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| Bad News from Me | Diane Ravitch's blog |
NAEP Nonsense: Don’t Believe the Hype
The latest NAEP reports on reading and math have been heralded as evidence for the success of the “reforms” that involve test prep, testing, punishing teachers if scores don’t go up, rewarding them if they do, closing schools, and other versions of the carrot and stick method of school reform. Here is my one-word comment: Balderdash! There are just as many states using the same misguided strategi
San Antonio Goes for Charters for Affluent
San Antonio has committed to a dramatic expansion of charters, the emerging growth industry of our time. San Antonio has welcomed BASIS and Great Hearts Academy, which are known for their appeal to affluent white students. Rocketship will serve the low-income Hispanic students by keeping them in front of a computer a large part of the day. Remember that Supreme Court decision in 1954–what was it
Jersey Jazzman: Student Growth Objectives are Phony
Jersey Jazzman hopes someone will ask Commissioner Chris Cerf to explain “student growth objectives,” when he speaks to NJEA As JJ points out,the research on this method of teacher evaluation is fundamentally flawed. What’s the rush? Why not take the time to get it right, rather than plunge ahead with Junk Science?
The Secrets of Arizona’s Most Successful Charter Schools
Amanda U. Potterton, a doctoral student at Arizona State University, analyzed the success stories of two of Arizona’s most celebrated charter chains: BASIS and Great Hearts Academies. The myth of charter miracles is built on stories generated by chains like these two. This myth has been celebrated repeatedly by President Obama and Secretary Duncan. Therefore this analysis is of more than local in
Illinois Gov. Quinn taps education reformer Paul Vallas for running mate
Connecticut blogger Jonathan Pelto has breaking news that Bridgeport’s embattled superintendent of schools, Paul Vallas, is leaving Bridgeport to become Illinois Governor Quinn’s running mate. Newsflash: Illinois Gov. Quinn taps Paul Vallas for running mate “Gov. Pat Quinn apparently has made an unexpected choice for his running mate for lieutenant governor: Paul Vallas, the former Chicago Public
NC Teachers: Tell Your Stories
North Carolina Watch wants to hear fro teachers. “Happy Friday to all, I am writing to let you all know that NC Policy Watch just unveiled a new feature on our website, called Your Soapbox, that is seeking to collect North Carolina’s teachers’ stories. We are doing this because North Carolina’s teachers have watched the state fall from 25th to 46th in the nation in teacher pay since 2008. In July
Do New York Officials Understand NAEP Scores?
This reader points out that the leaders of New York State so not understand NAEP achievement levels. They are not grade levels. “Proficiency” on NAEP means superior academic performance. Please, someone, explain the levels to them : “John King and Merryl Tisch continue to mislead the public or demonstrate a total lack of understanding for NAEP scores. Today, Chancellor Merryl Tisch and Commission
Why You Should Join the BATS
From Mark NAISON, co-founder of the Badass Teachers Association: ” “This is Crazy” When policy makers are morally bankrupt, they are forced to rely on bribery and intimidation and the assertion of raw power. This is what we face in Education. Teachers are assailed from multiple directions by public officials who who project a “My Way or the Highway Mentality” while bombarding them with curricula,
Gary Rubinstein Deconstructs D.C. Gains on NAEP
The NAEP report card for 2013 is out, and “reformers” were quick to declare vindication for their mean-spirited approach of “test and punish.” Gary Rubenstein examined the report to see what the claims meant and who made gains. D.C. made the most gains but remains the lowest ranking “state” in the nation. Tennessee made big gains and is pushing to meet the national average. Indiana too saw test sc
Is This What Excellence Looks Like?
Bruce Baker here tells the story of New Jersey’s most awesome charter school. This is the one that beats the odds. This is the one where everyone passes the tests. This school is driven by data, and the teachers teach like champions. This is the one with a 100% graduation rate. The school–North Star Academy–is so awesome that it will soon open its own teacher training institution, to create more a
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Los Angeles Baffled About How to Pay for iPads in FutureLos Angeles negotiated a sweet deal for Apple, promising to buy an iPad for every student at a cost that will eventually total at least $1 billion. Forget the fact that the iPads are financed in large part by borrowing money from a 25-year construction bond issue, and that man