More New York Districts Drop Out of Race to Top to Protect Student Privacy
Four districts have announced their intention to withdraw from Race to the Top, hoping to protect confidential student data. More are thinking of joining them. They are upset that the state demands they hand over 400 points of student data that can be transferred to inBloom, the Gates-funded project for data mining. The State Education Department is totally unsympathetic to their concerns. Its sp
My Speaking Schedule for Fall
I will be in Atlanta November 1 to speak to United Way Women’s Leadership Breakfast at 7:30 am at Georgia Tech Conference Center On November 4, I will speak twice in Princeton, New Jersey. At 4 pm, at Princeton High School: open to the public, all welcome. At 8 pm, at Princeton University, McCosh Hall, please call to ask about access. On November 12, I will speak to the NYC Council of Supervisors
I Speak Tomorrow in Atlanta at 7:30 AM
I will be speaking on November 1 to the Women’s Leadership Breakfast of United Way at the Georgia Tech Conference Center. The event begins at 7:30 am. I will deliver brief remarks, then there will be conversation.
Montclair Prepares for Test Score Decline under “”Reform” Leader
Jersey Jazzman describes the new era of creative disruption in Montclair, New Jersey, under its Broad-trained superintendent. Montclair was, until now, one of the best districts in a high performing state. Expect the crisis narrative to begin any day now as a prelude to charters and school closings. Unless, that is, the parents rebel. Suburban parents don’t like to be shoved around, and don’t li
Will John King Destroy Common Core in New York By Alienating Parents?
Peter Goodman, long an insider in New York city and state education policies, here reviews the parlous state of the Common Core and its testing regime in that state. John King has approached parents with an attitude of inflexibility. He has made it clear that he will sit through hearings if he must, but any changes will be inconsequential. He will not be dissuaded. The reformer wagon is losing its
Montessori Schools Are Not Same As Common Core
State Commissioner John King sends his own children to a Montessori school, which is his right as a patent. But he insists that his children are getting an education that is similar to the Common Core, which he has mandated across the state. This Montessori teacher disagrees. She writes: Hi Diane, I keep on hearing John King say that Common Core is a lot like Montessori education, but it is act
A Teacher in LAUSD on the Board’s Decision to Extend Deasy Contract
I am a teacher at LAUSD, and I am extremely disappointed with the LAUSD Board of Education for extending the contract to this abusive, destructive, deceiving superintendent. He truly does not care for the public education of the community he is supposed to serve. Most of the LAUSD teachers and principals, if not all, are aware of this. We see it on a daily basis as his policies and destructive “re
This Reader Was Educated in China
The reader writes: “One thing I have repeated heard in this ‘Ed Reform’ talk is that American kids need to ‘catch up’ with kids from other countries because we are behind in those international tests. I grew up in China, where there is very rigorous curriculum; where frequent testing and ranking of students is part of a student’s life the moment the child walks into a school; where students do per
Shepherd: An Essay Exam for “Reformers”
Robert Shepard, author and curriculum designer, has prepared an essay exam for the corporate reformers who think they know how to redesign American education. He writes: As a member of the Billionaire Boys’ Club, or as one of the paid associates of the BBC, you . . . 1. believe that that extraordinarily complex skills like reading and writing ability can be validly and reliably measured by simple
Julian Vasquez Heilig on TFA’s Rise to Power
Julian Vasquez Heilig has conducted peer-reviewed research on TFA over several years. He is astonished that it has been converted into a political power machine, which makes it even more powerful. Follow the money as TFA expands its base.
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Virginia School Boards Pass Anti-Testing ResolutionsAccording to Valerie Strauss, about 30 of Virginia’s 130 local school boards have passed resolutions against excessive testing. The school boards say “there is “little research” that shows that students “will be better prepared to succeed in their careers and college” by taking t