Monday, June 30, 2014

6-30-14 @ The Chalk Face

Media Has No Idea What Special Education Is (Guest Post)

Guest Post by Jessica S. Martinez, in response to a recent editorial in the Albuquerque Journal. Once again, the Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board has placed its ignorance on display for all to see. Here is yet another example of those who know nothing about education sticking their noses where they do not belong. Allow me to […]

43 by Kris Nielsen / 1h

6-29-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: At the Chalk Face: Education Talk Radio (Sundays at 6PM EST)At the Chalk Face is the only progressive and pro-public education radio program available. Join Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM for commentary and interviews on the latest topics on education, including breaking stories from classrooms and schools nationwide. If you're a t

by mike simpson / 5h

Friction in alliance between Democrats, unions over teacher tenure | MSNBC

Friction in alliance between Democrats, unions over teacher tenure | MSNBC:

Friction in alliance between Democrats, unions over teacher tenure

National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel and Nation Institute fellow Wayne Barrett look at the robust debate in the left over whether teacher tenure is in the best interests of students.

Common Core-Aligned Tests and the New Pearson GED: Failure By Design? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Common Core-Aligned Tests and the New Pearson GED: Failure By Design? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Common Core-Aligned Tests and the New Pearson GED: Failure By Design?

By Anthony Cody on June 30, 2014 7:06 PM

Returning from protesting the Gates Foundation's funding of corporate education reform, I have been wrestling with some questions about the goals for their project.

The Gates Foundation's Vicki Phillips was interviewed the day of the protest, and had this to sayabout it:

At the Gates Foundation, the great thing about us, and about Bill and Melinda is that they believe that all lives have equal value, and in the US, the way to address many of these issues is through a much, much better education system. And that's a goal that we all share. What makes what's happening today really valuable is to make all the perspectives heard, and to have a rich, honest, candid, substantive conversation. Because we can be after the same ends, but differ perhaps on how you might get there.

I engaged in a rich, substantive dialogue with the Gates Foundation two years ago, but sadly, they seem to have taken very little away from the process.

In fact, I have been growing more and more skeptical regarding this benign notion that we are all after the same thing. I have noticed a disturbing pattern. In New York, the Common Core tests were intentionally engineered to yield a pass rate of only 30%. This was documented by Carol Burris last year, who explained:

...the New York State Education Department, with the help of Pearson, creates a test and then after it is taken and scored, decide what constitutes passing. By showing those chosen to participate in the cut-score setting process other measures that they claim indicate college
Common Core-Aligned Tests and the New Pearson GED: Failure By Design? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Nite Cap 6-30-14 #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

6-30-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Great Reading on Ed Reform by a Local LeaderThat leader is Trish Millines Dziko who started Technology Access Foundation and is truly a great thinker on how to push the needle forward for students of color using STEM-based curriculum with project-based learning.Trish has written a series on her thoughts about ed reform (she's frustrated) and we think - intentionall

by mike simpson / 44min

Parents United urges SRC not to take action on “devastating” budget options | Parents United for Public Education

Parents United urges SRC not to take action on “devastating” budget options | Parents United for Public Education: Parents United urges SRC not to take action on “devastating” budget optionsPosted on June 30, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentAs of this writing, Harrisburg legislators have not yet passed a formal budget for the Commonwealth. Currently the Senate and House are reportedly clo

by mike simpson / 50min

Three CA Districts Limit Police in Schools | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity

Three CA Districts Limit Police in Schools | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: Three CA Districts Limit Police in SchoolsPosted on: Monday June 30th, 2014Click here to check out more modeldistricts for school discipline reformCalifornia school districts are on a role this year working to end the school-to-prison pipeline. Alongside recent victori

by mike simpson / 57min

Blog Launch Redux | Kaplan for Kids

Blog Launch Redux | Kaplan for Kids: Blog Launch ReduxPosted on June 26, 2014 by Jeannie KaplanDPS board member Jeannie Kaplan, right, and board President Mary Seawell at a board meeting. EdNews file photoBlog Launch for Kaplan for KidsFifty seven charter schools (57), seventy five percent (75%) housed in taxpayer owned or leased facilities. Fifty two percent (52%) of taxpayer appro

by mike simpson / 1h

6-30-14 The Whole Child Blog — Got Questions on Differentiated Instruction? Join the #ASCDL2L Chat! — Whole Child Education

