Monday, April 28, 2014

Don't believe what the Sacramento Bee Editorial Board says,

SCTA, along with many community groups, has been consistently opposed to the NCLB waiver as submitted by our former Superintendent and the California Office to Reform Education with no true input from stakeholders. While the waiver did bring some flexibility in how the district could spend supplemental education service funds, the cost of the waiver and some of the requirements established within the application were detrimental to our schools and the students they serve. The way the application process was handled by those involved was unacceptable to our members and the community, which is one of the reasons why we have steadfastly opposed the waiver and those behind it. We would like to thank the Black Parallel School Board, Hmong Innovating Politics, the Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education, SEIU 1021 and the countless parents, community members and student advocates who have helped bring the waiver to light. We believe that in working collaboratively with the district and the community, we can make many of the more positive initiatives contained within the application a reality without the loss of local control to the unelected California Office to Reform Education.

We applaud the district’s decision not to seek a renewal of the waiver and look forward to working with them without this divisive topic hanging over all our conversations. SCTA continues to be committed to working with the district to implement the Common Core State Standards to ensure the rigorous learning expectations at all grade levels are met. Our hope is that in moving forward with the waiver behind us we can tackle many of the initiatives important to both the district and teachers. This important step is what we think is needed to change the conversation and improve relations. We are committed to doing our part in re-building the trust and working together to build a collaborative culture between district leadership, our members and the community we serve.

April 9, 2014.

Elect Respect Community Brunch and Fundraiser: Join Jesse Hagopian and the Seattle Education Association Respect Slate members this Sunday | Seattle Education

Elect Respect Community Brunch and Fundraiser: Join Jesse Hagopian and the Seattle Education Association Respect Slate members this Sunday | Seattle Education:

Elect Respect Community Brunch and Fundraiser: Join Jesse Hagopian and the Seattle Education Association Respect Slate members this Sunday

Elect Respect Community Brunch and Fundraiser

Join Jesse Hagopian and the Seattle Education Association Respect Slate members for brunch

Sunday, May 4th at 1:00 PM
in the home of a Seattle School parent

RSVP here and the address and directions will be provided to you.

Jesse Hagopian and the Respect Slate are in the midst of a campaign that will determine the direction of the Seattle Education Association (SEA). They need our support to turn the Union into an organization that fights for the interests of students, teachers, and parents alike.

City Council Member Nick Licata, School Board Director Sue Peters and Real Change Director Tim Harris support Garfield High School history teacher, Jesse Hagopian, for Elect Respect Community Brunch and Fundraiser: Join Jesse Hagopian and the Seattle Education Association Respect Slate members this Sunday | Seattle Education:

NYC Public School Parents: Resolution opposed to the provisions in the NYS budget giving preferences to charter schools for free public space

NYC Public School Parents: Resolution opposed to the provisions in the NYS budget giving preferences to charter schools for free public space:

Resolution opposed to the provisions in the NYS budget giving preferences to charter schools for free public space

This resolution has been approved by Community Education Councils in District 1 in Manhattan, District 20 in Brooklyn and District 30 in Queens. Please let us know if your CEC has approved it as well by emailing us at info@classsizematters.org

Resolution Opposing Provisions in the NY State Budget for 2014-2015 Requiring the Department of Education Provide Space at Public Expense of Charter Schools

WHEREAS Charter Schools in New York City frequently displace public school students from existing school facilities and create overcrowded conditions; and

WHEREAS Charter Schools in New York City have been shown by the City’s Independent Budget Office to receive more public funding per pupil than public schools; and

WHEREAS Charter Schools in New York City have spent over 5 million dollars in fees to public relations and advertising firms in their campaign to demand public space; and

WHEREAS Charter Schools in New York City receive backing from wealthy investors who benefit from federal tax credits valued at millions of dollars under the Federal New Markets program; and

WHEREAS Charter Schools have resources and the means to find their own facilities outside of the Department of Education’s building inventory;

WHEREAS the New York State Budget for 2014-2015 requires that New York City’s Department of Education provide space at no cost to Charter Schools, thereby severely curtailing local control of city schools and placing public school students at a distinct and unfair disadvantage; and

THEREFORE, be it resolved that Community Education Council 1 is opposed to these provisions;

THEREFORE, be it resolved that Community Education Council 1 hereby calls upon the Senate to introduce new legislation rescinding the provisions requiring the Department of Education to provide free space to Charter Schools, thereby restoring local control of city schools ; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Community Education Council 1 hereby calls upon Governor Cuomo to allow the Mayor to oversee the usage of NYC public school space in accordance with the State Education Law of mayoral control.

