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
-
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…
-
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...
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!
-
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...
Jackie Goldberg Hits the LAUSD Board Running Jackie Goldberg Hits the LAUSD Board Running I can’t support us fixing computers and stuff for a charter school co-located with a district school that doesn’t have the same technology .” – Jackie Goldberg Backed by Jackie Goldberg’s overwhelming electoral victory , George McKenna and Scott Schmerelson revisited their motion from last August to temporar
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Gay Pride Month Starts Today Gay Pride Month Starts Today The month of June was chosen for LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT people have had in the world. From Nerd and Lace Whether in support of Gay Pride Month or just
Jersey Jazzman: NJ's Student Growth Measures (SGPs): Still Biased, Still Used Inappropriately NJ's Student Growth Measures (SGPs): Still Biased, Still Used Inappropriately What follows is yet another year's worth of data analysis on New Jersey's student "growth" measure: Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs). And yet another year of my growing frustration and annoyance with the policymakers and pundi
Charter School Promoters Criticize and Complain About Charter Schools While Pushing For More Charter Schools | Dissident Voice Charter School Promoters Criticize and Complain About Charter Schools While Pushing For More Charter Schools The narrow aim of maximizing profit as fast as possible compels owners of capital to say and do whatever they have to to get richer, no matter how irrational and c
CURMUDGUCATION: NH: Outsourcing and Privatizing Public Education NH: Outsourcing and Privatizing Public Education New Hampshire's education commissioner has decided to push a really terrible education idea . It's called "Learn Everywhere," and it looks like a new approach to replacing public education, a kind of true backdoor approach to vouchering. It comes dressed in pretty language, but it sti
National Education Policy Center Reviews Claims about Fiscal Impact of Charters and Finds Them Shallow and Misleading | Diane Ravitch's blog National Education Policy Center Reviews Claims about Fiscal Impact of Charters and Finds Them Shallow and Misleading Bruce Baker of Rutgers University reviewed three policy briefs produced by the pro-charter, pro-choice Center for Reinventing Public Educati
CURMUDGUCATION: Rewarding Failing Schools Rewarding Failing Schools One of the problems with the business oriented view of education reveals itself in the use of the word "reward." As long as the debate has raged, we can find commentators, thinky tanks, and policy makers arguing that giving more resources to struggling schools is "rewarding" them for failure. ( Here's an example , and here's anot
Michigan: State Attorney General Will Take a Position Opposite to the Governor in Detroit Literacy Lawsuit | Diane Ravitch's blog Michigan: State Attorney General Will Take a Position Opposite to the Governor in Detroit Literacy Lawsuit Now, this gets interesting. Two days ago, I posted about the battle in Michigan over who is responsible for the deplorable conditions in the public schools of Det
My Day Observing and Interviewing Young Teachers - Teacher Habits My Day Observing and Interviewing Young Teachers I had the pleasure yesterday of serving on my school’s interview team for a third grade position. Five candidates, four of whom just finished their student teaching and one of whom has five years of teaching experience, competed for the job. They each taught a 15-minute lesson and an
Did Austin Beutner Sabotage Measure EE? Did Austin Beutner Sabotage Measure EE? You can’t change it without us re-voting. ” = LAUSD Board Member Richard Vladovic That is correct. ” – LAUSD General Counsel David Holmquist Los Angeles students are in desperate need of the funds promised from Measure EE . As noted by Dr. Rocio Rivas , “California ranks 43rd in per-pupil spending with an investment o
“Restaurant” & “Charter School” Are Vague Descriptors | The Merrow Report “Restaurant” & “Charter School” Are Vague Descriptors “Charter School” is a vague descriptive term, akin to “Restaurant,” in that neither term tells you very much. One of them, however, is dangerously vague. “Restaurant” is vague but not dangerous. The word tells you only that the establishment serves food of some kind, but
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Letter writing instruction: too little practice with low frequency letters by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 23h Children’s ability to write letters automatically has been linked to academic achievement. Despite the importance of handwriting, handwriting instruction is often neglected and teachers use inconsistent practices to teach handwriting
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 My Most Popular Tweets Of The Month by Larry Ferlazzo / 23min PhotoMIX-Company / Pixabay I used to post weekly collections of my best tweets, and used Storify to bring them together. Unfortunate
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all Big Education Ape: My New Book Was Just Announced! | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2019/05/my-new-book-was-just-announced-diane.html Pennsylvania: Charter Lobby Pushes to Remove All Quality Controls and Allow Unlimit
End Charter Schools! Consider Creative Ways to Address Schooling End Charter Schools! Consider Creative Ways to Address Schooling It’s time to end the charter school experiment. Put successful charters under the supervision of the nearby school district. Charters not working well should close. No charter school should get tax dollars without oversight. This should be for both for-profit and nonpr
