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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Nite Cap 5-7-14 #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



Is it time for the Money Fairy already? Capitol Alert: California races surpass $5.5 million in independent spending
Capitol Alert: California races surpass $5.5 million in independent spending: California races surpass $5.5 million in independent spendingThe San Francisco Bay Area's 16th Assembly District remained the leader in independentcampaign expenditures reported through Tuesday, but a trio of Democrats in Sacramento-area legislative races are drawing independent support from business groups.Unions, chart
5-7-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Possible Tragedy Averted at EcksteinToday at Eckstein (from a reader):Principal messsage: "At approximately 9:30, Eckstein went into Shelter-in-Place. All students and staff were safe. Police reported that there was an Eckstein student in the neighborhood who might be armed. Police apprehended the student at approximately 9:50 and we returned to business as us
5-7-14 The Whole Child Blog — Supporting Readers in Science — Whole Child Education
Supporting Readers in Science — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGSupporting Readers in ScienceMay 7, 2014 by ASCD Whole Child BloggersPost written by Sarah Carlson, Deni Basaraba, Gina Biancarosa, and Lina ShanleyWhen most people think about reading in science, they think of heavy and densely written texts—the kind you find in science textbooks. Although textbooks remain a staple of scie
#WeAuthorize...solutions to the charter fraud crisis! - Integrity in Education
#WeAuthorize...solutions to the charter fraud crisis! - Integrity in Education: #WeAuthorize…solutions to the charter fraud crisis!Starting today, Integrity in Education is joining the Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA) to host #WeAuthorize Wednesdays, a weekly opportunity to highlight ideas worth spreading in education policy and practice. Learn more about WeAuthorize Wednesdays
Is Relevance Over Rated? | My Island View
Is Relevance Over Rated? | My Island View: Is Relevance Over Rated?May 7, 2014 by tomwhitbyI recently put out a tweet that was meant to be provocative. I often do this to stir things up in order to benefit ye olde creative juices. I tweeted that I recently had a heart procedure done, (which I did) and I did not ask the doctor to use any 20th Century methods or technology to complete the task. I th
Uncovering Lies and Damn Lies in Arne Duncan’s Graduation Rates | Cloaking Inequity
Uncovering Lies and Damn Lies in Arne Duncan’s Graduation Rates | Cloaking Inequity: Uncovering Lies and Damn Lies in Arne Duncan’s Graduation RatesHas your state experienced a meteoric rise in its graduation rate since Arne Duncan’s new graduation standards went into effect? Do you think it too good to be true? Nobody likes to be lied to. The latest Arne Duncan sleight of hand is the reporting an
5-7-14 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): JFK High librarian removed after allegations of fraud, forgeryJFK High School LA Unified officials are investigating a teacher who has now been removed from John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, over allegations that she mishandled and manipulated record-keeping and stole money from ARC, an after-
5/7/2014 – Charter Schools Fail - Education Opportunity Network
5/7/2014 – Charter Schools Fail: 5/7/2014 – Charter Schools FailMay 7, 2014 Subscribe THIS WEEK: US Teachers Lack Diversity … Scary Common Core Cut Scores… Common Core vs. Real Issues … Funding For Higher Ed Not Recovering … Young Workers Face Tough Climb TOP STORY Charter Schools Fail: New Reports Call Their ‘Magic’ Into Question By Jeff Bryant “In today’s climate of trumped up political truisms
The LAUSD Dinosaur: The Truth Behind The Economics Of Scale (And Waste). - Perdaily.com
The LAUSD Dinosaur: The Truth Behind The Economics Of Scale (And Waste). - Perdaily.com: The LAUSD Dinosaur: Dismantling The Economics Of Scale(Mensaje se repite en Español)The only justification that I have ever heard for the continued existence of LAUSD is the economics of scale. Simply stated, this is the notion that larger organizations can buy goods and services for significantly less money t
High school wasteland: Demographic changes do not explain test-score stagnation among U.S. high school seniors | Education By The Numbers
High school wasteland: Demographic changes do not explain test-score stagnation among U.S. high school seniors | Education By The Numbers: High school wasteland: Demographic changes do not explain test-score stagnation among U.S. high school seniorsSource: NCESThe National Assessment of Education Progress, run by the U.S. Department of Education, is the only test that is administered in schools ac
5-7-14 Curmudgucation
CURMUDGUCATION: Charter$ & Ca$hing InSince the President has declared this week National Charter School Appreciation & General Praise Week, you are probably thinking, "How can I be part of the charter school excitement?"In the past, many charters were launched that focused solidly on providing unique and exciting educational experiences for their communities. These schools were i
