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CORPORATE ED REFORM
It’s Official: Gov. Corbett Hurt Philly Schools for No Good Reason
He delayed a $45 million payment and got work rules changed. Was it worth it?
The good news is: Gov. Tom Corbettfinally released $45 million the state owed to Philly public schools. The bad news? Lots of damage has been done to Philadelphia schools that could’ve been avoided if he’d just released the money six weeks ago. Morale is horrible. It’s possible a child died because she lacked access to school nurses.Teachers have been stranded with little in the way of assistance.
And why? Well, we don’t know why at this point. Corbett said he would release the money only if the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers made big concessions regarding pay and pensions. They never budged. Given what was at stake, it was clear weeks ago that they wouldn’t. And yet Corbett held onto the money anyway. Until he didn’t. Nothing changed except his decision-making process. (Update: Well, one thing changed.)
In that sense, our Republican governor is in lockstep with his allies in Washington D.C., the House Republicans. They shut down the government and dragged us to the edge of default, it seems, because they couldn’t accept being on the losing side of an issue—in that case, health care—and so basically settled on the following strategy for victory:
If Gov. Corbett had bothered to explain himself this morning, maybe it would be easier to take. If he’d said, “I still believe Read More It’s Official: Gov. Corbett Hurt Philly Schools for No Good Reason | News | Philadelphia Magazine http://bit.ly/H2u9tH
Complaints from students about the way financing companies are handling student loans are eerily similar to the problems that frustrated mortgage-holders in the wake of the financial crisis, and cost some of them their homes, according to a government report. In its second annual review of student-loan practices, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, says loan servicers make i
Experts Fear Potential Negative Impact of Revamped GED on Underrepresented
More than 700,000 high school dropouts take the General Educational Development exam each year.The General Educational Development exam (GED) is poised to undergo a major makeover early next year. Twice since 1985, the body that oversees the test has tweaked the exam. But observers say this will be the biggest change since the exam was introduced shortly after the end of World War II. The new exa
A majority of students in public schools throughout the American South and West are low-income for the first time in at least four decades, according to a new study that details a demographic shift with broad implications for the country. Read full article >>
New chancellor vows S.F. City College will keep accreditation
The incoming chancellor of City College of San Francisco vowed Wednesday to help the embattled institution find a way to overcome severe financial and governance problems and retain accreditation.
AP: Democrat Cory Booker wins special Senate election over Lonegan
New Jersey's social media-happy incoming senator has given his first reaction to his election victory with a tweet. Cory Booker says, "Thank you so much, New Jersey. I'm proud to be your Senator-elect." With two-thirds percent of precincts reporting, the Democratic mayor of Newark has 56 percent of the vote to Republican Steve Lonegan's 43.
L.A. Unified asks "What do parents want?"
At a town hall in Hollywood, parents and school staff gave L.A. Unified a laundry list of spending priorities.; Credit: Annie Gilbertson/KPCC Los Angeles Unified School District is holding series of community meetings to hear from parents and others about how to spend an additional $188 a year in special funds the district will be receiving each year to help low-income, English-learner and other
The Next Internet Radio Show
Thursday October 17, 2013 we are joined by two guests. The first guest is retired UFT Chapter Leader Stephanie Flunory joins us to discuss the upheavel at PS 29 in College Point, Queens. Our second guest is world reknowned educator Shaun Johnson of @thechalkface fame to discuss what measures can be taken locally against Common Core, high stakes testing, and getting back control of our children'
Mr. Finn– I noticed in your blog entry, Rethinking High School, you are concerned about issues in America’s (public?) high schools, including flat ACT and SAT scores and America’s no longer having “…the world’s highest graduation (and college going) rate.” You note that other countries (the examples you provide include Finland, South Korea, and Poland) have, “Better teachers. A clear focus on le
Letitia James: a new national star in educational justice takes the stage
There were many great speeches last night at the Panel for Education Policy, protesting the awfullong list of co-locations that will damage our schools and hurt NYC children, pushed through by a lame duck administration to give away maximum space to their cronies among the charter school operators. Council Members Chin, Fidler, Recchia and Greenfield were all eloquent, incisive and compelling, a
Full Funding Friday #6
We won a victory today with Governor Corbett’s announcement that the 45 million dollars that he has been holding back will now be released with no strings attached.But, while this additional money will help alleviate some of the terrible conditions in our schools, it will not begin to bring about changes on the scale that we all know is necessary. So let’s keep up the heat. Here are the schools
Tip of the Iceberg: Why Beating the Common Core State Standards Might Be The Booby Prize for Progressive Education
The “plot” to take over public education predates both Bill Gates as a major player and the birth of the Common Core Standards. His presence and money, and organizations that are closely affiliated with him, his foundation, etc., in the development and political promulgation of this particular set of standards is hard to ignore. As […]
Rethinking “Rethinking Schools”: An Open Letter to Chester Finn
Mr. Finn– I noticed in your blog entry, Rethinking High School, you are concerned about issues in America’s (public?) high schools, including flat ACT and SAT scores and America’s no longer having “…the world’s highest graduation (and college going) rate.” You note that other countries (the examples you provide include Finland, South Korea, and Poland) […]
Bridging The Digital Divide With Technology In Schools [EdSurge] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson
Bridging The Digital Divide With Technology In Schools [EdSurge] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Bridging The Digital Divide With Technology In Schools [EdSurge]by JOSE VILSON on OCTOBER 16, 2013in MR. VILSONThe Digital DivideEdSurge, a popular education technology website, recently invited me to write an article for them. My mouth was agape at the offer, mainly because everyone knows I won’t
Sac City Unified chief Raymond to leave district in December - Education - The Sacramento Bee
Sac City Unified chief Raymond to leave district in December - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Sac City Unified chief Raymond to leave district in DecemberBy Loretta Kalblkalb@sacbee.comPublished: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 - 5:33 pmLast Modified: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 - 5:41 pmSacramento School Superintendent Jonathan Raymond, second from left, listens to speakers in support of not closing schoo
Education chief defends cancellation of Common Core forums
Education chief defends cancellation of Common Core forums: Education chief defends cancellation of Common Core forums ALBANYNew York Education Commissioner John King on Tuesday defended the decision to cancel four upcoming forums on the state's new education standards, saying the scene at the first meeting in Poughkeepsie "made it impossible to have constructive dialogue."In his first p
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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 CAPTODAYAsthma Shouldn't Kill – Every School Needs a Nurse | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and OpportunityAsthma Shouldn't Kill – Every School Needs a Nurse | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education
Get Schooled: Common Core opponents lack a better plan
Michael J. Petrilli is executive vice president and Michael Brickman is national policy director of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a right-of-center education policy think tank. Petrilli served in the George W. Bush administration and is also affiliated with the Hoover Institution while Brickman served as education policy advisor to ...