CORPORATE ED REFORM
Truth For America: New alum testimonials about @TeachForAmerica | Cloaking Inequity
Truth For America: New alum testimonials about @TeachForAmerica | Cloaking Inequity: Truth For America: New alum testimonials about @TeachForAmericaI received this open letter to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) from a Teach For America alum. She was assigned to teach special education in California for 2014. Teach For America has about 80 new TFA teachers in LAUSD. They recently re
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Closing Opportunity Gaps
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Closing Opportunity Gaps: Closing Opportunity GapsI want to be sure that everyone has seen this. It's important.CLOSING OPPORTUNITY GAPS An Action Plan for Accelerating Achievementfor African American Malesand Other Students of ColorIn this document, the District commits to some very specific benchmarks:Every student will achieve proficiency in Reading and Mathemat
To La. Gov.-Elect John Bel Edwards: John White Needs to Go ASAP. | deutsch29
To La. Gov.-Elect John Bel Edwards: John White Needs to Go ASAP. | deutsch29: To La. Gov.-Elect John Bel Edwards: John White Needs to Go ASAP. Former NYC Chancellor and White’s Mentor, Joel Klein, and John White. Created by a supporter of traditional public education in response to a Tweet by Klein that it is “imperative that he (White) continue the work [in Louisiana].On November 23, 3015, former
NYC Public School Parents: Class size at the Renewal schools: my testimony today
NYC Public School Parents: Class size at the Renewal schools: my testimony today: Class size at the Renewal schools: my testimony todayTestimony of Leonie Haimson before the NYC Council Education CommitteeOn the Renewal SchoolsNovember 23, 2015Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. My name is Leonie Haimson; I run Class Size Matters, a citywide advocacy group devoted to providing in
Gates Foundation put millions of dollars into new education focus: Teacher preparation - The Washington Post
Gates Foundation put millions of dollars into new education focus: Teacher preparation - The Washington Post: Gates Foundation put millions of dollars into new education focus: Teacher preparationYou can say this about Bill and Melinda Gates: They are persistent. They poured a few billion dollars into various school reform efforts in the past 15 years — but when things didn’t go quite as planned,
Opt-Out Rates Could Significantly Distort State Accountability in ESEA Deal - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Opt-Out Rates Could Significantly Distort State Accountability in ESEA Deal - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Opt-Out Rates Could Significantly Distort State Accountability in ESEA DealTesting opt-outs became one of the most high-profile topics in education over the past year. So does the pending agreement to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act require states to use test partici
CURMUDGUCATION: Clinton-Induced Charter Freakout Continues
CURMUDGUCATION: Clinton-Induced Charter Freakout Continues: Clinton-Induced Charter Freakout ContinuesMan, just thirty little words can cause sooooo much fuss.Most charter schools – I don’t want to say every one – but most charter schools, they don’t take the hardest-to-teach kids, or, if they do, they don’t keep them.These have been quoted over and over and over again. Sometimes they are quoted b
How John White Will Use His Own Failures to Sink Governor Elect John Bel Edwards (If he stays on) | Crazy Crawfish
How John White Will Use His Own Failures to Sink Governor Elect John Bel Edwards (If he stays on) | Crazy Crawfish: How John White Will Use His Own Failures to Sink Governor Elect John Bel Edwards (If he stays on)I have been writing for years about the numerous ways John White has been lying about the “progress” his agenda has brought the state of Louisiana. White has inflated the graduate rate,
John Bel Edwards, David Vitter are ‘night and day’ on major education issues: vouchers, charter schools, grading system | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana
John Bel Edwards, David Vitter are ‘night and day’ on major education issues: vouchers, charter schools, grading system | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana: John Bel Edwards, David Vitter are ‘night and day’ on major education issues: vouchers, charter schools, grading systemDemocrat John Bel Edwards and Republican David Vitter have radically different ideas on how to improve Louisiana’s publi
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Who Has the Best Coverage of McCleary Decision? Boston
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Who Has the Best Coverage of McCleary Decision? Boston: Who Has the Best Coverage of McCleary Decision? BostonOr rather, the Boston Globe. I had many people send me links to this story that appeared in the Globe on Saturday, Nov. 21st. It's part of their "Divided Nation" series and I hope to read more of the articles ( they cover a number of topics, not