Moody’s Blames Philly Charters for Bad Rating
Moody's issues warning on School District's bond rating: Moody’s Blames Philly Charters for Bad RatingMARTHA WOODALL, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERLAST UPDATED: Wednesday, May 7, 2014, 1:08 AMPOSTED: Tuesday, May 6, 2014, 4:55 PMPHILADELPHIA At a time when the Philadelphia School District's financial condition is already dire, Moody's Investors Service is warning that rising charter costs and uncertain fu
5-7-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": This Is The Best Critique Of The “Broken Compass” Parent Involvement Book That I’ve Seen…Parental involvement overrated? Don’t buy it is a very, very impressive response to the “Broken Compass” authors dismissal of most types of parent involvement. It’s written by three college professors — By Todd Rogers, Lucas Coffman and
5-7-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: KIPP's Gritsters Get Hammered for Amoral Character GoalsCapitalism is neither moral nor immoral; it is amoral.  There is no room at the bottom line for pious judgments of right or wrong that might affect the balance sheet.  Capitalism is about the accumulation of capital to make more capital and nothing else.  There was a time in our not-so-distant past when capitalists chose to ma
Article: CONFLICTED: MSNBC's Mixed Reporting on Common Core and Charter Schools | OpEdNews
Article: CONFLICTED: MSNBC's Mixed Reporting on Common Core and Charter Schools | OpEdNews: CONFLICTED: MSNBC's Mixed Reporting on Common Core and Charter SchoolsBy Gustav Wynn (about the author)  opednews.comby gwLast fall, I asked whether MSNBC hosts like Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes (my two favorite) are pressured not to cover issues like hydrofracking or GMO foods by their bosses (see Is Rach
Statement: Improving voting procedures for 2014 Renaissance process | Parents United for Public Education
Statement: Improving voting procedures for 2014 Renaissance process | Parents United for Public Education: Statement: Improving voting procedures for 2014 Renaissance processPosted on May 7, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentParents United for Public EducationSuggestions to improve Renaissance Process voting proceduresMay 5, 2014Parents United for Public Education has raised serious concern
Morning Wink 5-7-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-7-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Patrick Walsh on the Death of Philosophy in a World of PhilistinesMany bloggers have commented on the pretentiousness and vacuousness of the gaggle of politicians, entrepreneurs, and hedge funder
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-7-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Patrick Walsh on the Death of Philosophy in a World of PhilistinesMany bloggers have commented on the pretentiousness and vacuousness of the gaggle of politicians, entrepreneurs, and hedge funders who have gathered in the Adirondacks of New York and audaciously dubbed themselves the “thought leaders” of our time. They called their
American Students Perform Worse As They Reach Higher Grades
American Students Perform Worse As They Reach Higher Grades: American Students Perform Worse As They Reach Higher GradesHigh school test scores released by the federal government Wednesday provide fresh evidence of a troubling theme in American education: Students seem to perform worse on tests as they advance through the public school system to higher grades.America's high school seniors have mos
My Book on VAMs Released Today |
My Book on VAMs Released Today |: My Book on VAMs Released TodayMy new book, titled “Rethinking Value-Added Models in Education: Critical Perspectives on Tests and Assessment-Based Accountability,” was officially released by my publisher – Routledge – today.For those interested, you can order this book on Amazon, here, Barnes & Noble, here, or the Routledge site, here. The book’s foreword is w
President of national teachers union joins parents, teachers for another protest of Newark school plan | NJ.com
President of national teachers union joins parents, teachers for another protest of Newark school plan | NJ.com: President of national teachers union joins parents, teachers for another protest of Newark school planNEWARK — American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten will meet with teachers and staff of Hawthorne Avenue Elementary School this morning to show her support for the scho
5-7-14 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: U.S. judge: It’s ridiculous to judge teachers by test scores of students they don’t have, but it’s legal in Florida“Justice? You get justice in the next world, in this world you have the law.” ― William Gaddis, A Frolic of His Own   A federal judge in Florida said that it is wildly unfair that the state evaluates many teachers on the standardized test scores of students they don’
