How we got the Common Core Standards: Federal Manipulation Through Race to the Top | Seattle Education

How we got the Common Core Standards: Federal Manipulation Through Race to the Top | Seattle Education:

How we got the Common Core Standards: Federal Manipulation Through Race to the Top

From the Truth in American Education, An admission of Federal manipulation through Race to the Top:

Arne Duncan’s former chief of staff pulls back the curtain on Race to the Top

We couldn’t keep up with the enormous load of data that the competition generated—and we learned that we didn’t have to. The public did it for us. State and local watchdogs kept their leaders honest by reviewing and publicly critiquing applications. Education experts provided analyses of competition data. And researchers will be mining this trove of information for years to come.

Joanne Weiss was the director of the Race to the Top program at the U.S. Department of Education and Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s chief of staff. She wrote an essayat Stanford Social Innovation Review that is enlightening in that we finally have a USDED official admit the truth about the federal role in foisting Common Core on to the states.

I encourage you to read the whole piece, but I’ll pull a few excerpt f interest.

Weiss acknowledges that budgetary challenges along with offering larger awards induced states to apply.

The competition took place during a time of profound budgetary challenge for state governments, so the large pot of funding that we had to offer was a significant inducement for states to compete.

This process is typically different than how federal grant making has been done before as she explains:

…we decided that winners would have to clear a very high bar, that they 

How we got the Common Core Standards: Federal Manipulation Through Race to the Top | Seattle Education:

Ed Notes Online: Eva Moskowitz Sept. 30 Rally Prelude to her Mayoral Campaign: Using Kids, Parents and Teachers Paid With Public Funds

Ed Notes Online: Eva Moskowitz Sept. 30 Rally Prelude to her Mayoral Campaign: Using Kids, Parents and Teachers Paid With Public Funds:

Eva Moskowitz Sept. 30 Rally Prelude to her Mayoral Campaign: Using Kids, Parents and Teachers Paid With Public Funds

Leaked Success Academy memo: tell parents rally is not political... Upcoming charter Sept. 30 anti-de Blasio rally is blatant misuse - theft of public funds.

Success administrators are also strongly encouraging parents to attend the rally and march even if it presents hardships for them in terms of arranging for child care or taking time off from their jobs.

Meaning they have to take off from work - and if they don't want to attend the rally they have to arrange alternate child care ...

The majority of Success Academy students — 77 percent — are eligible for free or reduced price lunch, meaning their families live at or below the poverty level.  For parents who feel they cannot take time off from work, employees are asked to respond, "parents took off work to stand up and make sure that you have this great school option for your family. What if they hadn't shown up and taken the day off work?"

And they will be "tossed" if they don't attend:

Staffers are also encouraged to suggest that parents with children in Success' elementary school may not have Ed Notes Online: Eva Moskowitz Sept. 30 Rally Prelude to her Mayoral Campaign: Using Kids, Parents and Teachers Paid With Public Funds:

Systems Thinking: Seeing How Everything is Connected | Creative by Nature

Systems Thinking: Seeing How Everything is Connected | Creative by Nature:

Systems Thinking: Seeing How Everything is Connected

“People normally cut reality into compartments, and so are unable to see the interdependence of all phenomena. To see one in all and all in one is to break through the great barrier which narrows one’s perception of reality.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Nowadays, most people seem to be aware of the ecological crisis facing our planet. We understand that our consumer lifestyles create toxic waste that pollutes the air, water and land. We understand that these come back to us and may account for the rise in health problems such as cancer, asthma and allergies.

We know that animal species are going extinct because of the forests we have cut down in order to raise cattle and grow popular “consumer” foods such as cocoa and coffee. Most of us grasp that the increase in carbon dioxide in the air (from our burning of fossil fuels) is making the earth warmer, which creates more hurricanes, melts glaciers and will lead to rising ocean levels and flooding.

