Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Special Late Nite Cap EXTRA 10-22-13 #EDCHAT #P2 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk

Nite Cap EXTRA

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Sacramento City Council votes 5-4 for strong mayor proposal -
Our Region - The Sacramento Bee http://bit.ly/19O8lb9

Testing & School Grading in Virginia: The Time to Act is Now

There are some major happenings at the state level with public education in Virginia and if you're a supporter of public education in Virginia, there's a few things you can do about them right now.1. What's happening: Almost every Virginia parent and every Virginia educator I talk to is concerned about the amount of SOL testing, what its results are used for, and how it negatively impacts curricul

14 by Rachel Levy / 2h

College Board: Tuition growth slowing at public colleges

The spike in tuition and fees for public colleges after the 2008 financial crisis has given way to slower growth, with lower price increases this year than in any of the previous four years, according to a national survey. Read full article >>

1 by Nick Anderson / 17min

Virtual Schools: Cyber Pie in the Sky?

Sandy Hellebrand was concerned. She needed to find a school that could educate her son Gabriel, who has autism and was about to enter high school. Hellebrand thought she had found the perfect solution: She would enroll Gabriel and her two younger children in Sky Mountain Charter School, one of a rapidly-growing number of virtual schools in California and across the country. After all, she reasoned

2 by Gary Cohn / 3h

Common Core Reading Survey Shows Slow Start To Teaching Shift

NEW YORK -- On a sunny summer afternoon, teachers fill a bright red auditorium in the basement of the Soho headquarters of Scholastic Inc., the educational publishing giant. In front of them, a coach uses a big screen to show them books. Because of new learning standards called the Common Core, New York City educators attending the presentation will soon have to revamp how they teach reading. The

89 38min

LATISM ’13 (Video and Pics Included!)

Photo below from left to right: me; Sylvia Aguilera, director of government relations for McDonald’s Corporation; Jes Sofia Valle, CEO of the Bloggers of Health network; Ana Roca Castro, founder of LATISM, education tech developer and CEO of Plaza Familia; and Laurita Tellado, the force behind the Holdin’ Out for a Hero and Expresso con Leche communities. New York, NY — As I mentioned in two pre

by Elisa Batista / 1h

Bits Blog: Senator Raises Questions About Protecting Student Data

Senator Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, is investigating whether federal rules governing the sharing of student data provide adequate security and privacy protections.

100+ by By NATASHA SINGER / 37min

College less affordable, despite small tuition increases, because financial aid did not keep pace, College Board says

New statistics show federal financial aid is being dialed back, and Oregon's state-funded financial aid averages only $250 per student, barely one-third the national average

2 by Betsy Hammond | b... / 54min

Portland Public Schools sets goal for all ninth-graders to complete high school or equivalent in five years

Only 79 percent of Portland students currently complete high school in five years or less, according to data for students who were supposed to graduate in 2011. That puts Portland in the bottom one-third of the state for five-year high school completion.

2 by Nicole Dungca | n... / 1h

Do You Want the Mayor to Take Control of Seattle Schools?

As some of you may have heard, there was polling done on the upcoming elections by Strategies 360. They state: None of the firm's clients paid for the survey, and Strategies 360 is supporting neither client. (Yes, but someone thought up those questions and I can guarantee it wasn't all Strategies 360.) The poll was 400 likely voters, 78% white, skewed to the north and highly educated. Ninetee

by Melissa Westbrook / 1h

Washington State Charter School Letters of Intent Filed

The deadline for letters of intent to file a charter school proposal in Washington State was 5 p.m. today. Checking the Charter Commission website, I count 15 but Seattle Weekly is reporting 24 (I suspect SW called and asked and that the Charter Commission just doesn't have all of them up yet).Those 24 do NOT include whatever letters of intent that Spokane School District received as it is the on

by Melissa Westbrook / 2h

Guest Post: How Newsrooms Can Better Cover U.S. Latinos

The Online News Association held its annual conference in Atlanta last week, drawing more than 1,500 digital journalists, reporters, editors, and entrepreneurs. Today's guest blogger, Mikhail Zinshteyn of EWA, reported on the event's "Disrupt Diversity" session. As the U.S. Latino population rises, news outlets are struggling to tailor their coverage to the many national and socioeco

by Emily Richmond / 1h

Seattle School Board candidates differ on influence of money, role of board

The race for District 4, the only competitive open Seattle School Board seat on the November ballot, reflects concerns about the influence of big money and the board’s proper role in overseeing the superintendent.

