CORPORATE ED REFORM
New York Regents Vote to Exclude State Tests in Teacher Evaluations - The New York Times
New York Regents Vote to Exclude State Tests in Teacher Evaluations - The New York Times: New York Regents Vote to Exclude State Tests in Teacher EvaluationsNew York took another step toward removing state test scores as a component in teacher evaluations on Monday, when members of the Board of Regents voted in favor of a four-year moratorium on their use.The vote completed a sharp reversal of the
The end of public school desegregation? - The Washington Post
The end of public school desegregation? - The Washington Post: The end of public school desegregation? U.S. public schools are more segregated today than they have been for decades, and many believe the country’s policymakers have abandoned efforts to re-integrate schools. Here is a TedX Talk that looks at the issue, by Leslie Hinkson, an assistant professor of sociology at Georgetown University.
CURMUDGUCATION: Arts and Community
CURMUDGUCATION: Arts and Community: "Arts and Community"Arts and CommunityMy output will likely be down a bit this week because I have rehearsals every night and a performance Friday evening. I'm singing in a community chorus about 100 people who get together every other year to perform a big chunk of Handel's Messiah along with some other seasonal stuff.We are all volunteers who have re
Feds to Newark: Identify and help children hurt by Christie administration “reforms.” Now. | Bob Braun's Ledger
Feds to Newark: Identify and help children hurt by Christie administration “reforms.” Now. | Bob Braun's Ledger: Feds to Newark: Identify and help children hurt by Christie administration “reforms.” Now.PULSE, a grass roots organization, scores a victory for children and parents.A small but vocal grass roots organization in Newark has won a major, if limited, victory for city school parents and ch
Education Reform in Louisiana: A PAC of Lies and Liars. | Crazy Crawfish
Education Reform in Louisiana: A PAC of Lies and Liars. | Crazy Crawfish: Education Reform in Louisiana: A PAC of Lies and Liars.It’s been a few weeks since the final BESE elections wrapped up in Louisiana.(BESE is Louisiana’s elected state school board. The board as 8 elected positions and 3 appointed by the Governor and is responsible for setting policy for all public schools, private schools, c
Why Every Student Will NOT Succeed With the New Education Law | The Progressive
Why Every Student Will NOT Succeed With the New Education Law | The Progressive: Why Every Student Will NOT Succeed With the New Education Law Last week, after a seven-year delay, Congress overwhelmingly voted, and the president signed, to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, dubbed No Child Left Behind in 2002, and now called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This new law
The Danger in Sen. Ted Cruz's "School Choice" Proposal - Girard At Large
The Danger in Sen. Ted Cruz's "School Choice" Proposal - Girard At Large: The Danger in Sen. Ted Cruz’s “School Choice” ProposalA few short years ago, New Hampshire paved the way for school choice. With the passage of legislation allowing education tax credits for businesses, scholarship organizations like Network for Educational Opportunity came into existence. Since then, many low-in
Denying reality, Malloy blames legislature for cuts to Tourism and Arts in recent “Democratic budget bill” - Wait What?
Denying reality, Malloy blames legislature for cuts to Tourism and Arts in recent “Democratic budget bill” - Wait What?: Denying reality, Malloy blames legislature for cuts to Tourism and Arts in recent “Democratic budget bill”In a stunning attempt at revisionist history, Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy took toWNPR radio to blame the Connecticut General Assembly for the recent cuts to the state’
Ghastly Impact of Closing Schools on Students and Communities | Cloaking Inequity
Ghastly Impact of Closing Schools on Students and Communities | Cloaking Inequity: Ghastly Impact of Closing Schools on Students and CommunitiesA recent Capitol Hill forum on the impact of school closure held the Rayburn Congressional building demonstrated the ghastly impact of closing schools on students and communities.The Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education, and the Journey for
Marie Corfield: In remembrance of Newtown: Schools are becoming prisons
Marie Corfield: In remembrance of Newtown: Schools are becoming prisons: In remembrance of Newtown: Schools are becoming prisonsDecember 14th marks the three year anniversary of the terrorist attack atSandy Hook Elementary School, and nothing has been done to prevent itfrom happening again.If you follow me regularly, you know that every week I update (when necessary) and postthis piece as a protes
Opt-Out Campaign Must Continue | Alan Singer
Opt-Out Campaign Must Continue | Alan Singer: Opt-Out Campaign Must ContinueThe parent and teacher campaign to have children opt-out of high-stakes Common Core aligned testing is remarkably successful. In New York, 20% of students refused to take the high-stakes tests last April. The campaign is so successful that politicians on national and state levels from both major parties want to diffuse the
John Merrow Is Back (at Least Part-Time) and His Wisdom Is Just as Timely | John Thompson
John Merrow Is Back (at Least Part-Time) and His Wisdom Is Just as Timely | John Thompson: John Merrow Is Back (at Least Part-Time) and His Wisdom Is Just as TimelyJohn Merrow retired from PBS after 41 years of stellar reporting. But, he's posted a couple of timely pieces demonstrating that Merrow, even as a part-time blogger, offers a full plate of wisdom. I'll start with his second reality-based
Special Issue of “Educational Researcher” (Paper #4 of 9): Make Room VAMs for Observations | VAMboozled!
