backing a moratorium of at least one year on the high stakes associated with new standardized tests being given to students that are aligned with the Core. The letter was issued by the Learning First Alliance, whose me... more »

A Call for a Transition Period in Common Core Implementation | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago

A Call for a Transition Period in Common Core Implementation | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: A Call for a Transition Period in Common Core Implementation by Cheryl S. Williams The Learning First Alliance has sent an open letter to education stakeholders recommending a transition period in Common Core implementation. Fifteen of our member organizations joined together to suggest that for at least one year after the original deadline, the results from assessments of the Common Core State Standards be used only to guide instruction and attention to curriculum d... more »

Diann Woodard: The Corporate Takeover of Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diann Woodard: The Corporate Takeover of Public Education: The Corporate Takeover of Public Education Independent research in recent months has documented that the nation's wealthiest philanthropic foundations are steering funding away from public school systems, attended by 90 percent of American students, and toward "challengers" to public education, especially charter schools. *Education Week* recently reported that at the start of the decade, less than a quarter of K-12 giving from top foundations was given to groups supporting charter schools and privatization, about $90 milli... more »

Education reform is made of teachers.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Education reform is made of teachers.: Education Reform Is Made of Teachers By Matthew Yglesias | Posted Thursday, June 6, 2013, at 2:11 PM [image: Share on Facebook] 5 21 [image: Social worker Juliana Stevenson, Kipp Infinity Elementary School Co-Principal Stephanie Adams, Kelly Meyer, Co-Principal Lindsay Fry, teacher Perri Lawrie attend the American Heart Association Teaching Gardens Planting in Harlem on May 12, 2012, in New York City.] Social worker Juliana Stevenson, Kipp Infinity Elementary School Co-Principal Stephanie Adams, Kelly Meyer, Co-Principal Lindsay Fry, teacher ... more »

UConn Becomes “Mail Order” Degree School for the “Special Elite” (Part I) - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

UConn Becomes “Mail Order” Degree School for the “Special Elite” (Part I) - Wait, What?: UConn Becomes “Mail Order” Degree School for the “Special Elite” (Part I) by jonpelto Did you pay to go to UConn? Are you still paying? You aren’t alone. This year there are 17,528 undergraduates at the Storrs campus with another 4,773 undergraduates at regional campuses. Then add in the 7,955 graduate and professional degree students. The total cost of tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate is just over $22,500 a year. The cost for an out of state student is just over $40,000. A g... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-6-13 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: *IN HER OWN WORDS* Iowa’s “Sweeping” School Reform Bill by dianerav Governor Terry Branstad pushed through school reform in Iowa that is supposedly sweeping, but I fail to see the sweep in the bill. It creates new leadership positions for teachers within schools, and that is supposed to be huge, but I am not sure why. It does not mandate that teacher evaluations be tied to test scores, and that means the state dodged a bullet by Great Neck, NY, School Board Passes Anti-High-Stakes Testing Resolution by dianerav Gre... more »

A public thanks to Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky | Parents United for Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

A public thanks to Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky | Parents United for Public Education: A public thanks to Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky Posted on June 6, 2013 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a comment [image: Image] Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky (used with permission) *The SRC’s vote May 30th stripped away any pretense that next year’s budget has a child-centered, education-focused mission. Gone from the budget are core educational responsibilities from schools which are already bare bones: the arts, guidance counselors, books & supplies, librarians, sports, and extracurricular activiti...more »

Louisiana legislator invokes witch doctor to defend creationist law

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Louisiana legislator invokes witch doctor to defend creationist law: Louisiana legislator invokes witch doctor to defend creationist law By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 6, 2013 at 2:43 pmE-mail the writer [image: Louisiana Sen. Elbert Guillory (http://senate.la.gov/guillory/)] Louisiana Sen. Elbert Guillory (senate.la.gov) In the you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up category: A Louisiana state senator defended the Louisiana Science Education Act — a 2008 law that allows creationism to be taught in public school science classrooms through materials that ostensibly “critique” evolution — by ... more »

