N.J. Poll: Parent Involvement, Not Vouchers, Key to School Reform - K-12 Parents and the Public - Education Week: N.J. Poll: Parent Involvement, Not Vouchers, Key to School ReformBy Karla Scoon Reid on September 13, 2013 11:34 AM | 1 Comment"they are buying our BS about vouchers"New Jersey voters cite parent involvement as the most crucial factor in resolving the state's public school pr

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: KrazyTA on Arne Duncan’s RhetoricOur frequent commenter KrazyTA was not pleased when Arne Duncan told California it could not stop state testing while introducing Common Core testing. This was his observation: This latest statement by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan needs to be viewed in context. If you read his speech to the Ap

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: AQUINO IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR: Broad Academy Class of ’08, Pearson employee, Teacher of the Year, Chapter Chair: AQUINO IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR: Broad Academy Class of ’08, Pearson employee, Teacher of the Year, Chapter ChairMore on Dr. Jaime Aquino, who resigned from the #2 post -  “LAUSD’s Highest-Ranking Instructional Leader” - at LAUSD today.Aquino

An Evening with Diane Ravitch at Memorial Auditorium | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education: An Evening with Diane Ravitch at Memorial AuditoriumAn Evening with Diane Ravitch, educational blogger and authorMemorial Auditorium1515 J Street, Sacamento, CA  95814Friday, Sept. 27, 20136:30-8:30 pm.Tickets are $5.For additional information, contact Sacramento City Teachers Association – 91

In Massachusetts, Education Innovation is in Full Force | NEA Today: In Massachusetts, Education Innovation is in Full ForceSeptember 13, 2013 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top Stories1 CommentBy Brenda ÁlvarezThe final leg of NEA’s 2013 Back-to-School tour came to a close in Massachusetts, where NEA President Dennis Van Roekel received a healthy dose of student-centered, union-led change

NYC Educator: UFT's Defense of APPR Examined: UFT's Defense of APPR ExaminedUFT negotiated and supported the law that ushered in the odious new evaluation system, which has everyone freaked-out. Their advice to freaked-out teachers is "Calm down."  The argument leadership offers in favor of the new system is this--under the old system the principal, alone, determined whether you are sati

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: No Safe Passage for  JavierCarmelita Rice told police her son, Javier Cameron, was passing by outside Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy around 7:45 p.m. Thursday to walk two girls home. NBC Chicago reports on his way, Javier was approached by two boys in a gangway who then asked if he belonged to a specific gang. -- Huff Post ChicagoGuzzardi kicks off his campaignGuzzardiS

Tennessee school superintendents protest against state ed chief: Tennessee school superintendents protest against state ed chiefBy Valerie Strauss, Published: September 13 at 1:59 pmE-mail the writerTennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman (www.tn.gov)A number of school superintendents in Tennessee have signed on to a letter that asks Gov. Bill Haslam (R) to force the state’s education commi

The Network For Public Education | Infographic: Don’t believe the HOAX: Infographic: Don’t believe the HOAX

CTA/CFT Applaud the Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Lawmakers for their Commitment to California’s Students and Educators - California Teachers Association: CTA/CFT Applaud the Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Lawmakers for their Commitment to California’s Students and EducatorsContact: Claudia Briggs, CTA at (916) 296-4087 and Fred Glass, CFT at (510) 579-3343

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core "Rigor" Nonsense Talking Points. Blah blah blah blah blah.: Common Core "Rigor" Nonsense Talking Points. Blah blah blah blah blah.Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookThis is the definition of Common Core rigor.Read this blog's Common Core definition of rigor.  From Beyond the “Rigor” Buzz: Myths and Truths about Rigor in

Arne Duncan’s letter to senators on Obamacare: Arne Duncan’s letter to senators on ObamacareBy Valerie Strauss, Published: September 13 at 12:06 pmE-mail the writerEducation Secretary Arne Duncan sent a letter this week to Republican senators who asked him what his department was doing to help the Obama administration promote its health-care initiative when enrollment begins Oct. 1.The answer to t

Undermining Student Improvement | Connected Principals: Undermining Student ImprovementSeptember 13, 2013By Johnny BevacquaOriginally posted on Figuring It Out by J. Bevacqua  I am beginning to wonder if, in my earnest desire to to do what what’s best for kids and their learning, I have inadvertently enabled complacency and undermined improvement.Let me explain.Recently I have immersed myself in J

School jargon for parents: I can’t understand what my child’s teacher is saying. - Slate Magazine: Parents Left BehindHow public school reforms are turning American parents into dummies.By Dahlia Lithwick|Posted Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at 11:21 AMWhat are they trying to tell me?!?Photo by LuminaStock/ThinkstockWe’ve been hearing for decades about all the ways our public school system is failing

What the New York Times Left Out | Diane Ravitch: What the New York Times Left OutPosted: 09/12/2013 11:04 amYesterday, the New York Times published an article about my forthcoming book that turned out to be a profile of me. The reporter, Motoko Rich, did a good job of describing me, my dog Mitzi, and the basic facts of my unusual philosophical and political journey over the past few decades.The h