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School Shootings, Regrets, and a Chin Up - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

School Shootings, Regrets, and a Chin Up - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: School Shootings, Regrets, and a Chin Upby JOSE VILSON on OCTOBER 22, 2013in JOSEDid I not fix my face this morning? Did I not prepare enough for my lesson to sufficiently engage my students? Did I talk too much, explain too little, ask too much, or push too hard? Should I have let her go to the bathroom? Should I have p

by mike simpson / 2h

10-22-13 Jersey Jazzman

Jersey Jazzman: ALERT! Wed, 10/23: Make Chris Christie Confront His War On Poor StudentsI just got word of a great event taking place in Trenton tomorrow: Wednesday, October 23, at 11:00 AM: Statehouse Photo Exhibit to Expose Deplorable Conditions in New Jersey Public Schools Trenton – An art exhibit in front of the Statehouse will expose the shameful conditions in some New Jersey public schools.

1 by mike simpson / 2h

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 10-22-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORM Sacramento School Kids Paying for City's Privatization Scheme?At last night's SCUSD board meeting there was a proposal to "lease" Fremont Adult School to the Studios for the Performing Arts Operating Company. A wonderful concept when you follow the presentation. My first thought was WOW! great Idea! Then I heard the "rest

1 by mike simpson / 3h mark as read // save

Nite Cap 10-22-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #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 CAPTODAYSPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 10-22-13 #RealEdTalk #edreformBig Education Ape - Mid Day Banana BreakFund This: Social justice and public education in the spotlight in Curtis Chin's TestedDocumentary feature examines race, class and public edu

1 by mike simpson / 6h

SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 10-22-13 #RealEdTalk #edreform

Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana BreakFund This: Social justice and public education in the spotlight in Curtis Chin's TestedDocumentary feature examines race, class and public education in New York City. My friend is working on a documentary feature that's winding down its fundraising campaign and could some help... Tested, directed by Curtis Chin, follows a diverse group of 8th graders from th

1 by mike simpson / 7h

School Shootings, Regrets, and a Chin Up - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

School Shootings, Regrets, and a Chin Up - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson:

School Shootings, Regrets, and a Chin Up

by JOSE VILSON on OCTOBER 22, 2013

in JOSE

Did I not fix my face this morning? Did I not prepare enough for my lesson to sufficiently engage my students? Did I talk too much, explain too little, ask too much, or push too hard? Should I have let her go to the bathroom? Should I have prevented him from going when all he wanted to do was walk around in the hallway? Did he just need some space to breathe because he’s having a hard time concentrating? Who does he not like in the class? Who does he like and is that why he’s writing little notes to her? Him? Was I too loud in my reproach? Did I listen to the student who’s been absent so long, he barely remembers his teachers’ names? Should I have sat down with him earlier? Should I have given him less warnings? More assignments? Someone more forceful about working through the today’s problems?

Should I have taken a small breather after class?