We can understand how deforestation leads to an expansion of deserts, which then creates dust storms in Beijing and food shortages in Northern Africa. Thanks to the media and schools most people (not living in denial) understand the connections between these Systems Thinking: Seeing How Everything is Connected | Creative by Nature:

It doesn’t look good for Newark’s neighborhood schools | Bob Braun's Ledger

It doesn’t look good for Newark’s neighborhood schools | Bob Braun's Ledger:

It doesn’t look good for Newark’s neighborhood schools

The committee that is supposed to figure out how the state will give up control of the Newark schools after 20 years has scheduled its first public meeting Wednesday night (Sept. 23).  The  “Newark Educational Success Board” (NESB)– established in a deal between Gov. Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka–is supposed to find out what the community  thinks but the committee has only met secretly since its creation  in June. The members of the committee–five appointed by Christie, four appointed by Baraka (with Christie holding a veto over the mayor’s choices)–won’t even say how many times they’ve met secretly because they are under a gag order that forbids its members from making public statements. All questions must be directed to the mayor’s office and the mayor has a major political stake in the perception of its success.

So much for the word “public” in public education. So much for transparency. But that may be the least of its problems.

Early signs are not promising for those favoring, not just a return to local school control, but also a restoration of traditional neighborhood public schools after 20 It doesn’t look good for Newark’s neighborhood schools | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Raw Scores, Scaled Scores, and Louisiana’s PARCC-ish Tests | deutsch29

Raw Scores, Scaled Scores, and Louisiana’s PARCC-ish Tests | deutsch29:

Raw Scores, Scaled Scores, and Louisiana’s PARCC-ish Tests

A number of Louisiana parents are insisting that the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) release raw score information on the PARCC-sort-of test that it administered in spring 2015 to students in grades 3 through 8.

I agree that parents have the right to know their children’s raw scores. Yet these raw scores must accompany scaled scores in order to be understood.

The reason for this is that standardized testing utilizes various forms of a test. Sometimes various forms are given in the same test administration. Other times, the forms are altered as items are changed out in order to avoid unfair advantage to test takers in future administrations.

For any standardized test, a raw score is available for each test taker. However, some versions of a test are easier than other versions. Therefore, the raw score could be biased in favor of students taking the easier test. In other words, two students– one who scores a higher score on an easier version of a test and another who takes a more difficult version– might actually be “equal” in their performance when the outcome is adjusted for differences in test difficulty.

Scaled scores account for the difficulty of tests and adjust the score to account for such differences in test form difficulty. They do so via a method called “equating.”

For more on raw scores, scaled scores, and equating, see this brief, 2011 article by ETS.

Now, let’s turn our attention for a moment to Louisiana and its PARCC-ish test.

All of the other states that purported to give PARCC tests in 2015 contracted with Pearson, the vendor of PARCC tests. Louisiana gave its PARCC-styled tests via an old contract with Data Recognition Corp (DRC).

So, for all other states that called themselves “PARCC states” in spring 2015, Pearson is handling the scoring (including scaling and equating).

DRC appears to be doing so for LDOE. (The PARCC website for Louisiana notes that Raw Scores, Scaled Scores, and Louisiana’s PARCC-ish Tests | deutsch29:

Another Opt Out Message Being Hijacked - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform

Another Opt Out Message Being Hijacked - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform:

Another Opt Out Message Being Hijacked

In August 2015 the National Association of State Boards of Educators (NASBE) created a handy dandy chart entitled “Opt Out Guidance” for all fifty states. How wonderful of them. Their chart was highlighted in a recent Washington Post article and seems to be gaining traction. Sounds great….right? Um. Nope. Why?

The NASBE chart itself is problematic. It gives little useful information. For example under Florida it simply states “opt outs are not permitted” and explains why. That’s it?

Meanwhile three years ago United Opt Out created 50 state opt out guides, that provide, in DETAIL, current information for each state, written by opt out leaders in those states, and updated annually. Our guides say, “This is what your state legislation says,” and, “this is what you need to do.” Of course, the long and the short of it is this: REFUSE THE TESTS. REFUSE IT ALL. THIS IS AN ACT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. In the end it doesn’t matter what your state legislation “permits.” But parents want to be informed. And so the guides try to provide as much information as possible.

So is the information that NASBE publishing (or promoting) actually USEFUL? Not really.  It might serve to deter many parents in most of these states, to just give after reading “No opt out permitted” in their state.

The second and more important reason promoting the NASBE guide is problematic (and is probably tied to why it’s basically useless) is WHO NASBE is. Before steering opt out parents to their site folks might do well to know more about NASBE. The partners who fund them include:

Pearson

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

McGraw Hill

ETS

K12 Inc

Wireless Generation

ACT

College Board

Measured Progress

And many, many more…..

Why is Another Corporate-Driven Non-profit Trying to Appear “Opt Out Friendly”?