What Does It Take to Stop Common Core? Defund It. | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

What Does It Take to Stop Common Core? Defund It. | Truth in American Education: What Does It Take to Stop Common Core? Defund It. by Shane Vander Hart Michael McShane of American Enterprise Institute wrote a guest post at the Washington Post’s education blog, Answer Sheet. He asked, is it really that easy to block the Common Core State Standards? He was responding to the Michigan Legislature pausing funding for the Common Core. To try and stop the Common Core, (Tom) McMillin introduced, along with several other lawmakers,HB 4276, which specifically states, “The state board mod... more »

Escaping the Closed Circle of High School Reform — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Escaping the Closed Circle of High School Reform — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Escaping the Closed Circle of High School Reform June 6, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *Post written by Robert Halpern, director of the doctoral program and chair of the research council at the Erikson Institute in Chicago* A recent documentary, "180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School," perfectly captures the lack of imagination of current high school reform efforts in the United States. In this documentary the beleaguered principal and staff o... more »

NSBA Urges U.S. Senate to Rethink Title I Provision in New ESEA Bill

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

NSBA Urges U.S. Senate to Rethink Title I Provision in New ESEA Bill: *National School Boards Association Urges U.S. Senate to Rethink Title I Provision in New ESEA Bill ***** * * * * Alexandria, Va. (June 6, 2013) – The National School Boards Association (NSBA) has issued a report calling on the U.S. Senate to reconsider a provision in its new Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization bill that seeks to ensure school districts give equitable support to students in high-poverty schools. The ESEA legislation would change the current method for determining how s... more »

Obama to Seek More Internet Aid for Schools and Libraries - NYTimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Obama to Seek More Internet Aid for Schools and Libraries - NYTimes.com: Obama to Seek More Internet Aid for Schools and LibrariesBy EDWARD WYATTPublished: June 6, 2013 - FACEBOOK - TWITTER - GOOGLE+ - SAVE - E-MAIL - SHARE - PRINT - REPRINTS WASHINGTON — President Obama is expected on Thursday to call on the Federal Communications Commission to expand its program to provide discounted high-speed Internet service to schools and libraries, even if it means increasing the fees that are tacked on to consumers’ monthly phone bills. At an event at a school in Mo... more »

Better Mental Health = More Successful Students — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Better Mental Health = More Successful Students — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Kristen Pekarek]Better Mental Health = More Successful Students June 6, 2013 by Kristen Pekarek According to current statistics, fewer than 10 percent of children who identify as needing mental health services get them within three months of the recommendation. This is a startling statistic that proves our mental health system for children is as fragile as the at-risk youth it is intended to serve. The good news is that a new national conversation is happening around the importance o... more »

Monica Ratliff: The Woman Who May Change L.A. - - News - Los Angeles - LA Weekly

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Monica Ratliff: The Woman Who May Change L.A. - - News - Los Angeles - LA Weekly: Monica Ratliff: The Woman Who May Change L.A.John Deasy is the most admired school superintendent in city history. But this fifth-grade teacher isn't impressed A A AComments (1)By Hillel Aron Thursday, Jun 6 2013 With Wendy Greuel soon out as controller and just one woman left on the 15-person L.A. City Council, unknown fifth-grade teacher Monica Ratliff suddenly may be the most powerful woman in Los Angeles. ILLUSTRATION BY FRED HARPER Related Content - Los Angeles Voter Guide May 21, 2013: Mayor, ... more »

Common Core Meets The Education Spring

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Common Core Meets The Education Spring: Common Core Meets The Education Spring by Jeff Bryant With the 59th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education rapidly receding, it’s important to remember that the original purpose of federal intervention in local education was to guarantee access and equity. Any Southerner on the front lines of that effort can attest to what that intervention produced in terms of progress for the least-served children of the American community. Today, that whole notion has gotten turned on its head as federal intervention for the sake of access and equity ... more »

UPDATE: No Child Left Behind Debate, Student Loan Rancor Signal End Of Bipartisanship In Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

