NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:
Education ‘Day of Action’ set Monday in 60-plus cities | The Answer Sheet
Video: Philadelphia – Our Schools Are Not For Sale
UC system president Napolitano ‘deeply skeptical’ about Education’s college rating system | The Answer Sheet
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BY VALERIE STRAUSS December 6 at 2:28 pm A coalition of education, labor, civic and civil rights organizations, led by the American Federation of Teachers, is staging a “National Day of Action” on Monday with dozens of coordinated events in cities across the country that are aimed at building a national movement to fight corporate-influenced school ...read moreThe post Education ‘Day of Action’ set Monday in 60-plus cities | The Answer Sheet appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
Our Schools Are Not For Sale on Vimeo via Our Schools Are Not For Sale.The post Video: Philadelphia – Our Schools Are Not For Sale appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
BY VALERIE STRAUSS Janet Napolitano, who was President Obama’s Homeland Security secretary before being named president of the University of California system this past summer, said Friday that she was “deeply skeptical” of a plan by the administration to rate colleges according to specific criteria because it is too hard to develop meaningful data points. ...read moreThe post UC system president Napolitano ‘deeply skeptical’ about Education’s college rating system | The Answer Sheet appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
YESTERDAY
Sorry, Michelle Rhee, but our obsession with testing kids is all about money | Salon.com
JEFF BRYANT When President George W. Bush asked the American people, back in 2000, “Is our children learning?” left-leaning people everywhere got a big hoot out of it. Little did they know that the joke was on them. The question not only revealed the inability of our national leaders to manage something as basic as ...read moreThe post Sorry, Michelle Rhee, but our obsession with testing kids is a
Stand for Children Louisiana: Teachers “Like” Common Core | deutsch29
December 5, 2013 It is very important to privatizing interests to promote the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). After all, there is a lot of money to be made in attendant curriculum development, and assessments, and data collection. Of course, those pushing CCSS cannot state as much directly. So, they offer lies, such as CCSS’s preparing ...read moreThe post Stand for Children Louisiana: Teacher
Texas Charter Founded by Football Star in Financial Trouble | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Texas has given out charters to various non-educators. Being a celebrity is credential enough to get state authority to open a school. There are charters run by a tennis star, a football star, a basketball star, and a horde of entrepreneurs with no educational experience. This is called “reform” for some reason. The Texas Education ...read moreThe post Texas Charter Founded by Football Star in Fin
Sandronsky: Political Favors, Cronyism, And Cash in Sacramento: UPDATE | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Seth Sandronsky, a journalist in Sacramento, reports here on some extraordinary events in that city that should raise eyebrows. Maybe even some hackles. Read Sandronsky to learn about State Senator Ron Calderon, his brother Thomas Calderon, Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, ALEC, the Walton Family Foundation, Pearson, Connections Academy, the Sacramento Bee, and ...rea
Grasping at Straws and the Impending Value-Added Trainwreck | Schools Matter
We are just beginning to implement value-added evaluations, but it is already becoming clear that a trainwreck is coming. Already, we are reading stories about good teachers being fired for failing to meet their test score growth targets. We are also reading about surrealistic cases, such as the New York Teacher of the Year who ...read moreThe post Grasping at Straws and the Impending Value-Added
Memphis Politicians Wring Hands About Reading Scores as They Create More Corporate Charter Schools Without Libraries | Schools Matter
Having handed over 29 public schools to charter reform schools without libraries or librarians, and with 8 more on the way by 2015, Superintendent Dorsey Hopson and the Shelby County School Board all of sudden have noticed that these children are far behind in reading. Since poor children get their books more often from libraries, ...read moreThe post Memphis Politicians Wring Hands About Reading
Teachers Union Launching Massive Campaign Against Education Reform Movement | Huffington Post
The American Federation of Teachers union is unveiling a seven-figure advertisement campaign ahead of Dec. 9, a day that the group has billed as a “national day of action” against the education reform movement and push alternative solutions. “Public education is under attack and underfunded throughout our country,” the advertisements read, according to materials AFT, ...read moreThe post Teachers
Juan Rangel out as head of charter-school giant UNO | Chicago Sun-Times
By DAN MIHALOPOULOS Staff Reporter December 6, 2013 7:52AM Juan Rangel stepped down as CEO of UNO | Sun-Times Juan Rangel, longtime leader of the politically powerful United Neighborhood Organization, has stepped aside from his $250,000-a-year post as UNO’s chief executive in the wake of a scandal that cost the group millions of dollars in ...read moreThe post Juan Rangel out as head of charter-sc
Suicide is Leading Cause of Death in China among Young | Diane Ravitch’s blog
The high pressure to compete for limited spots in university is a contributing factor to the high suicide rate in China among young people ages 15-34, according to this news report. The story says: Amid growing competition for university places and rising graduate unemployment, suicide is now the leading cause of death for Chinese people ...read moreThe post Suicide is Leading Cause of Death in Ch
Ellen Lubic Corrects Ben Austin | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Ben Austin, the executive director of Parent Revolution, recently wrote a post for Huffington Post saying that “community power” saved Superintendent John Deasy, whose job was on the line in Los Angeles. Parent Revolution is an organization funded by the Walton Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and the Broad Foundation to promote the “parent trigger,” that ...read moreThe post Ellen Lubic Corrects
Elizabeth Warren: Education Department Shouldn’t Be A ‘Lapdog’ | The Huffington Post
The U.S. Department of Education risks becoming a “lapdog” as a result of recent actions toward financial companies such as Sallie Mae, Sen. Elizabeth Warren charged Thursday. The Massachusetts Democrat said she was “deeply concerned” by a Huffington Post report that the Education Department had recently told Sallie Mae, the nation’s largest handler of student ...read moreThe post Elizabeth Warren
DEC 05
NYC Public School Parents: King and Tisch finally coming to hear from NYC parents next week!
