Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break
The NCTQ is at it again in Seattle
Over the past five years, Sue and I have followed the NCTQ since they first appeared in Seattle during our Broad superintendent’s reign when she had a report “created”, paid for by Bill Gates and Eli Broad, on those lazy, worthless teachers and how they need merit pay waved in front of them to get our students into shape. The report […]
San Jose students travel to Sacramento to tout bill allowing four-year degrees at community colleges
About 300 college students from San Jose boarded buses today and traveled to Sacramento to urge lawmakers to favor a bill allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees, a spokesman said.
Making high-quality preschools like this one available to all California 4-year-olds will be one of the most hotly debated issues in Sacramento this spring as lawmakers wrangle over Gov. Jerry Brown's budget blueprint.
On a campus already beset by claims of bullying and sexual harassment, a Hercules High School transgender student told police he was assaulted by three boys Monday while exercising his right under a controversial new law to use a bathroom that matched his gender identity. Police said that they were investigating the incident as a hate crime.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education was assessed nearly $200,000 in penalties for failing to pay payroll taxes on time for some of the thousands of school employees in the county whose paychecks it handles.
Hundreds of Students Arrested Outside White House at Keystone XL Pipeline Protest
Loudly denouncing the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, about 1,000 people — most of them students — marched from Georgetown to the White House Sunday. Once there, hundreds fastened themselves to the fence outside the White House, while hundreds more stood with them, waiting to be arrested. By the end of the day, roughly 400 had been taken into custody. Their message for President Obama: Our dem
Obama Proposes $200M for Edtech
A BUDGET FOR EDTECH? Fresh off the press from South by Southwest. The Obama administration has submitted the first budget request specifically for education technology in nearly 12 years. The 2015 budget, which includes $69 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education, earmarks $
Chicago Parents, Teachers & Students Boycott State Test
Parents, students and teachers at two Chicago public schools are taking a brave stand against the overuse of standardized testing. Parents, students and teachers at two Chicago public schools are taking a brave stand against the overuse of standardized testing. read more
Private Schools: Begin search for participating schools now
As you begin searching for students from your district who attend private schools, it’s important to understand the federal statute regarding private schools
Common core trail-blazers emphasize PR outreach
(N.Y.) Early adopters of the Common Core share a common trait in garnering community support for the new system, according to new research from the Thomas Fordham Institute.
Bring Yourself to Work Every Day to Build Trust, Morale, and Culture
Download Podcast Now [Right-Click to Save] Educators working in a positive school culture experience collegiality, trust, and tangible support as leaders and peers, creating an environment where there are high expectations, involvement in decision making, and open communication. Students entering a positive school culture feel safe, engaged, and connected and see school as a place where they can
What Does It Mean To Be In Solidarity?
Last weekend the Network for Public Education (NPE) held its first conference in Austin Texas. Now I have attended many conferences over the years. For me they tend to be inspiring, lots of good workshops and information and opportunities to network with colleagues. But something about the NPE conference felt different. Part of it was […]
The Art of Teaching Science: What Every Georgian Ought to Know about Charter Schools
Jack Hassard Source: The Art of Teaching Science Georgians should be aware that our state legislators are at it again under the Gold Dome changing key aspects of education in our state through the passage of House Bill 897. The partisan bill affects education in the state in many ways. The elected officials have decided they don’t like the Common Core Standards language, and have st
For the Love of Learning: 3 Things I Learned from Network for Public Education Conference
Joe Bower Source: For the Love of Learning I spent the weekend in Austin, Texas at the first Network for Public Education (NPE) and it was fantastic. You can find my day 1 post here and my day 2 post here. Here are 3 things I learned from The Network for Public Education Conference: 1. Relationships.I was so happy to get a chance to meet some very cool people that, until this weekend,
Microsoft Tech Vouchers Available
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Millions More in Microsoft Technology Funds Available to California Schools from 2003 Settlement.
Obama Budget Pitches Race to Top for Equity, New Money for Ed Tech
The president's fiscal year 2015 budget would make room for several new K-12 initiatives, including a new Race to the Top program aimed at equity, as well as funding to help train teachers to use technology.