Got Questions on Differentiated Instruction? Join the #ASCDL2L Chat! — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGGot Questions on Differentiated Instruction? Join the #ASCDL2L Chat!June 30, 2014 by Leader to LeaderOn Tuesday night, July 1, from 8–9 p.m. eastern time, join ASCD leaders and educators on Twitter for an#ASCDL2L chat discussing Differentiated Instruction in the 21st century. Carol Ann

by mike simpson / 2h

The 'bizarro" state of American education today. More Joker... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

The 'bizarro" state of American education today. More Joker... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: The 'bizarro" state of American education today. More Joker than Superman? COMMENT(14) 0 14 11 33View Larger Hulton Archive / Getty ImagesCover illustration for 'World's Finest Comics,' with Superman, Batman and Robin selling US War Bonds to sink the 'Japanazis' in World War II, 1940s. (Photo b

by mike simpson / 2h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 6-30-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: A LETTER FROM A LOS ANGELES ENGLISH TEACHER TO HIS STUDENTS: “You have been failed.”from Dr. Mark Naison’s blog “With a Brooklyn Accent" | http://bit.ly/1nZhNS3 March 11, 2014 A letter to my students of Los Angeles Unified: You have been failed. You have been failed not by the school or your teachers (or their boogeyman union), but by people far re

by mike simpson / 2h

empathyeducates – Study: How Much Education Does It Take to Get a Job? Depends on Your Race

empathyeducates – Study: How Much Education Does It Take to Get a Job? Depends on Your Race: Study: How Much Education Does It Take to Get a Job? Depends on Your RacePhotograph; Members of the University of California, Merced, Class of 2009 listen as first lady Michelle Obama delivers the commencement speech on May 16, 2009. | David Paul Morris/Getty ImagesBy Erin C.J. Robertson | Originally Publi

by mike simpson / 2h

Neuman Celano library study: Educational technology worsens achievement gaps.

Neuman Celano library study: Educational technology worsens achievement gaps.: Educational Technology Isn’t Leveling the Playing Field97159427In fact, it’s making achievement gaps even bigger.By Annie Murphy PaulAffluent kids receive more guidance in libraries—new computers or not—than poor kids do.Courtesy of Shutterstock.The local name for the Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington is “the Badl

by mike simpson / 2h

NYC Public School Parents: Send the DOE and the Mayor a message today -- or else class sizes will likely grow even larger next year

NYC Public School Parents: Send the DOE and the Mayor a message today -- or else class sizes will likely grow even larger next year: Send the DOE and the Mayor a message today -- or else class sizes will likely grow even larger next yearOn Saturday, the NY Post reported on the rapid expansion of class sizes in the NYC public schools. Not only have class size averages increased to their highest le

by mike simpson / 2h

The Same Principal in Brooklyn Targets Another - southbronxschool

http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Same Principal in Brooklyn Targets AnotherWhen I was in elementary school our principal Mr Murray explained to us that since principal ends in"PAL," that means the principal is always your "pal."Try telling that to Jeff Storobinksy and his colleague Sandra Amede.Sandra is at the same middle school in Brooklyn from which Jeff retired from. Sa

by mike simpson / 2h

Teachers, Birth Control, Unions, and SCOTUS | Reclaim Reform

Teachers, Birth Control, Unions, and SCOTUS | Reclaim Reform: Teachers, Birth Control, Unions, and SCOTUSPosted on June 30, 2014by Ken PrevitiToday’s Supreme Court judges, five are judges and four are justices, decided to expose their extremist postures.Today’s decisions are about women in particular. Women, who are the majority in America, are referred to as lesser beings with minority issues – w

by mike simpson / 2h

6-29-14 This Week in 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): Common Core math stumps parents and students alikeVia New York Times | By Motoko Rich Rebekah and Kevin Nelams moved to their modest brick home in this suburb of Baton Rouge seven years ago because it has one of the top-performing public school districts in the state. But starting this fall, Ms. Nelams pl

by mike simpson / 2h

6-30-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin'

