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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Nite Cap 6-11-14 #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



LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-11-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Vergara Trial Teachers Were Not “Grossly Ineffective”I was curious to learn whether the plaintiffs in the Vergara trial actually had “grossly ineffective teachers.” The answer is “no, they did not.” Not only did none of them have a “grossly ineffective” teacher, but some of the plaintiffs attended schools where there are no ten
6-11-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Call for Ban on high-stakes field testing, 11 AM Rally/Press Conference Today at Tweed: Call for Ban on high-stakes field testing, 11 AM Rally/Press Conference Today at Tweed  PUBLIC ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK Letitia JamesFor Immediate Release: June 10, 2014                                                Media AdvisoryContact: Aja Worthy-Davis, (212) 669-4813, adavis@pubad
Co-Location of Schools in NYC Denies Services to Students | janresseger
Co-Location of Schools in NYC Denies Services to Students | janresseger: Co-Location of Schools in NYC Denies Services to StudentsPosted on June 11, 2014 by janressegerIn New York City, due to school “reforms” undertaken during Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s three terms, all high school students now participate in school choice; there are no longer comprehensive high schools with attendance zones. Many
The Common Core Chuztpah of Bill Gates & CCSSO | Missouri Education Watchdog
The Common Core Chuztpah of Bill Gates & CCSSO | Missouri Education Watchdog: The Common Core Chuztpah of Bill Gates & CCSSOinShareHaving “great fortitude” does not apply to The Gates Foundation or the CCSSO in their latest statements about state accountability testing and measures.  Use your critical thinking skills and see if you agree.During the Washington Post’s March 2014 interview wi
6-11-14 The Whole Child Blog — Choice Versus Policy? — Whole Child Education
Choice Versus Policy? — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGChoice Versus Policy?June 11, 2014 by Whole Child SymposiumWhat are we currently doing in our schools that will affect—negatively or positively—the future?The ASCD Whole Child Symposium addressed what the "schools of the future" will look like and how the decisions we make today will shape what and how students learn tomo
6-11-14 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): This Week in “Please Shut Up”: Arne DuncanThis Week in “Please Shut Up” should have been aimed at George Will and that he really needs to shut up about rape. But, instead, let’s look at Secretary of Education Arne Duncan who has held forth on the Vergaras ruling in Calif
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 6-11-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Daily News: SOME LAUSD EMPLOYEES TO GET 9 PERCENT SALARY HIKES + smf’s 2¢By Thomas Himes, Los Angeles Daily News | http://bit.ly/UtJYAv 6/10/14, 8:54 PM PDT |Delving into several costly employee salary issues, the Los Angeles Unified school board on Tuesday approved salary increases ranging up to 9 percent for some district workers to offset higher pens
6-11-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Higher Education Leaders who know nothing.OK.  Today might just be the day that I quit. If the leaders of our academic institutions have really decided to sign onto to something that has no empirical support specifically (that common core standards and high stakes tests better prepare students for college) and at the same time totally disregard tons of empirical support […]73 by
6-11-14 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.: “It’s done!” said State Representative Robyn Gabel.State Representative and pension thief Robyn Gabel. “It’s done!” said State Representative Robyn Gabel to the two dozen or so local representatives at the IPACE endorsement hearings this morning. The words had that tone of, “Get over it. Move on.”  Li
6-11-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": June Issue Of Harvard’s “Family Involvement Network of Educators” Available OnlineThe June issue of Harvard’s “Family Involvement Network of Educators” just came online. Here’s how they describe it: In this issue, M. Elena Lopez and Margaret Caspe take us on a deep dive into the research base for anywhere, anytime and chall
6-11-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?:   Wait What? Why doesn’t Connecticut have a Fair and Progressive Income Tax?In Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy’s world of “Shared Sacrifice,” middle-income families have taken a disproportionate hit. On the state level, Malloy’s tax plan resulted in higher state income tax rates, a reduced property tax credit, more sales taxes and the largest gas tax increase in state history.  All of the
Gates’ Common Core Money and Kentucky | Truth in American Education
Gates’ Common Core Money and Kentucky | Truth in American Education:  Gates’ Common Core Money and KentuckyKentucky was the first state to adopt the Common Core, and they did so before the final draft was even published.  I highlighted some of Lyndsey Layton’s article in the Washington Post on Bill Gates’ involvement with the Common Core earlier today on another blog.  The excerpt related to Kentu
