Missouri Education Watchdog: Speak Out Against Common Core Survey for Teachers/Administrators

Missouri Education Watchdog: Speak Out Against Common Core Survey for Teachers/Administrators:

Speak Out Against Common Core Survey for Teachers/Administrators

by stlgretchen

Are you a teacher or administrator who would like to speak out against Common Core but fear backlash from your state agency, school or the union?

Here is a way for your opinion to be heard in Missouri.  Take this survey here.  Your identity will not be disclosed, unless you specifically allow it.  We do request you inform us in which county you live so we can forward comments to legislators in that county. They pay very close attention to their own constituents. The legislators are only hearing from those who drank the koolaid on Common Core and have the impression that it is only a faction from outside of teaching who think CC is a bad idea. They need to hear from you!

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Information about charter school authorizers

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Information about charter school authorizers:

Information about charter school authorizers

The charter school authorizer is the agency which receives a charter school application, reviews it, and then ultimately determines if the proposed charter school will open, or not. The authorizing agency is also tasked with providing some measure of oversight during the term of the charter school’s contract; it is sometimes referred to as the sponsor. One concern which has arisen in this era of rapid charter school expansion is inadequate staffing of those agencies’ charter school offices.  

The top ten states with the most authorizers are:

CA	293
WI	84
OH	69
OR	67
PA	51
MN	49
CO	47
FL	45
GA	39
MI	32

“Shopping” for an authorizer occurs in states that have multiple authorizers with jurisdiction over the same physical area. For example in California, if an initial charter school application or renewal is rejected by the board of a local city school district, the applicant can then seek approval from 

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 3-15-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Speak Out Against Common Core Survey for Teachers/Administrators

by stlgretchen

Are you a teacher or administrator who would like to speak out against Common Core but fear backlash from your state agency, school or the union?

Here is a way for your opinion to be heard in Missouri.  Take this survey here.  Your identity will not be disclosed, unless you specifically allow it.  We do request you inform us in which county you live so we can forward comments to legislators in that county. They pay very close attention to their own constituents. The legislators are only hearing from those who drank the koolaid on Common Core and have the impression that it is only a faction from outside of teaching who think CC is a bad idea. They need to hear from you!

“Performance Tasks” and the Common Core’s Big Lie

by Lauren Cohen

I’m busting out my old grad school textbooks for this one…

Performance Task: As complex challenges that mirror the issues and problems faced by adults, they are authentic. Ranging in length from short-term tasks to long-term, multistaged projects, they require a product or performance (Wiggins & McTighe, 14f)

Even at my high-performing, relatively affluent school, we still feel obliged to purchase test prep materials. Check out this page from the 5th grade math prep book. Could somebody please explain to me why it is considered a “performance task” rather than a mere word problem? 

Measuring ants based on their proportions to blades of grass: that’s some useful, real-world application of math skills right there.

I’m not even being snarky and rhetorical here: please, somebody explain how “Common Core Performance Tasks” like this one are in any way authentic or complex?

It frequently seems to me like the writers of these tasks think that wording problems in a confusing way makes them “complex.” Many of my kids were completely thrown by the use of the word “diagram.” We talk all the time about representations, models, arrays, number lines, fraction bars, and so on, but somehow the term “diagram” hadn’t entered the lexicon of class 5-322. I get it: the Common Core expects students to be flexible and apply 

The Sharing of Student Data Creates Concern in NYC

by stlgretchen

From nbcnewyork.com and Parents Blast New State Database of Private Student Info:

Parents and privacy experts are blasting a new national database that compiles personal student information for educational companies that contract with public schools.

New York State officials, working with the city, have already uploaded students' names, addresses, test scores, learning disabilities, attendance and disciplinary records into the inBloom 

Chicago Public Schools Protect Students from Dangers of Reading

by Last Stand for Children

After the Chicago Public Schools wisely called for schools to round up the graphic novel Persepolis from its libraries and classrooms for presumed future burning, it was immediately criticized by the Chicago Teachers Union and Liberal Mouthpiece Kristine Mayle who said, "We are surprised ‘Persepolis: A Story of Childhood’ would be banned by the Chicago Public School (CPS) system.  The only place we’ve heard of this book being banned is in Iran. We understand why the district would be afraid of a book like this-- at a time when they are closing schools--because it’s about questioning authority, class structures, racism and gender issues. There’s even a part in the book where they are talking about blocking access to education. So we can see why the school district would be alarmed about students learning about these principles."

I'm sorry, but looking in the page above, I just don't see any similarities to CPS at all.

Digital, Yes! Native, No! :The Myth About Digital Natives!

by Lisa M

"Mom, can I borrow your camcorder?" His next question, "Mom,do you have a flash drive?" A what? :) My son's Senior Project was due in three days.  My son hates letting me see his work because I automatically shift into teacher mode. My expectations for him are higher than what is expected of him in school. Therefore, he doesn't let me see anything that is required. So, I was thrilled when

Kismet For Hizmet

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)

In non-Persepolis related news, this has to be called what it is, a victory for the Hizmet Movement.

I've done an election or two, and there's really only one reason to postpone the vote: you don't have the numbers. You know it, I know it, and the American people know it.  

My people at the school indicate that many of the original organizing teachers are gone, and that there are more Turkish employees here on visas and part timers now. Part of the vision of the corporate charter chain is short-

Copies Available

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman)

Persepolis is flying off the shelves everywhere.

But just to be clear, you can definitely still find copies  here.

They've even got it in French.

People say it's good.  And you totally don't need special training unless you're a CPS teacher working under Rahm.