Unanimously approved on April 23, 2014

Bush and Rhee Endorse a Book– Fortunately, Not Mine | deutsch29

Bush and Rhee Endorse a Book– Fortunately, Not Mine | deutsch29:

Bush and Rhee Endorse a Book– Fortunately, Not Mine

April 28, 2014

Rhee-lated $tory: Michelle Rhee answers Ravitch in New Book

al$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!

As I announced on April 27, 2014, my book on key individuals and organizations exploiting public education is now published:

A Chronicle of Echoes: Who’s Who in the Implosion of American Public Education.

Harvard professor and senior fellow at the Hoover Institute Paul Peterson and two others also have a book coming out; it entitled, Teachers versus the Public (nice, huh?). Based upon information from a PR email dated 04-28-14, it is obvious that Petersen’s et al. book aims to prove that teachers (and their unions) are an impediment to publicly-desired “reforms” such as merit pay (i.e., teacher pay based upon student test scores), vouchers and charters.

If only those self-interested teachers were somehow brought into check, then “popular school reform proposals” would be rid of an “obstacle.”

In what Peterson’s et al. PR people seem to believe a selling point, they offer two endorsements for the teacher-blaming book: former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and former DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee.

Well. I am a public school teacher, and I can assure Peterson– and Bush and Rhee– that I intend to be quite the “impediment” to so-called “reforms” designed to privatize public education.

Time to put some of my book, Chronicle of Echoes, to good use.

Here is an excerpt from one of my chapters on Bush and his connection to the Hoover Bush and Rhee Endorse a Book– Fortunately, Not Mine | deutsch29:

The Maiming of a Teacher's Career in Queens.southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:

The Maiming of a Teacher's Career in Queens

This is from the files of you can't make this sh** up.

The following anectodals are from a teacher at MS 72, District 28 in Queens. The principal is
Omotayo Cineus, late of the (Yep! You guessed it! the Leadership Academy).

The Crack Team received these anectodals this afternoon and immediately were repulsed at what this teacher at MS 72 has endured over the years. The lack of support and day in and day out harassment is more than anyone can endure.

We decided to only change the names of both students and staff but decided not to redact any of the foul language used. We here at SBSB felt that if we redacted the language the impact would lessen. We want our readers to be as shocked an appalled as we are.

October 30, 2013 - Mary Tyler Moore had been taunting and mocking me since the beginning of the period. She was upset and informing me that I was “on her last nerve” because I had changed her seat upon her return from an in-house suspension. She refused to take her new seat. I decided to continue teaching and call her mom later in the day. She taunted me constantly with threats like, “I’m gonna kick your white ass”, and “Damn racist teacher startin’ shit”. She got up and went to the front of the room and ranted, “School can’t do nothin”. I can do whatever I want to this damn bitch and school can’t do SHIT! I’ma KID and I’m goin’ to another school so I am DONE with this bitch and her white ass!” http://www.southbronxschool.com:

Geaux Teacher!: Real Teacher Challenges Incumbent for BESE

Geaux Teacher!: Real Teacher Challenges Incumbent for BESE:

Real Teacher Challenges Incumbent for BESE

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Holly Boffy, who was the state teacher of the year in 2010, could have another distinguished former educator challenging her next year.

So far it’s the most substantive BESE face-off threatened for next year’s fall ballot, but the board’s president, Chas Roemer, has also fielded a challenge from Jason France of Baton Rouge, who blogs under the pseudonym “Crazy Crawfish” and is a featured writer at the National Education Policy Center.
Melinda Mangham, twice named a White House Distinguished Teacher while teaching senior English at Lafayette High School, told LaPolitics she is considering opposing Boffy in 2015.


Photo by Robin May	Photo by Terri Fensel
Holly Boffy	Melinda Mangham

Mangham says she objects to the influence Gov. Bobby Jindal and business allies exerted on new board members by bankrolling their 2011 election campaigns.

“I understand raising money, but not when it is so controlled,” she says. “Holly Boffy is totally controlled.”

Weighing in on Common Core standards, she says, “Teachers are not opposed to high standards. We always have had standards and they change them on us every few years. The objection teachers have is the implementation of it.”

Mangham realizes that fundraising will be a major challenge, though she is no rookie, having been through election campaigns with her late husband, attorney Mickey Mangham.