Answer Sheet 6-11-14
Answer Sheet: A silver lining in the Vergara decision?A decision by a California judge on Tuesday to strike down — pending appeal — five state statutes that provide job protections to teachers has deeply troubled many teachers and teacher activists concerned about the effect on the profession should the ruling stand. Here is a detailed look on what might be a silver lining […]39 by Valerie Strauss
6-11-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends on Math AdoptionThe Times finally got around to writing an article on this issue.  I didn't really like their take on it but I'm not surprised that it is made to sound like the cost was the main issue.  The article said that MIF is "nearly twice as expensive" as enVision but forgot to say that was based on the staff's reading of it.  The art
6-11-14 Schools Matter: BATs in DC July 28
Schools Matter: BATs in DC July 28by Jim Horn / 1h Diane Ravitch's Mutating Common Core PositionsAs the opposition to Common Core has spread and deepened, Diane Ravitch's position has undergone a strange metamorphosis.  She had this to say at Huffington Post on March 24 in a piece entitled "The Fatal Flaw of the Common Core Standards:". . . .The complaints are coming from all sides: from
Rachel's Rants, Raves, and Recollections: Eric Cantor is a Threat to Democracy
Rachel's Rants, Raves, and Recollections: Eric Cantor is a Threat to Democracy: Eric Cantor is a Threat to DemocracyOn Monday, October 25th, a Louisa County, Virginia, voter and Democrat named Jon Taylor showed up with some members of his family to a local Louisa coffee shop, Solid Grounds, to attend an Eric Cantor campaign event (see event invite below). Eric Cantor is his congressional represent
6-11-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Videos: “Anderson Cooper Tries A Schizophrenia Simulator”I’m adding these videos to The Best Sites For Walking In Someone Else’s Shoes:by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h hide  //  saveYESTERDAYResources For World Refugee DayWorld Refugee Day takes place on June 20th. You might be interested in The Best Sites For Learning About World Re
6-11-14 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): New state money helping LAUSD expand services for foster youthThe new state funding formula that is sending more money into LA Unified is enabling the district to expand programs for foster youth, a group of students who have been under-served by the district for years. The LAUSD student population curren
empathyeducates – Econocide Over-the-Rhine – Cincinnati and Our Cities
empathyeducates – Econocide Over-the-Rhine – Cincinnati and Our Cities: Econocide Over-the-Rhine – Cincinnati and Our Cities(Photo: Check Eilerman / OverTheRhine; Edited: JR / TO) “What’s going on?” (Marvin Gaye)
”Like Genocide, So Econocide” (Alice Skirtz) Every once in a while in the sea of intellectual discourse a term surfaces that resonates, that galvanizes the historical moment, that has gra
6-11-14 Curmudgucation
CURMUDGUCATION: StudentsFirst Cynicism Truly BoundlessAn alert reader shared with me an email she received with the subject line "Demand Better Compensation for Teachers." Turns out, it's just further proof of how cynical the reformsters at StudentsFirst are these days.The email was generated by the site Greatergood.com, a website of the kickstarter crowdsourcing variety, aimed specifica
6-11-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Eva Moskowitz Wants 14 More SchoolsAnd so the charter school rent is going to get very, very expensive or NYC:Success Academy Charter Schools officials said Tuesday they were applying to open 14 more schools in New York City, just months after a high-profile battle with Mayor Bill de Blasio over space in crowded city buildings.The network run by former City Councilwoman Eva
Last Dance of the Lemons | EduShyster
Last Dance of the Lemons | EduShyster: Last Dance of the Lemons The *kids* weren’t the only big winners in California’s Vergara ruling…Reader: barely had the verdict beenannounced in the landmark legal case Vergara vs. Lemons when the verdict was reached. The Vergara verdict represents a huge win for the kids. My own favorite verdict came swiftly from value investor Whitney Tilson who *stopped the
6/11/2014 – Standards Scolds Get Us Nowhere - Education Is World’s #1 Priority
6/11/2014 – Standards Scolds Get Us Nowhere: 6/11/2014 – Standards Scolds Get Us NowhereJune 11, 2014 SubscribeTHIS WEEK: Education Is World’s #1 Priority … Student Engagement In Schools … More Trafficking Of Teachers … Parents Rebel Against Big Data … Why College Tuitions IncreaseTOP STORYStandards Scolds Are Getting Us NowhereBy Jeff Bryant“Support for the Common Core is eroding away, and you ha
OKCBC - Our Kids' Community Breakfast Club - A Self-Sustaining Empowered Community
OKCBC - A Self-Sustaining Empowered Community: Our Kids' Community Breakfast ClubA Self-Sustaining Empowered CommunityOur Kids' Community Breakfast Club (OKCBC) a community engagement model, is designed to improve the quality of life for kids and their families. The program operates during the time when school is not in session on Saturdays.  The five program components include:Nutritious Breakfas
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What are the take-aways from Cantor loss?
