November Parent Engagement Resources
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Greeting a family in their preferred language is a small gesture that
demonstrates respect and eagerness to connect with parents. Creating a
Welcoming Envi...
Student Debtors Could See Hopes Vanish Under Trump
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Student Debtors Could See Hopes Vanish Under Trump: Not just mass debt
relief, but borrowers promised debt relief through various programs could
be denied ...
Self-Actualization
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Most of us are aware of the American psychologist Abraham Maslow because of
his famous hierarchy of needs, usually portrayed as a pyramid. At the
bottom...
Who's in Charge in Seattle Schools? Part Two
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*Public Testimony at the Tuesday, Nov. 19th Board meeting*
At each Board meeting, it feels like Rankin is getting more and more
annoyed at having public...
Will AI Transform Teaching and Learning?
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Recently, I was invited to be part of a five member panel at Google to
discuss the impact that AI will have on teaching and learning in schools.
My fellow ...
Boom! Boom boom! It’s Deer Season
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So– we live in the northern Michigan woods. And beginning last Friday, we
have been hearing shooting. Lots and lots of shooting. It’s deer season
(firearms...
Trump's Picks
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Today, former Florida representative *Matt Gaetz* withdrew his name from
consideration for the office of attorney general. He did so shortly after
CNN to...
MEMES THAT MADE ME LAUGH TODAY 11-22
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*MEMES THAT MADE ME LAUGH TODAY 11-22*
Big Education Ape: TRUMP, MCMAHON AND THE GREAT BODY SLAM OF THE U.S.
DEPAR...
Trans Panic Abuse
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I first encountered trans folks in the 1970s, trans women who I was in high
school with when they were guys. I've had trans students over the years.
And ...
An Apology
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I want to apologize for not responding personally to those who shared their
views on last week’s blog post, my analysis of why the Democrats lost.
I’ve be...
Divider in Chief Shares Education Plan
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By Thomas Ultican 11/22/2024 President Trump’s new video on the Carter
Family’s YouTube channel lays out his ten points for public education. It
is no surp...
EXCERPT: When Freedom is the Question…
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When Freedom is the Question… In Bertolt Brecht’s 1938 play Galileo, the
astronomer’s breathtaking discoveries about the movement of the planets and
the st...
¡Si, ganamos!
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En victorias desde la Carolinia del Norte hacia el Estado de Washington y
Maine, encontramos la evidencia que cuando nos organizamos, ganamos.
Siempre encu...
Pointing Out The Parralles
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“Your friend professes belief yet I’m not convinced. What about you? Are
the gods real?” “They are real,” says I, “And you’re a prick.” ― Ferdia
Lennon, Gl...
A message from Quaker Meeting for Worship
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the branch of Society of Friends to which I belong is unprogrammed, we have
no designated ministers. Anyone who feels moved by the Spirit is free to
rise...
Trump and Education
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I do not believe American education is a top concern for Donald Trump. I do
believe that he could well turn it over to the likes of the Heritage
Foundation...
Don’t Obey In Advance
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Last week, I hopped off a bus and voted early. It was quick, convenient,
and came with two stickers: one for me and one for ...
Read More
The post Don’t...
Try Substack?
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Seems like the popular new thing. Here’s my first try – it’s about
yesterday’s UFT Retired Teachers Chapter meeting – first ever not run by
Unity. (Spoiler...
Number 18 — A barely-hanging-on Blogoversary
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Blogoversary #18 SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 I started this blog while I was still
teaching, in 2006. I had just begun my 31st year as an educator. Just like
in pre...
Student "Growth" Measures Are STILL Biased
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This caught my attention:
New Jersey school districts may soon be evaluated differently, *with a
greater emphasis on student growth* as compared to stud...
Time to Rein in Vouchers
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Universal voucher programs have, in many states led to substantial budget
stress (Baker, 2024;[1] Hager, 2024). Initial cost estimates in Florida
were that...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
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As the terrible feelings of dread and angst spread across the world the
great majority of the American people feel powerless before the onslaught
of those ...
