Friday, February 17, 2017

Republicans Suggest Federal Role in Education Be Limited to Bribery | gadflyonthewallblog

Republicans Suggest Federal Role in Education Be Limited to Bribery | gadflyonthewallblog:

Republicans Suggest Federal Role in Education Be Limited to Bribery

Hey! Let’s repeal the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965!
Let’s hobble the Department of Education!
Let’s make the federal role just handing out bundles of cash to private and parochial schools!
And you completely eliminate any protections for students’ civil rights.
THIS is the brave new world of Trumpian education policy. It’s called HR 610 and was introduced by Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa.
You may Remember King. He introduced an amendment in the U.S. House that would have prevented Harriet Tubman from replacing President Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill. Sure she was an abolitionist, women’s suffragist and hero who rescued scores of black people from slavery in the Underground Railroad. Why would we want her to replace a former slave trader and architect of the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears!?
His new piece of wonderful legislation – not at all written by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) – would turn the U.S. Department of Education into merely an authorizer of block grants to qualified states to participate in a nationwide voucher program.
The department would give out money to local districts to give to parents to home school or send their children to private schools.


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UPDATE: Washington State Charter Law Upheld - Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Law Upheld:

Washington State Charter Law Upheld

Update: the Times has an article on this ruling.  Here's part of my comment in response to something from the Washington State Charter Schools Association:
"Charter public schools have been given a stamp of approval from Washington voters, the state Legislature, and now the state’s judicial system,” he said in a prepared statement. "
This is a factually untrue statement (prepared or not). Why? Because the courts only rule on constitutional issues and, in fact, both the WA Supreme Court AND the King County Superior Court rulings both said that neither case was about whether charters work or are good or bad. 

They ruled that the law was constitutional. That's it and Mr. Franta knows it. To say that there is some "stamp of approval" by the courts undermines our judicial system. Maybe Mr. Franta is taking his cue from the Trump administration.
End of update

 Judge John Chun of King County Superior Court today ruled in favor of the defendants in upholding the current charter law. 

I will say in reading the ruling, I see many places where the judge further validates other rulings and leaves the door wide open for other lawsuits (which I predict will come to pass.) 

It's a big win for charter supporters but I don't think it now leaves anyone in a relaxed place.  Or rather, no one should take this ruling to be the end.

From the ruling (all bold mine):

"Fourth, and finally, Plaintiffs argue in significant part regarding the ways in which the Act’s implementation has led, and may lead, to unconstitutional results. Such arguments, however, are more properly brought as as-applied challenges. And this Order does not foreclose such a claim."

"Plaintiffs’ diversion claim lacks ripeness.  Plaintiffs’ argument rests on speculation that the Opportunity Pathways account  evenue will not be able to cover the cost of the CSA by the 2021-2022 school year, and that restricted funds will thereafter be used. However, it is undisputed that, at this time, lottery revenue from the Opportunity Pathways account is the only funding source for charter schools. It is similarly undisputed that such funding is not a restricted revenue source for common schools. If, in the future, the State attempts to use funds allocated for common schools in violation of article IX, section 2, then the issue will be ripe for consideration."
One other interesting item is that the judge says, over and over, 

"To find any deviation from common schools a violation of article IX, section 2 conflates the common school system with the public school system."

"It is undisputed that charter schools are not common schools."
"It is further undisputed that charter schools cannot access funds restricted for common schools."
That's good because it continues to enforce that charter schools are not, and never will be in the state of Washington, common schools. 

It will be interesting to see where the dollars will come for 40 charter schools. 

We know it can't be the General Fund so it will be fascinating to see how the Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter Law Upheld:



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UPDATE: Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey

Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey | 89.3 KPCC:

Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey

Image result for big education ape lausd carl


KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Carl Petersen, District 2
by Carl Petersen / 4min
Carl Petersen is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Petersen hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of east L.A.; Credit: Campaign Photo Carl Petersen Carl Petersen is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Petersen hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown throu
KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Imelda Padilla, District 6
by Imelda Padilla / 4min
Imelda Padilla is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election.; Credit: Kyle Stokes/KPCC Imelda Padilla Imelda Padilla is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Padilla hopes to represent District 6, which covers the east San Fernando Valley. Padilla is one of six candidates running for the District 6 seat. Click here


KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Lisa Alva, District 2
by Lisa Alva / 3h
Lisa Alva is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Alva hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of east L.A.; Credit: Campaign Photo/Facebook Lisa Alva Lisa Alva is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Alva hopes to represent District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of
KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Allison Holdorff Polhill, District 4
by Allison Holdorff Polhill / 3h
Allison Holdorff Polhill is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Holdorff Polhill hopes to represent District 4, which covers much of west L.A., Hollywood and portions of the southwest San Fernando Valley.; Credit: Campaign Photo Allison Holdorff Polhill Allison Holdorff Polhill is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary
KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Steve Zimmer, District 4
by Steve Zimmer / 3h
Steve Zimmer is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Zimmer currently represents District 4, which covers much of west L.A., Hollywood and portions of the southwest San Fernando Valley.; Credit: Campaign Photo Steve Zimmer Steve Zimmer is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Zim
KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Nick Melvoin, District 4
by Nick Melvoin / 3h
Nick Melvoin is running for the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. Melvoin hopes to represent District 4, which covers much of west L.A., Hollywood and portions of the southwest San Fernando Valley.; Credit: Kyle Stokes/KPCC Nick Melvoin Nick Melvoin is running for the Los 


KPCC's LA school board candidate survey: Mónica García, District 2
by Mónica García / 4min
Mónica García is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. García currently represents District 2, which runs from Koreatown through much of east L.A. ; Credit: Campaign Photo Mónica García Mónica García is running for re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 7 primary election. García currently represents District 2,
Want to decide who to vote for in the LA School Board election? Read their answers to KPCC's survey | 89.3 KPCC:

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Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.

Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.:

Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now
When Betsy DeVos was confirmed as United States Secretary of Education, she required an unprecedented tie-breaker vote by Vice President Mike Pence.  This was because all 48 Senate Democrats voted against her along with 2 Republicans.  A barrage of phone calls from constituents, her demonstrable ignorance about federal education policy, her utter lack of experience with running a large organization, and unanswered questions about her financial conflicts of interest could not scuttle her nomination – but it got closer than any cabinet nominee in recent memory.  Betsy DeVos took her office with a the only bipartisan consensus being the one against her.
On the one hand, DeVos presented a very reasonable target for opposition.  She really has no relevant experience whatsoever.  She is an ideologue rather than a expert who has made her “name” in education by leveraging her inherited wealth into buying the votes of state legislators.  While many school reform advocates favor shifting tax money to privately managed entities, DeVos appears to see the privatization of public money as a goal in and of itself without regard for outcomes.  Advocacy groups funded by her actually scuttled legislation in Michigan that would have kept failing charter schools from expanding, and she has demonstrated no interest in holding the overwhelmingly for profit charter sector in her home state accountable to much of anything, leaving Michigan sending $1 billion annually into a sector rife with self dealing and absent any oversight worthy of the word.  DeVos favored policies have wrought additional havoc on Detroit Public Schools, leaving children wandering a landscape with a glut of seats which are distributed so unequally that getting to a school consumes hours of commuting time and where families are encouraged to “vote with their feet” – even if it means changing schools multiple times a year.
And if that record were not enough, DeVos gave Senators plenty of reasons to oppose her during her testimony which was peppered with evasions and displays suggesting she knows painfully little about federal education policy.  She whiffed a question on one of the central policy issues of the past decade.  She bobbed and weaved to avoid talking about accountability.  She appeared to have no knowledge about federal laws regarding educating students with disabilities.  She was pathetically glib about the question of guns in schools.  And when Senators sent her written questions to answer in further detail after her hearing, she plagiarized some of  her responses.  On top of all of that, DeVos was confirmed with votes from a raft of Republican Senators who reply on her cash for their Betsy DeVos Broke the Ed. Reform Coalition – For Now | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.:


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Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/17/17


Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/17/17

Featured Post

DeVos: Critics want to ‘make my life a living hell’ - The Washington Post





Betsy DeVos called me. I sent her this letter - Lily's Blackboard
by mike simpson / 27min
Betsy DeVos called me. I sent her this letter - Lily's Blackboard : Betsy DeVos called me. I sent her this letter Education Secretary Betsy DeVos called me the other day saying we should talk. But this seems premature. I’m still struck by the lack of clear answers she gave the public at her Senate hearing. There is no doubt where we stand on issues critical to supporting students and public educa
LGBT employees ask Education Secretary to keep protections | PBS NewsHour
by mike simpson / 26min
LGBT employees ask Education Secretary to keep protections | PBS NewsHour : LGBT employees ask Education Secretary to keep protections WASHINGTON — LGBT employees have asked Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to commit to safeguarding anti-discrimination regulations amid fears that the Trump administration may weaken those protections. In the email, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, staffe
Betsy DeVos is now being guarded by U.S. Marshals - The Washington Post
by mike simpson / 30min
Betsy DeVos is now being guarded by U.S. Marshals - The Washington Post : Betsy DeVos is now being guarded by U.S. Marshals By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel and Emma Brown February 17 at 5:07 PM The U.S. Marshals Service says they are now providing security for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, after a handful of protesters blocked her from entering a D.C. middle school. [ Protesters briefly block Educ
CURMUDGUCATION: PA: How Much Does Your District Pay in Charter Costs
by mike simpson / 3h
CURMUDGUCATION: PA: How Much Does Your District Pay in Charter Costs : PA: How Much Does Your District Pay in Charter Costs An extremely handy spread sheet has been circulating lately, and if nothing else, I want to put a link here so that I can more easily find it. If you're in Pennsylvania, you'll want to look at this, too. Yes, 502 districts is a lot. The document covers every school year from
How to Protest Against Betsy DeVos
by mike simpson / 3h
How to Protest Against Betsy DeVos : How to Protest Against Betsy DeVos Our schools are being starved into failure in order to justify mass privatization. —Timothy Meegan, Chicago Sun Times A while back, I attended a meeting at the University of Memphis where many of us were against the Relay Graduate School of Education —a reform group that recruits students out of their chosen careers and suppl
CURMUDGUCATION: DeVos: No Real Role for Feds
by mike simpson / 4h
CURMUDGUCATION: DeVos: No Real Role for Feds : DeVos: No Real Role for Feds At Axios (the new "media company" from two former Politico honchos ), Johnathan Swan ( formerly of The Hill ) has a quick moment with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos . She uses the opportunity for a bit of a do-over on her confirmation hearing, but it's her thoughts on the federal role in education that are most striking.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Gates' Annual Letter To Buffet Doesn't Mention Education Efforts
by mike simpson / 4h
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Gates' Annual Letter To Buffet Doesn't Mention Education Efforts : Gates' Annual Letter To Buffet Doesn't Mention Education Efforts For the second year in a row, Bill and Melinda Gates' letter to Warren Buffett on his donation to their foundation doesn't mention what any of their policy and advocacy work in public education. From fellow public education activist,
PTA asks 'Parent Teacher Alliance,' a charter school political group, to change its name | 89.3 KPCC
by mike simpson / 4h
PTA asks 'Parent Teacher Alliance,' a charter school political group, to change its name | 89.3 KPCC : PTA asks 'Parent Teacher Alliance,' a charter school political group, to change its name In the midst of a contentious race for Los Angeles Unified School Board , some voters have gotten knocks at their door from pro-charter school canvassers introducing themselves as "volunteers with the Parent
Trump backs merit pay for teachers — but one Florida school system now says it doesn’t work - The Washington Post
by mike simpson / 5h
Trump backs merit pay for teachers — but one Florida school system now says it doesn’t work - The Washington Post : Trump backs merit pay for teachers — but one Florida school system now says it doesn’t work During the campaign, President Trump said “it is time” for merit pay for teachers. In Florida, the Orange County Public School district thinks otherwise, declaring a years-long experiment wit
The Fight to Privatize LA Schools: Getting What You Pay For - LA Progressive
by mike simpson / 5h
The Fight to Privatize LA Schools: Getting What You Pay For - LA Progressive : The Fight to Privatize LA Schools: Getting What You Pay For Is it true there are LAUSD board candidates “supported by” Betsy DeVos? Recently this very central, very arresting question was posted to a neighborhood social media website, highlighting the core themes of today’s political perplexity: culpability, associatio
Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » What Works Can Hurt: Side Effects in Education
by mike simpson / 6h
Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » What Works Can Hurt: Side Effects in Education : What Works Can Hurt: Side Effects in Education This medicine can reduce fever, but it can cause a bleeding stomach. When you buy a medical product, you are given information about both its effects and side effects. But such practice does not exist in education. “This program helps improve your
Teaching in the Trump Years (Part 4) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by mike simpson / 6h
Teaching in the Trump Years (Part 4) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice : Teaching in the Trump Years (Part 4) The following lesson was posted on a blog written by Ed Realist, “a teacher at a Title I high school who usually teaches math, but every so often jumps at the opportunity to teach US history. Ed has credentials in math, social science, and English.” I have kicked off m
Black History Month Series: #1 Alice Walker: Beauty in TruthSF Public School Mom
by mike simpson / 6h
Black History Month Series: #1 Alice Walker: Beauty in TruthSF Public School Mom : BHM Series #8: Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth In honor of Black History Month , I’m reposting this previous series. A few years ago, (2015 to be exact!) I challenged myself to write 28 posts highlighting African-American History . This year I finally reached my goal!!! Check out my original post below which appeared
And the GRAMMY goes to...our music teachers! - Lily's Blackboard
by mike simpson / 6h
And the GRAMMY goes to...our music teachers! - Lily's Blackboard : And the GRAMMY goes to…our music teachers! In my past life, before I became a teacher, I was actually a starving folk singer. Eventually, I did teach my fourth graders some of the classics (you will have to watch the video to know what I mean). However, I have never won a GRAMMY. Probably the closest I will ever get to the GRAMMY’
NCTQ on States’ Teacher Evaluation Systems’ Failures | VAMboozled!
by mike simpson / 6h
NCTQ on States’ Teacher Evaluation Systems’ Failures | VAMboozled! : NCTQ on States’ Teacher Evaluation Systems’ Failures The controversial National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) — created by the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded (in part) by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as “part of a coalition for ‘a better orchestrated agenda’ for accountability, choice, and using t
The Importance of Real Words -B.Keller | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing
by mike simpson / 6h
The Importance of Real Words -B.Keller | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing : The Importance of Real Words -B.Keller As someone who teaches the importance, values, power and etymology of words, as well as teaching people to think before they speak or write and to analyze the things others say and write, I am having a little difficulty with the recent increase of “engineering “ being done to the l
DeVos to tour schools with teachers union head | TheHill
by mike simpson / 7h
DeVos to tour schools with teachers union head | TheHill : DeVos to tour schools with teachers union head Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and the president of a teachers union that strongly resisted her confirmation have agreed to tour schools together. “I said I’d like to visit a public school with her, and then I’d like her to visit a choice school with me,” DeVos told Axios Thursday, recountin
Trump weighs mobilizing Nat Guard for immigration roundups
by mike simpson / 7h
Trump weighs mobilizing Nat Guard for immigration roundups : Trump weighs mobilizing Nat Guard for immigration roundups The Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border, according to a draft memo obtained by The Associated Press. The 11-page document
Beyond DeVos, What 5 Key Trump Appointees Could Mean For Schools : NPR Ed : NPR
by mike simpson / 7h
Beyond DeVos, What 5 Key Trump Appointees Could Mean For Schools : NPR Ed : NPR : Beyond DeVos, What 5 Key Trump Appointees Could Mean For Schools l-r: Ryan Zinke, the nominee for Interior secretary; Attorney General Jeff Sessions; Judge Neil Gorsuch, Supreme Court nominee; Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price. Getty Images/NPR The action in the U.
DeVos: Critics want to ‘make my life a living hell’ - The Washington Post
by mike simpson / 7h
DeVos: Critics want to ‘make my life a living hell’ - The Washington Post : DeVos: Critics want to ‘make my life a living hell’ In her first full week as U.S. education secretary, Betsy DeVos wasted no time in getting to work to try to explain her vision for education and the U.S. Education Department — and to go after her critics, saying they want to make her life “a living hell.” She also said
The Government's "Energy Kids" Website Has Scrubbed Climate Warnings - The Atlantic
by mike simpson / 8h