Towards More Careful, Skeptical Testing Coverage*
How should reporters write about testing protests and parents opting out this year? Carefully, in a word.Contextually. Skeptically. With much greater balance and insight.Better than they did last year (and so far this year, too).* What last year's coverage often lacked, however, was care and context. Test proliferation claims thrown out by testing critics weren't verified (often it seemed as i
2015 Education Budget: What You Need to Know
President Obama’s 2015 budget request reflects his belief not only that education is a top priority, but that America’s public schools offer the clearest path to the middle class. Investing in education now will make us more competitive in the global economy tomorrow, and will help ensure equity of opportunity for every child. The administration’s request for about $69 billion in discretionary app
Cuomo, powerful lawmakers to attend charter school rally
The large charter school rally happening in Albany today has been pegged by critics as divisive, but it has attracted a bipartisan slate of state lawmakers — as well as Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo’s attendance had been rumored but was not confirmed until an hour before his appearance. His name was not on a list distributed by event organizers and forwarded to Chalkbeat, but the state Senate’s co-lead
Finland working to expand early education
Finland often ranks among the highest-performing countries on international math and reading tests. The Nordic nation gets results despite one surprising fact — compulsory schooling does not start until age 7. Read full article >>
Michelle Obama notes Fairfax student effort to promote healthier food choices
In remarks at the White House last week, first lady Michelle Obama cited an effort by Fairfax County high school students to promote healthier eating habits. While announcing a new initiative last Tuesday to curtail junk food marketing in public schools, Obama noted that students from Marshall High School in Fairfax had helped write a song about more nutritious meal choices. Obama said the song, c
Fairfax students groove in ‘Happy’ video
Students, teachers and administrators at Mount Vernon High School jam, dance and groove in a new video set to the music of Pharrell’s hit single “Happy,” which was nominated for an Academy Award. The short clip, posted on YouTube, shows teenagers and adults — including Mount Vernon’s principal Nardos King — showing their “Major Pride” through dance moves. Read full article >>
First day of ISAT testing. Boycotting teachers are still in their classrooms.
In spite of threats by CPS CEO Bully Byrd-Bennett that boycotting ISAT teachers would be sent home without pay, those teachers are in their classrooms this morning, not testing. This according to reports in the Chicago Sun-Times. Despite a threat from the Chicago Public Schools chief that teachers who are refused to administer an annual state achievement test would be ordered to leave, boycotting
The schizophrenic Chicago Tribune in the the kingdom of Dick Mell.
Aaron Goldstein. I’m not sure what an endorsement by the Chicago Tribune means in actual votes. I’m sure some professional political operative can write in and tell me. But when the Trib endorsed progressive challenger Will Guzzardi against Toni Berrios, it probably meant more that Berrios is already in trouble and sinking fast. The editorial board of the Trib reads the same polls as Madigan an
C'mon, Man!
You may have noticed that I took last month off from RHSU to work on my new book, The Cage-Busting Teacher--which I'm due to deliver to Harvard Education Press later this year. (Although, given the enthusiasm for our February guest stars, you may have...
Vergara trial resumes but for how long — a day or maybe weeks
Judge Rolf Treu, L.A. Superior Court It could be a monumental day in the Vergara vs. California trial. Or it could just lead to more testimony. Lawyers are expecting California Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu to decide whether to throw the case out, as the defendants are asking, or keep it going, as the plaintiffs are urging. The decision turns on whether he believes the plaintiffs, after four week
Does experience count? LAUSD candidates vie for attention
An experience gap is emerging as an election issue — that’s one of the takeaways as south LA residents got an early look yesterday at some of candidates in the highly contested race to fill the vacant LA Unified school board seat. The forum attracted 5 of the 13 contenders in the special election scheduled for June 3. They mostly agreed with each other on the issues but offered only few specifi
Morning Read: UTLA leader threatens complaints over ‘jails’
In survey, union leader vows to file complaints over ‘teacher jails’ Los Angeles teachers union president Warren Fletcher lashed out at the school district Monday for its handling of teachers accused of misconduct, vowing to file federal and state age-discrimination complaints. LA Times Severely disabled are to face double testing this spring Thousands of the state’s most severely disabled studen
Technology in Schools: Moving to the “How”
For many, if not most of the years I’ve worked as an advocate for the appropriate and effective use of technology in schooling, the discussion has been focused on “why”—or as those of a certain age would say: I got a good education without technology, why do we need it in schools now? (Never mind that the definition of “it” was never thoroughly addressed either.) However, at the meeting hosted las
Women in the Arts
The best thing about March is the annual outpouring of information about women. This year’s rich harvest includes some terrific profiles of women’s work in photography, theater, and museum leadership. Make no mistake – new ground is being broken here, and we are still seeing many “firsts”. My own WHM observance began last week, at the National Geographic’s Women of Vision exhibit. Going in, yo
A Response to Rep. Candice Miller’s Attack on School Nutrition Standards
The Detroit News published an op-ed by Michigan Congresswoman Candice Miller on February 24th, where the Congresswoman slammed the nutrition standards established under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. In her op-ed Representative Miller calls the nutrition standards (which guarantee more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in students’ meals and allows the Secretary of Agriculture to se
Should Kindergarteners Stop Finger Painting And Start Learning French?
Teachers and parents are wondering how early is too early to focus on academics in school. This week's parenting panel looks how the classroom is changing for young children.» E-Mail This
Portland School Board approves teachers contract, ending protracted labor dispute
PPS and its largest labor group reached a tentative agreement on the new contract Feb. 18, just two days before the district's 2,900 teachers were set to take to the picket lines.