Should I have kept my patience on 10 with my after-school students? Could I have pushed them to think instead of just giggle at their erroneous suggestions? Should I have pushed her not to

- See more at: http://thejosevilson.com/school-shootings-regrets-chin/#sthash.MPRQ4R2a.dpuf

10-22-13 Jersey Jazzman

Jersey Jazzman:

ALERT! Wed, 10/23: Make Chris Christie Confront His War On Poor Students

I just got word of a great event taking place in Trenton tomorrow: Wednesday, October 23, at 11:00 AM: Statehouse Photo Exhibit to Expose Deplorable Conditions in New Jersey Public Schools Trenton – An art exhibit in front of the Statehouse will expose the shameful conditions in some New Jersey public schools. Called “A Blind Eye: The Immorality of Inaction,” the exhibit highlights the

by Duke / 2min

10-21-13 Jersey Jazzman

Jersey Jazzman: Star-Ledger: Christie Stinks, But We Hate Teachers Unions MoreWhen it comes to generating illogical, incoherent, self-contradictory claptrap, Editorial Page Editor Tom Moran and his merry crew at the Star-Ledger never fail to disappoint. But their idiotic and shameful endorsement of Chris Christie for governor - a man they admit has been an abject failure in Trenton - is a new low.

by mike simpson / 10h

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 10-22-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Sacramento School Kids Paying for City's Privatization Scheme?

At last night's SCUSD board meeting there was a proposal to "lease" Fremont Adult School to the Studios for the Performing Arts Operating Company. A wonderful concept when you follow the presentation. My first thought was WOW! great Idea! Then I heard the "rest". I assume who the champions and who the uninformed were by the defenses offered and questions asked. I don't want to

6 by mike simpson / 22h

Nite Cap 10-22-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

1 by mike simpson / 2h

Q&A: Cultural Fluency Key to Improving Latino Student Success

By New America Media Ed. Note: Latino students comprise over half the K-12 student population in California, and while graduation rates for Latinos are on the rise, a persistent achievement gap continues to separate them from their white and Asian counterparts. Sergio Cuellar is statewide campaign coordinator with Californians for Justice, a grassroots advocacy group that works with Latino and oth

4 by NewsTaco / 1h

Getting past Morningstar's neutral rating on the Oregon College Savings Plan

The state income tax credit still makes the plan "a reliable workhorse for in-state investors," Morningstar says.

2 by Brent Hunsberger ... / 49min

Committee of Seventy: Governor should form panel to fill SRC seats

The sudden resignation of School Reform Commission Chairman Pedro Ramos has many asking who his replacement will be. For others, his departure raises the question of how the five-member panel should be selected, especially as the term of another commissioner is set to expire in about three months. Joseph Dworetzky, a gubernatorial nominee who was named by former Gov. Rendell, will reach the end of

2 by Wendy Harris / 38min

Colbert is hilarious on ‘robo teachers’ and Common Core

Stephen Colbert was hilarious Monday night on “The Colbert Report” in a brief bit on the Common Core State Standards and the “robo teachers” — computers — that will be grading standardized tests aligned to the core. Here’s the video and a partial transcript. Excerpts from transcript: It’s no secret that America has fallen […]

14 by Valerie Strauss / 24min

Guest Post: Sunlight as Disinfectant - Why the Common Core Deserves a Loud and Untidy Debate

The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education-news outlet affiliated with Teachers College, Columbia University, sent reporters across the country to take a closer look at the new Common Core State Standards. You can find out more about the project (carried out with support from EWA) at EdMedia Commons. Today's guest post comes from Liz Willen, editor of THR and director of The Hechinge

by Emily Richmond / 1h

Afternoon Video: Math Teacher Dies Trying To Disarm Student Shooter

sdg MSNBC: Michael Landsberry, a 45–year-old mathematics teacher, dies protecting students in Nevada.

by Alexander Russo / 58min

Grassroots Organizing Leaders Summit at 2013 OTL

Publication Date: Tue, 10/22/2013 At the 2013 OTL Organizing Summit in Los Angeles, Cheyanne Smith from Make the Road NY and Pecolia Manigo from the Parent Leadership Action Network staff Their practice telling stories as part of a training With The New Organizing Institute on the Story of Self, Story of Us, and the Story of Now narrative structure. At the 2013 OTL Organizing Sum

by jocelyn / 22min

X TED Talk-My Journey to Education Activism

The Making of an Education Catastrophe-One Activist's Journey of Discovery An Education Catastrophe have you down upon the Nation's public schools, while most of it the public has been asleep. It is making our children hate school, our best teachers leave the profession, and is Maximizing inequality in our schools and the larger society. It is totally bi-partisan, and is as visible in Democr

