Nite Cap UPDATE
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CORPORATE ED REFORM
Teaching at the Deepest Level
Carlos Gordillo will never forget the day he was accepted at USC. He’d moved here at the age of eight from Peru, brought here by his parents who were fleeing the economic implosion of the mid-80’s. Though he knew no English when he came here, Carlos quickly became fluent. After testing into gifted programs in elementary and middle school, as a teenager he went to Hamilton Humanities Magnet. Ther
Black Masculinity, Genius & the Expressive Arts with Guthrie Ramsey Jr. + Mark Anthony Neal + Greg Tate
Black Masculinity, Genius & the Expressive Arts with Guthrie Ramsey Jr. + Mark Anthony Neal + Greg TateGuthrie P. Ramsey, University of Pennsylvania and Mark Anthony Neal, Duke University celebrate their new books The Amazing Bud Powell: Black Genius, JazzHistory and The Challenge of Bebop and Looking for Leroy: Illegible BlackMasculinities. They will be joined in a wide-ranging conversatio
Public School Reform ?
Seth SandronskyTake the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. Add its heir, the Race to the Top Fund (RTT-TF), part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Under NCLB and RTTTF, pupil scores on standardized tests are center stage in public K-12 school reform. Public school principals and teachers with students who fail to measure up to learning standards based on t
Boosts for Head Start, Title I, Special Education in Federal Spending Bill
The spending bill is the first since Congress temporarily put the brakes on sequestration, the 5 percent, across-the-board cuts to federal programs that went into effect last March.
Mom & Teacher to School Board: End High Stakes Testing !!
GatorbonBC outs herself –> I have decided it is time to speak up – I have been blogging, posting, tweeting, and fighting for our schools and children for years – behind my pseudonym ‘GatorBonBC’. Now it is time to take the risk and speak up beyond just my school board walls and Facebook pages. Here is my speech to my local school board urging them to sign our Resolution Against High Stakes (Stan
Fighting Inequality: Is Higher Ed Creating a New Class of Highly Educated Poor?
You’ll hear a lot these days about income inequality. But does higher ed only make matters worse? Here’s a typical middle-class situation in which both husband and wife work and the family still struggles to get by. Both are lucky to have jobs and make a combined average of $120,000. Good? Not by today’s corporate level standards. Add to our hypothetical family a kid who gets into a great college
Baraka’s Legacy: Let’s Not Forget Inaugural Black Studies Professor
Since Amiri Baraka passing on Thursday, commentators have told his life story and imagined his legacy. It is what we inevitably do when someone of Baraka’s stature leaves the land of the living. Who is Amiri Baraka? How will Amiri Baraka live forever in our collective memory? The Los Angeles Times called him “one of the most prominent and controversial African American voices in the world of Ameri
Univ. of Nevada Professor Works to Preserve California Indian History
It’s not often that a child decides in elementary school that he wants to grow up to be a historian. But Dr. William Bauer, associate professor of history at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, drew his earliest inspiration from field trips to California state parks. Growing up on the Round Valley Indian Reservation in Northern California, Bauer says he noticed certain omissions. “Very often na
Rep. George Miller, education reform leader, announces retirement - by Kathryn Baron
Rep. George Miller, a leading force behind education policy and one of the last members of the freshmen class of Congress known as the “Watergate Babies,” is retiring from office. Miller, who steered the nation’s major education reforms, including No Child Left Behind, during his 40 years representing Contra Costa County, ... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Edsource Today website for
College students must soon meet academic standards to get fee waiver
California Community college students will have to meet minimum academic standards to receive financial assistance under new rules approved by the system Monday.
Mothers deny role in Adelanto school vandalism in parent trigger case
Two mothers pleaded not guilty Monday to charges they vandalized a classroom at a Mojave Desert school after losing a battle to keep it from being transformed into a charter campus under the controversial parent trigger law.
State of the State: Christie to propose longer school day, year
Governor Christie will propose that New Jersey students go to school for longer days, and longer academic years, according to excerpts given to The Record in advance of his “State of the State” speech Tuesday.
Milwaukee needs a bolder vision
By Larry Miller Jan. 13, 2014 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Op-ed On New Year’s Day, I witnessed a ray of hope, shining from the boroughs of New York City. Bill de Blasio gave an inaugural speech following his landslide victory in the mayoral election. In the campaign, de Blasio said he would take “dead aim at the ‘tale of two cities,’” where nearly 400,000 millionaires call that city home, whil
Malloy administration action raises more ethics questions… | Wait What?
Pryor and his operatives at the State Department of Education are now engaged in activities that raise even more potential ethics violations. As reported yesterday in a post entitled, “Pryor schedules Corporate Education Reform Industry Lobby Group for Alliance District Meeting,” Commissioner Pryor has added the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER), a corporate funded ...read moreThe po
More VAM Opposition from Weingarten | VAMboozled
In a recent post, I wrote that Randi Weingarten, the current president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has (finally) expressed her full opposition against the use of value-added models (VAMs) to evaluate and measure teacher effectiveness. She has elaborated on her reasons why in a recent article, also about the Common Core and ...read moreThe post More VAM Opposition from Weingarten
New Rochester Mayor Pledges More Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Upstate New York has had its share of failed charter schools. Some years back, Edison Schools had a charter school in Rochester, which was a disaster and later shuttered by its state authorizer. Not far away another charter (acquired by Imagine Schools) in Syracuse was shut down due to poor academic performance, and county bond ...read moreThe post New Rochester Mayor Pledges More Charter School
Nixon had an enemies list. Does Christie?