MDCPS Board Member Dr. Larry Feldman at Homestead prison camp - YouTube MDCPS Board Member Dr. Larry Feldman at Homestead prison camp This morning activists attempted to deliver letters written by students to the children imprisoned unjustly in Homestead. Dr. Feldman describes the school board's constitutional responsibilities to the children inside. MDCPS Board Member Dr. Larry Feldman at Homest
CURMUDGUCATION: Jeb Bush: Frying Reform Baloney for Michigan Jeb Bush: Frying Reform Baloney for Michigan The Detroit News just ran a Jeb Bush fluff piece chock full of reformy baloney (reformaloney?) and an embarrassing lack of those fact thingies. It's helpful to know that the writer is Ingrid Jacques, deputy editorial page editor, and a graduate of Hillsdale College, the noted far-right Libert
Charter schools were supposed to save public education. Why did people turn on them? - The Washington Post School’s out Charters were supposed to save public education. Why are Americans turning against them? The charter school movement is in trouble. In late December, the editorial board of the Chicago Sun-Times observed that the charter movement in the Windy City was “in hot water and likely to
Schools Matter: What the KIPP Model Has Spawned What the KIPP Model Has Spawned If you know anything about schools based on the "No Excuses" KIPP model, you have probably heard the motto, "there are no excuses," "failure is not an option," success at any cost," and "KIPP is a family", etc. If you know more about these schools inspired by the "success" of KIPP, you may have heard something about s
Proposal to cap charter school growth all but dies in California Assembly - SFGate Proposal to cap charter school growth all but dies in California Assembly SACRAMENTO — A proposal to cap the number of California charter schools went into a deep freeze in the state Assembly on Thursday, a sign of the difficult fight teachers unions face as they push to stop the growth of the alternatives to tradi
NYC: Class Size Champion Strikes Again, in Court | Diane Ravitch's blog NYC: Class Size Champion Strikes Again, in Court Leonie Haimson is a force of nature. She and her! Student Privacy allies beat Bill Gates’ $100 Million inBloom data-collection project. She and her parent allies forced the NYC Department of Education to back down and keep open high-performing low-enrollment PS 25 in Brooklyn.
Teachers Paying for Their Own Substitutes? Believe it or Not, It Happens. Teachers Paying for Their Own Substitutes? Believe it or Not, It Happens. A San Francisco second-grade teacher who, due to state law, must pay the cost of a substitute educator while she seeks treatment for breast cancer has made national headlines after parents at her school started an online GoFundMe campaign to cover her
LAUSD Libraries are Safe (For Now) LAUSD Libraries are Safe (For Now) We intend to bring forth a budget in June that will commit to sustaining library aides for all elementary schools for the 2019-20 school year. ” – LA Superintendent Austin Beutner In the days leading up to the strike by Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) teachers, Board Member Nick Melvoin told parents that the teacher
Capitalism Camp for Kids (Brendan O’Connor) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Capitalism Camp for Kids (Brendan O’Connor) Brendan O’Connor is a free-lance journalist. This article appeared in the New York Times Online May 22, 2019. * At first, I was startled by this article. Now, I am not naive. I have many miles on my speedometer. Sure, I had heard of ambitious (and anxious)
NYC Educator: What Are the Techniques and Strategies for English Language Learners? What Are the Techniques and Strategies for English Language Learners? I hear a lot of talk about that, particularly from people who are trying to rationalize Part 154. In case I haven't explained it 500 times, CR Part 154 says that we no longer need to teach English to English Language Learners. So we take away 33
Joe Biden’s Plan for Education: Democrats Must Do Better | Real Learning CT Joe Biden’s Plan for Education: Democrats Must Do Better What a disappointment Joe Biden’s education plan is. Democrats must do better. ” Joe’s Plan for Educators, Students, and our Future” does not mention at all the important issues before us in American education. No mention of the funding of privately managed, taxpaye
An Urban Teacher's Education: A Critique of Standards-Based Grading A Critique of Standards-Based Grading It first happened to me about ten years ago. I was beginning my third year of teaching in a new school in Washington, DC. Social studies teachers were sitting at a department meeting, and the assistant principal assigned as our department head was explaining to us why standards-based grading
CAN TV – The Future of Chicago Public Schools The Future of Chicago Public Schools Panelists present their vision and roadmaps for Chicago Public Schools in order to achieve greater racial justice in the city’s public education system and society at large at this event hosted by Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy (IRRPP). This program was recorded by Chicago Access Network Televisio
CURMUDGUCATION: OH: Takeover Battle Comes To Senate OH: Takeover Battle Comes To Senate Our story so far: The Ohio House has passed a bill scrapping Ohio's disastrous takeover bill, HB 70. The new language was incorporated into the budget (HB 166) and, having cleared the House, must go to the Senate, where education committee chair Peggy Lehner is not particularly sympathetic to public education.