Special Issue of “Educational Researcher” (Paper #4 of 9): Make Room VAMs for Observations | VAMboozled!: Special Issue of “Educational Researcher” (Paper #4 of 9): Make Room VAMs for ObservationsRecall that the peer-reviewed journal Educational Researcher (ER) – recently published a “Special Issue” including nine articles examining value-added measures (VAMs). I have reviewed the next of nine art
CURMUDGUCATION: KY: Considering Charters
CURMUDGUCATION: KY: Considering Charters:KY: Considering ChartersKentucky has never jumped on the charter bandwagon. Some folks have been trying for years, but the legislature has always had trouble getting a bill passed, and so the charter sector has been dying on the vine. But the new governor would like to change that.Matt Bevin, the new governor whose previous job was investment management, ha
Marie Corfield: The Star Ledger's double standard on organized labor
Marie Corfield: The Star Ledger's double standard on organized labor: The Star Ledger's double standard on organized laborYesterday's Star Ledger editorial page is a case study in the double standards it applies to organized labor. On the one hand, they make an impassioned and completely justified plea in support of the unsustainable wages earned by SEIU 32BJ's 7,000 custodians and janitors who ar
Hurting the neediest children: Why charter schools are immoral | Bob Braun's Ledger
Hurting the neediest children: Why charter schools are immoral | Bob Braun's Ledger: Hurting the neediest children: Why charter schools are immoralToday, charter schools–funded by taxpayer dollars–will send their amateur and professional lobbyists to Trenton to block a bill that would place a moratorium on new charter schools until their impact on traditional public schools can be studied. The bi
The Washington Teacher: Broken Promises- It's December - Still No Contract for You!
The Washington Teacher: Broken Promises- It's December - Still No Contract for You!: Broken Promises- It's December - Still No Contract for You!No More Broken Promises!By Candi Peterson, General Vice PresidentStatements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, AFT, Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) or its members. Views are my own. For the record
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESJohn Dewey, founder of the Lab School where Mayor Emanuel sends his children, on DuSable librarian. 17-year-old DuSable senior Sabaria Dean“The librarian is like a mentor to me, a resource. She's dedicated her entire life to DuSable and the children in it. She deserves to be here...“Libraries are essential to all CPS schools, not j
Will New Federal Education Policy Make a Difference? - LA Progressive
Will New Federal Education Policy Make a Difference? - LA Progressive: Will New Federal Education Policy Make a Difference?President Barack Obama greets Kenmore Middle School eighth-grader Sofia Rios and the other stage participants prior to a bill signing ceremony for S. 1177, Every Student Succeeds Act, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, Dec. 10, 2015. Standing w
NYC Educator: You Can Fool Some of the People Some of the Time, but You Can't Fool Opt-Out NY
NYC Educator: You Can Fool Some of the People Some of the Time, but You Can't Fool Opt-Out NY: You Can Fool Some of the People Some of the Time, but You Can't Fool Opt-Out NYEven as UFT leadership breaks out the champagne over NY State's largely meaninglessCommon Core recommendations, Governor Cuomo ought to keep worrying. Because the fact is UFT leadership has played virtually no part in opt-out.
Pondering Chartering: What do we know about administrative and instructional spending? | School Finance 101
Pondering Chartering: What do we know about administrative and instructional spending? | School Finance 101: Pondering Chartering: What do we know about administrative and instructional spending?In a recent report, Gary Miron and I discuss some of the differences in resource allocation practices between Charter operators and district schools. Among other things, we discuss the apparently high adm
Bad Apples | EduShyster
Bad Apples | EduShyster: Bad ApplesRutgers Professor Bruce Baker shines a light on some extremely shady charter industry practices—and causes my hair to literally catch on fire…EduShyster: Your new study, about the policies that charter school operators use for financial benefit, is harshly critical of a few bad apples. But why focus on them as opposed to, say, the high-performing many?Bruce Baker
Gary Rubinstein, TFA Critic, Will Attend the 25th Anniversary of TFA | Diane Ravitch's blog
Gary Rubinstein, TFA Critic, Will Attend the 25th Anniversary of TFA | Diane Ravitch's blog: Gary Rubinstein, TFA Critic, Will Attend the 25th Anniversary of TFAGary Rubinstein, the most thoughtful of Teach for America’s critical alums, plans to attend the 25th anniversary of Teach for America. Gary’s blog has punctured the illusions of TFA and other corporate reformers again and again. Will he be
No gymnasiums, no cafeterias and no administrators. That’s school policy at AltSchools | TechCrunch
School Districts Are Standing In The Way Of Public School Edtech | TechCrunch: School Districts Are Standing In The Way Of Public School EdtechNo gymnasiums, no cafeterias and no administrators. That’s school policy at AltSchools, a chain of private, for-profit schools backed by the likes of Andreessen Horowitz and Mark Zuckerberg.At the location I visited, the school schedule was written on a whi
How far will N.Y. Gov. Cuomo really go in overhauling Common Core? - The Washington Post
