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Duncan Urges Pennsylvania Officials to Act to Save Philly Schools
Secretary Arne Duncan publicly urged Pennsylvania officials to take action to save the public schools of Philadelphia.
Breaking News: Deasy Critic Wins L.A. Board Presidency
In a changing of the regime, the leadership of the Los Angeles school board changed hands. Six-term president Monica Garcia is out. Dr. Richard Vladovic was elected as president, with Steve Zimmer as vice-president. Garcia was a close ally of Mayor Villaraigosa.
Why Is TFA Replacing the Mississippi Teacher Corps?
In response to news that the Walton Family Foundation awarded $4.3 million to Teach for America to send its ill-trained recruits to the Delta, a reader sent this comment: What upset me most about this award was that the Mississippi Delta is served by our own Mississippi Teacher Corps, which provides more summer training than TFA and a lot more support during the school year. It also requires that
Governor Corbett to Public Schools: Sorry.
Governor Tom Corbett passed a budget that shows his disdain for public education, I.e., the future of the state. Philadelphia got the back of his hand. The burden of paying down the debt created by the state’s own School Reform Commission (which reforms nothing) will be placed on the working class, while big corporations skip away with no responsibility. One plan, says columnist Will Bunch, is t
The Empire Strikes Back Against Kids Who Opt Out Of State Tests
The New York City Department of Education is treating students who boycott state tests as failures and requiring them to go to summer school if they hope to be promoted. Even if their teacher recommends them for promotion, they will be punished. There are consequences for those who defy the DOE.
Three Dozen People Rally to Support Vallas
In a surging groundswell of support, about three dozen people rallied for ousted Bridgeport superintendent Paul Vallas. The meeting was held in a church led by the president of the Board that appointed Vallas. The mayor of the city, Vallas’ strongest supporter, spoke on his behalf. Mayor Finch is hoping that Vallas will do for Bridgeport what he did for Chicago, Philadelphia, and Néw Orleans.
Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst Fundraising Falls Flat
When Michelle Rhee announced on “Oprah” the creation of her group called “StudentsFirst,” she said she would raise $1 billion in one year. Then she backtracked and said she would raise that amount in five years. Joy Resmovits of Huffington Post got copies of the group’s tax forms (which are made public), and Rhee is far short of her goal. “In the fiscal year starting August 1, 2011 and ending Ju
Joel Klein Intervenes in NYC Mayor Race to Defend Record
Joel Klein lambasted the Democratic candidates in the race to succeed Mayor Bloomberg for their criticism of his policies. Klein defended the policy of giving free public space to charters, even though many of the charters have billionaires on their boards. He also defended his record of closing schools with low test scores even though many of the replacement schools exclude low-scoring students.
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-2-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Letter from a Pennsylvania Student: Stop the Keystones!A reader sent this letter written by her 14-year-old daughter. She should become active in the opt-out movement. She should contact Tim Slekar and Shaun Johnson “At the Chalkface.” Mother and daughter: resist. Join with others. Don’t let them destroy your education in the name