Commentary: For LAUSD, maybe it's not the time to hire an outsider - LA School Report
Commentary: For LAUSD, maybe it's not the time to hire an outsider - LA School Report:Commentary: For LAUSD, maybe it’s not the time to hire an outsiderIt’s getting down to crunch time: Thanksgiving . . . Christmas . . . Last day on the job for LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines.By next week, names for his replacement will begin to flow with a list of candidates that could include such well-
3 Local Foundation Heads Try to Intervene in Broad Foundation LAUSD Plan | Nonprofit Quarterly
3 Local Foundation Heads Try to Intervene in Broad Foundation LAUSD Plan | Nonprofit Quarterly: 3 Local Foundation Heads Try to Intervene in Broad Foundation LAUSD PlanIn philanthropy, it is rare to see foundations protest each other’s work, but in Los Angeles, three foundations are speaking out about what they see as the potential undercutting of parent participation by the Broad Foundation in it
Why federal spending on disadvantaged students (Title I) doesn’t work | Brookings Institution
Why federal spending on disadvantaged students (Title I) doesn’t work | Brookings Institution: Why federal spending on disadvantaged students (Title I) doesn’t workExecutive SummaryThe Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is being reauthorized. Its largest program, Title I, provides funding to states and districts to improve education for disadvantaged students. However, its funding per s
States disagree on whether to release glitchy Common Core test results - CSMonitor.com
States disagree on whether to release glitchy Common Core test results - CSMonitor.com: States disagree on whether to release glitchy Common Core test resultsAfter a Common Core testing system overload last year forced many students to end the exams early, states are now deliberating the validity of the scores for those who were able to complete the test.The first results of new Common Core-aligne
Physical Fitness Test Results News Release - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education)
Physical Fitness Test Results News Release - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Physical Fitness Test Results Show Students Mostly Holding Steady SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that the percentage of students who met the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) performance standards in all six areas declined slightly but m
5 things to know about the financial cost of testing | Philadelphia Public School Notebook
5 things to know about the financial cost of testing | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: 5 things to know about the financial cost of testingThe Notebook is examining standardized testing this month. The topic is the focus of our upcoming edition due out this week.1. Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf has requested a total of $58.3 million for testing in the current budget.The Pennsylvania Department of Ed
Teacher to governor: This is what I take personally - The Washington Post
Teacher to governor: This is what I take personally - The Washington Post: Teacher to governor: This is what I take personallyIndiana Gov. Mike Pence recently created a mini-firestorm in his state when he was talking to teachers at an elementary school about the newly designed standardized tests called ISTEP. Noting that policymakers had expected the scores to go down because the tests were new an
Charter growth is ‘like the Wild West.’ | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com
SD County sees rise in non-local charters, lawsuits | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com: Out-of-town charters spur lawsuitsCharter growth is ‘like the Wild West.’They pop up in strip malls and churches offering an alternative to the traditional classroom experience.For many students, these small charter schools — some are satellite branches of sorts — provide a new chance at an education with flexibility a
California student suspension rate drops as ‘willful defiance’ punishments decline | EdSource
California student suspension rate drops as ‘willful defiance’ punishments decline | EdSource: California student suspension rate drops as ‘willful defiance’ punishments declineSchool suspension rates have fallen in California for students of every ethnicity in the last three years, a sign that a shift in discipline practices in many school districts is starting to have an effect, according to a s
Newark’s Baraka to launch “community schools” in South Ward–with Cerf’s blessing | Bob Braun's Ledger
Newark’s Baraka to launch “community schools” in South Ward–with Cerf’s blessing | Bob Braun's Ledger: Newark’s Baraka to launch “community schools” in South Ward–with Cerf’s blessingBaraka meets with Christie. shortly after the mayor’s election.Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Christopher Cerf, the state-appointed superintendent of the city schools, are soon expected to launch a “community schools in
With A Brooklyn Accent: Which Way Will Campus Protests Go?