3 groups weigh in against vouchers

Updated 4:56 pm, Friday, March 15, 2013

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Three organizations opposed to Louisiana's private school tuition voucher program are weighing in on the issue ahead of state Supreme Court arguments next week.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The Interfaith Alliance Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union said Friday they filed a friend of the court brief against the program, which uses government money to make private school tuition available for some students in poorly performing public schools.

The state is appealing a district judge's ruling that the program unconstitutionally takes money from an education funding program meant for public schools. Americans United and the other groups argue that the program also unconstitutionally uses public money for

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/3-groups-weigh-in-against-vouchers-4358885.php#ixzz2Nffihr5s

NPE News! The Network For Public Education

NPE News!:

Greetings! 

Welcome to the first edition of the NPE News! We plan to send you regular news of the work we are doing, and ways that you can get involved. We hope to build connections and awareness as we grow.

Note from Diane

We Will Stand Up to the Billionaires

The organizers of the Network for Public Education are thrilled by the wonderful response from parents, teachers, students, and concerned citizens who have joined us as members and allies.

We received excellent press coverage, and the word of our existence is
spreading across the nation.
 
We will help grassroots groups connect to other grassroots groups.
 
We will identify education bloggers across the nation.
 
We exist to amplify their message and to give them moral support.
 
In the coming months, we will provide information and research to help
friends of public education support their community schools.
 
We expect to offer a variety of activities that call upon the talents
of the many people who have volunteered their help.
 
Every member of our group is an unpaid volunteer. We have no paid staff.
 
Our website was created by volunteers. Our press release was written
by volunteers.
 
Our members are real members who pay dues to join, not people duped
into signing a phony petition drive for "great teachers."
 
We will stand together with our friends and allies whenever and
wherever public schools and their educators are threatened.
 
We will stand up to the billionaires who are trying to control and
privatize our schools.
 
Thank you for joining with us.
 
Diane

NPE Survey: Where Should We Focus?

Our new organization has been greeted with great enthusiasm. Finally, a way to push together for positive change in our schools. We need to find our from you, our supporters, activists and members, what you feel the most urgent issues are in your communities, and the projects that should be our top priorities. This survey provides that opportunity, and also the chance to volunteer on the projects that might excite you. Click here to take the survey.

Building the NPE Website A Grassroots Gathering Place We created the Network for Public Education as a way of connecting groups and individuals around the country who are devoted to preserving public education. This is no small task. We're up against a well-funded corporate reform movement that's waging a slick PR campaign based on misleading information and junk science. But while they may have the billionaires, we have something far more powerful: the authentic voices of teachers, parents and students who understand that public education is a pillar of our democracy.   The NPE website will be at the very center of our efforts. In a matter of weeks, an all-volunteer team has begun to create a site that can function as a clearing house for public education advocates. With the help of our network of academic experts, we're pulling together reliable, easy-to-use fact sheets on all of today's essential education issues. With regular news alerts, we'll make sure you stay up-to-date on the latest developments. We're also drawing upon the experience of grassroots activists across the country to create toolkits that you can use in your own communities. Want to know how to dig for essential information using public records? Need helpsetting up a grassroots organization? Our hope is that the website becomes a hub, bringing together public education supporters wherever they are. Organizations that affiliate with NFPE, along with education bloggers across the country, will appear on a map so that you can easily connect with advocates near you. We're also creating a network of regional correspondents: people just like you who are reporting on what's happening to public education in their communities-and what they're doing to fight back. If you would like to be a regional correspondent, send an email describing what you would like to report on to this address:  allies@networkforpubliceducation.org. We can't do any of this without you. Our movement is entirely people-powered. We are working teachers and professors, students with full course loads, parents taking care of our children, and concerned citizens navigating our way through a changing world. We need your enthusiasm, your stories and your expertise.Our webmaster is a teacher in Rhode Island, Rob Perry, and the team includes the inimitable Edushyster and Jonathan Pelto. See you at  www.networkforpubliceducation.org!

NPE Twitter and Facebook Take Off Social Media is Key to Our Movement Our network does not have billionaires writing us checks to buy TV ads. We rely on free (or nearly free) social media. Twitter and Facebook are both valuable avenues of communication. Our NPE Facebook page now has more than 2200 likes, and is a lively place with frequent updates of the latest news and analysis. And our NPE Twitter feed now has about 1300 followers, and is another good source for information. Please join us, and share these places with your friends.

NPE Launch Hits the News From the front page of the New York Times, to the Village Voice, the nation's reporters brought attention to the launch of our network. Over at the Daily Kos, teacherken wrote a piece describing our efforts. This story at Left Labor Reporter connected the network to the union movement.   Bloggers also joined in welcoming our project. "Yo Miz" Elizabeth Rose's Blog  said, "... it's a happy day for the people who want to preserve free public education, local control and the end of high stakes standardized testing." The Politics K12 Blog at EdWeek also shared the news. NPE cofounders Diane Ravitch and Anthony Cody were also interviewed on thepodcast @The ChalkFace.

New Activist Toolkits  Advice on How to Form a Grassroots Group, Investigate Corruption The Network for Public Education is about empowering YOU to make a difference in your community. Our website now features a new section, which will grow in the weeks to come. The first Toolkit comes from our allies in Indiana, the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education, which formed just two years ago, and was instrumental in helping teacher Glenda Ritz win her election as State Superintendent of Schools. They offer this guide, How to Start your Own Grassroots Group. Our second guide comes from professional investigator Michael Corwin, who recently uncovered corruption in New Mexico. He has written a guide called"How to Dig for Information," which gives ordinary citizens the tools to follow the money that is often driving corporate education "reform." This is the first of a multi-part series.

Report from Alabama A Perfect Storm of Corporate Reform One of the regular features of the NPE web site will be regular reports from regional correspondents. To kick this off, one of NPE's director's, Larry Lee, has written a description of the sorry state of affairs in his home state of Alabama. Please read his report here.