Michelle Rhee on AEA protest outside town hall meeting: teachers should be inside taking part in discussion (VIDEO) | al.com: Michelle Rhee on AEA protest outside town hall meeting: teachers should be inside taking part in discussion (VIDEO)Author and principal Steve Perry, education reformer Michelle Rhee and former head of the Washington, D.C. teacher's union George Parker discuss education refo

National union leader thwarted in school visit:  National union leader thwarted in school visit Randi Weingarten ,  national union president, with teacher John Larsen outside Lincoln High. RON TARVER / Staff Photographer Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer POSTED: Friday, September 13, 2013, 1:08 AM Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, got what she wanted

Not Falling Behind, But Pulling Apart: Race to the Top Reflects Broader U.S. Education Problems | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Not Falling Behind, But Pulling Apart: Race to the Top Reflects Broader U.S. Education ProblemsBy AASA, The School Superintendents Association on September 13, 2013By Elaine Weiss, National Coordinator, Broader, Bolder Approach to Education, and Noe

John Merrow Responds, and So Do I | deutsch29: John Merrow Responds, and So Do ISeptember 13, 2013Yesterday, I wrote a post about John Merrow’s decisions to both discontinue his reporting on Michelle Rhee, a damaging reformer whom his media attention helped create, and his creating a documentary in which he declares New Orleans schools a success. I showed that since 2004, Merrow has accepted appro

Bills Advance CCSS and NGSS - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): Legislature Passes Package of Bills Advancing Move to Common Core and Next Generation StandardsSACRAMENTO—Bills backed by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to take major steps forward in updating how schools prepare students for success in college and careers are now on their way to the Governor's desk, Torlakso

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAYThe Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing - Andrew Cohen - The AtlanticThe Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing - Andrew Cohen - The Atlantic: The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church BombingAppalled by the murder of four little girls, a white Alabaman spoke out against racism—and

The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing - Andrew Cohen - The Atlantic: The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church BombingAppalled by the murder of four little girls, a white Alabaman spoke out against racism—and was forever shunned for it. In the next few days, you are likely to be inundated with 50th anniversary reminiscences of the Birmingham church b

Wait What?: Meanwhile in Bridgeport… “Mayor Finch will hold on to Vallas as long as he can.”When Governor Malloy and Mayor Bill Finch tried to have the state takeover Bridgeport’s schools, The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled the move illegal. When Mayor Bill Finch tried to change the charter to do away with a democratically elected board of education and replace it with one appointed by him, the v

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Someone needed to Clean Up The Standardized Testing MessAre feds bluffing over school test issue?Education HeadlinesFriday, September 13, 2013Are feds bluffing over school test issue?Love or hate them, test scores have become an increasingly essential tool for communities — one that could soon take a hiatus in California over the objections o

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: Susan O to Vermont Politicos on Common CoreSusan’s op-ed is from VTDigger.org: Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Susan Ohanian of Charlotte [VT], a longtime teacher and author of 25 books on education policy and practice. Her website is at www.susanohanian.org. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest asked his state Department of Public Instruction 67 questions about the

Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office? - State EdWatch - Education Week: Tony Bennett's Newest Problem: Illegal Use of His Indiana Office?By Andrew Ujifusa on September 13, 2013 9:17 AMFormer Indiana K-12 boss Tony Bennett could be facing a fresh bout of trouble in light of a story about how he may have violated state law by using his public office for political purposes

Shanker Blog » A Path To Diversifying The Teaching Workforce: A Path To Diversifying The Teaching WorkforcePosted by Jose Vilson on September 13, 2013Our guest author today is Jose Vilson, a math educator, writer, and activist in a New York City public school. You can find more of his writing at http://thejosevilson.com and his book, This Is Not A Test, will be released in the spring of 2014.Travi

Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always on | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Researchers: bilingual brain doesn't switch, languages are always onAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | September 13th, 2013, 6:01amMaya Sugarman/KPCCLos Angeles County leads the state in the number of schools that offer bilingual education starting in kindergartenSince I’ve moved away from my Spanish-speaking relati

Advance Notices on Public Enemy | Bill Ayers: Advance Notices on Public EnemyAngela Davis:With incisive humor, Bill Ayers’ captivating memoir reveals that behind the fearsome “public enemy” lies a deeply dedicated parent, compassionate teacher, and principled revolutionary activist, representing this country’s best hopes for a democratic future.Publishers Weekly: [A] witty and spirited follow-up t

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Tennessee Superintendents Speak Out Against Kevin HuffmanNearly half the superintendents in the state of Tennessee took the unusual step of signing a letter in opposition to State Commissioner Kevin Huffman. They were clearly frustrated by Huffman’s arrogant style of leadership. Huffman was chosen to be state commissioner even thou

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Resources For Hispanic Heritage MonthHispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th here in the United States. You might be interested in The Best Resources For Hispanic Heritage Month.3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 23min  Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLarry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day

