Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 6/17/15


SPECIAL NITE CAP 

CORPORATE ED REFORM






The Value of Experience | lacetothetop
The Value of Experience | lacetothetop: The Value of ExperienceHow do you quantify an experience? Some things cannot be measured with any degree of accuracy and that is difficult for people who equate “quantify” and “verify” to understand.I remember a nurse coming into my room after the birth of my daughter with a chart that depicted stick-figure faces that progressed from happy to severely pained
PAA endorses H 2382, the opt out billl | Parents Across America
PAA endorses H 2382, the opt out billl | Parents Across America: PAA endorses H 2382, the opt out billl Today, PAA sent the following letter to the office of Representative Tom Reed (R-NY), endorsing his opt-out bill, which is also sponsored by Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Chris Gibson (R-NY):June 16, 2015Dear Representative Reed:Parents Across America is pleased to endorse H. 2382, the Enable Mo
Effort to Oust Black Female School Superintendent Full of Racial Overtones
Effort to Oust Black Female School Superintendent Full of Racial Overtones: Effort to Oust Black Female School Superintendent Full of Racial Overtones VALLEJO – “Jiggas” and “arrogant b*****” are just two of the ugly slurs some northern Californians posted on a petition calling for the resignation of an African-American school district superintendent. About 900 Vallejo-area residents have added th
A Teacher on Teaching: The Essense of Corporate Education: Greed and more Greed
A Teacher on Teaching: The Essense of Corporate Education: Greed and more Greed: The Essense of Corporate Education: Greed and more GreedSome of America’s greatest “school reformers” today (and by that I mean arrogant *&%$# like Bill Gates) insist that if we turn over the schools to corporations everything will turn out just great.Color me skeptical, I guess.As I see it, “corporate” is to “edu
Delaware DOJ Finds Numerous FOIA Violations With DOE In Request For Standardized Testing Contracts | Exceptional Delaware
Delaware DOJ Finds Numerous FOIA Violations With DOE In Request For Standardized Testing Contracts | Exceptional Delaware: Delaware DOJ Finds Numerous FOIA Violations With DOE In Request For Standardized Testing ContractsThe Delaware Department of Justice recently answered a complaint surrounding a FOIA I submitted to the Delaware Department of Education on March 6th, 2015.  This FOIA asked for th
Robert Reich: Elites Are Waging a War on Public Education | Alternet
Robert Reich: Elites Are Waging a War on Public Education | Alternet: Robert Reich: Elites Are Waging a War on Public Education'What we need to do is move toward a system of free public higher education,' he says.It’s no secret that former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich has some misgivings about the direction of the American economy. But the prolific writer, radio commentator and longtime Unive
Education Lessons From A Sparkly District: Standardized Tests and Students With Disabilities
Education Lessons From A Sparkly District: Standardized Tests and Students With Disabilities: Standardized Tests and Students With DisabilitiesThis is a touchy subject. Civil rights and disability rights groups would have us all believe that by not having our kids tested, their rights would be violated. I understand the history. I get it. As a parent, I’m telling you it’s wrong. That thinking, as
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 800 years after Magna Carta, Chicago schools are still ruled by an autocrat
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 800 years after Magna Carta, Chicago schools are still ruled by an autocrat: 800 years after Magna Carta, Chicago schools are still ruled by an autocratThis week we're celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta which is widely considered the foundation of parliamentary democracy, human rights and the supremacy of the law over autocracy. It established the p
Tougher Teacher Licensing Exams and a Question of Racial Discrimination - The New York Times
Tougher Teacher Licensing Exams and a Question of Racial Discrimination - The New York Times: Tougher Teacher Licensing Exams and a Question of Racial DiscriminationIsrael Ramos, who graduated from the education school at Lehman College in the Bronx, failed New York’s toughest exam three times, once by just a few points. He passed on the fourth try. Credit James Estrin/The New York TimesStudents a
Teachers’ unions begin presidential endorsement process » peoplesworld
Teachers’ unions begin presidential endorsement process » peoplesworld: Teachers’ unions begin presidential endorsement processWASHINGTON - The leaders of the nation's two big teachers unions launched their organizations' presidential endorsement processes with the first publicly reported meetings between union presidents and top Democratic presidential hopefuls.Both Lily Eskelsen-Garcia and Randi
How to fix teaching without magic
How to fix teaching without magic: How to fix teaching without magicEducation reform (education deform) is doing kids, the profession, and the country short-term and long-term harm. Ed Reform Inc. "believes" in short fixes, silver bullets, the power of personal cult persuasion, mantras, and now the twin goddesses of all – technology and data.More than half of all children in United State
CURMUDGUCATION: Jurassic Education World
CURMUDGUCATION: Jurassic Education World: Jurassic Education WorldLike apparently over half the world's population, we saw Jurrasic World last weekend. Fun film, and we always love the Chris Pratt at our house.But as with last year's Logo Movie, I could not help noticing that the film underlines how much of popular culture is actually NOT aligned with the values and ideals of reformsters.Data Driv
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Why Corporations Want Public Schools By Any Means Necessary
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Why Corporations Want Public Schools By Any Means Necessary: Why Corporations Want Public Schools By Any Means NecessaryInfographic: Why Corporations Want Our Public SchoolsWhere’s the big money in privatization? Take it from the teachers. 
New Orleans school changes worked, Cowen Institute says | NOLA.com
New Orleans school changes worked, Cowen Institute says | NOLA.com: New Orleans school changes worked, Cowen Institute says The National Study of CMO Effectiveness aims to fill the gap in systematic evidence about CMOs, providing the first rigorous nationwide examination of CMOs’ effects on students’ achievement and attainment. The study includes an examination of the relationships between the pra
Going to the NEA RA in Orlando. For many Disney workers it’s no Magic Kingdom. | Fred Klonsky
Going to the NEA RA in Orlando. For many Disney workers it’s no Magic Kingdom. | Fred Klonsky: Going to the NEA RA in Orlando. For many Disney workers it’s no Magic Kingdom.Later this month I am in Orlando, Florida for the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly. I am an elected Retired delegate. I will also being attending the NEA Retired Conference that just precedes the RA.The
Practice Educational Civil Disobedience: Refuse The Survey» Missouri Education Watchdog
Practice Educational Civil Disobedience: Refuse The Survey. Homeschoolers Need to Pay Attention Too. » Missouri Education Watchdog: Practice Educational Civil Disobedience: Refuse The Survey.#RefuseTheSurvey. The answer is ‘no’.The data mining in schools on children expands into the home and families, including home schooled families.  From the June 16, 2015 Federal Register:**********************
White collar criminals snared by federal probes :: SI&A Cabinet Report
White collar criminals snared by federal probes :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: White collar criminals snared by federal probes(District of Columbia) A former finance director from a Texas school district was sentenced to prison for stealing more than $4 million in public money. A director of federal programs in Alabama is going to jail aft
Norwalk School Board goes with Adamowski 5-4 - Wait What?
Norwalk School Board goes with Adamowski 5-4 - Wait What?: Norwalk School Board goes with Adamowski 5-4The Norwalk Hour reports,NORWALK — The Board of Education appointed Steven Adamowski as the next Superintendent of Schools in a close vote of 5-4.[…]With concerns of Adamowski’s certification to be superintendent, he will first serve as Acting Superintendent until requirements are fulfilled.Dr. A
U.S. Department of Education’s Own Audit Condemns Department’s Failure to Regulate Charters | janresseger
U.S. Department of Education’s Own Audit Condemns Department’s Failure to Regulate Charters | janresseger: U.S. Department of Education’s Own Audit Condemns Department’s Failure to Regulate ChartersBack in 2010, I was at a meeting where I heard U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan say, “Good charters are part of the solution. Bad charters are part of the problem.”  He did not, at that time or a
Calls Mount for a National Moratorium on Charter Schools
Calls Mount for a National Moratorium on Charter Schools: Calls Mount for a National Moratorium on Charter SchoolsMaking public education more accountable has been the solemn pledge of government officials for years, including the Obama administration and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Yet that same level of accountability doesn’t seem to apply to the fastest growing sector of K-12 education
Letter to the U.S. Senate Opposing High-Stakes Testing: Diane Ravitch's blog
Letter to the U.S. Senate Opposing High-Stakes Testing: Your Organization Should Sign Too | Diane Ravitch's blog: Letter to the U.S. Senate Opposing High-Stakes Testing: Your Organization Should Sign Too |From: The Network for Public EducationTo: Members of the United States SenateRe: The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education ActTo the Senate:We, the below undersigned organizat

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Poorly performing charter schools sue Ohio for trying to shut them down - Break News - Ohio
Poorly performing charter schools sue Ohio for trying to shut them down - Break News - Ohio: Poorly performing charter schools sue Ohio for trying to shut them downTwo Northeast Ohio charter schools run by an out-of-state, for-profit company are suing the state for trying to shut them down, arguing that there are other charter schools performing worse.The non-elected school boards overseeing Imagi
A Bad Day for the RSD “Improvement” Narrative: The History of La. Graduation Rates | deutsch29
A Bad Day for the RSD “Improvement” Narrative: The History of La. Graduation Rates | deutsch29: A Bad Day for the RSD “Improvement” Narrative: The History of La. Graduation RatesOne of my all-time favorite sitcoms is Malcolm in the Middle, starring Jane Kaczmarek (“Lois”) and Bryan Cranston (“Hal”) as the no-nonsense and often crude parents of five sons. In one episode, Lois is ticketed for reckle
Is the Common Core killing kindergarten? | Deborah Meier on Education
Is the Common Core killing kindergarten? | Deborah Meier on Education: Is the Common Core killing kindergarten?Posted on June 17, 2015 by debmeierRead this article from the Boston GlobeBy Chris Berdik   June 14, 2015Last spring, Susan Sluyter quit teaching kindergarten in the Cambridge Public Schools. She’d spent nearly two decades in the classroom, and her departure wasn’t a happy one. In a resig
Terrific Tuesday! Anti CCSS News | commoncorediva
Terrific Tuesday! Anti CCSS News | commoncorediva: Terrific Tuesday! Anti CCSS NewsBoth the HR5 AND the HEA re-authorizations are being fast tracked!Hi Anti CCSS Warriors, it’s been a whirlwind of busy times for the CC Diva, but have no fear, I’m back with anti Common Core news you can use!! I’m breaking from the my “From the Files” Tuesday to bring you important information. Please read on….Fresh
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 6/16/15
SPECIAL NITE CAP CORPORATE ED REFORMCharter schools drain money from public schools, towns - Southern New EnglandCritics: Charter schools drain money from public schools, towns - News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England: Critics: Charter schools drain money from public schools, townsNews, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New EnglandPROVIDENCE -The debate about charter schools in