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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Louisiana Parents: That Nameless Pilot Test is None Other Than PARCC | deutsch29

Louisiana Parents: That Nameless Pilot Test is None Other Than PARCC | deutsch29:



Louisiana Parents: That Nameless Pilot Test is None Other Than PARCC

March 13, 2014


Corporate reform loves opaque communications. Never call a thing what it is. Use catchy lingo that disguises (and often contradicts) the reality behind a so-called reform. If this does not work, rebrand. Rename.
Or drop the naming altogether. Anything to obscure the privatizer-benefiting true intent. This way, a disgruntled public might be fooled into believing that the reform in question has simply disappeared.
Such is Louisiana Superintendent John White’s game with both the highly-controversial Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and its exploitative andlucrative sidekick, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
Since February 17, 2014, White has been emailing a “2014-15 Sample Test Question of the Day.”
Here is the explanation that accompanies each sample test question of the day:
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Building Positive School Morale: My Thoughts | Connected Principals

Building Positive School Morale: My Thoughts | Connected Principals:



Building Positive School Morale: My Thoughts

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In times of great change and during stressful situations, it is easy for the morale of any organization to “take a dip”. This can be caused by multiple factors and influences, including those internally and externally. My experiences as a school leader have taught me that there are some simple things that any administrator can do to build a positive morale within their school and school community. While not an exhaustive list, here are some things that I feel are “high leverage” items in keeping morale positive:
• Talk less and listen more. Building morale in times of great educational change means listening to those that you lead, including students and parents. Use active listening strategies to engage with staff and students so they know you understand what is important to them, what is challenging for them, and what brings joy to their school experience. Sometimes, just being heard and feeling that someone has listened to you is key. For parents, it means hearing their concerns and providing forums for them to share with you what they hope their children take away from their school experience.
• Communicate frequently and via multiple means. Strong communicators help keep school communities connected. I 
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Getting a Pay Raise From the DOE Through Time Travel southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:



Getting a Pay Raise From the DOE Through Time Travel

Francesco Portelos' blog post on how to give yourself a raise was quite thought provoking. In fact it gave The Crack Team quite a bit to think about. The Crack Team wanted to investigate  other methods to give oneself a raise without anyone, especially the DOE, ever knowing about it?

The Crack Team has spent the day locked away with top scientist from across the nation today debating and discussing the best methods to give teachers of New York City a well deserved pay raise without anyone really knowing. At about 6:30 PM EDT on March 13, 2014 a light bulb appeared above the heads of The Crack Team and the scientists. Getting a raise for teachers can be done through time travel. But how?

There are several options The Crack Team discussed for time travel.

The Crack Team thought of the whip around the sun method used in Star Trek, but it is impractical due to needing a star ship, the need for dilithium crystals, and a Vulcan to make the proper calculations. But it seems impractical. Or a rift in the space time continuum can be used. But again, there is that 
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K-12 News Network | Is LAUSD Superintendent Deasy the Defendant or the Plaintiff in Vergara v. California?

K-12 News Network | Is LAUSD Superintendent Deasy the Defendant or the Plaintiff in Vergara v. California?:



Is LAUSD Superintendent Deasy the Defendant or the Plaintiff in Vergara v. California?

admin March 13, 2014 Educators, Los Angeles, School Districts, State Education Law 0


Do laws protecting teachers from politically motivated or personal vendetta firings by principals or disgruntled parents hurt students somehow? Edsource has been following the lawsuit against California and its teacher workplace laws closely and has a good summary of what’s at stake in Vergara v. California:
In the lawsuit, nine students from Los Angeles Unified, Oakland Unified and three other districts are challenging longstanding legal protections that their attorneys say lead to hiring and keeping “grossly ineffective teachers.” The suit aims at five laws that the plaintiffs say interfere with districts’ ability to make effective decisions: statutes granting tenure or permanent status to probationary teachers after two years, mandating teacher layoffs based on years on the job and setting up a complex dismissal process that turns over appeals to an independent panel. Because disproportionate numbers of bad teachers end up teaching poor and minority children, the lawsuit says, the laws violate the state Constitution’s guarantee to all children of the opportunity for an equal education and should be thrown out.
LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy is one of the defendants. But as one astute observer of the Vergera v. California lawsuit on teacher due process 