Jersey Jazzman: Are Miami-Dade's Charter Schools Really "Impressive"?Picking up where I last left off, let's take a look at some test score results from Miami-Dade, FL and see if the charter schools there -- which are, according to the local press, running wild while making their operators boatloads of money -- are really living up to their hype.For this post, we'll keep it simple (for n

by mike simpson / 4h

STEM Task Force Report - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

STEM Task Force Report - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Releases Blueprint to Improve Teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in CaliforniaSACRAMENTO—For California to maintain its leadership in high-tech innovation, the state must emphasize helping students become literate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), State

by mike simpson / 5h

Marie Corfield: The Year of Living Danielson

Marie Corfield: The Year of Living Danielson: The Year of Living DanielsonEducation professionals across New Jersey just finished their first year under the new evaluation system that was part of the landmark bipartisan TeachNJ law signed by Gov. Christie in 2012. My school district uses the Danielson rubric developed by Charlotte Danielson. It evaluates everything from the way educators greet the

by mike simpson / 6h

“Why Teachers Teach” wins L.A. Press Club Award! | Gatsby In L.A.

“Why Teachers Teach” wins L.A. Press Club Award! | Gatsby In L.A.: “Why Teachers Teach” wins L.A. Press Club Award! I’m excited to report that my post “Why Teachers Teach” from L.A. School Report won the L.A. Press Club award for best individual blog post! In case you missed it, here it is:Why Teachers TeachWe talk about their success stories, the kids who text them from college, invite them to t

by mike simpson / 6h

What makes for happier teachers, according to international survey | Education By The Numbers

What makes for happier teachers, according to international survey | Education By The Numbers: What makes for happier teachers, according to international surveyTeachers who say they get included in school decision-making and collaborate often with other teachers are more likely to say that teaching is a valued profession in their society. In turn, these same teachers report higher levels of job

by mike simpson / 6h

California Teachers Pensions Take Another Hit From Politicians

California Teachers Pensions: California Teachers Take Another Hit From PoliticiansBy Ann Robertson and Bill LeumerShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on pinterest_shareMore Sharing Services1With Democratic Governor Jerry Brown in office since 2011 and the Democratic Party winning a supermajority in the state legislature in 2012, one might think that organized labor was secure and

by mike simpson / 6h

Teachers protest in downtown Seattle, say Bill Gates is ruining education - GeekWire

Teachers protest in downtown Seattle, say Bill Gates is ruining education - GeekWire: Teachers protest in downtown Seattle, say Bill Gates is ruining educationby Taylor Soper on 6/27/2014 at 9:33 am | 56 CommentsShare this:EmailinShare16Bill Gates has poured millions of dollars into public education reform in the U.S., and some teachers aren’t too thrilled about that.About 150 instructors from the

by mike simpson / 6h

License to Loot | EduShyster

License to Loot | EduShyster: License to Loot How Michigan charter schools became prime feasting ground for edu-vultures.By Tim FournierI started teaching in the Detroit Public Schools in 1993, the very year that Michigan approved its first charter schools. Last week The Detroit Free Press published the results of a year-long investigation into the state’s now 20-year old experiment with charters.

by mike simpson / 7h

With ‘Harris’ Ruling, Supreme Court Silences Voices of Working Families | NEA Today