Illinois Attempts to Pull the Parent Trigger  Substance News alerts us to an attempt by Illinois legislator to introduce a "Parent Trigger" law there. This allows a one-time vote by parents to permanently turn a public school over to charter operators. Read more here.

Providence Student Union Gives a Test Legislators, Professors on the Receiving End In Rhode Island, high school seniors must now earn a passing score on the New England Common Assessment Program test, in spite of the fact that this test was not designed for this purpose. A press release explains the event the Providence Student Union has planned for tomorrow. "To lend a deeper perspective to the debate over Rhode Island's new high-stakes testing diploma system, members of the Providence Student Union (PSU) have invited community leaders and policy makers to put themselves in students' shoes and take a shortened version of the NECAP exam that is now being used as a make-or-break graduation requirement for the state's young people. Currently 40 state senators, state representatives, city council members, school board members, non-profit directors, lawyers, reporters, and education officials are planning to participate in this student-administered, student-proctored event. This event will happen on  at 12:15 pm, Saturday, March 16th, at Knight Memorial Library, 275 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island." We are excited about this initiative by these students, and look forward to more creative actions bringing attention to the harmful effects of high stakes tests.

Please forward this newsletter far and wide! 

 

In solidarity,

 

 

The Network For Public Education

Blogging from Chicago: ASCD Conference | InterACT

Blogging from Chicago: ASCD Conference | InterACT:

Blogging from Chicago: ASCD Conference

by David B. Cohen

image from conference web app

I’ve just arrived in rainy and cloudy downtown Chicago for the annual ASCD Conference, and I’ll be blogging about the conference for the next few days. In addition to writing blog posts, I’ll be tweeting from both @CohenD and @AcmpCA_Teachers - and the twitter hashtag for the conference is #ASCD13.
I’m excited to be here for a few reasons. First, I love Chicago, and I’m expecting to get out and about a little while I’m here. My first full-time teaching job (1995-98) was in Chicago, at a Jewish day school on the north side of the city. Fresh from grad school with a brand new California teaching credential, I promptly moved to Evanston, IL, as my wife (then fiancé) began grad school at Northwestern. My teaching experience in Chicago was quite varied, as I discovered how a small private school can always find ways to put your talents to use: in my three years there, I taught various combinations of 7th and 8th grade literature and language arts, plus music and drama classes for grades 6-8. (I also tried my hand at coaching volleyball and baseball, but the less said about that, the better).
I’m also excited because I’m just – dare I say it? – an edu-geek. Maybe a better way to put it is that I’m a student of the game. Throughout my career, especially the fourteen years in public high schools, I’ve been 

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 3-15-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

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 CAP

Parent Trigger Opponent Proposes Real Common Ground on Education Reform | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago

Parent Trigger Opponent Proposes Real Common Ground on Education Reform | Scathing Purple Musings: Parent Trigger Opponent Proposes Real Common Ground on Education Reform by Bob Sikes Carlos Mendoza served with distinction and was wounded on the front line of education reform. As president of the California school board tasked with dealing with a Parent Trigger application in tiny Adelanto, Mendoza was the first to experience the full force of the charter school industry backed by billionaire bucks. The paid organizers of Parent Revolution rented a home near Desert Trail Elementa... more »

UPDATE:Award-winning book ‘recalled’ from some Chicago school classrooms

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Award-winning book ‘recalled’ from some Chicago school classrooms: Acclaimed book ‘recalled’ from some Chicago school classrooms (update) by Valerie Strauss (U[pdate: Book publisher issues statement criticizing Chicago Public Schools) An award-winning graphic novel about a girl coming of age in Iran — which is also a Common Core literary text for seventh grade — was ordered removed from some Chicago … Continue reading → Award-winning book ‘recalled’ from some Chicago school classrooms Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 15, 2013 at 5:27 pm 0 Comments More [image: perspeolis]An aw... more »

CACFP Day Care Home Sponsors and Center Sites - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

CACFP Day Care Home Sponsors and Center Sites - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Updated Lists of Sites Serving Nutritious Meals to Low-Income Children *Federal Government Updates Income Eligibility Levels* SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced newly updated Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Day Care Home Sponsors and 2012-13 CACFP Center Sites lists are available, showing low-income families where they may seek low-cost or no-cost meals for children. "Too many disadvantaged familie... more »

NYC Educator: Mulgrew Asks for Changes He Claimed We Already Achieved in 2009

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

NYC Educator: Mulgrew Asks for Changes He Claimed We Already Achieved in 2009: Mulgrew Asks for Changes He Claimed We Already Achieved in 2009 by NYC Educator I was a little confused by a quote from Unity/ New Action presidential candidate Michael Mulgrew. Mulgrew says he does not want to go backto the school board system: *Instead, he said, the union just wants checks and balances on the mayor’s power. In other cities with mayoral control, he said, “Everybody else figured out you needed checks and balances.”* In fact, I'm more than a little confused by that. That's because in 20... more »

Malloy nominates charter school corporate officer to Connecticut State Board of Education - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Malloy nominates charter school corporate officer to Connecticut State Board of Education - Wait, What?: Malloy nominates charter school corporate officer to Connecticut State Board of Education by jonpelto (Written by Jonathan Pelto and Wendy Lecker) A Conflict of Interest: A situation in which a public official’s decisions are influenced by the official’s personal interests. From 2009 to 2011 she served as community outreach director for Achievement First, the large charter school management company co-founded by Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor. In 201... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Reform = Repression