15 Questions for the Candidates
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Those citizens who fantasize about defying tyranny from within fortified
compounds have never understood how liberty is actually threatened in a
modern bur...
We are making a CPESS documentary!
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In 2020, I was approached by Deborah Meier and Jane Andrais and I decided
we should document the story of Central Park East Secondary School (CPESS).
This ...
The Sky is Falling, or is it?
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Well, this is the first anniversary of the introduction of Generative AI in
the form of ChatGPT to the world of education. Before it was a week old,
over o...
Vote NO on the UFT Contract. Here is Why:
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The best reason to vote no on this contract is this: UFT Unity* lied* to us
in 2018. They misrepresented that contract. It was predicated on deals we
wer...
Metaphors in ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
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In this article, we will explore the powerful use of metaphors in Martin
Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” ...
Read more
Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force
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I prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago
Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation.
The meetin...
Skin Deep
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She spends so much time on her outward appearance. There is never a hair
out of place. Her makeup is perfect and her clothes are stylish and match
to ...
There Is A Teacher Shortage.Not.
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THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. And just to be sure you understand, it’s not
that teachers don’t want to teach. It’s not that there aren’t enough
teachers cer...
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*Defeating the Purpose of Education*
*Updated: May 2024*
*Most people would agree that the primary purpose of education is to
prepare children for a good a...
THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. NOT!
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There is a teacher shortage.And just to be sure you understand, it's not
that teachers don't want to teach.It's not that there aren't enough
teachers certi...
Abortion: Only For Those Who Need It!
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NOTE: This post contains my opinions on Catholicism based on my experiences
as a child in the 1960's and 70's. Take what you like and leave the rest. I
m...
Book Banning Turns to Dick and Jane
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Breaking News: Dateline February 4, 2022 - Parents in Dimwitty, Alabama
have asked the Dimwitty Board of Education to ban the children's primer *Fun
with...
On the Edge of Silence
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“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide.
Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the
fundamen...
Have You Heard Has a New Website
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TweetHave You Heard has a new website. Visit us at
www.haveyouheardpodcast.com to find our latest episodes and our entire
archive. And be sure to check out...
Follow me at Substack
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I've moved. Follow me at Substack
I'm now posting regularly at Substack. You can subscribe for free to my new
Edu/Pol blog at michaelklonsky.substack.com
...
Aspiring Teachers Get New Help Paying For College
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[image: colorful classroom pattern]
*; Credit: shuoshu/Getty Images*
Cory Turner | NPR
New rules kick in today that will help aspiring teachers pay for c...
Tips Akses Situs Judi Qq Tanpa Perlu Takut Nawala
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Kegiatan berjudi slot melalui situs judi qq online, sekarang sudah
dilakukan oleh banyak penjudi Indonesia. Tentu, Kamu yang sedang membaca
artikel ini a...
GA run-offs need your help!
-
Extremely important. Volunteer if you can. Thank you if you are already
doing so. Out of state opportunities here: Ralph …
Continue reading →
The Threat of Integration
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I have lived in the same house in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles
for over 30 years, where up until now I have had little or no interaction
with th...
We fight for a democracy worthy of us all!
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The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
A Fundamental Redesign of Our Schools
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I climbed the hill leading up to one of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle
this morning to enjoy a coffee while taking in a phenomenal view of the
city o...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
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I am the son of Chaz and like to inform you that he passed away this
afternoon from the COVID virus. My father passed in peace beside his loved
ones. We ar...
Thoughts on schooling in the era of COVID-19
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Well, a whole lot has changed since I returned to blogging a month and half
ago. In case you didn't notice, and I'm sure everyone reading this did,
there's...
NAEP scores and "the science of reading"
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*Sent to US News. They just informed me that they no longer publish
letters to the editor. *
*Re: “National reading emergency” November 12*
*[https://www...
