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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Nite Cap 4-10-14 #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 CAP



Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What? Is Duncan really bailing out on Common Core?
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What? Is Duncan really bailing out on Common Core?: What? Is Duncan really bailing out on Common Core?“I believe the Common Core State Standards may prove to be the single greatest thing to happen to public education in America since Brown v. Board of Education.” -- Arne Duncan, June 25, 2013“I’m just a big proponent of high standards. Whether they’re common or not i
PCAPS Statement in Support of Steel Parents and the Nicetown Community | WeArePCAPS
PCAPS Statement in Support of Steel Parents and the Nicetown Community | WeArePCAPS: PCAPS Statement in Support of Steel Parents and the Nicetown CommunityPosted on April 10, 2014by wearepcapsPhiladelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools, a labor-community coalition representing school workers, parents, and students, stands firmly with Steel parents and the Nicetown Community in opposing th
Why have national Hispanic organizations been silent on the common core testing’s negative effects on ELLs & Hispanic students? | Parents Across America
Why have national Hispanic organizations been silent on the common core testing’s negative effects on ELLs & Hispanic students? | Parents Across America:Why have national Hispanic organizations been silent on the common core testing’s negative effects on ELLs & Hispanic students?By Maria de Lourdes Pérez Ramírez, MA, President, Founder, HispanEduca, Inc.After a follower asked me if I knew
Gulen Movement 101: Session Two THE PERIMETER PRIMATE
THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: Gulen Movement 101: Session Two: Gulen Movement 101: Session TwoNavigating the webinar00:00 – 18:27 min.:  Recap from Session One (overview of Fethullah Gulen and the Gulen Movement, overview of the GM's US activities)18:28 – 37:10 min.: Concept Schools history, founders, etc.37:11 – 1:00:45 min: The specific theology of the Gulen Movement (presented by Tim Furman)1:00:46 –
Russ on Reading: What if they gave a test and nobody came?
Russ on Reading: What if they gave a test and nobody came?: What if they gave a test and nobody came?It is standardized testing season in elementary and secondary schools across the nation. I cannot remember a time in the past 40 years, where this testing season has stirred-up so much controversy. Parents all over, but especially in New York, are opting their children out of the tests. Outraged ch
Parents oppose HR10′s increased funding for charter schools | Parents Across America
Parents oppose HR10′s increased funding for charter schools | Parents Across America: Parents oppose HR10′s increased funding for charter schools Congress does not seem to be able to agree on the proper role of the federal government in public education. They have not been able to agree on how to revise the No Child Left Behind Act, which expired in 2007. NCLB is now referred to as the Elementary
The Network For Public Education | NPE Call for Congressional Hearings on Testing
The Network For Public Education | NPE Call for Congressional Hearings on Testing: NPE Call for Congressional Hearings on TestingApril 10, 2014 NPE Call for HearingsOn March 2, 2014, The Network for Public Education issued a call for congressional hearings on the overuse and misuse of testing in our public schools.Together, we have managed to catch the attention of members of Congress. We created
Parents United statement in support of Steel Elementary School | Parents United for Public Education
Parents United statement in support of Steel Elementary School | Parents United for Public Education: Parents United statement in support of Steel Elementary SchoolPosted on April 10, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentParents United for Public Education fully endorses the concerns of parents and community members of Steel Elementary School who are outraged over what is effectively an 8-day
Test Season Reveals America’s Biggest Failures Education Opportunity Network
Education Opportunity Network: "Test Season Reveals America’s Biggest Failures"Test Season Reveals America’s Biggest FailuresIt’s testing season in America, and regardless of how the students do, it’s clear who is already flunking the exams. Last week in New York, new standardized tests began rolling out across the state, and tens of thousands of families said “no dice.” According to loc
4-10-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: In Defense of Poetry: “Oh My Heart”In Defense of Poetry: “Oh My Heart”. via In Defense of Poetry: “Oh My Heart”.by plthomasedd / 1min  4-9-14 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: Behind the CCSS Corporate Curtain: Gates, TURN, and the AFT Innovation FundI know it doesn’t seem healthy to continue to speak of the roles that national teacher union groups are playing in our current corp
4-10-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Required Reading on Common CoreOne of the most calm, well-thought out op-eds on Common Core that I have read from Elizabeth Phillips, principal in NYC's PS 321.  Read the entire thing but here are highlights:So teachers watched hundreds of thousands of children in grades 3 to 8 sit for between 70 and 180 minutes per day for three days taking a state English Languag
