Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 2-11-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


Nite Cap UPDATE

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CORPORATE ED REFORM




Q&A With Randi Weingarten, head of American Federation of Teachers
Randi Weingarten is president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the most influential teachers' unions in the country. She attended the ...

On The Postponement of Common Core Accountability
On Monday, New York State found out that its Board of Regents, the governing body for education policy in NYS, decided to postpone accountability measures for teachers and schools in all of New York State, paving the way for educators to get their Common Core ducks in a row. The five-year postponement came at the recommendation of Regent Merryl Tisch, who said, This report is designed to make sign


Did Cerf help generate Newark schools business for the company that hired him?
This is a brief memo to the United States Attorney for New Jersey, Paul Fishman.  Mr. Fishman: I am pleased you are finally looking into the behavior of members of the administration of Chris Christie,  the governor of the State of New Jersey and your predecessor as United States Attorney for the District of New […]


Listen up Seattle: Teach for America was kicked out of Pittsburgh
I was a little late to the party on this one but better late than never on the news. From the Washington Post: Pittsburgh school board drops $750,000 Teach For America contract Here’s some education news that you don’t hear every day: The Pittsburgh school board is rescinding a $750,000 contract with Teach For America, and […]




EmpowerED 2014 – Elevating Student Power in Los Angeles
“If you had the power to change the education system, what would you do?” This is my favorite question to ask students that I mentor in Los Angeles. Their responses are wonderfully imaginative, ranging from broader curriculum to outdoor classrooms. However, when I ask them what is stopping them from fighting for those changes, the answers have a similar ring. “I feel alone.” “No one listens to stu


Earnings linked ever tighter to college diploma
Young adults with just a high-school diploma earned 62 percent of the typical salary of college graduates. That’s down from 81 percent in 1965, the earliest year for which comparable data are available.


Revolving Door at Sacramento City Hall?
Nick Miller, co-editor of the Sacramento News and Review writes here of the City Hall-Sacramento Kings revolving door.   Conflict of interest?   Miller thinks so.


Archibald Motley: A Stroll [video]
Nasher MuseumThe Nasher Museum's marketing team traveled to Chicago in October 2013 to film this short documentary, "Archibald Motley: A Stroll, Part I," which complements the original, traveling exhibition "Archibald Motley: Jazz Age Modernist" with Richard J. Powell,  Davarian Baldwin, Kerry James Marshall and Dawoud Bey. 


Get Schooled: Sacrificing Georgia schools to a national agenda
Judy Craft  is a member of Concerned Women for America of Georgia, a former reading specialist and the grandmother of five. In this guest column, she explains her objections to Common Core State Standards By Judy Craft   Georgia is 3 ...

2014 Worldwide Wave of Action: So what exactly are people doing? [2 of ?]
The 2014 Worldwide Wave of Action (and here) begins ~April 4 on the anniversary of Martin King’s assassination by the US government (civil court trial verdict), with this operation completing ~July 4. Purpose of this operation (more details here): Expose 1% oligarchs in the US and elsewhere as OBVIOUS criminals centering in war, money, and media (also in ~100 other crucial areas). Cause their sur

News Flash! NC County School Board Will Defy State Law
The school board in Guilford County, North Carolina, voted unanimously tonight to defy state legislation denying “tenure” (career status) to experienced teachers. According to the latest news reports: “GREENSBORO — The Guilford County School Board unanimously supported a resolution challenging the state’s new tenure law and asking for relief from laws requiring them to offer contracts to certain

House Passes Plan to Pay Community College Tuition
JACKSON, Miss.—A plan to pay community college tuition for recent Mississippi high school graduates who are not covered by other financial aid is advancing. Representatives passed House Bill 424 Tuesday by a vote of 115-4. It now goes to the Senate for more debate. The bill would set up a two-year pilot program at all of Mississippi’s 15 community colleges. Local governments and private donors are
National Scholarship Fund Launched for Undocumented Students
  Donald Graham and students at TheDream.US launch event in Washington, D.C. (courtesy of TheDream.US) Since George W. Bush’s presidency, the prospect of immigration reform has meant that undocumented students would one day gain the opportunity to freely pursue higher education in the U.S. Though the forecast for immigration reform remains uncertain under the Obama administration, progress was mad
New York City Considers ID Cards for Undocumented Immigrants
The New York City Council’s Committee on Immigration will hold public hearings on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposal to provide municipal identity cards for undocumented foreigners. “During this process there will be audiences so that the community can speak about the need for that document. I have great faith in what we’re going to learn in that process and what we’ll gain by it,” committee chair C

USC and UCLA rank high for financial donations to campuses
USC ranked third among universities in the nation behind Stanford and Harvard for collecting the most contributions last year, according to a survey being released Wednesday.