No Child Left Behind Debate, Student Loan Rancor Signal End Of Bipartisanship In Education: NCLB Bills Proliferate As Lamar Alexander, John Kline Introduce Education Measures by Joy Resmovits After Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee,introduced his overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act on Tuesday, Republicans have started to get in on the action. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), a former Secretary of Education and the committee's ranking member, andRep. John Kline (R-Minn.), who chairs the House Education and the Workforc... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Are These Common Core Aligned Reading Materials Appropriate for 3rd Graders for Content and Message?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Are These Common Core Aligned Reading Materials Appropriate for 3rd Graders for Content and Message?: Are These Common Core Aligned Reading Materiasl Appropriate for 3rd Graders for Content and Message? by stlgretchen *Illustrations from the book “The Librarian of Basra,” among the graphic war texts approved for New York third-graders.* This may be old news to some of you as it is dated March 2013. From nypost.com and *New York approves war-oriented reading textbooks for third-grade classrooms:* Tales of war, bombs and abduction — coming to a third-grad... more »

Field tests’ start comes with a hoax letter and anti-testing protest | GothamSchools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Field tests’ start comes with a hoax letter and anti-testing protest | GothamSchools: Field tests’ start comes with a hoax letter and anti-testing protest by Anika Anand At least one city principal was duped by a fake letter that made it look like the State Education Department wants schools to make sure parents know they can opt out field testing. [image: field test cover letter]After Sandra D’Avilar, the principal of P.S. 9 in Prospect Heights, distributed the letter last week, parents of almost every student who was supposed to take this month’s field test responded saying that ... more »

UPDATE: There will be no friend of unions in the governor’s mansion. No matter who wins. And will Toni Run? | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

There will be no friend of unions in the governor’s mansion. No matter who wins. And will Toni Run? | Fred Klonsky: Will TRS benefits end up lower than Social Security benefits? Yes. by Fred Klonsky [image: begging-cup-370x229] The State of Illinois created a two-tier pension system for teachers several years ago. Tier 1 teachers, those hired after January 1, 2011, pay less into the system, must work longer until they qualify for a pension and receive much less a benefit. As soon as the law was passed, it became clear that there was a problem. Tier 1 pension benefits will be less tha... more »

Eduwonk » Blog Archive » Margaret Spellings: Back In The Heart Of Texas

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Eduwonk » Blog Archive » Margaret Spellings: Back In The Heart Of Texas: Margaret Spellings: Back In The Heart Of Texas by arotherham Just announced from Texas: Former White House Domestic Policy Advisor and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings is leaving her consulting firm and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the education work, and heading back to Texas to become President of the George W. Bush Insitute.* From this morning’s press release: “Spellings will oversee all aspects of Bush Foundation activities, including leadership of the George W. Bush Institu... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, June 6, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *6-6-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER* Education Headlines *Thursday, June 6, 2013* Monterey Peninsula USD approves dual language charter school for SeasideOn Monday, trustees with the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District unanimously approved expanding the dual language program from K-5 to K-8 and begin the process to move all grades to Marshall West and create a dual language charter beginning in 2014. Freedman: It’s about time! Reforming due process in Special EducationIn the long saga of education reform, with all... more »

UPDATE:Seattle Schools Community Forum: Someone Blinked (Big Surprise, It's the Dems)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Someone Blinked (Big Surprise, It's the Dems): Someone Blinked (Big Surprise, It's the Dems) by Melissa Westbrook Unbelievable. Much those I wanted ALL our state legislators to get the budget done before the end of the Special Session next week, I did NOT want the Dems to give to the Reps and sure enough, they did. And guess who is going to suffer? Public schools. From Publicola: *"At some point we had to make a move," state house finance chair Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36, Queen Anne) said today, explaining the compromise budget offer the state ... more »

