Tipping Points: Are Charter Schools Oversaturating Their Markets? | Capital & Main

Tipping Points: Are Charter Schools Oversaturating Their Markets? | Capital & Main

Tipping Points: Are Charter Schools Oversaturating Their Markets?
Studies have found charter school glut and hyper-competition in many neighborhoods.

Evidence suggests that beyond challenging traditional schools, charters are also a growing threat
to other charter schools.

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Charter school supporters maintain that the schools provide an important choice for parents in poorer neighborhoods with lower-performing schools. But the context of the recent Los Angeles teachers strike was their union’s claims that charter schools represent an existential threat to the school district by siphoning students from traditional public schools and the per-pupil funding that comes with them. Independent charter schools, unlike affiliated charters, which are essentially district-run schools, are run by non-profit organizations and do not report to the school district, even though they use district money to operate.

But evidence suggests that beyond presenting a serious challenge to traditional schools, charters are also a growing threat to each other.

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“My concern is about charter school bubbles forming.”

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Preston Green III, Professor of Educational Leadership and Law at the University of Connecticut, told Capital & Main that charter school growth, especially in California, is at a crossroads.

“There are people in the charter lobby that believe unfettered growth is a good thing,” Green said. “And there are people in many urban communities that don’t believe their needs are being met in a traditional system and they want better schooling. My concern is about charter school bubbles forming.”

This perception is gaining ground among some local educators. A 2018 op-ed written by a Los Angeles charter school teacher claimed that unregulated growth of charters is not only CONTINUE READING: Tipping Points: Are Charter Schools Oversaturating Their Markets? | Capital & Main

Enrique Baloyra: Thoughts and prayers for Fla public schools - YouTube

Thoughts and prayers for Fla public schools - YouTube

Thoughts and prayers for Fla public schools

 enrique baloyra @nenebalo YouTube

Once more for anyone who still hasn’t gotten the memo: Evolution and climate change are settled science.
I know, evolution is called a “theory.” But it’s not. No matter what the wingnuts on talk radio say. Evolution is a fact.
And climate change is caused by humans.
But now a Florida politician who says schools are indoctrinating children with science has filed a bill requiring schools to teach alternatives to evolution and climate change.
Like creationism. That’s pseudoscience that teaches kids dinosaurs walked the Earth alongside humans until a great flood washed them all away.
Or that global warming is a hoax, because only God can control the weather.
Ocala Sen. Dennis Baxley defends his bill by claiming that science is unreliable because, “for a long time the official worldview was that the world was flat.” https://www.tampabay.com/florida-poli...
Yeah. Back when the Church was in charge of the official worldview, half a millennium ago. There’ve been a few advancements in how we collect data since then.
The bill’s text was written by the rightwing group Florida Citizens Alliance, who complain that current textbooks are teaching children socialism. These are the same folks behind the push for unlimited school vouchers.
“The group last made news after then-Governor-Elect Ron DeSantis tapped two of its members to serve on his education advisory team. As New Times has previously reported, the Alliance is virulently Islamophobic, has said LGBTQ people are guilty of ‘deviant behavior,’ and claims schools must teach Judeo-Christian values.” https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/fl...
Sen. Baxley, a neo-Confederate revisionist and proud cosponsor the now world famous Stand Your Ground law, has joined forces with former Christian exorcist and self-proclaimed “Demonbuster” Kim Daniels — thank you, Jacksonville — on a bill forcing schools to teach Bible study. This is the same Rep. Daniels authored the law that now requires all public schools to display “In God We Trust.”
Not to be outdone, Miami Senator Manny Diaz, Jr, has proposed to cut school board taxes for seniors, whose education was already paid for by the public.
This is what passes for education policy.
While Florida remains 48th nationally in per-pupil spending and teachers are quitting by the thousands, the governor decides that shuffling the state standards around again will somehow magically fix what’s wrong with our schools.
ICYMI Florida still hasn’t given teachers a raise 10 years after the Great Recession ended.

Thoughts and prayers for Fla public schools - YouTube

enrique baloyra - YouTube - 

Sentencing guideline offered for teacher misconduct :: K-12 Daily

Sentencing guideline offered for teacher misconduct :: K-12 Daily :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet

Sentencing guideline offered for teacher misconduct

(Calif.) New penalty instructions for educator misconduct will be considered this week by the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

The guidelines are intended to help standardize outcomes in malpractice cases generated by complaints that teachers or other certified personnel have violated conduct norms spelled out in the state education code.