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Oklahoma House Passes Common Core Repeal | Truth in American Education

Oklahoma House Passes Common Core Repeal | Truth in American Education:



Oklahoma House Passes Common Core Repeal

Filed in Common Core State Standards, Education at State Level by  on March 13, 2014 • 0 Comments
oklahoma-state-capitol.jpg
March 12, 2014 was a BUSY day in the Oklahoma Capitol.
HB3399 – a bill to repeal Common Core standards by Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE last night; 78 AYE to 12 NAY.  This bill repeals Common Core from law and allows 2 years in which to develop standards and tests.  It does not specify standards or testing for the interim.
This is now the only vehicle in the Oklahoma legislature with the possibility to stop Common Core State Standards and associated testing.
Late Monday evening (2/10), an amendment to SB1764, was filed by two brave Oklahoma Senators, Josh Brecheen and Anthony Sykes via gutting a bill that had already passed out of the Senate Education Committee and inserting new language to stop Common Core.  Before the bill could be heard on the Senate floor, however, another amendment was added late on the evening of the 11th.  This amendment -  eerily similar to that of Indiana – effectively neutered the intent and purpose of that filed on 3/10 by providing 6 months for the State Department of Education to create new college and career ready standards – a veritable impossibility.
As Chamber of Commerce and Stand For Children (ExpectMore.org) lobbyists moved into 

Where’s Bobby Jindal? Mum on Common Core
As an Iowan I’m blessed (or cursed depending on your perspective) with the ability to trip over Presidential candidates when the presidential-year Iowa Caucus rolls around.  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) has visited my state several times, and he is presumed to be a presidential contender, especially in light of term-limited.He’s going to have much to answer for should he decide to run.  Whi
by Shane Vander Hart / 1h 

 
Wyoming Legislature Prevents Adoption of Next Generation Science Standards
(Cheyenne, WY) Citizens across Wyoming participating in a grassroots education movement celebrated one small victory as the legislative session drew to a close last week. An amendment to the budget was passed, which will prevent the State Board of Education from adopting the Next Generation Science Standards. This will provide an opportunity for the State Board of Education to look at better optio
by truthed / 2h 

YESTERDAY

Gov. Pence Asks Sandra Stotsky to Assist in Evaluating Indiana’s Academic Standards
I was forwarded an email from Chris Crabtree, Director of External Operations for Indiana Governor Mike Pence, who said they’ve reached out to Dr. Sandra Stotsky to help with their standards.From: Chris Crabtree Date: Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 9:52 PM Subject: Gov. Pence asks Dr. Sandra Stotsky to assist in evaluation of Indiana’s academic standards To:Friends,I am writing to let you know that Governor
by Shane Vander Hart / 1d 
Who Does Governor Mary Fallin Serve?
Exactly who does Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin work for?  Recent events begs the question.  Who does she serve?  Does she serve the children and families of Oklahoma or does she serve the National Governors Association?  It seems like her chairing the NGA has put her in conflict with serving her state.At least in the realm of education anyway.Parents and residents of Oklahoma are crying out for th
by Shane Vander Hart / 1d 

MAR 11

AFT Ends Gates Funding Over Common Core Concerns
Via Politico:The American Federation of Teachers ended a five-year relationship with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation after rank-and-file union members expressed deep distrust of the foundation’s approach to education reform. AFT President Randi Weingarten told Morning Education the union will no longer accept Gates money for its Innovation Fund, which was founded in 2009 and has received u
by Shane Vander Hart / 2d 
iREFUSE Opt-Out Rally in New York
Stop Common Core in New York State is helping organize an iREFUSE rally right before the HST takes place in New York (Monday, March 31st).  The rally will take place on Saturday, March 29th, 2014 from 12:00p – 4:00p (EDT) at Comsewogue High School Football Field (565 Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station, NY).  Judging from the list of speakers that are coming it should be a great event for New Yor
by Shane Vander Hart / 2d 


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Nite Cap 3-13-14 #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 CAP