Again, the opt out narrative is being hijacked.  And it’s not the first time. Education Commission of the States(ECS) also created an “opt out guide” and attempted to steer traffic to their website under the guise of appearing supporting of testing refusal. And yet… Closely examine the funders and partners of ECS.  The list includes General Electric, State Farm, Amplify, Pearson, Verizon, Corinthean,Another Opt Out Message Being Hijacked - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform:

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/21/15

CORPORATE ED REFORM

CURMUDGUCATION: Time To Breathe

CURMUDGUCATION: Time To Breathe: Time To BreatheI looked over the brink today. For a moment, I wanted to throw stones at a teachable moment.Context. Not an excuse, but context.My building has been in a state of flux for the last few years. This is not all bad news-- we have made some moves that have removed toxic elements from the life of the school, and we have embraced some new opportunities. Bu

by mike simpson / 59min 

Scott Walker Suspends Presidential Campaign After Late Anti-Union Push - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Scott Walker Suspends Presidential Campaign After Late Anti-Union Push - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Scott Walker Suspends Presidential Campaign After Late Anti-Union PushWisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced Monday that he has suspended of the 2016 presidential campaign, after his poll numbers recently dropped to less than 1 percent.The governor becomes the second Republican to effectively ex

by mike simpson / 1h 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter School Updates

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter School Updates: Washington State Charter School UpdatesToday the Washington State Charter School Association announced that thestate Supreme Court had granted their request for more time to file for a reconsideration of the ruling on the charter law from the Court.  The due date had been around this time and is now October 24th. I'm thinkin

by mike simpson / 2h 

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Mayoral control of schools? Consider Kevin Johnson.

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Mayoral control of schools? Consider Kevin Johnson.: Mayoral control of schools? Consider Kevin Johnson.K.J. with pals Arne Duncan and Arnold Schwarzenegger at a 2009 rally in Sacramento. Photo via APThe rising star, it seems, set up a fake government—and some people are starting to notice.If any city is still contemplating turning their schools over to mayoral

by mike simpson / 2h 

Those Terrifying Teachers | parentingthecore

Those Terrifying Teachers | parentingthecore: Those Terrifying TeachersThose who control education policy in this country these days are obsessed with getting our kids college and career ready. They want our kids to succeed. But their narrow definition of success is bankrupt of humanity. The implicit assumption in a goal of “college and career readiness” is that it is the job of schools to prepare

by mike simpson / 2h 

The Problem:  Some believe what isn't true and others refuse to believe what is… - Wait What?

The Problem:  Some believe what isn't true and others refuse to believe what is… - Wait What?: The Problem:  Some believe what isn’t true and others refuse to believe what is…As we contemplate how it is possible that elected officials like Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy remain steadfastly committed to his anti-teacher, anti-public education, pro-Common Core testing and pro-charter school corpor

by mike simpson / 2h 

Auditor finds more problems at state's first charter school :: WRAL.com

Auditor finds more problems at state's first charter school :: WRAL.com: Auditor finds more problems at state's first charter schoolSEATTLE — The state auditor has found sloppy bookkeeping, cash flow problems and a host of other issues at Washington's first charter school.The report comes on the same day that the Washington Supreme Court said it will allow more time to file a motion asking the jus

by mike simpson / 2h 

NEWSLETTER: #FightForDyett Hunger Strike Ends/Common Core Test Results – The Network For Public Education

NEWSLETTER: #FightForDyett Hunger Strike Ends/Common Core Test Results – The Network For Public Education: NEWSLETTER: #FightForDyett Hunger Strike Ends/Common Core Test ResultsOn Saturday, after 34 days, the #FightForDyett hunger strike came to an end. The very same day, I was lucky enough to speak with Jitu Brown about the end of the hunger strike. You can listen to my full, uninterrupted, inter

by mike simpson / 5h 

Take the CEO and Policymaker Challenge—Teach A Year in a Poor Public School!