Shanker Blog » Unreliable Sources: Education Revenue During The Recession

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Shanker Blog » Unreliable Sources: Education Revenue During The Recession: Unreliable Sources: Education Revenue During The Recession by Matthew Di Carlo For the better part of the past century, U.S. public education revenue has come predominantly from state and local sources, with the federal government contributing only a relatively small share. For most of this time, local revenue (primarily property taxes) comprised the largest proportion, but this began to shift gradually during the 1970s, to the point where state funds constituted a slightly larger share of overall revenue. A... more »

Education in Your Backyard — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Education in Your Backyard — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Walter McKenzie]Education in Your Backyard May 28, 2013 by Walter McKenzie [image: ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show] As a director of Constituent Services at ASCD, I work with the best and the brightest educators leading our affiliates around the world. It is a sincere honor and privilege. And this time of year, as affiliate boards begin meeting, reflecting, and planning, I have the opportunity to work with them virtually and face-to-face and support them in their important work. Representing ASCD... more »

Find College Scholarships for First-in-the-Family Students - The Scholarship Coach (usnews.com)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Find College Scholarships for First-in-the-Family Students - The Scholarship Coach (usnews.com): Find College Scholarships for First-in-the-Family Students By SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA June 6, 2013 RSS Feed Print [image: There are scholarships and financial aid resources available to help first-generation college students pay for school.] There are scholarships and financial aid resources available to help first-generation college students pay for school. The decision to go to college is a major step for anyone. But there's one group of students for whom the experience can be especially mea... more »

Michelle Rhee’s group finally drops anti-gay honoree - Salon.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Michelle Rhee’s group finally drops anti-gay honoree - Salon.com: Michelle Rhee’s group finally drops anti-gay honoreeAn 11-year-old's petition pushed StudentsFirst to denounce "Don't Say Gay" bill sponsor Tenn. state Rep. John Ragan VIDEOBY KATIE MCDONOUGH After more than a month of mounting pressure from gay rights and education groups, it was an appeal from an 11-year-old activist that finally got Michelle Rhee’s education nonprofit StudentsFirst to drop Tennessee state Rep. John Ragan and rescind his “Reformer of the Year” designation. As Salon previously reported, Ragan was the... more »

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

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] How Do We Go from “the Anti-Education Era” to Meaningful Learning for All? by John Thompson James Paul Gee’s The Anti-Education Era is full of analyses of how humans learn that should inform the practice of all types of educators. Previous posts, here and here, describe his powerful indictments of test-driven schooling, as well as his subtle explanations of where “reformers” and other educators have gone wrong. This post will focus […] ELA or Math support classes, fun for everyone! by Chalk Face, PhD If you’re not necessarily... more »

All Things Education: When the Common Core is old wine in new bottles

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

All Things Education: When the Common Core is old wine in new bottles: When the Common Core is old wine in new bottles by Rachel Levy I have been enjoying *Education Week*'s series about the Common Core Standards in action. The second article depicts classroom practice in a DCPS middle school Language Arts classroom. I found this post especially intriguing--I felt like a fly on the wall reading it. This is what impresses me: First of all, it does seem like the teacher has a certain amount of freedom--not much of the what (the curriculum), or the how is being dictated. It does see... more »

All Things Education: When the Common Core is old wine in new bottles

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

Justice for Our Neighborhood Schools - Press Conference & Rally

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Justice for Our Neighborhood Schools - Press Conference & Rally: NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!!! We are moving FORWARD with the lawsuit to stop the school closures in the Sacramento City Unified School District! Join students, parents, Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP), the South Sac cmty and Civil Rights Attorney Mark Merin next TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013 AT 4PM at the SACRAMENTO FEDERAL COURTHOUSE (501 " I " Street, Sacramento, CA 95814) as we file our lawsuit and stand united against SCUSD's intentional discrimination and violation of our cmty civil rights!!! This press conference and ral... more »

Bobby Kennedy, Roy Lichtenstein, and the Horrors of 1968 |

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Bobby Kennedy, Roy Lichtenstein, and the Horrors of 1968 |: Bobby Kennedy, Roy Lichtenstein, and the Horrors of 1968 by Angus Johnston In the spring of 1968 Robert F. Kennedy was running an insurgent anti-war candidacy for the presidency of the United States. Late to declare and hobbled by an archaic Democratic Party nominating system (the primaries would be dramatically revamped and expanded for 1972), the slain president’s younger brother had nonetheless by late May managed to garner huge attention, win a string of state contests, and — some argue — position himself for a shot at ... more »