Tackling Student Debt and the Privatization of Education | Activism, Blog | BillMoyers.com
Tackling Student Debt and the Privatization of Education | Activism, Blog | BillMoyers.com: Tackling Student Debt and the Privatization of EducationMarch 13, 2014by Joshua HollandElizabeth Warren kicks off the Higher Ed, Not Debt campaign in Washington, DC. March 6, 2014. (Image: Generation Progress/Layla Zaidane)Last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) kicked off a new campaign called “Higher Ed,
by mike simpson / 17min 
empathyeducates – Rahm Backs CPS on Warning to Teachers Over ISATs
empathyeducates – Rahm Backs CPS on Warning to Teachers Over ISATs: Rahm Backs CPS on Warning to Teachers Over ISATsMayor Rahm Emanuel said Friday that CPS boss Barbara Byrd-Bennett “made the right call” in warning teachers of the repercussions of refusing to administer an achievement test next week. | DNAInfo/Ted CoxBy Ted Cox @tedcoxchicago| Originally Published at DNA Info. February 28, 2014EDG
by mike simpson / 24min 
Six Questions Every Journalist Should Ask Before Quoting Social Media Posts |
Six Questions Every Journalist Should Ask Before Quoting Social Media Posts |: Six Questions Every Journalist Should Ask Before Quoting Social Media PostsMarch 13, 2014 in StudentsTwiter is a public space, says Gawker, and conversations you have in public spaces are public. You want private? Take it to email, or text, or phone.Seems legit. But apply this rule to the offline world, and it falls apa
by mike simpson / 1h 
Welcome new PAA Board! | Parents Across America
Welcome new PAA Board! | Parents Across America: Welcome new PAA Board! We are delighted to announce the new Board of Directors for Parents Across America!PAA has been in a year-long process of filing for our 501c3 and setting up our permanent structure. The election of a 7-member Board of Directors is the next important step. Please join us in welcoming our new Board of Directors for 2014!Elected
by mike simpson / 2h 
Mother Crusader: NJDOE Spokesman Cites Biased, Data Free Editorial As Justification For Charter Expansion
Mother Crusader: NJDOE Spokesman Cites Biased, Data Free Editorial As Justification For Charter Expansion: NJDOE Spokesman Cites Biased, Data Free Editorial As Justification For Charter ExpansionIf you were thinking I exaggerated HoLa and Barbara Martinez's political and media connections in my last blog post, then check out this piece, where Hoboken Board president Leon Gold eloquently unleashes
by mike simpson / 4h 
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-13-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: LAUSD IN THE NEWS: from Thursday March 13, 2014 + smf’s 1½¢4LAKids is having a small computer problem this AM and is posting/Tweeting/Facebooking the morning email  LAUSD in the News feed directly to the 4LAKidsNews Page. ●● Were  smf  to add his 2¢ it would be to point out – re: L.A. school board approves amended contract for Supt. John Deasy -  that t
by mike simpson / 4h 
New York City’s Charter School Showdown Reignites National Debate on Privatized Education | Democracy Now!
New York City’s Charter School Showdown Reignites National Debate on Privatized Education | Democracy Now!: New York City’s Charter School Showdown Reignites National Debate on Privatized Education The battle over charter schools is heating up after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio blocked three privately run charter schools from using rent-free space inside public schools. The city also announc
by mike simpson / 4h 
Preschool lessons: New research shows that teaching kids more and more, at ever-younger ages, may backfire.
Preschool lessons: New research shows that teaching kids more and more, at ever-younger ages, may backfire.: Why Preschool Shouldn't Be Like SchoolNew research shows that teaching kids more and more, at ever-younger ages, may backfire.Ours is an age of pedagogy. Anxious parents instruct their children more and more, at younger and younger ages, until they're reading books to babies in the womb. Th
by mike simpson / 4h 
3-13-14 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): City Terrace giving kids a window — and language — to the worldStudents at City Terrace Elementary in east Los Angeles learn reading, writing and arithmetic, just like any other student in the LA Unified school district. Except for one thing: They are learning these subjects in Mandarin. City Terrace is l
by mike simpson / 5h 
What is “Value-Added” in Agriculture? |
What is “Value-Added” in Agriculture? |: What is “Value-Added” in Agriculture? An interesting post came through my email defining “value-added” in its purest form. This comes from the field of agriculture where value-added is often used to model genetic and reproductive trends among livestock, and from where it was taken and applied to the “field” of education in the 1980s.Here’s the definition: “