2020 Vision: The Democratic Presidential Candidates on Education – Have You Heard 2020 Vision: The Democratic Presidential Candidates on Education From Bernie Sanders on charter schools and segregation to Cory Booker stating, once again, that he is a believer in public education, to higher pay for teachers and free-er college for all (or some), the Democratic presidential candidates can’t stop ta
Charter schools accused of stealing $50M from California Charter schools accused of stealing $50M from California SAN DIEGO (AP) — A network of charter schools in California stole more than $50 million from the state by creating phantom institutions that enrolled unwitting students it found through other schools and youth programs, prosecutors said Wednesday. A3 Education recruited small public s
My New Book Was Just Announced! | Diane Ravitch's blog My New Book Was Just Announced! I am very excited! My new book was just announced! The title is: SLAYING GOLIATH: The Impassioned Fight to Defeat the Privatization Movement and to Save America’s Public Schools. It will be published on January 14, 2020, by Knopf, the most prestigious publisher in America. The editor is the brilliant Victoria W
Vote Woman | radical eyes for equity Vote Woman Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, I taught in the very conservative small town where I was born and attended school. This added a second layer to the moral imperative I felt as a calling to teach. I recall to this day sitting in a first-year college English class and suddenly feeling out of place . There was something, or some things , I simply didn’t
Pearson Wants to Expand Its Virtual Schools Market; Its “Connections Academy” in Louisiana Is No Selling Factor | deutsch29 Pearson Wants to Expand Its Virtual Schools Market; Its “Connections Academy” in Louisiana Is No Selling Factor Connections Academy is a virtual K12 (and possibly pre-K12) school operated by education business mammoth, Pearson. According to Pearson’s February 2019 earnings c
US News And World Report Closes Cheating Loophole — Charters Tank | Gary Rubinstein's Blog US News And World Report Closes Cheating Loophole — Charters Tank U.S. News & World Report produces several influential annual ‘best of’ lists in all kinds of categories. In education they rank colleges, graduate schools, and, of course, high schools. In recent years, charter schools have been dominating th
The New York State Legislature, Charter Schools and the “Big Ugly:” A Lesson in Civics (aka, Realpolitics) | Ed In The Apple The New York State Legislature, Charter Schools and the “Big Ugly:” A Lesson in Civics (aka, Realpolitics) Realpolitics: political realism or practical politics especially based on power as well as on ideals. Why is politics so contentious? Why can’t people get along? Why i
NYC Public School Parents: We file an appeal in our class size lawsuit to require NYC Department of Education to lower class size in all grades We file an appeal in our class size lawsuit to require NYC Department of Education to lower class size in all grades On Thursday May 23, 2019 the Education Law Center filed an appeal on behalf of nine NYC parents, Class Size Matters and the Alliance for Q
How Closing Schools Traumatizes Students and Communities - NEA Today How Closing Schools Traumatizes Students and Communities Since 2004, Oakland Unified School District has closed 16 schools and is now targeting an additional 24 by the start of the 2019-20 school year. District officials call it “right-sizing,” a term borrowed from corporate America – appropriate given that many of the shuttered
New report on virtual education: ‘It sure sounds good. As it turns out, it’s too good to be true.’ - The Washington Post New report on virtual education: ‘It sure sounds good. As it turns out, it’s too good to be true.’ The future of education, you might hear some enthusiasts say, is virtual: Online schools have grown significantly over the past decade, as have traditional schools that use online
A Teacher’s Scorecard for Democratic 2020 Hopefuls - Progressive.org A Teacher’s Scorecard for Democratic 2020 Hopefuls This time around, teachers unions have announced their intention to cast a wider net for member opinions. I’m happy to step up. T he 2016 presidential elections were not exactly a high point for the two national teachers’ unions, the National Education Association and the Americ
How school segregation affects whether a black student gets labeled as having a disability How school segregation affects whether a black student gets labeled as having a disability In Florida schools where almost all students are black or Hispanic, 13% of black students were classified as having a disability. Yet in schools where the vast majority of students were white, nearly 22% of black stud
National Education Policy Center on Virtual Charter Schools: Annual Report | Diane Ravitch's blog National Education Policy Center on Virtual Charter Schools: Annual Report Today the National Education Policy Center released its annual review of research on virtual charter schools. The bottom line was not good. The title of the report is “Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2019.” It was double blind pee