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

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Paul Thomas: When Innovation Looks Like the Status Quo by dianerav Paul Thomas analyzes the latest plan to save the D.C. Public schools, this one prepared by a law firm on behalf of City Councilmember David Catania. Thomas finds that it is just as innovative, perhaps even more innovative, than past innovations. On the other hand, it might be somewhat less innovative than past innovations. But what is clear is that it uses all the same tools, the same carrots and ... more »

Trumball School’s historic WPA murals threatened by CPS. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Trumball School’s historic WPA murals threatened by CPS. | Fred Klonsky: Trumball School’s historic WPA murals threatened by CPS. by Fred Klonsky Popout. Of the many outrages connected to the largest public school closings in American history, we may now be adding to the list the destruction of part of the city’s cultural heritage. CPS has one of the country’s largest collections of WPA-era murals. Over the past decade these murals have been in the process of restoration after

Corporations Hijack the First Amendment | toteachornototeach

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Corporations Hijack the First Amendment | toteachornototeach: Corporations Hijack the First Amendment by aristotlethewise *The Right to Evade Regulation How corporations hijacked the First Amendment* by Tim Wu Every time you fill a prescription at a drug store like Walgreens, the pharmacy keeps a record of the transaction, noting information such as your name, the drug, the dosage, and the issuing doctor. It’s a routine bit of bookkeeping, and for a long time it raised few eyebrows. Then a firm called IMS Health starting buying up the data. Mining pharmacy records, the company asse... more »

It’s about time! Reforming due process in Special Education | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

It’s about time! Reforming due process in Special Education | EdSource Today: It’s about time! Reforming due process in Special Education - by Miriam Kurtzig Freedman by Miriam Kurtzig Freedman [image: Miriam Kurtzig Freedman] Miriam Kurtzig Freedman In the long saga of education reform, with all its talk, writing and action, Special Education has been largely on the back burner. Reformers seemed afraid to touch it—until now. The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) recently issued a ground-breaking and controversial report, Rethinking Special Education Due Process... more »

Obama ConnectED Initiative Aims To Get Classrooms Online

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Obama ConnectED Initiative Aims To Get Classrooms Online: Obama ConnectED Initiative Aims To Get Classrooms Online by Joy Resmovits [image: Obama Connected] President Barack Obama imagines a country where teachers know what's happening in their students' brains. He wants "teachers to have an ability to assess learning hour by hour and day by day," a senior White House official said Wednesday. "That vision ... is really not possible with the connectivity we have today." That's why on Thursday Obama will speak at a school in Mooresville, N.C., to unveil an initiative that adims to g... more »

Time to make Brown's school funding reforms work: Editorial - LA Daily News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Time to make Brown's school funding reforms work: Editorial - LA Daily News: Time to make Brown's school funding reforms work: Editorial By Los Angeles News Group Posted: 06/04/2013 07:02:13 PM PDT Updated: 06/04/2013 07:03:54 PM PDT The new school funding formula proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown is a thoughtful approach, more logical and democratic than its predecessor, and a good start on reforming a broken system. Naturally, the response from leaders of many cash-starved local school districts has been: What's in it for us? Districts' concerns are not unreasonable. But as negot... more »

NYC Educator: June 2015

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

NYC Educator: June 2015: June 2015 by NYC Educator After two years of John King's brilliant new evaluation plan, every single teacher in NY has been fired, except for E4E members, who have now all moved into administration. With hundreds of new administrators having been hired, it proved very easy to do the observations required under King's decree. Mayor Christine Quinn commented, "This has been a tough transition. It's disappointing to discover that every single working teacher was ineffective, but it's important we put Students First, Always, and to that end, we are turning all... more »