by mike simpson / 5h 
Hypocrisy and the Washington Post | Taking Note
Hypocrisy and the Washington Post | Taking Note: Hypocrisy and the Washington Postby JOHN MERROW on 13. MAR, 2014 in 2014 BLOGS, MICHELLE RHEE, OP-ED, MEDIAIs there any limit to the hypocrisy of the Washington Post’s Editorial Page?  What brings this to mind is the Post’s recent editorial attacking the District of Columbia’s Inspector General, Charles Willoughby,whose work the same editorial write
by mike simpson / 5h 
3-13-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: "Redshirting" KindergartnersFrom Ed Week:The youngest kindergarteners in any class are about five times more likely to be retained in school compared to their older peers, a new study states.Moreover, educators don't tend to modify their teaching to include a variety of age groups present in kindergartens—but they should make such accommodations, wrote Fr
by mike simpson / 5h 
3-13-14 The Whole Child Blog — Turning Resistant Teachers into Resilient Teachers — Whole Child Education
Turning Resistant Teachers into Resilient Teachers — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGTurning Resistant Teachers into Resilient TeachersMarch 13, 2014 by Jessica BohnResistant teachers can have a profound effect on the school climate and culture in both positive and negative ways. In the book Leading in a Culture of Change (2007), Michael Fullan says resisters deserve respect both becaus
by mike simpson / 6h 
Oregon schools pack in more students per teacher than any state except California, new report says | OregonLive.com
Oregon schools pack in more students per teacher than any state except California, new report says | OregonLive.com: Oregon schools pack in more students per teacher than any state except California, new report saysMember of an honors biology class composed of 37 freshmen prepare to head out for a field study. Oregon schools pack in more students per teacher than any state but California, a new re
by mike simpson / 6h 
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Fresno teachers pack district board meeting in protest over waiverEducation HeadlinesThursday, March 13, 2014FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.Schools’ financial health improvingIn a coincidence, the state
by mike simpson / 6h 
In Which I Debate Federal Ed Policy with a UFO :: Frederick M. Hess
In Which I Debate Federal Ed Policy with a UFO :: Frederick M. Hess: In Which I Debate Federal Ed Policy with a UFOby Frederick M. Hess  •  Mar 12, 2014 at 11:30 amCross-posted from Education WeekI awoke with a start last night. Hovering above the floor, inches from the bed, was a figure. He wore a nice suit and avidly thumbed his iPhone, before glancing up at me."Uh, who are you? What's goin
by mike simpson / 6h 
Carpe Diem: How to Take Charge of Your Education
Carpe Diem: How to Take Charge of Your Education: Carpe Diem: How to Take Charge of Your Education When I first began teaching, I modeled the same sort of education I received as a student. My classroom was, admittedly, run from the top-down. I lectured, making little time for true dialogue with my students, and carried a red pen in my pocket. I could sense my students’ lack of engagement and dist
by mike simpson / 7h 
Morning Wink 3-13-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-13-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Meet the Néw Undersecretary of Education!Ted Mitchell, CEO of the NewSchools Venture Fund, was selected by the Obama administration to hold the #2 job at the U.S. Department of Education. Mitche
by mike simpson / 8h 
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-13-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Meet the Néw Undersecretary of Education!Ted Mitchell, CEO of the NewSchools Venture Fund, was selected by the Obama administration to hold the #2 job at the U.S. Department of Education. Mitchell is a strong proponent of privatization. The NewSchools Venture Fund exists to promote privatization. Of course, we should not be surpris
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: Common Core: The solution for poverty, language barriers and special education needs?According to Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and those who support the corporate education reform industry, the “solution” that will create a better educated society is the Common Core Standards, the Common Core Smarter Balanced Assessment Testing scheme and evaluating teache