Thousands Of Charter Schools Perform Poorly | PopularResistance.Org THOUSANDS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS PERFORM POORLY “Performance-based accountability” is a hackneyed, Skinnerian, neoliberal buzz-phrase often repeated dogmatically by charter school promoters in order to falsely claim that privately-operated nonprofit and for-profit charter schools are more accountable and higher-performing than public
Online Charter Schools in L.A., San Diego Counties to Close After Conspiracy, Personal Use of Public Money, Theft Indictment | KTLA Online Charter Schools in L.A., San Diego Counties to Close After Conspiracy, Personal Use of Public Money, Theft Indictment Eleven people have been indicted on criminal charges of conspiracy, personal use of public money without legal authority, grand theft and fina
Democrats see energy behind teachers strikes as a force in 2020 :: WRAL.com Democrats see energy behind teachers strikes as a force in 2020 After teachers in California, Kentucky, Oklahoma and a host of other states went on strike for a series of demands in 2018 and 2019, ranging from better pay to more support in the classroom, Democratic presidential candidates and operatives within their campa
Media Misreading the Reading Crisis Yet Again – Paul Thomas – Medium Media Misreading the Reading Crisis Yet Again Several news articles , videos , reports on new state legislation, and commentaries across mainstream media have built a false narrative about a Reading Crisis. That story includes several key elements: Teachers do not know, and thus do not practice, the science of reading because te
Kennedy High School seniors await transcripts as charter board investigates ‘malfeasance’ | The Lens Kennedy High School seniors await transcripts as charter board investigates ‘malfeasance’ Ten days after their graduation ceremony, anxious John F. Kennedy High School seniors — still waiting for their high school transcripts — showed up to their charter network’s board meeting Tuesday, hoping for
Joe Biden’s education plan, explained - Vox Joe Biden’s plan to triple spending on low-income schools, explained Biden’s education plan suggests he’s breaking with Obama’s legacy. Former Vice President Joe Biden just announced his first detailed policy proposal of the 2020 campaign: an education plan that calls for a big increase in federal spending on schools and districts serving low-income kid
Anti-Abortion Legislation and the Perverse Logic of Human Capital Impact Investing – Wrench in the Gears Anti-Abortion Legislation and the Perverse Logic of Human Capital Impact Investing If an increasingly automated Fourth Industrial Revolution economic system demands an abundance of poverty data to keep global capital markets moving, it makes sense that those in power might seek to increase bir
California School Accountability Report: New data on the cost of charter schools | AB1505 passes |… California School Accountability Report: New data on the cost of charter schools | AB1505 passes | and more In the Public Interest’s pick of recent news about the ongoing effort to privatize public education in California. Not an email subscriber? Sign up here. New data on the cost of charter schoo
Transparency, and Accountability, an Example: The MMSD Interim Superintendent Search Process | AMPS Transparency, and Accountability, an Example: The MMSD Interim Superintendent Search Process From “The Glass Ballot Box and Political Transparency,” by Ellery Foutch Television — “See No Evil” (click to listen/watch) Transparency and accountability for government bodies depend on the public knowing
How much money do public school teachers, principals, employees make? - Business Insider From cafeteria workers to principals, here's what everyone makes in a public school The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data on wages and employment in local-government-owned public elementary and high schools. Public schools employ a wide variety of workers, and salaries range from well below the median
Charter Schools: A Pig With Lipstick Is Still A Pig | Dissident Voice Charter Schools: A Pig With Lipstick Is Still A Pig Deregulated, deunionized, segregated, test-obsessed, privately-operated charter schools that lose employees regularly, manipulate student enrollment frequently, and funnel huge sums of public funds to the rich and their allies under the banner of high ideals cannot be prettifi
Schools Matter: Watch David Coleman, SAT CEO, Slither Watch David Coleman, SAT CEO, Slither After David Coleman served the Gates Foundation's most effective Common Core flunky-developer-and-promo-man , he was given a most cushy gig as head the College Board , a "non-profit" corporation with a billion "non-profit" dollars in the bank and generosity to its CEO, who is paid more than $700,000 a year
