Bob Braun Reports: Newark School Closings May Be Illegal
Veteran journalist Bpb Braun cites a report by New Jersey’s Education Law Center that the planned school closings in Newark may well be illegal. Superintendent Cami Anderson, appointed by the Chris Christie Administration, plans to close as many as half the city’s public schools and turn the students over to charter corporations. The Education Law Center cites the lack of compliance with state l
Louisiana: Anti-Teacher Law Ruled Invalid, Again
In 2012, Governor Bobby Jindal rammed through the legislature his compleat program of privatization of public schools and dismantling the teaching profession. But things have not gone well since then because of the judiciary. The funding if the voucher program was held unconstitutional and so was the act that outraged teachers. The latter was overturned a second time. The courts continue to be
Breaking News: NC School Board Balks at Imposing Tenure Law
School officials in Guilford County, North Carolina, are balking about implementing a law that offers the “best” teachers a bonus of $500 to abandon their right to due process. Ironic, isn’t it, that it is the “best” teachers who are expected to give up their right to a fair hearing? The local newspaper wrote: “GREENSBORO — Guilford County school board members are pushing back against a law that
Ohio Cheats 92% of Kids to Offer Choice
This year, Ohio will spend $1 billion on charters and vouchers. These schools enroll 8% of students in the state. Their funding is taken from public schools, most of which are far superior to the choice schools. Stephen Dyer writes: I get and am sympathetic to the argument that kids need opportunities to escape struggling schools. And I have little problem with the few really excellent school cho
Superintendent: For Arne Duncan, It Is Always Someone Else’s Fault
A superintendent, here using a pseudonym for obvious reasons, is fed up with Arne Duncan. Duncan, he says, is always blaming someone else, never looking in the mirror. According to Duncan, our kids are dumb. Their parents spoil them. The kids don’t work hard enough. Furthermore, our culture stinks: No one takes education seriously, except Duncan, of course. Everyone else is lying to the children.
New York: Help The State Assembly Choose New Regents Who Oppose High-Stakes Testing
The New York State legislature will shortly decide which candidates, among more than twenty applicants, will be appointed to four Regents positions. There are four candidates who have made a firm commitment to oppose high stakes testing and would bring excellent experience. You can read about these candidates here: http://www.nysape.org/nysape-endorses-full-slate-of-candidates-for-the-board-of-r
Good News: Los Angeles Gets Price Cut from Apple, with No Curriculum
Los Angeles, which was teaching the nation what not to do with technology, is getting a new deal from Apple for its iPads. Apple will cut the price. Apple will sell L.A. new iPads instead of obsolete models. The iPads will not be loaded with pre-set Pearson curriculum. Howard Blume of the LA Times writes: “The Los Angeles Unified School District will pay substantially less for thousands of iP
Heroes in a Storm: Bus Drivers, Teachers, School Staff Protect Children
In the past few years, as one tragedy after another has befallen schools by nature or at the hands of the malevolent, our school personnel have time and again risen to the occasion. In the recent wintry blast that shut down transportation across large sections of the South, Atlanta was hit hard. School officials made the unwise decision to keep schools open despite the gathering storm, and it was
Data Mania: What Gets Measured?
The Education Commission of the States has compiled a graph showing what states are measuring in the way of student data. One interesting note is that the idea of A-F letter grades for schools started in Florida, the brain-child of Governor Jeb Bush. There are now 14 states that use letter grades. In my view, this is an especially pernicious form of data. Imagine how a parent would feel if their c
Michigan’s “Educational Achievement Authority”: A Dismal, Frightening Failure
It is hard to choose which state has done the most to undermine public education: Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin come to mind, but Michigan is right up there as a state whose Governor Rick Snyder is working hard to crush public education. There is the fact that some 80% of the charters in Michigan are run by for-profit operators. And note too that entire low-performing d
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 2-1-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGIndianapolis: Plan to Hand Over Public Schools to Private Managers AdvancesThe Indiana State Teachers Association reports on a bill to privatize more public schools in Indianapolis. Privatization is not new. It is the theme song of the Obama administration in collaboration with libertarian think tanks and far-right govern