The Government's "Energy Kids" Website Has Scrubbed Climate Warnings - The Atlantic : A Government Website for Kids Scrubbed Its Climate Warnings In recent weeks, “Energy Kids” has reworked and cut information about fossil fuels’ environmental impacts. Almost 20 years ago, the U.S. Energy Information Administration had an idea: Make an educational website for children about energy sources and the
House Education Committee Staffers Get New Power This Congress - Politics K-12 - Education Week
by mike simpson / 9h
House Education Committee Staffers Get New Power This Congress - Politics K-12 - Education Week : House Education Committee Staffers Get New Power This Congress The new session of Congress means new rules. Amid the turnover accompanying the 115th Congress, you might have missed changes to staff investigative authority that affects the Education and Workforce Committee in the House of Representati
Who Stays? Who Moves? Who Leaves? Teacher Preparation, Teacher Induction and Teacher Quality | Ed In The Apple
by mike simpson / 9h
Who Stays? Who Moves? Who Leaves? Teacher Preparation, Teacher Induction and Teacher Quality | Ed In The Apple : Who Stays? Who Moves? Who Leaves? Teacher Preparation, Teacher Induction and Teacher Quality Rick Hanuchek and Hank Levin, friends since the sixties, are education economists with hundreds of books and articles bearing their names, and, also, have starkly differing views on education a
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: TUNE IN THIS MORNING
by mike simpson / 9h
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: TUNE IN THIS MORNING : TUNE IN THIS MORNING The Klonsky brothers are back on the air this morning at 11 (CST), live and streaming on Lumpen Radio , WLPN 105.5 FM from Bridgeport (the Daley's old hood) on the south side of Chicago. We’re trying to stay profanity-free, according to FCC regs this morning, so I’ll try and refrain from using the word “PUZDER” while we ta
Lacking Checks and Balances, Government Brings Us a Tragicomic Mess | janresseger
by mike simpson / 9h
Lacking Checks and Balances, Government Brings Us a Tragicomic Mess | janresseger : Lacking Checks and Balances, Government Brings Us a Tragicomic Mess Today’s post is a lesson in basic civics. When one party reigns supreme, as it does these days in the majority of states and the federal government—when one party dominates the executive branch and the legislative branch—government leaders do pret
CURMUDGUCATION: IOWA: Gutting Unions + Performance Pay Bombs Across the Pond
by mike simpson / 10h
CURMUDGUCATION: IOWA: Gutting Unions : IOWA: Gutting Unions The Iowa House and Senate have voted to gut the public service unions of their state . Under the new bill, Iowa's public service unions (that, of course, includes teachers) may not negotiate anything but wages. Health care, evaluation procedures, and other language items may not be part of contract negotiations. And should those wage neg
The Trump/DeVos Privatization Agenda Begins to Take Shape - Network For Public Education
by mike simpson / 10h
The Trump/DeVos Privatization Agenda Begins to Take Shape - Network For Public Education : The Trump/DeVos Privatization Agenda Begins to Take Shape The new administration’s attack on public education has begun, and we need you to take action today to stop it. In late January, HR 610 was introduced by Steve King of Iowa, with representatives from Maryland, Texas and Arizona signing on. You can re
School Choice: Philanthropy or Predatory Capitalism by Cheryl Binkley - Badass Teachers Association
by mike simpson / 10h
Badass Teachers Association: School Choice: Philanthropy or Predatory Capitalism by Cheryl Binkley : School Choice: Philanthropy or Predatory Capitalism by Cheryl Binkley Originally posted at: http://3rdmillenniumteacher.blogspot.com/2017/02/school-choice-philanthropy-or-predatory.html Betsy DeVos, Bill and Melinda Gates, Alice Walton, Eli Broad, the Koch brothers and other billionaires each have
Education Lessons From A Sparkly District: The End of Special Education Part VI: AZ Parents, Heads Up!
by mike simpson / 11h
Education Lessons From A Sparkly District: The End of Special Education Part VI: AZ Parents, Heads Up! : The End of Special Education Part VI: AZ Parents, Heads Up! There are generally too many stupid education and special education stories these days to comment on them all, but this one is worthy of everyone's attention. My "The End of Special Education" series has gained a lot of attention sinc

YESTERDAY

America’s Founding Fathers Were Against School Choice | gadflyonthewallblog
by mike simpson / 23h
America’s Founding Fathers Were Against School Choice | gadflyonthewallblog : America’s Founding Fathers Were Against School Choice One of the founding principles of the United States is public education. We fought a bloody revolution against England for many reasons, but chief among them was to create a society where all people could be educated. Certainly we had disagreements about who counted
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/16/17
by mike simpson / 23h
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/16/17 Featured Post Parents - Just say NO to the 2017 SBAC Testing Scheme - Wait What? Betsy DeVos, No ESSA Did Not End Common Core | Truth in American Education by mike simpson / 

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