4-10-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: Glitches slowing use of Common Core testsAs testing gains steam, help center ‘inundated’ with teacher calls It’s week three for California’s new web-based standardized tests and some schools are reporting hair-pulling moments. “Our students are becoming frustrated,” said Bonnie Tanaka, princ
Bio of a Crawfish – Part I | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
Bio of a Crawfish – Part I | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Crazy Crawfish's BlogZesty Louisiana Education PoliticsBio of a Crawfish – Part IPosted on April 10, 20140A wise man once asked me (like a few hours ago) what is my story and why am I running for an elective position on BESE. To paraphrase his point, it’s one thing to criticize someone else (especially an easy target like Chas Roemer) but quite a
Don't let dubious Pisa league tables dictate how we educate our children | Peter Wilby | Comment is free | The Guardian
Don't let dubious Pisa league tables dictate how we educate our children | Peter Wilby | Comment is free | The Guardian:Don't let dubious Pisa league tables dictate how we educate our childrenOnce again Britain has done badly in the international assessment of schooling. But there is more to learning than thisPeter WilbyThe Guardian, Sunday 1 December 2013 13.30 ESTJump to comments (365)'One of th
Morning Wink 4-10-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-10-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Education Law Center: States with Most Unequal Funding Won RTTT GrantsThe Education Law Center noted in 2012 that there was a pattern to the distribution of Race to the Top grants: The states an
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-10-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Education Law Center: States with Most Unequal Funding Won RTTT GrantsThe Education Law Center noted in 2012 that there was a pattern to the distribution of Race to the Top grants: The states and districts with the most unequal funding won a large share of RTTT grants. ELC writes: Since 2009, the US Department of Education’s (USDOE
4-10-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Mercedes Schneider Dissects Sol Stern's Lack of Knowledge on Common CoreStern, I have to tell you– you are so out of the loop... Mercedes Schneider Sol Stern has been a sparring partner for many years - since the days when he went after teacher seniority as the worst thing to happen to public education. Sol is a delightful adversary. But we have had some blow-ups over the years--
A Revolution Against Corporate Education Focuses On Its Achilles Heel | PopularResistance.Org
A Revolution Against Corporate Education Focuses On Its Achilles Heel | PopularResistance.Org: A Revolution Against Corporate Education Focuses On Its Achilles HeelUNCATEGORIZED EDUCATION By Roshan Bliss, www.PopularResistance.orgApril 10th, 2014  Powered by TranslateAbove: Education protest in ChicagoDenver Gathering Seeks to Galvanize Corporate Education Reform ResistanceLate last month, over 10
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, April 10, 2014
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Sacramento City Unified to abandon high-profile consortium plan - Education - The Sacramento BeeEducation HeadlinesThursday, April 10, 2014FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.Fresno Unified board continues bu
4-10-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Bill to dissolve Charter Commission is about to die after a secret House vote. Will the charter farters win?No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. It seemed a few days ago that the corporate reformers behind the failed charter school movement in Illinois were about to face a monumental defeat.
4-10-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “What Is This Animal Thinking or Saying (If It Could Talk)?” Is A Fun Language Development ExerciseHaving English Language Learners put words in the mouth (or thoughts in the mind) of puppets, animals, or photographs of people is a common activity in the classroom. It can be fun and less-threatening when it’s something/some
4-10-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: America's Top Corporate Education Welfare Queen, Joanne WeissJoanne Weiss is an active exemplar for corporate welfare exploitation in education.  Just a few years ago, she moved from a tech firm to become COO for the New Schools Venture Fund, which grew to be a massive slush fund for vulture philanthropists, following Bill Clinton's undercover operation that made it possible to ear
4-10-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Is Charter Schools USA Using Uncertified Teachers at Failing Tampa School?Marlene Skokol reports in the Tampa Bay Tribune: TAMPA — As if Woodmont Charter School did not have enough problems, a former teacher has lodged a discrimination complaint and says the F-rated scho
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Packed house at Wishbone to honor ISAT boycotters
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Packed house at Wishbone to honor ISAT boycotters: Packed house at Wishbone to honor ISAT boycottersParents 4 Teachers Jambalaya...We dined at Wishbone last night, along with hundreds of others who came out to honor and support ISAT-boycotting teachers and parents. Great people, food and music.Question for anti-taxers... Why isn't Rahm's pension "reform" bi