Take the CEO and Policymaker Challenge—Teach A Year in a Poor Public School!: Take the CEO and Policymaker Challenge—Teach A Year in a Poor Public School!I would like to challenge CEOs and education policymakers, and anyone else who thinks they know best what teachers should do, even though they have never been in a classroom, except perhaps for a few photo opts, to take the teaching challenge.Spe

by mike simpson / 5h 

#FightForDyett Interview Timeline – The Network For Public Education

#FightForDyett Interview Timeline – The Network For Public Education: #FightForDyett Interview TimelineBelow you will find a history of the Dyett hunger strike, as told by the hunger strikers themselves in radio and television interviews. The #FightForDyett hunger strike lasted 34 days, and is the first example of a community successfully stopping a public school from being closed.NPE continues to

by mike simpson / 5h 

Proposed L.A. charter school expansion aims for 130,000 seats, draft document says - LA Times

Proposed L.A. charter school expansion aims for 130,000 seats, draft document says - LA Times:Proposed L.A. charter school expansion aims for 130,000 seats, draft document saysA Confidential draft obtained by The Times seems to confirm earlier reports that the Broad Foundation is or was hoping to place half of the students in the Los Angeles Unified School District into charter schools over the ne

by mike simpson / 6h 

Gary Rubinstein: This Is the Book That TFA Does NOT Want You to Read | Diane Ravitch's blog

Gary Rubinstein: This Is the Book That TFA Does NOT Want You to Read | Diane Ravitch's blog: Gary Rubinstein: This Is the Book That TFA Does NOT Want You to Read Gary Rubinstein, a former member of Teach for America, now a career math teacher in Stuyvesant High School in New York City, has become one of the most formidable critics of TFA, albeit a critical friend.Here he describes a new book, Teac

by mike simpson / 7h 

Dueling studies probe cause of teacher shortage

Dueling studies probe cause of teacher shortage: Dueling studies probe cause of teacher shortageInvestigations into challenges recruiting and retaining teachers are headed by two groups that are often at odds on education policy in Indiana.Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz (Photo: Charlie Nye / The Star file photo)Reports that some Indiana school districts have struggled to

by mike simpson / 7h 

Public school advocates rally support for MPS schools

Public school advocates rally support for MPS schools: Public school advocates rally support for MPS schoolsTeachers, students and supporters rallied at more than 100 public schools across Milwaukee on Friday in a show of support for public education and opposition to the law passed this year that would shift control of some underperforming city schools to the Milwaukee County executive.Also Frida

by mike simpson / 7h 

Why an Early NEA Clinton Endorsement Will Backfire - Living in Dialogue

Why an Early NEA Clinton Endorsement Will Backfire - Living in Dialogue: Why an Early NEA Clinton Endorsement Will Backfire By Anthony Cody.In May of 2011, as the NEA and AFT participated in planning a major protest of the Obama administration’s education policies, the NEA leadership announced they were endorsing President Obama for re-election,more than a year prior to the election in November, 2

by mike simpson / 8h 

CURMUDGUCATION: Worshiping Money

CURMUDGUCATION: Worshipping Money: Worshiping MoneyIt's in our country's dna, this conflicted view about wealth. The Puritans believed that money and wealth and stuff were unimportant, that anything that glorified the person and not God was bad. But the Puritans also believed that God would watch over His chosen individuals, and so wealth and stuff were a sign that you were one of God's elect.We a

by mike simpson / 8h 

This little light of mine: Scholar activism | Cloaking Inequity

This little light of mine: Scholar activism | Cloaking Inequity: This little light of mine: Scholar activismThe moment before you are served up to an audience as the attraction for the next hour is always a stressful time. Worried about whether you will be as cogent and articulate as planned and wondering if the technology will work properly is enough to occupy yourself during the verbal introduct

by mike simpson / 8h 

The Importance of Examining Schooling Policing in the Aftermath of McKinney and Ahmed Mohamed - The Atlantic

The Importance of Examining Schooling Policing in the Aftermath of McKinney and Ahmed Mohamed - The Atlantic: When Schooling Meets PolicingThousands of sworn law-enforcement officers are posted at U.S. public schools. What does that do to campus culture?A Lawrence Police Department officer walks a narcotics dog down a school hall in Indianapolis.Michael Conroy / APThe events have grabbed headlines

by mike simpson / 8h 

The NEA May Be About to Endorse Hillary Clinton Without Input From Majority of Members | gadflyonthewallblog