With ‘Harris’ Ruling, Supreme Court Silences Voices of Working Families | NEA Today: With ‘Harris’ Ruling, Supreme Court Silences Voices of Working FamiliesJune 30, 2014 by twalker Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Mary Ellen Flannery and Tim WalkerToday, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a narrow 5-4 decision, voted to eliminate fair share, or agency fee, arrangements for Illinois

by mike simpson / 7h

Morning Wink 6-30-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-30-14Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Lucy Calkins Vs. David ColemanNew York City and Néw York State have enthusiastically embraced the Common Core standards. In the background, however, is a simmering–one might say boiling battle be

by mike simpson / 8h

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-30-14Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Lucy Calkins Vs. David ColemanNew York City and Néw York State have enthusiastically embraced the Common Core standards. In the background, however, is a simmering–one might say boiling battle between literacy guru Lucy Calkins of Teachers College and Common Core architect David Coleman about teaching reading. Calkins supports bala

by mike simpson / 8h

6-30-14 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 Useful Posts & Articles On Education Policy© 2012 Shutter Stutter, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio I’m behind on posting since I went to Washington, D.C. for a meeting with Education Week writers, but I’m frantically trying to catch-up. Here are some recent useful posts and articles on education pol

by mike simpson / 8h

6-30-14 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.: DVR says goodbye to the retirees.These are the final days for Dennis Van Roekel as President of the NEA. VP Lily Eskelsen Garcia will be elected to replace him later this week. His appearance an speech Sunday in front of the 350 or so retired delegates at our pre-RA conference was warmly received. DVR

by mike simpson / 8h

6-30-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: How Will UFT Be Affected if Supreme Court Rules Negative on Dues?Will disaffected UFTers quit the union? Will people think they are not getting their dues money's worth?I know this decision might come down any minute but I wanted to speculate a bit before it does on how the UFT might be affected.First, the essence of the case: You don't want to pay union dues (agency shop fees) if

by mike simpson / 8h

6-30-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?: Wait What? All WeekNews Flash: Malloy/Pryor hand another top job to an Achievement First Inc. stafferThe Malloy administration has given the one-hundred thousand dollar a year plus job of “Bureau Chief for District and School Transformation” to William (Billy) Johnson, a former employee of Achievement First Inc. Of course, Achievement First, Inc. being the large charter school managem

by mike simpson / 8h

6-30-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: The segregation of kindergartners — by the numbersHere, from the non-profit Economic Policy Institute, is a snapshot of how segregated public schools are, starting in kindergarten. It was written by Elaine Weiss and Emma García. Weiss has served as the national coordinator for the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education since 2011. García, who joined the Economic Policy Institute in

by mike simpson / 8h

How Finland Keeps Kids Focused Through Free Play - Tim Walker - The Atlantic

How Finland Keeps Kids Focused Through Free Play - Tim Walker - The Atlantic: How Finland Keeps Kids Focused Through Free PlayAn American teacher in Helsinki questions the national practice of giving 15 minute breaks each hour—until he sees the difference it makes in his classroom.wsilver/FlickrLike a zombie, Sami—one of my fifth graders—lumbered over to me and hissed, “I think I’m going to explod

by mike simpson / 8h

6-30-14 Curmudgucation

CURMUDGUCATION: The Mystery of ExcellenceDiane Ravitch's recent columns about Ms. McLaughlin, one of the undeservingly employed terrible teachers of the Vergara trial, underlines one of the central problems of the whole teacher evaluation portion of the reformster dream.Ms. McLaughlin won awards for teaching excellence not once, but twice in her career. And yet one of the plaintiffs found her to b

by mike simpson / 8h

6-30-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Why Is Governor Cuomo Still Paying Full Salary To The Executive Director Of The Defunct Moreland Commission?Quid Pro Cuomo at it again: Three months after Gov. Cuomo said he was pulling the plug on his anti-corruption commission, the panel’s lightening rod executive director is still drawing a hefty paycheck. State payroll records show that Moreland Commission Executive Dire

by mike simpson / 8h

School’s Out … Now What?? – redqueeninla

School’s Out … Now What?? – redqueeninla: School’s Out … Now What??Written by redqueeninla in EducationThere seems to be some rather large unfinished business on the newly-approved seven-billion-dollar-budget-strong LAUSD table.Namely, the approximately one-billion dollar ipad program. The great “social equity” push that places electronic toys in the hands of every tot to teen in LAUSD just like t