Mother Crusader: The Many Guises Of K12 Inc. In New Jersey

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Mother Crusader: The Many Guises Of K12 Inc. In New Jersey: The Many Guises Of K12 Inc. In New Jersey by darciecima John Mooney over at NJ Spotlight wrote a great piece yesterday about Commissioner Cerf's stunning denial of K12 Inc.'s New Jersey Virtual Academy Charter School (NJVACS). In the "Related Links" he included NJVACS Board President Michael Pallante's response letter, which was not only pretty spicy, it was pretty revealing, too. However, despite making ourselves available to you and your staff at every turn, attending every training, *providing testimony at Board and l... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: In L.A. a shift at the top of school takeover group

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Schooling in the Ownership Society: In L.A. a shift at the top of school takeover group: In L.A. a shift at the top of school takeover group by Mike Klonsky Broad-trained Sullivan takes over as head of L.A. "turnaround" groupOutgoing Mayor Villaraigosa pulled a fast one on newly-elected mayor Eric Garcetti. He brought in a new manager, trained by the Broad Foundation, to run the corporate reform/school privatization group, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, less than a month before Garcetti was to be sworn in as mayor. Joan Sullivan, currently Villaraigosa's deputy mayor for educ... more »

A critique of how DCPS is implementing Common Core

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

A critique of how DCPS is implementing Common Core: A critique of how DCPS is implementing Common Core By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 6, 2013 at 5:00 amE-mail the writer 4 Comments More [image: (commoncore.org)_] (corestandards.org) Education Week is now publishing reporter Catherine Gewertz’ interesting four-part series chronicling how D.C. Public Schools is implementing the Common Core State Standards. Here’s a critique of the approach DCPS is taking in this task, by Lisa Hansel is the director of communications for the Core Knowledge Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the id... more »

Google Hangout: Students Talk Social Media in Education Student Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Student Voice: Google Hangout: Students Talk Social Media in Education by admin *About the Student Voice Google Hangouts* Student Voice is launching an On Air Google Hangout series that will bring together students and other stakeholders in the education field for a face to face conversation. The hangouts will allow students to connect with their peers from across the globe and present action-oriented conversation to the Student Voice community that expands upon the 140 characters of our weekly #StuVoice Twitter chats. *Learning in the 21st Century: Social Media in Education* Stud... more »

RALLY THURS 3:30PM – Castlemont High Staff, Teachers, Students Outraged by Neglect and Threats of Closure | Classroom Struggle

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

RALLY THURS 3:30PM – Castlemont High Staff, Teachers, Students Outraged by Neglect and Threats of Closure | Classroom Struggle: RALLY THURS 3:30PM – Castlemont High Staff, Teachers, Students Outraged by Neglect and Threats of Closure by ClassroomStruggle This press release was sent to us by staff at Castlemont who are organizing a rally with students to demand the district provide them with equitable resources and a guarantee their school wil not be closed. They are asking for supporters to join them for their rally at 3:30pm tomorrow. More information follows… *FOR IMMEDIATE RELE... more »

Teacher Pension Funds Hit District Budgets, Fordham Report Says

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

Teacher Pension Funds Hit District Budgets, Fordham Report Says: Teacher Pension Funds Hit District Budgets, Fordham Report Says by Joy Resmovits [image: Teacher Pension Funds Fordham] School districts across the country are so hobbled by the recession that they've increased class sizes, closed buildings and scaled back pre-kindergarten programs. Some have closed for summer a month early. Despite an economic recovery, the worst days are yet to come, according to a new report. Unfunded liabilities from teacher pensions have been eating away at school district budgets. And because o... more »

The Educated Reporter: New Report: High School Graduation Rate Continues Uptick, Nears 75 percent

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

The Educated Reporter: New Report: High School Graduation Rate Continues Uptick, Nears 75 percent: New Report: High School Graduation Rate Continues Uptick, Nears 75 percent by Emily Richmond The nation’s high school graduation rate is approaching 75 percent, its highest rate in 40 years, according to a new report from Education Week. Of course, that good news must be tempered with a sobering statistic – an estimated 1 million students will fail to graduate this year, a loss of 5,500 students for every day on the academic calendar. The annual Diplomas Count report tracks graduatio... more »