Read Across America at Dilley Elementary, Forest Grove career conference, upcoming 70th anniversary for Viking alumni: School Notes
Students at Dilley Elementary wore pajamas and top hats Feb. 28 for a day of reading to honor author Dr. Seuss.
Separating truth from fiction on high school class sizes: Readers weigh in on staffing levels in Portland-area schools
Key information helps show the accuracy, definition and motivation behind the listing of class size versus student-teacher ratio
Here's Some Homework - Common Core Style
From a mom in NY State: My son's KINDERGARTEN homework. I hold a Master's Degree and have won multiple Emmy Awards and my husband is a Lieutenant in the NYPD. We couldn't figure it out. It's a SAD SAD SAD state when two well educated parents can't help their child with their KINDERGARTEN homework. This is what you have to look forward to in the future. Data walls and homework you may not be ab
Tuesday Open Thread
A heartbreaking story about the Greenwood shooting by the Ballard student via the Times. The student was not homeless (he came from a two-parent household) but had chosen not to live at home. Both his mother and the victim's wife seem to have deep sympathy for the situation of the other. From SXSW from Microsoft's CTO - "anonymity going to be more valuable than gold in near future."
Teacher Evaluation Bill - Yay or Nay?
After Inslee caved to Duncan's demand that Washington State law reflect a "must" use test scores for teacher evaluation, rather than "can" as it currently does, the Legislature is moving a bill around. I'm going on the record - I don't have a problem with using test scores for teacher evaluation (even though there is virtually no proof they really show anything about how well a
2015 Education Budget: What You Need to Know
President Obama’s 2015 budget request reflects his belief not only that education is a top priority, but that America’s public schools offer the clearest path to the middle class. Investing in education now will make us more competitive in the global economy tomorrow, and will help ensure equity of opportunity for every child.
Obama Administration 2015 Budget Prioritizes Key Education Investments to Provide Opportunities for All Americans
The Obama administration continued to prioritize education in the 2015 budget released today by proposing key investments in education that would create opportunity for every child.
Remarks by the President Announcing the FY2015 Budget
Powell Elementary School Washington, D.C. 11:38 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I’m here at Powell Elementary School, and just had a chance to see some of the outstanding students here. And I thought it was appropriate for me to say a few words about the budget that I sent to Congress this morning -- because obviously the budget is not just about numbers, it’s about our values
Upcoming guidence on “Women of Soul: In Performance at The White House"
Event includes Evening Performances and Daytime Student Workshop Honoring Women in Music Thursday, March 6 * White House – As part of their “In Performance at the White House” series, the President and First Lady will invite music legends and contemporary major female artists to the White House for a celebration of the great “foremothers” of American music, with songs expressing the struggles and
Ah! The Missing Few Minutes Were Captured After All by Video
Here is the website where you will find the speeches by me, Karen Lewis, and John Kuhn. Initially, I read that the last few minutes of my speech were not recorded, but apparently two film makers were at work, and the missing piece is there after all on a spare YouTube video. The panels were amazing. The conversation invigorating. How wonderful it was to meet people we knew only by their Twitter
Speeches from NPE Conference
The keynote addresses by Karen Lewis, John Kuhn, and me may be found at http://www.schoolhouselive.org/ Unfortunately, the last three minutes of my speech were not recorded. Lost in space and time. Watch, enjoy, feel energized, and get to work. Right now!
Peter Greene: Why the “Reformers” Will Lose
Peter Greene writes here on why the “reformers” will lose. The subject of my speech at the NPE conference was “Why We Will Win.” I will post it when I find the link in a few minutes. Peter notes that no one espouses the “reformer” agenda unless they are paid to do so. On our side, as we saw at the NPE conference in Austin, everyone is a passionate and knowledgeable volunteer, unpaid and deeply
Larry Lee: Alabama Is Lucky to Have Tommy Bice As State Superintendent
Larry Lee, a native Alabamian who is devoted to public education, is an admirer of State Superintendent Tommy Bice. Here he explains why: Education Matters By Larry Lee How many legislative hearings have I attended in my life? Too many is probably the correct answer. But I recently witnessed something in one that I’ve never seen before. A standing ovation. It was a joint meeting of the Alabama Se
John Kuhn at the NPE Conference: This is Our Education Spring - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
John Kuhn at the NPE Conference: This is Our Education Spring - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Kuhn at the NPE Conference: This is Our Education SpringBy Anthony Cody on March 4, 2014 10:00 AMJohn Kuhn, alongside Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis, gave the keynote speech to the Network for Public Education conference on Saturday, March 1. He kindly gave me permission
Morning Wink 3-4-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTSFCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, March 4, 2014FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Fensterwald: Loss of supermajority in Senate could doom vote on 55 percent parcel taxEducation HeadlinesTuesday, March 4, 2014FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be acces