“People are calling me and asking if I would consider [running]," Mangham says. "But I know I can’t raise money to compete with Lane Grigsby,” a Baton Rouge contractor who contributed heavily to the 2011 candidates backed by Jindal.

“She’s got a good heart,” Grigsby says of Mangham, while noting that he will continue backing Boffy. “We have just begun to fight,” he says. “I am not one to quit now and throw everything away.”
He now sees Jindal, who has backed off his support of Common Core, as the problem, not the BESE members, saying, “If the governor decided to turn tail, it’s up to those of us who toed the mark.”

[Editor’s Note: This news organization has honored both Mangham and Boffy with its women’s awards, an annual project of our business pub ABiz. Read those stories about Mangham here and Boffy here.]

Louisiana Educator: Attempts by Big Business to Ban Payroll Dues Deduction

Louisiana Educator: Attempts by Big Business to Ban Payroll Dues Deduction:

Attempts by Big Business to Ban Payroll Dues Deduction

LABI (The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry) was not satisfied with promoting the raiding of our public MFP funds by charter schools and voucher schools; big business was not satisfied with stripping most teachers of due process rights and rating teachers using a seriously flawed VAM system; LABI was not quite satisfied with stripping teachers of all job seniority rights; and it was not enough to exempt teachers in charter schools from professional training, subsistituting minimal training in test prep. LABI was especially incensed that the teacher professional organizations/unions had the nerve to successfully challenge the many unconstitutional provisions in Act 1 and Act 2 and the denial of teacher due process.

LABI felt that the best way to punish and weaken teachers and their unions was by removing each teacher's right to have their association or union dues paid using the payroll deduction system. So this Wednesday, April 30, several bills will be debated in the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee that would prohibit payroll deduction for teacher union dues.

Here is a report from chief LAE chief lobbist, Shane Riddle, about this latest attack on the teaching profession. This report is on HB 172, 451, and 1059:

"These bills would take away your right to have your professional association membership fees deducted from your paycheck and take away your right to Louisiana Educator: Attempts by Big Business to Ban Payroll Dues Deduction:

Update on HB 703

House Bill 703 is still on the House floor awaiting debate. It is now scheduled for debate on Wednesday, April 30. See the reports below the next section for a good description of the need for this legislation. Please ask all legislators to vote "yes" for HB 703.

by Michael Deshotels / 40min

Nite Cap 4-28-14 #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

College-Ready? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

College-Ready? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: College-Ready?By Nancy Flanagan on April 28, 2014 4:39 PMWhat does it mean to be "ready" for college? What is the package of skills and core knowledge that makes your average 18-year old equipped to handle higher education? How many of those are talents, abilities and information that teenagers typically acquire--via pr

by mike simpson / 2h

solidaridad: A helpful meme for supporting bilingualism and SB 1174

solidaridad: A helpful meme for supporting bilingualism and SB 1174: Schools Matter: I met reactionary Fernando Espuelas' challenge, now will he demand the same of Gates, Zuckerberg, and Dell?First published April 26, 2014 on Schools Matter "Another issue involves concerns that charter schools may be screening students by requiring parents to provide information related to special education e

by mike simpson / 2h

Teachers: Who, today, is buying the power to starve you? | Reclaim Reform

Teachers: Who, today, is buying the power to starve you? | Reclaim Reform: Teachers: Who, today, is buying the power to starve you?Posted on April 28, 2014by Ken PrevitiAs you read this, money and power are meeting with judges in Charleston, SC to shape written judicial decisions to cut constitutionally and contractually protected teacher pensions. Active and retired public employees across Americ

by mike simpson / 2h

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LIFE IN THE 'POST-RACIAL' ERA

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LIFE IN THE 'POST-RACIAL' ERA: LIFE IN THE 'POST-RACIAL' ERAA SMALLTALK SALUTE goes out to NBA Players Assoc. Pres. Chris Paul and the rest of the L.A. Clippers players who hung together in protest against the racism spewed by club ownerDonald Sterling. Even though they were beaten by Golden State last night, they acted with dignity and grace. Though their protest wa

by mike simpson / 2h

National Week of Action May 13-17 | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity

National Week of Action May 13-17 | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: National Week of Action May 13-17Posted on: Monday April 28th, 2014Fulfilling the Promise of Brown v. Board:Organizing for Educational Justice for All – May 13-17, 2014To mark the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, parents, students, educators, and community membe

by mike simpson / 4h

Arne Duncan has labeled my school—and every school in Washington State—a failure. Cue the revolt. | I AM AN EDUCATOR