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: How to make school important in places that it isn’tAll of the reforms pushed onto public school districts in recent years fail to take into account that in many parts of the United States, going to school just isn’t very important. In this post, Joanne Yatvin, a past president of the National Council of Teachers of English who now supervises student teachers for Portland […]    
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: Parent Files Suit to Establish Opt Out Legal PrecedentMD parent files suit over MSA opt out and sets precedent for futureassessmentsMarch 11, 2014Cindy Rose of Frederick County has taken the matter of MSA opting out to court by filing an emergency motion for injunctive relief. She is asking the court to force Frederick County Public Schools to
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Not a Three-Year “Pause,” But a One-Year “Delay” in Florida School AccountabilityLloyd Dunkelberger of Halifax Media Services reports in the Daytona Beach News-Journal: TALLAHASSEE — Local school districts likely will not get a three-year delay they want in moving to new
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good Posts & Articles On Education PolicyHere is a collection of recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues: Vergara Plaintiffs Shouldn’t Put Individual Teachers On Trial is by Paul Bruno. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On California Court Case Attacking Teacher’s Rights
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 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.: Illinois in financial trouble. Too many old people.  The Civic Federation’s Larry Msall Every time the Illinois General Assembly assembles, which isn’t all that often, there will likely be a story about how Larry Msall of the Civic Federation says that the state’s financial collapse is near. And that
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: NYSUT President Iannuzzi Condemns Treatment of Students Who Opt Out of TestsIannuzzi, who taught fourth-grade for most of his 34-year teaching career, said "sit and stare" is not only educationally unsound, but the practice will end up being a distraction for those students who are taking standardized tests.The biggest threat to the ed deformers is the growing parent opt
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Beyond “Doubly Disadvantaged”: Race, Class, and Gender in U.S. Schools and SocietyBeyond “Doubly Disadvantaged”: Race, Class, and Gender in U.S. Schools and Society. via Beyond “Doubly Disadvantaged”: Race, Class, and Gender in U.S. Schools and Society.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical1 by plthomasedd / 25min hide  //  saveSegregation and Charter Schools: A ReaderSegrega
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week
With A Brooklyn Accent: Destroying Public Education: A Fourth Inner City Catastrophe?One of the great ironies in contemporary American History is that top leaders of the Democratic Party are supporting the elimination of public education in Urban America - even though the public schools are the one institution in inner city neighborhoods that survived de-industrialization, the crack epidemic, and
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 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): Beyond “Doubly Disadvantaged”: Race, Class, and Gender in U.S. Schools and SocietyThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) established the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) for Fair Housing program in the mid-1990: MTO recruited more than 4,600 families with
by mike simpson / 8h 
3-13-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: State Senate Undercuts Mayor Control Of NYC Schools Over Charter School IssuesIt's interesting how the functionaries of the plutocracy like mayoral control of schools so long as the mayor in charge is pushing their agenda.But when he's not, they undercut it from Albany:The state Senate will propose sweeping measures in its budget bill to undo Mayor de Blasio’s ­moves against
by mike simpson / 8h 
John Thompson: One Sided Hardball in New York Charter Fight - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
John Thompson: One Sided Hardball in New York Charter Fight - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: One Sided Hardball in New York Charter FightBy Anthony Cody on March 13, 2014 9:14 AMGuest post by John Thompson.When Bill de Blasio was elected mayor of New York City in a landslide, new hope came to New York City schools. De Blasio named a veteran educator, Carmen Fariña, as
by mike simpson / 8h 
Yes, Schools Do Discriminate Against Students Of Color -- Reports