Economix Blog: Wage Premium From College Is Said to Be Up
A college degree is worth more for millennials than it was for earlier generations, but a high school degree alone is worth much less.    


CCSS, STEM and the Hypocrites of Education Reform | Reclaim Reform
CCSS, STEM and the Hypocrites of Education Reform | Reclaim Reform: CCSS, STEM and the Hypocrites of Education ReformPosted on February 11, 2014by Ken PrevitiLiving on Florida’s Space Coast surrounded by many engineers who are now receiving half to two-thirds of the salaries they had a few years ago, the harsh realities of economic life are evident. As a matter of fact, under-employed and unemploy
Portland Public Schools strike preparation: District asks teachers whether they plan to work as union urges them to remove personal belongings from classrooms | OregonLive.com
Portland Public Schools strike preparation: District asks teachers whether they plan to work as union urges them to remove personal belongings from classrooms | OregonLive.com: Portland Public Schools strike preparation: District asks teachers whether they plan to work as union urges them to remove personal belongings from classroomsPORTLAND, OREGON -- February 5, 2014 -- Supporters of the teacher
Regents Reverse Course, Pull Teacher Protections from Common Core Changes - WNYC
Regents Reverse Course, Pull Teacher Protections from Common Core Changes - WNYC: Rhee-lated $tory: Michelle Rhee answers Ravitch in New Bookal$o $ee Rhee-lated $tory: Excerpts from "Rhee The Art of the Deal" a new $tory about Corporate Education Reform and the Woman that make$ it Happen!Regents Reverse Course, Pull Teacher Protections from Common Core ChangesTuesday, February 11, 2014 -
solidaridad: EmpowerED 2014 – Elevating Student Power in Los Angeles
solidaridad: EmpowerED 2014 – Elevating Student Power in Los Angeles: EmpowerED 2014 – Elevating Student Power in Los AngelesHannah Nguyen article on GenYNot about the conferenceOfficial Conference Website2014 ARE ConferenceMore Details
Nite Cap 2-11-14 #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 CAP2-11-14 Jersey JazzmanJersey Jazzman: Chris Cerf's Top Ten Reformy MomentsThe resignation of former Acting Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf deserves a contemplative and appropriately serious response.Until then, I present...Chris Cerf's Top T

CCSS, STEM and the Hypocrites of Education Reform | Reclaim Reform

CCSS, STEM and the Hypocrites of Education Reform | Reclaim Reform:



CCSS, STEM and the Hypocrites of Education Reform

Living on Florida’s Space Coast surrounded by many engineers who are now receiving half to two-thirds of the salaries they had a few years ago, the harsh realities of economic life are evident. As a matter of fact, under-employed and unemployed scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians abound. Many superb professionals with multiple master’s degrees and more are no longer employed in their fields. Some are even still attempting to pay off student loans. Why?
Well, first let’s look at the hypocrisy of those who control the direction of CCSS, STEM and what is absurdly called education reform.
Gates collects data
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Education for Global Leadership (STEM) are programs that are heavily financed by government at the highest levels. Billions of dollars are funneled to them. We have been told that there is a dire need for scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians.
Who was/is leading this massive education reform movement with these 

Portland Public Schools strike preparation: District asks teachers whether they plan to work as union urges them to remove personal belongings from classrooms | OregonLive.com

Portland Public Schools strike preparation: District asks teachers whether they plan to work as union urges them to remove personal belongings from classrooms | OregonLive.com:



Portland Public Schools strike preparation: District asks teachers whether they plan to work as union urges them to remove personal belongings from classrooms

Portland Public Schools teachers union strike vote
PORTLAND, OREGON -- February 5, 2014 -- Supporters of the teachers stood outside Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall as teachers waited for the vote that would authorize the district's first-ever strike. Details on the logistics of a strike are trickling out to union members as the set walkout date nears. (Emily Jan/The Oregonian)

As the deadline of a Feb. 20 strike creeps closer for Portland Public Schools, district officials are asking teachers whether they plan to strike as the union urges members to remove their belongings from their classrooms.

Though the two sides met with a state mediator this afternoon, the threat of Portland Public Schools' first walkout in history is becoming increasingly real. Details on the logistics are trickling out as the district and union prepare for a historic strike that could affect nearly 48,000 students next week.

District officials on Tuesday sent out a message to full-time and part-time teachers saying they have the right to strike or continue working.

All union members -- even those who decide to cross the picket line -- are required to check out with administrators on Feb. 19, the day before the strike is set.

They will be asked to turn in all district property, include school-related keys, ID badges, substitute folders and emergency lesson plans, required curriculum, computers and laptops, other district-owned technology and any other items requested by the building administrator.

If teachers decide to continue working, they must fill out a form that allows them to stay



PPS CONTRACT TALKS