Arne Duncan has labeled my school—and every school in Washington State—a failure. Cue the revolt. | I AM AN EDUCATOR: Arne Duncan has labeled my school—and every school in Washington State—a failure. Cue the revolt.By I AM AN EDUCATOR on April 28, 2014The ultimate absurdity of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has been visited upon my home state of Washington.One of the many outlandish propositi

by mike simpson / 4h

4-28-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Kindergarteners - Get with the SystemI come to this issue because of two recent stories about kindergarteners.One was from Oregon where - guess what? Bad news about testing kindergarteners for "school readiness." Two state official up the food chain in public education in Oregon called the kindergartener readiness results "sobering."It is impo

by mike simpson / 4h

Gated communities for already advantaged students Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Gated communities for already advantaged students: Gated communities for already advantaged studentsToday’s story by Chicago Sun-Times Watchdog reporters Tim Novak and Chris Fusco exposes the imbalance of white students in Chicago’s four north side selective enrollment high schools, and the fact that the disproportionate number of white stu

by mike simpson / 4h

Parents facing a charter takeover vow to stay “Steel Strong” | Parents United for Public Education

Parents facing a charter takeover vow to stay “Steel Strong” | Parents United for Public Education: Parents facing a charter takeover vow to stay “Steel Strong”Posted on April 28, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILAOn April 1, the School District of Philadelphia announced that its Renaissance-chosen charter operators Mastery Charter Network and ASPIRA, Inc. would be matched with Steel and Munoz-Marin Eleme

by mike simpson / 4h

Educators Will Never Be 100% Connected. | My Island View

Educators Will Never Be 100% Connected. | My Island View: Educators Will Never Be 100% Connected.April 28, 2014 by tomwhitbyEducators like all learners have a preferred way of learning. Some think of it as different “styles of learning”, but even that theory of “learning styles” has been questioned by some. In a profession, which resides in a world where content and information constantly change

by mike simpson / 4h

Stephen Krashen Blog 4-28-14

SKrashen: Poll of the uninformedPublished in the San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 2014 "Most in state approve of policy shifts in education," April 24: Yes, 69 percent of Californians polled said they liked the Common Core standards after hearing a brief statement about them. The statement said only that they "are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school have t

by mike simpson / 6h

4-28-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet: Louis C.K.: Common Core makes my kids cryI don’t think Louis C.K. means this tweet as a joke. My kids used to love math. Now it makes them cry. Thanks standardized testing and common core! — Louis C.K. (@louisck) April 28, 2014 (If you don’t know who Louis C.K. is, I can’t help you. Google him.)1 by Valerie Strauss / 4minAll Week @ The Answer Sheet 4-26-14The Answer Sheet:All Wee

by mike simpson / 6h

4-28-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: Poll of the uninformedPublished in the San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 2014"Most in state approve of policy shifts in education," April 24: Yes, 69 percent of Californians polled said they liked the Common Core standards after hearing a brief statement about them. The statement said only that they "are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school h

by mike simpson / 6h

Grad Rate Tops 80% - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Grad Rate Tops 80% - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces High School Graduation Rate Tops 80 PercentLOS ANGELES—For the fourth year in a row, California's graduation rate climbed as the dropout rate fell, particularly for students of color, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.More than eight out of 10 students statewide

by mike simpson / 6h

4-28-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Budget Gimmicks and Declining Revenue catch up to MalloyAs the CT Mirror is reporting, Governor Malloy’s extraordinary budget gimmicks and Connecticut’s lagging economy has caught up with the politician’s wild re-election promises. The CT Mirror’s Keith Phaneuf reports, “Citing declining state revenue projections, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy gave up Monday on two of his biggest re-election y

by mike simpson / 7h

ALEC, AJEC and other Mutations that get Judges to Legalize Theft | Reclaim Reform