CURMUDGUCATION: Can Personalized Learning Deliver Can Personalized Learning Deliver A new report published by the National Education Policy Center looks at the current state of K-12 personalized learning and finds that there are many reasons for school districts to think twice about embracing this hot new trend. “Personalized Learning and the Digital Privatization of Curriculum and Teaching” was
Why Has the “School as Factory” Metaphor Persisted? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Why Has the “School as Factory” Metaphor Persisted? Why has the image of tax-supported public schools looking like and operating as factories stuck? In an earlier post, I traced the history of the metaphor since the early 1900s and its 180-degree switch from a positive to negative meaning. Ov
The "X"odus Files: Accountability is the Problem. | BustED Pencils The “X”odus Files: Accountability is the Problem. t’s time to stop trying to rescue “accountability.” It’s a horrendous word and its application only results in blame based authoritarianism. I have seen the attempts to “reclaim” accountability and I have taken my fair share of criticism for my critique of accountability. But why r
A Wise and Witty Review of The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch | tultican A Wise and Witty Review of The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch By T. Ultican 5/27/2019 Maybe not as witty and wise as I had hoped but definitely positive and impressed. I admit; I am a Diane Ravitch fan-boy and this latest release from Garn Press reinforces that posture. Diane is a warrior of ideas who has stood courageousl
Thanks For Coming To My TED Talk (For The Culture) | The Jose Vilson THANKS FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK (FOR THE CULTURE) I’m so proud to share my most recent TED talk about teacher voice with the world for various reasons: I talked about my family (shouts to Luz and Alejandro!) I talked about my own classroom and students (shouts to last year’s 801-803 in the video) I shouted out #EduColor (We rea
One Size Does Not Fit All | Live Long and Prosper One Size Does Not Fit All More than four dozen literacy experts have signed on to a letter expressing concern over the lack of balance in PBS Newshour’s segment about dyslexia . Among the signers of the letter are Reading Hall of Fame members, Richard Allington, Pat Cunningham, Ken and Yetta Goodman, Michael Graves, Stephen Krashen, P. David Pears
EXTRA: Ohio Senate’s School Transformation Plan to Replace HB 70 Is Still a State Takeover | janresseger EXTRA: Ohio Senate’s School Transformation Plan to Replace HB 70 Is Still a State Takeover This blog will take a one-week early summer break and come back in June on a new, three-day, Monday-Wednesday-Friday summer schedule. Look for a new post on Monday, June 3. I have been reading a May 7, 2
L.A. Charters Suspend Black and Disabled Students at Higher Rates - LA Progressive L.A. Charters Suspend Black and Disabled Students at Higher Rates Los Angeles charters suspended black students at almost three times the rate of traditional schools; students with disabilities were suspended at nearly four times the non-charter school rate. S chool suspensions are out, restorative justice is in. A
Rachel Cohen: The Untold History of Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog Rachel Cohen: The Untold History of Charter Schools Thanks to Los Angeles blogger Sara Roos for calling my attention to this very interesting article by journalist Rachel Cohen . We have had an extended exchange about the article. Cohen says that the typical origin story of charter schools credits the idea to AFT President
CURMUDGUCATION: Amazon Wants To Read Your Heart Amazon Wants To Read Your Heart One of the frontiers in creepy computer intelligence is the pursuit of software that can read the details of your face, your breathing, your eyeballs, and out of those details, construct a computer-generated window into your very heart and soul. Some of the attempts are laughable, like the NWEA feature that presumes t
Jane, the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union and Illinois’ Reproductive Health Act. – Fred Klonsky JANE, THE CHICAGO WOMEN’S LIBERATION UNION AND ILLINOIS’ REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT. I remember Marilyn Webb from my SDS days. She was one of the earliest voices I heard talking about women’s rights as a part of the sixties movements for change. Of course, my Mom was a feminist and Grandma Esther was a f
Sadness and Tears on Memorial Day | Diane Ravitch's blog Sadness and Tears on Memorial Day Let us pause and remember the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the military. The older I get, the more I hate war. I despise those who see war as a political tactic, those who stir up war talk to get votes. Those who drop bombs and fire missiles to raise their poll numbers are contemptibl