‘Hope Against Hope’: A community’s painful struggle over school reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

‘Hope Against Hope’: A community’s painful struggle over school reform: ‘Hope Against Hope’: A community’s painful struggle over school reform By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 5, 2013 at 11:00 pmE-mail the writer 0 Comments More [image: hope]In her new book, veteran education journalist Sarah Carr attempts to tell the controversial story of New Orleansschools post-Hurricane Katrina from the ground up, focusing primarily on affected families and educators. “Hope Against Hope: Three Schools, One City, and the Struggle to Educate America’s Children” tracks a struggling family at one ... more »

Update and Next Steps to Rebuild Adult Ed | Classroom Struggle

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago

Update and Next Steps to Rebuild Adult Ed | Classroom Struggle: Update and Next Steps to Rebuild Adult Ed by ClassroomStruggle Dear supporters of Classroom Struggle and Public Education in Oakland, We won $1 million dollars for Adult Ed! This is definitely a partial victory, and we should celebrate this, since it was direct action and leadership on the part of parents and teachers which won it. But we also need to be clear about the limitations of every victory. Thank you all for coming out on Wednesday, 5/22. We have included a detailed overview of what happened on at the school bo... more »

Remembering Bobby - The Greatest Speech Ever - Robert F Kennedy Announcing The Death Of Mart...

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

April 4th, 1968 Martin Luther King was shot and killed. On that night, Robert F Kennedy, New York's senator back then, wanted to deliver the news to the people of Indianapolis, IN Local police warned him, they won't be able to provide protection if the people wold riot because he was in the heart of the African-American ghetto. He wrote his notes on his ride and started the speech without any drafts or prewritten words before his assistance would give him their proposed draft. This speech was delivered on a back of a Flatbed truck. Although all major cities had riots, Indianapolis... more »

Daily Kos: Leadership for Educational Equity - the master plan for Teach for America

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Daily Kos: Leadership for Educational Equity - the master plan for Teach for America: Leadership for Educational Equity - the master plan for Teach for America by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Those who have been paying attention know that some years ago Teach for America ceased being an organization providing bright students from good colleges to fill in at schools where there were a lack of certified teachers to being an organization that serves as a way-station on the way to other careers. What many may not realize is how formalized this has become, not merely with the prefere... more »

A Special Message to Grown Ups. Love, Kids

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Who will cure cancer? Who will solve the energy crisis or lead our country in the Oval Office? Every kid should have the chance! Early education, healthy foods and challenging, fun classes are just a few of the ingredients we need so all kids have an opportunity to learn and succeed. Join the Opportunity to Learn Campaign and help ensure every kid has the same chance. National Opportunity to Learn Campaign: https://www.facebook.com/OpportunityT... Visit to learn more: http://soulpancake.com/opportunitygap

Parents and students rip Ohio school board over creationism proposal | The Raw Story

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Parents and students rip Ohio school board over creationism proposal | The Raw Story: Parents and students rip Ohio school board over creationism proposal by Eric W. Dolan [image: Ohio student screenshot] Parents and students in Ohio on Tuesday spoke out against a proposal that would allow creationism to be taught in biology classes. “It’s not fair that you would teach or have a teacher give their opinion on creationism because it’s such a subjective thing. You can’t give an objective viewpoint on any of them and, ultimately, I don’t feel like any of the people here are prepared or... more »

California to receive largest share of proposed Universal Preschool funds | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

California to receive largest share of proposed Universal Preschool funds | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: California to receive largest share of proposed Universal Preschool funds by Deepa Fernandes [image: California Children's Academy Budget Cuts Preschool Education] *Josiah Robinson, left, and Tiffany Morales play before nap time at Jardín de Niños in Lincoln Heights.; Credit: Mae Ryan/KPCC* California is expected to receive the most federal funding of any state in the country under President Obama's "Preschool For All" proposal. The state will receive $334 million for the first year to... more »