ALEC, AJEC and other Mutations that get Judges to Legalize Theft | Reclaim Reform: ALEC, AJEC and other Mutations that get Judges to Legalize TheftPosted on April 28, 2014by Ken PrevitiWhat the Koch Brothers and other corporate and billionaire members of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) did with lawmakers (legislators), they are now doing with judges (the judiciary) for personal profit

by mike simpson / 7h

4-28-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): SEIU 99 president ‘still thinking’ about LAUSD board seatBarbara Torres, president of SEIU Local 99, is “still thinking about running” for a seat on the LA Unified School Board against incumbent Bennett Kayser despite concerns raised by the union’s executive director, says her campaign manager Lewis Myers

by mike simpson / 7h

4-28-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Teacher Quality: On Hyperbole and AnecdotesIn 2011, 3,764,698,318 retail prescriptions were filled in the U.S. If 0.01% of those prescriptions were filled incorrectly (and thus jeopardizing the health or even lives of patients, including children), 376,469 events could h

by mike simpson / 7h

Honest Practicum – ID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-Americans

Honest Practicum – ID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-Americans: ID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-AmericansID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-AmericansLate last night a Facebook friend alerted me to this show, “Bad Teachers.” Here’s a promo:Titillating. To be completely honest, I laughed at the premise and

by mike simpson / 7h

4-28-14 The Whole Child Blog — Improving Schools: Back to Basics—Struggling with Semantics — Whole Child Education

Improving Schools: Back to Basics—Struggling with Semantics — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGImproving Schools: Back to Basics—Struggling with SemanticsApril 28, 2014 by Sean Slade"Back to the basics." It's a phrase that's tossed around much but has varying definitions depending on the speaker and audience. For some, "back to the basics" means focusing on

by mike simpson / 7h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-28-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: PPIC Survey: CALIFORNIANS SUPPORT HISTORIC CHANGES IN SCHOOL FUNDING, CURRICULUMBy Teresa Watanabe, LA Times | http://lat.ms/PLgzhU Californians support new national learning standards known as Common Core, a new survey found. In Santiago Elementary School in Santa Ana, teachers are already using the new standards to emphasize critical thinking and pre

by mike simpson / 8h

Duncan's Trip Down the Waiver Rabbit Hole :: Frederick M. Hess

Duncan's Trip Down the Waiver Rabbit Hole :: Frederick M. Hess: Duncan's Trip Down the Waiver Rabbit Holeby Frederick M. Hess • Apr 28, 2014 at 11:09 amCross-posted from Education WeekOn Thursday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan yanked Washington State's NCLB waiver, forcing the state to again operate under provisions of a law that Duncan has declared "broken." I criticized the move

by mike simpson / 8h

NYC Public School Parents: Sign our petition to Commissioner King and the Board of Regents on the need to protect student privacy!

NYC Public School Parents: Sign our petition to Commissioner King and the Board of Regents on the need to protect student privacy!: Sign our petition to Commissioner King and the Board of Regents on the need to protect student privacy!Read the petition below and sign it here.---------To Commissioner King and the Board of Regents:For more than two years, since the state entered into a data-sharing

by mike simpson / 8h

4-28-13 Curmudgucation Week

CURMUDGUCATION: The Gates Wants Us To Take a StandOver at Inside Higher Ed, Dan Greenstein and Vicki Phillips are making yet another pitch for the Core on behalf of the Gates Foundation (Greenstein is director of postsecondary success and Pillips is director of education). I would love to tell you that they have shiny new talking points to offer, but no-- it's the same old fluffernuttery. Here's

by mike simpson / 8h

Taking an assembly-line management technique to the classroom: root cause data analysis | Education By The Numbers

Taking an assembly-line management technique to the classroom: root cause data analysis | Education By The Numbers: Taking an assembly-line management technique to the classroom: root cause data analysisBack in the late 1950s the Japanese auto maker Toyota developed a novel approach for fixing problems on its production line. Rather than making a bandaid repair on a visible symptom, the idea was t

by mike simpson / 8h

Standards Development Work Group Not as Advertised | Missouri Education Watchdog

Standards Development Work Group Not as Advertised | Missouri Education Watchdog: Standards Development Work Group Not as AdvertisedMembers of the Missouri Coalition Against Common Core have been going around the state educating the public on Common Core because it is hard to fight against that which you don’t understand. In each presentation, we make a point of talking about the individuals who c

by mike simpson / 9h

4-28-14 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.: Journalism.I admit that I am flexible about this journalism thing. I’m not a journalist. I’m a retired K-5 art teacher who writes a blog. And I am an activist around a bunch of issues. That doesn’t mean I don’t try to be honest and accurate. But unlike most of who make questionable claims to being jou