With A Brooklyn Accent: Which Way Will Campus Protests Go?: Which Way Will Campus Protests Go?One of my great fears with the current wave of campus protests is that Universities will respond to student protests by trying to reshape student and faculty attitudes rather than having universities change who they recruit and admit and hire. Right now, what institutions seem to be doing, in part because
La. Gov.-Elect John Bel Edwards Wants a New State Superintendent. | deutsch29
La. Gov.-Elect John Bel Edwards Wants a New State Superintendent. | deutsch29: La. Gov.-Elect John Bel Edwards Wants a New State Superintendent.One of Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards’ desires is to rid Louisiana of education superintendent John White.Even though Governor Bobby Jindal promoted and endorsed White as state superintendent, technically it is the Board of Elementary and Secondary Educat
Late-Stage Draft of ESEA Reauthorization Bill | Truth in American Education
Late-Stage Draft of ESEA Reauthorization Bill | Truth in American Education: Late-Stage Draft of ESEA Reauthorization BillEducation Week shared what they thought to be a late-stage draft of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization that confirms much of what has already been leaked. We do not know if this is final version approved by the conferees on Thursday, but it’s lik
Educational Redlining: How Zillow’s School Ratings Help Segregate Communities | janresseger
Educational Redlining: How Zillow’s School Ratings Help Segregate Communities | janresseger: Educational Redlining: How Zillow’s School Ratings Help Segregate CommunitiesHeights Community Congress has just released Educational Redlining: How Zillow and GreatSchools Profit from Suspect School Ratings and Harm Communities, a report on the practice by Zillow, the real estate website, and GreatSchool
Schools Matter: Guest post: What could be wrong with a "community school" model?
Schools Matter: Guest post: What could be wrong with a "community school" model?: Guest post: What could be wrong with a "community school" model?Allison McDowell is a Philadelphia public school parent and a member of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools. This article is an expansion of her testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission on November 19, 2015. Whi
Charter expansion. Where is the IEA? | Fred Klonsky
Charter expansion. Where is the IEA? | Fred Klonsky: Charter expansion. Where is the IEA?Look closely at the picture above of those attending the press conference Friday at the Thompson Center in Chicago. They were there to oppose the actions of the Illinois Board of Eduction in seeking and receiving a $43 million federal grant to open 48 more charter schools, half downstate and half in Chicago. T
Troubled Students and Inclusion: Effect on Students WITHOUT Disabilities
Troubled Students and Inclusion: Effect on Students WITHOUT Disabilities: Troubled Students and Inclusion: Effect on Students WITHOUT DisabilitiesContrary to Arne Duncan, and the latest DOE report claiming IEPs should be written the same for everyone, troubled students–students with behavioral/emotional disabilities–should have the right to services to address their problems. If their difficulties
Two things NYC can do immediately to remedy the terrible and pernicious isolation of black and Latino children - The Hechinger Report
Two things NYC can do immediately to remedy the terrible and pernicious isolation of black and Latino children - The Hechinger Report: Two things NYC can do immediately to remedy the terrible and pernicious isolation of black and Latino childrenRecently, the New York City Department of Education’s Education Panel (a structure more accustomed to advising than governing) voted to omit a footnote in
A mother’s battle exposed inequities and injustices. a question of tax cuts or education - The Boston Globe
A mother’s battle exposed inequities and injustices. A state is held in contempt of court. But corporations save their tax breaks and promised education dollars aren’t flowing. - The Boston Globe: In Northwest, a question of tax cuts or educationA small group of demonstrators stood on the steps of the Temple of Justice and in view of the Legislative Building as they advocated for more state spendi
Accountability and the ESEA Reauthorization Deal: Your Cheat Sheet - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Accountability and the ESEA Reauthorization Deal: Your Cheat Sheet - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Accountability and the ESEA Reauthorization Deal: Your Cheat SheetThe newest proposed version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—dubbed the Every Student Succeeds Act—is almost over the congressional finish line, with votes in both chambers of Congress imminent.So how would accountabilit
Sen. Murray: Revised No Child Left Behind law ‘great step forward’ | The Seattle Times
Sen. Murray: Revised No Child Left Behind law ‘great step forward’ | The Seattle Times: Sen. Murray: Revised No Child Left Behind law ‘great step forward’One day after House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement about a revised No Child Left Behind law, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray spoke about the law and its effect on Washington schools.Congressional negotiators reached an agreement earlier this
YESTERDAY
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Guest Post: Rep Gerry Pollet Meets with Charter School Parents and Students
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Guest Post: Rep Gerry Pollet Meets with Charter School Parents and Students: Guest Post: Rep Gerry Pollet Meets with Charter School Parents and StudentsBy Representative Gerry Pollet, 46th District:Thursday offered a “learning moment” for students in charter schools, parents and legislators.Blue-shirted charter school students and parents came to the state capital
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 11/22/15
CORPORATE ED REFORMDumb and Dumber: Killing the Superintendent of Public Instruction. | BustED PencilsDumb and Dumber: Killing the Superintendent of Public Instruction. | BustED Pencils: Dumb and Dumber: Killing the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Under an elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Wisconsin public schools are now subject to:Act 10-Banning the human right of collective ba