When Steve Fulop beat Jerry Healy for Jersey City mayor, after a rare mayoral endorsement from President Obama, he got a call from Chris Christie. Then one from Bill Stepian, who offered the new mayor the administration's help. Then Bridget Kelly set up what she called a "mayor's day" to meet with top officials of 6 different administration agencies. And meetings with the head of Christi
That Anti-union Billboard in Times Square: Consider the Timing
On January 12, 2014, the Center for Union Facts (CUF) (a misnomer) produced the following five-story billboard in Times Square (New York City): This is not CUF’s first swipe at Weingarten and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). In December 2013, CUF launched a similar ad– a full-page ad in the New York Times– attempting the same discrediting of Weingarten and, by extension, AFT. In respons
The Perks of Leadership Academy--No Muss, No Fuss
By now you've doubtless read about the champion principal from PS 106. I'm told that not only does she wander in to work whenever she sees fit, but that she's also never taught a day in her life. You just go to that Leadership Academy and boom! Instant principal. Better than minute rice. And far more lucrative. Why bother teaching for 22 years when you can make more than any teacher does far more
Portland Public Schools and teachers schedule Monday morning mediation session
Board members could have taken steps toward scheduling a vote in implementing a contract tomorrow night during a board meeting. Instead, the district reported scheduling an additional mediation session, which could help speed up a deal between the two sides.
Portland students and teachers union supporters flood school board meeting
Students chanted that they would strike with teachers if the district chose to impose a contract, and yelled at board members as they exited the meeting.
Portland Public Schools and teachers to meet again in mediation on Thursday
The two sides plan on meeting again on Thursday to attempt to reach a deal on a contract.
Parent involvement talking points from Parent Power/PAA-Indiana
From Parent Power and Parents Across America-Indiana, prepared by John Harris Loflin Talking points regarding the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Preserving the public good of public education in an era of privatization and standardization It is impossible to make IPS more attractive than charter schools without opening IPS to public ownership, and thus the real participation of parents and the
Congressional New Year’s resolution: Listen to parents!
This week’s federal education buzz included House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s threat to launch a Congressional investigation of the education polices of the new Mayor of New York. Mayor Bill de Blasio ran and won on a platform of promoting neighborhood public schools, ending co-location of charter schools in neighborhood schools, and charging rent to charter schools. Rep. Cantor was quoted as sa
LA schools superintendent: principals should get leeway on how to spend extra funds
; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images In the first peek at how the Los Angeles Unified School District will spend an extra $188 million it's expected to receive next year to focus on the needs of disadvantaged children, Superintendent John Deasy said he wants to leave many decisions to school principals. "School communities know their students best," Deasy told a group of education advocates M
New Virginia Gov. McAuliffe signs order protecting LGBT workers from discrimination
New Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s (D) first executive order will expand state anti-discrimination laws to include state transgender employees, Think Progress reported on Monday. Executive Order Number 1 will protect LGBT state employees from employment discrimination, and add gender...
New GED testing requires computer skills, more knowledge
Adults who dropped out of school will have to dig deeper to pass the new GED, which was revamped this year for the first time since 2002. Principal Joyce Lude works in the office of the Roseville Adult School on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Several Sacramento area school districts are gearing up to administer computer-based GED testing in the first overhaul of the test in more than a decade. V
Limits placed on community college fee waivers
The governing board that sets policies for California's 112 community colleges has approved new eligibility requirements for a popular financial aid program.
See schools that teachers, parents say aren't properly heated
Hundreds of students in the Twin Rivers Unified School District are learning in unheated classrooms, but the issue is not restricted to one school district, according to teachers and parents. The Sacramento Bee is asking teachers and parents to report how warm or cold their kids' classrooms are, and whether the classrooms are heated.
1. What Does the PISA Report Tell Us About U.S. Education?
Added by Thomas Whitby on December 5, 2013
3. Failing Superman
Added by Marc-André Lalande on October 18, 2013
Foundations commit more than $330M to save Detroit art
Financial pledge also aims to fund at-risk retiree pensions
Getting on the tenure track
With better budgets, community colleges across the county are hiring more professors.