by mike simpson / 9h

Morning Wink 4-28-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-28-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Jeff Bryant in Salon: Why Common Core Is in Deep TroubleJeff Bryant is a marketing and communications expert, and he understands why Common Core is in deep trouble. The “education reform movem

by mike simpson / 9h

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-28-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Jeff Bryant in Salon: Why Common Core Is in Deep TroubleJeff Bryant is a marketing and communications expert, and he understands why Common Core is in deep trouble. The “education reform movement” is not really a movement. It has no mass base. It is a public relations campaign created by a very small number of people with deep po

by mike simpson / 10h

4-28-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Using Dance To Teach English Is Topic Of My Latest NY Times PostMy latest New York Times post for English Language Learners is focused on dance as a language-learning activity. It includes a new type of student interactive, as well as teaching ideas. You can access all my many NY Times posts here.by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h 4-27

by mike simpson / 10h

Open Space Offices and Open Space Schools–Borrowing Across Organizations? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Open Space Offices and Open Space Schools–Borrowing Across Organizations? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Open Space Offices and Open Space Schools–Borrowing Across Organizations?Some viewers and friends ask me from time to time where do I get my ideas for writing twice-weekly posts about school reform and classroom practice. I tell them that I read lots of blogs, magazine a

by mike simpson / 10h

Report on School Privatization in Milwaukee | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Report on School Privatization in Milwaukee | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Report on School Privatization in MilwaukeeFiled under: Charter Schools,Privatization,Vouchers — millerlf @ 8:53 am Do Poor Kids Deserve Lower-Quality Education Than Rich Kids? Evaluating School Privatization Proposals in Milwaukee, WisconsinBy Gordon Lafer | April 24, 2014During the past year, Wisconsin stat

by mike simpson / 10h

4-28-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Influential National Hispanic Civil Rights Organization Opposed to Voucher ExpansionThe League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) are emphasizing their opposition to school vouchers in their education platform: LULAC strongly opposes vouchers and any other funding

by mike simpson / 10h

All Week 4-28-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE: Humanities and LSAT reflect Critical Thinking versus Core Knowledge debate“In short, the real literacy crisis occurs whenever we deploy a pedagogy that asks our students only to consume texts and not to produce them as well.” — Richard E. Miller The ABA Journal recently posted a piece entitled “Students with these college majors had the highest LSAT scores” that discusses the fin

by mike simpson / 10h

4-28-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Daily News Says New UFT Contract Will Add Time To Teachers Schedule For "Professional Development"Here is what the News says may happen: The city is closing in on a multiyear contract with the teachers union that could include significant retroactive raises, sources said. One deal being discussed with the United Federation of Teachers would give them retroactive ra

by mike simpson / 10h

Oh No! Now Arne Duncan’s Going to Rate Teacher Training Programs | janresseger

Oh No! Now Arne Duncan’s Going to Rate Teacher Training Programs | janresseger: Oh No! Now Arne Duncan’s Going to Rate Teacher Training ProgramsPosted on April 28, 2014 by janressegerSecretary of Education Arne Duncan announced last Friday that the Obama administration plans to develop ratings of colleges of education to make them more accountable for their graduates’ performance. Motoko Rich in t

by mike simpson / 10h

"Is that your final answer?": What's allowed during standardized testing in Oregon, and what's not | OregonLive.com

"Is that your final answer?": What's allowed during standardized testing in Oregon, and what's not | OregonLive.com: "Is that your final answer?": What's allowed during standardized testing in Oregon, and what's notEducation Northwest analyzed test scores and procedures at King School after the Northeast Portland building saw huge swings in test scores from year to year. (Faith

by mike simpson / 10h

Common Core testing goes smoothly but expenses mount :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet

Common Core testing goes smoothly but expenses mount :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: APRIL 28, 2014Common Core testing goes smoothly but expenses mountby Kimberly Beltran(Calif.) Despite a near-flawless rollout of a new, computerized student testing system aligned with the Common Core, school officials are still hoping a revenue boost for t

by mike simpson / 10h

NYC Educator: Sell Your Tenure And You Sell Your Soul

NYC Educator: Sell Your Tenure And You Sell Your Soul: Sell Your Tenure And You Sell Your SoulAs public education is increasingly pushed into the arms of private business, market-minded individuals seek to end tenure. They argue tenure protects the incompetent and strips students of their civil rights. The war against tenure is presently being waged in Los Angeles in the Vergara Case. Some argue

by mike simpson / 10h

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESJustice Sonia Sotomayor's brilliant dissent “In my colleagues’ view, examining the racial impact of legislation only perpetuates racial discrimination. This refusal to accept the stark reality that race matters is regrettable...The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to speak openly and candidly on the subject of r

by mike simpson / 10h

YESTERDAY

Strapped for cash, Alaska politicians aim to open door for school vouchers | Al Jazeera America

