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School Hit List Released Soon; Act Today!
School Hit List Released Soon; Act Today!
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Board of Education has threatened to shutter more than one hundred of our neighborhood schools. Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett is expected to release the hit list soon.
CPS is currently holding “community hearings” underwritten by the Walton Family Foundation (Wal-Mart) to sell these school closings to the public. Concurrently, charter school profiteers have been pushing their message of replacing neighborhood schools with charter operations through the so-called “School Choice Week.”
The public did not buy what the saboteurs and privatizers were selling and thousands attended these meetings to save all schools from closing. CTU members, parents, clergy, and community-based, grassroots organizations have organized summits, knocked on doors, visited El stops and phoned elected officials in an attempt to stop school closings and ensure neighborhood schools get the resources they need.
The Chicago Teachers Union members and allies must be prepared for the release of the hit list by staying organized and vigilant. In this short video, CTU President Karen GJ Lewis explains what we all must do to save our schools.
Thirteen Ohio School Districts "Scrubbing" Low Scoring Students
From CantonRep.com:
Four more Ohio districts, including Canton City Schools, removed poor-performing students from their rolls, state Auditor David Yost said Monday in the final step of his investigation into a practice whereby schools attempted to improve performance ratings.
More than 70 schools or districts also had attendance reporting errors, though these didn’t appear to be purposeful, Yost said.
The four districts bring to nine the number that Yost has identified in his investigation of the data withdrawal practice known as “scrubbing.”
Jack KImble's Response to the State of the Union
Tonight, our country has come together once again to hear our President give the State of the Union address. Make no mistake about it. This is a historic night and following any Presidential election, the State of the Union is a celebration of the principles our country holds dear.
President was eloquent, as always, in putting forth his beliefs for what America should be. I hope you will allow me a chance to speak for those beliefs that brought me into public service and guide the Republican Party to this day. Tonight, we celebrate the birth of Republican President Abraham Lincoln, so this is a truly special night for our party.
Unlike both President Obama and Marco Rubio, my parents were both born in this country as were my
Behind Obama's SOTU Remarks on Vocational Education, Germany, and American High Schools
In his State of the Union address, President Obama promised to create a new federal funding stream to help high school students prepare for the workforce, perhaps by supplementing the traditional high school curriculum with the sort of job-specific learning Americans typically associate with community colleges. This is promising. As I've reported, during the first term, President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan talked about vocational education almost exclusively in the context of post-secondary schools. That allowed the administration to dodge controversial, historically-freighted debates over "tracking," a practice that, throughout the twentieth century, pushed non-white students, girls, and the intergenerationally poor into lower-paid professions. But it also ignored some important research and innovation at the K-12 level.
For one thing, surveys of high school drop-outs show a leading cause of their leaving school is the
For one thing, surveys of high school drop-outs show a leading cause of their leaving school is the
Four Reasons Pre-K Faces An Uphill Climb
President Obama made a big call for a federal – state partnership on early-childhood education in his State of the Union speech. As education initiatives go pre-K has substantial research behind it. The mixed results that are observed in many pre-K initiatives, and Head Start, owe more to execution shortcomings than the underlying value of quality pre-K education. And it’s also common- sense that preparing students for school, and closing the gaps that exist before they start school, is a smart way to get kids off to a good start in school. The issue is also ripe for a federal-state partnership.
Still, it’s a long way from here to there. Doesn’t mean the President can’t get something done, but here are four
Still, it’s a long way from here to there. Doesn’t mean the President can’t get something done, but here are four
LAUSD approves $50M for computer tablets
Los Angeles Unified took the first step Tuesday in closing the digital divide with the school board's approval to spend $50 million to provide computer devices to students at nearly four dozen campuses this fall.
Obama cites Georgia as proof that pre-k works. Calls for College Scorecard and redesigned high schools. Real goals or rhetoric?
President Obama praised Georgia for its pre-k program in his speech. (AJC)Citing Georgia as an example, the President said states that have treated early childhood as a priority have children who “grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, and form
Obama’s SOTU: Victims of gun violence ‘deserve a simple vote’ from Congress
President Obama addressed a wide range of issues during his State of the Union on Tuesday, including immigration, the minimum wage, gun control — and fatherhood. On immigration, a topic which has gained much traction since the November election — in which over two thirds of Hispanic...
The Full Text of Marco Rubio's State of the Union Response
Per custom, a member of the President's opposing party delivers a response shortly after the State of the Union address. The past three were delivered by Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan, and Bobby Jindal, each to varying levels of success. This year's rebuttal to President Obama's speech was delivered by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who is rumored to be considering a 2016 run for President. "Despite our differences, I know that both Republicans
Dads
One of the reasons I like President Obama is that he’s clearly a Dad. I don’t just mean that he has children; I mean that he’s obviously an involved parent. (If you haven’t seen the video of the two-year-old at the Medal of Honor ceremony, check it out. Obama responded as a seasoned parent would.)