Yes, Schools Do Discriminate Against Students Of Color -- Reports: Yes, Schools Do Discriminate Against Students Of Color -- ReportsA so-called school-to-prison pipeline flows from school discipline that lands disproportionately on students with disabilities and students of color, according to a set of reports by 26 experts released on Thursday.African-American students and students with disabilit
by mike simpson / 8h 
Schools central to Promise Zone anti-poverty strategy | EdSource Today
Schools central to Promise Zone anti-poverty strategy | EdSource Today: Schools central to Promise Zone anti-poverty strategyMarch 13th, 2014 | Add a Comment | By Brenda Iasevoli/Correspondent4Pablo Dominguez, 21, paints a mural with his sister on volunteer day at Oscar Romero Charter School in central Los Angeles, where Dominguez’s sister is in the sixth grade. Credit: Brenda IasevoliLOS ANGELES
by mike simpson / 8h 
Improve Democracy, Not Tests - Bridging Differences - Education Week
Improve Democracy, Not Tests - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Improve Democracy, Not TestsBy Deborah Meier on March 13, 2014 9:03 AMDeborah Meier continues her conversation with Robert Pondiscio of Democracy Prep.Dear Robert,It's not and never will be a perfect world. You've hit upon one example. Is profiteering off school materials not legit? Should teachers get paid less than the market
by mike simpson / 9h 
CURMUDGUCATION: The Conservative Defense of CCSS
CURMUDGUCATION: The Conservative Defense of CCSS: The Conservative Defense of CCSSOver at the Daily Caller, Robby Soave and Rachel Solzfoos wrote a story in which Michael Brickman of the Fordham Institute labors mightily to construct a conservative defense of the Common Core.It's a heroic struggle to be sure, as the very first sentence acknowledges, "Conservatives remain deeply skeptical of t
by mike simpson / 9h 
Marie Corfield: How does Gov. Christie sleep at night?
Marie Corfield: How does Gov. Christie sleep at night?: How does Gov. Christie sleep at night?As governor, Chris Christie has done a lot of truly awful things to the people of New Jersey in the past 5 years, but even more egregious than promulgating the myth of ‘failing schools’, demonizing teachers and other public employees, leaving Sandy victims sinking without a life boat, calling a Navy Seal
by mike simpson / 9h 
Dangerous Bipartisan Conventional Wisdom Threatens Public Education | janresseger
Dangerous Bipartisan Conventional Wisdom Threatens Public Education | janresseger: Dangerous Bipartisan Conventional Wisdom Threatens Public EducationPosted on March 13, 2014 by janressegerCorporate Education Reform Cash is the Mother's Milk of PoliticsPublic education policy is one area where consensus crosses political party lines—the consensus, that is, about imposing punitive “reforms” like sc
by mike simpson / 9h 
Report: Commercialism in schools poses threat to students :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Report: Commercialism in schools poses threat to students :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: MARCH 13, 2014Report: Commercialism in schools poses threat to studentsby Tom Chorneau(Colo.) Private companies using school facilities to market products to students poses a significant threat to children, argues a new report released Tuesday from res
1 by mike simpson / 9h 
NYC Educator: Common Core Good Enough to Judge Teachers but Not Students
NYC Educator: Common Core Good Enough to Judge Teachers but Not Students: Common Core Good Enough to Judge Teachers but Not StudentsSo says Governor Andy Cuomo. You see, since kids are not prepared for Common Core, since the tests are unreliable, since no one has ever tested Common Core itself, and since NY State has made it's feelings known, Governor Cuomo has to do something. He has to take deci
by mike simpson / 9h 
Zero Tolerance is a Zero Sum Game for Education | NEA Today
Zero Tolerance is a Zero Sum Game for Education | NEA Today: Zero Tolerance is a Zero Sum Game for EducationMarch 13, 2014 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Miguel Gonzalez and Cindy LongZero tolerance and other exclusionary school discipline policies, which were supposed to make schools safer, have done more harm than good—pushing kids out of the classroom and in
by mike simpson / 9h 
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: A TWO-TIER SCHOOL SYSTEM
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: A TWO-TIER SCHOOL SYSTEM: A TWO-TIER SCHOOL SYSTEMAdmission to the city's most exclusive specialized high schools skews white (26 percent) and Asian (53 percent), as usual, while black and Latino students, who make up 70 percent of NYC public schools, were offered just 12 percent of the freshman spots based on single test. At Stuy, offers to black teenagers dropped t
by mike simpson / 9h 

