Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, August 30, 2014

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 8-30-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:

4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT


  



Vergara: CALIFORNIA TO APPEAL TEACHER TENURE RULING
By The Associated Press, from the LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/1tXNVcV 8/29/14, 10:31 PM PDT | Updated: 8/29/2014 8:25 am :: LOS ANGELES  ::  California Gov. Jerry Brown late Friday appealed a court ruling that struck down tenure and other job protections for the state’s teachers. Attorney General Kamala Harris filed the appeal in a Los Angeles County court on behalf of the governor and the

Letters to the Editor: MORE FALLOUT FROM THE iPAD PROBLEM
Letters to the editor of the Los Angeles Times |http://lat.ms/1Cd8nv7 Aug 29, 2014 To the editor: Every new detail about the iPad debacle underscores Supt. John Deasy’s ineptitude and disrespect for teachers, students and schools.  ( "Calls mount for new LAUSD inquiry," Aug. 27, and “Can Supt. Deasy survive iPad fiasco?” Column, Aug. 28) Of course iPads are missing and huge amounts of fu
IN L.A. UNIFIED, PROFESSIONAL CONFLICTS AND PERSONAL AGENDAS HAVE OUTSIZED INFLUENCE: The iPad fiasco is a rebuke of Supt. John Deasy's single-minded way of doing business
  by Sandy Banks, Los Angeles Times columnist | http://lat.ms/VXA8X9   L.A. Unified Supt. John Deasy sees education as a social justice issue, but he loses points when he casts his opponents as enemies of children's civil rights. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times) Aug 30, 2014  ::  By now, Los Angeles Unified was supposed to be the technological model for big-city school systems.
IPadGate: EX-LAUSD OFFICIAL DENIES STEERING CONTRACT TO FORMER EMPLOYER, Aquino says his role in contract awarded to former employer was 'by the book'
By Howard Blume, Kim Christensen | http://lat.ms/1qpQWBu LAUSD Deputy Supt. Jaime Aquino gives a high five to Hillcrest Elementary School teacher Rhonda Marie Smith as teachers attend a iPad training class in 2013. Aquino is no longer with the district. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Aug 29, 2014  ::  The former Los Angeles schools official under scrutiny for his role in the district's $

iPadGate: OFFICIALS ON BID COMMITTEE GOT FREE TABLETS, RESORT TRIPS + smf’s 2¢
Annie Gilbertson | 89.3 KPCC | http://bit.ly/1qcmZpz L.A. Unified has already purchased 75,000 iPads, half with Pearson software. Here, second graders at Baldwin Hills Elementary swipe through their iPads for the first time and call out the apps they see. Maya Sugarman/KPCC August 29, 05:00 AM  ::  Los Angeles Unified officials who evaluated bids for its massive technology project
MiSiS: 45,000 STUDENTS MISSING FROM LOS ANGELES UNIFIED’S NEW TRACKING SYSTEM
Thomas Himes | Contra Costa Times (LAUSD might as well amuse Northern California too!) | http://bit.ly/1qOB7Fy Posted:   08/29/2014 02:06:56 PM PDT  ::  In the third week of school, an estimated 45,000 students were missing from the Los Angeles Unified School District’s new computer system, according to a union that represents principals and administrators. Those students were not listed in

AUG 28

iPadGate: ARE JOHN DEASY’S DAYS NUMBERED? They should be after cozy iPad deal
Opinion By Ted Rall, LA Times Editorial Cartoonist | http://lat.ms/1wI7HOh Aug  27, 3:38 PM  ::  It sounded like a great idea at the time: L.A. would give students a boost into the 21st century by putting tech directly into their hands. The Los Angeles Unified School District would buy an Apple iPad for every student,  more than 600,000,  each loaded with educational software supplied by