Ed Notes Online: Who Do You Trust, Your Principal or Your 3rd Graders?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Ed Notes Online: Who Do You Trust, Your Principal or Your 3rd Graders?: Who Do You Trust, Your Principal or Your 3rd Graders? by ed notes online *In the midst of shame: The single best evaluation I ever received and more value from a child than I ever got from a supervisor.* My vote goes to the 3rd graders -- hands down. I know we are all having some fun at this provision in the John King dictum and given the understanding that King's motives are designed to degrade the teacher, I would trust the views of kids about me as a teacher even though it can be oh so easy to manipulate th... more »

One of the Biggest Bullies — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

One of the Biggest Bullies — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Richard Cardillo]One of the Biggest Bullies June 5, 2013 by Richard Cardillo The vast majority of our work at the National School Climate Center (NSCC) revolves around three core efforts: - Assessment of school climate; - Transformational work with schools and districts to promote school climate improvement; and - Sustainability efforts that promote policy, encourage and empower new leaders, and support research. Yet, when I first speak to people about what we do, the inevitable conclusio... more »

NCLB's Critical Design Flaw and the Lesson to Take :: Frederick M. Hess

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

NCLB's Critical Design Flaw and the Lesson to Take :: Frederick M. Hess: NCLB's Critical Design Flaw and the Lesson to Take *by Frederick M. Hess • Jun 5, 2013 at 4:20 pm Cross-posted from Education Week* Print Send RSS [image: Share] Share So, looks like we're getting back into NCLB reauthorization mode. I laid out some of the broad context on Monday. While nobody is thrilled with NCLB, there are concerns that the Senate Republicans are going to go too far in "retreating" from the appropriate federal role. Today, I want to set aside for the moment philosophical arguments about th... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-5-13 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: More about Michael Weston on This Teacher-Run Site by dianerav This website was created by teachers for teachers. It alerted me to Michael Weston’s firing by his principal in Hillsborough Country, Florida. Should Teachers Have Freedom of Speech? Hillsborough County, Florida, Says No by dianerav Teacher Mike Weston is running for school board. He teaches math at Freedom High in Hillsborough County, Florida. That is, he used to teach math at Freedom High. He was fired by his principal. Freedom High doesn’t think highly... more »

The Disturbing Inequities of the New Normal | School Finance 101

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The Disturbing Inequities of the New Normal | School Finance 101: The Disturbing Inequities of the New Normal by schoolfinance101 I wrote a post a while back, providing an overview of the basics of state school finance formulas, reforms and why they matter. I revisit this post having how conducted more extensive analysis of the retreat from school funding equity over the period from 2005 through 2011 (most recent available federal school finance data). Let’s begin with a review of my previous post. *School Funding Formula Basics* Modern state school finance formulas – aid distribut... more »

Don’t blame Mississippi’s working moms for state’s education woes | Hechinger Report

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Don’t blame Mississippi’s working moms for state’s education woes | Hechinger Report: Don’t blame Mississippi’s working moms for state’s education woes by Liz Willen Let’s take a hard look at some facts about education in the poor and largely rural state of Mississippi. Nearly seven percent of adults in the state have less than a ninth-grade education. At least 15 percent of all adults in the state are illiterate, with the percentage approaching twice that in some of the state’s poorest and most rural counties. Gov. Phil Bryant [image: Gov. Phil Bryant]The state ranks 48th in an annu... more »

The End of the Beginning for Common Core | Jay P. Greene's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The End of the Beginning for Common Core | Jay P. Greene's Blog: The End of the Beginning for Common Core The folks at Pioneer have landed another blow against Common Core in the mainstream Conservative press. This time Jim Stergios and Jamie Gass have a lengthy piece in the *Weekly Standard* detailing the start of troubles for Common Core, both substantively and politically. This follows on a piece by Gass and Charles Chieppo in the *Wall Street Journal* earlier this week. A central part of the strategy for Common Core was to create the impression that it was inevitable, so ever... more »