YESTERDAY

Change teachers' tenure? California State Board of Education says 'not now' to San Jose request - ContraCostaTimes.com
Change teachers' tenure? California State Board of Education says 'not now' to San Jose request - ContraCostaTimes.com: Change teachers' tenure? California State Board of Education says 'not now' to San Jose requestBy Sharon Noguchi snoguchi@mercurynews.comPOSTED:   03/12/2014 03:26:39 PM PDT | UPDATED:   ABOUT 4 HOURS AGONot Now, Ma! Signaling the sensitivity of making even modest changes in how
by mike simpson / 17h 
empathyeducates – Charter School Closure: Supply and Demand?
empathyeducates – Charter School Closure: Supply and Demand?: Charter School Closure: Supply and Demand?Photograph; John McDonogh High School Principal Marvin Thompson attends the first Future Is Now Schools charter board meeting since administrators learned the school would close at the end of the current academic year. (March 11, 2014.) (Danielle Dreilinger, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)Over th
by mike simpson / 17h 
For special ed, One Newark is two Newarks | Bob Braun's Ledger
For special ed, One Newark is two Newarks | Bob Braun's Ledger: For special ed, One Newark is two NewarksWhere the special education classes will be…first of six pages.Newark’s charter schools–especially those with money and national backing like KIPP (TEAM Academy) and Uncommon Schools (North Star)–will be the big winners in Cami Anderson’s “One Newark” plan. If Anderson pulls it off, even she ma
by mike simpson / 17h 
A View From the Edge » We’ve Been ‘Opted Out’—Really!?!
A View From the Edge » Post Topic » We’ve Been ‘Opted Out’—Really!?!: We’ve Been ‘Opted Out’—Really!?!Posted by Rob Miller Published in GeneralWe have known since October that Oklahoma districts would be expected to participate in “item tryouts” (field tests) for our new Grade 3-8 testing vendor, Measured Progress, along with the End-of-Instruction field tests conducted by CTB/McGraw-Hill.In a sta
by mike simpson / 17h 
Students at the Core of this Week’s Legislation
Students at the Core of this Week’s Legislation: Students at the Core of this Week’s LegislationLeaders in the state senate have filed a new bill, and it could have an effect on every one of us Kentucky public school students.Senate Bill 224 represents an attempt to dismantle the Kentucky Core Academic Standards (KCAS), related to math and English and language arts content, and the Next Generation
by mike simpson / 19h 
The Limits of Teacher Autonomy | Paul Bruno
The Limits of Teacher Autonomy | Paul Bruno: The Limits of Teacher AutonomyBy PAUL BRUNO | Published: MARCH 12, 2014This post from Matt Bruenig has just enough educational implications for me to indulge some of my philosophical tendencies. Discussing Justin Green’s complaint about anti-discrimination laws infringing on personal freedom, Matt writes:Now ask yourself this question: can people in the
by mike simpson / 19h 
The Jailing of Francesco Portelos .southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Jailing of Francesco PortelosNelson Mandela. Eugene Debs. Mahatma Gandhi. Andrei Sakharov. Ho Chi Minh. Bobby Sands.Pussy Riot. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.These political prisoners are now joined by a new name.Francesco Portelos.On February 25, 2014 Francesco wrote a post on his blog; "How to 'Hack' the DOE Payroll Portal and Give Yourself a Raise." When
by mike simpson / 21h 
DFER Idiocy on New York School Finance | School Finance 101
DFER Idiocy on New York School Finance | School Finance 101: School Finance 101Data and thoughts on public and private school funding in the U.S.DFER Idiocy on New York School FinanceThis may just be among the most ludicrous proclamations I’ve read in quite some time, and it’s brought to us by none other than Dimwits doofuses/doofi? …well something with a “D” For Education Reform:“Contrary to what
by mike simpson / 21h 
Diane Ravitch, FUD, and you | Reclaim Reform
Diane Ravitch, FUD, and you | Reclaim Reform: Diane Ravitch, FUD, and youPosted on March 12, 2014by Ken PrevitiAs a child Diane Ravitch must have been a wiz at those connect-the-dots pages. Today she is dedicated to teaching us as all how to connect-the-dots.First, Diane tells us to try to see the whole picture to get a general idea of where things are and where they are going. In one of her eye-o
by mike simpson / 21h 
Say goodbye to public schools: Diane Ravitch warns Salon some cities will soon have none - Salon.com
Say goodbye to public schools: Diane Ravitch warns Salon some cities will soon have none - Salon.com: Say goodbye to public schools: Diane Ravitch warns Salon some cities will soon have none"Why destroy public education so that a handful can boast they have a charter school in addition to their yacht?"JOSH EIDELSON   Follow 1K       0    TOPICS: DIANE RAVITCH, EDUCATION, ED REFORM, BARAC
by mike simpson / 23h hide  //  save
Nite Cap 3-12-14 #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 CAPBill de Blasio vs. charter schools: A feud in New York City has broad national implications.Bill de Blasio vs. charter schools: A feud in New York City has broad national implications.: De Blasio vs. Everyone Else164680New York’s mayor takes on c
by mike simpson / 1d 




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