That isn’t always easy. I smiled in rueful recognition at this piece from the Washington Post about the prices that involved Dads pay at work. In brief, fathers who take time to be with their kids are penalized at work even
That isn’t always easy. I smiled in rueful recognition at this piece from the Washington Post about the prices that involved Dads pay at work. In brief, fathers who take time to be with their kids are penalized at work even
Bill Introduced: S.216 Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2013
A bill to prevent harassment at institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Excerpts of the President’s State of the Union Address
The White House at White House.gov Press Office Feed - 18 minutes ago
“It is our generation’s task, then, to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth – a rising, thriving middle class. It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country – the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love. It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few; that it encourages free enterprise, rewards individual initiative, and opens the doors of opportunity to every child... more »
Presidential Policy Directive -- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
The White House at White House.gov Press Office Feed - 18 minutes ago
*PRESIDENTIAL POLICY DIRECTIVE/PPD-21* SUBJECT: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience The Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience advances a national unity of effort to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure. *Introduction* The Nation's critical infrastructure provides the essential services that underpin American society. Proactive and coordinated efforts are necessary to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure – including assets, networ... more »
President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address
The White House at White House.gov Press Office Feed - 18 minutes ago
*Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery* *State of the Union Address* *Tuesday, February 12, 2013* *Washington, DC* Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow citizens: Fifty-one years ago, John F. Kennedy declared to this Chamber that “the Constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress…It is my task,” he said, “to report the State of the Union – to improve it is the task of us all.” Tonight, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, there is much progress to report. After a decade ... more »
The President’s Plan for a Strong Middle Class and a Strong America
The White House at White House.gov Press Office Feed - 18 minutes ago
The President’s Plan for a Strong Middle Class and a Strong America can be found HERE.
FACT SHEET: PRESIDENTIAL POLICY DIRECTIVE ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AND RESILIENCE
The White House at White House.gov Press Office Feed - 18 minutes ago
To complement the Cyber Security Executive Order issued today, the Administration is also issuing a Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) on critical infrastructure security and resilience that updates the national approach from Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7, issued in 2003, to adjust to the new risk environment, key lessons learned, and drive toward enhanced capabilities. The Nation’s critical infrastructure provides the essential services that underpin American society. Proactive and coordinated efforts are necessary for us to strengthen and maintain secure, function... more »
Executive Order on Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
The White House at White House.gov Press Office Feed - 18 minutes ago
Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order to strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure by increasing information sharing and by jointly developing and implementing a framework of cybersecurity practices with our industry partners. - *Defense Industrial Base Information Sharing Program Now Open to Other Sectors*: The Order expands the voluntary Enhanced Cybersecurity Services program, enabling near real time sharing of cyber threat information to assist participating critical infrastructure companies in their cyber protection efforts. ... more »
Executive Order -- Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
The White House at White House.gov Press Office Feed - 18 minutes ago
EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - IMPROVING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CYBERSECURITY By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: *Section* *1*. *Policy*. Repeated cyber intrusions into critical infrastructure demonstrate the need for improved cybersecurity. The cyber threat to critical infrastructure continues to grow and represents one of the most serious national security challenges we must confront. The national and economic security of the United States depends on the reliable funct... more »
What Is “Cage Busting”? EduShyster Explains It All to You
EduShyster wants to help promote Rick Hess’ new book, Cage Busters….or does she?
It is a ritual. Every author of a public policy book must launch it with a panel discussion at a think tank in DC. It’s a way of showcasing the book and branding it
Hess runs the education program at the American Enterprise Institute so he chose his panel. Hess branded his
It is a ritual. Every author of a public policy book must launch it with a panel discussion at a think tank in DC. It’s a way of showcasing the book and branding it
Hess runs the education program at the American Enterprise Institute so he chose his panel. Hess branded his
Report: Higher Education Funding Proposal Too Lax
LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to increase higher education funding lacks mechanisms to ensure the extra money will result in improved graduation and enrollment rates, according to a report by the state Legislative Analyst’s Office released Tuesday.
The 40-page report also criticized Brown’s plan, contained as part of his proposed state budget for 2013-14, as taking key education policy decisions out of the state Legislature’s hands.
The report said funding increases to the University of California, California State University and the Community Colleges of California should be allocated to pay debt and employee pension costs, and fully fund community
The 40-page report also criticized Brown’s plan, contained as part of his proposed state budget for 2013-14, as taking key education policy decisions out of the state Legislature’s hands.
The report said funding increases to the University of California, California State University and the Community Colleges of California should be allocated to pay debt and employee pension costs, and fully fund community
How Medicaid Expansion Strengthens Communities
[Cross-posted from the Rio Arriba Community Health Council Blog.]
Recently, after months of silence, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez became one of several Republicans to blur the Right’s anti-socialist line in the sand by adopting Medicaid expansion. As New Mexico is surpassed only by Texas in its ranks of uninsured, and leads almost every list of scary medical conditions known to humanity, adding 170,000 insured out of a population of 2,000,000 is obviously good for our statewide health.
But health wasn’t the primary reason Martinez bucked her party. Her decision is rooted in New Mexico’s
Recently, after months of silence, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez became one of several Republicans to blur the Right’s anti-socialist line in the sand by adopting Medicaid expansion. As New Mexico is surpassed only by Texas in its ranks of uninsured, and leads almost every list of scary medical conditions known to humanity, adding 170,000 insured out of a population of 2,000,000 is obviously good for our statewide health.
But health wasn’t the primary reason Martinez bucked her party. Her decision is rooted in New Mexico’s
Six great education tweets from Obama's SOTU
#SOTU Want to promote innovation in America? Stop crushing creativity with non-stop standardized testing. @teachersabrina @jerseyjazzman
— Ted Chambers (@TedChambers) February 13, 2013
More Race to the Top means more job security for @politicsk12. Bring on a new contest!blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaig
— Politics K-12 (@PoliticsK12) February 13, 2013
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