Pa Supt: State Funding Is Criminal Negligence
At a discussion of equity and excellence in education in Pennsylvania, John Sarandrea, the superintendent of the Néw Castle district, said: “I don’t have any problems saying this, because it’s true: Poor kids are getting the shaft right now,” he said to loud applause from the audience. “How can you possibly not invest in these children early, knowing what will be the outcome if you don’t?” Sarand
Major DFER Leader Supports Spitzer
This is a twist. Boykin Curry, a major hedge fund manager and Wall Street power broker, sent out an email endorsing Eliot Spitzer, the disgraced ex-governor who is running for City Comptroller. Curry was happy with Spitzer when he was governor because he was very supportive of charter schools. Spitzer resigned the governorship after it was revealed that he paid prostitutes on numerous occasions. N
Gary Rubinstein: Who Supports the Status Quo?
This is one of Gary Rubinstein’s best posts, wherein he challenges the new co-leader of Teach for America to give more thought to his facile reference to “the status quo.” The post follows some tweets between Gary and Matt Kramer. Gary explains that those who disagree with TFA are not defending the status quo. Gary writes: “I could easily make a list of things that I’d like to change. I could bo
How Choice Schools “Hitchhike” in Ohio
Ohio has a thriving choice sector, but neither vouchers nor charters have ever been approved by voters. Legislators know that the public–nearly 90% in public schools–would not support funding vouchers or charters and never has. So they find clever ways to establish choice programs and fund them without asking the voters’ opinions. Currently, as the post below shows, legislators have figured out h
Why Did the U.S. Department of Education Abandon Student Privacy Rights?
In 2009 and again in 2011, the U.S. Department of Education changed the regulations in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), making it easier for third parties to gain access to private information about students. The DOE is being sued by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) on behalf of student privacy. Arguments will be presented on July 24 in federal district court.
Newark’s Teachers’ Village: Your Tax Dollars at Work for TFA
Jersey Jazzman reports in excruciating detail about Teach for America’s bold plan to expand in New Jersey, which seems to happen most often in states with rightwing governors and/or legislatures. Their expansion is linked with a $150 million development in Newark that will build three new charter schools and provide low-rent housing for their teachers. One of the major backers is Goldman Sachs, wh
A New Film That Celebrates the Success of Public Schools
In this essay, Peter Dreier contrasts the films of the corporate reformers with a new film that shows the struggles, challenges, and successes of an American public school. Dreier usefully follows the money behind the corporate-funded films “Waiting for Superman” and “Won’t Back Down.” The common link between them is Walden Media, owned by arch-reactionary Philip Anschutz. Dreier writes: “It is
Louisiana Will Test 3- and 4-Year Olds
Louisiana will begin testing large numbers of preschool children this fall to determine their academic readiness. If they are found to be not ready, it is not clear who will be held accountable: their teachers? Their families? “The goal, they say, is to create a grading system like the current School Performance Score reports for public elementary and secondary schools, which are ranked for stud
Diane in the Evening 7-23-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Before Detroit’s Fire Sale Begins, Call the ExpertsWith bankruptcy looming, buzzards are flying by to pick meat off the Motor City’s bones. Before they do, someone should talk to experts on the dangers of privatization: Contact: Richard Allen Smith July 23, 2013 rasmith@inthepublicinterest.org **** MEDIA AVAILABILITY**** As Detroit
