Michigan Senate Bars Funding of Common Core Implentation
Last week, when the Michigan elite had its meet at Mackinac Island, Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee warned about the importance of adopting Common Core. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, who is a fervent opponent of public schools, has already endorsed the Common Core in a meeting with Arne Duncan.
But the Michigan state senate passed a budget bill that prevents the Michigan Department of Education from spending money on the Common Core.
But the Michigan state senate passed a budget bill that prevents the Michigan Department of Education from spending money on the Common Core.
Philadelphia’s Mayor Nutter Bets on Privatization
An earlier post today described the devastating budget cuts to public education by Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Corbett. Districts across the state are laying off staff, cutting librarians, teachers of the arts, and school nurses and guidance counselors. No city has been harder hit than Philadelphia, which has been under state control for over a decade. The following commentary was written by Ken Derstine, a retired teacher in Philadelphia.
Ken writes:
Philadelphia’s Democratic Mayor Nutter’s role in these events should be noted. Nutter, currently the President of
Ken writes:
Philadelphia’s Democratic Mayor Nutter’s role in these events should be noted. Nutter, currently the President of
Pennsylvania Parents Mobilize to Protest Governor Corbett’s Budget Cuts
Pennsylvania blogger Yinzercation reports that parents and concerned citizens are pressing their legislators to reverse Governor Corbett’s policy of defunding public schools.
Philadelphia has been under state control for a decade. Now parents and activists are demanding the restoration of a democratically elected board. The School Reform Commission “passed a draconian budget, wiping out public education as we know it. The plan cuts 3,000 more employees (including teachers); completely eliminates counselors, librarians, and secretaries; provides only one nurse for every 1,500 students; and gets rid of athletics, music, and art. [Philly.com, 6-4-13] As Philly parents have pointed out, this is a plan to warehouse
Philadelphia has been under state control for a decade. Now parents and activists are demanding the restoration of a democratically elected board. The School Reform Commission “passed a draconian budget, wiping out public education as we know it. The plan cuts 3,000 more employees (including teachers); completely eliminates counselors, librarians, and secretaries; provides only one nurse for every 1,500 students; and gets rid of athletics, music, and art. [Philly.com, 6-4-13] As Philly parents have pointed out, this is a plan to warehouse
The Inside Story of a Green Dot Charter School
Green Dot Public Schools, Teacher Retention, and the Failure of Past Models
By Brett Wyatt
This is a story of a charter school in the Green Dot Public School system which, after four years of operation, is coming to an inglorious end. It is not an end to the system, or even to school itself, but an end in name and in so many exhausted careers used by Green Dot to experiment with failed policies in Watts, California.
The original Locke High School, like so many schools centered in poverty and neglect, had many systemic problems. Green Dot, a charter school system headed by Marco Petruzzi, requested to administer the school in
By Brett Wyatt
This is a story of a charter school in the Green Dot Public School system which, after four years of operation, is coming to an inglorious end. It is not an end to the system, or even to school itself, but an end in name and in so many exhausted careers used by Green Dot to experiment with failed policies in Watts, California.
The original Locke High School, like so many schools centered in poverty and neglect, had many systemic problems. Green Dot, a charter school system headed by Marco Petruzzi, requested to administer the school in
Sirota: What “Reformers” Really Want
David Sirota sees the current disastrous era of school “reform” as a shell game that blames teachers and schools while diverting the gaze of the public from the root causes of poor academic performance.
Persist. This too shall pass.
Persist. This too shall pass.
North Carolina: Public Schools First Rallies Against Cuts
ACTION ALERT!
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Help Us Deliver 15,000+ Signatures
to Governor McCrory on Thursday!
It’s time to wake up the people of North Carolina and let them know that our public schools are in danger! Pending bills in the General Assembly could devastate our schools as we know them — lifting the cap on classroom sizes, eliminating classroom positions, slashing eligibility for Pre-K, authorizing vouchers that send public money to private/religious schools, and funneling public money into for-profit schools with no oversight.
Join us for a press conference and rally as we deliver our petition to Governor Pat McCrory! Children are especially welcome to join us — let’s show our lawmakers who will pay the price if they go through with these
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Help Us Deliver 15,000+ Signatures
to Governor McCrory on Thursday!
It’s time to wake up the people of North Carolina and let them know that our public schools are in danger! Pending bills in the General Assembly could devastate our schools as we know them — lifting the cap on classroom sizes, eliminating classroom positions, slashing eligibility for Pre-K, authorizing vouchers that send public money to private/religious schools, and funneling public money into for-profit schools with no oversight.
Join us for a press conference and rally as we deliver our petition to Governor Pat McCrory! Children are especially welcome to join us — let’s show our lawmakers who will pay the price if they go through with these
This Letter About Corporate Involvement in Education Policy Should Go Viral
Paul Horton, a history teacher at the University of Chicago Lab School, wrote a letter to Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), when the Senator announced his intention to retire.
Horton asked whether the senator was aware of the corporate influence on Race to the Top and the Common Core standards.
Horton told the senator that critics of these programs are not extremists:
“In fact…critics of the RTTT mandates and the CCS come from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and
Horton asked whether the senator was aware of the corporate influence on Race to the Top and the Common Core standards.
Horton told the senator that critics of these programs are not extremists:
“In fact…critics of the RTTT mandates and the CCS come from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and
Maine Legislature Enacts Moratorium on Virtual Schools
Although K12 Inc. and Pearson’s Connections Academy have lobbied for approval of virtual for-profit charter schools in Maine, the state senate voted 22-13 to put a freeze on them until further study about their effectiveness. The vote fell two short of the 24 needed to override a veto by Governor Paul LePage, a recipient of campaign contributions from the online industry.
Lobbying by the online industry and ties between former Governor Jeb Bush and the LePage administration were
Lobbying by the online industry and ties between former Governor Jeb Bush and the LePage administration were
TFA Grooms a Néw Elite
Teach for America began with a worthy goal: to supply bright, idealistic college graduates to serve in poor children in urban and rural districts.
But then it evolved into something with grand ambitions: to groom the leaders who would one day control American education.
This article describes the little-known political arm of TFA. TFA alums have begun the long march through the
But then it evolved into something with grand ambitions: to groom the leaders who would one day control American education.
This article describes the little-known political arm of TFA. TFA alums have begun the long march through the
Cerf Denies Approval for Online Charters in New Jersey
In a sign that informed opposition makes a difference, New Jersey State Commissioner Chris Cerf denied approval to two virtual charter schools.
“A year ago the two charters — a K-12 school in Newark and a high school for dropouts in Monmouth and Ocean Counties — appeared poised to become the state’s first all-online programs. Both had received preliminary approval from the Christie administration.
“But support slowly wilted over the past year, as community and political opposition mounted. And K12 Inc., the nation’s largest online education firm, was connected with both charter applications as well, prompting debate
“A year ago the two charters — a K-12 school in Newark and a high school for dropouts in Monmouth and Ocean Counties — appeared poised to become the state’s first all-online programs. Both had received preliminary approval from the Christie administration.
“But support slowly wilted over the past year, as community and political opposition mounted. And K12 Inc., the nation’s largest online education firm, was connected with both charter applications as well, prompting debate
Diane in the Evening Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Ellen Lubic: Whom Can We Trust? by dianerav Ellen Lubic of UCLA writes in response to an earlier post which asserted that the goal of corporate reform is gentrification, not education reform: In support of what is being posited here, one only needs to review the landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2005 in the case of Kelo vs. City of New London. It is referred to as the “reverse Robin Hood case where land is taken from the poor and given to the rich.” In this case a privately owned shopping center was taken by eminen... more »