AUG 27

Cartoon: JOHNNY APPLESEED v.2.0
mystery cartoonist Jo.Ke/Mi.Ke is a teacher in LAUSD “O.K. class, do you want to hear an updated version of Johnny Appleseed?”
iPadGate: EMAILS PROMPT LA SCHOOLS’ INSPECTOR GENERAL TO REOPEN iPAD PROBE
Annie Gilbertson, | 89.3 KPCC | http://bit.ly/1vo6fPo Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Aug 27, 2014 2:45 PM   ::  The inspector general of the Los Angeles Unified School Distict is reopening an investigation into the purchase of iPads and Pearson software based on findings in a KPCC investigation into communication between district officials and those companies nearly a year ahead of a public
For Lausd School Board A New Year, But Old Problems
  by Vanessa Romo, LA School Report | http://bit.ly/1tVjPG5 Alex Caputo-Pearl, President of UTLA August 27, 2014 8:07 am  ::  It might be the new school year, but it was a series of old problems awaiting the LA Unified school board yesterday as it met long into the night with a full complement of seven members for the first time in eight months. After the swearing in of newly-elected
IPadGate updated: LA SCHOOLS’ SUPERINTENDENT FACES SCHOOL BOARD AFTER DAYS OF QUESTIONS ON iPAD PLAN
Mary Plummer | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/1vRt9w7 File: Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy speaks during a press conference at South Region High School #2 in Los Angeles on Feb. 6, 2012. AFP/AFP/Getty Images August 26, 10:53 PM  ::  Los Angeles Unified school board member Monica Ratliff formally released a report that was leaked to media last week, outlining concerns about the district's
LA Daily News on iPadGate: DEASY SHOOTS HIS iPAD OUT (2 stories)
LAUSD’S John Deasy shoots his iPad out By Doug McIntyre, Los Angeles Daily News |  http://bit.ly/YXjnh8 8/26/14, 6:46 PM PDT  ::  In the holiday classic “A Christmas Story,” little Ralphie Parker is obsessed by his dream gift: a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock. Ralph’s hopes are dashed at every turn by the adults in his life — even
IPadGate :: Denial is the longest river: LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY SAYS HE IS NOT SCRAPPING DISTRICT’S $1 BILLION iPAD PROGRAM
By City News Service  from the LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/1tCWOt7 Posted: 08/25/14, 10:58 PM PDT | Updated: 7AM 8/26 | LOS ANGELES  ::  Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy insisted on Tuesday he is not scrapping the $1 billion effort to provide all students with iPads or laptops, but he wants to solicit new bids for future phases of the program in light of alleged
REV. JESSE JACKSON SWEARS IN LAUSD BOARD MEMBER GEORGE McKENNA
By Thomas Himes, Los Angeles Daily News | http://bit.ly/1qgWq1d George McKenna 8/26/14, 5:25 PM PDT  ::  The Rev. Jesse Jackson swore in Los Angeles Unified’s newest school board member in a ceremony at Tuesday’s meeting. George McKenna, a veteran educator who has held high-ranking positions in Los Angeles Unified’s administration, won an election to serve out the remaining 10 months of a
iPadGate: CALLS GROW FOR WIDER INQUIRY INTO L.A. UNIFIED iPAD PROJECT
By Howard Blume, Teresa Watanabe, LA Times | http://lat.ms/1nCxzl8 L.A. Unified Supt. John Deasy has defended the bidding process for the iPad project as proper and added that he and his staff talked to vendors in pursuit of good deals and good products. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times) Aug 26, 11:21 PM  ::  A day after Los Angeles Unified abruptly suspended the contract for its
Radio chat: STAKEHOLDERS REACT TO LAUSD CANCELING iPAD CONTRACT
  from KPCC AirTalk with Larry Mantle for  August 26th, 2014 | | 89.3 | | http://bit.ly/VNm96J Photo by Lexie Flickinger/Brad Flickinger via Flickr Creative Commons August 26th, 2014, 10:26am  ::  A report by a committee chaired by LAUSD Board of Education member Monica Ratliff found that LAUSD’s iPad program has issues with planning, transparency, and bidding problems. Los Angeles Unified
Steve Lopez: CAN DEASY SURVIVE LAUSD’s iPAD FIASCO?
Superintendent’s pullback on the iPad program is a defining moment in his tenure   by Columnist Steve Lopez | Los Angeles Times | http://t.co/2C6lcHw2zW   Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy's relationship with executives has raised questions about the iPad bidding process. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press) Aug 28, 2014 | 3:16PM  ::  So, remember that $1-billion plan to get iPads
The story goes national/from National Public Radio: THE L.A. SCHOOL iPAD SCANDAL – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
by Annie Gilbertson on NPR Morning Edition | NPR Education |  http://n.pr/1tJqmV6 Download the story | 3 min 23 sec Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy exchanged multiple emails with executives at Pearson PLC about the potential for working together. Damian Dovarganes/AP August 27, 2014 3:32 AM ET  ::  A massive expansion of classroom technology has come to a