7 Things You Need to Know about Your Public School | GoingPublic: 7 Things You Need to Know about Your Public SchoolOur public schools are the last real space where people from different classes and different walks of life come together to learn, to share ideas, and to be afforded a fair opportunity to reach for the American dream. At the same time, unless you work in a public school or have a chi

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Guzzardi’s kick-off and the youth movement.  Several hundred young activists fill the room for Will Guzzardi’s kick-off.  When I moved to Logan Square in 1975, with a few exceptions, none of the several hundred activists who filled Cole’s Bar on Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square last night were even bo

Perdido Street School:  Mulgrew Still Loves His ADVANCE APPR Teacher Evaluation SystemJames Eterno at ICEUFT has a rundown of what UFT President Michael Mulgrew told chapter leaders yesterday in a meeting.I found the part about teacher evaluations most interesting:NEW EVALUATION SYSTEMPresident Mulgrew ceded very little ground when he talked about the state imposed new teacher evaluation system. 

Curricular Wars Fought Again and Again: How Come? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Curricular Wars Fought Again and Again: How Come?Phonics vs. Whole Language. Old Math vs. New Math. Knowing Science Subjects vs. Doing Science.  Heritage Study vs. Doing History. Wars of words have been fought among politicians, parents, and educators over reading, math, science, and social stu

Union and District Leaders Collaborate at CalTURN | InterACT: Union and District Leaders Collaborate at CalTURNSEPTEMBER 13, 2013tags: CalTURN, ccssby David B. CohenThe headlines concerning teachers unions and policymakers usually concern some kind of conflict, ranging from divergent positions on bills and ballot measures, to lawsuits and strikes. These stories mostly emerge at the state level, or

Public Education in Post Katrina New Orleans Through the Eyes of Parents «Education Talk New Orleans Education Talk New Orleans: Public Education in Post Katrina New Orleans Through the Eyes of ParentsThursday, Sep 12 2013 Uncategorized charter schools, Education Reform, eyewitness to history, louisiana department of education, Public Schools, state department of education, state takeover edutalkn

Why Do We Hate Teachers? | toteachornototeach: Why Do We Hate Teachers? by William E. WhiteIt’s September — that time of year. Cartoonists, comedians, pundits, and critics are out in force running down the teaching profession. We treat the start of school as though forcing children into the classroom condemns their young lives. The critics are indiscriminate: all teachers are lousy; all teachers a

What it’s like to have principal after principal after principal: What it’s like to have principal after principal after principalBy Valerie Strauss, Published: September 13 at 5:00 amE-mail the writer1CommentsMoreIn the great push by school reformers to improve the quality of teachers, principals and school leadership have been ignored — and that’s an unhealthy oversight. There is research sugges

This Week! Calendar of events for schools | Parents United for Public Education: This Week! Calendar of events for schoolsPosted on September 13, 2013 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentDiane Ravitch lecture, 7:30-9 p.m.: Part of the Free Library of Philadelphia author series, author Diane Ravitch will discuss her latest book Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger

Bill reforming process of firing teachers resurfaces with amendments | EdSource Today: Bill reforming process of firing teachers resurfaces with amendmentsSeptember 11th, 2013 | 4 Comments | By John FensterwaldShare on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing ServicesAB 375 sponsor, Assemblywoman Joan BuchananA highly contested bill that potentially would make it quicker an

Changing The Language From Anti-Testing To Pro-Whole Child - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Changing The Language From Anti-Testing To Pro-Whole Childby JOSE VILSON on SEPTEMBER 12, 2013in JOSEI like getting into discussions with people who like saying “Jose, why are you against testing?”Let me lay out the argument and the reason why, instead of referring to myself as anti-testing, I’m calling

Jersey Jazzman: On the New TFA Study: People, Calm Down!I really don't have time to take a long, hard look at the new Teach For America study, which "confirms" that TFA "works" because its randomized design is the "gold standard," and anyone who doubts this is "quibbling." There's been some good reporting on this: start with Dana Goldstein and Stephanie Simo

NEA Says Its Members “Strongly Support” Common Core? | deutsch29: NEA Says Its Members “Strongly Support” Common Core?September 12, 2013Here we go again with the CCSS support propaganda from an organization that has accepted millions from Bill Gates to promote the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).The National Education Association (NEA) wants you to want CCSS.It conducted a survey.Surprise, surp

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Labor Movement Stands with Philadelphia Community, Teachers, Workers: Labor Movement Stands with Philadelphia Community, Teachers, WorkersCalls on Mayor Nutter, PA Gov. Corbett to Stop Political Attacks on Public Education, Public ServicesLOS ANGELES—In a major show of unity through a strongly worded resolution, the AFL-CIO today condemned the political attacks by

The Weekly Update: Predatory capitalism, privatization, sequestration and our children, Common Core Standards and opting out | Seattle Education: The Weekly Update: Predatory capitalism, privatization, sequestration and our children, Common Core Standards and opting outEveryone is back in school, the privatizers are not letting up but parents, students and teachers are fighting back. Diane Ravitch

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 CAPTODAYLies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls) | Truth in American EducationLies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls) | Truth in American Education: Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (and Polls)Filed in Common Core State Standards, Education