CORPORATE ED REFORM
Ohio Congressman questions Arne Duncan’s $32 million charter grant - The Washington Post
Ohio Congressman questions Arne Duncan’s $32 million charter grant - The Washington Post: Ohio Congressman questions Arne Duncan’s $32 million charter grantRep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) had an unusual reaction to news that the U.S. Department of Education was giving his state a $32 million grant: He was alarmed.The money is meant to expand public charter schools in Ohio, which have been rocked by recent
Louisiana Educator: Public Records Request for PARCC data
Louisiana Educator: Public Records Request for PARCC data: Public Records Request for PARCC dataToday a group of legislators, BESE members, school board members, educators, and citizens filed a formal public records request for the purpose of securing the release of vital data from the Common Core tests that were given to Louisiana students almost six months ago. These public officials
Standardized Assessments: Fact vs #EdReform Talking Points » Missouri Education Watchdog
Standardized Assessments: Fact vs #EdReform Talking Points » Missouri Education Watchdog: Standardized Assessments: Fact vs #EdReform Talking PointsDo you have concerns if the assessments used in your states and for students are valid and age appropriate? Your state can crow about*excellent* assessment results but as you as a parent can’t access the assessment questions (and neither can your scho
Jersey Jazzman: The Reformy Arguments Are Getting Worser
Jersey Jazzman: The Reformy Arguments Are Getting Worser: The Reformy Arguments Are Getting WorserMichael Vaughn posted a piece at Education Post that makes this increasingly tiresome claim:But it’s getting harder and harder to see the teachers unions as fighting for the common good when they’re so often fighting against what is clearly good for kids.I picked apart Vaughn's argument and pointed ou
Model parent letter on testing | Parents Across America
Model parent letter on testing | Parents Across America: Model parent letter on testing PAA-Roanoke Valley leader Laura Bowman shared this excellent model letter prepared by her PAA chapter for parents to bring to school at the beginning of the school year:Dear_____________,Parents are concerned with the number of standardized tests their children take each year. In addition, parents believe the t
A U.S. judge blocks the latest attack on teachers' political speech - LA Times
A U.S. judge blocks the latest attack on teachers' political speech - LA Times: A U.S. judge blocks the latest attack on teachers' political speechThe lawsuit known as Bain v. California Federation of Teachers always had a Lewis Carroll flavor.As we reported in May, it was an attack on the collective voice of teachers masquerading as a defense of free speech. A complaint about teachers being exclu
Big trouble in Florida schools — and it’s not a hurricane - The Washington Post
Big trouble in Florida schools — and it’s not a hurricane - The Washington Post: Big trouble in Florida schools — and it’s not a hurricaneThere’s big trouble in Florida — and it’s not a hurricane.A battle over Florida’s public education system may be reaching a tipping point, with school superintendents revolting against the state’s school accountability system and editorial boards of major newspa
Deposition Shows How Much We Are in the Dark About Smarter Balanced | Truth in American Education
Deposition Shows How Much We Are in the Dark About Smarter Balanced | Truth in American Education: Deposition Shows How Much We Are in the Dark About Smarter BalancedI was reading the deposition in David Delk v. Ohio County (WV) Board of Education, a lawsuit currently before the Circuit Court of Ohio County, WV. Delk is an attorney and the father of a third grader in Ohio County Schools. He filed
National Education Association PAC likes Clinton for 2016 - The Washington Post
National Education Association PAC likes Clinton for 2016 - The Washington Post: National Education Association PAC likes Clinton for 2016The political action committee of the National Education Association is recommending that the nation’s largest labor union endorse Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential contest.The PAC, known as the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, made the decisio
Feds didn’t carefully monitor $3 billion it gave for charters — and it just awarded $157 million more - The Washington Post
Feds didn’t carefully monitor $3 billion it gave for charters — and it just awarded $157 million more - The Washington Post: Feds didn’t carefully monitor $3 billion it gave for charters — and it just awarded $157 million moreU.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has been called the most powerful education secretary for a reason.He has led a department that has been criticized for being “a national
CURMUDGUCATION: What Happens After You Blow It All Up
CURMUDGUCATION: What Happens After You Blow It All Up: What Happens After You Blow It All UpAt the Center for Media and Democracy's PR Watch last week, Jonas Persson unearthed some footage from a panel in New Orleans posted last June, sponsored by the American Federation for Children, a group associated with Betsy DeVos.Persson's coverage zeroed in on a minute's worth of talk-noises from Rebecca S
Thompson: Jennings's Call for Education Policy Worthy of Our Democracy - This Week In Education:
This Week In Education: Thompson: Jennings's Call for Education Policy Worthy of Our Democracy - Linkis.com: Thompson: Jennings's Call for Education Policy Worthy of Our DemocracyJack Jennings's Presidents, Congress, and the Public Schools is a must-read for anyone seeking to improve our public schools. Drawing upon a half century of political and education research, Jennings writes a history of f
Brains At Play: What Do We Know? : NPR Ed : NPR
Brains At Play: What Do We Know? : NPR Ed : NPR: Brains At Play: What Do We Know?Why do we humans like to play so much? Play sports, play tag, play the stock market, play duck, duck, goose? We love it all. And we're not the only ones. Dogs, cats, bears, even birds seem to like to play. What are we all doing? Is there a point to it all?The scientist who has perhaps done more research on brains at p
LA's 1% Disrupted Democracy and Dismantled the Public School System
LA's 1% Disrupted Democracy and Dismantled the Public School System: LA's 1% Disrupted Democracy and Dismantled the Public School SystemOn Sunday, September 20, 2015, the new Eli Broad museum opened in Los Angeles - and nearly a thousand parents, students, and teachers seized the occasion to march against the "philanthrocapitalist's" plan to groom 130,000 public school students in Los An
Louisiana Educator: The Governance of Louisiana Education: What it Now Is and What it Should be
Louisiana Educator: The Governance of Louisiana Education: What it Now Is and What it Should be: The Governance of Louisiana Education: What it Now Is and What it Should beClick Here to Follow Flip BESE on Facebook LEE P.BARRIOS FOR BESE 1 Web SiteJASON FRANCE FOR BESE 6 Web SiteMIKE KREAMER FOR BESE 7 Web SiteLouisiana now operates under the mushroom theory of education..In this setup, the educat
Schools Matter: Murdoch Dumps Klein's Amplify: Stock Worth Minus 42 Cents Per Share
Schools Matter: Murdoch Dumps Klein's Amplify: Stock Worth Minus 42 Cents Per Share: Murdoch Dumps Klein's Amplify: Stock Worth Minus 42 Cents Per ShareAfter Rupert hired NYC's former chancellor and education profiteer, Joel Klein, News Corps spent a billion dollars to promote Amplify's digital education solution, which amounts to cheap laptops loaded with an endless supply digital worksheets for
WARNING – Parents of High School Students – Especially Juniors – Beware! - Wait What?
WARNING – Parents of High School Students – Especially Juniors – Beware! - Wait What?: WARNING – Parents of High School Students – Especially Juniors – Beware!Starting in March 2016, students taking the SAT College Admission Exam will be given the NEW Common Core aligned SAT test rather than the version that students have been taking over the years.David Coleman, who was the primary “author” of th
“Lead Bravely.” Julian Vasquez Helig on How To Change the Story About Community-Based Education | The Progressive
“Lead Bravely.” Julian Vasquez Helig on How To Change the Story About Community-Based Education | The Progressive: “Lead Bravely.” Julian Vasquez Helig on How To Change the Story About Community-Based Education Just as the Progressive launched its new "Education Fellows" project, as a way to refocus education policy on democratic, child-centered principles, one of those fellows--Californ
10/1/2015 – A Misdirected War On Mayor De Blasio
10/1/2015 – A Misdirected War On Mayor De Blasio: Education ‘Reformers’ Wage A Misdirected War On Mayor De BlasioBy Jeff Bryant“If you listen to advocates for ‘education reform,’ New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and his education plans are to be regarded with high suspicion, at best, or flat out rejected … Regardless of what critics of de Blasio and his education plan say, this is not an argument ‘ab
Karen Wolfe: Was This Eli Broad’s Push Poll? | Diane Ravitch's blog
Karen Wolfe: Was This Eli Broad’s Push Poll? | Diane Ravitch's blog: Karen Wolfe: Was This Eli Broad’s Push Poll? Karen Wolfe is a public school parent in Los Angeles. a friend of hers received what sounds like a “push poll.” A push poll is a telephone call that begins by asking innocent questions but then turns into advocacy for an issue or a candidate. You assume it is a poll, but it is actually
Milwaukee Community Protests State Takeover Tucked into State Budget without Debate | janresseger
Milwaukee Community Protests State Takeover Tucked into State Budget without Debate | janresseger: Milwaukee Community Protests State Takeover Tucked into State Budget without DebateMilwaukee’s public schools typify the kind of school district now undergoing state takeover in a wave of such imposition of “recovery” or “achievement” districts being rushed through state legislatures. The bills are o
What Is Democratic Education -- and Education for Democracy? - Bridging Differences - Education Week
What Is Democratic Education -- and Education for Democracy? - Bridging Differences - Education Week: What Is Democratic Education -- and Education for Democracy?Dear Harry and friends, So what do I know from experience, observation and research about the essentials of schooling for democracy? I know that education which prepares the young to join and even surpass the adult world, where learnin
Hedge Funds Attack American Neighborhoods Again | PopularResistance.Org
Hedge Funds Attack American Neighborhoods Again | PopularResistance.Org: Hedge Funds Attack American Neighborhoods AgainA new report by our colleagues at the Center for Popular Democracy and the ACCE Institute uncovers how hedge funds and private equity firms have quietly amassed mortgage notes to 200,000 homes in communities around the USA — and they’re getting special treatment from the governme