AUG 26

Put down that iPad and get some sleep!: PEDIATRICIANS SAY SCHOOL SHOULD START LATER FOR TEEN’S HEALTH
by Nancy Shute | Shots - Health News : NPR http://n.pr/1t9CiBW August 25, 2014 1:18 PM ET  ::  About 40 percent of high schools start before 8 a.m., which contributes to chronic sleep deprivation among teens, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Many parents have pushed for a later start to the school day for teenagers, with limited success. But parents just got a boost from the
iPadGate - from AppleInsider: LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUSPENDS iPAD DEAL, FACES ACCUSATIONS THAT OFFICIALS HAD CLOSE TIES WITH APPLE
By Neil Hughes| Apple Insider | http://bit.ly/VLXorv Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 06:49 am PT (09:49 am ET)  ::  Though it was much-touted when Apple signed the contract last year, the company's massive deal to sell iPads to the Los Angeles Unified School District has now officially been suspended, amid accusations that top employees at the district had improperly close ties with the Cupertino,
IPadGate Updated: LA SCHOOLS CANCEL iPAD CONTRACTS AFTER KPCC PUBLISHES INTERNAL EMAILS
Annie Gilbertson  | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/XP1S2a   Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy speaks during a press conference at South Region High School #2 in 2012. AFP/AFP/Getty Images 11pm Aug 25 2014  ::  Three days after KPCC published internal emails showing top L.A. Unified officials and executives from Pearson and Apple met and discussed bringing tablet-driven education software to the
iPadGate: PUBLISHING GIANT PEARSON SAYS LA SCHOOL OFFICIALS’ EMAILS PART OF PILOT PROJECT
Annie Gilbertson | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/XP3Hfx FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images August 25, 06:56 PM  ::  Pearson broke its weekend silence Monday and responded to emails obtained by KPCC showing LA Unified and Pearson officials discussing a software purchase ahead of a public bid for the district's massive technology program. Pearson, the makers of an iPad learning software called "