The list of recommendations come at the request of the Attorney General’s office, which represents the commission on offenses that routinely include refusals to obey laws regulating certificated duties, lack of performance as required by employment contract, or addiction to alcohol or drugs.

“The guidelines contain a range of adverse actions that may be imposed for specific types of conduct in violation of agency disciplinary laws, factors in aggravation and mitigation, and suggested language for standard and optional terms and conditions of probation,” CTC staff said in a memo to the board. “Guidelines are not binding. The facts of each case are unique and mitigating or aggravating circumstances in a particular case may necessitate deviation from the guidelines. Minimum and maximum adverse actions are meant to provide assistance in determining the appropriate outcome.”

The CTC has two major responsibilities: To ensure public school educators are properly trained and credentialed; and to investigate misconduct and impose discipline when wrongdoing is identified.

Last year, the CTC’s Division of Professional Practices opened close to 5,900 new cases—more than half of which related to alcohol infractions. Charges of serious crimes and felonies accounted for 942 open cases in 2017-18, while there were 441 allegations sexual crimes against both children and adults.

CTC staff initially investigates complaints and, if charges are sustained, the case is brought to the commission’s Committee of Credentials. The committee is a seven-member panel charged with ruling on the complaints. All disciplinary actions taken by the committee are subject to appeal and final action by the commission itself.

Appeals are heard by an administrative judge.

Considering the many players in the misconduct process, standardizing potential sanctions for specific violations is clearly important. The new disciplinary guide is directed at educators and their counsels, as well as CTC staff, commission and committee members and, indeed, administrative judges as well.

Dealing with misconduct has at times pressed the CTC. The agency drew fire after auditors found CONTINUE READING: Sentencing guideline offered for teacher misconduct :: K-12 Daily :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet

Black Lives Matter At School week of action begins today. Here’s what you need to know to be ready. – Black Lives Matter At School #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool #BlackHistoryMonth

Black Lives Matter At School week of action begins today. Here’s what you need to know to be ready. – Black Lives Matter At School

Black Lives Matter At School week of action begins today. Here’s what you need to know to be ready.

oday, Monday, February 4th officially marks the launch of the second annual national Black Lives Matter At School week of action. Supporters will be posting their photos, lesson plans, and stories of the day on social media with the hashtag, #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool. The four demands of the movement are: 1) End “zero tolerance” discipline, and implement restorative justice; 2) Hire more black teachers; 3) Mandate black history and ethnic studies in K-12 curriculum; 4) Fund counselors not cops.

Watch the video BLM@School video to help you understand why tens of thousands of students in cities around the country will engage in lesson plans about institutional racism, Black history, intersectional Black identity, and the thirteen guiding principlesof the Black Lives Matter Global Network. The principles have been broken down into teaching themes for each day of the week as follows:

Monday: Restorative Justice, Empathy and Loving Engagement

Tuesday: Diversity and Globalism

Wednesday: Trans-Affirming, Queer Affirming and Collective Value

Thursday: Intergenerational, Black Families and Black Villages

Friday: Black Women and Unapologetically Black

The Black Lives Matter At School national committee has complied many lesson plansthat match the themes for the week and has come out with new 2019 Curriculum Resource Gide. You can watch and share the new BLM@School video, “I know my people are strong” to get hyped for the week.

In addition, there is a Black Lives Matter At School starter kit to help educators be ready for the week.

There are many different ways to participate in Black Lives Matter at School week.  Some educators teach BLM lessons every day of the week, wear their Black Lives Matter At School t-shirt, organize after school rallies, facilitate their students entering the creative challenge, develop curriculum, post on social media, and rally at the school board meeting.  Other educators new the to movement sometimes begin by taking on one or two of these actions.  One easy way for everyone to participate is to sign the petition endorsing the week of action. 

The important thing is that you act in some way to join this movement to bring down the structures of anti-Blackness in education and affirm the lives of Black students in your classroom.