2019 NAEP Scores: Achievement Gap or …?
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Here you go: A ‘Disturbing’ Assessment: Sagging Reading Scores,
Particularly for Eighth-Graders, Headline 2019’s Disappointing NAEP Results
NAEP 2019: Re...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
-
Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Storm is Coming! (…again)
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A new Commissioner will have as much impact on our state ed system as a new
meteorologist will have on …
Continue reading →
The World According to Michelle Rhee
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The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Blockchain: Life on the Ledger
-
Originally posted on Wrench in the Gears:
I created this video as a follow up to the one I prepared last year on
Social Impact Bonds. It is time to examine...
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
-
Starting a new local business in Sacramento is a monumental task, but can
be accomplished with footwork, perseverance and knowledge. One must learn
the loc...
3rd Grade Reading: Who is Failing?
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Education Trust Midwest has just released its study on third grade reading
and, predictably, the results aren’t great. This study uniquely compares
Michiga...
Opting out of the Dinosaur (end of year test)
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Today I sent in a second letter to refuse PARCC/CMAS for my son, Luke. The
first email I sent at the beginning of the year was not sufficient as they
requi...
Resurrection
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I realized it's Lent, but this blog, bless Jesus Christ, can't wait.
Ok, so with that said, I plan to discuss Class Action suits in existence,
as well as w...
IDEA Is Still The Law Of The Land
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Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the US Department of
Education (USDOE) rescinded 72 Dear Colleague and other letters of
explanation to ...
Education Is a Civic Question
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In their final post to end Bridging Differences' decade-long run, Deborah
Meier and Harry Boyte urge readers to put the energy, talents, wisdom, and
hard w...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
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Quick! Get over there! The daily education news roundup and education
commentaries that you're probably looking for are now being published over
at The Gra...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
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An Open Letter to NC State Lawmakers and NC State Superintendent Mark
Johnson: I am a NC native, voter, and public school teacher. I am
addressing you all ...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
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The Secret to Fixing Schools (My next bestseller) Prologue I just finished
watching a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled, “The Secret”. The
film p...
Farewell, Sleep
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Today is the official last day of my spring break. I've done a scientific
survey: My natural bedtime is 2 AM, and my natural wake up time is 9:41
AM. Tom...
Capturing the Spark
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It’s been a long time since InterACT was an active education blog, though I
remain quite proud of what we did here. Those of us who wrote blog posts
here h...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
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I’ve been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular
readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for
that. Sinc...
WTU Peterson Slate: Not a 1 Woman Dictatorship
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Candi Peterson & GeLynn Thompson
Candidates for WTU Prez & GVP 2016By Candi Peterson, WTU Gen. Vice President
*Statements or expressions of opinions herein...
MY NEW BLOG
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My new blog will consist of fictitious headlines, meant to be a blend of
humor and satire. I apologize ahead of time if any other satirical site has
simila...
Thank you
-
Dear Readers,
Thank you for visiting *The Perimeter Primate*. This blog is being retired
for the time being. Although I no longer post here, I do still s...
I am Retiring
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I have some news: I am retiring from the PBS NewsHour and Learning Matters.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other
conte...
Flaws at the Heart of Current Education Reforms
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Originally posted on Creative by Nature:
“Teaching is an art form rooted in the wise and careful use of educational
research and assessment tools. When gove...
The MAP Test
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Teachers will be voting this afternoon on the contract that has been
tentatively agreed upon. I am asking all teachers to not allow an
evaluation system th...
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Chris Reykdal for State Superintendent of Public Instruction : Chris Reykdal for State Superintendent of Public Instruction I'm endorsing Chris Reykdal for state superintendent. Before I get to why, I want to lay out what the role of the state superintendent is. Reydal's website . KUOW had this piece about the job recently and called it "ceremonial." I t
Love and Hate, Sorta (It's Only Been Two Days) | The Jose Vilson : Love and Hate, Sorta (It's Only Been Two Days) “Vilson, tu si ere malo!” It was the most random comment. For whatever reason, middle school students crack me up. Perhaps a large part of their being necessitates testing limits within the first few days of getting to know a teacher. Perhaps they insist that the first two days don’t
The Fight to Bring Transparency to California's Charter Schools - LA Progressive : The Fight to Bring Transparency to California’s Charter Schools imee Roylance was thrilled when her son was accepted into Livermore Valley Charter School in 2010. The traditional public schools in their part of the Bay Area were cash-strapped and struggling, and the K-8 charter school, with a waiting list 300 kids
SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: CTA Public Education Forum - Sacramento : CTA Public Education Forum - Sacramento The Sacramento City Unified School District has a once in a lifetime opportunity to create the public education system our students deserve. Because it is in the best financial position in its history, with the right vision Sac City can become THE Destination District in California.
“Union Shill”: I am more than a label, I am me – Cloaking Inequity : “Union Shill”: I am more than a label, I am me Drop Labels is a upcoming social media campaign using videos to share personal stories of individuals discussing a particular label that has impacted their life. At the end of every video, the filmed individual asks for their friends to upload their personal videos on DropLabels.Org
Education Lessons From A Sparkly District: What A Difference A Year Makes : What A Difference A Year Makes A year ago, I wrote about a student's 8th grade class schedule in a Newark middle school. You can read that post here . It was also later picked up by Valerie Strauss at the Washington Post . The Newark schedule was in stark contrast to what schedules look like in suburban and wealthier dist
DON'T WANT STATE AUDIT OF "TEACHER JAIL PRACTICE" AT LAUSD TO BE A DON'T WANT STATE AUDIT OF "TEACHER JAIL PRACTICE" AT LAUSD TO BE A WHITEWASH? LET THEM HEAR FROM YOU On January 13 th , 2016, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) approved an audit requested by State Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) regarding the use of "Teacher Jail" by the Los Angeles Unifie
Tom Torlakson Announces Nutrition Grant Winners - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education) : Tom Torlakson Announces Nutrition Grant Winners - Year 2016 SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that 50 schools received grants for the 2016–17 school year to make changes in their cafeterias to encourage students to select and enjoy nutritious foods. The grants com
Assume You Can Do What You Like Under ESSA, Sen. Alexander Tells Ky. Lawmakers - Politics K-12 - Education Week : Assume You Can Do What You Like Under ESSA, Sen. Alexander Tells Ky. Lawmakers How should states approach the Every Student Succeeds Act? U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., had clear advice for state lawmakers on Monday: Assume you can do as you please, and if the U.S. Department of
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Here's just 5 day's worth of Chicago Trib's CPD headlines : Here's just 5 day's worth of Chicago Trib's CPD headlines Grand jury to look into possible cover-up by Chicago police in Laquan McDonald shooting (9/12) A grand jury will be impaneled to investigate a possible cover-up by Chicago police in the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald at the request of a special pr
In Chicago, DFER has been run out of town. | Fred Klonsky : In Chicago, DFER has been run out of town. Former DFER boss, Joe Williams, quit to get a job at Walmart. The rest of DFER left town. Back in 2014, Illinois Democratic Party political consultant David Ormsby predicted, “Democrats for Education Reform will face a formidable challenge outmaneuvering the CTU.” Ormsby and I have had differenc
Outside donors having big impact on local school races :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet : Outside donors having big impact on local school races (Mich.) Millions of dollars from out-of-state donors is changing the landscape of school board elections, though not always in ways that reflect the desires of local communities, according to new re
Kapos: Arne Duncan won't rule out a run for office | Chicago Sun-Times : Kapos: Arne Duncan won’t rule out a run for office For a guy who’s left public office, Arne Duncan is pretty opinionated about how Illinois should be run. The former U.S. secretary of education says inequity in education — when “more money is spent on children of the wealthy than kids who are poor” — is the state’s greatest
