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Thursday, February 4, 2016

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/4/16



CORPORATE ED REFORM




CURMUDGUCATION: Breaking Down the Walls for CBE
CURMUDGUCATION: Breaking Down the Walls for CBE:Breaking Down the Walls for CBEIn the discussions of Competency Based Learning (or Outcomes Based Education or Performance Based Stuff), a support that emerges from time to time is that CBE will "break down the walls between curriculum and assessment."On the one hand, I see the appeal. In a perfect world, education shouldn't really have to
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Updates from Senator Jamie Pederson
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Legislative Updates from Senator Jamie Pederson: Legislative Updates from Senator Jamie PedersonSenator Pederson is from my district, the Fightin' 43rd.From his latest newsletter (partial:)Today is our first big cutoff, when bills that have not passed out of committee will die for this year.Please attend our 43rd District Town Hall on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 1 p.m.
Oregon's dramatic switch: 99.7 percent of kindergartners in full-day classes | OregonLive.com
Oregon's dramatic switch: 99.7 percent of kindergartners in full-day classes | OregonLive.com: Oregon's dramatic switch: 99.7 percent of kindergartners in full-day classesOregon's conversion from half-day to full-day kindergarten was startlingly fast and complete, with 99.7 percent of the state's 5- and 6-year-olds currently enrolled in full-day classes, the state reported Thursday.That's a huge c
The Disregard of K-12 Education in Presidential Debates
The Disregard of K-12 Education in Presidential Debates: The Disregard of K-12 Education in Presidential DebatesIf you are a parent or an educator and expect to hear something about K-12 education out of any of the Presidential candidates in their debates or fireside chats you will be sorely disappointed.How we school our children is one of the most important issues of our day, and yet when do we
Marzano Says Detroit Contract Untrue. Reporter Proves It is. – Save Maine Schools
Marzano Says Detroit Contract Untrue. Reporter Proves It is. – Save Maine Schools: Marzano Says Detroit Contract Untrue. Reporter Proves It is.A few months ago, I discovered an IP address in the list of referrers to my blog that linked to a private legal investigative firm in Ohio.It struck me as odd, but I told myself that I was being paranoid and soon forgot about it.This Sunday, the IP address
Random thoughts. Union leadership conspiracy theories. | Fred Klonsky
Random thoughts. Union leadership conspiracy theories. | Fred Klonsky: Random thoughts. Union leadership conspiracy theories. Don’t go to a state or national union convention thinking there will be real debate or democracy. As a delegate to a state convention one year I needed a bright orange sweater and my whole region waving their arms around behind me for the state president to recognize me at
With A Brooklyn Accent: Why "Competency Based Education' May Be a Greater Danger Than Common Core
With A Brooklyn Accent: Why "Competency Based Education' May Be a Greater Danger Than Common Core: Why "Competency Based Education' May Be a Greater Danger Than Common CoreThere are many things frightening about the latest Big Thing the Feds are pushing - "Competency Based Education" which will have school children as young as kindergarten sitting in front of computers most of
Goldman Sachs Wing of @TeachForAmerica #TFA25 – Cloaking Inequity
Goldman Sachs Wing of @TeachForAmerica #TFA25 – Cloaking Inequity: Goldman Sachs Wing of @TeachForAmerica #TFA25 Lot’s of controversy today about @HillaryClinton & @GoldmanSachs. @TeachForAmerica loves them. Always have. Teach For America (TFA) and Goldman Sachs have had a longstanding and very fruitful relationship. Who is Goldman Sachs? From Wikipedia:The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an Amer
Common Core testing frenzy leads to taxpayer funded SBAC Test Prep - Wait What?
Common Core testing frenzy leads to taxpayer funded SBAC Test Prep - Wait What?: Common Core testing frenzy leads to taxpayer funded SBAC Test Prep In many places across the country, the effort to undermine public education is going alive and well.In Connecticut, thanks to Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy and his administration, the corporate education reform industry is successfully turning publ
An Emerging New Narrative For Education
2/4/2016 – An Emerging New Narrative For Education: An Emerging New Narrative For Education February 4, 2016, 2016 SubscribeTHIS WEEK: How Bernie Would Improve Schools … Poverty Sprawl … Black Students Get Harsher Discipline … Test Rebellion Gets Bigger … Which Students Get Newer TeachersTOP STORYAn Emerging New Narrative For EducationBy Jeff Bryant“The simple story about education no longer works
The Theft of a Great American School: José Meléndez Ayala Elementary | gadflyonthewallblog
The Theft of a Great American School: José Meléndez Ayala Elementary | gadflyonthewallblog: The Theft of a Great American School: José Meléndez Ayala ElementaryThey came in the early morning like thieves in the night.The predawn chill was still in the air.But employees of Puerto Rico’s Department of Education (DOE) were already at work closing a beloved public school.They sneaked into José Melénde
New York Teacher Sheri Lederman’s Lawsuit Update | VAMboozled!
New York Teacher Sheri Lederman’s Lawsuit Update | VAMboozled!: New York Teacher Sheri Lederman’s Lawsuit UpdateRecall the New York lawsuit pertaining to Long Island teacher Sheri Lederman? The teacher who by all accounts other than her recent (2013-2014) 1 out of 20 growth score is a terrific 4th grade, 18 year veteran teacher. She, along with her attorney and husband Bruce Lederman, are suing th
Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever? - The Atlantic
Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever? - The Atlantic: Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever?Even if white people no longer openly promote having neighborhoods and schools to themselves, many of them continue to help make that happen.Progress has undoubtedly been made since the days of explicit segregation, and most white people no longer openly advocate f
The High Cost of Low Quality Teachers – Missouri Education Watchdog
The High Cost of Low Quality Teachers – Missouri Education Watchdog:The High Cost of Low Quality TeachersMissouri, like many states, is facing a teacher shortage. Before you run out to get a degree because you love teaching those little kiddies, know that we have a glut of K-6 teachers. What this means is that most people are only comfortable teaching what they learned before the age of 13. Where