Commissioner King and Merryl Tisch, head of the board of Regents, are finally coming to hear from NYC parents on their controversial education agenda, after already appearing at 14 forums in the rest of the state. Unfortunately, they have given us only one week of warning and will hold only three forums over two nights: ...read moreThe post NYC Public School Parents: King and Tisch finally coming
Is ASCD Embracing Market-Driven Education Reform? | Anthony Cody – Living in Dialogue
By Anthony Cody on December 5, 2013 5:37 PM Another day, another headline on ASCD’s Smartbrief extolling some new Common Core strategy. ASCD has signed on as an endorser of Common Core, and in 2011, the Gates Foundation awarded ASCD a grant of $3 million “to provide teachers and school leaders with supports to implement the ...read moreThe post Is ASCD Embracing Market-Driven Education Reform? |
Would You Like Fries with That Reform? | EduShyster
What does the battle over the minimum wage have to do with education? Everything… By Adell Cothorne Way back before I became a principal, a whistleblower, the “cupcake lady” or joined the fight to save public education, I was a McDonald’s worker. It was 1984 and you name it—cashier, grill operator, grease trap emptier, bathroom ...read moreThe post Would You Like Fries with That Reform? | EduShyst
SUPES Academy contract under scrutiny of Inspector General | catalyst-chicago.org
By: Sarah Karp / December 5, 2013 The CPS Inspector General is investigating the district’s $20 million principal professional development contract with the SUPES Academy, Catalyst Chicago has learned. The contract is by far the largest no-bid contract that CPS has entered into in at least five years. And the contract has raised suspicion because ...read moreThe post SUPES Academy contract under s
Naughty List?: Thoughts on Texas Legislature, KIPP, Carstarphen, and College | Cloaking Inequity
Kate McGee reported this morning on KUT NPR in the radio piece Austin Charter Focuses on College Prep Despite New Grad Requirements that KIPP Austin has set up a pretty sweet deal with St. Edwards University. Listen to the KUT story here. St. Edward’s University is partnering with KIPP Austin Charter school to help more of its students ...read moreThe post Naughty List?: Thoughts on Texas Legislat
Reader from China: Why Chinese Students’ Test Scores Are So High | Diane Ravitch’s blog
This fascinating and informative comment was just posted in response to Tom Loveless’s earlier article about how Shanghai gets high scores by excluding the children of migrants from its schools and how OECD allows China to exclude the PISA scores from provinces with less than stellar results. As you will see, there is no coddling” ...read moreThe post Reader from China: Why Chinese Students’ Test
Why educating the educators is complex | The Answer Sheet
BY VALERIE STRAUSS December 5 at 4:00 am One of the biggest debates in public education today is over how to best educate student teacher for the rigors of the classroom. Here is a thoughtful piece on the essence of teaching and the kind of teacher education programs we really need from Mike Rose, who ...read moreThe post Why educating the educators is complex | The Answer Sheet appeared first on
Daniel Wydo Disaggregates PISA Scores by Income | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Daniel Wydo, a teacher in North Carolina, sent this analysis of 2012 PISA: Here’s what the mainstream media will NOT tell you about 2012 PISA. When comparing U.S. schools with less than 10% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, here’s how U.S. students (of which almost 25% are considered poor by OECD standards and of ...read moreThe post Daniel Wydo Disaggregates PISA Scores by Income | D
Lower Hudson Valley: The Disconnect Between the State and the Public | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Most of the noise against the shoddy implementation of Common Core in New York has been heard in Long Island, but parents and educators are even angrier in the Lower Hudson Valley than in New York. Here is an excellent explanation by veteran journalist Gary Stern.. This is one of the best analyses I have ...read moreThe post Lower Hudson Valley: The Disconnect Between the State and the Public | Di
Bruce Baker on PISA and Poverty and Petrilli | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Bruce Baker has this habit of introducing facts, evidence, and sharp analysis–as well as humor–to controversial issues. Here is take on PISA Day (drum roll, please). It begins like this: “With today’s release of PISA data it is once again time for wild punditry, mass condemnation of U.S. public schools and a renewed sense of ...read moreThe post Bruce Baker on PISA and Poverty and Petrilli | Diane