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Reform = Repression: Reform = Repression by Duke Anyone surprised that *adherents of the reform "movement" are now banning books* has not been paying attention: Is there a free speech storm brewing at Lane Tech? Here is what I am hearing. *CPS suits apparently sent a directive to Lane (and how many other high schools?) on March 13th, 2013 to remove copies of the graphic novel, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.* *Persepolis* deals with the Iranian Revolution and issues of intolerance. The author wrote a sequel. An award winning animated movie was made in 2007. But the ... more »

American Library Association requests explanation for CPS book banning. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago

American Library Association requests explanation for CPS book banning. | Fred Klonsky: American Library Association requests explanation for CPS book banning. by Fred Klonsky *Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Chief Executive Officer for Chicago Public Schools* *David Vitale, President of the Chicago Board of Education* *Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago* *March 15, 2013* *Dear Ms. Byrd-Bennett, Mr. Vitale, and Mayor Emanuel:* *On behalf of both the American Library Association (ALA) and its First Amendment legal arm, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), I am writing to express our organizatio... more »

North Forest, TEA debate order to close district | K-12 Zone | a Chron.com blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

North Forest, TEA debate order to close district | K-12 Zone | a Chron.com blog: North Forest, TEA debate order to close district by Ericka Mellon AUSTIN – Texas Education Agency officials on Friday made their final case for closing North Forest ISD, while district leaders countered that the school system has improved but is being held to an unfair standard. The TEA’s chief deputy commissioner, Lizzette Reynolds, will issue a final ruling April 1 on whether to annex the 7,000-student North Forest Independent School District into neighboring Houston ISD. Chris Tritico, an attorney... more »

Persepolis. It wasn’t just a bureaucratic mistake. Byrd-Bennett really banned the book. On purpose. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Persepolis. It wasn’t just a bureaucratic mistake. Byrd-Bennett really banned the book. On purpose. | Fred Klonsky: Persepolis. It wasn’t just a bureaucratic mistake. Byrd-Bennett really banned the book. On purpose. by Fred Klonsky A reporter from a national publication called and asked why I thought this was all happening. Echoing the views of many CPS teachers, I said that it is so dumb that it must be the typical bureaucratic crap that goes on in CPS all the time. But I was wrong. CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett actually banned the book. On purpose. With intent. Chicago Public Sc... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Louisiana Teacher: “I Quit!” by dianerav Abby Breaux, a 25-year veteran teacher in Louisiana, wrote an open letter to the state board of education to explain why she was quitting. It is a powerful letter that demonstrates the complete disconnect between the people on the state board who make the rules and the teachers in the classroom who must live with them. Is Louisiana determined to get rid of experienced teachers? Who will take their places? Marc Tucker Says I Am Wrong About Common Core by dianerav Marc Tuc... more »

Gobsmacked by PWCS | PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Gobsmacked by PWCS | PWC Education Reform Blog: ' Gobsmacked by PWCS by pwceducationreform *Completely dumbfounded, shocked. From the Irish word "gob" meaning "mouth". * School board members Gil Trenum, Alyson Satterwhite, Lisa Bell and Steve Keen recently shook the foundations of the school division by having the audacity to form citizen budget committees to review and evaluate the school division’s budget. The school division is so offended by the thought that mere citizens are asking questions about their budget that they have refused to answer any questions provided by the co... more »

Friday Roundup | Professor Assaults Activist Students

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Friday Roundup |: Professor Assaults Activist Students During Bizarre Tirade at Demonstration by Angus Johnston A man who has been identified as James Olmsted, an adjunct professor of law at the University of Oregon, instigated a bizarre confrontation with UO student activists Wednesday, in the course of which he shoved one student and snatched another’s cell phone. Videos of the incident — including one recorded on the stolen phone— have gone viral in recent hours. In the video taken on the stolen phone, Olmsted is first seen aggressively lecturing a group of female activists about... more »

Test-Based Accountability, International Comparisons, Standards-mania: Lessons Ignored – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Test-Based Accountability, International Comparisons, Standards-mania: Lessons Ignored – @ the chalk face: Test-Based Accountability, International Comparisons, Standards-mania: Lessons Ignored by plthomasedd [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Marc Tucker confronts Diane Ravitch‘s recent stance against the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), not surprisingly in an *EdWeek* blog. To understand why Tucker is wrong, and Ravitch is right, consider this reposting of a piece of mine challenging Tucker (*Daily Censored*, July 7, 2011): The historical and current focus on test-based account... more »

Carrying Our Candles Through the Wind | The IDEA Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Carrying Our Candles Through the Wind | The IDEA Blog: Carrying Our Candles Through the Wind Posted by Dana Bennis on Mar 15, 2013 - 09:13 AM *There is deep value in sharing our stories, our successes, and our struggles in the work for education that creates a more just and sustainable society. In that light, here is a guest post from Darcy Bedortha, IDEA Senior Fellow of the Oregon Place-Based Team.* I’ve been in a reflective mood lately. I find myself at a crossroads, a wagon wheel actually, with spokes of opportunity beckoning me to follow them in a multitude of directions... more »

SES IS A MESS: Read Dallas, Garland and San Antonio ISD complaints about tutoring companies | Education Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Read Dallas, Garland and San Antonio ISD complaints about tutoring companies | Education Blog: Read Dallas, Garland and San Antonio ISD complaints about tutoring companies By Holly K. Hacker hhacker@dallasnews.com 12:40 pm on March 15, 2013 | Permalink We reported today that the Texas Education Agency booted two Hurst companies from the state’s approved list of tutoring providers. TEA determined that the companies, Avenue Academy and Boost Academy, provided false taxpayer identification numbers in their applications last year. The education agency is still investigating other compl... more »

This Week In Education: Thompson: Trauma Treatment At Heart Of "Harper High"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