John White Co-Founds His Own Nonprofit: Propel America | deutsch29 John White Co-Founds His Own Nonprofit: Propel America On June 06, 2018, Louisiana state superintendent John White filed this business registration in order to co-found his own nonprofit, Propel America ( EIN 83-1867782 ), with former Camden, NJ, superintendent, Paymon Rouhanifard . White mentions himself as a Propel America “offi
What We’re Waiting to Hear: The Education Fight No Candidate Mentions (Thus Far) What We’re Waiting to Hear: The Education Fight No Candidate Mentions (Thus Far) All the democratic presidential candidates have plans how to run the country and positively affect the world. Some have good ideas about how to improve public schools and support teachers. But none has yet to speak about America’s educat
SAT Adversity Score is an Antidote to Poison None of Us Need Take | gadflyonthewallblog SAT Adversity Score is an Antidote to Poison None of Us Need Take Let’s say someone gave you a vial of poison. Would you drink it? Of course not. What if he gave you the antidote, too. Would you take the poison then? Heck no! Why would anyone knowingly ingest poison even if they knew they could counteract its
Jersey Jazzman: NJ Public Workers' Health Benefits Are NOT Overly Generous: Some More Evidence NJ Public Workers' Health Benefits Are NOT Overly Generous: Some More Evidence Warning: This one's going to get wonky... The anti-public worker political wing in New Jersey -- which includes nearly all the state's Republicans and the machine Democrats -- spends a good part of its time trying to convince
Baker charter school backtracks after telling students they failed, needed to attend summer program Baker charter school backtracks after telling students they failed, needed to attend summer program BAKER, La. (WAFB) - Parents of students attending Advantage Charter Academy are fuming Friday night after being told their kids would be held back and would need to attend a 16-day summer school prog
Michigan: President of State Board Explains Why It Declined to Spend $47 Million for New Charters | Diane Ravitch's blog Michigan: President of State Board Explains Why It Declined to Spend $47 Million for New Charters Casandra E. Ulbrich, president of the Michigan State Board of Education, responded to an editorial in the Detroit News complaining that the State Board rejected $47 million for new
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Memorial Day Weekend Edition (5/26) ICYMI: Memorial Day Weekend Edition (5/26) In my town, we do the whole parade and program in the park business tomorrow. But for today, here are some pieces to read and share. Did You See The Numbers? Yes, I Have. Is there a battle going on inside the NAACP over charters? Nope. Cloaking Inequality has the story. We're Already Losing the N
Department of Education agenda: Reading, writing and religion | Salon.com Department of Education agenda: Reading, writing and religion Amid budget cuts, DeVos supports Christian bible classes in public schools The Trump administration has proposed a 12% cut in Department of Education spending under its yearly budget. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is busily eliminating programs to help publi
‘Borderline criminal’: Many public schools teeter on the edge of decrepitude - The Washington Post ‘Borderline criminal’: Many public schools teeter on the edge of decrepitude RICHMOND — Each morning for several years, Keri Treadway switched the classroom lights on and stomped loudly to frighten away the mice. She checked the sticky traps. She swabbed tables with disinfectant wipes and cleared dr
Bill Phillis: Our Great American Public Schools Will Prevail | Diane Ravitch's blog Bill Phillis: Our Great American Public Schools Will Prevail A couple of weeks ago, Bill Phillis and I had a public dialogue in Columbus, Ohio. Bill has devoted his life to improving public education for all children. He has fought for equitable and adequate funding. Someone asked him, he said, when he would retir
NYC Public School Parents: Warning: stand-alone field tests ahead & how you can support opt-out bills in Legislature Warning: stand-alone field tests ahead & how you can support opt-out bills in Legislature Note: You can send letters to your state legislators in support of the Right to Opt Out of High-stake testing bills mentioned below, Senate bill S5394 and Assembly bill A7744 , with the help o
Countering "Reform Nonsense" with Common Sense - Living in Dialogue Countering “Reform Nonsense” with Common Sense A Review of The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch By John Thompson. Part 1 of this review. Part 2 of this review. This post completes a three part series of reviews of The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch that seeks to hold both Diane Ravitch and corporate school reformers accountable f
Big Education Ape Top Posts This Week 5/25/19 Why This Teacher Needs Jackie Goldberg on the School Board CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION: + ICYMI: Birthday Eve Edition (5/19) The Resegregation of Baton Rouge Public