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What are the take-aways from Cantor loss?: What are the take-aways from Cantor loss?Cantor was too far "left" for the Limbaugh Party and not anti-immigrant enough. I'm still trying to get a handle on Cantor's defeat in Va.'s bright red 7th Cong. Dist. The obvious is that Cantor, the most conservative member of the GOP House leadership, was just too far &quo
Controversial data-driven research behind the California court’s decision to reject teacher tenure | Education By The Numbers
Controversial data-driven research behind the California court’s decision to reject teacher tenure | Education By The Numbers: Controversial data-driven research behind the California court’s decision to reject teacher tenureUnderlying the California court’s decision on June 10, 2014 to reject teacher tenure as unconstitutional is a controversial body of academic research on teacher effectiveness.
empathyeducates – Schools Matter But Judge Rules Not All Teachers Do
empathyeducates – Schools Matter But Judge Rules Not All Teachers Do: Schools Matter But Judge Rules Not All Teachers DoJulia Macias, at a news conference Tuesday, was one of nine students who claimed tenure laws left bad teachers in place. Credit Monica Almeida/The New York TimesMonths ago we asked; could it be that at present education policies are designed to serve only a selected population. M
Fewer Districts in Financial Jeopardy - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
Fewer Districts in Financial Jeopardy - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Reports Significant Drop in Number of Districts in Financial JeopardySACRAMENTO—A new report shows that the number of California school districts in financial jeopardy has been slashed by more than two-thirds over the past year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announ
Momma Bears spills the beans & makes new friends - Momma Bears
Momma Bears spills the beans & makes new friends - Momma Bears: Momma Bears spills the beans & makes new friends06/11/2014 One of our Momma Bear bloggers was flattered to be invited to speak at the State Education Editors convention in Denver, Colorado last week.  You'll never guess who she sat next to on the flight home... a charter school teacher who just quit!  Divine intervention?  You
Silicon Valley Mogul Financed California Lawsuit to End Teacher Tenure
Silicon Valley Mogul Financed California Lawsuit to End Teacher Tenure: Silicon Valley Mogul Financed California Lawsuit to End Teacher TenureTeacher tenure was found to be unconstitutional today in California, with a judge ruling that students are "unfairly, unnecessarily disadvantaged" by the practice. On its face, Vergara v. California was the case of nine students fighting a practice
TEACHING – THE ONLY PROFESSION WHERE BEING AVERAGE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH | Teachers Fight Back
TEACHING – THE ONLY PROFESSION WHERE BEING AVERAGE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH | Teachers Fight Back: TEACHING – THE ONLY PROFESSION WHERE BEING AVERAGE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGHleave a comment »A Los Angeles  Superior Court judge recently ruled that tenure, seniority and other job protections for teachers have created unequal conditions in public schools and deprive poor children of the best teachers.  The ruling
MOOCs Three Years Later | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
MOOCs Three Years Later | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: MOOCs Three Years LaterOne constant in K-12 and higher education reform has been policymakers adopting policies they say will make fundamental changes in their institutions and seeing those efforts scaled back to become incremental changes or disappear completely (see here, here, and here).Higher education reformers, fo
All Things Education: A few thoughts on the VA-07 and Cantor's primary defeat
All Things Education: A few thoughts on the VA-07 and Cantor's primary defeat: A few thoughts on the VA-07 and Cantor's primary defeatYesterday, David Brat defeated Eric Cantor in the Republican primary election for the congressional seat in Virginia's 7th district. I live in the 7th district. I happen to also be married to a Randolph-Macon college professor--that is where Dave Brat is a college p
Can You Hate Tenure and Love Your Teachers?
Can You Hate Tenure and Love Your Teachers?: Can You Hate Tenure and Love Your Teachers?JUNE 11, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENTThe Los Angeles Superior Court has struck down teacher tenure and protections in Vergara v. Los Angeles. This, by the looks of venomous comments in newspapers, seems to delight some people.Arne Duncan, who represents  the Obama administration’s viewpoint, apparently
“Strict scrutiny” of Vergara ruling a setback for teacher protection | InterACT
“Strict scrutiny” of Vergara ruling a setback for teacher protection | InterACT: “Strict scrutiny” of Vergara ruling a setback for teacher protectionJUNE 11, 2014tags: lawsuit, Students Matter, vergaraby David B. CohenYesterday, California Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu handed down a ruling in the education policy lawsuit commonly referred to as the Vergara case. People I know who were closer to t
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Vergara Ruling, Californication
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Vergara Ruling, Californication: Vergara Ruling, CalifornicationBest Tweet this morning comes from Pedro Noguera ‏@PedroANogueraCalifornia court ruling is a setback for public education. When teachers lose so do kids. Don't blame tenure for the flaws of the system.Judge Rolf M. Treu's ruling was based on the notion that teachers and students have conflicting int
From Common Core, to Vergara, to VAM, Gates Foundation Fingerprints Everywhere - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
From Common Core, to Vergara, to VAM, Gates Foundation Fingerprints Everywhere - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: From Common Core, to Vergara, to VAM, Gates Foundation Fingerprints EverywhereBy Anthony Cody on June 11, 2014 9:14 AMSomeone in the mainstream media finally asked Bill Gates straight out what his role was regarding Common Core. What a concept! Until last week, those of us

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Nite Cap 6-10-14 #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 CAPThousands would lose eligibility for transitional kindergarten under revised bill | EdSource TodayThousands would lose eligibility for transitional kindergarten under revised bill | EdSource Today: Thousands would lose eligibility for transitiona