This Week In Education: Thompson: Trauma Treatment At Heart Of "Harper High": Thompson: Trauma Treatment At Heart Of "Harper High" by john thompson *[image: Thisamerican life]*This American Life's brilliant radio documentary about Harper High School describes a "Turnaround" school as it comes off a year in which 29 current and recent students were shot. Eight died, and there were dozens of other incidents where bullets were thrown. Reporter Alex Kotlowitz, author of the masterpiece, There Are No Children Here, reporting with Linda Lutton, Ben Calhoun, and Ira Glass, spent five mont... more »

Raise Your Voice for Healthy Food in Schools « MomsRising Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Raise Your Voice for Healthy Food in Schools « MomsRising Blog: Raise Your Voice for Healthy Food in Schools Lisa Sharma Creighton at MomsRising Blog - 57 minutes ago These days there is a lot of talk about why we should have healthier food in schools –from childhood obesity prevention to positive nutrition messaging to the connection between healthy diet and academic performance. These are all great reasons, but for me it really boils down to that offering healthy food choices is the right [...] MomsRising.org Food Power! Conference Recap Nellie Acevedo at MomsRising Blog - 57 minu... more »

UPDATE: Words of Wisdom on Ed Reform Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open Thread

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open Thread: Words of Wisdom on Ed Reform by Melissa Westbrook It is sad that we had such a plethora of smart people in the last School Board election who didn't win. One who comes to mind is Jack Whelan who would have been the thinking person's Board Director. He wrote this comment at the thread about Ron Sims and it's worth reprinting in case you missed it. His words are the canary in the coal mine to what I believe will happen when the weight of ed reform starts to collapse on itself in about 10 years. He doesn't mention Obama but he m... more »

UPDATE: The idiocracy at CPS. A hat trick. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

The idiocracy at CPS. A hat trick. | Fred Klonsky: The idiocracy at CPS. A hat trick. by Fred Klonsky [image: chi_g_pkane1_600] Y’know, it’s not like I’m paid for this. I have other responsibilities. Even though I’m retired. But some days, there is just too much to cover. Like yesterday. - Millionaire heiress, union-buster, school-closer, tax-cheat Penny Pritzker resigns from the CPS board to go work for Obama in DC as Commerce Secretary (it is rumored). - In spite of thousands of people turning out at city-wide hearings opposing school closings, CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-B... more »

UPDATE: Byrd-Bennett says yes to book banning Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: How many more reasons do you need?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: How many more reasons do you need?: Byrd-Bennett says yes to book banning by Mike Klonsky Today at Lane TechIn this morning's post, I greatly underestimated the arrogance and stupidity of the CPS autocrats. That's a sin that someone with my experience should never commit. I assumed that the outrageous banning of the graphic novel Persepolis was the move of some misguided middle-level bureaucrat. But by this afternoon, CEO*Byrd-Bennett* had not only taken credit for the banning, she had doubled-down by declaring the book to be inappropriate for seventh... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: [image: Home] Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Argue with Some of the Logic?: The Expertise Gap Best of the Ed Blogs P.L. Thomas March 15, 2013 Boxed In: How the NGSS Impedes Science Teaching Best... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, March 15, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Parent volunteers help kids get safely to school after crossing guards cut* Education Headlines *Friday, March 15, 2013* Students protest at Coachella Valley Unified School District board meetingDozens of protesters gathered at tonight’s Coachella Valley Unified School District board meeting, but there wasn’t enough room for them inside the board room. Madera Unified issues notices to cut 36 positionsMore than three dozen Madera Unified teachers have received layoff notices, notifying them that their jobs could be in jeopardy fo... more »

Bruce Lesley excerpt at The Washington Post Live Children & Families Summit 2013’

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

- The Washington Post: Bruce Lesley excerpt at The Washington Post Live Children & Families Summit 2013’ *Video: *Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus, discusses inequality in schools and the need for a national commitment to address this. *First Focus*: Home About 50 percent of the growth in the number of kids in this country in the last decade happened in Texas, and yet we’re seeing a per capita decline in spending for kids in that state by almost $2,000 per kid. Think about the classroom. The classroom has got 25 kids in it. You’re underinvesting in that classroom by ... more »

Persepolis protest scheduled at Lane this afternoon. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Persepolis protest scheduled at Lane this afternoon. | Fred Klonsky: Persepolis protest scheduled at Lane this afternoon. by Fred Klonsky [image: persepolis-cover-small2-1] A group of students, parents and teachers from Lane Technical High School are planning a protest this afternoon at the corners of Western and Addison streets. They will be protesting the action of CPS bureaucrats who have attempted to pull the acclaimed graphic novel, Persepolis, off of school book shelves. The action is scheduled for 3:30. Teacher networks across the city have been buzzing about the action by CP... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Video footage from our student privacy press conferece

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Video footage from our student privacy press conferece: Video footage from our student privacy press conferece by Molly Class Size Matters led a student privacy press conference on the Tweed steps, March 14, 2013. Speakers included famed Civil Rights Attorney Norman Siegel, Councilmembers Daniel Dromm, Letitia James and Stephen Levin, mayoral candidate Tom Allon, public school parents Karen Sprowal, Lisa Shaw and Tori Frye, and Class Size Matters own Leonie Haimson. For more information on the press conference, see *our last post, here*. Videos will be u... more »

School Tech Connect: The Other Unbelievably Bizarre Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago

School Tech Connect: The Other Unbelievably Bizarre Story: The Other Unbelievably Bizarre Story by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Before I went all kooky in the kepi over of CPS roundup of *Persepolis, *I was going to chime in about the highly weird, I'm-off-my-meds comment from the B3 about how every "gets it" that all these schools need to close. I think I'll just run Raise Your Hand's response: Today CEO Byrd Bennett told the press regarding the community hearings that "Everybody got it that we needed to close schools." You can hear the audio from WBEZ here: https://soundcl... more »