by mike simpson / 8h

The Danger of Creative Disruption as a School Reform Theory | janresseger

The Danger of Creative Disruption as a School Reform Theory | janresseger: The Danger of Creative Disruption as a School Reform TheoryPosted on June 30, 2014 by janressegerAccording to The Economist, “Higher education suffers from Baumol’s disease—the tendency of costs to soar in labour-intensive sectors with stagnant productivity. Whereas the prices of cars, computers and much else have fallen d

by mike simpson / 8h

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESByrd-Bennett takes umbrageBarbara Byrd-BennettShe also took umbrage with the use of the term "layoffs," instead preferring to call those who were released "impacted teachers." “I really want to correct the language because I think it’s misleading when we say ‘layoffs’ and it’s not semantics actually," the S

by mike simpson / 8h

Louisiana Educator: Statement to BESE on CCSS and PARCC

Louisiana Educator: Statement to BESE on CCSS and PARCC: Statement to BESE on CCSS and PARCCThe Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has scheduled a special meeting On July 1, at 11:30 A.M., to respond to the executive orders by Governor Jindal that would stop the implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the related PARCC testing. Assuming that BESE allows the public to comment

by mike simpson / 8h

NYC Educator: If Union Is a Choice, Why Not Government?

NYC Educator: If Union Is a Choice, Why Not Government?: If Union Is a Choice, Why Not Government?Today the Supreme Court is expected to have a decision on whether the entire country will be subject toso-called right to work laws. Basically, a union in Illinois unionized, union officials negotiated over a 50% raise in wages, but some workers were dredged up by anti-union forces to protest the outr

by mike simpson / 9h

Analysis: School Chief’s Rehiring Raises Questions, Reflects Broader Issues - NJ Spotlight

Analysis: School Chief’s Rehiring Raises Questions, Reflects Broader Issues - NJ Spotlight: ANALYSIS: SCHOOL CHIEF’S REHIRING RAISES QUESTIONS, REFLECTS BROADER ISSUESJOHN MOONEY | JUNE 30, 2014While new pact reflects lukewarm endorsement of Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson, keeping her in post underscores larger school-reform agendaCredit: NJTVNewark schools Superintendent Cami AndersonGov. Ch

by mike simpson / 9h

YESTERDAY

Abusive Letter Sent to Jeff Storobinsky southbronxschool

http://www.southbronxschool.com: Abusive Letter Sent to Jeff StorobinskyOn Tuesday we posted the plight of retired teacher Jeff Storobinsky and the abuse he endured at the hands of his principal at the middle school he was at in Brooklyn.Remember how Jeff mentioned receiving an letter from his principal? An letter that was sent in anger without thinking?It is now early in January 2014 (I am home),

by mike simpson / 18h

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: 10 Things That Stand Out Because I Joined the #NotatISTE14 Community!

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: 10 Things That Stand Out Because I Joined the #NotatISTE14 Community!: 10 Things That Stand Out Because I Joined the #NotatISTE14 Community!I am not at ISTE2014. :(I planned to go since my sis lives in Atlanta, but I figured the wedding of my teammate was much more important. AND, I heard ISTE2015 will be in Philadelphia next year, 30 minutes away! YEAH!Here's th

by mike simpson / 19h hide // save

Geaux Teacher!: "I have lost faith in the PTA," says Parent

Geaux Teacher!: "I have lost faith in the PTA," says Parent: "I have lost faith in the PTA," says ParentThis comment was made by a PTA Mom in response to a blog by Diane Ravitch. In her blog, Diane relays the thoughts of Peter Greene on U.S.Ed Sec. Arne Duncan's speech at the National PTA Conference. I have re-posted Peter's statement after the Mom's comment.Note: The Gates

by mike simpson / 22h

Nite Cap 6-29-14 #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 CAPDid LDOE hire 100 summer Interns at 25,000 a piece? | Crazy Crawfish's BlogDid LDOE hire 100 summer Interns at 25,000 a piece? | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Crazy Crawfish's BlogZesty Louisiana Education PoliticsDid LDOE hire 100 summer Interns at 25,

by mike simpson / 1d