Everything You Heard Today About NJ Teachers Is Wrong | Jersey Jazzman
So I guess someone at the NJ Department of Education decided that today (the day after PISA Day) was the perfect time to tell the world that many of our state’s teachers suck: More than a quarter of teachers who were reviewed in a two-year pilot program of the state’s new evaluation system were rated only ...read moreThe post Everything You Heard Today About NJ Teachers Is Wrong | Jersey Jazzman a
How Wall Street Power Brokers Are Designing the Future of Public Education as a Money-Making Machine | Alternet
By Anna Simonton December 5, 2013 Given that Arthur Rock has a net worth of $1 billion, lives in California and spends his time heaping money on tech startups (with the mantra, “Get in, get out,” as his guide), a local school board race in Atlanta, Ga. seems an unlikely candidate for his attention. Yet ...read moreThe post How Wall Street Power Brokers Are Designing the Future of Public Education
Ravitch wins Grawemeyer education award | University of Louisville
Education historian Diane Ravitch once supported education reform, but now she sees it as a series of “mistaken policies” that have corrupted public schools. Diane Ravitch Ravitch, a New York University research professor of education, has won the 2014 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Education for her 2010 book, “The Death and Life of ...read moreThe post Ravitch wins Grawemeyer educa
DEC 04
North Carolina Appeals Court Says No to For-Profit Virtual K12 Corporation | Diane Ravitch’s blog
A North Carolina Appeals Court turned down K12, the publicly traded corporation that operates virtual charters. It wanted to open a virtual charter in the state, but the State Board of Education did not act on its request, so it was denied. K12 sued, and for now, has lost. When the Legislature goes back into ...read moreThe post North Carolina Appeals Court Says No to For-Profit Virtual K12 Corpor
SSSHHHHH! Statewide Charter Applies For Expansion, Doesn’t Tell 20 Districts It Serves… | Mother Crusader
On October 5th, 2013 the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School submitted an expansion request to the New Jersey Department of Education. You can read or download the application here. The expansion would allow Hatikvah to add a middle school (grades 6-8) and also add an additional class of 25 students per grade. (an increase from ...read moreThe post SSSHHHHH! Statewide Charter Applies For
Coming to NYC Next Week: Fear and Loathing (of King and Tisch) | Ed Notes Online
NYSED officials continue to add insult to injury giving NYC parents so little warning and holding both forums the same night. What are they afraid of? … Leonie Haimson I’m surprised they aren’t holding these events on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. More from Leonie: Just learned that the first NYC NYSED/Regents forums on Common ...read moreThe post Coming to NYC Next Week: Fear and Loathing (of King and Tisc
ALEC’s Model Bill Tackles Privacy of Student Data | Education Week
By Benjamin Herold An influential legislative-advocacy group’s promotion of a model bill meant to protect the privacy of student data sends a strong signal that the hot-button issue will be debated in statehouses around the country in lawmakers’ 2014 sessions. The template being provided to state lawmakers by the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council, known ...read moreThe post ALEC’
What Does the PISA Report Tell Us About U.S. Education? | Schools Matter
When the OECD releases the PISA report every three years, many people use the ranking to claim public education in the U.S. is failing and push their corporate education reform agenda. But looking at the data, lessons that can be learned from the highest performing countries point in a completely different direction. For more information: ...read moreThe post What Does the PISA Report Tell Us Abou
Give Corbett an “F” | Yinzercation
Well, the man’s got nerve, I’ll give you that. Since kicking off his re-election bid here in Pittsburgh last month (see “A Week of Action”), Governor Corbett has been touring the state boldly campaigning on his record of – wait for it – education. Yes, the man who has slashed $2.4 billion and counting from ...read moreThe post Give Corbett an “F” | Yinzercation appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
The Education You Deserve | EduShyster
By Barrett Smith Last month I resigned from my position as a tutor and teaching assistant at a “No-Excuses” Charter School in Boston. What follows is an open letter to my students. First, I need to get something off my chest. I came to your middle school for some selfish reasons. I wanted to tutor ...read moreThe post The Education You Deserve | EduShyster appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
