Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education

NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:




TODAY

Audit Reveals Systemic, Widespread Problems In Louisiana’s School Voucher Program | CenLamar
by Lamar White, Jr. Mr. Varney obviously didn’t bother to read the audits. It was far easier for him to take Superintendent White’s word for it, shine up some fuzzy math, and recite a litany of conservative talking points on “school choice” than it was for him to actually do his homework. After reading the ...read moreThe post Audit Reveals Systemic, Widespread Problems In Louisiana’s School Vouch
Appeals Court Upholds State Control of Newark Schools | New Jersey Spotlight
by John Mooney – A state appellate court yesterday gave a big boost to the Christie administration – and future administrations – when it comes to control of the state’s most troubled school districts. In a strongly worded decision, the three-member court rejected an appeal by Newark’s local school board and a group of community ...read moreThe post Appeals Court Upholds State Control of Newark Sc
Alternative Grad School Raises Concerns About Who’s Teaching NJ’s Teachers | New Jersey Spotlight
by John Mooney – The Christie administration has conditionally approved New Jersey’s first graduate education program not affiliated with an in-state college or university, stirring up the state’s teacher education establishment in the process. Related Links Hendricks Letter to Relay Cantu Consultant Report New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Letter The pushback is ...read mor
Make Big Money Building Charter Schools: Joe Bruno Shows You How! | Jersey Jazzman
by Jersey Jazzman – Over the past month I’ve been telling the story of the misogynist rapper Pitbull, his new charter school in Miami, and his speech before the 2013 National Charter Schools Convention. I pointed out that Kevin Chavous, board chair of the very reformy group Democrats For Education Reform, apparently both embraces the values espoused by ...read moreThe post Make Big Money Building
MLK Does TFA | EduShyster
by EduShyster – Long before Martin Luther King Jr. became the most ‘liked’ civil rights leader in Facebook history he was just another well-connected college graduate from out-of-town. Which raises an obvious and interesting question: were MLK alive today, would he do what thousands of well-connected college grads have already done and Teach for America? ...read moreThe post MLK Does TFA | EduShys
My Very First Youtube Posting | deutsch29
by Mercedes Schneider – Dr. Raynard Sanders of the New Orleans Imperative radio program (theneworleansimperative.org; WBOK1230am.com) invited me to speak on his hour-long show about school performance scores, the Recovery School District (RSD) and Teach for America (TFA). I spoke for about 20 minutes; then, phone lines were opened for a few callers. I spoke ...read moreThe post My Very First Youtu
Blinded by the Stereotype Spotlight | the becoming radical
by plthomasedd – Why are drug sweeps routinely conducted by police in high-poverty minority neighborhoods and not dorms on college campuses? Why was shooting victim Trayvon Martin drug tested, and his shooter, George Zimmerman, not tested? Why are Teach for America recruits, with no formal training as teachers, allowed to teach high-poverty minority students, often in ...read moreThe post Blinded
Teach For America critics gathering to organize resistance | The Answer Sheet – The Washington Post
by Valerie Strauss – Teach For America alumni and students of corps members who are critical of TFA are holding this weekend what amounts to the first national assembly aimed at organizing resistance to the organization that is popular with school reformers. The anti-TFA assembly is part of the Free Minds, Free People national conference starting ...read moreThe post Teach For America critics gath
NY Times: The Destruction of North Carolina’s Progressive Legacy | Diane Ravitch’s blog
by Diane Ravitch – The New York Times wrote a searing critique of the slash-and-burn policies of North Carolina’s governor and legislature. What was once one of the south’s most forward-looking states is rapidly being decimated into a hard, mean backwater. As we have learned over recent months, the legislature has imposed deep budget cuts ...read moreThe post NY Times: The Destruction of North Car
Sorry, You Missed Today’s Symposium about Cashing in on the Charter Sector | Diane Ravitch’s blog
by Diane Ravitch – If only I had known sooner, I would have posted the announcement of today’s symposium. Yes! There is money to be made by investing in charter schools! It’s all about the children! It’s the civil rights issue of our time! And a great investment too!! “Bonds and Blackboards: Investing in Charter ...read moreThe post Sorry, You Missed Today’s Symposium about Cashing in on the Chart
What Einstein Said About Standardization | Diane Ravitch’s blog
by Robert Shepherd; posted by Diane Ravitch – Robert Shepherd was pleased that Susan Ohanian joined the honor roll of the blog. He wrote this: “Susan Ohanian’s website is a garden of many, many delights. I love this bit she posted from Albert Einstein, who was a pretty bright guy (and who had some truly ...read moreThe post What Einstein Said About Standardization | Diane Ravitch’s blog appeared f
To fix schools, parents and citizens need to lead the way: Commentary | Syracuse Post-Standard
by Michael Gilbert – This commentary is in response to the ongoing debate regarding the performance and behavior of students in our public schools. The recent focus on school suspension is not an issue about race and detracts from the real underlying issues. It is a symptom of a much greater problem in communities across ...read moreThe post To fix schools, parents and citizens need to lead the wa