NEA Endorses National Campaign Against “Toxic Testing”
NEA delegates approve creation of national campaign for equity and against “Toxic Testing” Campaign to focus on assessments and developing real accountability systems DENVER—The National Education Association (NEA) will launch a national campaign to put the focus of assessments and accountability back on ensuring equity and supporting student learning and end the “test blame and punish” system tha
New Mexico Okays Pearson Contract for PARCC
New Mexico’s purchasing agent approved the award of a contract to Pearson to develop the Common Core PARCC tests, despite the absence of competitive bidding. AIR had lodged a complaint against the process since Pearson was the only bidder. The New Mexico contract covers testing of 6-10 million students in 14 states. It is worth about $1 billion to Pearson. “Last December, the Washington DC-based
Green Party Supports Teacher Tenure in New York
Green Party Defends Teacher Tenure Against Legal Challenge The Green Party candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor today spoke out strongly against a lawsuit to be filed by a former CNN anchor seeking to overturn tenure in New York State. “The attack on teacher tenure is about scapegoating teachers for the conditions of our schools,” remarked Brian Jones, a former NYC school teacher running for
NYC Public Schools: Less Money, More Homeless Students, More Crowded
A report by the nonpartisan Independent Budget Office in New York City has found that the New York City public schools are experiencing extensive overcrowding, even as federal and state funding has diminished. Nearly 450,000 students were enrolled in overcrowded buildings, defined as those at greater than 102.5 percent capacity, in the 2012-13 school year, the most recent covered by the report f
A Partial Look at Michelle Rhee’s Finances
Politico.com reports on some of the finances of Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst and StudentsFirst Institute, based on the 990 tax form that her group is required to file. During the fiscal year from August 2012 to July 2013, her organizations raised $28.6 million, down slightly from the previous year. She does not disclose the names of her donors (we can all guess: the Koch brothers? Rupert Murdoch?
Texas Commissioner Ignores State Board to Approve Great Hearts Charter
Michael Williams, Texas State Commissioner, gave Great Hearts Academy permission to open another charter in Dallas even though the state board of education tuned it down. Williams is not an educator. He is a favorite of the Bush family who previously served as head of the Texas Railroad Commission, which “regulates” the oil and gas industry (not?). Great Hearts is controversial because it has cam
Good Riddance to the Common Core Tests!
A few years ago, Arne Duncan, Bill Gates, David Coleman, and a merry band of policy wonks had a grand plan. The non-governmental groups like Achieve, the National Governors Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and Coleman’s own Student Achievement Partners would write the Common Core standards (paid for by the Gates Foundation); Duncan would require states to agree to adopt the
Rocketship Charter Chain’s Big Plans in Texas
A note from a reader in Texas, where Rocketship charter schools have big expansion plans: Rocketship has re-applied for charters in Texas, 8 each in San Antonio and Dallas. Last cycle, in spite of support from San Antonio group, Choose to Succeed (along with the promise of million(s) in start-up funds), Rocketship failed to meet TEA external reviewers standards and was not eligible for considerat
Rocketship Charter Chain Sputters
Rocketship charter chain had an audacious plan to enroll one million students nationwide, drawing students from poor and immigrant communities, putting them in front of a computer in large classes, and relying on low-wage (mainly Teach for America) “teachers.” The chain got high scores and began opening charters outside San Jose, California, where it originated, but then something happened that wa
Anthony Cody: These Tests are Designed to Fail Students
Anthony Cody points out the contradiction between claims that the Common Core will prepare students for college and careers and the reality that the Common Core tests are designed to fail most students. He also notes what happened to the GED graduation rate after Pearson took control of the program. The pass rate on the GED plummeted. What is going on? Cody has two hypotheses: “Hypothesis #1:
Detroit Free Press on Its Probe of Michigan Charter Schools
The Detroit Free Press published a series of deeply researched articles about the charter schools in the state, most of which operate for profit. The state spends $1 billion on charters but does not hold them accountable for financial practices or academic outcomes. Charter schools do NOT get better results educating students in poverty. Will legislators or the governor care? Not as long as the c
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-2-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Microsoft Cashes in on Common Core and Online TestingAre you ready for the new standards? Check out how Microsoft can help your school.5 by dianeravitch / 32min hide // saveMichigan: A One-Woman Truth Squad for Charter AccountabilityThis article tells the story of Mary T. Wood, a woman in Michigan who has devoted nine years to tr