4-10-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: “When we buy something, we should get what we pay for”Ann Policelli Cronin is a consultant in English education for school districts and university schools of education. She has taught middle and high school English, was a district-level administrator for English, taught university courses in English education, and was assistant director of the Connecticut Writing Project. She was Conn
4-10-14 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: What does Jeb Bush call public schools? (Hint: not ‘public schools’)Jeb Bush, as much as anybody, is the pioneer of  corporate-influenced school reform. When he was governor of Florida from 1999-2007, he introduced many of the changes in education policy that have become common across the country — including high-stakes standardized testing —  and since then he has been a leading
4-10-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": Good Recommendations On Who To Follow On Twitter For Parent Engagement IssuesResourceful folks to follow on twitter: #Opp4All @Joe_Mazza @CommSchools pic.twitter.com/huaDTjC9Ph — L.A. Ed Partnership (@PartnerwithLAEP) April 9, 20142 by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h hide  //  saveThe “Tooth Fairy” Parent Engagement StrategyRT @Joe_Maz
Charles M. Blow: "We Should Be In a Rage"
Charles M. Blow: "We Should Be In a Rage": Charles M. Blow: "We Should Be In a Rage"byteacherkenFollow    Email  80 Comments / 80 NewVoter apathy is a civic abdication. There is no other way to describe it.That is how he begins this column for Thursday's New York Times.Trust me, please.   This is a column that needs to be read in its entirety, that is not possible to easily sum
Welcoming Mike Klonsky to Bridging Differences - Bridging Differences - Education Week
Welcoming Mike Klonsky to Bridging Differences - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Welcoming Mike Klonsky to Bridging DifferencesBy Deborah Meier on April 10, 2014 10:07 AMToday, Deborah Meier bids farewell—for now—to Democracy Prep's Robert Pondiscio and introduces her next co-blogger, Mike Klonsky. The blog will take a short break and then return with Mr. Klonsky's first post on Tuesday, Ap
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-10-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Science Teacher’S Suspension Spurs Petition DriveCortines School's Greg Schiller was removed by L.A. Unified after two students' Science Fair projects were deemed to resemble weapons. By Howard Blume | LA Times | http://lat.ms/1gNU4zb Also see: IN TEACHER JAIL: by Gerald and Esther Schiller in 4LAKidsNews | “Our son is in jail. But there are no bars or
4-10-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs
With A Brooklyn Accent: Common Core Disregards the Lessons of American History.As a historian, I am acutely aware that debate over the powers of the federal government have been a continuing theme in American History. The US Constitution tried to create a balance between local and federal power and because of this, major interventions of the federal government into sphere of public policy- whether
4-10-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): In Defense of Poetry“No, no. You’ve got something the test and machines will never be able to measure: you’re artistic. That’s one of the tragedies of our times, that no machine has ever been built that can recognize that quality, appreciate it, foster it, sympathize wit
empathyeducates – Why Are Teachers and Students Opting Out of Standardized Testing?
empathyeducates – Why Are Teachers and Students Opting Out of Standardized Testing?: Why Are Teachers and Students Opting Out of Standardized Testing?Briana Griffiths, 9, studies for her English test. More than 1.2 million children statewide, including 450,000 in New York City, took new state exams over six school days.By Michelle Chen | Originally Published at The Nation. April 7, 2014After years
4-10-13 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: #AskArne- Student Data & Test EditionYes, dear readers, the Department of Education continues to crank out youtube videos in which Arne Duncan is fake-interviewed about an educational issue. The newest clip presents a Teach to Lead update, a shady tale of data privacy, and some huge whoppers about the testing going on.. I have included the link, but it's really only as corrobor
4-10-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: What's The UFT Doing About The DOE's Fetishization Of Lesson Plans?From James Eterno's round-up of yesterday's UFT Delegate's Assembly:Question: Principals asking for lesson plans and doctor's notes unlike in the past.  What can we do?Mulgrew Answer: The administration could always ask to see a lesson plan but they cannot dictate format or collect them ritualistically. We
Sacramento City Unified won’t renew No Child Left Behind waiver | EdSource Today
Sacramento City Unified won’t renew No Child Left Behind waiver | EdSource Today: Sacramento City Unified won’t renew No Child Left Behind waiverApril 9th, 2014 | 1 Comment | By John Fensterwald12Faced with intense opposition from teachers, Sacramento City Unified announced Wednesday it would not join other California districts in reapplying for a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law.N
Good Teaching Really Matters! Who Knew? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