Washington Post Report Highlights Problems with State Takeovers of Schools | janresseger
Washington Post Report Highlights Problems with State Takeovers of Schools | janresseger: Washington Post Report Highlights Problems with State Takeovers of SchoolsEarlier this week the Washington Post‘s Lyndsey Layton reported on the wave of attempts by Republican governors to seize local schools and school districts and turn them over to new state-run governance structures dubbed “recovery” or “
New Orleans Charter Carver High broke special-education law by suspending student for nearly 5 weeks | The Lens
Carver High broke special-education law by suspending student for nearly 5 weeks | The Lens: Carver High broke special-education law by suspending student for nearly 5 weeksGeorge Washington Carver Collegiate Academy charter high school got in serious trouble earlier this year for suspending a student with disabilities for nearly five weeks, more than double the time allowed by law.The Louisiana D
How Much Federal Money Does Your State Receive? | Truth in American Education
How Much Federal Money Does Your State Receive? | Truth in American Education: How Much Federal Money Does Your State Receive?How much education money does the Feds actually provide?Photo credit: FEMA/Bill Koplitz (Public Domain)The following document below is from FY 2013 provided by the Bluegrass Institute, but it will give you a pretty good picture that the Feds provide very little money to sta
State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participation | EdSource
State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participation | EdSource:State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participationAs California schools prepare to administer Smarter Balanced tests aligned to the Common Core State Standardsthis spring, they face a quandary when notifying parents about the assessments.State law requires schools to inform parents they have the right to op
Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. | Fred Klonsky
Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. | Fred Klonsky: Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. Rally for Chicago teachers, kids and schools. | Fred Klonsky:
Teaching Democratic Politics and Other Habits - Bridging Differences - Education Week
Teaching Democratic Politics and Other Habits - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Teaching Democratic Politics and Other HabitsDeborah Meier continues her conversation with Harry Boyte. To read their full exchange, please visit here.Dear Harry and friends,Interesting, interesting. Which means your comments lead to so many disparate thoughts.Safe space. Having never been able to stop myself fr
Charter School Network With Most Kindergarten Suspensions Says It Will Stop Them
School Network With Most Kindergarten Suspensions Says It Will Stop Them:School Network With Most Kindergarten Suspensions Says It Will Stop ThemBOSTON — Kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students were suspended 78 times at schools operated by a single nonprofit school management company in the 2014-15 school year, according to state data.Now, the Boston-based UP Education Network says it will ban
Latest Trib poll: Chicago is a union town. We stand with our teachers. | Fred Klonsky
Latest Trib poll: Chicago is a union town. We stand with our teachers. | Fred Klonsky: Latest Trib poll: Chicago is a union town. We stand with our teachers.If the pundits, the Sun-Times and Trib editorial boards and the Mayor were hoping the parents and voters of Chicago had deserted their teachers, this mornings Chicago Trib poll should put that bogus hope to rest.We citizens of Chicago side wit
School hits: Our ALEC-driven Legislature won’t relent on K-12 schools | Opinion | gctelegram.com
School hits: Our ALEC-driven Legislature won’t relent on K-12 schools | Opinion | gctelegram.com: School hits: Our ALEC-driven Legislature won’t relent on K-12 schools Anti-public school forces in Kansas won’t give up.Last year, ultraconservative state lawmakers led by Gov. Sam Brownback rammed through a two-year, fixed block-grant funding system for K-12 school districts that didn’t account for p
Teachers union has triple the public support of Emanuel - Chicago Tribune
Teachers union has triple the public support of Emanuel - Chicago Tribune: Teachers union has triple the public support of EmanuelChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. (Terrence Antonio James and Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune) ree times as many Chicagoans side with the teachers union as with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on how to improve public schools at a time wh
Pearson Rips Off Students with Tests Designed for Failure
Pearson Rips Off Students with Tests Designed for Failure: Pearson Rips Off Students with Tests Designed for FailureNew York State, in partnership with Pearson Education, is making it increasingly harder and more expensive to become a teacher without evidence that their demands and tests will improve education in the state. Last April Governor Cuomosmuggled a requirement into the state budget with
Louisiana Voucher Program Leaves Students Behind, One Study Shows - US News
Louisiana Voucher Program Leaves Students Behind, One Study Shows - US News: Louisiana Voucher Program Leaves Students Behind, One Study ShowsParticipation in Louisiana's voucher program increased the likelihood of a failing score by 24 to 50 percent, study shows.McDonogh #35 Senior High School graduates stand at their commencement at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on May 14, 2015 in New O
Here’s a New Way to Judge Your State’s Schools | Mother Jones
Here’s a New Way to Judge Your State’s Schools | Mother Jones: Here’s a New Way to Judge Your State’s Schools"The best schools in the world don't operate on vouchers and charters." Last time I called Diane Ravitch, our country's leading education historian and one of the most vocal voices in education reform, she was on another call with the producers of The Daily Show. It was 2011, and 

YESTERDAY

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/3/16
CORPORATE ED REFORMDPS Bans Health InspectorsDetroit Federation of Teachers | Stateweb: DPS Bans AFT Health Inspectors DPS refused to allow nationally recognized industrial hygienists from entering schools today to conduct health inspections based on reports from teachers and parents that conditions are dangerous.The DFT plans to file an emergency motion with the Third District Court of Michigan t