Strapped for cash, Alaska politicians aim to open door for school vouchers | Al Jazeera America: EDUCATIONSTRAPPED FOR CASH, ALASKA POLITICIANS AIM TO OPEN DOOR FOR SCHOOL VOUCHERSALAN WU/FLICKRAfter slashing oil taxes, lawmakers propose amending state constitution to address school funding shortageApril 28, 2014 5:00AM ETby Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthalIn its early days, public education in Alaska

by mike simpson / 18h

Why We Chose to Opt Out | EduSanity

Why We Chose to Opt Out | EduSanity: WHY WE CHOSE TO OPT OUTAPRIL 8, 2014 JASON ENDACOTT COMMENTSThousands of children in our state are headed into schools today to take standardized tests mandated by the federal government under No Child Left Behind. Our fourth grade son won’t be one of them.Opting your children out of standardized tests is a very personal decision, and one that has been far mo

by mike simpson / 18h

Governor’s proposed rainy day reserve for education would rarely be filled | EdSource Today

Governor’s proposed rainy day reserve for education would rarely be filled | EdSource Today: Governor’s proposed rainy day reserve for education would rarely be filledApril 27th, 2014 | Add a Comment | By John FensterwaldTo even out the boom-and-bust revenue cycles that can particularly destabilize education funding, Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing a separate reserve for K-12 schools and community c

by mike simpson / 20h

4-27-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This WeekTuesday, April 29thWork Session: Board Self-Evaluation/Superintendent Evaluation, 4:30-6:00 pm; Executive Session, 6:00-6:30 pm.Wednesday, April 30Work Session: Special Education, 4:00-5:30 pm. AgendaWork Session: Capital Projects, 5:30-7:00 pm. Agenda not yet available.Friday, May 2ndKimball Elementary Art Walk from 3 pm to 6 pm.Saturday

by mike simpson / 20h

My Book Is Published! | deutsch29

My Book Is Published! | deutsch29: My Book Is Published!April 27, 2014To all who have been asking and waiting:I am pleased to report that my book, A Chronicle of Echoes: Who’s Who in the Implosion of American Public Education, is now available on Amazon.com!At the moment, Amazon.com has the paperback version, listed at $23.35.I hear that the e-book takes about 30 days until it is available.Here is

by mike simpson / 23h

California School Boards Association’s President takes on Netflix CEO’s call for privatization for school boards « School Board News

California School Boards Association’s President takes on Netflix CEO’s call for privatization for school boards « School Board News: California School Boards Association’s President takes on Netflix CEO’s call for privatization for school boardsJosephine Lucey, President of the California School Boards Association and a Cupertino Union School District board member, took on Netflix CEO Reed Hastin

by mike simpson / 1d

empathyeducates – A Walmart Fortune, Spreading Charter Schools

empathyeducates – A Walmart Fortune, Spreading Charter Schools: A Walmart Fortune, Spreading Charter SchoolsMary Ann Carlson with pupils at a charter school in Washington run by KIPP, an organization aided by the Walton foundation. | Credit Gabriella Demczuk/The New York TimesBy Motoko Rich | Originally Published at The New York Times. April 25, 2014WASHINGTON — DC Prep operates four charter schoo

by mike simpson / 1d

4-27-14 Schools Matter : Who's Getting Walmart School Privatization Cash?

Schools Matter: Who's Getting Walmart School Privatization Cash?: Who's Getting Walmart School Privatization Cash?From the NYTimes:Last year, the Walton Family Foundation gave $478,380 to a fund affiliated with the Chicago public schools to help officials conduct community meetings to discuss their plan to close more than 50 schools at a time when charters were expanding in the city. . . . .In 201

by mike simpson / 1d hide // save

Nite Cap 4-27-14 #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 CAPWhy We Chose to Opt Out | Jason EndacottWhy We Chose to Opt Out | Jason Endacott: Why We Chose to Opt OutPosted: 04/16/2014 5:01 pm EDT Updated: 04/16/2014 5:59 pm EDTunitedoptout.com/OPT OUT GUIDES BY STATE Thousands of children in our state are

by mike simpson / 1d