AUG 25

iPadGate: DEASY CANCELLED iPAD PROGRAM AFTER RECORDS SHOWED TIES TO VENDORS
By Howard Blume , LA Times  | http://lat.ms/1BXrk53 Tiannah Dizadare smiles as she and a school mate explore the possibilities with their new LAUSD provided IPads. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times) Aug 25, 2014 – 9:07PM  ::  Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy canceled the $1-billion program to provide all students with an iPad after public records showed he and his top deputy had
The MiSiS CriSiS: JEFFERSON HIGH STUDENTS SIT IN AND WALK OUT IN PROTEST (6 stories)
Mismanagement and Human Error are blamed … or was it John Deasy and Matt Hill? South LA high school students stage sit-in to protest mismanagement Los Angeles Times :: Jefferson High School, shown in 2005, on Monday was the site of a student sit-in staged to protest issues with class schedules and other problems at the South Los Angeles campus. Jefferson High School, shown in 2005, on Monday
iPadgate: DEASY ADANDONS LAUSD/APPLE/PEARSON CONTRACT
by e-mail from the office of the superintendent Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 5:23 PM Subject: NEW RFP FOR THE CCTP Please see attached informative. Cordially, John Deasy John E. Deasy, Ph.D. Superintendent Office of the Superintendent Los Angeles Unified School District 213.241.7000  
A Clockwork iPad: FROM THE INTERSECTION OF BALDERDASH AND IMPLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY
in which smf of 4LAKids comments upon this morning’s L.A. Times article: LAUSD OFFICIALS HAD CLOSE TIES WITH APPLE, PEARSON EXECS, RECORDS SHOW | http://bit.ly/1rvapUU Monday, 25 August, 2014   From The Times   In one email, from May 24, 2012, then-Deputy Supt. Jaime Aquino seems to strategize with higher-ups from Pearson, an international
iPadGate: LAUSD OFFICIALS HAD CLOSE TIES WITH APPLE, PEARSON EXECS, RECORDS SHOW
L.A. Unified officials and Apple and Pearson execs began discussing a computer effort two years before it was put out for bid By Howard Blume . LA Times | http://lat.ms/YVaYKR Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy's relationship with executives raises new questions about the iPad bidding process (Associated Press) Aug 24, 2014  ::  Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy and his chief
iPADDED IN LAUSD: The smoking gun of the done deal. What’s next?
by smf for 4LAKidsNews | Monday morning, 25 August 2014 The following graphic is from reporter Annie Gilbertson of KPCC’s recent revelations – posted already on KPCC’s website and on these pages. original graphic from KPCC Obviously the next move is with the Board of Education. Time is of the essence; this  has the appearance  of a criminal matter and despite the niceties of  Brown Act the
LAUSD’s iPad project: HOW IT STARTED …BEFORE THE BIDDING BEGAN
by Annie Gilbertson KPCC 89.3 Pass/Fail | http://bit.ly/1pXVT5u Walking in the street while texting: Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy checks his phone outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, before the verdict in a lawsuit on teacher tenure. Damian Dovarganes/AP August 25, 2014 5am ::  Superintendent John Deasy was a year into his tenure at the Los Angeles
DEASY PLANNING TO HIRE HIS OWN ‘LIASON’ FOR MiSiS PROJECT + smf’s 2¢
Deasy says the person he will hire  will report directly to him and will not require board approval. When does it all end? by Vanessa Romo in LA School Report | http://bit.ly/1t5D2b8 August 21, 2014 4:31 pm  ::   As LA Unified teachers continue their complaints about the district’s new student data management program, MiSiS, Superintendent John Deasy said today he plans to hire an independent

AUG 24

Editorial: GOV. BROWN IS RIGHT TO OFFER LEGAL HELP TO IMMIGRANT MINORS
The Times supports the effort to use state dollars to help immigrant children By The LA Times Editorial Board | http://lat.ms/1znboVx A child holds up a sign in support of migrant children at a demonstration last month in San Diego. (David Maung / EPA)   Aug 24, 2014  ::  Gov. Jerry Brown, state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and a roster of other elected state officials

AUG 23

Voices from the field: The MiSiS CRISIS + smf’s 2¢
The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles Weekly Update | Week of August 25, 2014 | http://bit.ly/1ojn9Go 21 August 2014  ::  On August 12, 2014, LAUSD opened the school year using a new student information system, MiSiS (My Integrated Student Information System). The result has been chaos at secondary schools, where administrators, counselors and clerks have become frustrated and exhausted
Investment advice: 3 REASONS TO BE BULLISH ABOUT PEARSON PUBLISHING
Jonathan Yates, Benzinga Staff Writer | http://bit.ly/1tx8exE       August 22, 2014 10:03 AM   ::  Even in the age of Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), there's still reason to be bullish about Pearson Publishing (NYSE: PSO), a British book publisher. Indeed, Pearson Publishing stacks up well against the likes of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). 1.) Educated Profit Margin Pearson
Poll Finds Growing Opposition To Obama Education Agenda, Common Core
Brustein & Manasevit - Federal Update email | Author: JCM Friday, August 22, 2014 12:22 PM :: A new PDK/Gallup poll tracking the American public’s attitudes toward public education released this week showed growing opposition to the Common Core standards, as well as some of the education policies being pushed by the Obama Administration. Overall, 81% of poll respondents said they had heard