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Sunday, July 26, 2015

United Opt Out Offers an Intimate Portrait of Activism - Living in Dialogue

United Opt Out Offers an Intimate Portrait of Activism - Living in Dialogue:

United Opt Out Offers an Intimate Portrait of Activism





The administrators of United Opt Out have published An Activist Handbook for the Education Revolution: United Opt Out’s Test of Courage. It should of high interest to advocates for real change in our schools.
One of the benefits of the 2011 Save Our Schools march in Washington, DC, was the way new organizations emerged in the months and years that followed. Many of the activists now fighting for our children’s future met for the first time that hot July afternoon on the grass near the White House. United Opt Out (UOO) was one of the groups that emerged in the months that followed, with a sharp focus on equipping parents and educators with tools and information to opt out of high stakes tests, to starve the testing machinery of the raw material it needs to operate.
In their book, “An Activist Handbook for the Education Revolution,” the seven leaders of UOO make it clear that their vision extends far beyond the act of opting out of tests. They are trying to spark a social movement. The introduction makes this clear:
We share our story for a reason. Stories create action. The UOO story may be a catalyst for other small pockets of resistance out there who are right now asking, Is it possible? Can our small group do this? Can we make a difference? Yes. You can. Read our story and see how six individuals (now seven) with no money, in different locations, from different backgrounds, each working a day job, managed to make something happen.
The book opens with a review of the corporate reform project by Morna McDermott, who closes this chapter with a reminder:
Reformers aren’t afraid that schools are failing. They’re afraid that schools will succeed. Why else do they close programs that work? Why else rob children of the joy of 
United Opt Out Offers an Intimate Portrait of Activism - Living in Dialogue:

Newark trying to force teachers to talk parents out of special education programs | Bob Braun's Ledger

Newark trying to force teachers to talk parents out of special education programs | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Newark trying to force teachers to talk parents out of special education programs



Turnamian: So wrong about so many things
Turnamian: So wrong about so many things


Newark school administrators now working for newly appointed state superintendent Christopher Cerf are trying to force the city’s special education teachers and specialists to persuade the parents of the neediest of the city’s children to buy into a special “pathway” that could rob the students of much needed services.
At meetings a few weeks ago, teachers were given literal scripts to read to parents over the phone or in person in an effort to talk the mothers and fathers into abandoning self-contained, special needs classrooms for their children in favor of so-called “all-inclusive” classes that mix special needs students with the regular population.
The script, obtained by this site, reads as if the teachers were employed in selling new appliances to the parents rather than engaging in what could be a life-altering decision to change their children’s educational program. One script opens:
“We are calling to share exciting news about special education programs for the 2015-2016 school year,” it reads. “Newark Public School (cq) has created special education pathways for students with disabilities to increase opportunities to be educated in the general education program.”
It concludes with the blatant half-truth: “Research has shown that students educated in the general education classroom show more growth than their self-contained peers.”
The truth is that, indeed, some special education students how more growth in general education programs, while some do not. A comprehensive study  conducted by Princeton University reached this conclusion :
“The research does not support full-time inclusion for all students with Newark trying to force teachers to talk parents out of special education programs | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Brevard County School Board: $4 Million “improperly” paid for “undelivered” delivered software? Investigation needed… | Reclaim Reform

Brevard County School Board: $4 Million “improperly” paid for “undelivered” delivered software? Investigation needed… | Reclaim Reform:

Brevard County School Board: $4 Million “improperly” paid for “undelivered” delivered software? Investigation needed…





Watch Brevard County School Board members Andy Ziegler and Karen Henderson engage in double-talk about paying $4 million of “improper” payment for undelivered “delivered” software. Ziegler wants to know the definition of “delivered” and then declares it a matter of “perspective.”
Has anyone called Florida’s Attorney General about this?
Here are details and source quotes from a superb summary by Darcey Addo.
Next we heard from two attorneys from Widerman Malek. They were hired to review the CrossPointe contract, the amendments, and the payments.
A summary of their findings include:
  • Millions of dollars of payments were “improper,”
  • Information should have been brought to the School Board by staff when the “contract started going sideways,” and
  • Terms of the contract were not defined before the contract was executed. 
They indicated: “When we receive invoices from Crosspointe/EDR, there should have been a procedure whereby staff ensured that software had 
Brevard County School Board: $4 Million “improperly” paid for “undelivered” delivered software? Investigation needed… | Reclaim Reform:

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 7/26/15

SPECIAL NITE CAP 

CORPORATE ED REFORM



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Get Up Offa That Thing (Summer-Shaming) | The Jose Vilson
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BAT Congress in Washington DC | The Rick Smith Show
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Pearson selling some investments to be ‘100 percent’ focused on education - The Washington Post: Pearson selling some investments to be ‘100 percent’ focused on educationPearson, the world’s largest education company, the one that testing critics love to hate, wants to get much, much bigger. It is selling other investments so that it can focus entirely on its education business.The sales come at a
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A letter from a teacher to parents: ‘I can’t do it alone.” | Get Schooled
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Perdido Street School: How Education Reformers Fund Their Reform Lobbying Efforts Without Revealing Their Donors
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Geaux Teacher!: Helping Profits - Hurting Children
Geaux Teacher!: Helping Profits - Hurting Children: Helping Profits - Hurting ChildrenMedia gets an "A" for finding false negatives in U.S. Students winning math Olympiad.  Just 10 minutes of my research gives media an "F" for facts.  I suppose if I were a PAID journalist I could have saved 10 minutes. Here is the good news with the media touch - headline: They're No. 1: U.S. W
State of Michigan Failing Charter Schools: One Year Later Nothing Has Changed
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The Multiple Teacher Evaluation System(s) in New Mexico, from a Concerned New Mexico Parent | VAMboozled!
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Judging Success and Failure of Schools and Districts: Whose Criteria Count? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
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YESTERDAY

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 7/25/15
SPECIAL NITE CAP CORPORATE ED REFORMMore Education “Reform” From Those Who Created “No Child Left Behind.” Corporations Win, Teachers LoseMore Education “Reform” From Those Who Created “No Child Left Behind.” Corporations Win, Teachers Lose: More Education “Reform” From Those Who Created “No Child Left Behind.” Corporations Win, Teachers LoseHere’s something to ponder: who is in a better position





Seattle Schools Community Forum: Who to Vote For?

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Who to Vote For?:

Who to Vote For?


In discussions with friends and neighbors, I find two kinds of voters.  The "I got my ballot, filled it out and mailed it already" and the "I'm waiting until the last minute" voter.  I'm somewhere in-between.

I'm going to give you my picks for School Board but also throw out some picks for City Council as I think the make-up of the City Council could have a large affect on Seattle Schools (given the aggressive nature of Mayor Murray on this issue).

Note: in the primary you only vote for a School Board candidate if your district is up for election this year. However, after the primary, in the General election, you WILL be voting for four candidates.

Seattle School Board

District 1: I am truly disappointed in this race but both candidates, Michael Christophersen and Scott Pinkham, are moving onto the General election as they are the only two candidates.  Neither has a webpage or Facebook page and I certainly hope we get to know more about them because one will be elected.  (That is, unless there is a write-in candidate to be found.  Stranger things have happened.)

District 3Jill Geary.  Both Lauren McGuire and Geary are bright, capable women.  But I believe Jill Geary has the outlook and critical thinking skill set that this district needs right now.   The Times endorsed McGuire and The Stranger endorsed Geary.  (I want to note that somehow Geary's endorsements did not make it into the primary literature so I want to note that she is endorsed by: 


  • Washington State Democrats Progressive Caucus
  • Martin Luther King County Labor Council
  • King County Democrats
  • King County Young Democrats
  • 46th District Democrats
  • Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle
  • IUOE Local 609
  • Seattle School Board Director Sue Peters
  • State Representative Jessyn Ferrell
  • King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski
  • Seattle City Councilmember Mike O'Brien
  • Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell
  • Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (fmr)
  • Shoreline City Councilmember Janet Way (fmr)
District 4Rick Burke and Laura Gramer are advancing onto the General as they are the only two in their race.  I support Burke in this race.

District 6: Leslie Harris.  I supported Marty McLaren (and indeed worked on her campaign last time) but while she is a kind, gentle soul, she has been a disappointment.  Just like Geary over McGuire, Harris over McLaren because Leslie Harris has the keen eye and skills to ask critical questions and get real answers to support students/parents/educators AND taxpayers. Her election motto says it all: Transparency, Trust, Equity.

She has been endorsed by both the Times and The Stranger.  I invite you to check her endorsements page at her website; it's long and pretty amazing.

City Council

District 1 -  Lisa Herbold (Shannon Braddock is the corporate-supported 
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Who to Vote For?: