Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana Break
WEA Supports Families Opting out of State Testing
I had heard about this vote this past weekend but couldn't find info on it at the WEA website. From KUOW:The state’s largest teachers’ union has passed a motion to support parents and students who opt out of statewide standardized tests. The union also promotes opting out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium state test coming next school year to align with the new Common Core State Stand
Seattle Council PTSA Meeting Wrap-Up
Well, that was interesting. I'm sorry there were so few people there (but my experience is that many people never go to SCPTSA meetings anyway, choosing to go to their school PTA meeting).As usual, they had food (so no one goes hungry) and welcoming faces. I note that the Board is a multi-racial one. (SCPTSA President Katherine Schomer later mentioned that they have been unable to find a rep fr
Round-up: Ballot measure aims to reduce class size, Tacoma expands gifted-student program
Supporters of smaller class sizes introduce ballot measure (The Herald): Voters may soon get to decide whether the state should limit class size with an initiative that would reduce the number of students in K-12 classes by about 20 percent by 2019. The measure would make class size a part of the st
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics: Does It Add Up or Down? Part 1
Work Team, Feedback Group, & Validation CommitteeThe Work TeamThere were 51 members listed on the Work Team for developing the Common Core State Standards. Of those 51 members, it is clear there was one actual classroom teacher listed with the possibility of one or two others. It is not evident or clear that any of the other members had any K-12 teaching experience. Phil Daro, Jason Zimba, and
Are You Ready to Pay for College?
On April 1st President Obama announced April as National Financial Capability Month with a focus on ensuring all Americans have the tools they need to navigate the financial world and gain economic freedom.
Assistant Secretary Catherine E. Lhamon to Discuss Civil Rights Data Collection at Justice Department Event
Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, will speak to the quarterly meeting of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on Wednesday at the Justice Department.
New Group Stands Up for Common Core
After a bruising rollout of the Common Core learning standards in New York, a new group announced on Tuesday it's going to hit the airwaves with pro-Common Core messaging. Higher Achievement New York described itself as “an organized platform” that will explain what the new standards mean for children, and how they offer better preparation for college and careers, through social media advertising
Sleep's vital role for learning
Babies and young children make giant developmental leaps all of the time. Sometimes, it seems, even overnight they figure out how to recognize certain shapes or what the word "no" means no matter who says it. It turns out that making those leaps could be a nap away: New research finds that infants who nap are better able to apply lessons learned to new skills, while preschoolers are bett
PreK classroom observation policies
Educational Testing Service (ETS) has released a report that examines PreK classroom observation policies across the country.The report, State-Funded PreK Policies on External Classroom Observations: Issues and Status, was written by Debra J. Ackerman of ETS's Early Childhood Research & Assessment Center. It is the second in a series of early childhood education policy reports that explore is
Demographics shift at Thomas Jefferson High as Asians make up 66 percent of new class
The demographic makeup of Fairfax County’s Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology continues to shift, as more than 66 percent of the students in next fall’s incoming class are of Asian descent, with just 10 black and eight Hispanic students admitted to the magnet school’s Class of 2018. Read full article >>
Almost two thirds of Hillsboro School District teachers answered state survey on working conditions
Less than 60 percent of Oregon's 32,600 public school teachers completed the survey many education leaders have called vital. That's compared to 64 percent of Hillsboro's 1,150 teachers.
4. Three-Minute Video Explaining the Common Core State Standards
Added by Thomas Whitby on December 5, 2012
Recent moves by Douglas County school board prompt criticism04/08/2014 02:01 PM MDTRecent decisions by the Douglas County School District Board of Education involving a change in public comment time at meetings and the election of a new board member are prompting criticism.
Kansas teachers vow to fight for rights
(AP) — Leaders of the top Kansas teachers' union are vowing to continue the...
School funding plan advances in Illinois Senate
(AP) — A proposal to dramatically overhaul the state's school funding..
Field Test Update through 4-4-14
Smarter Balanced Assessments Field Test Update Through April 4.
| Huffington Post | - |
For the past decade or more, a bevy of very powerful people have savaged our nation's public schools while calling themselves "reformers.
| Huffington Post | - |
But as the public becomes increasingly aware that for-profit colleges have been ripping off taxpayers and ruining students' lives, there are risks of keynoting the APSCU conference.
| KUOW News and Information | - |
Olson acknowledged that Washington state currently has a waiver from the No Child Left Behind law that exempts schools and districts from federal strictures for low test scores
| Halfway To Concord | - |
Support: Alameda Unified School District, California Association of School Business Officials; California Labor Federation; California School Boards Association; California School Employees Association, California Teachers Association; Davis Joint ...
| Kansas.com | - |
Members of the Kansas National Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, follow the Senate's debate on a school funding bill from the gallery, Sunday, April 6, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka.
| Columbus Dispatch | - |
Democrats in the Ohio House and Senate pledged today they will introduce legislation that would require more transparency and accountability for operators and sponsors of charter schools. Sen. Joe Schiavoni, of Boardman, and Rep. John Patrick Carney ...
| Fox News | - |
Erin Tuttle moved Leo to the private school when her home state of Indiana, along with 45 other states, agreed to follow the Common Core State StandardsInitiative for all its public schools and those following the charter school program, such as the ...