Black Lives Matter At School week of action begins today. Here’s what you need to know to be ready. – Black Lives Matter At School

Democrats for Education Reform was behind text campaign seeking to prevent teacher strike

Democrats for Education Reform was behind text campaign seeking to prevent teacher strike

Democrats for Education Reform was behind text campaign seeking to prevent teacher strike

Democrats for Education Reform was behind a text message campaign urging Denver residents to write Gov. Jared Polis and Denver school board members in support of a key aspect of the district’s pay proposal and in opposition to a teachers strike, the group’s Colorado state director confirmed.

The messages purported to be from a group called “Support Students, Support Teachers,” but public records searches do not turn up any organization with that name.

An email obtained by Chalkbeat that was sent last Monday by Will Andras of DFER Colorado notes the texts sent through Phone 2 Action — an Arlington, Virginia-based company that offers “advocacy software,” including mass texting services — were meant to “engage community members around protecting the equity incentives,” a reference to bonuses for teachers at high-poverty schools, a policy on which the district has held firm.

Jennifer Walmer, head of the Colorado chapter of Democrats for Education Reform, confirmed that DFER was responsible for the messages.

“I want to make it really clear we are not taking sides,” Walmer said Sunday. “We fundamentally believe teachers should be paid more and that those serving in our highest poverty schools deserve extra incentives. Our efforts were focused on pushing both sides back to the table to avoid a strike and school closures (caused by a strike) that will negatively impact Denver kids.”

Walmer acknowledged that Support Students, Support Teachers is not an official organization. Asked why DFER was not transparent about its role and why the other name was used in the texts, Walmer said that disclosure is not required, and emphasized that others in the community share the same concerns about teacher pay and a strike’s implications.

She said DFER had the ability to pull the campaign together, and chose to send the CONTINUE READING: Democrats for Education Reform was behind text campaign seeking to prevent teacher strike

Teachers For Social Justice: Black Lives Matter at Schools National week of Action: Feb 4 - Feb 8 #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool #BlackHistoryMonth

Teachers For Social Justice: Black Lives Matter at Schools National week of Action: Feb 4 - Feb 8

Black Lives Matter at Schools National week of Action: Feb 4 - Feb 8

Join the National Week of Actions for Black Lives Matter at Schools. Starting Monday, February 4^theducators in cities across the country will draw closer attention to four national demands

An end of zero tolerance policies

Black students in CPS are overwhelmingly under punitive school conditions that include metal detectors, armed police officers, and booking facilities on school sites.  However, there are alternatives.  Last Year, CPS and CTU partnered to create 20 Sustainable Community Schools (SCS).  One of the pillars of the SCS model is restorative justice, an alternative to zero tolerance policies and practices in schools.  Transformharm.org is a new resource hub about ending violence.  Visit their site for more information, including curriculum, on restorative justice.  

More Black teachers

Nationally, 16 percent of k-12 students are Black, yet Black teachers only make up 6 percent of the almost all-white teaching force.  We know that school privatization and closures negatively impact Black teachers.  Check out 9^th grade teacher, David Jackson’s, article on the importance of Black teachers.  Support more Black teachers in schools. 

Black history and ethnic studies in every school

CPS requires ethnic studies in all schools but this is a policy yet to be enforced.  Ethnic Studies provides all students, regardless of background, a context to explore the lives of people of color.  Students of color rarely see themselves reflected in school curricula, Ethnic Studies counters this white-centered mainstream narrative. 

Counselors not Cops

Over 4.6 million students in U.S. schools attend schools where there are no counselors, but there are police.  In Chicago, 2/3 of students attend schools with no librarian.  In Chicago, 4.1 million dollars a day is spent funding the police and the city has plans to build a 95 million-dollar police training facility.  That money could go towards the hiring of more counselors and counseling services for students under these traumatic conditions.  No Cop Academy in Chicago has resources for educators. 

Learn more about how to participate here.  


Teachers For Social Justice: Black Lives Matter at Schools National week of Action: Feb 4 - Feb 8

Badass Teachers Association: BAT member highlight: Increase the number of school counselors in our schools! #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool #BlackHistoryMonth

Badass Teachers Association: BAT member highlight: Increase the number of school counselors in our schools!

Badass Teachers Association: BAT member highlight: Increase the number of school counselors in our schools!

Heather Marcus has been a member of Badass Teachers Association for four years. As a member that joins in on our conversations often, she began to have that moment of realization that it was time for more than just talk, it was time to act.