21 by Mark Naison / 1h

Thanks, Johnny! (There is no teacher Admits Crisis board)

Dear Senate President John Cullerton, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for Admitting aloud That There is NO board crises ... (Read the full Tribune article HERE.) Wait a minute! What am I saying? Since 1979, before you were even Illinois Senate President (D), you voted and Agreed to steal from our pensions. Theft. Took money from our pockets That We earned as deferred compensation to receiv

1 by Ken Previti / 1h

District judge expedites case involving residency challenge in Dallas ISD contest

Miguel Solis (left) and Kristi Lara A Dallas County district judge has granted “expedited discovery” in a case involving a residency challenge in Dallas … [visit site to read more]

by Tawnell Hobbs / 54min

Theatre Offers Promise for Youth with Autism

A novel autism intervention program using theatre to teach reciprocal communication skills is improving social deficits in adolescents with the disorder that now affects an estimated one in 88 children, Vanderbilt University researchers released today in the journal Autism Research.The newly released study assessed the effectiveness of a two-week theatre camp on children with autism spectrum disor

by Jonathan Kantrowi... / 12min

Effective Arts Integration Improves Test Scores

Effective classroom arts integration can reduce or eliminate educational achievement gaps for economically disadvantaged students, according to a Mississippi State University research report.In other words, when teachers reinforce academic concepts with the arts, students learn more and score higher on standardized tests.MSU’s John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development gener

by Jonathan Kantrowi... / 17min

Spatial, written language skills predict math competence

Early math skills are emerging as important to later academic achievement. As many countries seek to strengthen their workforces in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, understanding the early contributions to math skills becomes increasingly vital. New longitudinal research from Finland has found that children's early spatial skills and knowledge of written letters

by Jonathan Kantrowi... / 50min

Report: ‘Excellence Gap’ Growing Among American Students

The circle of high-achieving American students is becoming a preserve for the white and well-off, with potentially severe consequences for the country’s promise of equal opportunity, according to a new report by UConn professor Jonathan Plucker and colleagues at two other universities.“Talent on the Sidelines: Excellence Gaps and the Persistence of America’s Permanent Talent Underclass” examines t

by Jonathan Kantrowi... / 50min

Poor housing quality = poor school performance

A new report from researchers at Boston College and Tufts University shows the distinct emotional and educational price children pay when their families live in run down apartments and homes.Data culled from a six-year study of 2,400 children, teens and young adults found emotional and behavioral symptoms such as anxiety, depression, lying and aggressive behavior are closely connected to poor hous

by Jonathan Kantrowi... / 58min

Baby's innate number sense predicts future math skill

Babies who are good at telling the difference between large and small groups of items even before learning how to count are more likely to do better with numbers in the future, according to new research from the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences.The use of Arabic numerals to represent different values is a characteristic unique to humans, not seen outside our species. But we aren't born with this

by Jonathan Kantrowi... / 1h

First-graders with attention problems lag for years afterward; second-graders, less so

When it comes to children's attention problems, the difference between first and second grade is profound, says a new study from Duke University.The study, which appears online in the November issue of the Journal of Attention Disorders, says the age at which attention problems emerge makes a critical difference in a child's later academic performance.When the problems emerged in first grade, chil

by Jonathan Kantrowi... / 1h

Just back from Springfield. Call now to stop this pension bomb.