California coach uses wrestling expertise to restrain alleged drug-dealing student
Santa Monica (Calif.) High wrestling coach Mark Black held an unexpected grappling match last week.
7th grader’s pencil twirling leads to suspension and psychological evaluation when called ‘gun motions’ [UPDATED]
Glen Meadow Middle School seventh grader, Ethan Chaplin, was recently suspended after, he says, he was simply twirling a pencil in math class.Odd News
Teacher Says She Lost Her Job for Taking a Sick Kid to Hospital and Paying the Bill
Would you want your kid's teacher driving him to the emergency room and footing the bill? But then, when I step back and ponder different variables I wonder that maybe a Tennessee teacher made the wrong call even if she did have the best of intentions. As reported on The Huffington Post, Jennifer Mitts, who has been at Red Bank High School for 14 years, says she lost her job because of those good intentions. Mitts says she was forced to resign after taking the student to the emergency room and footing the bill.Parenting
Students Support Teacher Accused of Pinning Their Classmate
School Community Rallies Around Teacher Suspended After Viral Video
High School Grad Requirements Test Opt-Out Movement
Peggy Robertson's son Sam, a freshman at Littleton High School in Littleton, Colo., didn't take the standardized tests mandated by his state and district this year.U.S.News & World Report LP
Citing impasse, Jeffco teachers union breaks off open negotiations
Negations between the Jeffco Public Schools teacher union and board of education are on hold after the association declared an impasse Monday evening. “It has become clear to the JCEA bargaining team that this year’s bargaining process is disrespecting a 45-year tradition that has made us great,” said Stephie Rossi, bargaining chair for the Jeffco Education Association and a Wheat Ridge High Schoo
Bedford releases controversial student surveys
Bedford School District facilitates requests for information Bowing to Right to Know requests filed by education advocate Ann Marie Banfield and Girard at Large, as well as pressure brought by parents upset about the nature of the questions their children were asked, the Bedford School District released the surveys recently used in its schools. They have also released the letter sent home to pare
Kids Under Pressure
Kids Under Pressure: Kids Under PressureApril 8, 2014 by Mark Naison Leave a CommentUnder Pressure: Does Test Stress at School Added to Economic Stress at Home Constitute a Toxic Combination?During the last decade, America’s public school students have seen a steady increase in the amount of testing they have to endure. As a result of state policies and federal mandates, schools have transformed c
empathyeducates – The School-to-Prison Pipeline Can Be Stopped
empathyeducates – The School-to-Prison Pipeline Can Be Stopped: The School-to-Prison Pipeline Can Be StoppedWhich “Culture” Will We Adopt?Harsh school policies and practices and an increased role of law enforcement in schools have combined to create a “schoolhouse-to-prison pipeline,” particularly our Black young. Huge numbers of children and youth, are pushed out of school and into the juvenile a
Statisticians' Group Issues Statement on Use of 'Value Added' Data for Teachers - Teacher Beat - Education Week
Statisticians' Group Issues Statement on Use of 'Value Added' Data for Teachers - Teacher Beat - Education Week: Statisticians' Group Issues Statement on Use of 'Value Added' Data for TeachersBy Stephen Sawchuk on April 8, 2014 2:38 PMIf you've been following this blog, then you know that there are few more controversial policy shifts of late than the integration of "value added" methodo
GOP hopeful Bruce Rauner’s Noble Street charter network scores $400,000 at the expense of low-income, minority children
Chicago Teachers Union | www.ctunet.com: GOP hopeful Bruce Rauner’s Noble Street charter network scores $400,000 at the expense of low-income, minority childrenCHICAGO—As the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) pushes for reform in Illinois charter school law and increased accountability to the public from charter networks, there is increasing concern among parents and fair education advocates over disci
4-8-13 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: Why "Reformy"?Part of a series of posts for folks who are just beginning to find there way through the current debates on education. My blog dedicated to that audience is Reclaiming Pubic Education 101.As one wades out into the sea of education blogging, one repeatedly encounters the term "reformy" or "reformy stuff." There's a short explanation, but i
4-8-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: Is Chris Christie Toast?It has been fairly quiet on the Chris Christie scandal front since Christie crony David Samson resigned from the Port Authority a while back and Christie is going around the country raising money for the Republican Party like nothing's the matter, that all is on schedule for his 2016 run for president.Jeff Smith at Politico says pay no attention to wh
4-8-14 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): Groups stage a rally to show impact of LAUSD drop outsThe sound of classroom silence. As part of a rally by parents, education advocates and civil rights groups who represent Communities for Los Angeles Student Success, or CLASS, 375 desks were set up this morning at the LAUSD headquarters in downtown Los