Tom Vander Ark and the Business of Education | deutsch29

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Tom Vander Ark and the Business of Education | deutsch29: Tom Vander Ark and the Business of Education by deutsch29 Former Florida governor Jeb Bush believes in education. He believes that education should follow a business model, that education is a lucrative market and should be privatized. And corporations ready to profit from the corporate reformer declaration that “public education is failing” are in no short supply. Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education (FEE) provides an excellent conduit for “education for sale.” As Donald Cohen of the watchdog group, In the P... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Yes, It Is OK to Teach Literature in English Class! by dianerav Kay McSpadden, a high school English teacher in York, S.C., was told by school officials that English classes would have to stop teaching literature due to the new Common Core standards. She knows that isn’t true, and David Coleman (“the architect of the Common Core standards”) has said it isn’t true. But the word reaching the field is that informational text is supposed to replace literature. For n... more »

Persepolis off CPS classroom shelves. No explanation given. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Persepolis off CPS classroom shelves. No explanation given. | Fred Klonsky: Persepolis off CPS classroom shelves. No explanation given. by Fred Klonsky The story of the removal of Persepolis from CPS classrooms and libraries gets stranger and stranger. One CPS teacher wrote me: *The book is included in the Common Core curriculum for both 7th grade and 11th grade, so there’s no way for the Board to plausibly claim the book was ordered “by mistake.”* -Fred I’m a CPS librarian very worried about the possible banning of the book Persepolis. We received the email below today, after HS l... more »

Dramatic dip in ‘pink slips’ given to teachers | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Dramatic dip in ‘pink slips’ given to teachers | EdSource Today: Dramatic dip in ‘pink slips’ given to teachers - by Susan Frey and John Fensterwald by Susan Frey and John Fensterwald Districts have issued dramatically fewer preliminary layoff notices to teachers this year, signaling an end to five years of high budgetary anxiety and providing one of the first concrete examples of the immediate benefits of Proposition 30. Reports are still trickling in, but the number could be as low as 2,600 notices statewide – down 87 percent from the 20,000 “pink slips” issued last year and jus... more »

Louisiana Educator: Ravitch Exposes Reform Myths

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: Ravitch Exposes Reform Myths: Ravitch Exposes Reform Myths by Michael Deshotels Diane Ravitch visited Baton Rouge yesterday, and participated in a forum with BESE president Chas Roemer sponsored by Leaders With Vision. In this forum and in a town hall meeting with teachers later in the afternoon Dr Ravitch discredited the myths upon which the Jindal education reforms are based. To summarize, Ravitch used the latest educational research findings to point out that (1) vouchers have never improved education, and in the longest running voucher program in Milwauk... more »

The Seductive Lure of Big Data: Practitioners Beware | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The Seductive Lure of Big Data: Practitioners Beware | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: The Seductive Lure of Big Data: Practitioners Beware by larrycuban Big Data beckons policymakers, administrators and teachers with eye-popping analytics and snazzy graphics. Here is Darrell West of the Brookings Institition laying out the case for teachers and administrators to use Big Data: *Twelve-year-old Susan took a course designed to improve her reading skills. She read short stories and the teacher would give her and her fellow students a written test every other wee... more »

Why English spelling is so messed up | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Why English spelling is so messed up | toteachornototeach: Why English spelling is so messed up by aristotlethewise [image: imqwes]*Why English spelling is so messed up** The explanation may not comfort you, but it may at least * *make you see the language as less arbitrarily maddening* by Arika Okrent If you’re a kid learning how to write, or an adult speaker of a language with sensible spelling, English spelling can seem like a cruel prank. And even if you’re a completely literate adult native speaker of English, you will still run into situations that make you wonder how English sp... more »

Aspire surrenders benefit charter status under settlement terms SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Aspire surrenders benefit charter status under settlement terms Aspire Charter Schools will surrender its statewide benefit charter status under terms of a settlement agreement reached today between the charter operator, the state board of education and the group of education advocates that brought the lawsuit. Aspire will also be ineligible to seek statewide benefit charter status for five years and, along with SBE, will pay $300,000 – $150,000 each – in attorney’s fees and court costs. “Today’s settlement is an important victory for parents ... more »

Open Letter to Parents of Public Schooled Children | Truth in American Education

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Open Letter to Parents of Public Schooled Children | Truth in American Education: Open Letter to Parents of Public Schooled Children by Heather Patenaude This fall as your buy your school supplies, tennis shoes, and backpacks, make sure you do your homework on the shift that has taken place within the halls of public schools across this nation. Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are creating a dark future for education and parents must educate themselves on these new standards and their radical implications. What you need to know about CCSS: 1) These standards claim to be “rigorou... more »

UPDATE: Daily Kos: Robinson + Krugman: After the Flimflam

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Daily Kos: Krugman: After the Flimflam: Eugene Robinson asks "Questions from a ‘Dirty War’" by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) in this column from this morning's *Washington Post*. By now increasing numbers of people are aware and demonstrating some concern for the role the then Jesuit Provincial supervisor played during Argentina's "Dirty War." Robinson puts in bluntly at the beginning of his column: They are impolite questions, but they must be asked: What did Jorge Mario Bergoglio know, and when did he know it, about Argentina’s brutal “Dirty War” against suspected leftists, in... more »

Can we simultaneously fix and flee public schools? | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Can we simultaneously fix and flee public schools? | Get Schooled: Can we simultaneously fix and flee public schools? by Maureen Downey Can we simultaneously fix and flee public schools? [image: artchange]I wondered about that question after meetings with Georgia’s last Democratic governor, Roy Barnes, and House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta. The men sat down with the AJC recently to discuss education issues in the state. In many areas, the two leaders — both noted for their interest in education — see eye to eye. “Just because a child is born in Schley County and not Forsy... more »