Petrilli’s Hammer & the poverty has nothing to do with PISA argument | School Finance 101
Posted on December 4, 2013 1 Mike Petrilli over at TB Fordham has made his case for why differences in national economic context do little to substantively explain variations in PISA scores. He frames his argument in terms of Occam’s Razor, as if to sound well informed, deeply intellectual and setting the stage to share ...read moreThe post Petrilli’s Hammer & the poverty has nothing to do wit
John Kuhn: Our Kids — Coddled or Confident? | Anthony Cody – Living in Dialogue
By Anthony Cody on December 4, 2013 5:19 PM Guest post by John Kuhn. Frank Bruni recently wrote an article for the New York Times in which he argued that American children are coddled. In related news, Frank Bruni apparently doesn’t know any poor children. I’m not as upset about the Bruni column as many ...read moreThe post John Kuhn: Our Kids — Coddled or Confident? | Anthony Cody – Living in Dia
School district to pay students up to $300 for ACT scores | The Answer Sheet
BY VALERIE STRAUSS December 4 at 4:10 pm The school board in Huntsville, Alabama, has unanimously decided to pay students for achieving benchmark scores on the ACT college admissions test in an effort, members said, to get kids to take the test more seriously. WHNT News voted Tuesday night for the cash incentives, which will ...read moreThe post School district to pay students up to $300 for ACT s
PISA Showed We Need a Game-Changer, Not More of the Same Failed policies | Diane Ravitch’s blog
A reader sent this tweet from Arne Duncan: Arne Duncan @arneduncan 17h The bad news from #OECDPISA: US is running in place while other countries lap us. Good news: We’re laying the right foundation to improve. This is very sad. If PISA shows anything, it is that the policies of the Bush-Obama administrations have not ...read moreThe post PISA Showed We Need a Game-Changer, Not More of the Same Fa
An iPad on Every Desk? A Trojan Horse, Teachers Say | Alternet
Teachers and students say the Los Angeles school district’s plan to distribute iPads to every student is nothing more than a way to increase standardized testing. December 3, 2013 | A group of Los Angeles teachers and students says their school district’s plan to distribute iPads to every student is too good to be true. ...read moreThe post An iPad on Every Desk? A Trojan Horse, Teachers Say | Al
A UK View of PISA Results | Diane Ravitch’s blog
The Policy Consortium in the UK has a good overview of the British response to the PISA scores. Each political party is pointing fingers at the other for the scores not being as high as they would wish. The Conservatives say it is Labor’s fault. The Labor party says it is the fault of the ...read moreThe post A UK View of PISA Results | Diane Ravitch’s blog appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
Federal Register Notice Spells Out Arne Duncan’s Priorities | janresseger
Have you, by chance, found yourself wondering if it can really be true that the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama is actively supporting school privatization through the expansion of charter schools? Maybe it isn’t true, you thought. To help you sort out the role that Arne Duncan’s Department of Education is playing in privatization ...read moreThe post Federal Register Notice S
Sneak Preview: How Citizens Can Hold Teach For America Accountable | Cloaking Inequity
Following the comprehensive 2010 National Education Policy Center (NEPC) TFA brief (See Teach For America: A review of the evidence (The research that TFA loves to hate…), we received many requests for input from parents and educators across the nation regarding the impact of TFA in their community. Many of the requests came from communities in ...read moreThe post Sneak Preview: How Citizens Can
Common Core education supporters want Obama administration to shut up | Washington Times
By Ben Wolfgang-The Washington Times Monday, December 2, 2013 The Obama administration’s cheerleading for the Common Core State Standards Initiative is designed to calm critics and rally supporters for the ambitious overhaul of the nation’s elementary and secondary schoolcurriculums. But that effort may be backfiring, and some analysts say it’s time for the president, Education ...read moreThe pos
New SAT delayed to 2016 | The Answer Sheet
BY VALERIE STRAUSS December 4 at 5:00 am The new version of the SAT college admissions exam that was due to be unveiled in 2015 is now being delayed until spring 2016. David Coleman, the president of the College Board, the nonprofit organization that owns the SAT, sent the following e-mail to College Board members about ...read moreThe post New SAT delayed to 2016 | The Answer Sheet appeared first