Good Teaching Really Matters! Who Knew? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Good Teaching Really Matters! Who Knew?By Nancy Flanagan on April 9, 2014 10:09 PMA few years ago, I started work on a doctorate in Education Policy, which I assumed would be the pinnacle of  (and I use the term sincerely) higher learning. As in: seminars around important educational questions, smart and
Portfolio School Reform: What Does It Mean in Chicago? Newark? New York City? | janresseger
Portfolio School Reform: What Does It Mean in Chicago? Newark? New York City? | janresseger: Portfolio School Reform: What Does It Mean in Chicago? Newark? New York City?Contriversy about charter schools has heated up this spring in New York City, over whether charter schools should be co-located into buildings shared by traditional public schools and whether charter schools ought to be charged re

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The Three La. Common Core Development “Teachers” Work for LDOE | deutsch29
The Three La. Common Core Development “Teachers” Work for LDOE | deutsch29: The Three La. Common Core Development “Teachers” Work for LDOEApril 9, 2014This is the story of two press releases and three Louisiana “mystery” teachers involved in “developing” CCSS.The first is the July 2009 National Governors Association (NGA) press release for the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) English Language Ar
“Student needs index” identifies highest needs L.A. schools | EdSource Today
“Student needs index” identifies highest needs L.A. schools | EdSource Today: “Student needs index” identifies highest needs L.A. schoolsApril 9th, 2014 | Add a Comment | By Louis FreedbergThe Advancement Project, the Los Angeles-based civil rights and advocacy organization, has come up with what it calls a “student needs index” to identify the schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District wi
SCUSD Annouces Its Withdrawl From the CORE Waiver | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education
SCUSD Annouces Its Withdrawl From the CORE Waiver | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education: SCUSD Annouces Its Withdrawl From the CORE WaiverAt  a press conference today at the offices of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, Sacramento City Unified Board President Patrick Kennedy announced that SCUSD will not be applying for a renewal of the CORE waiver from No Child Left Behind; a
Your Kids Don't Actually Feel Like They Belong After All - The Jose Vilson
Your Kids Don't Actually Feel Like They Belong After All - The Jose Vilson: Your Kids Don’t Actually Feel Like They Belong After Allby JOSE VILSON on APRIL 9, 2014in JOSELyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Act SigningToday, a friend forwarded me a report from the Pew Research Center that focused on the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. An excerpt:But as historic as it w
Paul Vallas stops ripping off taxpayer money as he collects six-figures of Illinois political insider money and runs for the #2 spot on the gubernatorial slate of public education destroyers | Reclaim Reform
Paul Vallas stops ripping off taxpayer money as he collects six-figures of Illinois political insider money and runs for the #2 spot on the gubernatorial slate of public education destroyers | Reclaim Reform: Paul Vallas stops ripping off taxpayer money as he collects six-figures of Illinois political insider money and runs for the #2 spot on the gubernatorial slate of public education destroyersP
As California standardized testing gains steam, help center 'inundated' with teacher calls | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
As California standardized testing gains steam, help center 'inundated' with teacher calls | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: As California standardized testing gains steam, help center 'inundated' with teacher callsAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | April 9th, 2014, 5:44pmGetty ImagesStudents type on computers.It's week three for California’s new web-based standardized tests and some schools are reporting hair-pullin
Is the CORE Waiver in Trouble? Sacramento Bails on NCLB Flexibility - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Is the CORE Waiver in Trouble? Sacramento Bails on NCLB Flexibility - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Is the CORE Waiver in Trouble? Sacramento Bails on NCLB FlexibilityBy Michele McNeil on April 9, 2014 8:41 PMIn a joint press conference today, the Sacramento school district and its teachers' union announced they are withdrawing from a first-of-its-kind No Child Left Behind Act waiver the U.S. De
Sacramento City Unified to abandon high-profile consortium plan - Education - The Sacramento Bee
Sacramento City Unified to abandon high-profile consortium plan - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento City Unified to abandon high-profile consortium planBy Loretta Kalblkalb@sacbee.comPublished: Wednesday, Apr. 9, 2014 - 5:16 pmThe Sacramento City Unified School District announced Wednesday it will abandon a plan to work with seven other California school districts on employing new perform
Nite Cap 4-9-14 #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 CAPTobacco Use Prevention Grants - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)Tobacco Use Prevention Grants - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Tobacco-Use Prevention GrantsConcern raised on proliferation of other ni