Cuomo Education Reform Panel Still Not Done With Their Report
Jessica Bakeman at Capital NY:ALBANY—A panel of education experts tasked with making recommendations to Governor Andrew Cuomo for how to improve student performance is months late releasing its final report. The commission even missed last week's State of the State address, during which the governor laid out an ambitious schools agenda for the year. Cuomo empaneled his Education Reform Commission
That Anti-union Billboard in Times Square: Consider the Timing
On January 12, 2014, the Center for Union Facts (CUF) (a misnomer) produced the following five-story billboard in Times Square (New York City): This is not CUF’s first swipe at Weingarten and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). In December 2013, CUF launched a similar ad– a full-page ad in the New York Times– attempting the same […]
Farina Punts on PS 106 Story
Teachers ought to try working the hours PS 106 principal Marcella Sims did and see if they get the same reaction from Farina. What I find outrageous by the coverage is the ignoring of the way Sills destroyed the careers of teachers. Once again the DOE seems to be sliding into a "defend principals" at all costs. Shame. Where is the accountability of Superintendent Lloyd-Bey who covered up
PS 106 Update: Councilman Donovan Richards Blames Sandy in Attempted Sills Coverup
Reporter to parent: Do you know the principal?Parent: I've never seen her.Reporter: You've never seen her? How long has your child been in the school?Parent: Over a year.Reporter turns to me and shakes his head with an incredulous look..... Ed Notes/WAVE coverage, Jan. 13, 2014BloomKlein empowered principals. So, what’s a little forgery? ... Ed Notes/The Wave, Feb. 2008PS 106: Desolation RowI just
Video On Grit: “Trust Your Power”
Here’s a great video I’m adding to The Best Video Clips Demonstrating “Grit”:
From The Archives: “Merit pay and ‘loss aversion:’ Nonsense studies”
I’ve recently re-started an effort I’ve tried to do previously by regularly highlighting previous posts and articles I’ve shared in previous years that I think might be worth a second look. Today, I’d like to highlight a piece I wrote for The Washington Post about some appalling research done on students and teacher. It’s titled Merit pay and ‘loss aversion:’ Nonsense studies. Here’s how I ended i
My New BAM! Radio Show Is On The Air & First Episode Is On “Flipping” Classrooms
I’ve just begun a weekly ten minute BAM! Radio Network podcast where I interview a couple of guests who have written responses to the “question-of-the-week” at my Education Week Teacher advice column. You can listen to the first show, which is on “flipping” classrooms, with at the BAM! site or download it (and subscribe for free) on iTunes. I interview guests Jon Bergman and Troy Cockrum about t
$1 Trillion Spending Bill
Very recently ,negotiators of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives has decided on a one trillion dollar spending bill in hopes of preventing another government shutdown until October. This new appropriation bill provides money in order to operate the federal government and it excludes social services and foreign military operations; however, there is more money set aside for some milit
Presidential Run Likely for Egypt’s Top General
Egypt’s top military officer on Saturday, January the 11th, presented the clearest indication, yet he sees this week’s referendum on a revised Constitution as a introduction to a bid for the presidency, moving to strengthen his power after his upheaval of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. The officer, General Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, promptly emerged as Egypt’s supreme decision make
Passengers Rescued From Antarctica
A red-and-white Chinese helicopter on Thursday, January the 2nd, rescued 52 passengers trapped a little over a week aboard an icebound Russian research ship in Antarctica. The Chinese helicopter was transporting them a dozen at a time to an Australian icebreaker. The helicopter, based, Snow Dragon, flew across miles of packed ice to pluck scientists, tourists and journalists from a landing zone ne
Russia Bombing
A suspected suicide bombing struck the southern Russian city of Volgograd on Monday, January the 8th, killing at least 14 people and further stresses Russia's security difficulties as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics in less than six weeks. The explosion involving the bomb hit a trolleybus near a busy market during the rush hour in the early morning and the blast at Volgograd's main train s
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 1-11-14
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog:Sexism in the Military? Shocking.Though Congress passed a comprehensive defense bill in December to crack down on sexual assault in the military, advocates for assault survivors remained skeptical. Many students at U.S. military academies agree, claiming they believe they have had to put up with sexist and offensive behavior in order to maintain their standing. In an ann
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 1-1314
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: $1 Trillion Spending BillVery recently ,negotiators of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives has decided on a one trillion dollar spending bill in hopes of preventing another government shutdown until October. This new appropriation bill provides money in order to operate the federal government and it excludes social services and foreign military operations;
1-13-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Learning to teach reading from Whitey McWhiterson and her twin sisterI don’t mean to bring race or whatever into this. Good teaching is good teaching, right? But the reader might know about my frustrations with early literacy instruction as of late, particularly guided reading. When examining a few new models and other suggestions, here’s what I see: white kids, white lily class
More poverty, more abuse and neglect. Are schools and social... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
More poverty, more abuse and neglect. Are schools and social... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: More poverty, more abuse and neglect. Are schools and social services up to the challenge? 0 19 1 22View Larger Are schools and social services over extended?Previous PostsMost Georgians say "no" to guns on campus. Will Legislature listen to them? January 13, 2014Don't pull the parent trigger i
Nite Cap 1-13-14 #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 CAPCTU’s Karen Lewis: Make your own honey to save public schools | Reclaim ReformCTU’s Karen Lewis: Make your own honey to save public schools | Reclaim Reform: CTU’s Karen Lewis: Make your own honey to save public schoolsPosted on January 13, 2014b