Heather is a school counselor in the Philadelphia School District. Having gone through the Philly school system herself and with both parents being educators, it was a natural pathway for her to follow in their footsteps. After teaching for seven years, Heather went back and got her Master’s in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling. Teaching was a great foundation for her current position. Heather is now employed as one of three school counselors at an academic magnet school. While this school is one of the top schools in the state with a 100% graduation rate and all students moving on to four year colleges, all students need support from school counselors so the job can be   very overwhelming.  

Being one of three school counselors at a school with 1200 students means that Heather carries a caseload of around 400 students; students that span grades 5 to 12. Currently only two of these counselors are actually funded by the overall district budget. The current principal of the school recognizes the importance of students having access to counselors and funds one of the positions out of the building’s discretionary funds. But that still is not enough. Working with middle and high school students simultaneously comes with many challenges. For example, approximately 60% of the seniors seek early admission into colleges. Early Decision/Early Action college applications are due on November 1 each year. All eighth graders must apply to high school, and this year the District moved the deadline to November 2. So, counselors are working with seniors and eighth graders on applications while also helping students in all grades with mental health issues and other difficulties.

Other responsibilities are carried by these counselors, as are found in any school. Helping students make post-secondary plans, supporting academic and social-emotional needs, meeting with students, families, and teachers when grades are dipping to make support plans CONTINUE READING: Badass Teachers Association: BAT member highlight: Increase the number of school counselors in our schools!

Week of Action: Black Lives Matter at School - Lily's Blackboard #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool #BlackHistoryMonth

Week of Action: Black Lives Matter at School - Lily's Blackboard

Week of Action: Black Lives Matter at School

This is Black Lives Matter at School Week, and the NEA is proud to support a movement that is all about sparking conversations that will protect our students and ensure that no matter their racial or ethnic background, they have the support and tools they need in schools.

What this week—and the entire movement—emphasize is that those of us who are educators have a responsibility to look closely at what black students face in far too many schools across our nation.

We know, for instance, that zero-tolerance policies lead to higher rates of suspension and other disciplinary measures that are pushing students out of the classroom and into the criminal justice system. These policies disproportionately affect black students, who are often disciplined more severely than other students for minor infractions.

But let’s be honest: Looking closely at these policies and what’s happening in schools means examining ourselves as educators. That can be difficult for even the toughest among us—especially if you consider yourself to be someone who loves each student, every child, as if he or she were your very own.

Our dedication to students, however, doesn’t mean that we don’t come into schools with prejudices and predispositions. These may have been cultivated in us while we were growing up, or they could have been part of life in our communities. We are not always aware of them, and even worse, we have no idea the impact they have on the decisions we make as educators.

The need for us to reflect on our thoughts and behaviors was underscored last week after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam apologized for a racist photograph that appeared to feature him. The photo was in his 1984 medical school class yearbook. Although the governor said a day later that he was not in the photo, he did admit to using shoe polish to darken his skin around the same time while doing an impersonation of Michael Jackson.

I don’t know what’s in Governor Northam’s heart, and I certainly don’t know what he did or did not do. (Considering his two-day apology, it sounds like he doesn’t, either.) But I do know this: If we adults are not accountable for our behavior, we cannot teach accountability to our children. Furthermore, we have to have confidence in our elected officials and faith that they respect and will represent all of us.

All the mea culpas in the world won’t fix things unless we examine ourselves, reflect on our own thoughts and behaviors and take action to create racial justice everywhere, particularly in schools and on campuses, where our future leaders are. The good news is that change and growth are possible for anyone.

Start your journey this week. Look at the many Black Lives Matter at School resources that NEA’s Center for Social Justice has assembled with our coalition partners during this Week of Action.

The Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action includes a demand to end zero-tolerance policies; mandate that black history and ethnic history be taught in schools; hire more black teachers; and fund more counselors in our schools. The last one is particularly timely: The week of February 4-8 also happens to be National School Counseling Week. And one thing we know for sure is that no matter what communities our schools are in, most of them have far too few counselors.

There are several things you can do this week to show your support for this growing movement, and you’ll find suggestions here. You can read about how the movement began here.

Also, consider joining the movement. BLM epitomizes what organizing is all about: Anyone who supports its mission and goals can join in on monthly conference calls and be part of the movement. Find out more here at blacklivesmatteratschool.com.

Take the pledge to grow the movement for racial justice in education, and be part of history.

Week of Action: Black Lives Matter at School - Lily's Blackboard