Chicago school activists get trained in civil disobedience tactics

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Chicago school activists get trained in civil disobedience tactics: Chicago school activists get trained in civil disobedience tactics Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 15, 2013 at 7:00 am [image: Chicago teachers on strike last fall. (By John Gress/Reuters)] Chicago teachers on strike last fall. (By John Gress/Reuters) Chicago Public Schools officials are considering closing as many as 129 public schools said to be under-enrolled — and activists are gearing up for a fight. The Chicago Teachers Union is co-sponsoring “Citywide Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Trainings” to teach par... more »

Weakening Local Control of Schools to Empower Charter Schools Continues in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Weakening Local Control of Schools to Empower Charter Schools Continues in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings: Weakening Local Control of Schools to Empower Charter Schools Continues in Florida by Bob Sikes Floridians have not witnessed such an avalanche of legislation intended to shift tax payer dollars which once went to public schools to the education for profit industry. *Scathing Purple Musings *wrote yesterday that a senate bill would turn over children’s private information to testing corporations to stay in line with Florida’s move to Common Core Standards. The House was ... more »

Have charter schools grown too fast? Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Have charter schools grown too fast? Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com: Have charter schools grown too fast? [image: The California Charter Schools Association's 20th annual conference took place this week at the San Diego Convention Center. / photo by John Gastaldo * U-T]The California Charter Schools Association's 20th annual conference took place this week at the San Diego Convention Center. / photo by John Gastaldo * U-T Mar 14, 2013, 8:48 p.m. After two decades of offering educational choice to families, leaders of the charter-school movement in California are touting accomplishme... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: How to Sustain a Nationalized Educational System. Turn it Over to 501(c)(3) Groups for Outsourcing.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: How to Sustain a Nationalized Educational System. Turn it Over to 501(c)(3) Groups for Outsourcing.: How to Sustain a Nationalized Educational System. Turn it Over to 501(c)(3) Groups for Outsourcing. by stlgretchen *Outsourcing: *Outsourcing is any task, operation, job or process that could be performed by employees within an organization, but is instead contracted to a third party for a significant period of time. In addition, the functions that are performed by the third party can be performed on-site or off-site. The two private trade organization... more »

NYC Educator: The Dreaded Parent-Teacher Conference Attendance Sheet

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

NYC Educator: The Dreaded Parent-Teacher Conference Attendance Sheet: The Dreaded Parent-Teacher Conference Attendance Sheet by NYC Educator Mr. Hopkins had been teaching for over a decade. Twice a year, he held parent-teacher conferences. By 9 PM, he was anxious to go home. But there was always the matter of the attendance sheet. You had to send the office a report of how many parents you saw, and before doing this, you simply could not go home. Mr. Hopkins would often see 30 parents. One year, he dropped a sheet saying he had seen those 30 parents, but did so 5 minutes before vis... more »

HAVE LAUSD TEACHERS RECENTLY BEEN INFECTED WITH A PERVERT VIRUS OR IS LAUSD'S SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY LYING TO FACILITATE THE PRIVATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago

HAVE LAUSD TEACHERS RECENTLY BEEN INFECTED WITH A PERVERT VIRUS OR IS LAUSD'S SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY LYING TO FACILITATE THE PRIVATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? (VIDEO) - Perdaily.com: HAVE LAUSD TEACHERS RECENTLY BEEN INFECTED WITH A PERVERT VIRUS OR IS LAUSD'S SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY LYING TO FACILITATE THE PRIVATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? (VIDEO) by Leonard Isenberg [image: witch hunt.jpg] (Mensaje se repite en Español) At the end of the following video, Los Angeles Unified School District Board President Monica Garcia asks Superintendent John Deasy, "How long has this [teacher j... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 3-14-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* *CORPORATE ED REFORM* CPS book banning. by Fred Klonsky [image: 504280418xsjvla_fs] Photo: CPS Chatter. Is there a freee speech storm brewing at Lane Tech? Here is what I am hearing. CPS suits apparently sent a directive to Lane (and how many other high schools?) on March 13th, 2013 to I have the best job by Dean Shareski Cross posted on The DEN blogs The other day I having one of my regular google hangouts with my teammates and my wife happened to be home over hearing the conversation. “I hate you”, she said in jest. “All your calls in... more »

Corporate Education Storm of Reform Hits Alabama | The Network For Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Corporate Education Storm of Reform Hits Alabama | The Network For Public Education: Corporate Education Storm of Reform Hits Alabama by admin [image: The Network For Public Education -] For the most part, the winds of corporate education reform sweeping over the country in the last decade bypassed Alabama. That is until the elections of 2010 put Republican legislators in firm control of both the House and Senate. In addition, a GOP governor and Lt. governor were elected. Then in 2011, like a storm blowing in from the gulf, the GOP majority took a run at bringing charter schools ... more »

ARNE DUNCAN INVITED TO THE AERA: SHOCKING? – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

ARNE DUNCAN INVITED TO THE AERA: SHOCKING? – @ the chalk face: ARNE DUNCAN INVITED TO THE AERA: SHOCKING? by Barbara Madeloni This is not a blog about being shocked, shocked to find out that the AERA has invited the state’s chief purveyor of the corporate takeover of public education to speak at its annual conference. There is nothing shocking about Arne Duncan speaking at the AERA, anymore than it is shocking that corporate think tanks get to pass themselves off as researchers in AERA journals or that the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education is promoting the edT... more »