4-8-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": inBloom Is On Its Deathbed & No Tears Are ShedinBloom, the ill-conceived, Gates-funded effort to collect just about every piece of data on just about every K-12 student in America (and opposed by parents across the United States), lost its only remaining customer last month when New York State withdrew from it. Here’s a
Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ General Meeting Saturday April 19th at 1 PM at UIC
Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ General Meeting Saturday April 19th at 1 PM at UIC: TSJ General Meeting Saturday April 19th at 1 PM at UICAPRIL 8, 2014 LEAVE A COMMENTGet involved! Join a committee and help plan! More info to come! Saturday, April 19th, 20141:00 PM - 3:00 PMUIC College of Education1040 W. Harrison StChicagoAll are welcome and refreshments served!We will begin planning the 13th A
PSAT for 4-8-14: Let Springfield know the truth about charter schools Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 4-8-14: Let Springfield know the truth about charter schools: PSAT for 4-8-14: Let Springfield know the truth about charter schoolsToday, charter school advocates will be taking out their checkbooks to fund Springfield trips for folks to lobby for less oversight of and more money for charter schools.Mayor Emanuel says that the trut
NYC Public School Parents: Despite parent protests, DOE to go ahead with plan to push class sizes to 46 at PS 11Q Queens & violate building code
NYC Public School Parents: Despite parent protests, DOE to go ahead with plan to push class sizes to 46 at PS 11Q Queens & violate building code: Despite parent protests, DOE to go ahead with plan to push class sizes to 46 at PS 11Q Queens & violate building codeFor more on the class size violations this plan will trigger, and the opposition of elected officials and parents, see DNA info h
Department of Education Releases New Parent and Community Engagement Framework | ED.gov Blog
Department of Education Releases New Parent and Community Engagement Framework | ED.gov Blog: Department of Education Releases New Parent and Community Engagement FrameworkThe fourth quarter of the school year is generally a time of preparation for schools and districts as they finalize next year’s budget, student and teacher schedules, and professional development for the upcoming school year. Du
This Tax Day, tell the USDOE to #ShowTheDocs - Integrity in Education
This Tax Day, tell the USDOE to #ShowTheDocs - Integrity in Education: This Tax Day, tell the USDOE to #ShowTheDocsWho’s actually driving education policy in the United States?When groups supported by corporations like Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and ETS overhaul curriculum standards and call for test-driven policies, and government officials who worked for those groups write those ideas into law, who’s
I am pro-child, and I opt out | Twin Cities Daily Planet
I am pro-child, and I opt out | Twin Cities Daily Planet: I am pro-child, and I opt outBy Sarah Lahm, Eyes on EducationApril 07, 2014Tonight, I will be in St. Cloud, speaking to a group of parents about how and why to opt their children out of the upcoming MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) tests.I have also recently connected with parents in a district just north of the Twin Cities, who say
4-8-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting notesThe Board Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee met yesterday (Monday, April 7). The agenda included an update on Creative Approach Schools, information on the application for a SIG grant by Rainier Beach High School, an update on Special Education program placement, and an update and further discussion
4-8-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Corporate Welfare Charter Schools--the Vampire Squid of Educationfrom Alan Singer at HuffPo:On Sunday, March 23, 2014 in a speechat Riverside Church in Manhattan, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, faced with declining public opinion poll numbers, made nice to charter school companies and their wealthy backers. He told congregants that his administration and the charter movement h
4-8-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Thursday - Rally Against Cuomo - 4 PMThursday - Rally Against Cuomo - 4 PMLots of forces gathering for the big march and rally on Thursday to Cuomo's Manhattan office. Are you pissed off at Cuomo? BE THERE!!!!by ed notes online / 8min 4-7-14 Ed Notes Online WeekEd Notes Online: Lauren Cohen Stands Up to Bully Tests and Bully Unity SlugsYesterday morning I watched from the audience
Educators are Political Operatives | educarenow
Educators are Political Operatives | educarenow: Educators are Political OperativesPosted on April 8, 2014 | Leave a commentAs educators, we must always be aware that we are operating in a highly contested political arena- one the defines winners and losers.Gary Howard’s words are so true:“The forces of social dominance…are, by definition, directed toward protecting and perpetuating the good of th
Morning Wink 4-8-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-8-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: exas Superintendent Asks for Help in Stopping Failed VAMThis superintendent posted a request for help. I will be posting a summary of research on value-added-measurement later today. I think it i