How far will N.Y. Gov. Cuomo really go in overhauling Common Core? - The Washington Post: How far will N.Y. Gov. Cuomo really go in overhauling Common Core?Last week, a task force created by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to review Common Core curriculum and aligned standardized testing issued a report with a series of recommendations on how to change the standards and assessment. The report, whic
Florida gave about $70 million to charter schools that later closed; state recouped little | Miami Herald
Florida gave about $70 million to charter schools that later closed; state recouped little | Miami Herald: Florida gave about $70 million to charter schools that later closed; state recouped littleTALLAHASSEE Less than a mile from the state Capitol, a former steakhouse shows little evidence that it was once part of a movement to change Florida’s schools.It was on this location nearly two decades a
Ohio charter schools that misspent money still owe state $6 million | The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio charter schools that misspent money still owe state $6 million | The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio charter schools that misspent money still owe state $6 millionDozens of Ohio charter schools collectively have failed to repay more than $6 million in misspent tax dollars, a first-time compilation of state audits reveals.The improper spending involved about 40 of the tax-funded, privately operated sc
The fate of Zuckerberg’s “gift” to Newark schools - World Socialist Web Site
The fate of Zuckerberg’s “gift” to Newark schools - World Socialist Web Site: The fate of Zuckerberg’s “gift” to Newark schoolsFive years ago, Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg decided to promote “school reform” by making an unprecedented $100 million gift to the single school system of Newark, New Jersey. A real media event, the announcement was made on a wildly popular national television pro
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TFA Tries to Squash Its Critics via Less Than One Degree of Separation | deutsch29
TFA Tries to Squash Its Critics via Less Than One Degree of Separation | deutsch29: TFA Tries to Squash Its Critics via Less Than One Degree of Separation Wonder why this goose is here?One of the challenges in writing about corporate education reform concerns the complex web of involvement among corporate reformers, which is often evident in their sitting on each others’ nonprofit boards.Makes it
STAND - Meet The Candidates
STAND - Home: STAND For UTD 2016VOTE STAND CAUCUS 2016 PLATFORMGo to the Website: STAND - Home:
California approves tougher teacher training standards to help mainstreaming | EdSource
California approves tougher teacher training standards to help mainstreaming | EdSource: California approves tougher teacher training standards to help mainstreamingTeachers meet in Burlingame to talk about proposed changes in teacher credentials.Under federal pressure to increase the amount of time special education students spend in general education classrooms, the California Commission on Teac
Alabama Teacher of the Year Resigns– The Backstory, Part IV | deutsch29
Alabama Teacher of the Year Resigns– The Backstory, Part IV | deutsch29: Alabama Teacher of the Year Resigns– The Backstory, Part IVAnn Marie CorgillOn November 20, 2015, I drove from southern Louisiana to central Alabama in order to interview 2014-15 Alabama Teacher of the Year, Ann Marie Corgill, whose resignation three weeks prior, on October 30, 2015, made national news.I had the privilege of
The Dea(r)th of Opinions [TFA and Writing As A Whole] | The Jose Vilson
The Dea(r)th of Opinions [TFA and Writing As A Whole] | The Jose Vilson: The Dea(r)th of Opinions [TFA and Writing As A Whole]Back in 2009, ChalkbeatNY fka Gotham Schools had its first fundraiser featuring then-NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and NYU researcher and former education reform cheerleader Diane Ravitch. He was there to give one of many speeches about the disruptive education reform h
An Urban Teacher's Education: The Critical Link Between Education and Health: Why You Must Watch Paper Tigers
An Urban Teacher's Education: The Critical Link Between Education and Health: Why You Must Watch Paper Tigers: The Critical Link Between Education and Health: Why You Must Watch Paper TigersIt was an April morning early in my teaching career when, in the middle of a history lecture, I paused because of an unusual noise coming from the hallway."Finish copying down the rest of that slide, every
Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ Teach-In Elected Representative School Board Campaign
Teachers For Social Justice: TSJ Teach-In Elected Representative School Board Campaign: TSJ Teach-In Elected Representative School Board Campaign TSJ Teach-InElected Representative School Board CampaignSat, January 9, 20165:00 - 7:00 PMUIC College of Education1040 W. Harrison StreetRoom 3427All are welcome!Did you know that Chicago is the only school district in Illinois (of 891) without an electe
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 12/13/15
CORPORATE ED REFORM CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI (December 13)CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI (December 13): ICYMI (December 13)Time for that Sunday reading list!What's Your Purpose Rob Miller has one of those posts that is great for refocusing and gearing up for the week to come-- plus a cool diagramShaming the DevilMan. My hat is off-- way off-- to this blogger who decided to call out Steve Perry, the crowd-plea