Call your legislators toll-free now at 888-412-6570 and tell them to oppose the draft plan by the conference committee. The legislature will be in fall veto session over the dates of October 22-24 and November 5-7. At any time, the legislature could vote on a draft plan formed by the conference committee that’s just as bad as House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Senate Bill 1. At this point, credible

by Fred Klonsky / 18min

Remainders: The many definitions of “English language learner”

Geographic differences in who gets the “English language learner” label have big impacts. (Stateline) Paul Hill wrote a lengthy defense of Bloomberg’s education policies, with recommendations. (Atlantic) A new nonprofit is focusing on how to get more students with disabilities into charter schools. (EdWeek) A Massachusetts senator is investigating how student data is shared with tech companies. (

by Philissa Cramer / 36min

King to hit Harlem schools circuit with top Democratic lawmaker

Assemblyman Keith Wright, in white, with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer at Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts for hearing in support of the school. Commissioner John King has a busy day scheduled in New York City tomorrow. First, King and Chancellor Merryl Tisch are meeting up in Harlem where they’ll visit schools in the district of Assemblyman Keith Wright,

by Geoff Decker / 1h

Board, not Schools, Get Final Say on Spending New CA Money

Ending a debate that was just getting underway within LA Unified, an official from the California School Boards Association said today school boards make all decisions on how Local Control Funding Formula money is spent, not individual schools. Appearing before the LA Unified Board’s Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee, Teri Burns, the association’s senior director for policy and prog

1 43min

Q&A: In 21st Century Economy, Why Every Student ‘Needs a Great Education’

Ed. Note: Latino students comprise over half the K-12 student population in California, and while graduation rates for Latinos are on the rise, a persistent achievement gap continues to separate them from their white and Asian counterparts. Sergio Cuellar is statewide campaign coordinator with Californians for Justice, a grassroots advocacy group that works with Latino and other minority groups in

2min

Denver’s after school initiative shows few programs in poor areas - Big Picture

Students who live medium to high poverty areas of Denver may have less access to after school programming. That’s the picture drawn by the first release of data from Denver’s after school initiative. Officials caution that the data is not complete but say that it raises issues of how city services are distributed. “It brings up questions of are the right services being provided to the right kids,”

2 by Kate Schimel / 15min

Strauss: Fifty years ago today, the school boycott that rocked Chicago

Now this was a school boycott. Fifty years ago, on Oct. 22, 1963, more than 200,000 students in Chicago stayed out of class and marched in the streets with tens of thousands of other people to protest segregation and inequality in the public schools. Read full article >>

by Valerie Strauss / 6min

Contrary to claims, George Washington considers financial need in admissions

George Washington University, which until a few days ago advertised that financial-aid requests “do not affect admissions decisions,” now says that it considers the financial need of some applicants when it is in the final stages of choosing its incoming classes. Read full article >>

by Nick Anderson / 6min

Secretary of Commerce Duncan to Deliver Remarks at the Public Meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission

On Wednesday, October 23, 2013, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will deliver remarks at the public meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC). The Commission is comprised of 21 federal agencies that work together to promote the financial literacy of Americans.

Stop The Presses! Thomas Friedman Actually Writes Something Semi-Coherent About Education

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is infamous for his uninformed pieces on education though, fortunately, he doesn’t seem to write about the topic as his colleague, David Brooks, who is equally off-base. In today’s column, The Shanghai Secret, he talks about a visit he made to Shanghai schools with Wendy Kopp of Teach For America. Though I’m not sure I’d make Shanghai my first stop to see

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2min

“Put The Gun In My Hand” — Stories Of Teacher Bravery

Yesterday, close to Sacramento in Sparks, Nevada, another teacher lost his life protecting students: Student Jose Cazares said he was hanging out with friends when they heard what they thought were firecrackers. He said he saw a boy shoot two students. He said the boy then aimed the gun at his chest, but Landsberry stepped between him and the shooter. “He was telling him to stop and put the gun do

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 19min

Traditional Retirement Is Fading – A Bad Sign For The Teachers’ Retirement System

According to a poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, more than 4 in 5 older Americans expect to keep working in their later years, a sign that traditional retirement is out of reach for much of society. Among Americans age 50 and older who have jobs, 82 percent expect to work in some form during retirement. “The survey illuminates an important shift in A

by alkleen / 24min

Fifty years ago today, the school boycott that rocked Chicago

1 by Valerie Strauss / 19min