5-7-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: I Learn Another Great Game For English Langage Learners From Jimmy FallonLast year, I wrote about a fun game for English Language Learners that I learned from late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon (see Jimmy Fallon Comes Up With A Great Game For English Language Learners). Today, I learned another one… He calls it Word Sne
5-7-14 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.: Tuesday night with Karen Lewis and Chicago’s political nerds.Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke are members of that very small circle of people that can justifiably claim the titles of Chicago journalists. They both write for the Chicago Reader. Full disclosure. Joravsky is an old friend. Old enough that I t
5-7-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Roseanne McCosh: Why I Am Voting No to the UFT ContractRoseanne has been in touch for a number of years - she follows issues very closely and shares them with her staff at PS 8 in the Bronx. She was chapter leader for a number of years before passing it on to the next gen. She shared this with teachers in her school. She has never been to a MORE meeting. So Roseanne represents ran
5-7-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: The Destruction of Public Education in Bridgeport courtesy of Malloy and Mayor Bill FinchWhen it comes to the corporate education reform industry’s strategies and tactics, Bridgeport has become one of their “ground zero” targets. Thanks to Governor Malloy, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and education reformer extraordinaire Paul Vallas, t
5-7-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: PISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, RepeatPISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, Repeat. via PISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, Repeat.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical1 by plthomasedd / 1h hide  //  saveDuncan Flunks the “State led” Test with His Indiana NCLB Waiver WarningCorporate reformers love tests. It seems that now, the test is on them. Is the federal government usurping
5-7-14 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): PISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, RepeatWhen Mary Catherine Bradshaw, a teacher since 1984 in Nashville, TN, announced her retirement from public schools, Bradshaw pointed her finger at one major reason, standardized testing: [S]he says standardized testing is the reason
5-7-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Is The Tentative UFT Contract Changing How The System Deals With Teachers Rated "Ineffective" On Testing Components?The tentative contract language is finally available to peruse - you can find it here.I noticed this:Measures of Student Learning Options1. For the 2014 - 15 school year and thereafter the DOE shall create new measures (referred to as “Linked Measures
Despite generally good salaries, an 85% faculty majority is said to favor unionizing | The Lens
Despite generally good salaries, an 85% faculty majority is said to favor unionizing | The Lens: Despite generally good salaries, an 85% faculty majority is said to favor unionizingWhether to join a teacher union is being pondered at Ben Franklin, the city's most academically acclaimed public high school.With a public hearing scheduled Thursday on the faculty drive to unionize Benjamin Franklin Hi
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Standing room only for Karen Lewis at the Hideout
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Standing room only for Karen Lewis at the Hideout: Standing room only for Karen Lewis at the HideoutThe HideoutLast night was political junkies' standing-room-only night at the Hideout. CTU President Karen Jennings Lewis was on stage, being interviewed by Reader writers Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke. What a step up from last month's show when former Ald. Dick (aptly-na
An educator responds to John Barge's teacher tribute:... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
An educator responds to John Barge's teacher tribute:... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: An educator responds to John Barge's teacher tribute: Appreciate the effort but disagree on the message COMMENT(11) 0 46 1 48Previous PostsWhy did so many elementary schools underperform in DeKalb and Atlanta? Is there a plan? May 6, 2014Teacher Appreciation Day: Google Atlanta chooses to fund wish lists of 356
Is Cami leaving? Or just hiding? | Bob Braun's Ledger
Is Cami leaving? Or just hiding? | Bob Braun's Ledger: Is Cami leaving? Or just hiding?Is Cami hiding at an Ihop?                Cami Anderson,  the controversial state-appointed superintendent of Newark schools, has disappeared from the city  for the last few weeks, fueling rumors she is planning on leaving. Her absence comes just as the mayoral race—in which she is issue number one—tightens up  
60 Years after Brown v. Board: School “Reform” Ignores Injustices of Urban America | janresseger