ECOT not alone in online charter schools’ attendance struggles | The Columbus Dispatch : ECOT not alone in online charter schools’ attendance struggles The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow may be the poster child in the fight over online school attendance, but other recent audits show it is hardly alone in struggling to document whether students are spending enough time on schoolwork. As the stat
Suit: CPS ignores request for records on firing of principal | Chicago Sun-Times : Suit: CPS ignores request for records on firing of principal A lawsuit is charging Chicago Public Schools with intentionally withholding public records regarding the firing of former principal Troy LaRaviere, known as one of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s strongest critics. Nick Burt filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsui
Study Shows Students of Color Are Disproportionately Affected by School Surveillance - The Atlantic : When School Feels Like Prison A new study shows that campuses with larger populations of students of color are more likely to use harsh surveillance techniques. In December 2012, a Senate subcommittee was convened to examine the school-to-prison pipeline, a national trend in which overly punitive
CURMUDGUCATION: The New Mascot : The New Mascot Consider Pitbull. The rappish artiste and modern poet ("Face down, booty up, that's the way we like to- what?!") has greeted the new school year with his third charter school. Pitbull has tried to make something out of the nickname he was tagged with once-- "Mr. Education"-- but it hasn't really caught on. But it hasn't stuck, pe
Did You Miss The Celebration? | Dr. Edward F. Berger : Did You Miss The Celebration? Those who are celebrating do not intend to represent our communities. In the primary elections, big money from outside – called Dark Money – succeeded in blocking community interests. Take the future of our public schools for example. By positioning themselves for a win in the general election, they can put in pl
Education Law Prof Blog : A School District on the Brink of Collapse: Educational Opportunity at the Intersection of Race, Poverty, and Geography For the past few years, Pennsylvania's education system has stood at the brink of disaster in some shape, form, or fashion. First came the state's decision to retreat from its new school funding formula and impose new cuts. Then came stories of complete
NYC Educator: Limiting Parent Access : Limiting Parent Access It's fundamental that teachers and parents communicate, and for me as a teacher, parents are my first and best support. The first thing I do when I see a problem I can't resolve one on one is call. And while I get a lot of feedback from commenters and colleagues who say the parents are never home, they don't care, that it's a waste of
Donald Trump Comes to Cleveland, Steps Right into Charter School Regulation Mess | janresseger : Donald Trump Comes to Cleveland, Steps Right into Charter School Regulation Mess As you may have read, Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for President, showed up in Cleveland last Thursday to announce his education plan—to make $20 billion in federal block grants to the states to expand school ch
How Texas keeps out tens of thousands of children out of special education - Houston Chronicle : Report: Benchmark led to special education services denials During the first week of school at Shadow Forest Elementary, a frail kindergartner named Roanin Walker had a meltdown at recess. Overwhelmed by the shrieking and giggling, he hid by the swings and then tried to escape the playground, hitting
Trump's Plan to Destroy Public Education | Huffington Post : Trump’s Plan to Destroy Public Education If you are a public school parent or teacher thinking of voting for Donald Trump, be prepared to kiss your school good-bye. Donald Trump has never had much use for public schools, or for that matter, his own children when they were younger. As a boy The Donald attended the private (and expensive)
Lawsuit claims that same-sex marriage leads to charter schools, and it may be right : Lawsuit claims that same-sex marriage leads to charter schools, and it may be right Same-sex marriage leads to charter schools. Or, at least, that’s what Josh Lipshutz tells me he hopes will happen in a call about Martinez v. Malloy , an ambitious lawsuit he help craft on behalf of several Connecticut families.
State school review underscores rift between Gov. Edwards, Education Superintendent John White | Education | theadvocate.com : State school review underscores rift between Gov. Edwards, Education Superintendent John White The public school agendas of Gov. John Bel Edwards and state Superintendent of Education John White appear to be on a collision course. White's state Department of Education is
The 20 schools that won 2016 Schools of Opportunity awards — and why they were selected - The Washington Post : The 20 schools that won 2016 Schools of Opportunity awards — and why they were selected Here’s a post by the creators