Daily Kos: Some quick notes on biit'aa tiinlii ihii

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Daily Kos: Some quick notes on biit'aa tiinlii ihii: Some quick notes on biit'aa tiinlii ihii by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: photo (30)] *biit'aa tiinlii ihii* that's an Apache phrase that translated literally means "leaves flowing in river" which of course approximates to Leaves on the Current. A dear friend offered to pray for my wife at an Apache sweat lodge ceremony, and decided to translate her screen name in the appropriate language oh and he is sending an appropriate bird feather to add to Gregor. You can see Gregor in the photo. The picture was taken at the end of a... more »

A Year at Mission Hill One year. A public school trying to help children learn / grow. The national conversation we need to be having.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Home | A Year at Mission Hill: What is the relationship between our social & emotional well-being and our capacity for intellectual growth? What are the opportunities and the obstacles associated with full-inclusion classrooms? WATCH This is My Place What Kids Can Do READ The Empathy Formula Sam Chaltain LISTEN Loretta Goodwin: Daring To Dream, Amid Apartheid WAMU DO Try This Format for Problem-Solving Conferences NEFC/Responsive Classroom *Go Deeper. *Find more resources for each chapter. What goes into creating a powerful learning environment for children and adults? Meet the teache... more »

Mexico's new education laws: reform or political power play?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Mexico's new education laws: reform or political power play?: Mexico’s new education laws: reform or political power play? 03/14/2013 By Being Latino Contributors Leave a Comment Photo: Susana Gonzalez / Bloomberg / Getty Images On Feb. 26, just days before radical new educational reforms were scheduled to take effect, Elba Esther Gordillo, head of Mexico’s powerful teacher’s union for almost a quarter century, was arrested and charged with embezzling 2 billion pesos (approximately $160 million) from her union during her tenure. The question that is foremost on everyone’s mind: i... more »

School addresses Charlie Sheen's Twitter rant, threats - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

School addresses Charlie Sheen's Twitter rant, threats - latimes.com: School addresses Charlie Sheen's Twitter rant, threats March 14, 2013 | 4:13 pm [image: increase text size][image: decrease text size] 7 0 [image: Actor Charlie Sheen is photograph during Comedy Central's roast of him at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times] A Calabasas school on Thursday said actor Charlie Sheen may have placed it at risk by posting a message on Twitter encouraging his fans to leave rotten eggs, toilet paper and dog excrement at campus where his dau... more »

Pass / Fail : Preschool teachers need schooling in health and nutrition facts -- and practices | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Pass / Fail : Preschool teachers need schooling in health and nutrition facts -- and practices | 89.3 KPCC: Preschool teachers need schooling in health and nutrition facts -- and practices by Deepa Fernandes *Credit: Larry Crowe/AP* Digging into the concept of whether you can teach what you don't know, a recent survey by researchers at the University of Texas School of Public Health sought to uncover the health and nutrition knowledge --and practices-- of a group of teachers. Two of the questions asked of almost 200 Head Start teachers in Texas: - Do you know how many servings o... more »

California Teacher Layoffs Decline Because Of Prop 30

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

California Teacher Layoffs Decline Because Of Prop 30: California Teacher Layoffs Decline Because Of Prop 30 by Joy Resmovits [image: California Teacher Layoffs] After years of threatening to lay off tens of thousands of teachers due to budget shortfalls, California has some relatively good news: less than one-eighth of the number of teachers who got pink-slipped last year will be out of work next year. After sending out 20,000 reduction In force notices to teachers last year, school districts in California have only sent out about 2,400 such letters so far this year, Dean Vogel,... more »

Revolution or Sequestration? – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Revolution or Sequestration? – @ the chalk face: Revolution or Sequestration? by Timothy D. Slekar [image: @TCF on Blog Talk Radio] Someone has to say it. Where the hell is the main stream media? Look! https://www.facebook.com/events/538840062805733/ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/02/portland_public_schools_studen_1.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/03/04/principal-i-was-naive-about-common-core/ http://www.texastribune.org/2013/02/23/capitol-education-rally-tough-words-legislature/ http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2020158085_jessehago... more »

Action for 3-14-13: Share this parent trigger video | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Action for 3-14-13: Share this parent trigger video | Parents Across America: Action for 3-14-13: Share this parent trigger video by pureparents Here’s a four minute video from the Education Opportunity Network. “Another Reform Misfires” features a parent, Lori Yuan, who opposed the trigger at her children’s elementary school in Adelanto, CA and John Rogers a professor from UCLA who has described the parent trigger as “a misguided approach to improving educational improvement and enhancing parental engagement.” Parent triggers have been introduced in 14 states this year (see map b... more »

UPDATE: Late breaking news: Penny Pritzker, bah bye. And two pension bills get through the Illinois House. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Late breaking news: Penny Pritzker, bah bye. And two pension bills get through the Illinois House. | Fred Klonsky: The in box. Can the SOIL enact no law that compensates these accounts from the assets of the crooks that knowingly misrepresented them? by Fred Klonsky *Fred,* *Why, in the name of all that’s fair and lawful do Illinois politicians insist that INNOCENT retirees sacrifice what they were PROMISED by politicians, who not only and utterly failed to live up to their responsibility to fund pensions but who BROKE U.S. law by knowingly misrepresenting the state of the pension... more »

Where are We Going and Why? — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Where are We Going and Why? — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Where are We Going and Why? March 14, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *Post submitted by Andy Hargreaves and Pasi Sahlberg.* *We are entering an age of post-standardization in education. It may not look, smell, or feel like it, but the augurs of the new age have already arrived and are advancing with increasing speed. [This] Fourth Way pushes beyond standardization, data-driven decision making, and target-obsessed distractions to forge an equal and interactive partnership am... more »

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