60 Years after Brown v. Board: School “Reform” Ignores Injustices of Urban America | janresseger: 60 Years after Brown v. Board: School “Reform” Ignores Injustices of Urban AmericaPosted on May 7, 2014 by janressegerOn May 17, we’ll mark the 60th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education.  Richard Rothstein, research associate at the Economic Policy Ins
“Sorry I cannot write more” – A Smarter Balanced Tale | InterACT
“Sorry I cannot write more” – A Smarter Balanced Tale | InterACT: “Sorry I cannot write more” – A Smarter Balanced TaleMAY 7, 2014tags: ccss, Smarter Balanced, vamby David B. CohenThe Common Core transition reached me on a more personal level this week when my 11-year old son came home and asked, “Dad, do you know anyone who made the Smarter Balanced test?” When I replied that I do not, he said, “
The new face of teacher unionism in New York City and beyond | Hechinger Report
The new face of teacher unionism in New York City and beyond | Hechinger Report: The new face of teacher unionism in New York City and beyondIn era of accountability, UFT contract builds on fiscal stability, flexibility, not social mobilityBy David C. BloomfieldI knew Al Shanker, Mr. Mulgrew, and you’re no Al Shanker.Would Al Shanker have agreed to let at least 200 schools, thousands of teachers,
Shanker Blog » An Education Hearing I'd Like To See
Shanker Blog » An Education Hearing I'd Like To See: An Education Hearing I’d Like To SeePosted by Matthew Di Carlo on May 7, 2014At the end of February, the District of Columbia Council’s Education Committee held its annual hearing on the performance of the District’s Public Schools (DCPS). The hearing (full video is available here) lasted over four hours, and included discussion on a variety of
Mother Crusader: DFER Trying To Steal Election From Ras Baraka
Mother Crusader: DFER Trying To Steal Election From Ras Baraka: DFER Trying To Steal Election From Ras BarakaThe Newark mayoral race is heating up with less than a week to go, and there has been plenty of discussion about an influx of cash to the Jeffries campaign and questions as to where the money is coming from.Newark First, an independent group of Jeffries' supporters, launched an advertising

YESTERDAY

Draft accountability plans raise concerns about usefulness to parents | EdSource Today
Draft accountability plans raise concerns about usefulness to parents | EdSource Today: Draft accountability plans raise concerns about usefulness to parentsMay 6th, 2014 | Add a Comment | By Louis FreedbergParent committee members and school officials review a draft of West Contra Costa Unified’s LCAP on Wednesday, April 16 in Richmond. Photo by Alex GronkeCalifornia school districts are in the p
Duncan Flunks the “State led” Test with His Indiana NCLB Waiver Warning | deutsch29
Duncan Flunks the “State led” Test with His Indiana NCLB Waiver Warning | deutsch29: Duncan Flunks the “State led” Test with His Indiana NCLB Waiver WarningMay 6, 2014Corporate reformers love tests.It seems that now, the test is on them.Is the federal government usurping state authority over public education?Consider the protestations that the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are not a federal m
Hey ATR's! The New Contract is a Trap! southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Hey ATR's! The New Contract is a Trap!The Crack Team got a phone call from an intrepid Mainstream Media reporter today inquiring if we knew of any ATR's that would like to comment on the mass email El Presidenté Mike Mulgrew blasted out to them Monday evening. We told our intrepid reporter that we do not, yet shared with him that our curiosity is now piqued and if
Connected Principals | Sharing. Learning. Leading.
Connected Principals | Sharing. Learning. Leading.: The Advantage of Separating Behaviors and Academics Through a Competency-Based Grading System.As I watched one of our teacher’s training sessions this past Wednesday, I considered how far we had come in grading practices in a fairly short period of time. Our school made the transition to competency-based grading four years ago, and despite some o
5-6-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": “How to be an advocate for your (special needs) child”How to be an advocate for your (special needs) child by Jovan Miles could be a very useful post to share with parents. It’s a great additions to The Best Resources To Help Engage Parents Of Children With Special Needs.4 by Larry Ferlazzo / 58min hide  //  save“19 Proven
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Asking the wrong questions of technology…
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Asking the wrong questions of technology…: Asking the wrong questions of technology…There has been a huge roll-out of technology with the advent of SBAC testing in California (and elsewhere in the country with CCSS testing in all forms). But is this really making education better? Is it making our kids better? Or is it like using Robbie shown above, good fo
Nite Cap 5-6-14 #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 CAPModel SARBs for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)Model SARBs for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces 2014 Model Attendance Improvement ProgramsSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instru