The NEA May Be About to Endorse Hillary Clinton Without Input From Majority of Members | gadflyonthewallblog: The NEA May Be About to Endorse Hillary Clinton Without Input From Majority of MembersThe largest labor union in the United States may be about to endorse Hillary Clinton for President without a poll of its membership.Leadership at the National Education Association (NEA) has been making t

by mike simpson / 8h 

Michael Mulgrew: Firing teachers vs. fixing schools - NY Daily News

Michael Mulgrew: Firing teachers vs. fixing schools - NY Daily News: Firing teachers vs. fixing schoolsBARRY WILLIAMS/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSHow’s this for good management? The boss of a struggling business — after nearly two-thirds of his staff have already walked out the door — responds by threatening to get rid of the remaining workers.Yet this is the precise situation facing a group of struggl

by mike simpson / 8h 

Russakoff’s “The Prize” Exposes Arrogance and Pride of Chris Christie and Cory Booker | janresseger

Russakoff’s “The Prize” Exposes Arrogance and Pride of Chris Christie and Cory Booker | janresseger: Russakoff’s “The Prize” Exposes Arrogance and Pride of Chris Christie and Cory BookerThe Prize is Dale Russakoff’s new book about the plan cooked up by then-Newark-mayor Cory Booker and New Jersey governor Cris Christie to transform the schools in Newark, New Jersey as a national model.  Booker’s v

by mike simpson / 9h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES Dyett hunger strike ends

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES Dyett hunger strike ends: WEEKEND QUOTABLES Dyett hunger strike endsStrike over. Struggle continues.Aisha Wade-Bey“We do have some other ways to continue to make sure we get this high school in our community, where it’s fair and that they have the resources that it needs for our children.” -- Sun-TimesJeanette Taylor-Ramann"I'm not an activist,

by mike simpson / 9h 

Lower test scores for students who use computers frequently in school, 31 country study finds - The Hechinger Report

Lower test scores for students who use computers frequently in school, 31 country study finds - The Hechinger Report: Lower test scores for students who use computers frequently in school, 31 country study findsIn top performing nations, teachers, not students, use technologyFor those of us who worry that Google might be making us stupid, and that, perhaps, technology and education don’t mix well,

by mike simpson / 10h 

Seattle Education Association members ratified the new contract | Seattle Education

Seattle Education Association members ratified the new contract | Seattle Education: Seattle Education Association members ratified the new contractWhat we know so far is that at the General Membership Meeting this evening, members of the Seattle Education Association voted to ratify the new agreement with Seattle Public Schools.Per the Seattle Education Association’s website, the highlights of th

by mike simpson / 10h 

What the Data Actually Says About Shifting Views on the Common Core :: Frederick M. Hess

What the Data Actually Says About Shifting Views on the Common Core :: Frederick M. Hess: What the Data Actually Says About Shifting Views on the Common CoreThere've been a lot of claims made of late about what Americans think of the Common Core. The back-and-forth features a lot of push polls and agenda-driven analysis. As oneWashington Post headline proclaimed earlier this year, "Conservati

by mike simpson / 10h 

Hypocrisy on exhibit at L.A.’s Broad museum opening. | Fred Klonsky

Hypocrisy on exhibit at L.A.’s Broad museum opening. | Fred Klonsky: Hypocrisy on exhibit at L.A.’s Broad museum opening.UTLA teachers outside. Froo-froo inside.While Bill Clinton and other members of the froo-froo class drank white wine and dined on finger food inside the new Broad Museum in Los Angeles, a thousand L.A. teachers protested the role many of the rich inside played in promoting chart

by mike simpson / 10h 

Activists say hunger strike over Chicago school has ended - Yahoo News

Activists say hunger strike over Chicago school has ended - Yahoo News: Activists say hunger strike over Chicago school has endedCHICAGO (AP) — Activists have announced the end of a 34-day hunger strike over the fate of a Chicago neighborhood school, an effort that garnered national headlines when supporters disrupted public budget hearings held by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.Related StoriesChicago officia

by mike simpson / 10h 

Will Ohio ban pay-to-play school activities? | The Columbus Dispatch

Will Ohio ban pay-to-play school activities? | The Columbus Dispatch: Will Ohio ban pay-to-play school activities?Officials seek ways to end extracurricular fees without overburdening districtsCentral Ohio has the highest percentage of schools charging pay-to-play fees in the state, according to a 2014 survey. Players at Olentangy Liberty, shown charging onto the field before a home game against U

by mike simpson / 10h 

iPads for kids program sets off password security alarms for parents | ZDNet

iPads for kids program sets off password security alarms for parents | ZDNet: iPads for kids program sets off password security alarms for parentsANALYSIS/OPINION: An iPads-for-kids program has parents worried about sending kids to school with their child's Apple ID password and the answers to three Apple ID security questions on paper.A U.S. federal digital literacy program providing kids with iP