Why Kindergarten in Finland Is All About Playtime (and Why That Could Be More Stimulating Than the Common Core) - The Atlantic
Why Kindergarten in Finland Is All About Playtime (and Why That Could Be More Stimulating Than the Common Core) - The Atlantic: The Joyful, Illiterate Kindergartners of FinlandForget the Common Core, Finland’s youngsters are in charge of determining what happens in the classroom.“The changes to kindergarten make me sick,” a veteran teacher in Arkansas recently admitted to me. “Think about what you
2015’s Best and Worst States for Teachers | WalletHub®
2015’s Best and Worst States for Teachers | WalletHub®: 2015’s Best and Worst States for TeachersMost educators don’t pursue their profession for the money. But that doesn’t justify paying teachers any less than they deserve, considering the profound difference they make in people’s lives. In reality, however, teachers across the U.S. are shortchanged every year — their salaries consistently fail
Bernie Sanders, Not Hillary Clinton, Deserves Union Endorsements | Ben Spielberg
Bernie Sanders, Not Hillary Clinton, Deserves Union Endorsements | Ben Spielberg: Bernie Sanders, Not Hillary Clinton, Deserves Union EndorsementsThe National Education Association (the union to which I used to belong) isconsidering an early endorsement of Hillary Clinton. This decision, like the American Federation of Teachers' endorsement of Clinton on July 11, would be a huge mistake.One reason
Texas resistance to No Child Left Behind may not matter after rewrite | Viewpoints
Texas resistance to No Child Left Behind may not matter after rewrite | Viewpoints: Texas resistance to No Child Left Behind may not matter after rewriteTexas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams, pictured here addressing Eastside Memorial High School in southeast Austin, has said that Texas will continue to fight for local control in education accountability requirements under No Child Left
US Educators Racist? School-To-Prison Pipeline Targeted By Arne Duncan Often A Diversity, Training Problem
US Educators Racist? School-To-Prison Pipeline Targeted By Arne Duncan Often A Diversity, Training Problem: US Educators Racist? School-To-Prison Pipeline Targeted By Arne Duncan Often A Diversity, Training ProblemAhmed Mohamed may be the most well-known student to be arrested at school, but he certainly wasn't the first. In Milledgeville, Georgia, there was Salecia Johnson, a 6-year-old handcuff
“I don’t think Chris Christie learned anything”: Phony education “reform,” Facebook cash, and the real casualty — public school students - Salon.com
“I don’t think Chris Christie learned anything”: Phony education “reform,” Facebook cash, and the real casualty — public school students - Salon.com: “I don’t think Chris Christie learned anything”: Phony education “reform,” Facebook cash, and the real casualty — public school studentsMark Zuckerberg, Chris Christie and Cory Booker were going to remake Newark's schools. Something got in the wayQ:
Despite Raging Scandals Builder's group urges Kevin Johnson to run for third term - Sacramento Business Journal
Builder's group urges Kevin Johnson to run for third term - Sacramento Business Journal: Builder's group urges Kevin Johnson to run for third termThe political advocacy organization Region Builders Inc. has announced a "preemptive" endorsement of Mayor Kevin Johnson in hopes of seeing him run for a third term as mayor in 2016.The action was announced Wednesday by Josh Wood, CEO of Region
Despite Big Problems Charters Attract Hedge Fund Support and Presidential Candidates Hungry for Dollars | Alan Singer
Despite Big Problems Charters Attract Hedge Fund Support and Presidential Candidates Hungry for Dollars | Alan Singer: Despite Big Problems Charters Attract Hedge Fund Support and Presidential Candidates Hungry for DollarsWhile the New York Times seems determined to promote charter schools, other news agencies and educational groups are expressing increased reservations about their lack of perform
YESTERDAY
Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA” - California Teachers Association
Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA” - California Teachers Association: Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA”Contact: CFT - Fred Glass, 510-579-3343, fglass@cft.org; CTA - Jonathan Goldman, 415-509-1654, jgoldman@cta.orgUnions’ right to determine membership withstands corporate legal assaultLos Angeles—U.S. District Court judge Stephen V. Wilson today announced the dismissal of “April Bain et al v. California Te
Fair does not Equal Equal | GoingPublic
Fair does not Equal Equal | GoingPublic: Fair does not Equal EqualWhen my children were younger, their operative word was “FAIR,” as in: “It’s NOT fair!.”“It’s not fair. Liz can stay up later than I can.”“It’s not fair. Jeff doesn’t have a curfew, and I did.”Most parents hear it. And most say, “I will give you what you need. You and Jeff are different and need different things. That’s what’s fair.
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/30/15
CORPORATE ED REFORMNews Corp. Sells Amplify to Existing Leadership Team | EdSurge NewsNews Corp. Sells Amplify to Existing Leadership Team | EdSurge News: News Corp. Sells Amplify to Existing Leadership TeamYesterday Amplify laid off upwards of 500 employees. Today Amplify has new owners.Or does it? News Corporation announced today that it has “sold its Amplify Insight and Learning businesses to a
