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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 11/11/15



CORPORATE ED REFORM





Parent Power in Indiana | Parents Across America
Parent Power in Indiana | Parents Across America: Parent Power in IndianaFrom John Harris Loflin, a leader of PAA Indianapolis affiliate Parent Power:Like PAA members and supporters, the B&LPI and Parent Power in Indianapolis know the importance of viable and authentic parent-teacher relationships to school success. This is why we are working with the IUPUI School of Education to bring in Dr.
Education Research Report: California 6th grade science books: Climate change a matter of opinion not scientific fact
Education Research Report: California 6th grade science books: Climate change a matter of opinion not scientific fact: California 6th grade science books: Climate change a matter of opinion not scientific factIf American teens are unsure about climate change or its cause, some school textbooks aren't helping, says teaching expert Diego Román, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, co-author of a n
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Corporate media turns the 1st Amendment on its head in Missouri
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Corporate media turns the 1st Amendment on its head in Missouri: Corporate media turns the 1st Amendment on its head in MissouriThe First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law... infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental
Investigate Chartergate D.C. has the nation’s fourth-highest concentration of charter school students - The Washington Post
D.C. has the nation’s fourth-highest concentration of charter school students - The Washington Post: D.C. has the nation’s fourth-highest concentration of charter school studentsThe District now has the nation’s fourth-highest concentration of charter school students, behind New Orleans, Detroit and Flint, Mich., according to anew report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.Three
A Challenge To The TeachStrong Campaign - Badass Teachers Association
Badass Teachers Association: A Challenge To The TeachStrong CampaignBy:  Marla Kilfoyle, Executive Director, The Badass Teachers Association Yesterday astroturf groups launched a new campaign to fix teaching.  It was called #TeachStrong.  It sadly included my two national unions.  I say “my” because they are my unions.…and by the way, I did not give them the permission to align with groups that ha
A year later, secrecy surrounds FBI probe of LAUSD's iPad program - LA School Report
A year later, secrecy surrounds FBI probe of LAUSD's iPad program - LA School Report: A year later, secrecy surrounds FBI probe of LAUSD's iPad programOn Dec. 1 it will be a year since FBI agents showed up at LA Unified’s headquarters with afederal grand jury subpoena and carted off 20 boxes of documents related to the district’s controversial iPad program.Since that day little if any new informat
CURMUDGUCATION: Selling Competency Based Education
CURMUDGUCATION: Selling Competency Based Education: Selling Competency Based EducationLurking just over the horizon is the next Big Reformster Thing, a movement designed to take everything wrong with test-based accountability and make it even worse-- Competency Based Education, a Big Dumb Idea Whose Time Has Come (Again). And as this thundering lumox gets closer, we can start to see how it will be
AERA Statement on (VAM) for the Evaluation of Educators and Educator Preparation Programs
AERA Statement on Use of Value-Added Models (VAM) for the Evaluation of Educators and Educator Preparation Programs: AERA Statement on Use of Value-Added Models (VAM) for the Evaluation of Educators and Educator Preparation ProgramsApproved by AERA Council, June 2015The purpose of this statement is to inform those using or considering the use of value-added models (VAM) about their scientific and
Those Lying Jason Engen Eyes | Crazy Crawfish
Those Lying Jason Engen Eyes | Crazy Crawfish: Those Lying Jason Engen EyesI was just notified that Jason Engen had the audacity to file an ethics complaintagainst Kathy Edmonston for producing literature he is not against Common Core.As proof of his opposition all we have is is word and an ad he produced claiming he was against it.  On the other side of the equation is a preponderance of the evid
When School Feels Like Jail | The Marshall Project
When School Feels Like Jail | The Marshall Project: When School Feels Like JailIsolation rooms and paddling: What some schools in the South are doing to keep students in line.A student inside the Yazoo City Alternative Learning Center, an alternative school in the Mississippi Delta.RORY DOYLE FOR MEDIUM/BRIGHTRockmon Montrell “Rock” Allen, an 18-year-old from Jackson, Mississippi, has never gone t
Guest Blog: Friedrichs Is Missing Its Warning Label - Lily's Blackboard
Guest Blog: Friedrichs Is Missing Its Warning Label - Lily's Blackboard: Guest Blog: Friedrichs Is Missing Its Warning LabelMy name is Tina Adams, and I am a school lunch lady in Mansfield, Ohio. Every school day for the past 30 years, I have cooked healthy meals and nutritious treats to feed hundreds of hungry kids. For many of my students, my food is the only food they eat all day. I keep my stu
ESEA Issue to Watch: How Much Power Should the Education Secretary Have? - Politics K-12 - Education Week
ESEA Issue to Watch: How Much Power Should the Education Secretary Have? - Politics K-12 - Education Week: ESEA Issue to Watch: How Much Power Should the Education Secretary Have?Should the U.S. Secretary of Education be a powerful cabinet official able to prod states on everything from standards to dramatic school turnarounds? Or should they basically hand over the car keys to states?That questio
The Nation's Top K-12 Education Foundations 2015
dewey & associates | STUDIES: EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS 2015Stepping Up: The Nation's Top K-12 Education Foundations 2015 advocates for the importance of K-12 education foundations while recognizes those that do it best.Stepping Up is the nation's only annual study and ranking of K-12 education foundations. The study includes education foundations in the top 200 largest school districts in the nat
In leading LAUSD, big goals are no substitute for planning and hard work - LA Times
In leading LAUSD, big goals are no substitute for planning and hard work - LA Times: In leading LAUSD, big goals are no substitute for planning and hard work In school superintendent searches across the nation, parents, teachers and the public tend to rank educational “vision” as the No. 1 attribute required for a new leader. But in online surveys and focus groups in Los Angeles Unified, vision ca
If This Post Feels Entirely Recycled, That’s Because It Is (Much Like #TeachStrong) | EduShyster
If This Post Feels Entirely Recycled, That’s Because It Is (Much Like #TeachStrong) | EduShyster: If This Post Feels Entirely Recycled, That’s Because It Is (Much Like #TeachStrong)Welcome (back) to Lake Wobegon Academy, where every teacher is highly effective, and every student is (still) in the top quintile…Oh #TeachStrong… Like one’s loved ones there is something irritatingly familiar about you
Testing opponents furious about Oregon's opt-out notice for parents | OregonLive.com
Testing opponents furious about Oregon's opt-out notice for parents | OregonLive.com: Testing opponents furious about Oregon's opt-out notice for parentsTesting opponents are furious that Oregon's official opt-out forms, required under a new law giving parents broad rights to exempt their children from lengthy standardized English and math tests, portray testing as highly advantageous to students
CURMUDGUCATION: TeachStrong's Nine Steps (To Teacher Awesomeness)
CURMUDGUCATION: TeachStrong's Nine Steps (To Teacher Awesomeness): TeachStrong's Nine Steps (To Teacher Awesomeness)We've already discussed who and what the new #TeachStrong campaign might be. But I still think it's only fair to look at their nine points, their nine steps to building a better teacher, and consider their validity.Yes, it starts with the premise that teaching needs to be modernized
Project to recognize ‘high schools of opportunity’ for all students goes national - The Washington Post
Project to recognize ‘high schools of opportunity’ for all students goes national - The Washington Post: Project to recognize ‘high schools of opportunity’ for all students goes nationalLast year, a project called Schools of Opportunity was launched as a pilot effort to honor high schools that work hard to offer all students a chance to succeed. Spearheaded by two veteran educators, it was differe
Maybe #TeachStrong can answer this question for me. | @ THE CHALKFACE
Maybe #TeachStrong can answer this question for me. | @ THE CHALKFACE: Maybe #TeachStrong can answer this question for me.At what point in the “non-traditional” teacher’s preparation, over the course of the five-week summer camp, does it say in the syllabus that it is acceptable for a young woman to fireman carry an elementary student throwing a tantrum up two flights of stairs?Would it not be mor
Charter School Problems Just Continue to Surface | janresseger
Charter School Problems Just Continue to Surface | janresseger: Charter School Problems Just Continue to SurfaceYou have to give John Merrow credit for being fair, thorough, and dogged.  Merrow is the reporter, just retired, who has covered education for the PBS NewsHour.  Merrow has never been ideological and he has shown himself willing to change his mind.  He is the guy who filmed the tough Mic
With A Brooklyn Accent: Time for a 180 Degree Reversal on Education Policy
With A Brooklyn Accent: Time for a 180 Degree Reversal on Education Policy: Time for a 180 Degree Reversal on Education PolicyAs economic conditions worsen for both the middle class and the poor many children are coming to school harboring extreme stress. They are fearful, tense, in the worst instances lacking sleep and nourishment, wondering if anyone can care for themThe LAST thing they need whe
LAUSD board hears about coming financial crisis, considers impact of charters | 89.3 KPCC
LAUSD board hears about coming financial crisis, considers impact of charters | 89.3 KPCC: LAUSD board hears about coming financial crisis, considers impact of chartersFor nearly an hour on Tuesday, Los Angeles Unified School District board members heard bleak news about the school district’s finances over the next five years from members of a blue-ribbon panel.The panelists pointed to expensive e
Children's Education in the Age of Mass Incarceration - The Atlantic
Children's Education in the Age of Mass Incarceration - The Atlantic: How Parental Incarceration Affects a Child’s Education“Through it all, children suffer.”An inmate looks at his daughter during a special Father's Day visit as part of the "Get On The Bus" program at California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo in May 2015. Mario Anzuoni / ReutersThis past summer, The Atlantic’s Sarah Yag
Hillary Clinton wades into the internal Democratic battle over public schools - The Washington Post
Hillary Clinton wades into the internal Democratic battle over public schools - The Washington Post: Hillary Clinton wades into the internal Democratic battle over public schoolsHillary Clinton long skirted the internal Democratic Party conflict over the best way to improve public schools. She avoided the fight between teachers unions, which want heavier investment and less blame for educators, an
Common Core testing showdown in Massachusetts - The Hechinger Report
Common Core testing showdown in Massachusetts - The Hechinger Report: Common Core testing showdown in MassachusettsAs the state considers what standardized test to give this spring, here’s a closer look at two of the optionsMassachusetts could further undermine the commonness of the Common Core standards when it votes this month on which standardized test the state will use this spring.The Massach
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » No one expects the Spanish Inquisition…
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » No one expects the Spanish Inquisition…: No one expects the Spanish Inquisition…As we ramp up to a Presidential election year, articles are coming out looking at the long term viability of the major political parties. As many know, our country has been undergoing a demographic change. We’ve seen this in the outcome of the last two presidential elections, wh
Professional Teachers—Click, Click! Poof! You’re Gone!
Professional Teachers—Click, Click! Poof! You’re Gone!: Professional Teachers—Click, Click! Poof! You’re Gone!The attack on teacher education is fast and furious. Privatizing America’s public schools means getting rid of career teachers who support instruction geared to a child’s needs. A way to purge the country of real teachers is to extinguish their teacher education programs and make teaching
The Common Core-Inspired “Explain Your Answers” Rule in Math Is Misguided - The Atlantic
The Common Core-Inspired “Explain Your Answers” Rule in Math Is Misguided - The Atlantic: Explaining Your Math: Unnecessary at Best, Encumbering at WorstCommon Core-era rules that force kids to diagram their thought processes can make the equations a lot more confusing than they need to be.At a middle school in California, the state testing in math was underway via the Smarter Balanced Assessment
Hillary Clinton on charter schools: “They don't take the hardest-to-teach kids” - Vox
Hillary Clinton on charter schools: “They don't take the hardest-to-teach kids” - Vox: Hillary Clinton on charter schools: “They don't take the hardest-to-teach kids”One of the big, undecided policy issues of the post-Obama Democratic Party is whether education reformers or teachers unions and their allies will control the party's education policy. Hillary Clinton said something over the weekend t
Democrats Push Arne Duncan To Aid Defrauded For-Profit College Students
Democrats Push Arne Duncan To Aid Defrauded For-Profit College Students: Democrats Push Arne Duncan To Aid Defrauded For-Profit College StudentsPressure is mounting on the education secretary to relieve defrauded student loan borrowers of their debts.Education Secretary Arne Duncan should stop delaying promised debt relief to defrauded student loan borrowers and use a recent federal court ruling t
A serious rant about education jargon and how it hurts efforts to improve schools - The Washington Post
A serious rant about education jargon and how it hurts efforts to improve schools - The Washington Post: A serious rant about education jargon and how it hurts efforts to improve schoolsIf you have ever had children in school, or read a story about education policy, or participated in a school meeting, or attended school (which is pretty much every one of you), you have been confronted with edu-sp
After Video of Calif. Police Breaking Up Teachers Union Meeting Goes Viral, School Apologizes - Working In These Times
After Video of Calif. Police Breaking Up Teachers Union Meeting Goes Viral, School Apologizes - Working In These Times: After Video of Calif. Police Breaking Up Teachers Union Meeting Goes Viral, School ApologizesIn a video widely circulated on social media, Alameda County sheriff’s deputies can be seen interrupting a lunchtime union meeting held at San Lorenzo High on October 20 for local teacher

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Agency’s Historic Ruling Will Help Teachers Improve Learning Conditions at Statewide Charter - California Teachers Association
Agency’s Historic Ruling Will Help Teachers Improve Learning Conditions at Statewide Charter - California Teachers Association: AGENCY’S HISTORIC RULING WILL HELP TEACHERS IMPROVE LEARNING CONDITIONS AT STATEWIDE CHARTERThree CTA teachers at CAVA – from r. Debbie Scoltock, an algebra and geometry high school teacher; Sara Vigrass, an elementary teacher; and Jen Shilen, a social sciences teacher –
Carmel Martin’s TeachStrong: An Offering for Hillary? | deutsch29
Carmel Martin’s TeachStrong: An Offering for Hillary? | deutsch29: Carmel Martin’s TeachStrong: An Offering for Hillary?On November 10, 2015, the Center for American Progress (CAP) issued this press release promoting what it calls a “campaign… to modernize and elevate teaching,” TeachStrong.Allow me to offer some observations on this TeachStrong press release, particularly as concerns CAP VP Carme
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 11/10/15
CORPORATE ED REFORMThe Philanthropy Hustle | JacobinThe Philanthropy Hustle | Jacobin: The Philanthropy HustleGlobal North or South, private foundations are part of the problem, not the solution.Meet Ajay Banga. The son of an Indian army officer, Banga was born in Khadki, a cantonment a few hours outside Mumbai. After studying economics at Delhi University, he took an MBA from the Indian Institute