by mike simpson / 10h 

Moscow makes the case for school reform | Russia Beyond The Headlines

Moscow makes the case for school reform | Russia Beyond The Headlines: Moscow makes the case for school reformFive years into a process to consolidate and redistribute funding to schools, results are being seen, despite protests from parents and experts.When news came in fall 2012 that School 122 in central Moscow would be merged with another school, parents were up in arms. The school, which is t

by mike simpson / 10h 

Why Aren't Democratic Presidential Contenders Talking About K-12 Policy? - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Why Aren't Democratic Presidential Contenders Talking About K-12 Policy? - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Why Aren't Democratic Presidential Contenders Talking About K-12 Policy?Former U.S. Secretary of State and White House contender Hillary Clinton has proposals to eliminate college-debt and expand universal pre-kindergarten. And two of her rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen

by mike simpson / 10h 

Gov. Cuomo reaches out to teacher unions - NY Daily News

Gov. Cuomo reaches out to teacher unions - NY Daily News: Gov. Cuomo reaches out to teacher unionsHere is the third item from my "Albany Insider" column from Monday's editions:Gov. Cuomo’s recent efforts to improve relations with the Democratic party’s left wing seemingly includes the powerful teacher unions with which he’s been warring.Top Cuomo aide James Malatras recently met in Alban

by mike simpson / 11h 

When charter schools run amok - Editorials - Ohio

When charter schools run amok - Editorials - Ohio: When charter schools run amokWhy have so many charter schools performed poorly across the state? The Ohio Supreme provided insights into the answer in a long-awaited ruling last week. The court majority sided with White Hat Management of Akron, one of the largest private operators of charter schools in the country, in a dispute involving the posse

by mike simpson / 11h 

YESTERDAY

What A Time To Be Alive [The Secret Sauce] | The Jose Vilson

What A Time To Be Alive [The Secret Sauce] | The Jose Vilson: What A Time To Be Alive [The Secret Sauce]For those of you who missed it, I had two separate, equally potent interviews with both the Wall Street Journal and Slate. I didn’t expect them to come out in the same week, but here’s a couple of excerpts. First, I was asked to debate / converse with National Center for Teaching Quality’s Kate

by mike simpson / 21h 

STEVE JOBS WIDOW FUNDS $50 MILLION XQ: THE SUPER SCHOOL PROJECT - Perdaily.com

STEVE JOBS WIDOW FUNDS $50 MILLION XQ: THE SUPER SCHOOL PROJECT - Perdaily.com: STEVE JOBS WIDOW FUNDS $50 MILLION XQ: THE SUPER SCHOOL PROJECT(Mensaje se repite en Español)Does Steve Jobs widow Lauren Powell Jobs really need to spend $50 million to reinvent our public schools or do we just have to eliminate the endemic corruption of public education that puts corporate profit and gimmickry ahead

by mike simpson / 21h hide  //  save

CURMUDGUCATION: Hillary's Education Plan

CURMUDGUCATION: Hillary's Education Plan: Hillary's Education PlanSo, the Clinton campaign is starting to feel a little stress. This was in an e-mail from Robby Mook, the campaign manager:Friend --The Republican candidates for president are all over the place, but they do agree on one thing: They know that Hillary would be the strongest Democratic candidate, so they’ll say, do, and spend whatever

by mike simpson / 22h 

Why is Washington State Attorney General Robert Ferguson sticking his neck out for charter schools? | Seattle Education

Why is Washington State Attorney General Robert Ferguson sticking his neck out for charter schools? | Seattle Education: Why is Washington State Attorney General Robert Ferguson sticking his neck out for charter schools?In politics, actions are everything. That’s why it’s especially interesting Attorney General Bob Ferguson has decided to defend charter schools AFTER they were ruled unconstitution

by mike simpson / 22h 

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/20/15

CORPORATE ED REFORMTeachers union holds protest outside Broad museum on opening day - LA TimesTeachers union holds protest outside Broad museum on opening day - LA Times: Teachers union holds protest outside Broad museum on opening dayBefore art aficionados could get their first look inside Eli Broad’s new museum Sunday morning, they got an angry earful on the outside from teachers who have long b

by mike simpson / 23h